When a love that has been longed for finally comes your way, nothing, not even oceans, continents, time zones, or different cultures can separate you from being with the love of your life. This is our story. The eHarmony love story of Teresa and Vipul.

eHarmony introduced Vipul and I on December 29, 2003, and since then our lives have forever been changed into something absolutely beautiful. We both joined with great expectations of finding our soul mate and living happily ever after but these expectations were far surpassed by the thoroughness and quality that eHarmony offers with their 29 dimensions of compatibility and also their ability to locate that perfect match anywhere in the world. eHarmony was the first online relationship site that I had ever personally tried. My friends told me of other online dating websites but nothing about them impressed me enough to sign up. Vipul had experimented with a few dating sites through their free trials and was not impressed enough to subscribe. eHarmony gave Vipul and I much more than just an open field where you cross your fingers and hope you pick the right picture and name. They gave us a chance to find out who we are with their free personality profile and then matched us up with compatible people.

Vipul and I will often talk about that first moment when we looked at each other’s profile and the feeling that there was something extra special about our match. We both agree that it was not just one thing that first attracted us to each other but rather we had that unexplainable sense that you just know this is the one. It still amazes us to think that a lady from Virginia and a man living in India would have so much in common with such chemistry. Even though we had a 10.5 hour difference in time zones and oceans between us, the feelings that began on December 29th grew into a deep love that built the greatest and strongest bridge which sealed the gap of time, distance and culture.

Our first date was a little different from others. Most dates do not require a passport, a visa, or a 24-hour plus flight, nor do most dates begin at 2:00 in the morning and last for six weeks. Our date began on the morning of February 10, 2004, at the airport in Mumbai, India. What a moment that was to finally meet in person and to have an opportunity to hold each other in our arms. During our six weeks together, the feelings we had shared online only multiplied into a deeper and closer relationship and we knew that we were meant for each other. We became engaged on February 25, 2004, and enjoyed a wonderful celebration with Vipul’s family and friends. On March 21, 2004, my time in India had come to an end and we had to say goodbye. We had our wedding date set for September 25, 2004, but because of the fact that Vipul would have to go through all of the proper channels in order to receive his fiancé visa, we knew this could possibly take much longer than six months. When the moment came to depart from each other’s arms and say our final farewell, the reality of this fact was so strong. I can remember standing on the other side of the roped-off barrier and not knowing for sure when we would see each other again. Love at times like this is bitter sweet but yet love pushes you beyond your limits in order to grow richer, thus creating an endless future of endless love.

After completing and submitting a mountain size stack of government paperwork, after Vipul’s interview at the U.S. embassy in Mumbai, India, which also included him walking through thigh-high water on his way back to Baroda due to flood from the monsoon, after planning our wedding on total faith without my groom by my side, and keeping my fingers crossed that he would land in the USA just in time to walk down the aisle, and finally after five months and fifteen days later, Vipul landed at Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. on September 5, 2004. Seeing each other again was the greatest reward that either one of us could have ever asked for. All that we had been through during those months of being apart was all worth that moment of being back in each other’s arms again. It was as if time had stood still and we were the only people on the planet. To know we were finally together forever and to know that we were about to be married in 20 days was such a joy and comfort. We had made it through such a challenging time and therefore we knew our relationship and marriage would last throughout time no matter the obstacles that may come and go.

The date that began as a dream in India became a reality on September 25, 2004. The candles were lit, the music was playing, the church was transformed into a beautiful exotic garden, and the wedding party was in place. Vipul was standing with the pastor at the end of the aisle. My father and I were at the entrance of the sanctuary and all of our friends and family members stood as they heard the wedding march. Vipul and I were beaming as I began to walk down the aisle. Our vows were declared and our rings were exchanged. Finally, at the end of the ceremony we hear, “I now pronounce you husband and wife”. This was our dream come true.

The song “Somewhere Out There” was the song that we chose for our first dance during our wedding reception. The first line says, “Somewhere out there beneath the pail moon light, someone’s thinking of me and loving me tonight.” It goes on to say, “And even though I know how very far apart we are, it helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star.” The end of the song says, “Somewhere out there if love can see us through, then we’ll be together, somewhere out there, out where dreams come true”. This song describes our story so perfectly. In the beginning we were two people staring at the night sky in order to feel the closeness of each other. Now we are no longer two but one, joined together by our love, and walking hand in hand into our future.

Thank you eHarmony for opening the world up to Vipul and myself and for allowing us to find the love of our lives.