Asfia's gaze lingered on her husband, a man who possessed all the qualities she'd ever dreamt of: tall, handsome, and unfailingly kind-a true gentleman. Yet, beneath his perfect exterior, she sensed a profound sadness, his eyes devoid of light.
This...
Not wishing to linger in their smoke-filled apartment any longer than needed, Asfia swiftly adorned herself in a simple red shirt and dark blue jeans. "Ready?" he inquired, his surprise evident, given his accustomed wait of at least 30 minutes for her usual preparations. Asfia responded with a charming smile.
Taking her hand, they ventured out. His excitement bubbled over for what he had managed to arrange for her on such short notice. Additionally, he had thoughtfully acquired some extra clothing for Asfia to change into.
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About 20 minutes into the car ride, Asfia peered at her husband. "Are we lost?" she questioned. They were heading south, towards Kerala, and as far as she knew, there was nothing date-worthy there.
"Nope!" He chuckled at her expression before refocusing on the road. "How much longer?" she pressed, growing impatient. When he mentioned a surprise date, her imagination had conjured up helicopter rides and exclusive dinners in fancy restaurants where he had reserved the entire room just for them, surrounded by a sea of roses. She knew her husband was a real person, not a fictional character, but one could dream. She sighed and gazed out of the window.
"About 10 more minutes by car," he replied. Asfia couldn't believe her ears. "And then?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.
Faisal laughed, unaware of her rising expectations, simply content that he had planned something. "You wait, sweetheart," he said, making her smile. Asfia didn't quite understand why, but every time he called her "sweetheart," her heart danced in her chest.
Faisal skillfully parked his car near a secluded coastal spot, a locale that Asfia mentally marked as the "middle of nowhere." There were certainly no helicopters in sight, she noted with a resigned sigh.
As they stepped out, a man approached, and Faisal engaged him in a fluid blend of Malayalam and Kannada. "Is everything ready?" Faisal inquired, and the man nodded in confirmation.
"Sweetheart, I may not have a horse and carriage, but for today, I hope this will suffice," he remarked, casting a mischievous smile at his wife as the man guided them toward an ox cart. Asfia couldn't help but burst into laughter. This promised to be an entirely unique date, a fact she had to hand to her husband.
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