My shy Wife, Neisha

Chapter 3: remember me

I moved a little closer without even realizing it, my heart already racing so fast I thought it’d burst right out my chest. My hand had brushed against hers by accident and the second our skin touched, something inside me just lit up like a thousand stars in the dark sky.

“Sorry for touching you, but have we met before?” I asked, my voice low but hopeful. “Maybe somewhere magical?”

I searched her face like the answer was written on it. Those eyes. That calm look. My heart skipped in a way I could not explain. I was sure. Very sure.

“What?” Neisha replied, taking a step back. “I don’t think so.”

Her reaction hit me hard. I frowned, confused, trying to pull my memories together. There was no way I could be wrong. No way.

“I think so… no, I know so,” I said quickly, snapping my fingers as the memory rushed in. “Wait a minute. Oh my gosh… it’s you!”

My eyes widened, my heart racing. “Thank you fate. Thank you so much for this day. A dream come true.”

I smiled without realizing it. A big smile. The kind I had not worn in weeks.

She looked at me, puzzled, her grip tightening on the files in her hands.

“Any problem?” she asked softly.

“Problem?” I laughed lightly. “No. But my problems are gone, thanks to you.”

I leaned forward slightly. “Remember me? The guy you saved at the site a few weeks ago. Yes?”

I waited. I watched her face carefully, hoping for even a flicker of recognition. Anything.

She shook her head slowly.

“Sorry,” she said. “I don’t remember meeting you or anyone in such a situation.”

She adjusted the files against her chest. “I need to go and hand these over to the doctor. He’s waiting for me.”

My smile dropped.

“No, wait,” I said quickly. “Hold on. Just think. Try to recall it.”

My voice softened. “You pushed me away from danger. Then you applied first aid on me. You treated my wound. Remember now?”

She looked at me for a few seconds, her face blank. Then she shook her head again.

“No, I don’t,” she said. “I’ll leave then.”

She turned and walked away, her steps calm, her back straight, leaving me standing there like a fool.

I watched her go.

And just like that, the happiness drained from me.

“What in the world just happened?” I muttered to myself.

I ran a hand through my hair, my heart sinking. “I swear… my day is ruined.”

I leaned against the wall, staring at nothing.

“I’ve always prayed for this,” I continued in my thoughts. “Wished for this. Hoped for the day I would finally see you again.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “And now… I meet you again, but you don’t remember me at all.”

My chest felt tight.

“This is disheartening,” I whispered. “Very disheartening.”

I looked down at the prescription in my hand.

“I don’t even feel like getting these drugs anymore,” I sighed. “But no, I have to.”

I groaned. “What if grandpa dies and I get blamed for it? What if they disinherit me?”

I shook my head quickly.

“No. No. I don’t need such bad luck in my life.”

I stood up straight again, my eyes scanning the hallway, hoping to catch a glimpse of her once more.

“And come on,” I muttered. “I didn’t even get to know her name.”

I clenched my fist lightly.

“Why?”

And deep down, even with the disappointment, one thought refused to leave my mind.

If fate brought her to me once…

It could do it again.

I left to get the drugs the doctor asked me to get and returned to his office. Grandpa was done with his consultation, seated calmly like nothing special had happened today. If only he knew the storm going on in my chest.

"All done, grandpa. Let’s get you home now." I said, my voice sounding brighter than I felt. I helped him up carefully, holding his arm tight as we made our way through the hospital corridors to where his car was parked. He leaned on me a little, and I could feel how thin his shoulders were under his shirt – it reminded me why I had to keep it together, even when my heart was hurting so bad. I opened the car door and gently helped him slide into the passenger seat, making sure his seatbelt was fastened nice and tight before I got behind the wheel

As I drove, my mind was not on the road. It was somewhere else. Somewhere with a pair of calm eyes and a soft voice.

My meeting with my pretty angel replayed again in my head.

How could she not remember me?

I sighed deeply and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

Then suddenly, something struck my mind.

Wait.

She was dressed like a nurse.

A nurse.

In this hospital.

“Oh my gosh,” I whispered, my eyes widening. “How did I miss that?”

I almost laughed at myself.

Actually I laughed, a real laugh.

"Everything okay there, boy?" Grandpa asked, turning to look at me with his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah yeah, all good grandpa!" I said, grinning wide now.

So she works here.

That means I can meet her again. Anytime I want.

But no, I have to be smart. I can’t just show up and act like a lost puppy. That will scare her away. She already looks like someone who hates attention.

I nodded to myself.

I’ll come for something important. Something reasonable. Something normal.

If I act too eager, she might shut me out.

All I need is the right time.

And I need to become her friend first.

That thought alone made my heart beat faster.

The next day, fate decided to smile at me.

The next morning, my phone rang just as I was finishing breakfast ,it was the doctor! My hands shook a little as I picked it up, my heart already doing little jumps in my chest.

"Hello sir?"

"Adil, good morning. I’ve got some new routine drugs for your grandfather, could you come pick them up today?"

I froze for a second.

Then I smiled.

A wide smile.

