As the lockdown was announced, post thorough contemplation, Anuj decided to fly down to his family in India for a few days. This was the first time we were experiencing a ‘long distance relationship’. But the challenge of trying to keep the spark alive is what kept us going.

Whenever I would feel low, he would take me on a virtual tour through his town. I saw where he grew up, where he studied, where he played, I was discovering things about him that I hadn’t before.

Although I missed holding him, the distance made our communication stronger. So on my birthday eve, when he showed up out of nowhere to surprise me, I didn’t scream, I didn’t jump, I just held him close for a good ten minutes. And later at night, when he asked me to be his wife, I said yes!

The distance actually made the decision of saying ‘yes’ easier because it was in the distance that I found clarity. It made my faith in our relationship stronger. And while we don’t want to be at two different ends of the world again, I’m sure that we’re ready for any challenge that might come our way. 

Hiral and Anuj