Shivani and Billy’s journey began in Austin, Texas, where both had separately relocated from the Northeast during the pandemic, each seeking a new beginning and unsure of what the future would hold.
Their paths first crossed at a concert in downtown Austin, the live music capital of the world. Their respective friend groups started mingling, and Shivani and Billy met for the first time. They were pleasantly surprised to discover that they lived in the same building. After a night of chatting and dancing to the sweet melodic beats of Lee Burridge, Billy chivalrously walked Shivani home, and they exchanged numbers.
Soon after, Billy reached out with a smooth line: “I’m heading out of town… can you watch my plants?” Shivani, true to her caring nature, not only tended to his plants but even nursed several back to health. Those plants soon became the perfect excuse to see each other, with pick-ups and drop-offs turning into long conversations and eventually blossoming into a meaningful connection.
As the seasons changed, so too did their relationship. By the fall, their friendship had grown into love. Together, they made their first memories in Austin—attending the Austin City Limits music festival and Formula 1 Grand Prix, paddle-boarding on Lady Bird Lake, enjoying tacos, and watching the glorious Texas sunsets.
Over the years that followed, Shivani and Billy supported one another through life’s milestones, including Shivani’s MBA studies at the University of Minnesota. Shivani, fully aware that Billy isn’t the biggest fan of cold weather, knew how much he really cared for her as he braved the Minnesota winters to frequently visit her.
Their bond deepened through shared careers in financial services and a mutual love for travel and new experiences. Together, they have visited 21 countries, with their most cherished journey being to the Netherlands, where Billy proposed.
For Shivani and Billy, their story has always felt serendipitous—a series of chance moments that led them to one another at just the right time.