“So this is how you answer prayers,” I murmured.

A perfect opportunity.

I almost shouted with happiness right there at the table. "Yes sir! I’ll be there in less than an hour!" I hung up so fast my mum looked at me like I’d lost my mind. I got dressed quickly, grabbed my keys and ran out the door before mum could even ask what was going on and drove straight to the hospital.

While waiting at the lobby, I sat quietly, pretending to read messages on my phone, but my eyes were busy scanning the area.

Then I saw her.

Walking towards my direction.

My heart jumped.

There she was. Neisha.

Calm. Simple. Beautiful.

I had to act fast.

I stood up immediately and pretended to be on a call.

“Yes mum, I’ll call you back,” I said loudly into my phone.

I took a few steps forward and bumped into her.

She gasped and almost fell.

Before my mind even processed it, my phone was back in my pocket and my other hand went around her back, holding her firmly.

Her body was warm.

Very warm.

I looked into her eyes and for a second, the world stood still. I found myself swimming in those beautiful eyes again.

Then she pulled away quickly.

“My apologies for touching you without your consent and for bumping into you,” I said quickly, my voice gentle.

“It’s okay. I’ll go ahead then,” she replied, already turning to leave.

My heart dropped.

“Hold on,” I said, blocking her path with my hand. “You don’t remember me at all?”

She looked up at me, slightly confused.

“Is there a reason to do so?” she asked.

“Well… not really,” I replied honestly. “But I think you should.”

I paused, then added softly, “May I know your name?”

She hesitated for a second.

“I’m Neisha,” she said. “May I leave now?”

Her politeness almost melted me.

“You’re so polite,” I smiled. “I’m sorry for taking your time, Neisha. I just hope we could meet up and have a chit chat.”

She frowned lightly.

“How about this Friday evening at any place of your choice?” I added quickly.

She looked at me like she was weighing her options.

“Well… I don’t know what to say,” she said slowly. “How do I react to an invitation like this from a stranger?”

“Stranger?” I chuckled softly. “Come on. This is our third meeting.”

She looked surprised.

“Please do this for me,” I continued. “I promise I won’t take much of your time. You’ll get to know me more and have some fun. Please.”

She was quiet for a moment.

Then she sighed.

“Well… okay,” she said. “4pm. I’ll text you the venue.”

“Text?” I raised my brows. “But you don’t have my number.”

I handed her my phone.

“Here. You can put in your number. I’ll call you tonight.”

"Sure." She said, taking it gently and typing away with her slender fingers. After a few seconds she handed it back to me. "I'm done"

My heart raced.

I looked down at the screen and saw her name saved there – Neisha (I added two hearts and flower emojis later when she wasn’t looking!). "So, it's a date. Friday by 4pm" I said, grinning so wide my cheeks hurt again.

“Date?” she asked. “I thought it was a meeting to…”

“Anything you wish to call it,” I smiled. “See you then. Salem.”

“Salem,” she replied and walked away.

I stood there for a few seconds, stunned.

Then it hit me.

I actually did it.

I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.

I felt like jumping and screaming.

I got Neisha to go out with me without her even realizing it was a date.

I picked up the routine drugs from the doctor and left his office. I got into my car and drove home like a man who had just won the biggest prize of his life.

I walked into the house dancing and whistling.

Mum stared at me.

“Won a lottery or contract, son?” she asked.

“Let’s say… I’ve hit the jackpot.”

“What jackpot?” she smiled. “Oh my… got a bigger contract? Congratulations.”

“What could that be?” she teased. “Are you now a Qazi?”

“Come on mum,” I laughed. “Goodness, you’re really bad at guessing. I’ll be in my room.”

“Adil, don’t you want to share your excitement with me?” she called.

“I don’t want to,” I replied. “I’ll be in my room.”

What a day.

A beautiful day.

I finally knew her name.

And I was going out with her.

If this is how destiny works, then I’m glad it chose me.

I walked over to my bed and just fell face first onto the soft sheets, kicking my feet in the air like a little kid. "What a day for me, a beautiful day I must confess." I said out loud, rolling over to stare at the ceiling. "Got to know her name and also go out with her." I smiled so hard my face felt like it was stuck that way.

"If this is how destiny works then I'm glad it favoured me." I whispered to myself. I lay there thinking about her – how her hand felt when she took my phone, how she smelled like fresh flowers and clean linen, how her eyes lit up just a little when she said yes. "I don't know but the feeling I get whenever I think about her or see her is so different from the feelings I get when I meet other ladies." I said, sitting up and looking at myself in the mirror on my wall.

"I'm not a Playboy but trust me, I've gone on several blind dates arranged by both my parents and friends and also dates set by me or the girl I met on a dating site." I shook my head thinking about all those other times – none of them ever made me feel like this. "This feeling I have for Neisha is something special and I can't even explain it." I said, touching my chest where my heart was still beating fast just from thinking about her. "Let's just say I get some beautiful butterflies in my belly." I laughed to myself and grabbed my phone, staring at her name in my contacts list – I couldn’t wait to call her that night!

And I can’t wait for Friday.