The Plan That Wasn’t

Arvind stepped off the plane, wrapping his scarf tightly around his neck as the cold Icelandic air bit through his coat. Beside him, Mateo grinned, already adjusting his sunglasses despite the dimming light outside the airport windows.

“You know,” Mateo said, eyes glinting mischievously, “I think we should skip the tour guide.”

“And risk missing the northern lights? Never.” Arvind shook his head, already envisioning the perfect shot—himself and Mateo standing side by side under the shimmering aurora. He had dreamed of this moment for years, saving every extra penny from his salary just so they could finally experience something truly magical together.

“Well, I don’t want to waste time waiting in line for someone else’s dream,” Mateo quipped. “We’ve got our own adventure planned.”

“Exactly!” Arvind beamed. “And we’re going to make it unforgettable.” He reached for Mateo’s hand, squeezing it lightly before leading them toward the customs counter, where their luggage would soon be scanned and released into their care.

As they navigated the bustling arrivals hall, Arvind couldn’t help but marvel at how far they’d come in ten years. From small apartments in Mumbai to a life shared across continents, their journey had been anything but simple—but it had always felt right. Now, with their tenth anniversary looming like a beacon on the horizon, he wanted nothing more than to see every corner of Iceland with the man who had become his constant, his confidant, his love.

 

Their guesthouse, nestled deep within the countryside near Akureyri, was everything they hadn’t expected—and exactly what they needed. The host, an elderly woman named Sigríður, welcomed them warmly, offering cups of steaming coffee as she handed over the keys to their rustic cabin.

“The northern lights are best seen from here,” she insisted, gesturing out the window where fields stretched endlessly beneath a sky already darkening. “If the clouds permit.”

Arvind took a sip of his coffee, savoring its rich aroma while Mateo leaned against the doorframe, grinning. “So, what’s first on the agenda?” Mateo asked, eyes alight with anticipation.

“We’ll start with the Golden Circle tomorrow,” Arvind replied, already mentally ticking off landmarks. “Then Blue Lagoon, and then… well, the aurora hunt.” His voice carried a note of excitement that made Mateo laugh.

“Relax, love. We’ll see everything.” Mateo squeezed his shoulder gently. “No need to rush.”

But Arvind wasn’t about to let any opportunity slip away. This trip had cost him months of sacrifice, and he intended to get every ounce of value from it. As they settled into their room—a cozy space with mismatched furniture and thick wool blankets—he pulled out the itinerary they had painstakingly mapped out weeks earlier.

“I’ve saved every penny for this trip,” he said, flipping through the pages. “We can't afford to waste any time.”

Mateo chuckled, leaning back onto the bed. “You know, sometimes the most memorable moments aren’t the ones you plan.”

“But I do like planning,” Arvind countered, though there was no real argument in his tone. It was just the way they were—Arvind meticulous, Mateo spontaneous, both of them holding each other together with equal parts tradition and whim.

 

The night after their arrival, they set out into the countryside, bundled up in layers of clothing and filled with hope. The air was crisp, the sky wide open above them. For a moment, Arvind thought the aurora might make an appearance, shimmering in the distance like a promise whispered by the universe itself.

But before long, a heavy layer of clouds rolled in, smothering the stars and any chance at seeing the lights. Mateo groaned when he noticed the disappointment etched across Arvind’s face.

“So much for our big moment,” he muttered, stepping out of the car and letting the cold wind whip around him.

Arvind sighed, running a hand down his face. “We’ll get another chance. Maybe tomorrow.”

“You say that now,” Mateo teased, but even his humor couldn’t mask the slight frustration bubbling under his skin. They had come all this way, only to be thwarted again by nature’s whims. Still, neither of them wanted to give up so easily.

Back at the guesthouse, they returned to their cabin, shaking snow from their coats as they stepped inside. The fire crackled warmly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the walls. The silence between them stretched until Mateo finally broke it with a chuckle.

“What are we going to do now? Sit here and stare at the ceiling?”

Arvind grinned. “Well, I did notice something left behind on the table.”

Curious, he reached over, pulling out what looked like an old board game. Its box was faded, its pieces somewhat disheveled, and several were missing entirely. But despite that, Mateo’s eyes lit up instantly.

