"You're not too busy for a quick chat I hope?" Tina asked Razi, after the usual introductions. As an executive search consultant, she had called him on a strong recommendation from a reliable source.
"Nooo, of course not. I was just sitting here contemplating world peace, nothing urgent or important. What can I do you for Tina?" asked the investment analyst, intrigued by the voice on the other end of the line.
Tina laughed. "Well Razi, I want to make you an offer you cannot refuse, but rather than tell you over the phone, how about we meet to discuss it. Believe you me, it would be worth your while," she blurted out in a single breath.
"OK," he said simply. Tina smiled as she breathed a sigh of relief. Razi was a pleasant and welcome surprise from the mostly grumpy and difficult clients she had to deal with on a regular basis, and with a sense of humor to boot.
"I have other meetings scheduled in your part of the world, so I will be flying over this afternoon. How about tomorrow morning at ten?" she asked.
"Sounds good to me." When he hung up, after they decided the details, he was smiling mischievously.
***
It was love at first sight, at least for Razi.
"I have to be honest with you," he said as soon as they had sat down. "I came only to meet you Tina. I'm really quite happy where I am."
"Oh."
Tina's disappointment in learning he wasn't interested in the offer was obvious, and he continued quickly.
"But listen Tina, I do know someone who would be perfect for the job; a buddy of mine who I can vouch for. I have already taken the liberty of calling him and giving him a heads-up. He is at this moment waiting for your call. He is quite ready for a change at this point in his career."
"Oh!" she said again, slightly taken aback.
"Trust me on this. I believe he would be spot on."
He was, as it turned out, and was hired by her client the following week.
In the meantime, Tina accepted Razi's offer of a drink and a chat until her next appointment. By the end of the meeting, she was smitten.
***
He called her later that day and asked her out. Reluctantly, she turned him down, feeling it would be unprofessional, but a week later, he called her again.
"You're not too busy for a quick chat I hope?" he asked her.
"Nooo, of course not. I was just sitting here contemplating global warming, nothing urgent or important."
"You do realize you owe me big time my dear?" he asked. She could picture that twinkle in his eye, which had made her weak at the knees during their first meeting.
She smiled, thinking how it had worked out thanks to his help. "Yes I know. So what do I owe you?"
"I want to make you an offer you cannot refuse. How about I take you away for the weekend to celebrate a job well done?"
"OK," she said simply. After they had made their plans and Tina had hung up, she did a little jig, much to the amusement of her colleagues.
***
It was the most blissful weekend ever. Razi had been attentive, caring and loving, gentle and kind - everything a woman could ask for in a man. They spent the days lazily: sitting on the veranda with their "sundowners" watching the sunset, a little window-shopping, alfresco lunches, quiet dinners and conversation. She felt comfortable with Razi, and happy.
But at work the following Monday, Tina was deep in thought. Razi was the most wonderful man she had ever met, but he lived and worked in another part of the world. How would their relationship survive? Worse, what if he eventually asked her to move there to be with him? No matter the circumstances, leaving her hometown was never going to be an option for her.
She experienced a fleeting pang of anxiety, as she realized she had to tell Razi their long-distance relationship would never work out; she had to do it soon, before the breakup would be too painful.
Looking through her calendar, she remembered she had a conference to go to that week. The conference proved an unexpected distraction. And then she decided she would tell Razi in person when next they met, rather than over the phone.
They spoke again several times, long, intimate conversations, although it was always Razi calling Tina. Tina flew out to see him two weeks later; she wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but Razi was adamant. Although she was happy to see him, she couldn't help but be distracted.
"You seem very far away, my dear. Is it work?"
"No. there is something. I need to tell you. I just don't know. I don't know how to." Tina stammered.
"Listen, my love, just relax and enjoy the moment, as I dearly want to enjoy this short holiday with you. Could you do that for me?" he said.
Tina nodded meekly and snuggled into Razi's arms, as they sat on the veranda watching a beautiful sunset on their last evening together. It had been such a blissful weekend, she hated to spoil it with her news. But there never seemed to be a right time to bring it up.
It was Razi who finally broke the silence.
"I want you to remember what I am about to tell you, my love." Razi was looking straight ahead at the sunset, pale, the twinkle in his eye gone.
"You have made me very happy. Nobody else has ever managed that, and I am grateful to you. No matter what happens, Tina, I want you to know, I will love you forever."
