To Ducky, my most beloved…

We discussed about Zindagi Le over a video call.

Along with a new set of lyrics, Ducky sends herself singing for the first time. It's the cutest thing Sifu's ever heard but of course he would never say that! He's a professional! 🥰

Ducky asks if she can bring her laptop over to record her class during the session. Sifu offers the vocal booth to keep it quiet among other ideas.

And the same night, we start sharing jokes. Ducky jokes that Sifu should be the brand ambassador for Telegram!

Sifu has been leaving Ducky downstairs for quite a while now, and with it, comes a handshake, a wave, and a smiling Sifu watching as Ducky goes farther and farther away, refusing to look back.

Sifu and Ducky start exchanging movie recommendations and have friendlier conversations. And Ducky continues with her memes. 😂

Ducky enjoys how Sifu says "meow-meow" instead of "cat" 🐱

And we start talking about dating criteria. Ducky loves teasing Sifu because he's often clueless that he's being teased. 😭🤣

Ducky and Sifu take the 16-Personalities test!

Sifu is INFJ-A.

Ducky used to be INFJ-T but is now INFP-T.

Ducky asks Sifu if he likes surprises. Oooooh. 🎂

Ducky also recommends Your Lie In April.

Sifu sends off an email to inDrive to allow users to know whether a vehicle is a scooter or bike so that Ducky can be more comfortable.

We talk about religion. Ducky says she prays every morning, and Sifu finds it special.

Ducky also offers to be a Hindi translator for Sifu's client. 🥰

And then... the photo happens because Sifu uses feminine Hindi verbs. 🤣

Ducky has a nightmare around 1 AM that night. Sifu has no idea how crucial this will turn out to be.

...and Sifu wakes up way too early because of noise outside, leading to more talk at 7 in the morning. 🥰

After her hike, Ducky texts Sifu saying she made her hygienist download Telegram. Overjoyed, Sifu replies, "I could write a love letter." Ducky says she's never had one, except for that one in ninth grade, which was sadly found by her mom and Ducky never got to read it. 🙁

So, Sifu cooks one up using AI and a little editing:

My Dearest,

From the moment our paths crossed, my world has been filled with a light that only you can bring. Your smile, your laughter, and the way you look at me with those beautiful eyes make my heart race with joy. Every moment spent with you feels like a cherished memory in the making.

I am constantly in awe of your kindness, your strength, and your unwavering support. You inspire me to be the best version of myself, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Our love is a journey, one that I am so excited to continue with you by my side.

Thank you for being my rock, my confidant, and my greatest love. I look forward to all the adventures that await us and the countless memories we will create together.

With all my love.

That day, Ducky doesn't visit Sifu, but they end up chatting the entire day... sharing memes, telling jokes, about French law, about mangoes and Bangladeshi festivals, about teaching Sifu how to dance, ice skating, school fights, about anger, etc. Ducky found Sifu refusing to get angry over bullies in school interesting. Whereas Sifu cannot believe this adorable, sweet girl was having gang fights! Sifu says as long as Ducky doesn't stab him, he could never dislike her.

Ducky responds, "Never say never. I don’t stab ppl, Except with the injection 😂 I know which nerve not to stab on"

Sifu: "Or which nerve to stab on. Depending on how evil your highness feels that day."

That evening, Sifu and Ducky decide to watch movies/series recommended by each other. Ducky watches Kung Fu Panda 3, whereas Sifu watches Your Lie In April.

And Ducky continues calling Sifu "adorable" whenever he doesn't get her jokes... 😅

On this day, Sifu has gone to a party he doesn't really enjoy. And he is texting Ducky to have her company.

Ducky and Sifu talk about a girl who crushed on Sifu, but Sifu says that he isn't interested because she cannot hold a conversation. Sifu hints that when he talks to Ducky, it's barely an effort to keep the conversation running... and well, it is true, this topic comes up at 9 PM after hours of talking! Sifu wishes Ducky would get the hint that he likes her.

Later, when Sifu is back from the party, they continue talking past 11:30. And out of nowhere, Sifu brings up his courage, hoping beyond hope, "Do you wanna hear a story?"

There's a pause, and Sifu feels himself slipping a bit. But then suddenly, Ducky replies, "Yes"

And Sifu is overjoyed. He immediately offers to record one, and he tells her a romantic story. It's what he's always wanted to do. Tell her a bedtime story.

Ducky tells Sifu how her mom thinks she is ugly and so many other negative things. Sifu cannot believe it. He finds her pretty and interesting, but he cannot say it in any way that might be "too forwrad"... So, he makes a list to sneak in a few things he finds attractive in Ducky:
1. You don't look ugly - you're pretty.
2. You don't know Nepalbhasa - you could learn it if you want. You're amazing at learning.
3. Obedience is overrated. You have to be independent but not antagonistic. That's my take on it.
4. You may lack confidence. Fortunately, you can learn this and become so much more. You already have!!
6. You're not dumb - you're smart. You yourself say you learn fast. As for forgetting fast, that's normal if you don't practice what you learned.

This day, Ducky and Sifu chat the whole day, and Ducky gets out of bed at 4 PM! Then, they share recipes. Ducky teaches Sifu how to make a sandwich with avocado and crispy tofu. Sifu enjoys it almost a month later when he finally finds a gluten-free bread.

We talk 16 hours this day! 😵‍💫

Sifu doesn't understand the concept of nicknames. So, he struggles to find one that fits her.

