Ours is basically an arranged marriage with a little family history behind it. We are both from Muslim families, and our parents have known each other for years. Our families are also connected through relatives and have known each other since our ancestors’ time, so there was already a bond of familiarity and trust. Eventually, the idea of our marriage came up through the elders. Since both families knew each other well and shared similar values and backgrounds, they felt we could be a good match. We were given the chance to talk, understand each other and decide for ourselves. Thankfully, we connected naturally, our thoughts and values matched, and with the blessings of both families, everything slowly fell into place. What started as a traditional family-arranged proposal became a beautiful relationship between the two of us. So, it was arranged by our families, but the love and understanding grew between us.