“Sana loves me, and I love Sana,” I sang, my heart full of our love. I couldn’t help but break into a dance. Gleefully caressing the box in my pocket, I crossed the road to the florist. The box had the diamond ring I had specially crafted for Sana from the most famous jewellers in town.
Charmed by my antics, the middle-aged florist laughed warmly and gestured for me to take a beautiful rose bouquet. A knowing smile played on her lips, and she nodded in approval.
“Awesome weather. What a perfect day to declare your love,” she said, handing me the bouquet.
True to her words, the weather was conducive to taking Sana for a long drive. ‘It would be all the more romantic if I proposed during the drive,’ I thought, but I voted against it the next moment because I had called her to the very place where we had met first.
‘I could take Sana for a long drive after I slip the ring onto her finger.’
My eyes lit up with excitement, reflecting the myriad of street lights. The thrill of the impending confession was overwhelming.
I could hardly contain my excitement as I envisioned the scene. In all her radiant beauty, Sana would meet me at Phin Cafe, our cherished spot adorned in the stunning orange robe I had lovingly chosen. As I knelt before her, offering the bouquet, I would open the ring box and slide the ring onto her delicate finger. The moment when Sana would playfully squirm and utter those three precious words was all I could think about.
Bubbling excitedly, I crossed the street to where my car was parked, holding the elegant bouquet close.
*Screech, bang, dum;* I dashed against a fast-pedalling cyclist who seemed to be hurrying home.
I was down on the ground; my bouquet fell a few meters away.
Muttering an apology, the cyclist, a boy in his early twenties, helped me stand on my feet. He also collected the bouquet and handed it over to me.
By the time the florist lady had crossed the street.
“Why would you hurry like this on your bicycle?” She scolded the young man.
I waved to her, indicating that it was OK. I wasn’t in a perfect mood for a brawl. If it was some other day, with plenty of time on hand, I might have picked up a quarrel with the cyclist, but today was different. I was running out of time, and to add to the chaos, the fall gave a soiled look to my coat.
I seriously contemplated visiting a nearby apparel store to buy a suit and avoid getting late, but recollecting the number of suits I had back home, I decided to drive home and change. It would be a detour, but that would save me a few dollars, and there were still chances of my reaching Pinn Cafe on time if I went through the whole exercise with perfect agility.
The bruises on my face and right arm gave me a burning sensation, but I drove my car with heavy concentration towards home instead of Phin Cafe. The unexpected turn of events left me vexed and deeply disheartened.
“Oh, no!” Screamed my mother upon seeing the bruises on my face. “What happened? Were you not supposed to meet Sana at 7 pm?”
“Ma, I have very little time to give a proper elucidation. I met with a minor accident, and……”
It was too late before I realized I had used the wrong term. Couldn’t I have just said,‘ A cyclist dashed against me?’
Mom began bawling and wailing as if a bulldozer run me over.
“Amy looks like he has come to change. Let him do that and leave to meet Sana,” Dad implored Mom to calm down.
“Ok, ok, go and change fast,” she said, and then she went in to fetch some tincture to apply to my bruises. Mom was adamant about putting plasters on my cheek and forehead, too, but I put my foot down, saying I would resemble a circus clown, and everybody in Pinn Cafe would glare at me.
After changing into a new coat and pants, I left for the Cafe while Dad and Mom left for the Dentist. Mom had an appointment today to have a broken tooth fixed.
I was seven minutes late reaching the Cafe.
Though I had tried my best to camouflage the bruises on my face, Sana’s keen eyes spotted them no sooner than I approached her.
“What happened?” she almost squeaked, giving me a warm hug. My right arm ached; her warm hug was more than just a balm; it was a soothing relief amid chaos.
“It was a small acc…” I stopped myself from uttering anything further, lest a drama would be repeated here, with Sana wailing and calling upon all the Gods and Goddesses she could think of to ward away evil eyes.
“It was just a bicycle that brushed past. I lost my balance and fell on my face.” I sheepishly touched the bruises and assured Sana that all was fine.
Kissing her forehead, I knelt and opened the ring box after giving a blushing Sana the bouquet. I closed my eyes before I could look up at her dazzling face.
The buzzing of my phone at that very moment annoyed me. It was Mom. Did she have to report everything that happened at the Dentist to me just then?
“What is it, Mom?” I asked, trying not to sound indignant.
“Do not propose to Sana,” she shrieked over the phone, muddling me.
I was worried Sana might have heard it. Bewildered, I looked up at her. She was gaping at the open box.
And then I heard my mother. “In your hurry, instead of the ring, you have carried the box with my golden tooth to be fixed for my broken one.”
At that very moment, Sana uttered those three words: “Are you Drunk?”