Ritesh Kanjee’s hard work in mobilising a flashmob to perform to the song Marry You by Bruno Mars moments before proposing to his girlfriend on Saturday at uShaka Marine World paid off when a delighted Krishna Nagar said “yes”.
During the flashmob dance sequence, Kanjee, 28, an electronic engineer from Lenasia South, joined in and wowed Nagar with his moves.
Moments later he walked towards her, got down on bended knee, popped out the engagement ring from his wallet and proposed.
“I suspected something was up because he told me to dress formally but he did not say where we were going. When we ended up at uShaka, I became more suspicious but I went with the flow,” said 22-year-old Nagar, an actuary from Winchester Hills, Gauteng.
“Ritesh was acting strange throughout the day. He was constantly chatting to someone on his phone and I began to get irritated. When I asked him who it was, he said it was my mother.
“Then he said he was going to the bathroom and he took forever, which was really unlike him. I was just about to call to check up on him, when he returned.”
She said that as they were walking, she noticed a group breakdancing.
“We both love to dance, so we stopped to watch. Then they began to dance to Marry You and I started dancing along. At no stage did I realise the song was meant for me,” said Nagar.
“Ritesh told me that he could also dance to that song and that he would do so later. Never did I realise that he would walk toward the dancers and dance with them. He was amazing and he danced in sync with them, which surprised me.
“That’s when I realised this was a proposal. I saw Ritesh walk slowly toward me, go down on bended knee, take out the ring and propose. I, of course, said yes,” she laughed.
The spectators – tourists and locals alike – loved it, breaking into applause.
Kanjee said he got the idea to propose using a flashmob on social media a year ago.
Then four months ago, he started learning the steps to the Bruno Mars song while in his room. He also went for dance lessons.
“I then contacted a photographer in Durban and called up a dance group, which I found on line, to perform to the song. About a month ago, I told Krishna that we would be going to Emperor’s Palace (in Gauteng) for a four-day getaway.
“But instead of going to the venue, I told her we were heading for Durban. She was over the moon because the last time she visited Durban was about six years ago and she really wanted to go to the beach.”
Kanjee said that throughout Saturday he was on his cell, messaging the photographer and dance team on WhatsApp, informing them of their whereabouts: “When we finally reached the area where they had set up, I gave them the signal to start by messaging them.”
He said he only went ahead with his proposal after getting the consent of both their families.
The couple met three years ago on Diwali day, while at a fireworks display at the Rameshwar Temple.
They returned to Gauteng on Sunday and are scheduled to tie the knot next December.