“That makes it vintage,” he declared. “Vintage fun!”

Arvind raised an eyebrow. “And if we don’t know how to play it?”

“We’ll figure it out,” Mateo replied without hesitation. “It’s not often we have access to something like this. Might as well enjoy it while we can.”

Despite himself, Arvind found himself smiling. He didn’t know why, exactly, but something about playing an old game with the man he loved felt strangely comforting—a reminder of simpler times, when life hadn’t been so complicated or demanding.

 

Later that evening, as the fire burned low and the outside world settled into peaceful stillness, Arvind and Mateo took a shot at baking their anniversary cake. It wasn’t much more than a collection of mismatched ingredients and an attempt at creativity, but they were determined to make it work.

They spread the batter across two pans, each of which they filled with equal enthusiasm. Mateo decorated the first one with frosting and sprinkles, his hands moving with the kind of careless confidence only someone who didn’t care about perfection could wield. Arvind, ever meticulous, tried to smooth things out—only to end up with lopsided peaks and frosting that threatened to spill over onto the sides.

“Looks like it belongs in a museum,” Mateo said once the cakes were done, peering at the mess with amused eyes.

“Or a landfill,” Arvind quipped back, though there was no real sting in his words. “But I still love you.”

Mateo laughed, brushing flour off his fingers before taking a bite. “Mmm… it doesn’t taste bad.” He paused, chewing thoughtfully. “A little too sweet, maybe. But I’d eat this again any day just to be with you.”

That struck something deep within Arvind, a warm feeling blooming in his chest even as he frowned slightly. There had been times, lately, where he wondered if Mateo had stopped noticing the effort he put into making these moments special for both of them.

Still, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything—not yet. Not while the cake was still warm, not while the fire crackled between them like some silent witness to everything that had passed between them since marriage.

Instead, he simply pulled Mateo closer, resting his head on his shoulder and letting the silence stretch between them like the snowfall outside, soft and unobtrusive.

 

As the night wore on, the board game became less of a distraction and more of a catalyst for deeper conversation. They had taken turns rolling dice, moving pieces around the track, laughing at the absurdity of some rules and the sheer randomness of others. And then, without warning, the game had shifted from lighthearted fun to something heavier, more serious.

Arvind leaned forward, his brow furrowed as he studied the board. “You don’t seem to care anymore when I put effort in,” he said suddenly, his voice steady but tinged with hurt.

Mateo blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected accusation. “What are you talking about?” he asked carefully, choosing his words with deliberate slowness.

“You know what I mean,” Arvind replied, shifting slightly in his seat so he could meet Mateo’s gaze fully. “I go through all this trouble to make things perfect—for us. And sometimes, I feel like you’re just going along with it because you think you should, not because you actually want to be here.”

Mateo opened his mouth to argue, to explain, but the words caught in his throat. He hadn’t realized how much of this had gone unnoticed, how many small signs had slipped past him until now.

“I do care,” he finally said, softer now. “It’s just... I miss the way we used to be. The way we would just jump into things without overthinking every step. Sometimes I think you’ve forgotten how to let loose.”

“And sometimes I think you forget how important it is to recognize when someone else has worked hard to make things better,” Arvind countered, though there was no real anger in his tone—only frustration, and maybe a little loneliness.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their words settling heavily between them. Then, slowly, Mateo reached out, taking Arvind’s hand in his own. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to dismiss your efforts. I just… I wanted something different. Something spontaneous. Something real.”

Arvind exhaled, nodding slowly. “And I understand why. But I also need to know that my work means something to you. That even if we’re not planning every single detail, you still see me. Still appreciate me.”

There was a pause, one long enough for the fire to crackle once more before Mateo finally spoke again. “Then let’s try again,” he said softly. “Together.”

 

After a long, heartfelt talk, Arvind and Mateo agreed to change their habits—Arvind will try to embrace spontaneity more often, and Mateo will make sure to acknowledge and appreciate Arvind's efforts. As they sit together on the guesthouse porch, watching the stars above them, they share a tender kiss, knowing that even without the aurora, their love had already shone brightly.