It literally was chemistry that brought Laxmi and Arsh together. In 2007 they were both students at West Valley College in Saratoga and met in a chemistry class. They saw each other every day in class and began meeting up in between classes. The first time they spent time together outside of school was at a Barnes & Noble in San Jose. Laxmi says, “Sadly, the Barnes & Noble closed down, but driving by that location still brings back many good memories as it ended up being a favorite hangout spot for many years.”
They both grew up in the south bay and attended college in San Francisco after West Valley College. They continued their habit of spending as much time together as they could in between classes. Laxmi was attending the University of San Francisco pursuing a degree in nursing while Arsh was attending San Francisco State and majoring in accounting. They would take BART to San Francsico together, go to their respective campuses, then meet up to ride BART back to the south bay together.
They married in 2014 with a typical “big fat Indian wedding” in India that lasted entire week. There were over 2,000 people at the wedding in total, not including the reception party they had when they came back to the U.S. for all the family and friends that could not travel to India. Laxmi adds, “It would seem unlikely to most, but tallying the gifts afterwards was a challenge. Unfortunately, there were no elephants.”
Arsh, “a total numbers guy,” has been a CPA for 12 years and is a Senior Tax Manager at the firm he started his career with. Arsh looks forward every year to his “boys trip” where his friends from all over the U.S. meet up for a week of adventure like hiking and outdoor activities. It’s always a different location, with the 2026 meetup being in Michigan.
Laxmi has been an OB nurse for 10 years. Laxmi adds, “being at deliveries and working with new moms and
babies is a gift I cherish every day.” She recently went back to school to get her Masters of Science in nursing and become a Family Practice Nurse Practioner, but she discovered she likes her role as an RN better because it allows flexibility to be involved in her daughter’s activities.
Maya is now 6 years old and in 1st grade. She enjoys swimming and gymnastics. She’s a big thrill seeker and loves amusement parks, especially ones with scary looking rollercoasters. Her current favorite is The Demon at Great America. For her 6th birthday, a “real” mermaid came to swim in the pool with Maya and her friends. “Along with Mexican food and an ice cream cart, Maya still constantly talks about how it was the best birthday party ever.” She wants to be a teacher or nurse when she grows up.
The Singhs have a goal to travel the world, one country, and one city at a time. Closer to home they love visiting Hawaii 1-2 times per year and have been to all the islands. The Big Island is their favorite. Laxmi shares, “the slowed down Hawaii life gives us the much-needed break from day-to-day life.” They also have a family tradition of traveling during the week between Christmas and New Years, to regroup as a family and plan for the year ahead by setting goals. In 2025, they spent this restorative time in Mendocino at an inn overlooking the ocean. Other traditions include Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo after Thanksgiving and the Napa Valley Santa Train over the Christmas break. Maya enjoys hand delivering her letter to Santa.
The Singhs came to Walnut Creek in 2017 looking for a neighborhood that was family oriented and had great schools. “Not only do we have friendly neighbors,” says Laxmi, “but also the convenience of having so many amenities we can walk to like restaurants, grocery stores, dessert shops, and a library.” They also enjoy weekends at Arbolado Park, hiking Mt. Diablo or taking day trips to places like Carmel, Big Sur, and San Francisco.
But most importantly, the Singhs love to be home, connecting by watching a movie or playing board games. Arsh adds, “As a parent, I want my daughter to grow up knowing that integrity and hard work matter. We talk a lot at home about doing things the right way, staying true to your word, and following through. Those are the values I hope will guide her throughout her life.” The Singhs are passionate about spending time with each other, creating a strong and safe environment for their family.
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991; Photos provided by the Singh Family