Thrissur, Kerala: A love story that began with the rhythm of a school arts festival has now come full circle, returning to the very stage where two hearts first met.

Back on January 14, 2017, during the District School Kalolsavam held at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Tirur, Malappuram, Vinayak stood on one side of a wall at a nearby polytechnic college, unable to resist the sounds of music drifting across. Curious, he stepped closer and peeked, and that’s when his eyes landed on Aiswarya, a singer performing in a Vanchipattu group. That fleeting moment turned into a lifelong bond.

That day, Aiswarya walked away with an A grade and, unknowingly, a companion for life.

Today, Tanur-native Aiswarya and Parappanangadi’s Vinayak are returning to the Kalolsavam stage not as performers, but as a couple preparing for their wedding. With blessings from loved ones, they chose the State School Kalolsavam venue as the backdrop for their “Save the Date” photoshoot, capturing a journey that began seven years ago.

Vinayak, an A-grade winner in Vrindavadyam till Plus Two, is now a site engineer by profession and a passionate chenda artist. Aiswarya, meanwhile, is a teacher at Bafakhy Yatheemkhana Residential High School in Kadungathukundu, where she trains students in arts and culture.

Set to tie the knot on April 22, the couple says every Kalolsavam headline still feels personal, just like their love story.

Vinayak is the son of Vijayan and Rajitha of Parappanangadi, while Aiswarya is the daughter of Sunil Kumar and Vijayalakshmi of Tanur.