Was this Love at First Slice?

Today’s newsletter is a beautiful story shared by a member of our Facebook Community. When Afreen shared this a few years ago, it instantly went viral. Her story is such a breath of fresh air and specially because of the way she has narrated the entire experience.

The year was 2005. It was our “second rishta meeting” and our parents decided that we should go to Laal Qila so that bachay (us) can get a chance to “talk”. The minor detail left out was that our “talk” would happen as the ammas and abas sat at on same table, to listen to that conversation. For perspective, Laal Qila in Karachi is a restaurant built around the Mughal Empire and transports you straight to that era. The loud announcements by men dressed as knights and the creaking iron gates will definitely make you feel like you are dining with a thousand kings and queens (or at least their very hungry descendants).

Now within this environment the only leeway we had, the ONLY chance of getting to actually talk to each other without being overheard by a grinning parent - was by walking to the buffet table together. So, much of that dinner was spent going to and from the buffet tables, kabhi chamcha lenay kabhi kanta lenay.

Fast forward to when we finally got down to eating, a deafening noise made us jump out of our skins. A shahi (royal) announcement was being made at the table next to us.

“Baa Adab Baa Mulahiza, Hooshiyar! Shahzade so and so aur Shahzadi so and so ko something something Mubarak ho”. (They were congratulating a “prince” and “princess” on their marriage).

It was so loud that we were almost forced to drop our cutlery, naans and murghi ki tangs to listen to the commotion and awkwardly smile at the unfortunate couple that was being shouted at. When it ended, a young, naive me thought to myself: “Allah aesi shermindagi se hamesha mehfooz rakhey,” (May God save me from ever being humiliated like that in public) and resumed eating my murghi ki tang (chicken leg).

We had lived outside Pakistan most of our lives and it was our first time at Laal Qila so we were completely oblivious of this tradition at the restaurant.

A short while later, my father-in-law (who is the coolest person ever but with a very strong sense of humor) and who was not even my father in law at the time - said he needs to go get more kulfi. He left the table and came back without the kulfi but no one noticed and carried on eating.

Moments later we noticed the same bunch of Shahi Soldiers marching towards our table. I thought to myself, it seems like yet another couple is about to be drowned in embarrassment again. Little did I know that this “Mughal Army” was actually coming to surround us!

And then began the announcements. “Baa Adab baa Mulahiza! Blah Blah Blah Shahzade Raza aur Shahzadi Afreen ko cringe cringe cringe Mubarak ho!”

I still do not know what we were getting congratulated for because we were not even engaged at that time. It was one of those out of body experiences for me when your soul leaves your body and watches you from afar in hopes that you will disappear into thin air....but you don’t!

After the announcement they offered us a knife to cut a cake together. And we succumbed to the shahi orders to cut the cake “like a couple” (who had literally just met a few days ago).

I emerged scarred, but grateful. Gratitude because I did ultimately marry the same man, otherwise, I might have had some serious explaining to do about cutting a pineapple cake with a side of royal spectators, with a strange man - to someone else.

This September marks two decades since that significant event, and let me tell you, life has certainly thrown us some curveballs. While my father-in-law may not have been the main source of pranks, life itself has kept us on our toes with its surprises. Over these twenty years, we have had to keep slicing through many metaphorical cakes to reignite our love story and rediscover our feelings whenever it seemed like we were drifting apart.

We have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, including our fair share of arguments and tears. It is important to recognize that no couple is perfect; rather, marriage is a unique bond that requires ongoing effort and dedication. Although I do not have any profound secrets or wisdom to impart, I can say that maintaining realistic expectations of one another has been crucial for us. And never underestimating the power of laughter - seriously, seek out those moments that make you laugh until your sides hurt, because life will continue to surprise you, and the best way to survive is to fully embrace the joy in the chaos! Remember, you have the power to determine the genre in which you want to write your life story!