I think it’s been 3 years since we had our first good conversation. At your desk. I remember a whole lot of it even today. The only friend I had long conversations with at Pepper.

And even then I thought that you’re just a nice, fun person to hangout with. Didn’t know you were one of the smartest in the room.

It took me a lot of time to know how very very smart you are. And super intelligent. Took me a few months even in the relationship.

But I wasn’t surprised really. My reaction would just be – oh you can’t get anything past that guy. Makes me really really realllyy happyy. I am so proud of the brain you have Kunal.

If I were you, I’d show off a bit atleast. Just casually drop info and what not. And let others know that I am smarter than them.

Maybe that’s why I am not the smartest haha xD. And maybe that’s your strength, or only a few privileged people get to know you that much.

My first realisation of “Kunal is so smart” was when you knew excel so well. Only few people in the world can do excel so well, and you are some ninja, idk. You had 10 tabs open and sheets linked to each other and you update one and others are updated all that linking and everything. And I came to you for the most basic request ever – can you vlookup please hehehehe – and you did that in seconds.

The 2nd was mostly from you being so eager to watch the play where Javed Sahab was going to narrate. And then I thought hmm, cultured and so smart to understand Javed Sahab n all. Such a cool guy.

And then it kept coming – the books you read and suggested, your knowledge on history, politics (I remember you calling Jaishankar like he was on a first name basis xD), sports, music, games, people in the office.

And parallelly your work! You work smart and hard, both! It’s deadly. The way you’d handle every task thrown on you. Every 15 days you’d be doing something as a side project with the main task you’re supposed to do – with 10 different variabled and still pull it off like crazy. And for events, I don’t think anyone in Pepper does it better than you.

The difference between you doing it and others doing it – the very first being selling internally. Everyone knows it’s happening. And you’d take everyone together, with your infectious energy and people would love what they’re doing. Get them snacks, chocolates, wait after them and what not. You don’t know how much that means to people, Kunal. This is absolute great leadership. You’re a natural.

And then launches. You nail it – you’re so prepared mentally for things – you think through all angles, the timelines, how people would behave, where it’d fail, who can do what best. Everything CMP that I did with you was so well planned – from training to demos to taking it forward.

And that’s why they can just put work on your shoulders, because somehow you just figure it out. You did Product Management, ffs! Dealing with devs and telling them what to do is so scary! You’re doing it, even when you’re not supposed to – with the whole team being absolute asses.

But it hit me the most when you told me your GMAT score xD. I mean I am so proud of my smart friends and you just said ki oh Drishti pls calm down, there are better people in the world hahahaha in my face.

And it’s not because that defines your smartness. Absolutely not. I see examples play everyday to know how beautiful your brain is. It just came to me as ki oh my god this guy can kill it WHEREVER HE WANTS TO. IT’S HIS CHOICE. HIS. CHOICE.

I remember you being so excited for being a commentator in the 1st cricket tournament and I thought – oh maybe he doesn’t like playing so much. Boy, was I wrong xD. Again, your choice. You choose to do commentary, because that’s more fun for you. And everybody was in splits, always. Even I was. I absolutely loved it the first time, and even after.

And then one day I learn that you’re so good at sports, all of them. And then indoor games too??!! Hello?!!

And then you knew so much about Yoga too! You know a lot about anatomy (more than me) and you could be a better yoga teacher you know? Anything you want to be.

And then days before we started dating, when I am crushing so hard over you – I come to know you WRITE? POEMS? Bhaiii – what can this beautiful mind not do?

And then you sent them to me, with translations such a kind man. I wouldn’t understand so many words you’d casually throw around in your poems. And I was hit v hard even then – when I read the first one you shared. AND IT WAS ABOUT ME? ME? PRIVILEGED. OBLIGED.

And then it kept coming, the GMAT score was hard hitting yes, but then were so many others that kept coming even after we started dating. Adnan Sami Concert – hum bhi baja lete h 15 instruments. Not even bragging about yourself, Just because you were annoyed at Adnan Sami you said that. Um? What? 15? (pls tell me if this is the right number or it’s higher?)

Things kept coming – how you explained how stuff in cars work, how to travel better, casual information about something I don’t know nothing about, me finding you have written papers about things I cannot pronounce.

And then just sweeping me away with remembering every word that comes out of my mouth. Normal people have sieves in their mind. You have a deep well. Everything stays. Everything.

And then you’ll give me the best presents, surprises and just tell me how much you love me in so many different ways. That beautiful mind of yours can arrange words in the best way possible. And then the next time it’ll top that.

And your emotional intelligence is off charts. You don’t know how many times I have just admired you for having so much thought and empathy. My respect for you is at the highest. Highest.

And this is me just at the brain. I haven’t even factored that mahal-sized heart of yours. But I have the whole life to live in that heart and keep talking about it, as I take more and more space, isn’t it? xD

I tell everyone that Kunal is so smart. I am just so proud about you being smart. I am like those parents who are such snobs when their kids are superstars. I wonder how your parents are not snobs. They’re so sweet!

But I am a showoff aise. Not on socials yet, but my day will come. And then I am going to show how much I love you to the world. Just shout it. It’s not because I want to show them. It’s because I want you to know that I am so proud of you all the time.

So yeah, the water does run deep with you. Only people who are close to you get to experience the best of you. Others get the standard version of you. It’s standard because they can’t match that too xD you’re so much better than almost everyone.

I have seen couples aise where one of them is just so much better than the other. And you atleast think once that they can do better. But then I think, maybe they get along so well, and both of them have a really nice heart.

I see us sometimes that way. You’re such a smart person. I am smart, yes, above average I believe. But what I cannot compensate with being so smart, I will compensate with love and all other things that I’ll keep learning.

The irony is that this is the best my brain could put together for yours.

And I hope I can also keep surprising you – like you always do. (DJ? Really? DJ?)

Kunal, I love you so so much. So much. I have huge huge respect for the person you are. You’re the smartest person I know. You can do anything you want to. Anything. I don’t know a lot about your Kundli, but I am sure it says something like he can do anything he puts his mind on, and will see success and happiness in life. I am bringing the happiness with me :-*

Also, sincere apology for being so late. It’s not that I didnt have the time at all, but I have been quite distracted or wanted to be distracted, constantly.

18 monthsss AHHHHHHHHH!!!