I like to say that Nelam and I have been in a relationship since we first met. We matched on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel and right from the beginning there was this inexplicable chemistry and connection. So much so that I jokingly (I think?) asked her to marry me after only 3 days of talking. After 3 weeks of talking (including 2 long weeks of Nelam stalling because of "studying") we finally had our first date in Westfield. The date was essentially confirmation that the chemistry that we had talking prior to the date was real and was truly once in a lifetime. Soon after by the third date, I asked her to officially be my girlfriend and the rest is history.
Exactly 2 months to the date that we first started talking, during a walk through Washington Square Park, I finally told her what I had known for a while - that I was in love with her. The next two years flew by: meeting friends and family, trips, adventures, and all sorts of other memorable moments.
After more than 2 years of dating, on 8/18/18, back at the place where I first professed my love, I asked Nelam to marry me. I was already the luckiest man in the world for the past 2.5 years, but by saying yes she made me the luckiest man for the rest of my life.
Growing up, I always had an idea of what my future wife would be like whenever I would think or dream about her. She would be smart, funny, beautiful, loving, kind, caring, clever, talented ---- basically, she would be perfect. However, no matter how hard I tried, I could never put a face to her. Just as I was about to finally see what she looked like, I would wake up or it would get stuck. And this went on forever; I always knew what she was like, but never who she was. I always hoped that maybe God would slip up and accidentally give me a sneak peak... but nope. Then, I finally met Nelam. Soon thereafter, when I had those same dreams and thoughts, it was Nelam who was in them. After 27 years, the girl of my dreams finally had a face. She was everything I thought she was going to be, but more. I can actually say that she was better than my dream girl.
Fast (but really slow) forward to 4/30/22 and I can officially say that I married my dream girl.
In the beginning of 2016, I remember sitting in my room saying I was going to use that year to focus on myself. I should've known right then what was going to happen.
Ameer was charming, funny, sweet, and I could talk to him for hours. A week into texting he asked me out. I was still in school and was studying for an exam so I said no to him for 2 weeks. He definitely thought I was blowing him off, but I really did have an exam! After I finished, I told him I'd be free to meet up. I said no to everyone that asked me out on there - except for him. Something was always different.
For our first date, we met for pizza in Westfield, got ice cream, and sat outside for literally hours just talking and laughing, until the owner of the restaurant we were sitting outside of kicked us out because it was closing. Ameer insisted on walking me to my car but I said no, so he called me to make sure I was safe. After our first date, I just knew. I felt it - he was the one. But, I didn't want to get too ahead of myself so I only admit it to 2 friends. We became a couple very soon after and went on a date in NY later in the summer, where Ameer took me to Washington Square Park and very nervously told me he loved me for the first time. I said it back without hesitation. We ended up walking around the city for a bit and came across a street billboard that had post-its all over it with different affirmations written. Ameer picked up the one that said “you’re perfect” and handed it to me. I still have it to this day.
Looking back to 6 years ago I can say with certainty that “when you know, you know” is true. As years passed, we met each other's parents, siblings and friends. We celebrated a lot of milestones and we became an integral part of each other's families, making them our own. Along the way, we survived 2 years of living 800 miles apart and of course, 2 wedding postponements amidst a pandemic. We've been through a lot together, but everything is just so much easier when you’re with the right person.
It sounds cliché, but it has always been different with Ameer. I knew from the very beginning that he was my person for a reason. He is smart, patient, dependable, kind, supportive, thoughtful, and a million other things. I could go on for hours about how incredible he is, and how lucky I feel to have met my soulmate and best friend. I am so glad that I get to marry him (again)!