Shruti & Zachary

Like all great love stories, ours started with some very determined friends.

Shruti's friend Nazat was convinced Zack was the perfect person for her. He had a cute dog, loved board games, and was a fellow science nerd. What more evidence did anyone need?

They met at Board and Brew near the University of Maryland. Over coffee, Shruti destroyed Zack at Jenga. While Zack was busy recovering from defeat, Shruti realized something much more important: The Jenga tower fell, but something much stronger had started to build.

They soon discovered they had common grad school friends but they never crossed paths.

When Zack met Shruti's friends, he survived what can only be described as an intensive interview process. Every question was carefully designed to determine whether he was worthy of their beloved friend.

When Shruti met Zack's friends, they had a different observation: Zack had finally met his match. Somehow Shruti was even more mischievous than he was... and even less punctual.

Before meeting anyone else, Shruti had to meet the dog who started it all: Lilly. By the end of their first hike together, Shruti had her seal of approval.

Zack met Shruti's brother Vishnu over Korean food. The two bonded quickly over shared interests and, unfortunately for Shruti, over finding new ways to prank her.

Shruti celebrated her first Christmas with Zack's family and met his mom, whose warmth and kindness made her feel at home from the very beginning.

Before Zack met Shruti's mom, Shruti spent days wondering how it would go. By the end of the evening, Shruti felt like she was the third wheel at her own family meeting.

After everyone had met individually, it was finally time for both families to come together. That day, two families already felt like one.

In 2024, Zack officially became "Dr. Zachary Smith," defended his thesis, and moved to New York.

What followed was a relationship powered by countless Amtrak tickets, weekend visits, video calls, and the determination to make every mile worth it.

When Shruti graduated and began working in Boston, the distance remained but so did the commitment. New York and Boston became connected by a familiar train route and two people who always found their way back to each other.

When Zack decided to propose, he wanted the blessing of Shruti's close family.

He called every member of Shruti's family to ask for their blessing, including speaking with Janamma for the very first time. Shruti's mom was so excited that she answered with an enthusiastic "Of course!" before Zack had even finished asking the question.

Together, we designed the engagement ring, inspired by a nickname Janamma gave Shruti on the day she was born: Roja Poo [ரோஜா பூ], a pink flower.

To complete the floral theme, Zack chose the New England Botanic Garden as the place to propose.

As we wandered through the garden that day, Shruti couldn't shake the feeling that the universe was leaving little clues along the way. She spotted flowers that reminded her of her grandmother's garden and blooms her grandfather once used in prayers (Arali Pooh). She saw golden retrievers that looked just like Lilly, who unknowingly played matchmaker from the very beginning.

Then came the sign neither of us could have planned.

The garden happened to be hosting a gnome exhibition. Out of all the winding paths, colorful displays, and whimsical corners, the exact archway where Zack planned to propose had a "Bee Kind” gnome standing proudly in front of it.

Standing beneath that archway, it felt remarkable that the place where we would begin this next chapter was marked by a reminder of a value that had shaped both of our lives.

What are the odds the exact spot where Zack would ask the biggest question of his life would be watched over by a little "Bee Kind" gnome?

And, of course, Shruti said yes.

Surrounded by family, friends, laughter, and more than a few happy tears, we celebrated our engagement and the next chapter of our journey together.

What began with a board game, a determined friend, and a very persuasive golden retriever became a story filled with train rides, family traditions, unexpected signs, and countless adventures.

And now, we can't wait for the biggest adventure yet.

The day we say "I do."