The engagement ring

Titi asked Samuel “Whether you have a lot of girlfriends. Today you have one and tomorrow another one.”

Samuel replied in an exasperated tone “Why are you bothering me? I am a person any girl can fall for. Coming to girlfriends I have only one. It is better we take a selfie and close the matter.”

Titi Samuel’s elder sister looked frustrated and went inside her room.

The family lived in a bungalow with a sloping roof surrounded by a veranda. The complex small puzzle has a contemporary feel interior, red velvet carpet feels as if you are walking on the grass. It is quaint and compact. The blue sofas were cozy to relax. The house was well ventilated and received ample sunlight. But Samuel was in his own world. He wanted to marry his longtime girlfriend Andrea as soon as possible.

The phone rang to distract him. It was Andrea. Samuel could resist the urge to talk to her. “Hey sweetheart I am willing to meet you up” Samuel said in an excited tone.

Andrea said with joy “I am over the moon to meet you up. Let’s catch up soon at the Marine Drive”

“Yup, it’s done,” said Samuel

Samuel freshened himself and started his walk from the Mahalaxmi.

Samuel was a man around thirty years of age working in an MNC. He was good looking and a charming person. He was as white as the snow. He was a well-built man and seemed like a walking Mount Everest. Chiselled jaw with big muscles and a hearty smile. His thick brown curly hair that closely represents a brush. People never leave an opportunity to call him a weakling because he never speaks up for himself. He was an animal lover too.

As he walked down the streets of Mumbai the narrow lanes, aromas of vada pavs and samosas sold by the street vendors tickled his nostrils. Dustbins are placed and toilets are built. There is no haphazard growth anywhere. The street was full of hustle-bustle. There was a huge traffic as people were returning from their work.

Samuel looked at his clock it was 6 past 30 minutes. He was well sure that he would arrive on time. His Nike shoes were super comfortable to give him a decent walk.

Samuel reached the Marine drive. The streetlights had lit up and he could admire the site of the queen’s necklace, a majestic boulevard along the Arabian Sea. The breezing winds and the sea hitting the rocks were alluring. Samuel said to himself ‘OMG! This view is breath-taking”. He got lost in his thoughts until he realized he had to come to meet Andrea.

Andrea a tall slim girl. She has ambitions as tall as her height. She is a sweet soft-spoken girl who hardly has any friends. She loves solitude, as it is her best companion. Her yellow, blonde wavy hair might try to tell us something that she does not care about the sufferings of the world, and she is like the free-flowing river. Her complexion is fair and her skin shines like the radiant moon. She is intelligent and takes inspiration from the Sun. Her pink, rosy lips just willing to kiss the sky. Her sight is like the eagle very sharp and focus. She is the epitome of good habits and a gem in the family. At present she is looking for someone who would paint her canvas of life. She knows problem solving and can solve any problem tactfully. She is an engineer by profession which has taught her problem-solving skills. Her main motivation is her family and her can go to any extent for their happiness. She realizes her dream a perfect life, where she will the CEO of her own company of life. When happy she is over the moon and when sad river of tears starts to flow. It is difficult for her to manage emotions. Emotions are like clay; the circumstances shape them. She likes those people who open the door and bring flowers for her. She wants to live her crazy life with nobody to let her down.

 He saw Andrea looking at the sea from a distance. He walked as far as he could to meet her. He called out her name. Andrea turned around as she saw him and gazed a smile.

“I have been waiting here since a long time. Not just for waiting you but to marry you either” said Andrea with grief

Samuel with teary eyes said “My love I am planning for our engagement 2 days from today. Everything is set the venue, food, people etc. I just wanted to give you a surprise”

Andrea could not believe her ears” What a pleasant surprise! I will gift you a diamond ring as bright as your eyes.”

“No dear, you are yourself a diamond to me”

The conversation continues to an argument. They decide that they will accept whatever gift they give each other. They then decide to leave the site.

Andrea and Samuel went up to their respective homes to break the news of engagement ceremony to their family members. Andrea lived in an Apartment at Bandra east. The apartment was as tiny as honeybee’s comb. She lived there with her mother, father and younger sister. They were not much well off and Andrea was a struggling singer. She had a mellifluous voice. She had sung a few songs for an upcoming Bollywood movie. She was super excited to discover how her voice will be received by the audience although the Music director absolutely loved her voice.

She exclaimed with joy” I am getting engaged to Samuel this Sunday”. Her parents were astonished to hear that. Both of them were able to convince their family that they were ready to start a new chapter in their lives and both were tailor made for each other.

The next day Andrea’s mother showed the traditional million-dollar engagement ring to Andrea. It had an exceptional quality of stone and jewel.” This is for you my princess” .It was a classic diamond ring with 4 claws and diamond paving on the body. The emerald cut diamond ring was a flawless piece of stone when cut and polished valued as a precious stone.

Here in Samuel’s house, they went to shop for a diamond ring. They entered the shop and were thrilled to look at the site. Samuel whispered” Give the best diamond ring you have in your collection. They shopkeeper showed him the princess cut diamond ring. They were perfect for his wife to be. It was an expensive one.

Finally, the day arrived, and the venue was set in. It was a famous hotel of the city. Samuel had selected a perfect location. The guests started pouring in. People wore their best outfits today for the special occasion. Everything seemed to be mesmerizing the flower decoration, the chandeliers, the carpet, aroma of food and drinks.

Sophia, the ex-girlfriend of Samuel plots a plan to break the engagement. She hears the news and immediately rushes to the spot. As she needed an invitation card to enter the venue, she pickpockets the same from a guest. Sophia wrote her name on the card and entered the venue. When the guest arrived at the venue they were surprised that the card was missing. Since Samuel knew him in person, they allowed him in. They got to know and began looking for the suspicious woman. Suddenly the lights went off for a few minutes and comes back again. To their surprise the engagement rings are stolen.

Both Andrea and Samuel could not believe this and rush to the nearest police station. Sophia had managed to flee the venue and board a train to Surat. Sophia murmuring in her mind” I am a billionaire now, no one can stop me for achieving my dreams” The police enquired the security about the Suspicious woman. Samuel began to brainstorm who it could be. After elaborating her physical descriptions, he was sure it was Sophia.

Samuel and police broke into Sophia’s home. It was a 2-BHK apartment extremely stinky and messy. They could not find any clue where she could be. They began to track her mobile phone. The police had access to her call logs and the location. They assumed she was reaching the diamond city of India Surat. The railway police station was reported. As the train arrived, police stepped up inside the train and found Sophia sleeping. They arrested Sophia and took her into custody.

Next morning, Samuel saw her painted red with shame. She apologized for her actions and pleaded to forgive her. Samuel forgives Sophia only under one condition that she has to mend her ways.

Andrea on the other hand was shattered to know about Samuel’s previous relationship. She decides not to marry him and moves to London. She got trained in Western classical music. Learned piano, violin and guitar. She opens her own Music school there. She participated in the show Britain’s got talent and emerged as the winner. She was a well-known figure in both India and UK. She was invited at many functions and people had good opinion about her.

Samuel had no other option to marry another girl. It was an arranged marriage and her lived peacefully yet with regret.

The engagement rings changed the destination of two lovers.