It all started at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, where a chance introduction changed our lives forever. Kavina’s cousin (and one of Noah’s groomsmen), Nikhil, played matchmaker and brought us together. From that first meeting, we were inseparable, making our relationship official just three weeks later. Fast forward, and our bond has only grown stronger with every moment we’ve shared.

Our first formal date was at Porch Light Pizza, where we split a BBQ chicken pizza and soaked in the charm of Pullman, sitting on the retired train tracks connecting campus to downtown. Some of our sweetest memories are from our frequent trips to Ferdinand’s, WSU’s iconic ice cream shop run by the Department of Animal Sciences, where we fell in love with their Mocha Coffee Milkshakes.

After five and a half incredible years filled with love and laughter, Noah planned the ultimate “trip-of-love” and proposed on South Beach in the San Juan Islands. The day was filled with all of Kavina’s favorites—whale watching, witnessing orcas “spy-hopping,” Duckhorn wine, farm-to-table dining, and a couple’s massage. It was everything Kavina could have dreamed of and more, marking the beginning of the next exciting chapter of our lives together.

As a couple, we thrive on our shared love of food, adventure, and a little bit of friendly competition. Whether it’s academics, spike ball, or nightly games of Jeopardy, we’re constantly challenging each other and finding joy in the little victories (or debating who really won). Living in Seattle, we’ve loved exploring the city’s vibrant food scene, from dim sum to sigawot and injera—because for us, food truly is life.

This March, our next chapter begins when we find out where Noah’s General Surgery residency will take us. Kavina, meanwhile, is thriving in her role with Stryker as an Orthopedic Trauma Sales Rep, building relationships in the OR and beyond. Wherever life takes us, we know we’ll be tackling it together—with love, laughter, and plenty of good food along the way.