Our Engagement
by Hassan M. S. Jan

              I had known for a long time that I eventually wanted to marry Anne, my girlfriend at the time. We had talked about it and even talked with her parents this past summer - they told us to pray about it, and to wait some time...and so we did. At the end of the summer, we both drove down to the city of Guelph with our respective families because we were soon starting to study at the University. We said our goodbyes and our parents left. Immediately, I called her to find out where she was in our new city, and we met up - our relationship is very much so like this, the both of us doing whatever it may be always together. Anyways, time passed; classes began; assignments were handed in - some on time, and others a little late - and we had settled into hectic lives of University students before we had even known it. A month later, at the end of September, I began to think about marriage again, and went to the mall on a supreme tangent of a thought. I was excited to learn about diamonds and their 4 C's! How magnificent it was...and even more, how magnificent it was as I held it in my hand walking out of the Stone Road Mall – the diamond, that is. Yes, that's right, I had bought a brand new diamond ring for Anne without even taking a night to think about the diamonds that I had seen - I was surprised, considering my conservative spending ways. Nonetheless, the entire shopping experience felt completely natural. I went home and hid the ring in my room, where most people tend to hide things, amidst their sock pile. Anyways, time passed and I began to conjure up a brilliant proposal idea.

Before I knew it, the day had arrived. It was a beautiful day at the end of October: the sun was out, the colourful leaves were everywhere, blessing the scenery with punches of orange, yellow, and brown...an amazing autumn day for an engagement. After classes, I invited her over to my residence for supper. Luckily, nobody was home, except for one of my roommates, who was busily studying away in her room. Anne waited in my room as I put on the chef garments and did my magic in the kitchen, with a printed recipe at hand. I was making her a pasta dish, with shrimp, peppers, Italian dressing and parsley - oh thank you, author of that online recipe! After dinner, we talked for a very long time and I ended up losing myself in the conversation. "Oh no," I thought, "I've got to take her out now to the secret place in the arboretum since the sun is going down." Time was running out as the day slowly slipped away into the horizon. I then told her that we should go for a walk. Before leaving, we made hot tea, which we put in travel mugs for the road since it was getting cold, and then we left.

 Entering into the arboretum, I had devastatingly realized that it was too dark to bring Anne to the special place, which I had found sometime in the past few weeks. "Ok Hassan, you've got to be innovative. You’ve come this far and you are definitely proposing on this night ol’ boy,” I told myself. By this time, the sun had set and we travelled deeper into the darkness, which had crept over every tree, stone, and animal in the arboretum. Finally, I saw a spark of light, a glimpse of hope in the distance: a little lamppost in the midst of such blackness, gave just enough light to propose. We passed by and I eyed it, and then decided that I would propose there on the way back.

On the way back, I motioned us over to the lamp and took a deep swallow of nothing – this was really it! Beneath the light, Anne continued talking and I prepared to cut her mid-sentence and propose. Suddenly, Anne informed me that her hands were cold and stuck her left hand into my pocket, the one that the ring was in. “No way”, I thought to myself, “the surprise is ruined!” I looked into her eyes, but she hadn’t noticed. “Wow, this is perfect”: she has no idea that her hand was literally touching the ring! Good recovery ol’ boy!” I thought to myself. Then, I spoke: “Anne, do you feel that?” I felt her hand moving in my pocket; she dropped her tea, which spilled everywhere; and she finally pulled out the tiny little box. I grabbed the box from her; Anne had her hands over her mouth... before I could finish saying “Anne, I absolutely love you. Will you marry me?” she was repeatedly screaming “yes!” I then proceeded to slip the ring on her finger and we kissed passionately beneath that little, humble lamppost, which shone brilliance amidst such a thick obscurity. All of a sudden, we were engaged.   

Final Note:  Hassan and Jan are now happily married!  Congratulations!