What does your engagement ring mean to you? How many emotions do you have attached to it? Isn’t it because that single piece of stone is not only a tangible thing to you, but is also something that reminds you of the love that you and your partner shares? Undoubtedly, all of us have many feelings entwined with the ring.

But, just imagine that you misplace this ring one day. Even after searching for hours, you couldn’t find it. Did your heart just skip a beat? Of course, anyone will scream after realizing that one of the most valued ornaments from the ring finger is missing. Unfortunately, Michele Arias and Doug Cotty had to face the ordeal of the missing engagement ring just after they got engaged on a vacation. Will they ever be able to find it?

The Couple

Michele Arias and Doug Cotty were the residents of Charlotte. They were longtime friends who knew that their friendship was a little more than just being “the friends”. Neither of them realized when just talking to each other took to all night conversations, and when teasing each other turned to flirting with each other. As they say, it just happens.

Much In Love

Their love for each other grew stronger day by day. They would hang out together, go out for coffee dates and what not. All they wanted was to stay together. While it was a little easy when in college, but as they got their jobs, taking out time for their partners got extremely difficult. And then this happens.

Hectic Schedules

As life got serious, managing work and personal life too got difficult. With a job demanding long hours of work, Michele and Doug got very little time for themselves. And as a majority of the couple feel at a time, they too felt as if the charm of their relationship has gone. But, Doug knew that this was not something he wanted to give up.

A Holiday

Doug planned a vacation for him and Michele. He knew that they wanted some time to themselves. But other than this, he had some special plans as well. He wanted to make his commitment to Michele for a lifetime. Doug was all set to surprise the love of his life, something Michele did not expect at all.

Costa Rican Vacation

Beach is the best escape anyone can have and it turns out to be even better when such a gateway is in a country no other than Costa Rica. The country is known for its scenic beaches and backwaters. And this was the destination Doug chose to propose to Michele. Unfortunately, things did not go well.

Best Times

Michele and Doug had the best times of their life on this holiday. They enjoyed water sports, some cozy time and had lots of fun dancing and partying. Michele was already very happy. Little did she know that the biggest surprise was yet to come.

On A Knee

It was their last day in Costa Rica, and the duo went to Corcovado National Park. The day was going just as usual, until on a height, Doug decided to go on a knee. Michele was just shocked. She was literally screaming with joy. She somewhere down the line had been waiting for the day Doug would propose to her. And it was finally there.

OMG! OMG!

Doug on a knee, with a ring in his hand, popped out the question to Michele, “Will You Marry Me?”. Michele stood there still with teary eyes. There were no chances that she would deny the proposal. She just jumped of joy and said a “Yes”. However, nobody knew that the happiest day would soon turn into a search expedition.

Captured Forever

Their tour guide seized this moment. Doug had already asked the guy to capture every bit of the scene when he goes down on a knee. Michele’s expressions were all that he wanted to see again and again in those pictures. But the duo had no clues that this joyful day would turn into the one full of despair when this ring would go missing…

One Carat Ring

Michele was the happiest person on the planet that day. And why not, the mere thought of calling someone your “forever” is beautiful. She couldn’t stop staring at her ring. It was a one-carat diamond ring but was very special due to the fact that it belonged to Doug’s mother’s family side.

Passed From Generations

This ring was even more precious because this was the same ring which has been passed down to the next generations. It was Doug’s mother’s ring. It was looked like a piece of jewelry used to celebrate love in the Charlotte couple’s family. And the next moment this ring is nowhere to be seen. How?

Misplaced In Enjoyment

As it was their last day, they wanted to make the best of it. They decided to have a refreshing dip in the serene waters at the beach. Michele takes out her ring from the finger and applies some sunscreen. She keeps the ring safely in the front pocket of Doug’s tank top, not knowing that it was the most inappropriate place to keep the ring.

AN ORDINARY FACEBOOK POST URGES A 67-YEAR-OLD TO REUNITE A NEWLY ENGAGED COUPLE WITH THEIR LOST ENGAGEMENT RINGS

ANUSHKAFEBRUARY 18, 2019

FAMILYLIFEMYSTERYNEWS

Me Too

Doug too applied some sunscreen and removed his tank top completely forgetting about the ring. He hangs the top on a random branch of a tree and goes for a dip in the beach. The couple was cherishing every second of their togetherness at the beach that day. Unfortunately, soon all the happiness faded away.

Where Is It

After returning to the beach, they dried themselves up. And Michele searched the pockets of Doug’s tank top to get the ring. What happened next was something she never dreamt off. Her heart skipped a beat on not finding any ring in that pocket. She panicked and so did Doug.

Lost It

Doug and Michele were in utter despair. They had shared a proposal a few hours back and now the ring was nowhere to be seen. Michele started to cry. Though Doug himself was freaking out, he maintained his calm and asked her love to help him find the ring. Will they be able to find it?

