Nuranize

Chapter 10: Lucid and flary.

His POV

The next time we met was of course awkward. Dama can we were sort of awkward, you could say we became awkwarder. Nura was her calm and quiet self, where as I was a mess. I became cautious with my words when I was with her, but that was expected. What was not expected was how crazy my heart was when I heard her voice or hear her name. Not just her name but even Nur's!

I started thinking of explanations as to why my heart had suddenly became violent. I knew that maybe Nura had something to do with it, but instead of considering that maybe I liked her, I was considering the fact that maybe she was my new phobia. It was stupid I know, but love was so far from being in the picture. The only reason why I discarded the stupid thought was when I think of Nura, sure I had palpitations but it went hand-in-hand with joy and a lot of smiling. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had focused more on Nura as a possible cause for my ailment, but I was a doctor that fancied pathology over psychology.
So, being the medical doctor I was, I gradually erased Nura from the picture and inserted some very scary diseases especially ones affecting the heart. I actually visited a cardiologist that I ended up annoying with my preformed diagnosis, he in turn had me bully people into getting electrocardiography, chest x-ray and other tests. The results came out and there was no dysfunction, no abnormality, nothing. He advised me to cut down my caffeine intake and try not to stress myself.
One was harder than the other, but I tried.
Nothing changed.
I decided to just ignore the palpitations.
'If other symptoms manifest, I'll rush to the doctor.' I concluded.

Within weeks, I started countdown to NYSC. I was posted to Abuja and to be honest I was super excited. I knew that being in the camp was going to be tough, but I felt I was equal to the task.
I was so busy with work and packing that I had no time to visit friends. I was so busy thinking of Abuja that I wasn't thinking of anything else, or anyone else. Without me noticing, my heart had went back to its former self.

Within no time, I wasn't counting weeks but days to travelling to Abuja. So, like always, Mama made me visit relatives, a few this time around. It was after I covered the last house did I realize that I had not seen Nur in a long time. I would have gone to their house but time wasn't my ally.
I tiredly drove back home. Before I even parked the car, I saw Najib entering the house and Nasir behind him. Next up was Nura. She was walking and listening to something Nur was saying. He appeared to have said something funny because while he smiled, she was laughing.
'God! MashaAllah! Will I ever tire of seeing her laughter?' I thought.
My heart started beating real fast that I thought I was having some sort of premature heartattack.
'What is wrong with me?' I thought as I held my chest with my left hand and took steady slow breaths.
I continued to do so until it subsided. By that time, everyone had entered the house. I inhaled forcefully, an attempt to do something to my composure and exited the car. I quickly headed to my room, trying my hardest not to meet anyone at that moment. However, before I even reached anywhere Nur saw me and yelled my name.
"Suleiman! Right on time."
I turned around and saw him grinning, everyone else was seated behind him. Before I even spoke up, Mama ordered me to have a seat as I looked tired. I sat down, resting my head on the sofa.

"Tough day?"
Someone asked. I looked up and saw Nura looking at me sympathetically.
My heart began to beat a hundred times in a second. Am pretty sure it was loud enough for everyone to hear, had they not been watching the tv. She kept staring at me intently and It was making it worse.
I smiled a bit and nodded.
"Heard that in a few days you'll be travelling to Abuja for your NYSC. Allah ya ba da sa'a." She said and smiled I muttered an ameen and smiled.
I was happy that she cared, happy that she talked to me on her own, happy that she was smiling at me. I wanted to do more than smile.
And then she added the icing on top. I had no idea why she was in a mood to talk to me, but I was not complaining. I was staring blankly at the tv when I heard her clear her throat. I looked her way and saw her staring at me. I raised my brow and smiled a little.
"Uhm... Ya Suleiman I truly am sorry for being rude to you the other day. I truly am sorry, ISA I won't repeat it." She said and lowered her head.
"Uhmm... You've already apologized ai... And you need not apologize, you did me a great favor. Actually I should be the one thanking you. Thank you so much Nura." I smiled.
She smiled her heavenly smile, one with the dimple. At first she tried not to but she gave in. She was looking at the floor initially but then she looked at me.
My heart stopped...It actually stopped.
I froze, I was noticing only her.
Just her.
I know that for a guy that claims to hate Indian films I pretty much quoted a hundred, but it is true.
It was just Nura, everything else was hazy.
I ended up making her uncomfortable because she excused herself and headed towards the kitchen. I should have looked away, but I couldn't. My eyes followed her every movement until she was out of sight. I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was not alone.