Two hearts, one journey

It was the evening of February 6th, 2022. Unlike Houston’s usual balmy winter nights, there was brisk cold air flowing. Tanya was simply enjoying some hot ramen with one of her besties. It was a girl’s night out, the moon lighting up the sky and their smiles lighting up their faces. And as most millennials know, no urban adventure is complete without an Instagram post of your carefully planned ensemble. Click...photo posted! Now, what happens when a woman is in her goddess energy and has finally found peace within herself? Yup, you guessed it. A man comes stumbling along to join in on the fun-or better yet-“slides into her DMs.” Tanya’s innocent post that night caught someone’s attention in particular. Ayaz, who also has a very happening social life, is actually a gentle giant. He always talked about wanting a partner who “has a pretty face,” but is also “nice.” (How can men be so simple, yet so complicated at the same time? Sigh…) Something told Ayaz that Tanya fit the bill unlike anyone else—she would be as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She could be The One. And that was scary. But alas, Ayaz gathered up his courage to make the first move. DM sent! Now, the message didn’t profess his love for Tanya or anything (Ayaz had to keep it cool after all). But it was enough to do the trick. When Tanya received the message, she didn’t categorize him as a creep as they had crossed paths many times since high school. At best, she thought, “He could be The One!” At worst, she thought, “Hmm okay, worth a dinner.” (We don’t really want to know the truth.) They had their first date on Wednesday, February 16th at The Melting Pot. And just like that, Wednesdays became Tanya and Ayaz’s date nights. What started off as a relationship centered on food, transformed into one that centers on the love for one another. If you have ever been around these two, you have witnessed their back-and-forth banter, teasing, and constant jokes. But beneath the surface lies a deeper, profound understanding of the needs, joys, insecurities, and dreams of each other. It did not take long for Ayaz to recognize Tanya for who she really is—her heart of gold. On December 9, 2023, Tanya began her day hoping for some breakfast tacos. Instead, she had to settle for airport food because Ayaz was taking her to Charleston, South Carolina. Ayaz, who just 2 years prior insisted on keeping his cool, got down on one knee at the Cypress Gardens, looked up at the woman of his dreams, and professed his love to Tanya. He proposed marriage—a union that would extend lifetimes. With her heart full of love and a knowing that he is her person, “she said yes.” Tanya and Ayaz are overwhelmed with joy to celebrate their journey with the one’s dearest to them in the beautiful city of Lisbon and to say "I Do" to each other's forever love. Ameen.