And that is all it took. For him to concur that he felt like he was in the same boat: same insecurities, same apprehensions, same genuine uncertainty. When I looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity, I let the air out of the balloon. Why get pent up with a thousand emotions about the "What Ifs?" We had to live in the moment and just let things be as they may.
Ok, so I seem to have things backwards.
First you meet, fall in love and then get married. Right? Sounds pretty normal and cliche.
Of course, leave it to me to find meaning in things against the status quo.
We did not have a wedding song. We did not slow dance to our pick of music that would spring us into married life. If there was a song, it would be "What's Love Got to do with it" by Tina Turner. Because quite plainly, neither of us were in love with each other.
I do believe there needs to be some chemistry, a strong physical attraction. This is essential otherwise I would be banking solely on personality--of which I had no taste of. The mutual attraction was there from Day 1 but I still believe today we were fated to be together. There was an unexplained energy force (no, not lust) whereby the circumstances aligned us together. You have read all about that.
Now begins the Love Story. Aww shucks...is it about to get all cheesy now?
My honeymoon was like watching the Discovery Channel for me. A whole new world.
And then, only then, did I fall in love.
Squeeze me?
Who the hell falls in love after they get married? People in arranged marriages.
And that is what I liken the first beginnings of our relationship together. As we discovered the country of Spain, we also discovered each other.
Like any relationship, we had to earn each other's trust. And it was slow to begin with because we knew very little about the other.
As we explored new terrain of the country, its people, the food and what each city had to offer, we slowly learned about each other in the same way. And we wanted to learn more and more as the days passed.
We actually dated. Finally, as husband and wife. And we made up the rules along the way. And (gasp), it was out in the open! This was a novelty...it was foreign for us to show public affection, feeling that someone was going to turn the corner and report us. But it was liberating in that we appreciated the freedom far more than the average couple who were used to dating and being very open about it.
By Day 4, he was already ordering food for me, knowing exactly what I liked. Many of the Spaniards stopped us on the street after noticing the henna on my hands and feet. In broken English, they asked if we were just married although one elderly woman commented that she could see that we had been together for so many years and there was so much love between us.
I laughed out loud and withheld the truth in order not to disappoint her. But it was a very surprising assessment of us as a couple.
And it was no act. Within a week, I was very comfortable with him and he with I. I could be myself around him, express my opinion and joke freely. And as we got to know more about our likes, dislikes, tastes, ideologies, viewpoints and preferences, it was as if we had known each other for most of our lives. Strange...but completely true.
Although there was no courtship involved, no wooing, no chasing, no impressions to be made, I opened my heart, my eyes and my soul to fall in love--in two weeks...
Can Pakistanis fall in love?
Yes: It can be arranged...
-Unknown Author
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