The proposal...

A fairytale has begun in the most perfect way
Down on one knee a ring was given, “yes” did the lady say!
But this is not a dream you’re in, this is the love that’s true
Now all await in eagerness, the day you say “I do”!

I smiled to myself, as I read this lovely verse our photographer had printed on his own accord, while I fondly flipped through the pages of our wedding album. Automatically, I drifted back to a time four years ago, while I was still studying to be a post-graduate. My parents, like any other, had already started worrying about my marriage and would keep bothering me with proposals from prospective marriage alliances. The typical headstrong, impulsive girl that I was, however, would end up feeling extremely annoyed at the abruptness of the whole procedure. The very idea of placing my trust in some random person I barely knew, did seem absurd, if not dangerous!
It was then, that I met him- a simple guy with a pleasing demeanour. Like me, he too was pursuing higher studies in medicine. The first time I met him, he did seem like a decent guy after all! I had always been an introvert and would often find it quite difficult to strike an effortless conversation with anyone I met! Quite astonishingly, I found I was able to talk to him quite easily, without much of inhibitions!
“I can’t cook”, I muttered, fidgeting nervously with a spoon, as we sat in the cafeteria, chatting over a mug of latte. “I can, though!” , he remarked reassuringly, as I stared at him in utter disbelief !
“Look, I really can’t! All I can make is 'maggi'” I tried to retort. He merely laughed aloud, looking thoroughly amused at my nervousness.
“It’s no laughing matter, mind you! Think about it- I’m absent minded, and dead clumsy too!”  I sighed desperately, as we walked out of the cafeteria while I finally opened up about the worst fears I had, about my home-making abilities!
“Sir, I think you’ve forgotten your bike keys in here!” called a distinct voice from the cafeteria. I chuckled, throwing a mischievous glance at him, as I finally realized that he was no better, quite confused whether I should be feeling relieved, or more apprehensive about the fact!
"Shall we meet again, then?" he asked expectedly. He beamed, as I replied, "I guess so!"
I saw him waiting for me the next day. His face lit up in a dazzling smile the moment he saw me!
"Hi!"
"Er... why don't we just take a walk?"
We walked along the alley to reach an assortment of ancient looking buildings. "Well, that's my school!" his eyes sparkled as he talked about those loving memories!
I'm not quite sure where that conversation drifted to.. I can merely recollect that hour and a half as a happy blur!
A couple of meetings were followed by several phone calls full of such interesting topics as movie reviews, novels, sports, work, studies and practically everything under the sun, and some mundane,  insignificant ones like our “future plans”. I’m quite surprised  that we even brought up the topic, considering neither of us had much idea of what we planned to do with our futures!
“Listen, I'm still struggling to make my career..I  don’t think I can give you the kind of well settled, lavish lifestyle that you’ve had at your place, at least not for now! But we could build that life together! I wanted to ask you something… I’m not very good with words… but…well…will you marry me?” he said one day, as he finally popped the question, rather unceremoniously! That was it! Here was a proposal, that was so overly simplistic that it could easily qualify as one of the most unromantic proposals in the history of humankind; one that neither had the intense chemistry nor a dreamy air about it, the way it is, in the typical candy-floss romances that we tend to idolize!
Indeed, here was a proposal, quite unlike a one that any girl would dream of! No ring, no wine, no candle-light, no flowers.. no one went down on a knee….just a straightforward question over a humble phone call, yet, a one that was beautifully simple, honest and straight from the heart!
Well, here was a guy, who wasn’t afraid of being himself.. here was a guy, who undoubtedly excelled at practically whatever he did, be it academics or sports, and yet, was down to earth. Here was a person, who had the strength of character to accept his limits, as well as the courage to try and defy them. Here was a man who didn’t cringe at the fact that making tasty meals and perfectly round ‘rotis’ wouldn’t exactly be my top priority, in fact was responsible enough to offer sharing the load!
Frankly, I had never believed in ‘happily ever after’s, I still do not! Well, people are not like those clowns in the circus with a façade of a permanent happy expression pasted to their faces, nor is life, a fairytale! I was quite sure, that our relationship, like any other, would have its share of easy streets and rough patches. But here was someone with whom I could survive whatever situation life threw at me, be it happiness, sorrow, anger, disappointment, frustration or utter confusion, without having to pretend otherwise.. someone I could disagree with, without being judged; someone I could be angry with, without being misunderstood AND someone I could be HAPPY with, without being taken for granted!
On that cold February night, over a distant phone conversation,  I was convinced, that I finally found the man I could have my “honestly ever after” with!