City Lights

As he parked his vehicle he glanced at his watch. He was early which meant that he had a couple of minutes to himself before she arrived. He checked himself in the mirror, making some quick adjustments to his hair and bow tie and his messages. 

A few minutes later, right on the dot, he saw her get off the cab. The sight of her took his breath away. She was a beauty to behold. However, he felt that that gown did no justice to her beauty, but simplicity was her style which carried with elan, with confidence, even though she never thought of herself that way. He was amazed by how beautiful she could be while keeping it all simple. She had never ceased to amaze him. 

She smiled at him as she noticed his car, making his heart skip a beat, well a couple of beats. She got into the car and settled in the seat next to him. She leaned forward and pecked him on his cheek, whispering in ears “How do I look?” He looked at her and smiled and just whispered back these few words, as if he didn’t want anyone but her to hear them. “My darling you look wonderful tonight.”

As they drove he couldn’t help but wonder how did he get so lucky? How could someone so beautiful (though she never acknowledged it) fall in love with him? They were as similar as chalk and cheese. He was the popular jock when he first met her. She was studious kind, fiercely independent, intelligent, radiating strength and confidence. They were polar opposite of each other, but in their differences they were whole, they completed each other. It was their differences which held them together rather than tearing them apart.

Although the party was his, she was the centre of everyone’s attention, as she floated across the room, greeting his friends and acquaintances. Wherever she went heads turned and eyes followed and egos burned. He became the envy of every man in the room. She wasn’t his arm candy and he wouldn’t treat her like one. She was his equal. Although parties weren’t really her thing, she was totally at ease. She didn’t have to put on any sort of act. He felt privileged to have her by his side.

That night, after they left the party, they decided to take a walk instead of heading directly for his car. They came to bench from you could see the entire city. The lights of the city shown like diamonds in the dark of night, mirroring the stars in the inky blue night sky. This was their place, a bench where they spent many evenings and mornings, admiring the sight in front of them, many sunsets and sunrises, sometimes not even uttering a single word, just enjoying each other’s company, each other’s presence, taking in the world in front of them, the city lights.

As they sat on the bench he felt something inside him stirred, nudging him to come to a realisation that it was time. She was the one for him, the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He wouldn’t want to lay claim to her, he never thought of her that way. He knew she belonged to him as much as he belonged to her. But she was fiercely independent and he wouldn’t have her any other way. It was now or never.

As he turned to her, she whispered “How was I tonight?” He knew she was teasing him as she always did when she wanted to playful get in the first word, trying to confuse him with what he wanted to say. He smiled and said, “My darling you were wonderful tonight.” Then taking her hand in his, looking into her eyes, he said, “Will you be mine?” 

He didn’t have to say anything else, he knew that she understood what it meant, she knew him quite well. He didn’t have to make any grand gestures or use any eloquent words. He knew she wouldn’t want that. Those simple words was all she needed. 

She looked at him and smiled, and with that he got his answer. She didn’t have to say anything. The look in her eyes, her smile was her answer.Still holding her hand he took out a box that he had with him for a while now, waiting for the right time, and this moment was it. He took out the ring and gently slipped it on her finger. She pulled him towards her and kissed him with all the love she felt for him, all the love she had in her. Sitting on that bench they took a leap forward, pledging their love to each other. They continued to kiss on the bench with the city in the background and the city lights, star lights, glistening brightly in celebration of their union.