Learn about how we met

Harshal was a fourth year medical student. Kate was in her second year of her MPH, living in St. Louis, Missouri. She thought he was a student in the area too. Spoiler - he was not! 

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Like almost all modern couple these days, we met on an app and hit it off immediately. We quickly learned we shared a love of Steinbeck, that we had both spent time working and volunteering in Honduras, and that we both loved different versions of Eric Clapton's song "Layla". After a few days, we knew we had to meet and had both told our best friends that we were about to meet someone very special or we were being stalked. 

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On November 8, 2018, we met at a brewery. While parking, Kate's brother called and she asked him to talk her to the front door because she was so nervous. As she shared her nerves on the phone and checked the parking meter, she heard, "You don't have to pay at this hour!" She went to thank the anonymous voice and found an over 6 ft tall, pale as the moon unhoused man with an impressive Mike Tyson-esque face tattoo walking toward her (this is relevant, we promise!). 

 

She thanked him and got off the call with her brother. He started walking her to the brewery and asked, "Is there any chance you have some cash on you tonight?". Kate either always had cash for this exact reason or never had it because she'd already used it for this reason. This evening it was the latter. 

 

She apologized and he said, "That's okay! By the way, you look beautiful this evening." Thrilled, she answered, "Thank you! I'm about to go on a date!" 

 

Without missing a beat, "Does your date happen to have any cash?" 

 

She laughed. "It's actually our first date, so I'm not sure." 

 

He immediately backed off. "Oh no! Don't ask him, you don't want him to think you're gold digger." They laughed together as Kate made it to the door and he wished her luck on the date while she wished him luck finding support that evening. 

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When Kate walked inside, she found Harshal at the bar, dressed immaculately with a backpack of scrubs at his side. The second she heard his voice, she said it felt like he just clicked into place and everything suddenly made sense, like she had the full picture right then and it was perfect. 

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They talked for hours and it felt like they were already friends. Eventually Harshal looked at his watch and almost jumped out of his seat. "I'm going to be late for work!" He had planned their date for right before a night shift. ​

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Harshal walked Kate out and said, "I never know how to end these things. But I would really like to kiss you. Can I?" 

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Kate nodded, Harshal dropped the scrubs and we had our first kiss. When we turned to look outside, it was like magic. It had suddenly begun to snow, in early November, in Missouri. Harshal couldn't help it and pulled Kate outside to kiss again in the snow. 

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Kate needed to travel the next day for the weekend. We ended up talking for over two hours on during the drive. She was back by Sunday and Harshal had them scheduled for a date that evening. 

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We talked until the restaurant shut down. Harshal admitted that our first date was his birthday. As we got kicked out, we decided to take a walk. As Harshal pulled Kate in to kiss, she heard a familiar voice say, "Well, it seems like that first date went well!" ​

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It was the same unhoused gentleman from the first date, who Kate had told Harshal about. He turned to Harshal and said, "You know, she was really nervous about her date with you, I heard her tell her brother all about it." 

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Harshal smirked. Kate had pulled out cash again, specifically because of her first encounter and was ready this time. He told us both his life story and what he'd been through. Harshal pulled out cash too and wished him all the best. In that moment, it felt like we both really understood one another and what we truly valued. 

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The next day, Harshal admitted what he had been dreading to share - he would be on a flight to LA by the next weekend and on to his next rotation location. It seemed unlikely we'd ever see someone again after only a little over a week together. We didn't care - we spent every minute outside of work and class spending time together and the week flew by. 

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On the last night before the flight, Harshal told Kate, "I know this is crazy, but I talked to my friend and he said I'd be stupid to give up on something this special. Is there any chance you're crazy enough to go for this too?" Kate agreed. 

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We stayed up all night, until we watch the sun rise. Kate drove Harshal to the airport. As Kate went to say goodbye, she didn't know how to sum up everything she felt. She felt changed, but it had been a week. So she just said, "Well, it was nice meeting you!" 

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Because it was nice meeting each other. No matter if we never saw each other again or spent the rest of our lives together, it would always have been nice that we met. We would never regret the joy we had already brought to each other, no matter how impossible all the steps ahead felt. 

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For the next two and a half years of long distance, that's how we ended every visit. 

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So much has happened in our six and a half years together. So many impossible challenges and hardships. And so much love and joy and adventure. We hope that's how it always is. 

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It was nice meeting each other. It's even better loving each other. And we think it's going to be the best spending our lives together. ​​

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And it was nice meeting you too! Thank you for wanting to celebrate our marriage, and this miraculous love that we found in each other. ​​