Adeel still remember the first time he had seen her. It was his first day in the school as a teacher. He was sitting in the staff room preparing for his first lecture when a girl entered the room.
“You should have taken rest for a couple of days, Zonia. With this bandage on your wrist you are still on your diary duty,” the teacher was saying.
“Ma’am, my father says don’t run away from your duties unless you are seriously incapable. We shouldn’t let little miseries over power our abilities,” the girl replied.
A melodious but firm and confident voice stroke the ear of Adeel. He raised his head from the book to look towards the source of the voice.
There was a girl with golden brown hair tied up in a pony tail. Her honey brown sparkling eyes were safeguarded by long eye lashes. There was a slight smile on her pink lips. He didn’t realize that he was gazing at her that might have made her uncomfortable; and so she turned her head in his direction.
“Good Morning, sir.” She said.
It was like he got out of a dream. “Good morning,” he replied with a smile and bowed his head back to the book.
He was embarrassed for his act of gazing. However, it was not merely the feeling of embarrassment that he experienced; there was something else too. The girl had clicked his heart.
He was fortunate for the fact that Zonia was a student of the class he was assigned. With time, his feelings for her grew stronger. It was not merely her physical appearance that was adorable but she had an admirable personality. She was intelligent, respectful, thoughtful, responsible, kind, trustworthy and dependable, embodying a remarkable combination of virtues.
Though Adeel had observed the glimpse of special feelings in her demeanour towards him, yet he wasn’t sure. Their relationship never exceeded the boundary of a typical student-teacher relationship. He knew that it was ethically incorrect at that point to express his feelings. Moreover, he had no idea how a girl of 14 studying in grade 9 would react to his expression.
He was himself a student of Master’s program. He was yet to build up his career. He didn’t want to lose her at any cost. He smartly took her address from the submission forms of board examination.
After teaching 8 months in the school, he had to quit his job as his masters classes shifted to morning. He had decided that he would send an official proposal to her parents after a year or so. He would wait for the time she would be ready to marry, but at least she would be engaged with him. He wouldn’t have any fear to lose her. That was his plan but all the plans do not proceed according to our desires.
The sudden death of his father dropped a mountain of responsibilities on him. He was eldest among his siblings who had to take care of three younger sisters and the widow mother. The family had to pass through a whole lot of financial and emotional difficulties. Their relatives weren’t supportive and had almost abandoned them.
Adeel being the breadwinner and guardian of his family, entered a new phase of struggle. After completing his master’s course he went abroad do earn a better living. In these circumstances he had forgotten himself. All he remembered was that he had responsibilities to fulfil. He had to buy a home and let his sisters marry.
With his perseverance and consistent efforts he kept on achieving one target after the other. After a job for a few years he started a small business that gradually flourished. He built his house, provided education to his sisters and let them married.
Amidst the myriad challenges he confronted , he had turned 34. His mother was eager for his marriage now but he didn’t want to form a relation haphazardly. The struggles he had been through never let him develop any outstanding feeling for any other lady. Nevertheless, he often missed a girl with honey brown eyes and golden brown hair. He knew he wouldn’t be able to achieve the company of that girl. He believed she would have been married by then.
He was a practical man having practical approach towards life but heart has its own lullabies; and his heart still sang the song for that girl.
During the time when he had lost so many things, he made sure to keep the well-wish card saved that Zonia had made for him. She had given it to him at his departure from the school.
He had her address too. After returning back to the country, he went to that address but he found out that the residents had left the place many years ago and moved to another city. He tried to look for her but he couldn’t find her anywhere. He understood that it was a wild goose chase.
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One fateful day he went to a coffee shop on a highway. Actually, he had a meeting with his friend for a business partnership. The two friends dwelled in two different cities. The coffee shop was the midway to both. So they decided for the spot.
He had entered the shop glancing at the mobile screen when he sensed someone about to fall to the ground. In an immediate reflex action he extended his arm to save the person.
It was a lady. “Be careful, ma’am,” he said.
On his voice the lady lifted her head up. Her lips had moved to mumble something. If he was right in hearing she said, “Sir....." His heart stopped beating for a while. He wanted to believe his mind was not playing tricks. It was she. His lost love. Zonia..
Hundreds of thoughts flashed in his mind in a fraction of a second. Fears and hopes, both abounded him simultaneously. He was thrilled yet afraid. “What if I have met her just to lose her again,” the imagination was breath taking.
“Aaaaah!" Zonia tried to stand on her feet but she had sprained a foot. The struggle to stand made her groaned in pain. The voice brought Adeel back to the senses.
He helped Zonia to a nearby chair and fetched her a glass of water. When she felt somewhat better, he took the opposite chair on the table.
“If I am not wrong, you are Zonia Dawood,” he couldn’t find a better way to start the conversation.
“Yes, I am. I wonder you still remember me,” she replied in amazement.
“So did you,” said Adeel.
Zonia winced to his reply.
“I mean you also recognised me at once, didn’t you,” he continued.
The conversation began. Amidst their conversation he had found out that Zonia was still single. Though being single doesn’t mean that she didn’t love anyone. She might be in a relationship or interested in someone. Along with hopes fears surrounded him again. He couldn’t ask any such question right away. He was in a fix.
He didn’t know if it was the right time to propose her but he didn’t want to lose the opportunity. He gathered the courage to ask her, “Will you marry me?”
Her reaction made him anxious. She didn’t say a word in response. She appeared in a state of trans.
He couldn’t make sense of what was going in her mind. He might have made a mistake, he thought. Confused, he further said, “Please take your time. There is no hurry.”
She was still quiet with numerous colours on her face, looking at him unbelievably. It increased his anxiety.
After a little pause, he continued, “You have every right to say No.”
“No......! Never.....!” She responded as if she had just been back from another world.
He clearly felt his heart sinking but the words that followed brought a new life to him.
“I am never going to say No, if.......” she paused for a while.
A few seconds appeared like years to him.
“.....if my family is in agreement.” She smiled.
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They had exchanged each other’s contact number that day so it was no longer difficulty to be connected.
The next week Adeel was at Zonia's home with his mother. The proposal was made official. Zonia’s family had no reason to reject him. The wedding date was finalized.
Only after a month, she was in his bedroom as his bride.
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This is a fiction story in response to Hive Learner’s featured contest.
Though the story is complete stand alone. However, it emerged in response to 