I suddenly felt very shy, Omar and I had made an effort to dress up. After all it was the millennium, the dawning of a new age, a new century, a new time. I was wearing the only designer dress I had, a green silk halterneck from Donna Karan, which I had bought for Karin’s wedding.

You look gorgeous, darling, very fuckable.

I looked at him, feigning shock. He simply raised his eyebrow.

You know you are.

We headed towards Sumi, who looked foxy in a scarlet dress with a high slit, and Fairman, very formal in a crisp white shirt and dinner jacket.

Quite a party here, Fairman!

Let’s just hope the electricity doesn’t go out.

We have another generator, just in case, my dad you know, doesn’t want to leave things to chance.

And as if on cue, Mr Fairman walked over to us and said,

Well, well, if it isn’t the fabulous four! Eat, drink. The night is ours!

The fabulous four, indeed. We looked at each other and grinned. Omar grabbed my waist.

Darling, I have never been this happy. I want you to know that. Here, now like this. I want you to know.

I did know. How could I not? I looked at him, there, like that. His hair curling slightly in the humid night, his eyes brimming with love. I kissed him gently on the lips.

Delonix Regia, will you marry me?

I choked. Then gave my answer with a flurry of kisses on his face, and my cries of joy were drowned out by the clapping from the small crowd who had gathered around us.

A toast! A toast!

Yes, Omar. Yes!

He twirled me around on the grass, then, the most tender of kisses. We laughed like silly children, delighting in newfound secrets. Everybody raised their glasses, and as I looked up to the sky, I saw a crescent moon with a sprinkling of stars. Midnight came and went and the world did not end.

The night Marina told me she had been raped, we were in the mamak coffee shop, the one we first came to not so long ago. We had tried to make it a point to meet there from time to time as we not only enjoyed each other’s company, but I had begun to trust her more and more. It was an unusual friendship. I felt I could be so open with her, that she would not judge me and that she too would not be judged.