At Arm's Length

"Will you marry me?"

He was down on his knees in front of her. He had made the perfect arrangements. It was the rooftop of their apartment building. Their favourite spot. The weather was perfect. The candle flames were glimmering in the light breeze. The air around them filled up with the fragrance of jasmine and roses. The atmosphere was so romantic, it would have been impossible to say no...

Days ago...

Friend 1: "Dude, she's hot. You are so lucky man. I still can't believe you're going out with her. Colour me jealous" 

Friend 2: "Yeah Bro. How you got her to go out with you, I'll never know"

He: "Shut up guys! You have no idea how hard it was. It was three years ago, but its still fresh in my mind like it was only yesterday. And I love her more with each passing day. "

Three years, that's how long they'd already been together. They met on the first day of work and it was since then, he had a crush on her. She had a unique spunkiness about her. She was definitely the coolest of the new recruits. She was friendly and outgoing and so was he. Both became friends in no time. They had the same set of friends and the whole gang hung out together. And soon enough, they started dating.

He: "Guys, I think I'm going to ask her to marry me."

Friend 1: "Are you serious? Why you settling down so soon. Life is long. Take your time."

Friend 2: "I think its great. Go for it. Don't listen to this jackass."

Friend 1: "Ha Ha. If you want to go jump in the well, who am I to stop you"

Friend 2: "Ass, what do you know about relationships? You've been single forever"

Friend 1: "It is my choice to be single. Haven't you heard. Single people give the best relationship advice."

He: "Can you guys stop bickering for one second and help me plan it"

Over the next week, he went to great lengths to find the perfect ring. He went store to store in search of it. And at last, he found one. It was a gold ring with a heart shaped ruby. She would love it.

He chose the night of their three year anniversary as the night.

Early in the morning, he set up the roof with candles. He paid the security guard of her building to receive the flowers and assemble them.

All day at work, he behaved the way he normally did. They worked, they had lunch together, and then he dropped her off, telling her to get ready as he was going to take her to dinner.

While she was doing that, he quickly wore his best suit and gave the final touches to his proposal spot.

He called her up. He was supposed to pick her up for their date. She was ready. So, he went down to her house.

He: "I have a surprise for you"

She: "Really!?! I love surprises"

He: "You'll have to close your eyes"

She nodded in agreement and he put a blindfold on her eyes.

Days After...

Friend 2: "Come on! You have got to come out with us. You can't keep sitting here doing nothing all day. Come.. Let's go out and get some drinks."

Friend 1: "Yes! Come. The gang misses you. You have got to come. "

He: "You guys carry on. I'm busy. I can't come"

Friend 1: "Dude, its Guys Night. Just get up from that damn couch and get ready"

Friend 2: " We're not taking no for an answer."

He: "Alright alright. I'll get ready"

Friend 2: "That's my boy"

It had been days since he had stepped out of the house to go go anywhere other than office. The night of the proposal had turned his world upside down. He knew it was going to be different, but he didn't know that it would be this way.

That night, he gave her a surprise, but she gave him an even bigger one.

Her words were ringing in his ears and he couldn't get her expression out of his mind.

She: "Oh my God! This is too soon. I can't do this. I'm not ready... [Long pause] There is something you don't know. It happened few months ago. I was out with some old friends. We were drinking. A lot. And that is when it happened. I'm so sorry. It was a terrible mistake. I couldn't get myself to tell you. I apologize. I can't undo what I did, but I can't move forward without you knowing that I cheated."