Our Story
Dan’s story
“Much of my life has unfolded through chance and luck. Oftentimes, what felt like just another day turned out to be a pivotal moment I would have never seen coming. Meeting Aayu was by far the most important and the most wonderful turn of fate.
Having just enrolled at the university of St Andrews - which in itself was another incredible stroke of luck - I had just moved in to Agnes Blackadder Hall. For the first few weeks I didn't engage much in social activities, but my mate Ryan convinced me to come to a birthday party a few floors up. The decision to go to that celebration would change my life forever.
I seen Aayu as soon as I walked in - the amazing laugh and the way she smiled with her cheeks, the dark flowing hair and the golden nose ring. I immediately decided to introduce myself (and I thank the gods every day that I did).
From then on we spent almost every day together - sharing classes, trying out the local restaurants, sharing our interests in arts and learning about our own cultures. My favourite of our time spent together was going to the beach almost every day to share lunch or to go for an evening bonfire. Looking back on it now I realise how lucky I was.
From Aayu I learned that Nepal was not in fact Sherpas drinking raksi at 4000 metres as Indiana Jones would have me believe. It is an incredible country with a strong, proud people, extremely aware of their ancestry and the traditions that established their unconquerable nation. Home to the fiercest of warriors (Gurkha), yet also the most welcoming, grounded and sincere people as I would come to find out when travelling there with Aayu for a charity project in 2017.
To this day that expedition has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. From the hospitality of the villagers in Charikot to the bustling streets of Kathmandu - and I got to experience it all with my true love by my side.
Since then our life together has been an adventure. After leaving St Andrews Aayu pursued a Master's in London, so I would take the train down every few weeks so we could be together, binge TV shows and try out all the local food. Unfortunately during that period the lockdowns began, which, despite being as difficult as it was, proved to me that our relationship was indestructible.
After Aayu moved back to Vienna I was determined to join her there, so I applied to a number of Master's courses that I was not expecting much from, however, luck was on my side yet again and I was enrolled in 2023. It was the first time being together again in close to 4 years and I couldn't have been happier.
My plan was always to propose to Aayu after graduating, so one evening at a family dinner with my heart in my mouth I asked Samir, Binita and Aashwin for her hand. Without a moments hesitation they said yes and they became my papa, mamu and bhai.
After close to 10 years together I now get the chance to marry the love of my life. From all of our shared interests, goals and all of the wee quirks that make us what we are - there couldn't be a better match. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us. Adventure awaits.”
Aayu’s story
“We met in 2016 in St Andrews, at a kitchen party in Agnes Blackadder Hall during the start of my second year and his first. I walked into a room full of strangers. And from across the room, our eyes met. After a while of making small talk and occasionally locking eyes with him, I decided to start a drinking game to get everyone involved. Somewhere in the chaos, he appeared beside me. And that was our opening. For the rest of the evening, the crowded room faded into the background.
He messaged me the very next morning, breaking every three-day rule I thought existed. I replied immediately. Our first date was at Burger, where we both unapologetically devoured our food; a habit that has never changed. Then we played pool. I won. (He has never recovered.)
Soon after, he switched into my social anthropology class - allegedly because it was easier. I have my doubts. We sat side by side learning about humans, while slowly learning about each other. A few months later, what had been effortless became official.
Not long after, we went to Glasgow together, and that was when I properly met Joanie and David. I was nervous and very eager to impress, like anyone would be meeting the parents. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, they made me feel at home. I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back, I think that’s when our roots started growing.
The next three years in St Andrews were filled with late nights in the library, walks on the beach with Tesco meal deals between classes, long evenings with friends, and me slowly learning the ways of Scottish culture - including understanding exactly when green and white is non-negotiable.
During university, we joined a charity supporting a project in Nepal, which eventually brought us there together. It was Dan’s first time seeing Nepal for himself and fact-checking the stories I had proudly (and perhaps creatively) been telling. He came ready for an adventure and left with a deep love for the country, the people, and - most enthusiastically - the food. He even outdid my uncle and brother in spice tolerance, though he paid dearly the next day. I knew then I’d chosen well.
After university, life took us to different cities. London. Glasgow. Vienna. And of course, lockdown. We realised it’s not the big moments that challenge long distance; it’s the small ones. So we made rules: good morning, good night, every day. Snapchats of cute animals. Weekly date nights with games, movies, and whatever series we were pretending not to binge.
It wasn’t easy. Four years apart rarely is. But we chose each other every single day. Eventually, Dan moved to Vienna for his master’s - a decision that meant leaving a lot behind, but choosing us fully.
Over the years, Dan has always made me feel completely accepted: for who I am, where I come from, and how deeply family shapes my world. I had seen glimpses of his respect for my culture and my values time and time again. But the two years he spent in Vienna - not just with me, but with my parents and my brother - showed me something even deeper. Watching him build his own relationship with them with such ease and respect, and seeing him fit so effortlessly into my world, quietly strengthened everything I had already known for a while.
Soon after finishing his degree, he took me back to Scotland for a visit. He was wonderfully secretive in the weeks leading up to it. I, on the other hand, had a quiet feeling something special might be coming; I just didn’t know when or where. So when he suggested we take a trip to St Andrews - three hours away, with no particular reason to go - I didn’t ask too many questions. And there, where everything began, he asked me to marry him.
Now, here we are, officially bringing Nepal and Scotland together, rooted side by side, and building a home that feels just as warm as the ones that raised us.”