‘Indian Matchmaking’ Q&A: Are Viral and Aashay still together? We have the answer.
We caught up with Durham’s “Indian Matchmaking” star Viral Joshi recently to ask some burning questions about dating in the Triangle, her cat Xena, and of course, the current situation with Aashay, the dreamy New York City doctor from the popular Netflix series.
In Season 2 of the series, which released in August on Netflix, the 30-year-old pharmaceutical developer enlisted the services of matchmaker Sima Taparia (also called Sima of Mumbai on the show) to help her find her perfect match. After a couple of blah dates in Raleigh and Garner, Viral went out with Aashay Shah, who traveled to Durham to meet her, and there was an instant connection.
After the season ended, Viral and Aashay were guarded on social media about the status of their relationship, but when we asked Viral about their status — not really expecting a straight answer! — she spilled the tea.
“Yes, he and I are together!” she told The News & Observer via email.
Aashay even spent time over the Labor Day weekend with her, she said, and she showed him around some of her favorite local spots like the Duke campus, downtown Raleigh and restaurants in Durham.
(We are so excited about this!)
In our other questions, we asked Viral about furniture store dating, her favorite spots for Triangle dates, her exquisitely organized pantry, her cat Xena and her love of Boise, Idaho.
Q: We’re so curious about the date with Viral the Guy (aka Viral2) in the Raleigh furniture store. There’s a certain genius to it — all those sofas and comfy chairs. Do you often go on dates in furniture stores? Would you recommend it?
A: I don’t go on many furniture store dates, haha, but it’s actually no more uncomfortable than a traditional food date. (Conventional dating ‘rules’ make it seem like the furniture store date is weird but there aren’t any ‘rules’ of where you take a date — it’s just two people looking to get to know each other in a neutral environment.)
On a restaurant date, you are sitting face-to-face with a stranger, panicking about food stuck in your teeth, and the date can be stiff. On a shopping date, there are more elements in your environment to interact with so that can make the date less stiff. Everyone shops everyday (online shopping, grocery shopping, etc.) so it’s a way to behave more naturally (not sure everyone does candlelit dinners everyday). And if things get serious with your date, you already know their design style!
Q: Apart from the furniture store (obviously) the go-kart track and rock climbing wall, what does the perfect date in Durham (or Raleigh) involve for you? Where would you go and what would you do?
A: There are many wonderful date ideas in the Raleigh/Durham area!
Some areas I’ve wanted to check out with Aashay are the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, a picnic at Duke Gardens, the Duke Lemur Center, archery, downtown Durham (ahem, the new library is gorgeous), etc.
The beach and the mountains are also not far and can easily be a day trip!
Q: Your pantry = goals. Could you ever seriously date someone who doesn’t decant? Or who puts an empty cereal box back on the shelf?
A: An essential part of any relationship is accepting the other person for who they are. The only way someone will change is if it comes from within themselves. I’d hope that my pantry would inspire my partner to want to be as organized. (How frustrating is it when we are looking for something in the pantry and can’t find it? OR when we have bought duplicates of things we already had?) It’s not essential for me that my partner decants, because I can always just do it :)
Q: We spied Xena the cat in an episode of “Indian Matchmaking” and in a recent Instagram post (head scratch to Xena from us). Important question: Does Aashay like cats?
Xena says hi :)
Ughhh, unfortunately Aashay favors dogs over cats, but he doesn’t mind cats. I think Xena can sense this, lol, but they are working on their relationship. Right now they just stare at each other across the room and she acts out of sorts when he’s around. He definitely makes an effort, but Xena is used to it just being us two in the house.
We’ll figure it out. Xena and I are a package deal!
Q: Let’s say you did marry Aashay (or whoever). What are the odds you would honeymoon in Boise?
A: Haha, the odds of a honeymoon in Boise are slim, but only because I’d want to go somewhere new for both my partner and I. But, Boise is never a bad idea: the people are incredibly nice, the air breathes easier, and the natural beauty of the state is the icing on the cake.
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 12:33 PM with the headline "‘Indian Matchmaking’ Q&A: Are Viral and Aashay still together? We have the answer.."
