Every year I make it a point to surprise my wife on her birthday. It has become a tradition for me to go above and beyond, planning something special that she could never imagine or suspect. And each time I have succeeded in surprising her by surpassing all her expectations.

If I am being completely honest I am not particularly good at remembering special dates, not even my own birthday. Thankfully, I have a brother who often reminds me about our family's important birthdays, allowing me to prepare in advance and avoid any embarrassing mishaps.

This year things were different. I found myself swamped with work projects, making it nearly impossible to dedicate the time needed to plan the grand surprise I had envisioned. I can't reveal my original plan here because my wife is an avid reader of my blog. What I managed to do this year was still incredibly special and I am excited to share the unforgettable weekend experience with all of you.

Work, Love and Surprises

With only four days left before her birthday, I made a spontaneous decision to organise a surprise grill party in a serene and natural setting.

A friend and colleague of mine suggested a spot in Hässelby, a location I was initially sceptical about since I was familiar with its bustling crowds on weekends. But he assured me that he knew of a hidden gem, a truly beautiful place untouched by the usual crowds. I decided to check it out. After work that same day we headed to the location he recommended. The place had everything we needed for the perfect celebration: a designated barbecue area, a picturesque tree, comfortable benches, and even a serene waterside view. Despite its charm, a nagging sixth sense cautioned me about the difficulty of securing such a coveted spot on a busy weekend. Despite my reservations I reached out to my closest friends and extended them invitations to the surprise birthday party and to my delight they all confirmed their attendance without hesitation.

Once we had finalised the party location, we headed to Vinsta Gross, an oriental grocery shop conveniently located near my residence. Knowing they had a meat section, I approached them with a special request to prepare ready-to-barbecue chicken and kebab skewers. I also placed an order for Pakistani salad from Anmol, a local restaurant known for its delicious offerings.

To ensure everything was fresh, we decided to buy the coal, wood, and any other necessary supplies on the same day when we picked up the skewers. Excitement filled the air as we anticipated the flavoursome feast that awaited us at the surprise grill party.

CELEBRATION DAY

On Saturday, I informed my wife and kids that we would be celebrating her birthday on Sunday in a beautiful natural setting near the waterside, where we would enjoy Pakistani tea made over a wood fire. But on Sunday when just as my family was ready to leave I informed them that I received a client call who had urgent issues with their digital signage and I needed to address it. This kind of situation was not uncommon for my family as they were aware of the demands of my work, so nobody suspected anything unusual. I asked my sons, Hamza and Saif, to accompany me, which was also normal since I often took them to my workplace and meetings.

In order to carry out the surprise party, I left home under the pretence of attending to the client's issue. I made a stop at Vinsta Gross, where my friend met me, and together we picked up the prepared skewers and gathered the necessary supplies such as coal, wood, drinks, and disposable plates and cups. I also called another friend and requested his help in bringing the salad from Anmol restaurant, which I had previously ordered.

UNEXPECTED CHANGE

Everything was going according to plan. But I was disappointed to find that our chosen spot was occupied. When we reached our chosen spot we were disappointed to find it was already occupied. My mood quickly shifted to frustration and anger. I asked them respectfully if they would agree to share the space, but they reacted aggressively, making it obvious that sitting next to them was not an option. It was already 10:30 am and I had invited my friends to arrive here at 11 am. I immediately told them where we had to go after changing the plan.

Fortunately, my colleague was familiar with another peaceful and beautiful spot just 15 minutes away from our current location. I shared the new coordinates with everyone and hurriedly set up everything at the new site, hoping that the unexpected change wouldn't dampen the excitement and joy of the surprise birthday party.

Finding myself in an awkward situation, especially with two of my friends lacking transportation, presented a challenge. One friend had already arrived at the previous location by taxi. Anyway, everyone was able to get to the new location after some coordination and a little bit of a rush.

I called my wife and told her that on my way home I found a great place but I don't have a car. So, better you come here and I shared my live location with her. It was only a 10 minute drive from our flat.

Given our normal routine and the absence of any suspicious behaviour, she arrived without suspecting a thing.

As she walked a mere three minutes from the parking area, she spotted familiar faces and a smile instantly illuminated her face. Everyone was surprised at how I had managed to arrange the food, crockery, and everything else secretly, adding an extra element of wonder to the surprise.

The joy and astonishment on their faces made all the effort and unexpected challenges worthwhile, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for successfully orchestrating such a memorable surprise for my wife's birthday.

The kebabs and chicken turned out to be absolutely delicious, exceeding everyone's expectations. Amidst the excitement, I had completely forgotten to bring a cake for the birthday celebration. However, my relief was palpable when I spotted my colleague approaching with a beautifully decorated cake in hand.

We all indulged in the scrumptious food, savoring every bite. The cake brought an extra element of sweetness to the occasion.

As we enjoyed our meal, tea, and cake, a remarkable incident caught my attention. I noticed a talented individual passing by with a Saaz, a traditional musical instrument. I asked my son Saif to approach him and see if he is interested in playing for us. Surprisingly, he agreed wholeheartedly and began to serenade us with his mesmerizing music.

In a heartfelt gesture, he even composed a song on the spot, incorporating my wife's name into the lyrics. It was a truly enchanting moment that added a unique touch to the birthday celebration.

The rest of the day was filled with laughter, heartfelt conversations and memorable moments shared among friends and family. The surprise grill party turned out to be a resounding success, surpassing all expectations despite the initial hurdles.