Hot Sand

The couple on the hot beach sands searched for the ring like anything. Definitely, the ring has slipped from the pockets. But finding it in the sand was a tough job. It was no less than looking for a needle in a haystack. The sea and the sand have no end. They searched for it for almost an hour, and then worst thoughts came to them.

Taken By Water

Suddenly a thought came to that, maybe they lost the ring forever. Had it fallen on the sand and with a sea wave had it gone? This thought itself was enough to make the couple lose their mind. If the ring has gone with the water, finding it now was next to impossible.

Back Home

The couple had no other choice than returning to their home back in Charlotte. When after searching for hours they couldn’t find it, they assumed that maybe someone must have come across it and have kept it with themselves. The loss was a big one as it was not any ring but her engagement ring. However, Michele did not give up.

Ask For Help

Michele wasn’t ready to give up over her engagement ring. She thought that just as social media has helped in finding many things, it might be possible that she gets her ring as well. She in her Facebook post narrated the entire incident of how she lost the ring at Chaman Beach. Moreover, she even promised a reward for the person whosoever would return it to her. Will she be lucky enough to get that back?

Expect The Unexpected

Michele hoped a response to her post, but unfortunately, none turned up. She sobbed over the loss of the ring. It was special but now it was gone. Doug and Michele went online to buy themselves a new ring. They liked the ring and made the purchase. It cost them around $4,400 but it was worth it. As the very next day, the unexpected happened.

Ping Ping

They got new engagement bands and were trying to forget the ring that has been passed on from generations in their family. However, fate had other plans. Michele’s post got a reply when she least hoped for it. What was the reply?

The Man

A resident from Costa Rica named David Harris, aged 67 years contacted Michele. He has been a pro at such cases. Before also he found a ring at Myrtle Beach in Asheboro. Luckily, he was able to reunite it with the owner almost 40 years later. So, there was a fair probability that he could help Michele as well.

Ignored But

David had previously also messaged Michele to offer his help when he saw her post about the missing ring. But she never took him seriously and always ignored those messages for some unknown reason. David thought that maybe she found her missing ring and thus never disturbed her again.

May I?

David one again came across Michele’s post. And when he realized that she hadn’t found the ring yet, he again politely offered his help. Even Michele forgot completely about this guy. But when he texted again, Michele thought there’s nothing wrong in giving him a try. She reverted on New Year’s Eve.

Little Hopes

Michele wasn’t hopeful that David would be able to find the ring. Even she and Doug had spent hours to look for it. Moreover, beach sand is something too tough to try on the hands with. But, as David made a constant effort to help, Michele thought to look forward to it. If he is able to find the one, she will only be the luckiest one.

Get Started

David took out his metal detector and went to the Paya Chaman Beach. He started with one corner and was heading ahead. The sun was about to set and there were no traces of the ring. Still, David returned to the beach the next day and started to find it from the place he left the previous day.

Beep Beep

That day David started early morning. He was checking across the rocks and trees where there could be chances of finding one. It was somewhere in the middle of the beach that his metal detector started to beep. David immediately starts to dig the sand and what he found was something he didn’t hope for.

Oh No

As he dug a part of the sand, he found some metal caps. He was disappointed. He thought it would be the couple’s ring but it wasn’t. However, he again started with the metal detector. And at the same spot, it again beeped. He dug a little more this time only to…

Found It

David dug the same hole a foot deep. And there he found the ring. Michele and Doug’s engagement ring sitting in a sandy hole. He was elated. He has kept his record of finding the missing objects. And now it was time for him to tell this news to Michele.

Unbelievable

David called Michele and told her this exciting news. She couldn’t believe her ears. She was elated. The ring she had almost lost the hopes of ever coming across, was actually located and at the same beach. It wasn’t stolen. It was right there with David. She shared the news with Doug.

Are You Serious?

Michele excitedly tells this news to Doug. Even he couldn’t absorb the news. He was under a pang of constant guilt that the heritage ring was lost by him. But now that it was being located, he was happy and excited. Yet there was one problem.

How To Get It

The ring was in Costa Rica. How to get this ring back to Charlotte was a question. The very first option was postal service, but Michele did not wish to take a chance with the ring once again. She denied this option. Then suddenly she recalls something.

The Pirkls

Luckily, The Pirkls, who was a family friend to them were on a vacation to Costa Rica. Michele asks them for help. They agreed to meet David and collect the ring on Michele’s behalf. Finally, the couple would be able to reunite with their engagement ring. And what about the reward that Michele promised?

Another $450

Michele and Doug had to pay courier charges of about $450 to get the ring delivered to the Pirkls’ place from David. And after a long struggle, the ring reached to them in Guanacaste. And Michele got it from them when she visited them in Denver.

No Need

David refused to accept the $500 reward which the couple promised to give to the person whosoever would get them the ring back. In David’s words, it is something he would have done out of humanity for anyone and have not done this for money. Doug slipped the ring back in Michele’s ring finger and lived happily ever after.