"She Said Yes... and Smiled" (The Girl I Thought I'd Never See Again)
Introduction
“She Said Yes… and Smiled” is a true-to-heart story of rediscovering love where it was once lost. This poem tells how an unexpected meeting in Islamabad turned into a chance to confess old feelings and finally say the words left unsaid. It’s about second chances, courage, and the joy of hearing “yes” from the one who never left my heart.
"She Said Yes... and Smiled"
(The Girl I Thought I'd Never See Again)
Last night, I was walking through Islamabad,
The streets were quiet, the night not too bad.
Then I saw a face that made me freeze—
A face I thought I’d lost in memories.
She stood near a restaurant, calm and still,
A girl from my past — I felt a chill.
My heart got light, my steps turned slow,
Should I walk up… or just let it go?
What if she’s upset or walks away?
Still, I had to try — I went her way.
I said, “Hi… do I think I’ve seen you before?”
She looked at me, then paused once more.
Then she said, “Shahzad? Is that really you?”
“We were neighbors once — this feels so new!”
“You’ve changed so much — where did you go?”
I said, “My hometown… but I’m back now though.”
She smiled and said, “It’s good you came back.”
I said, “It’s 8:30… want dinner and a chat?”
She laughed and said, “Of course, why not?”
My heart was loud, but I stayed on the spot.
We sat inside, and I passed her the menu,
She said, “Biryani and ice cream will do.”
But I thought, “Tonight needs something more,”
So I ordered a little extra in store.
Fruit chaat, BBQ lamb, and her favorite drink,
I watched her smile, pause, and think.
We talked about childhood, the games we played,
The jokes, the mischief, the fun we made.
She asked, “What made you come back here?”
I said, “This city feels more near.
Islamabad is where I truly belong —
This place is home, where I feel strong.”
She smiled and said, “That’s sweet to hear.”
I said, “But there’s another reason I’m near.
It’s something I’ve carried all these years—
A truth I held through joy and tears.”
“You see, back then, I made you laugh,
With silly jokes and childish craft.
But I fell for you and couldn’t say,
I kept it hidden, day by day.”
“When we left, you ruled my heart.
No other girl could play that part.
I hoped someday we'd meet again,
So I could speak what I held within.”
“This dinner's not just a friendly meet,
It’s where I make my truth complete.”
She paused a bit, then softly smiled,
And said, “Shahzad, you’ve changed your style.”
“But is this real, or one more prank?”
I stood and breathed, my mind went blank.
Then from my coat, I took the ring,
And said, “I’m done with hiding things.”
“Will you be my queen, my life, my one?
My sweet pain, my moon, my sun?”
Her eyes teared up as she said, “I do—
I’ll be your sweet pain, forever true.”
“But Shahzad, you forgot one part,”
I laughed and felt my pounding heart.
I pulled the flowers from my coat—
And held them out with words I wrote:
“Better now? I won’t forget—
The things you love, I won’t regret.”
She smiled and said, “You’ve changed so deep.”
I said, “It’s your love I chose to keep.”
—Shahzad Sulaiman
Summary:
Last night, as I was walking through the streets of Islamabad, I saw a familiar face — a face that instantly brought a smile to mine. I wondered, Could it really be her? She was the girl I thought I would never see again.
She was standing near a restaurant, and as I looked at her, memories came rushing back. I wanted to talk to her, but fear crept in. What if she doesn't remember me? What if she gets angry? Still, something pushed me forward. I gathered my courage, walked up to her, and said, “Hi, I think I’ve seen you before… a long time ago.”
She looked at me for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “Shahzad, right? We used to live in the same neighborhood. I can’t believe how much you’ve changed. Where have you been all these years?”
She was smiling, and so was I. I replied, “I went to live in my hometown for a while… but now I’m back.”
She said, “Feels good that you finally decided to come back.”
Then I noticed the time — 8:30 p.m. — and said, “You're standing next to a restaurant… would you like to join me for dinner?”
Her answer filled me with joy. “Of course, I will.”
We sat down inside. I handed her the menu and asked, “What would you like to eat?”
“Biryani,” she smiled, “and ice cream for dessert.”
I chuckled. “That’s too simple.” So I ordered what she wanted, and added some fruit chaat, barbecue lamb, and her favorite soft drink.
As we waited, we talked about childhood — the pranks, the games, the memories. Then she asked, “So, what made you come back to Islamabad?”
I looked at her and said, “I have more in Islamabad than I ever did in my hometown. Islamabad is my soul city.”
She smiled. “That’s so sweet.”
I paused, then added, “But there’s another, much bigger reason.”
She leaned in, curious. “And what’s that?”
I looked into her eyes. “That reason… is you. Back when we were kids, I used to do silly things just to make you laugh. Somewhere in those moments, I fell in love with you. But I never told you how I felt — I was afraid it wasn’t the right time. Then we left Islamabad, but you never left my heart. I never thought of anyone else. You were always the only one.”
I took a deep breath. “Today, this dinner… it’s not just dinner. It’s the day I tell you how I’ve felt all these years.”
She looked surprised at first, then smiled warmly. “Finally, Shahzad got the guts to say what I was waiting to hear. But… are you serious? Or is this just another one of your pranks?”
Without a word, I stood up and pulled a small purple ring box from my coat. Opening it, I said:
“Will you be the girl of my life?
Will you be my queen?
Will you be the sweet pain of my heart?”
Her eyes filled with tears. She whispered, “Yes… I do. I will be your sweet pain for life. But Shahzad, you forgot something — where are the flowers?”
I smiled, reached into my coat again, and pulled out the bouquet I had hidden. Offering it to her, I said, “Better now? I never forget what my queen wants — and I never will.”
She took the flowers gently and said with a smile, “Shahzad… you’ve become such a different man.”
I smiled back. “Your love is the one to blame for the change in me.”
Disclaimer:
This poem and story are based on personal experience and emotion. Any resemblance to real people or events is intentional and cherished. Please do not copy without permission.
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