Malusi got up slowly, his hands sweaty and his heart thundering like a drum. He didn’t know what he was going to say even though he had prepared his speech. It had taken him two weeks to perfect it, but now, as Siyamthanda sat before him, his carefully selected words were stuck in his chest.

Siyamthanda smiled at him, making it more difficult for him to speak. She was so beautiful, and every day Malusi marvelled at how she ended up with him.

“Baby, are you okay?” Siyamthanda asked, her smile starting to fade.

“I … yes. I just need the loo,” he said then stood up and rushed off from the table, leaving Siyamthanda perplexed.

In the toilet he took his piece of paper from his jacket pocket and went over it once more. It was perfect, yet he couldn’t bring himself to say the words. He had waited for this moment for three years, since the very first day he saw her at the Christmas party, accompanying a friend.

They met because he had bumped into her, and spilt his drink on her, ruining her beautiful yellow dress. He was so embarrassed he wanted to die. But Siya just laughed and even made a joke about it. And then she smiled that traffic-stopping smile of hers, thanking him for giving her a reason to ditch the party and head home.

But Malusi couldn’t let her go, and begged to pay for her dry cleaning – another thing that made Siyamthanda laugh, and so they ended up talking. They talked about everything under the sun, from politics to sports; favourite books to best movies. Siyamthanda was beautiful inside and out. Malusi found her mind attractive; the way she talked passionately on what she believed in showed how much she cared. She also knew a lot about faraway places and other cultures, especially exotic foods.

In those few moments, before she gave him her business card and ran off, Malusi already knew then what he was certain of now – that she was the one.

He later learned who she was, and who her father was, and he doubted he stood a chance with her. The daughter of a government minister would never date a lowly lawyer like him. Malusi worked for the department and didn’t earn much. But one night he had worked up the nerve and called her. And after that first date Malusi was sold. He would make Siyamthanda his wife.

Now the day had come and here he was, choking on his words. He washed his hands and walked back to the table, to her. Without another word, he got down on his knee.

“You’re the one; you’ve always been the one,” he said, and his voice shook. “I’ve known since the day we met, and I feel it stronger now.” He swallowed hard.

Other restaurant-goers were starting to notice, turning their attention towards their table. This wasn’t helping. He shouldn’t have done it here. He should’ve waited till they were alone. But now there was no turning back.

“Siyamthanda, will you marry me?” he finally asked, choosing to neglect his speech.

“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!” She nodded hysterically, her earrings dangling like glass chandeliers from her ears.

He slipped the ring on her finger with trembling hands. He couldn’t get up, his knees were so weak.

“Took you long enough,” she said and bent down and kissed him – as the room filled with cheers.

 ***

Tell us: What’s your ideal marriage proposal setting?