My engagement

It was an ordinary Monday and my boyfriend and I had decided to have a meal at Ocean Basket when I finished work. My soon-to-be-fiancé picked me up from a really bad day at work and, after deciding we were too tired for a sit down dinner, we ended up getting some take-out from Steers in Rondebosch.

After placing an order we started chatting and suddenly I was hit by a moment of anxiety when I was asked the question "So when can my parents come over to speak to yours?" I was so shocked that I couldn't reply (not exactly the appropriate response.) I was so dumbstruck that he had brought about the topic out of the blue and that I of course was unaware of the important life-altering decision coming my way.

Being a Muslim girl, that question meant only one thing; a marriage proposal and a commitment in the relationship were on the horizon! I was expecting the 'down on bended knee' proposal but I suppose that only happens in the movies. And let's face it, a proposal in Steers isn't really a story you’d want to tell your grandchildren! But given that he had the courage to ask the question in the first place is so remarkable that I'm prepared to forgive him for 'where' it was done. Perhaps we should have opted for Ocean Basket – at least there would have been candles!

We have been seeing each other for five years now and I've always known that this could be the person I am willing to spend the rest of my life with, although there was still that element of surprise when he finally popped the question.

We each relayed the message to our folks. My boyfriend's parents called mine to discuss the formalities and a mutual decision was made for the engagement party to be held on August 8th.

After window shopping for rings, my boyfriend designed the perfect band, something small, plain and simple. His mom and I were chatting at their house two weeks ago when I was blindfolded and told to hold out my hand. A ring was slipped on my finger and I wasn't allowed to see because it was only being done to see if the ring fitted my finger -and of course because it was supposed to be a 'surprise'. But the journalist in me couldn't resist and being the nosy parker that I am I insisted on having a peek. And all I can say is 'wow!' My guy really has impeccable taste.

With the party coming up my bank balance has been reduced by a few digits because of all the gifts I bought for all those attending. I want them to remember my special day because a lot of planning and hard work has gone into this party as I will be the first daughter and the oldest granddaughter in the family to get engaged.

The nerves and excitement is really overwhelming when I think about it being only one week away (more excitement than nerves because of the exchange of gifts!). After all, I couldn't have chosen a better person to spend the rest of my life with.

I hope it will be everything I imagined it would be and knowing my boyfriend, it's probably going to be better.