Lavanya’s mother has been the first and strongest pillar of our relationship. Her acceptance, warmth, and the ease with which she welcomed both of us made everything simpler from the start. She never made it feel complicated or uncertain, just natural. For that, we remain deeply grateful.

Back in 2018, we were still in school when Lavanya met my parents. They liked her instantly, and from that moment, there was always a certain comfort, a quiet connection between both sides. Over the years, we’ve had the chance to meet each other’s families on different occasions, sometimes at my home, sometimes at hers, sometimes with extended families around. Each meeting carried warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging that grew naturally over time.

We’ve been lucky. Our parents, our relatives, and everyone close to us never made things difficult. They trusted us, respected our choices, and stood by us without asking for explanations. While most people look for understanding outside, we found it right within our homes.

And then come our friends. 😉
Well, let’s just say they’ve played their part, loudly, quietly, and sometimes even too well. They’ve been our cover stories, our secret keepers, our trip planners, and occasionally, our damage control officers. They’ve seen us at our best and our worst, helped us sneak away for moments that only they and we know about, and supported us when things got complicated.

We can’t really explain everything they’ve done for us (and honestly, we probably shouldn’t), but we know this without them, so many memories wouldn’t exist. Over time, our worlds merged, Lavanya’s friends, mine, and now a bunch of them who belong to both of us. They’ve celebrated us, protected us, and most importantly, never let us forget who we are together.

To our families and friends, thank you for being the quiet strength behind our story, for understanding what words couldn’t say, and for standing with us every step of the way.