One hot summer, I took on a summer job and we had to hire more employees. The decision to hire more employees was pivotal for I never imagined that this sort of decision would set me down on a path toward my destiny. Toward meeting her. My first impression of her was our online interview using the infamous AOL instant messaging system where I recall being impressed with her responses and felt that we had a good rapport. What I didn't know was that she was going to change my world! Not knowing what she looked like, I found myself speculating with a friend, even going so far to search for her on FB to see if we can catch a glimpse of her. To our disappointment, the picture was blurry, it was a time before HD pictures were a norm, so all we could see was her wearing a blue dress. Deflated, we had to wait until she shows up. The day finally came when she showed up, in all of her glory, I was mystified. I was also, unfortunately, having a bad day. My first impression was not exactly an impression. The moment she arrived, I thought to myself 'wow'.. but what came out, my actions went the complete opposite: 'You're late!' *facepalm* My first words to my future wife was... 'You're late!' Somehow, magically, unexpectedly, despite my flurries of iron-clad rule of the team, my constant texting her with morning messages and some occasional texts in the evening. Our nerve-wrecking, but exciting seating together at the baseball game, much to the excitement of all other co-workers. Despite the fast-paced three weeks since we met, on the last day, at 12:01 a.m. at a student union hangout, sitting around a tall table - I was no longer her supervisor, I mustered the courage that forever set our path toward our destiny. I asked her out. She said yes.

Nearly halfway across the globe, on top of a cruise on the Nile river, in the midst of a twilight night, I got on a single knee, took out a box that was cleverly hidden in a side pocket, barely registering that my hand was shaking, my grip was loose. Staring deep into the brown eyes of a woman that I had determined I would spend the rest of my life with. A woman who has become my second half, my partner-in-crime, my number one, my fiancé. As I sat on my knee, staring deep into the brown eyes of that woman, I open the box and the next thing that happened became our sparks, our fireworks, our moment that will forever be etched into our memories until the end of time. The ring jumped out of the box while atop of a cruise, on the edge, 30-40 feet above the Nile. It happened in slow motion. The ring grew a pair of legs and jumped out of the box like a frog and fell to the ground. As it landed on the ground – the ring had two choices: slip to the right and dive into the dark Nile, disappearing forever; or slip to the left and settle softly on the ground allowing me to sheepishly pick up the ring. The choice was clear, the ring chose the left. The ring gave me the confirmation on that twilight night. It allowed me to bask in the embarrassment as I hastily picked up the ring and blurted out the question without a single thought in my mind. I had previously envisioned a few thoughtful and heart-felt words to justify my feelings for her as I build up to pop the question. Instead of popping the question, I popped the ring and my mind went blank. My body went to work as I picked up the ring, held it up, and blurted out the question: “Will you marry me?” The rest is history.