Worth the wait,every year of it.

Back in 2015, I met my best friend… I just didn't know yet that she would become my whole world…

Mahi, you are the first person I want to tell everything to. You cheer the loudest for my smallest wins, and you are also my biggest critic, the one who never lets me settle for less than I can be. You make me want to be better, every single day.

A year ago, on 15 November, when I tied the knot, I knew I had made the best decision of my life. One year in, I'm more sure of it than ever. Every struggle it took to get here was worth it, because it led me to you.

You and I came from different faiths, different ways of life… and I never once wanted you to become someone else…

Many people feel that for a marriage to work, one of us would need to change faiths. I always believed love could make room for both. I fell in love with you exactly as you are, and I want you to always stay true to your faith. Accepting your values and your way of life, just as they are, was never a sacrifice for me. It's what I wanted from the start, and this first year together has shown me how beautifully two ways of life can share one home.

If even one couple reads this and feels a little braver, that's enough for me. You don't have to give up who you are to be with the one you love.

Four years of talking, waiting and praying… hoping our parents would see in you what I saw…

For me, it was never enough that just the two of us were sure. I wanted our parents to be part of our life, and to accept the way we wanted to live it. So I kept talking, kept being patient, and let time do its work. Slowly, worry turned into understanding, and understanding turned into trust. Watching our families grow closer this past year has been one of the best parts of being married.

To every couple still trying to convince their parents, here's what I learned: be patient. Time really does heal, and once your parents see what you see in your partner, nothing else matters.

To my parents, I don't think I can ever thank you enough. This journey showed me who truly stood with us. Not everyone could see beyond religion and old ideas, but you stood in front of me and protected me from all of it. You let me choose the life I wanted, and you stood by that choice even when it wasn't easy. Everything I have today began with your trust in me.

Attayya and Mamayya, thank you for trusting me with your daughter, and for making me feel like one of your own this past year. Becoming part of your family was everything I wanted. It wasn't just your daughter who came into my life. I also got two sisters and two sisters-in-law who have stood by me all the way.

To my sister and brother-in-law, thank you for taking so much on yourselves so that I could be with her. And to my two little nieces, thank you for welcoming your Mahi atta with open arms.

Prazwal and Lakshman, a year ago I honestly couldn't have handled the wedding and the reception on my own. Thank you for being there for every little thing.

One year on, I'm grateful to be surrounded by people who wanted the best for us, and who are truly happy to see us together.

Here's to our first year.