I had almost given up on finding someone who truly understood my values and my culture. Growing up in London, most apps I tried were either too Western in their approach or didn’t take things seriously. My cousin suggested DesiThrill and honestly I signed up just to keep her quiet!
Within the first week I noticed Bilal’s profile. He was genuine, funny in his bio, and — most importantly — he mentioned he was looking for a life partner, not just someone to chat with. We matched and he messaged first with a simple “Assalamu Alaikum, I loved your bio.” No cheesy lines. Just respect.
We talked for weeks before our families got involved. Long video calls, sharing everything from our favourite childhood memories to our goals for the future. The distance between London and Lahore felt smaller every day.
Eight months later, Bilal flew to the UK. Our families met over dinner in my parents’ home in East London. The Nikkah was six months after that — with his family joining us from Pakistan and mine from across the UK.
DesiThrill gave us a space where we both felt safe to be ourselves. If you are reading this and wondering whether it is worth trying — it absolutely is.
— Aisha & Bilal, London / Lahore
