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Our story began on 11th January 2020, at the Rosewood Hotel in Central London. Ravi was a plus one at the event and, by fate, happened to be seated at our table. We spent the evening talking and laughing, something about our conversation just felt effortless.
What made it even more surprising was that we later realised we had already lived such similar lives without ever meeting. We were both studying in Bournemouth at the same time and shared overlapping friendship circles, yet somehow our paths never crossed.
After that night, we stayed in touch, but then the world suddenly changed as Covid hit. Though we couldn’t meet in person for months, we spent hours on FaceTime, getting to know each other. We even met each other’s families virtually before we did in person.
When restrictions finally eased, Our first official date was on 1st August 2020, a moment that felt long overdue. the dates after that were outdoors, long walks, park picnics, and hot drinks in the cold, simple moments that became some of our favourite memories.
Looking back, it’s funny to think how close our paths had already come to crossing. Ravi had been in Bournemouth working since he was 18, and at that same age, I was studying at Bournemouth University. Who knows, we might have passed each other at Asda or even on the beach!
Eventually, Ravi moved to London for work, and our long-distance chapter came to a close. From chance seating arrangements to video calls and seaside coincidences, the rest, as they say, is history.
The proposal
The proposal
On 26th September 2024, Ravi completely surprised me with a trip to Cappadocia, a place I’d once mentioned, almost flippantly, on one of our very first dates. I’d said how I’d love to go there one day to see the hot air balloons... and somehow, he remembered.
Simi had always dreamed of flying in a hot air balloon, and Cappadocia is one of the few places in the world where it truly feels magical, with hundreds of balloons taking flight together at sunrise.
What I didn’t know at the time was that Ravi had been planning this moment for over a year. I had no idea where we were going until we arrived. On the morning of the proposal, we set off at 5:30am (which, for anyone who knows Ravi, is very out of character). As the sun began to rise and the sky filled with balloons, a woman approached us and asked if we wanted some photos taken.
Very unlike us, I pushed myself well outside my comfort zone and did the unthinkable. I had organised a secret photographer to set the scene and capture the moment without Simi knowing a thing.
I was ready to say no, I just wanted to enjoy the view, but Ravi quickly convinced me otherwise. She led us a little further along to get a better view of the balloons, took a few photos of us, and then asked to take some of just me. She told me to turn my back and pretend to hug the balloons, which, for anyone who knows me, knows I also do not like photos of myself.
When she told me to turn back around, there was Ravi, down on one knee, with a Haribo ring and the most amazing shoes.
Those who know us, know how much we love our trainers, so it only felt right to propose with a pair of custom trainers alongside a Haribo ring, as I always said the right person would say yes no matter what. Both of which, I had anxiously transported from the UK through three airport security checks without somehow giving anything away.
The moment was absolutely magical. Afterward, we spent the morning watching the balloons drift across the sky, soaking in every second. We ended it perfectly with dinner at a Japanese restaurant, one of our favourites, chatting, laughing, and debriefing about the entire process.
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