The Precious Figure

Chapter 8

"I...." I tried to speak, floundering my words but what came out were breaths of air. I felt an agog exhilaration seeping away.

'What is wrong with me? Why can't I talk? Is this really true?' I thought, imagining that it was night and my eyes had widened from my dreamy sleep, only to realize that it was all a dream.

"Fareedah, I know this is all too fast and..." Najib prattled but I could hardly comprehend what he was saying.

My thoughts were clogged with his words, "Will you make me the happiest man?"

Yes! I'll make you happier than the happiest man...but, isn't this too fast?

...What more do you want, Fareedah? Isn't this what you want? To be with Najib? To be the air that he breaths and the reason for the smile that lingers on his lips? What more do you want?

Najib stood up and placed his hands over his face. He was evidently shivering. "I'm sorry Fareedah. I shouldn't have said this. I know you need time..." he was saying beseechingly.

"No, Najib. Please sit." I whispered and he returned to his seat, immediately, eyes fixed on me.His stare made me very uncomfortable but I mustered the courage to give him an answer. To tell him how I felt about him.

Say it. Say it. Tell him how you feel!

"Najib, I'd love to make you the happiest man. My answer is a yes!" I grinned at him.

"Yayyyyy!" He screamed in delight and raised his hands into the air.

The people that were sitting close to where we were, turned to give us curious looks but I wasn't bothered. It didn't matter. What mattered was that I was experiencing a different feeling; the feeling that had captivated every part of me. What mattered was that I had won the heart of a handsome man...with the kind of looks that we see on the TV and magazines cover...the kind of look that had been rendered impossible for us to win. What mattered was that I'll spend the rest of my life with him...the dark-complexioned man with the breath-taking smile that could rend mountains apart.

That was what mattered!

***It was twenty minutes later and I was in Najib's car; sitting beside him as he was driving and narrating his story of growing up in the UK and relocating to Nigeria with his sister. He wanted me to know more about him. It was really sweet!

"Guess my dad's profession?" he drifted his gaze from the road and turned briefly to me, flashing a bright smile.

For a moment, I faltered. Why would Najib's smile make me unable to comport myself? Well, I'll get used to him soon.
"Erm....he's a doctor?" I said with uncertainty, simpering.

Najib roared in laughter. "No. Okay, let me give you a hint. It's not the regular medicine, engineering or law profession. It's something different."

"He's a geologist?"

Najib rolled his eyes. "You're very wrong. He's a movie producer." His lips twitched amusingly and I laughed in response.