Tabinda F. Sheikh (TFS) and Tariq M. Sheikh (TMS)
TFS: Do you remember the first time you saw me?
TMS: You have yellow gloves on and I could not say ”Hello,” ”Hi,” nothing.
TFS: Oh, I thought you was rude and mean. I said, ”Oh my God, this guy don’t even say ‘Hi.’” You’re just staring at me! [laughs]
TMS: Yeah, because you was the girl who was in my dreams.
TFS: Yeah, but I didn’t have that dream!
TMS: You remember, I ask you, ”Do you wanna go with me for coffee?” You gave me answer after two days!
TFS: Because I didn’t know how to speak English.
TMS: I remember you have a small dictionary in your pocket — a Spanish-to-English. And on the, like, paper–
TFS: Napkin.
TMS: Napkin. You write, ”Ok, yes.”
TFS: Language is not a barrier for the love.
TMS: After that, I bought a yellow cab. I was a driver, you know? One day I say, ”You know your address where you live? Let me drop you, your home.” You say, ”I live in New Jersey.” Just ”New Jersey.”
TFS: [laughs]
TMS: I say, ”Oh my God, today I gonna have a long night!” When I went there, it was YMCA. I say, ”Why you don’t tell me you live in YMCA?” You say, ”I don’t know YMCA is like a famous thing.” [laughs]
TFS: I didn’t have no family here. He didn’t have no family here. And when I call back home, and I say, ”I am in love. I have a–gordito.” They say, ”Gordito? Chubby man? You don’t like fat men!”
TMS: I was not that fat. Just chubby, yes. [laughs]
TFS: I know, sweetheart! But for us, this was fat.
TMS: Yup. So, I was working like 72 hours continuously. I was very tired. And I remember, there was a park over there nearby.
TFS: Mhmm.
TMS: We went. There was a bench. I put my head on your legs and I slept.
TFS: I don’t even want to move. If I move, he’s going to wake up. It was beautiful. Looking the moon, the stars.
TMS: I woke up morning time. And you was still sitting there and I say, ”What?!” That was the moment I fell in love with you.
TFS: Love is a wonderful thing. This is my man! And we’re gonna be married 23 years now.
TMS: She’s telling me it’s 23 years. For me, it’s like yesterday.