
05/05/2025
The Day I Didn’t Recognize Atif
It was just another busy day at the industrial exhibition. My stall, nestled among hundreds of others—selling cosmetics, mosquito repellents, and all sorts of things—had drawn its usual curious crowd. People came and went. Some stayed, some asked questions, most showed me their palms and moved on with a spark of wonder in their eyes.
In the rush, a young man stepped forward and extended his hand. I didn’t look at his face—I rarely do when I’m busy. I began reading. His hand revealed many things: his past choices, the kind of person he was, how he approached life. I spoke plainly, focused only on the hand.
When I finished, he paused for a moment, then said with a smile, “Man, look up.”
I did. And I was stunned.
It was Atif—my classmate from junior school, someone I hadn’t seen in years. I blinked in disbelief. “Atif, it’s you? I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you!”
I asked him to sit down properly, stepped outside the stall, and bought some cold drinks for us. It felt like a reunion. But just as I returned to the stall, I overheard his friend whispering to him:
“He definitely recognized you. That’s why his reading was so perfect.”
I smiled quietly.
That moment stayed with me. Not because they doubted me, but because their doubt was actually a hidden compliment. They couldn’t believe I could read someone that accurately without knowing them. But that’s exactly what happened. I hadn’t recognized Atif at all. His hand told me everything—and I had simply listened.
That day reminded me why I do this work. It’s not about memory, guessing, or tricks. It’s about connection, observation, and honesty. And sometimes, the most sincere praise comes from disbelief