Meet Stephen Robillard and Anika "Annie" Shaji, an interracial couple living in the City of Ottawa, Ontario. Stephen is a big and tall young Black man originally from Cap-Haitien, on the northern coast of the island of Haiti, and Annie is originally from the Kerala region of India. They met as international students at Carleton University, fell in love, graduated and got married. They are the proud parents of Ava and Ada, and are totally living the dream, as they say.
When Stephen Robillard first met Anika Shaji, the burly young Haitian man ( and future Canadian law enforcement officer ) was utterly smitten with the short, curvy, brown-skinned and raven-haired young Indian woman with the angelic face and chestnut brown eyes. Conventional wisdom told Stephen that as a Black man, he didn't stand much of a chance with an Indian gal, but he wouldn't let the casual racism that many Indians held for Blacks stop him. The lady seemed that special to him, even at first glance...
"A man must go for what he wants or lament it for the rest of his days," Stephen told himself as he looked adoringly at the young Indian woman who sat there, at a corner of the Carleton University library, dutifully studying. That's why he approached her, taking his fate into his own hands. To Stephen's surprise, Anika "Annie" Shaji turned out to be really cool. Their first initial conversation went surprisingly well, and they ended up exchanging numbers, that's how it all began.
"You're not like anyone I've ever known," Anika Shaji said to Stephen as the two of them walked out of the Silver City movie theater in Gloucester, Ontario, following their first date. Stephen winked at Anika, who smiled shyly at him while eating the ice cream he bought for her. It was a cold day in November, and Anika wrapped her coat around her curvy, hot little body. Stephen looked at her, and sighed, for his heart went pitter-patter when Anika's eyes met his...
"Anika, I'm into you, and I won't let go," Stephen said, smiling faintly, and when Anika Shaji fell silent, the young Haitian man wondered if he'd made a mistake. Sometimes a man thinks he's been charming but women think he's coming on too damn strong. A guy never knows what the precise balance is, with the ladies. Usually, it's too much or not enough...
"Good answer, handsome," Anika replied, and she playfully elbowed Stephen, then winked at him. Stephen breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled at Anika, pleased by her words and reaction. From that moment on, the burly Haitian and the curvy, diminutive Indian cutie became inseparable. They walked through the hallways at Carleton University, hand in hand. Let the Blacks, Whites, Arabs, Indians and others stare all they want, Stephen and Anika were beyond caring what people thought.