Ducky later says that she feels so many emotions. Sifu tries to help her through it.

Sifu explains, "You feel like reading a book. You know I love stories. The mystery of what happens next. And feeling like I have something to look forward to."

Then we discuss about life. Sifu asks, "What is the purpose of life?" And that triggers the most incredible conversation Sifu has ever had.

"this soul travelled, suffered had to go through so many plesant and unpleasant experiences just to be human!!!! and because a voice in your head can't find purpose you are going to ruin it for the soul within you!!! NOOOOOOO find happiness you have struggled enough ask yourself what you want ask yourself where you wanna be what triggers which emotions if you don't know what makes you happy try things out live variety of things which triggers different lobe of you brain and whichever thing gives you tha rush of adrenaline or a sense of happiness explore that!!! you are so much more than a pile of meat. the least you can do is give this soul a chance in life"

"but i reminded myself who i was. what i was capable of and somewhere i would still be of value. i packed by bags and went on a new journey then. exploring where i would find the comfort, the warmth. so i came back home."

That day, I told her a little of what I felt, "I want to say that I pray and hope you never feel like that ever again. And I hope that before it can get bad, you find the strength to push yourself and keep moving on. There's more value in you than you can possibly imagine. You've brought value to the people's lives around you, to me. And you matter so, so much."
And I said, "Hey, I know you know this, but if you ever feel like talking about anything, I'm here. Whether you wanna hear a story or to tell me how something sucks, I'm here."

I'm crying as I type this part of the story. Because this is the day I realized I'm talking to the most incredible and beautiful girl I've ever met. And I wanted to be the one who is always there for her. It never changed. Won't ever.

It was some days before this time that Sifu started telling stories every night to Ducky. But July 30 was when it became a daily routine. ❤️

And also the day that Sifu dared to ask Ducky to arrive earlier, and she started arriving at 12:30 whenever she could.

Too many photos of lazy Sifu on his phone while everyone else work 🙈

Sifu calls Ducky by her name when around friends, and Ducky later makes sure Sifu never repeats that mistake again!! 🙈😱

Oh, how he loves her beautiful hair... 🫂

And her card magic might have been the second-most memorable thing after her photos.

Sifu finally decides on a nickname. Ducky. The name he will end up falling in love with so, so much that he has no idea. The name he will wake up thinking of. The name he falls asleep whispering.

It was rainy this day. And while we talked, ducky goes to her work. But she doesn't want to visit Sifu because she'd have to leave the car at home first. So, instead, we end up watching The Sixth Sense. And somehow, Ducky guesses the plot twist

NOOOO 😭 The smartest girl EVERRRR

Ducky teaches Sifu how to paint. And she makes the cutest little portrait full of duckies for Sifu. Whereas Sifu makes... quite possibly the worst painting ever. God, he needs a LOT of practice.

Way to impress a girl you like, genius 🤦🏻‍♂️

Somehow Ducky thought Sifu had said that he would never go out with her. That was the opposite of what he wanted!! Sifu says he would go out with her. Of course he would - he's head over heels for her, hahaha!

Ducky then decides to stop talking to Sifu at night because of this topic. Sifu blackmails her by refusing to tell the bedtime story 😈

Oof! So stubborn, mero ducky.

As they are talking, Sifu wants to tell Ducky about how he caught TB and how it affected his life and education. He had never told it to anyone else before. He believed people would judge or treat him bad or something negative... But Ducky was... so comfortable to talk to.

"I want to hold your hand and say that escaping is fine but each of this moment has brought you to this time. This sifu is result of everything that happened and that you went through and I really like this sifu I don't know but I am grateful for how you've turned out to be. I am glad to have met this sifu"

Second time I've cried writing this story. I love you so much, ducky. 🫂

Yeah... Sifu should stop talking here, because if he doesn't, he will end up confessing too early and make Ducky run away.

Ducky had a near-accident on her inDrive while going home a couple of days ago due to a bad driver. And that terrified and worried Sifu. He couldn't sit around and do nothing. So, on this day, he writes a detailed email to inDrive complaining about the driver.

inDrive later emails Sifu that the driver was removed from the platform around two months later. 🥳

Ducky and Sifu are talking about all sorts of stuff... she talks about marriage, job, her parents, etc. She even mentions her age and how her parents want her to marry.

Sifu is worried. He wants her to make own choice. But he also wishes he could be a part of that choice. So, that night, he decides to say it out right.

Just when Ducky says, "I don't think I will find the nice guy who would appreciate me"... Sifu replies, "I would ask you out. I appreciate you even existing and being alive."

Ducky says she's worried she might destroy Sifu's life. But Sifu doesn't see it that way. He so wishes she'd see it the same way.

Change is necessary for everyone. But if the person you love makes the changes you appreciate and cherish for life, that isn't destruction. I appreciate every change you've inspired me to make, mero ducky. And I appreciate you more every single day.

But Sifu makes sure Ducky know that he loves her as a best friend, as a friend, as a student, as many other ways too. He assures her that he isn't there just to date her.

And that is so true. I'm here in any way you want. I love you too much to let you be a stranger.

It's been over a year and I love you and need you in my life so bad. But if God took away everything we have now, I would still stay, honey. Because being close to you matters so much to me. I love you more than anything. And I will always remember April 11 and August 21. They are the most important days of life.

This August night, we end up talking until 2 AM.