Chicken wings are a messy, awkward food to eat in front of somebody on a first date. But that’s exactly what we did. From the beginning, there has always been a sense of comfort and familiarity between us, the kind that allows the walls to come down easily.

We met a few weeks prior on the dance floor of Club Cafe, Boston’s premier gay night club. We both had friends with us from out of town but soon abandoned them to talk to each other (you can guess who started the conversation).

We bonded over a love of exercise, travel, and food.

The first time Ajay cooked for Michael, he made his famous mushroom carbonara orecchiette. Michael conveniently neglected to mention he was sensitive to gluten, garlic, and onions, all key ingredients in the dish, and suffered in silence. Ajay, deeming those intolerances “incompatible with life,” took it upon himself to slowly rehabilitate Michael’s stomach.

Michael, a Boston native, helped Ajay find a home away from home in New England. One day, he spontaneously whisked Ajay away on a surprise trip to Rockport and rekindled his love for the Northeast. Between navigating Boston accents and the path to ENT residency, Michael has been Ajay’s constant support. Since then, life has taken us to incredible places — Mexico, Thailand, India, Europe, and even the exotic land of Connecticut, where we’ve now settled for Ajay’s residency.

Fast forward to December 2024: after weeks of acting suspiciously weird, Ajay got down on one knee to propose to Michael during a quiet walk through the Newport Bay Ecological Reserve in California. Michael, feeling antisocial that day, nearly missed the proposal because he wanted to nap instead — but thankfully, Ajay got him out of bed and the ring on his finger.

What Ajay didn’t know was that Michael had been planning to propose as well (and had secretly gotten his ring made first!). Later that same day at their engagement party, Michael turned the tables and proposed right back — and the rest is history.

We are so excited to take on the next phase of life as a married couple. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey. We are thrilled for you to join in our celebration!