This Love Story Is Brought To You By Ben & Jerry’s

In March 2020, Mumbai-born Ishan, living in San Jose, California, matched with Bhopal-native Gunjan, working in Frisco, Texas. They both were looking for something long term and happened to find each other on Dil Mil.

At first, Ishan actually couldn’t believe his luck and thought she must’ve swiped right by mistake.. dawww. But boy, was he smitten when he saw her profile. Their first chat had them both in giggles, and Ishan was soon convinced Gunjan was his ‘lobster’ (Friends reference, anyone?).

Meanwhile, Gunjan’s first impression of Ishan? Not exactly love at first call! He was a chatterbox extraordinaire, while she would usually end the call quick using three simple words “hmm, ok, bye.” When asked about a song that reminded her of him, she quipped, “Golmaal hai bhai sab golmaal hai” (It’s all a mess, brother!), cause she thought he was rather notorious.

But things changed soon! Within just two weeks, he dropped the L bomb, leaving her convinced he’d completely lost his marbles. The ice breaker? Three pints of Ben & Jerry’s, delivered right to her doorstep when she fell ill (one for her, one for her roommate and one for the friend who was visiting – he made sure nobody was left out). This small yet sweet gesture, reminiscent of her dad’s care, melted her heart faster than the ice cream itself. His kindness didn’t stop with her – it extended to the people she loved, proving he wasn’t just after her heart, but her whole world. Needless to say, he scooped his way right into her life!

In a move that would make any romantic hero proud, Ishan braved the pandemic to fly from San Jose to Dallas for their first meeting in Summer 2020. With restaurants closed, he channeled his inner MasterChef for their first date in an Airbnb that they had booked for the weekend. Luckily, Gunjan loved both the food and the company. They danced to their favourite Frank Sinatra song and till this day, remember their first date to be their most cherished date ever.

Like any and all couples, they had their fair share of challenges dealing with long distance but at the same time, their love story is as sweet as a sitcom! They never go to bed angry – preferring to cook up solutions (and delicious meals) together. Plus, these two are total “Friends” fanatics! They’re each other’s lobsters, with Ishan playing the Chandler to Gunjan’s Monica. He’s her “crapbag,” she’s his “Princess Consuela,” and together, they’ve found their perfect blend of romance and friendship. It’s like they’ve got their own real-life Central Perk right at home!

You know what came next.. yes the proposal. In January 2023, Ishan planned a romantic proposal at Sunset Cliffs, but Mother Nature had other ideas! A downpour forced a last-minute change to Balboa Park. Clever Ishan told Gunjan they were attending a friend’s wedding (talk about a white lie!). As they arrived, Gunjan spotted cameras, flowers, and… wait for it… Ishan on one knee! It wasn’t the “Friends”-inspired proposal he’d dreamed up, but it was perfectly imperfect. Gunjan was over the moon, proving that sometimes, the best plans are the ones that go a little off-script!

Soon after, they tied the knot in Indore on 16th February 2023 but oof it was quite the challenge making it to their own wedding. Since they both lived in the US, they had to indulge in long-distance planning which involved endless Pinterest Boards, Instagram reels and much more to orchestrate their big fat Indian wedding from across the globe!

To add to their troubles, Gunjan’s visa drama kept them on their toes until the last minute. But love (and bureaucracy) prevailed! They finally jetted off to India, where family, friends, and a whole lot of chaos awaited. In true Bollywood style, they pulled off the wedding of their dreams, proving that sometimes, the best plans are the ones that keep you guessing till the very end!

It does make you wonder tho, doesn’t it? Two people raised not too far from each other in India, moving abroad, building lives oceans apart, only to find each other on a dating app. Some stories write themselves… and some are written on Dil Mil. 😉
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