As many love stories begin these days, ours started with a match on the popular dating app, Hinge. Prior even to meeting in person, the conversation got off to a promising start with Andy’s opening line about which Harry Potter house Aparna was in (Gryffindor, of course) not knowing at the time that this was truly the way to her heart.
It didn’t take long for Aparna and her Ravenclaw suitor to set a date to meet in person. And so, on Tuesday February 19th, 2019 the two planned to meet for their very first date - a “Taco Crawl” in the Mission District of San Francisco. And while it began like any other ordinary Tuesday in San Francisco, by the end, it would be the start of an extraordinary love story between two starry-eyed San Francisco transplants.
At the first stop of the crawl (Taqueria Vallarta), Aparna and Andy shared their first street taco and cerveza together. Andy was immediately taken by Aparna’s beautiful, warm smile and subtle wit. And Aparna was enamored by Andy’s big brown eyes, kind heart, and punniness that even outrivaled her own.
After discussing their favorite parts of the city they both called home, the topic turned to one of Andy’s preferred viewpoints of San Francisco, Bernal Heights hill which, as it happened, was only a short walk away. With a sense of adventure and curiosity that she still has today, Aparna suggested an alternate course for the night which included a pit stop for a box of wine and a hike up to the top of the hill. It was on top of this hill and under the auspicious supermoon that their conversation continued and the sparks began to fly.
At their final stop of the night down the hill at the Blind Cat dive bar, Andy finally worked up the courage to ask Aparna on their second date, a concert by one of their now favorite artists BAYNK. The following dates further affirmed the attraction and comfort the two felt with each other and within just a couple months, during a heart-to-heart in Aparna’s favorite spot – in front of the heater eating late night burritos – they realized that they had fallen for each other.
In the many months and years that followed they’ve experienced the many joys and challenges of life, but always together. From Aparna’s graduation from law school, to traveling the world, a number of job changes, housing moves, and even a pandemic, they’ve done it all…together.
And, on August 6th, 2022, at the very same viewpoint on top of Bernal Heights that was witness to their budding love, Andy proposed to Aparna and she said yes (!!!) to embark on a life of continuous growth, learning, and adventures, always together.