A beachside conversation in Goa leads Monika and Adrison to a love that spans the world

Some love stories announce themselves with drama. Monika Verma and Adrison Cardozo began with something far gentler—sun on their faces, sand beneath their feet, and a conversation that felt unexpectedly easy. She was in Goa for her master’s internship, he was visiting home from Cambridge, and neither had the faintest idea that a simple chat would become the first scene of a lifelong relationship.

Verma describes herself as “funny with a dash of Delhi attitude,” someone sensible yet never takes life too seriously. Standing across from her that day was Cardozo—soft-spoken, grounded, a Goan boy raised in a loving yet strict family, and refreshingly untouched by chaos. “Proper innocence,” Verma laughs. “No dating history, no chaos training, no idea how Delhi people function," he adds.

A connection that grew without fanfare

What they noticed about each other in those first few minutes was simple but striking. Cardozo found Verma confident, warm, and effortlessly funny. She thought he was genuine, honest, and straightforward, but in a good way. No sparks were flying, no instant cinematic realisation; just a natural ease neither of them could fully explain at the time.

“He falls in love loudly,” Verma says. “I roll my eyes and smile two seconds later.” It’s this balance—his sincerity meeting her playfulness—that became the foundation of their relationship. Soon, Delhi and Cambridge didn’t seem so far anymore.

The proposal that felt like a movie

Their engagement unfolded in Cappadocia, a setting that seems designed for proposals with hot-air balloons dotting the sky. They had already done the balloon ride the day before, so this particular morning was supposed to be ordinary sightseeing.

But Cardozo had been carrying a ring and a plan quietly. He asked Verma to stand for a photo, and just as she prepared a sarcastic remark, he was already holding the ring. No speeches, no theatrics—just a steady, sincere “Will you?” from someone who had already made up his mind. She said yes, with her signature eye-roll and smile.

Three locations, three moods, one story

Together, Verma and Cardozo planned a pre-wedding trilogy, with each location reflecting a different shade of their personalities.

The first stop was Lake Como, Italy. This was Verma’s dream. Soft colours, calm water, a classic European mood. The photos captured exactly what she had in mind: natural elegance intertwined with their teasing, easy chemistry.

The next stop was Norway. They booked their flights a day before, relying entirely on instinct. Their cinematic affair was captured across misty landscapes, spontaneous laughter, and moments so effortless they feel like scenes from a film.

The third and final destination is set to be Udaipur. This one is Cardozo’s wish. A Goan-Cambridge boy who hasn’t experienced India’s royal aesthetic wanted the full Rajputana grandeur. Udaipur, where the couple will have their post-wedding photoshoot, will bring colour, culture, and regal charm—completing their three-part story.

“Each place represents a part of us,” Verma and Cardozo say. “Italy was planned, Norway was spontaneous, and Udaipur is emotional.”

Verma and Cardozo are a reminder that love doesn’t always arrive with fireworks. Sometimes, it appears in a quiet conversation on a beach, grows steadily across countries, and finds its way into a hot-air-balloon proposal and dreamy shoots around the world.

All images: Plush Affair

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