Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a vibrant lady from the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, and a charismatic gent from the heart of Africa, Nigeria. These two wandering souls, carrying an assortment of spices and culture, found their paths intertwining at the esteemed Bowie State University. In the golden fall of 2017, their scholarly pursuits led them to a grand research conference. The lady, deeply engrossed in the world of Business, and the gentleman, ever so fascinated by English Literature, both presented their groundbreaking research. They spotted each other from across the crowded room, their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Alas, they were strangers then - two ships passing in the night - little did they know that fate was playing a cheeky game with them. Fast forward a few months, they were thrown together into the executive board of the same club. They started off as colleagues, polite conversations, from sharing pizza slices during meetings to bickering over the budget allocations, a beautiful camaraderie bloomed amidst spreadsheets and event planning. A shared love for faith, food and fun , leading to deep conversations, shared dreams, and a friendship that transcended borders. They became each other's anchors in this foreign land, their friendship growing stronger with each passing day. They became an inseparable duo –the Nigerian Prince and the Sri Lankan Princess. Then, as stealthily as a ninja cat, love crept into the picture. It started with stolen glances, lingered high-fives, and extra cups of coffee saved during study nights. But, of course, it wasn't all Bollywood style love songs and dramatic rain sequences. They were best friends after all, and "falling in love" wasn't part of the club's executive board manual. The journey to love wasn't as smooth as the Sri Lankan silk or as straight as Nigerian freeways. There were friendzonings involved. Ahem! No names to be mentioned, but let's say the "let's just be friends" speech was given more than once. Between the laughter, disagreements, uncertainties, and the "are we more than friends?" conundrum, they braved it all. Their friendship was tried and tested, like a coconut in a Sri Lankan curry or a yam in a Nigerian stew. They navigated through these tumultuous waters with a few heartaches and awkward silence that even a dance-off couldn't break. But their story was one of resilience, patience, and a lot of "let's sort this out over a cup of tea" sessions. Despite all odds, their hearts recognized the deep love they had for each other. They redefined the laws of physics because, in their case, opposites attracted and how! It was a dance of two souls intertwining, two cultures merging, and two lives becoming one. Now, they stand stronger together, ready to weather any storm that comes their way. Their friendship has bloomed into a beautiful relationship, ready to be sealed with vows of togetherness. From being strangers to friends, best friends, and now soon-to-be-married, they've come a long way. As they prep for this new adventure, they laugh at the past hiccups, reminisce about the memories made, and look forward to creating a future filled with love, respect, and a fusion of Nigerian jollof and Sri Lankan chicken curry. And while their story is still being written, one thing is clear: no matter the country, no matter the circumstance, love indeed finds its way.