Once upon a time a salsa dude met a salsa chica... He had just come from having Indian food with his Chinese buddy and had delicious heat activated spices pouring our of his pores... As they danced she smelled the familiar spices and said,

"I'm sorry if I smell like Indian food."

"Actually, that's me." replied the Salsa Dude. She looked and him and laughed thinking to herself, this one's different.

Later that night when everyone was saying goodbye, Salsa Dude said goodbye to her in Hindi, thinking that was gonna get her attention and make her think he was cool.

"Yo, what the fuck?! This dude speaks Hindi?!" She exclaimed loudly while spontaneously laughing at the surprise. Mission accomplished, she remembered him.

He liked her a lot right away... She was funny and confident and direct. Very quickly he thought about asking her out, but life had other plans for both of them. Different paths for a time.

Over the years when both were free, he would check in and try to get her attention, but she was busy being a Salsa Superstar and growing through challenges and changes that life had for her. A few plans were made to hang out sometime, but remained as plans. Good intentions at least between busy distracted friends.

MANY YEARS LATER, she got added to a group chat of all his camping buddies. He finally had a chance to get noticed, so he continued to say funny things and do cool shit so she could observe him in action.

She liked it... Not long after, they went to Gharba with some friends. It's a festival that originated in the worship of the mother, the womb, the divine feminine, and has lots of dancing in big circle representing life.

At one point, a cute little Indian toddler all dressed up in a sari waddled past them... CUTE AS SHIT, for real.

"OMG my ovaries!!!" exclaimed Salsa Chick

"You want to make one with me some day?" said Salsa Dude

"Whuuut?" replied Salsa Chica, staring into his eyes wondering if he meant it or was just creepy...

He meant it, but she missed the memo, so he spent the rest of the night being funny and doing cool shit and talking with her. She found out he was raised with a lot of the same background as her and started to get intrigued. This one's different, she thought again. Something was working.

Over the next few months she started inviting him to random shindigs here and there. They kept talking, she kept getting intrigued. He stayed very patient, knowing good things, like delicious Indian dishes, take time and should not be rushed.

Finally, life decided it was time. After a night of camping, Salsa Dude and Salsa Chick finally got a chance to spend a whole day together talking about everything in life, babies, marriage, even death. They had moments of laughter, debate, unfiltered rawness, and complete honesty. Both took risks and both found a home in the other.

Salsa Dude and Salsa Chica each went home super excited and within a few days made it official. A week later they made it public, although some friends had already guessed that love was brewing. A week after that, Salsa Dude called his parents and told them he had found his wife and his kids' future mom.

Then a whole year went by... Salsa Chica didn't know it, but Salsa Dude was already ring shopping and working on getting the right design. Shit was tough... took a while. Then finally, during the same Indian celebration of the Womb, Mother, and Goddess, at the exact place they had seen the little toddler the previous year, he stopped all his friends for a second to ask her again...

"Hey babe... remember when we saw that cute kid and I asked you if you wanted to make one together some day?What's your answer now?"

"Of course!" she said, awkwardly looking at the group that had very happily stopped to listen. Why were they all just smiling and staring?

"Good" he said, then dropping to one knee, "Will you marry me then?"

Instinctually, in the universal gesture of a girl who is ready to marry her man, her hands found their way to her face, covering her mouth as she gasped in surprise.

"Yo, what the fuck?!" She exclaimed, just like their first meeting. Then after a moment, realizing she hadn't finished, "Yes! Of course!".

Since then, life continues to be epic together despite any challenges thrown their way. They've growth closer, discovered new hobbies together and gone on more adventures. Also a lot of Netfilx shows, so much Taco Bell and too much laundry/dishes and chores. But they like LIFEing together and start each day grateful for the other, excited for the years ahead.

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