Reza and Puja Khan are a modern day Romeo and Juliet love story. They come from two different cultures and religious backgrounds but have proven that love conquers all. Especially, when you marry your best friend! Reza and Puja chatted with us about friendship and how it's the most important ingredient in any successful and meaningful relationship!
What do you feel makes a best friend and what BFF qualities did you find in each other?
Reza: What makes a best friend is someone who loves you exactly as you are, and at the same time, enables you to be the best version of yourself - because they see that untapped potential in you.
Puja: For us, we noticed early on that we're able to balance each other out very nicely. If there are moments or days where Reza is not feeling his best mentally/emotionally - I'm there to balance him out and give a stronger boost of energy and love, and vice versa. We do this for each other without even realizing it, and end up looking back in hindsight, realizing that this is just how we operate!
What is your favorite thing to do together in your spare time?
R&P: We both LOVE being outdoors in hot weather and going swimming at the pool any chance we get! Any day we can get some good sunshine and a swim in, and then find a new restaurant to try some yummy food afterwards, we feel rejuvenated. We are also suckers for getting cozy and watching anything on Disney+. We recently finished the entire Marvel series (I know we're late to the game), and have become obsessed!
What are your biggest pet peeves about each other?
Puja: Whenever I ask Reza to remember something that probably happened that very day, his answer is almost always "I don't know". I get so frustrated and tell him he needs to eat more almonds because they help with memory, haha.
Reza: Puja is an absolute clean freak, if it's up to her, she would make me shower twice a day and sanitize every 20 minutes. It's safe to say, after marriage, my hygiene game has levelled up!
What is something that you have to compromise on with each other?
Puja: It's so funny because what was once our "compromises" have now become mutual hobbies! I have roped Reza into watching my favorite shows like The Kardashians on Hulu, or Grey's Anatomy, and now they have become our go-to shows that we like to binge-watch together. Similarly, whenever Reza used to put NBA games on, I always dreaded it. But early on, he started telling me about all the NBA gossip that goes on between players and teams, that I now enjoy watching the games just as much as him!
What are your favorite personality quirks about each other?
Puja: I love Reza's humor and will literally crack up laughing out LOUD at his jokes while everyone else watches, haha. But seriously, he has so many different funny impressions/accents he pulls out in almost every conversation we have that I feel like I'm always laughing when we're talking. And I love laughing!
Reza: Puja is always so playful. We're in a constant light-hearted banter with each other with our conversations, maybe we'll push each other's buttons, and tease each other - but we always know it's all in love and good fun. It feels like every day I'm dancing and laughing through life with Puja and that's what makes her so fun to be around.
What do you think are the most important parts in a lasting best friendship?
R&P: Psychological Safety! Most people cannot be their 100% raw selves with very many people. We are so blessed to have found that best friend in one another where we can do that and it makes life so beautiful. Having the ease and comfort to just BE as if you're alone is something we love about being with each other.
What advice do you have for couples on how to keep both the friendship and romance alive?
R&P: It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of working, and life, etc. - so make sure to view your relationship as its own entity that needs time and effort to be prioritized. Go for a walk together, go on a date, talk to each other about the nitty gritty and the big picture stuff, have fun with each other! Life goes by so fast, and you want to make sure that you didn't let all the incredible moments in your relationship pass you by - rather, that you made the most of it ALONGSIDE your favorite person in the world!
