Our story
What started as two short stays in London turned into a lifetime together.
Sameen had moved to London for work, expecting to stay only a couple of years. Around the same time, Gaya arrived in the city for her master’s degree in business — also planning to be there for just a couple of years. Little did they know, those “couple of years” would turn into a decade (and counting) of adventure, laughter, and love.
They met through a mutual friend at Facebook. The offices - in person, not online. Sameen remembers staring into Gaya’s eyes that evening but trying to play it cool (he didn’t want to mess things up with a friend of a friend!). Gaya, in true Gaya fashion, said she’d be “right back” after quickly popping home — which in London time meant hours later. But she came back, and Sameen was impressed. The night ended at a New Jersey-style diner, where debates were had (Sameen loves to win those) and sparks quietly began to fly.
On their third date, they kept finding new things to do, not wanting the day to end — fourteen hours later, they both knew this was something special.
Almost ten years and three beautiful daughters later, they still feel that way — still finding joy in adventures big and small, still debating who’s right, and still choosing each other every day.
The proposal
Every summer, Gaya and Sameen spend time with family and friends in New Jersey. One summer, they planned a family trip to Canada — and Sameen had a plan of his own. He wanted to propose to Gaya at Niagara Falls during a quiet morning stroll. But anyone with little kids knows that “quiet mornings” are mostly a myth.
He considered proposing on the boat through the falls but decided against it (wet hair and waterproof ponchos didn’t quite set the romantic mood). Determined to make it special, he booked a table at Le Bernardin in New York — a three-star Michelin restaurant. The same Sameen who once said after a Michelin dinner that he was still hungry and went to McDonald’s afterward. Needless to say, Gaya started to suspect something.
Before dinner, Sameen took Gaya to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, planning to propose during sunset. But Gaya’s fear of heights had her gripping a plastic pole for dear life — not exactly the romantic backdrop he imagined. So that plan went down (pun intended).
Dinner was lovely, though, and while the restaurant staff offered to hide the ring in Gaya’s drink, Sameen wisely passed on that idea. After dinner, as they walked through the New York streets, Gaya thought, “He’ll probably propose in Kenya.” But Sameen had other plans.
In true Sameen style, he stopped right there — in the middle of the street, on the way to his favorite chicken and rice shop — and asked Gaya to marry him. It was unexpected, last minute, hilarious, and perfectly them.
One very memorable chicken-shop proposal later — here we are, ready to celebrate with the people we love most.
