We once hitchhiked with a stranger, asking him to drop us anywhere since we had no destination in mind. Our story is kind of like that - an ongoing adventure of aligning with the course of life and welcoming its unpredictable twists and turns.
It began in Kuala Lumpur. We went running at the same park, yet never ran into each other. We matched on Tinder, but conversations came months later. I had already left Malaysia.
When I found Salil's Instagram message request, we were both grappling with the end of our first relationships. The universality of heartbreak brought solace in shared pain.
For the next 2 years, our connection blossomed with growing affection. Conflicts caused temporary withering. For a while, we didn't talk at all, later not as much as we used to.
I remember reaching out to him one night when I felt extremely lonely and lost. Though he didn't answer the phone, I like to think he heard my call. Shortly after, he surprised me with plans to come to Bali, the island I called home. From then on, everything went so fast.
We soon started living and traveling together. Salil's presence brought connection, playfulness, warmth and joy. Besides that, it took me on an inward journey, questioning my beliefs and way of life. With patience, clarity and compassion, he continues to guide me through initial denial, defensiveness and anger to face my weaknesses until this day.
He became my best friend and unexpectedly the father of my first child, too. Despite recent separation, no jobs and contrasting origins, we chose to face the challenges ahead.
Taking him as my husband in a $15 dress to the proposal "We should get the paper if necessary" was humbling. Yet, knowing I get to spend my life and raise our son with a man as caring about humanity and as committed to the truth as him makes me feel extraordinarily lucky.
Salil came to Germany to welcome Krishna Aditya to this world with me four months ago. For now, I care for him alone and anticipate the days of being reunited as a family again, trusting that so far everything has happened for us just at the right time and will continue to do so somehow. ❤️
simplysalil ...