A bright day at Lyon, France. Raphael is absolutely excited about his trip to Germany with his girl Liliana. She is headed to Berlin directly via Milan, Italy.
Raphael on call with Liliana, "The trip is going to be short and fun Lilly, what are you worried about?"
"Your flight is just one and a half hour while mine is four"
"You must be kidding, you live closer and google said 'one hour sixteen minutes' is all that you should take to reach"
"Well, that's if I reach Frankfurt, not Berlin"
"Aah, I see. No problem, I shall spend some time in Berlin waiting for you."
"Yeah, that's what I'm worried about"
"Come on Lilly, I'm not going to be Mr. Casanova only because I'm French"
"You've grown your sense of humour with me, find a nice place to eat an hour before I reach. Please don't be lost"
"Of course love, I promise I'll do anything to keep the trip 'A happy trip'"
"You better... "
"SEE YOU AT HEAVENS"
Two hours later Ralph reached Berlin and checked for all available options to Bonn. He was planning on surprising Lilly by the river Rhine with his arrangements of marriage on a boat house lit up by ambient lamps.
With his family history of a series of successful small businesses like the food truck, housekeeping, pawn store and a few retail stores it seemed like an easy task for Ralph. Of course, he is good at planning with that kind of background.
His local enquiry took him through ideas like getting a priest on boat for a private wedding where his attendees can be on the riverside or have boats for them as well to a castle marriage that costed only €500. With a confused excited soul that he was, he now thought of talking to Lilly would be a wise idea to ensure that he doesn't ruin anything.
It was 3 hrs since he had spoken to Lilly.
"I totally forgot, I have to find a good place to eat with Lilly." He told the guide with a rush in the tone.
"Worry not brother, with Luca you won't miss anything in Germany"
"That's relieving, so which place do you suggest?"
"You said your wife is Italian?"
"Yes"
"The Mano looks like a good option for you, the place is one of the best Italian restaurants in Germany. The last guests visiting through me said, 'das Essen ist köstlich'... meaning it was delicious. Your wife should like it."
"How long would it take to reach?"
"It should not take long by uber"
"Can we make a special arrangement?"
"Generally, the restaurant is full but nothing can stop us from getting that extra with Luca."
"You seem to know a bit around, I'm glad you're accompanying us"
"Not really brother. I am working in Berlin and when you enter Bonn a veteran friend will take over, he knows better of the city through his tragic experience. We want you have a Ausgezeichnet experience with Luca... meaning good"
"That's impressive. So should we head to the airport? Lilly should be arriving soon"
"By your will, brother"
Ralph's phone rings up, it's Lilly.
"Are you even allowed to use a phone?"
"Maybe not on the flight"
"What do you mean?"
"Your flawless planning suggested me to negotiate with the airport staff and see if I can get a flight to Frankfurt and another from Frankfurt to Berlin. Turns out it saved us an hour"
"And you were continuously asking if I was sure of marrying you."
"I have a feeling that you aren't at the restaurant as requested"
"I'm on the way love, I was planning to take you along from the airport"
"Don't worry, I can reach where you want me to. After all that little German I learnt is coming handy"
Ralph presses his palm on the speaker of the phone and speaks to Luca.
"What was the place again?"
"Berlin"
"No... The restaurant"
"Oh, that's The Mano"
Ralph gets back on call, "The Mano"
"What? The manhole?"
"Nah... The Mano"
"You mean A Mano"
"No love, it's the Mano"
"Okay okay. I'll be there ASAP"
"See you in a moment then, love you"
"I love you"
Phone clicks and Ralph turns to Luca giggling
"She said she is coming to the restaurant"
Luca spoke to the uber driver, "Fahr zur A Mano"
"Is she taking a cab, brother?"
"Yes, she thought the restaurant name was A Manhole" giggles*
"Maybe she's right"
And Luca looks outside the car window raising his eyebrows.
To which Ralph loses his smile slowly.
A few minutes later, both the men are having a proposal arrangement made with the restaurant staff.
"Komm schon Mann, €50 for putting a ring in a drink?"
"Nein Leiber, we look at everything from drinks, to music, to cake and if the bride drinks the expensive ring it can cost us everything this restaurant has, I hope you understand"
"Of course" Said Ralph with a smile and handed a €100 bill.
"See if you can get some violinists or a small band if possible" continues Ralph.
To which Luca says, "He's our guest, if you can't, give me the money, It's urgent"
"We'll have that arranged in minutes, we have an in-house band" Covered the restaurant staff.
Another few minutes and Lilly arrives. Brisk walking towards Ralph with joy.
Ralph cannot stop his smile staring at her. Luca whispers, "Looks like the lady is here, I shall see you in the cab, brother" and starts walking out slowly.
Ralph doesn't move his eyes off Lilly and whispers back bending towards Luca, "You can take a take-away in case you don't want to eat here"
Luca turns around and finds a nice seat to sit so he can watch the whole proposal.
Lilly pounces a bit to hug Ralph tightly and kisses him. The couple walks to their table; Ralph draws her chair displaying an absolute gentle nature and keeps looking into her eyes.
"You seem to have found A Mano I see" giggles Lilly
"You know I'm not too familiar with Italian names"
"It's not really a name, it means 'carry on'"
"It's magical, the name is a sign I suppose" smiles Ralph
"I know more languages, but only you can shut me up" replies Lilly and side smiles.
"I suppose we should order something then, you must be starving"
"Oh yes, I need something really nice and
filling"
"How about a Raphael-alla-Milanese?" giggles Ralph raising his hand half way indicating the waiter.
Waiter arrives, "My name is Antony, I will serve you your demanded meal ma'am. Do you have something in mind to eat?"
"Non proprio, would you suggest something nice and filling?" asks Lilly.
"We have a huge list of special cheese collection along with an excellent assortment of wines, exotic antipasti, salds, pastas and great grilled meat that can be finished with amazing self-made deserts."
"May I please get a Burrata alla Valentino with a suitable wine of your choice and a Saltimbocca alla Romana, sonno affamato" speaks Lilly to Antony
"Something else for you?" she looks at Ralph
"How can I dare?" says Ralph smiling and hands over the menu card to Antony with a small tip in it that he slid in without Lilly's notice
"Affamato me too" he giggles and everyone starts laughing, including the other staff who heard.