And then he smiled, the purest, most beautiful smile she had ever seen.
They hugged tightly, and Tina realized for the first time how much in love she was.
She thought this was Razi's way of saying goodbye, that he too had realized their long-distance relationship would never work out, although neither of them had said as much. Tina told herself they were doing the right thing, even though her heart was breaking.
Alone at the airport, Tina thought of the things that had seemed odd, but that she had dismissed casually. He had been so adamant they meet, saying he needed to see her, to be with her. But she had noticed he wasn't his usual cheeky self; he was a little too earnest, just that little bit different. Odd somehow. Not quite real. He must have planned to see her one last time before saying goodbye, she realized.
Yet . Tina felt the whole weekend had been surreal somehow. Something did not sit right with her. There was something else . something about Razi . something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
The flight home seemed the longest she had ever had to make, and was relieved to finally arrive home just past midnight. A little while later, the flood barriers broke. She slid to the floor and cried.
***
The next day, Tina was staring into her cup of tea when her girlfriend called.
"What are you doing at home? They said at the office that you were sick. Are you OK?" asked Zuria, a stockbroker who was Tina's eyes and ears in the industry.
"I'm fine. I just needed some alone time. What's up?"
"Well, you remember the investment analyst I recommended to you a few weeks ago? Razi?"
"Yes," said Tina, her heart skipping a beat.
"He passed away last night!"
The news hit her like a sledgehammer. Time seemed to stand still. Tina slumped back onto the sofa.
"The news is going around like wildfire this morning," Zuria continued without waiting for a response.
"Wha . how. I don't. understand. I was just." Tina tried to make sense of the news.
"I was at a loss for words too when they told me. I mean. totally stunned! He was so young, and from a heart attack no less."
"But Zuria. it can't be true. Razi is dead? It's impossible!" Tina said a little more coherently. But I was with him yesterday, she thought.
"Listen Tina, did Razi tell you anything about his private life?"
"What's that got to do with his death? Why are you asking me this now?" Tina didn't care that she sounded a little defensive. She was beyond caring about anything. Tears were streaming down her face and her voice trembled.
"It has everything to do with it, Tina," Zuria said quietly. "I want you to just listen now."
Zuria explained how she had called Razi's family to offer her condolences and ended up speaking to his brother, Rafiq.
"The conversation started off with him firing questions at me regarding Razi's private life. He said his family needed answers; they needed closure.
"You see, about two weeks ago, Razi told Rafiq he had just spent the most perfect weekend with a wonderful girl and that he had fallen in love with her. Razi was convinced she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He was even prepared to move to her country. He had shown Rafiq the engagement ring he had bought and told Rafiq he was going to propose to her at their next rendezvous. Needless to say, Rafiq was very happy for his brother."
Zuria waited, but when Tina made no reply, she continued.
"The following week, Rafiq was visiting again, when Razi received a phone call from a business associate and friend. The conversation was short, and Rafiq noticed his brother hadn't said much, just mostly listened. When it ended, Razi was staring blankly into space, his face was deathly pale.
"Razi told Rafiq *I've just been told that my girlfriend is seeing someone else. They seemed happy together'. Then Razi looked startled and grimaced horribly as he put his right hand over his heart. He collapsed right there and then. That was about five days ago."
Five days ago? Tina thought. But I was with him just yesterday .
"The doctor said Razi had suffered a severe heart attack and had lapsed into a coma."
.for the last time.
"Rafiq said he believed Razi had given up the will to live even before the heart attack.
Anyway, he passed away peacefully last night without regaining consciousness. Rafiq believes his brother died of a broken heart."
.he wanted to see me for the last time.
"But Rafiq said something strange did happen during the coma: A few hours before he died, on Razi's face there was this most beautiful smile."
The receiver slipped out of Tina's hands into her lap and she buried her face in her hands.
Zuria waited a few seconds, before adding softly, sensing her friend's anguish, "Tina, Razi's family never had the chance to meet you. They family need closure."
Silence.
"Tina? You still there?"
***
Tina had met Drew at the conference after her weekend with Razi; Drew had swept her off her feet. Within eight days, Drew was talking of marriage and buying a house together. He told her he loved her. Although unsure about her own feelings, Tina believed him and fell in with his plans.
After returning the night before, Tina had checked her phone messages. There was one from Drew. He had spent the weekend with his ex-girlfriend and they had decided to get back together again, he told her; they were getting married next month.
