"Blind Dates" By Joy Rajan

Here we go again. Another blind date. 

Sigh. 

Ever since my parents' passing, my sister has been on a one track mind to set me up on blind dates. She kept insisting that it was time I find a nice woman to settle down with. I couldn't justify any of it. I have tried dating and all my dates were a complete disaster.

The first date I had was late. She showed up in her pyjamas and we were to meet in Faubourg. I just stood up and left. She did apologise after and asked if she could make it up to me. I said I would give her a second chance. She took me to a decent restaurant and no, no pyjamas. She actually dressed decently. It wasn't that bad of an evening. I can't say I overly enjoyed her company though. Just could not put my finger on what was missing. Perhaps we were not a good match. I stopped talking to her after that. She stopped replying, which meant to me that she got the hint that I was no longer interested. 

After that my dates were boring and even rude!  

I will never forget the one I had with a lawyer my sister set me up with. The entire time she spoke on her phone. Or if she wasn't on her phone she was talking about herself. She told my sister after that I barely spoke and she was offended by my silence. Seriously? How could anyone talk with that yammering yo-yo of a mouth. And her voice. Whenever she spoke I kept thinking of my nieces Meow-Meow piano. Only this one was out of tune. I was relieved when she excused herself to the washroom. I jumped out of my seat and stuck her with the bill on my way out. The waiter confessed and said she had told him at beginning of the date that I would pay. Of all the bloody nerve! I got a tongue lashing from my sister. The only regret I had was not ordering the chocolate lava cake.

I stopped after that. I returned back to my art. It was time I invested in myself again. I felt all this dating was not just a waste of my time but also draining -both physically and emotionally. I had enough. And I was relieved. Maybe after that tongue lashing I received from my sister. She would have decided to stop on this quest of hers to get my married.

Well I guess I lost to her again. Another date. This time she was even sneakier about it. She said she was coming to meet me for coffee and to talk. She was ready to let this dating thing go. I agreed.

I sat down at the coffee shop waiting for her. And she messaged me: "Can't be there. But your blind date is on her way!" Damn. 

I kept thinking please stand me up so I can go back. Yeah no. She walked in. In uniform. My mouth dropped. I froze. She was stunning. O she cannot be my date. There was no way. She smiled and walked over and introduced herself. She was my date. I felt myself struggling. I could not keep myself from melting. I could hear myself wanting to blurt out "Marry me."  What is wrong with me? O shut up Emily! 

"Hi. You must be Emily. Your sister told me a lot about you." "O did she?" O did she...really? Did you seriously just ask that. She laughed.  O that laughter. She sounds like an angel singing. "May I sit down." "Of course. Well it's really nice to meet you Sara." I felt my heart race but strangely enough when she accidentally brushed her hand against mine I felt a calm -a warming mist over me. As time went on I felt more at ease. I got the sense she did do. It was like meeting an old friend but someone you have never met before. It was strange. Strange. But good. 

I really could not believe any of this was happening. Was this all real? We had a wonderful time and she even kissed me good-bye. I stood there frozen -still feeling her lips on my cheek. I watched helplessly as she left. She was an astronaut. How cool was that? 

I went home -floating but then suddenly felt ill. I kept thinking to myself a flood of negative thoughts.

O she's probably dating a few other girls at the same time.

Maybe she's secretly married.

Maybe she found my boring.

Maybe, maybe....maybe she likes me? 

I tried to get some rest. I heard a ping. It was a text message. I figured it was my sister. No. It was her. It was Sara.

"Hey. Sorry, I know it's late. But I can't sleep. Not to sound creepy...though this probably does...but I can't stop thinking about you." 

I held the phone to my chest. My heart was pounding like crazy. I messaged her back.

"I can't stop thinking about you either." 

She replied:

"See you soon?"

"Yes. I'd like that."

"Great! Good night Emily."

"Good night Sara."

I fell asleep.

We were together, again and again. She was so romantic. I couldn't believe it had been years since our first date. I met her family -but got the sense they never approved. I overheard them argue in the kitchen, but she was adamant that she was going to marry me. And the next day we said our good-byes as she made her way to NASA. She never came back. She was killed in a freak accident during a test flight. She was gone. She left me her place -pictures of us. But it wasn't the same. She wasn't there. I went to sleep alone...

I woke up crying. I looked around and I was in my own room. It was just a dream. 

I told her about my dream as we walked on the beach. It was a gorgeous summer afternoon. I loved that it wasn't too hot. 

"Emily. Don't worry. My family won't disapprove of you. My parents died when I was young. I'm an only child. My uncle raised me but he died a year ago of cancer. And as for crashes on test flights -it's rare. I don't know if that'll reassure you. But anyway. Dreams bring out your greatest fears etc. But..." "But what?" "But me being romantic? That may be true." She laughed. I blushed. She said I was adorable and kissed me. This time on my lips. It was the second date. But I let her. She was fantastic. And what a kisser. I've never been kissed like that. 

After a few dates. Yes. She was romantic. She would do little things. Yes I got a rose. Notes. Just little ones with mini poems. I told her about my boundaries -she respected it. She was truly a genuine soul. I never thought I could find such a person. So whole, so kind, so wonderful.

Yes she went to for test flights etc but she always came home. And I always made sure that I was there to send her off and welcome her home. And her hugs were always the best. 

So YES no more blind dates. My sister won. Now she can stop nagging me. Well she does. Who am I kidding. I'm not off the hook yet. 

But regardless I found my person. My soulmate. My best friend. And I can't wait to see what else is in store for us for the rest of our lives. 

End.