Everything was in place, it all seemed perfect.
She knew it was going to happen, she could even sense when.
She had seen the little package, and had wondered whether that was it. What lies beneath - scary yet exciting.
The days went by as per normal. They enjoyed every minute, just like they usually did.
But something was going to happen, she could sense it. But he was hiding it so well, she wondered if her emotions were failing her.
That night came, and night fell. Is this it, she thought.
She was tingling, every step felt exceptionally heavy. She was speaking so many words, they all came out jumbled.
Then they walked the mountains. The view was gorgeous. But there were people all around - a perfect shield she thought. She let her guard down and actually started to enjoy the peak, blurring out the people around her.
Then they took a walk. A semicircle patch with nothing but a railing holding them back. There weren't anyone else, lest for a couple some hundred metres away.
She thought she'll play a joke - and she did.
She rustled in her pocket for a piece of paper, and found a receipt. She folded it carefully and hooked the two ends together, ahhh perfect, she thought.
"We've been dating so long, this is for you," she quipped.
He looked surprised yet please, mixed with an expression only a man with a scriptful of words would have.
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"Of course not!" she said.
And then he thought it was the moment, the perfect occasion to raise the loaded question.
But she refused to listen, putting her index fingers into her ears, like a kid refusing to get chided.
A thousand questions raced through her head. She had anticipated the occassion but was yet utterly unprepared. No words came in right, she couldn't speak. Her fingers were numbed and her heart was pounding.
She escaped.
His heart fell.
She excused herself, and locked herself in a cubicle.
"What should i do what should i do?" she asked herself and her lord.
This wasn't the reaction she was supposed to have. This wasn't the reaction he was expecting her to have. It was supposed to be perfect but all she could do was rush to the toilet.
Her stomach flip, she felt faint. Is this supposed to be the way? Movies never showed such scenes.
She said a prayer and faced the world.
Back at the coffeehouse, he was dejected. A picture of despair was written all over his face. He took off the paper ring and pushed it across the table. That was all he needed to do, she understood.
They sat there for half an hour, sipping hot coffee they both aren't quite in the mood for.
The shop closed and they took a walk. Down a slope where the view was gorgeous and uninterrupted.
There was no perfect way of salvaging what was supposed to be the moment. She didn't know how to do it best.
"You can show it to me now," she blurted out. The location felt wrong, they were by the side of the drain. But that didn't stop them.
He made his speech, what was supposed to be an assurance.
"I know it's a giant leap of faith, but we can do it together," he said. "I'm freaked too."
Then it happened. There was the video show. 999 days. Ahh..she didn't know he had been counting. She didn't know it had been that long.
"Will you marry me?" he said, kneeling on one knee by the side of the drain.
A million questions filled her brain. She was awestruck. There were no words to describe what she felt.
Nervousness, excitement, fear and love.
"Are you sure you will take care of me? never cheat on me? always provide for me?" she asked.
"I can't promise you much, but i promised i'll take care of you for the rest of my life," he replied, in all honesty.
They hugged.
He showed her the rock, and it felt like a champagne was popped in a nightsky filled with fireworks. It was their little show, in their hearts.
All around, people were oblivious with what had just happened. In their lives, a new chapter had just begun.
He slipped the ring onto her finger and made her his.
She was settled, a wave of calm overtook her.
It was like a rollercoaster ride. The anticipation is worse than actually being on the ride.
That night, they said a little prayer that their lord would bless their marriage.
In their hearts, the knot was tied.
