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Just Breathe
Relationships

By Neda Najibi
April 2001
The Iranian

Mahtab & Luke - Part 1

Mahtab and Luke met in the lobby of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. A few months prior to their meeting Mahtab was Chicago interviewing with several television stations all over the U.S. for her residency. She was eager to move either to the east or west coast. Her resume was very impressive and she landed an opportunity in New York. Mahtab decided to have some fun before starting her new life in the Big Apple. So she booked a flight to Las Vegas.

Luke had just had a break up, ending his twelve-year marriage, and wanted some relaxation. His teammates persuaded him to join them on their frequent gambling trips to Las Vegas. Luke plays for the NBA.

Mahtab checked into Caesar's Palace and was about to go out for some sight seeing where she bumped into Luke. Luke had his garment bag over his left shoulder and his tote bag in his right hand. The bump caused Luke to drop his tote bag and there was a very loud breaking sound of glass.

Mahtab was startled. She felt so responsible for whatever it was she broke that she insisted on finding out what it was and to pay for it. Luke was taken away by Mahtab's personality and presence. He told her not to worry and asked if he could buy her a drink. Mahtab accepted and suggested they meet after she was done with her sight seeing.

At about eight o'clock that same evening Mahtab was dressed in an elegant and simple black dress. She looked absolutely stunning. Luke was dressed in an Armani suit, which looked amazing on his six-foot-seven-inch build. It was a night to impress.

They each engaged in conversations and the evening ended at approximately three the next morning. Strangely enough, neither Mahtab nor Luke asked for each other's last name so they were unable to plan their second meeting.

Mahtab's trip to Las Vegas caused her to realize that she had picked the wrong career. She had majored in communications and was ready to go where destiny was about to take her. To the Big Apple. An NBC news director in New York had set up an appointment to fly her out for an interview.

While in New York she saw Luke's full name on an NBA billboard and had the recruiter at NBC get his number. Mahtab went back to her hotel and spoke with Luke.

Mahtab: "Luke I was so happy to find you. I have but a handful of desires and you are one of them."

Luke: "Mahtab, I don't claim to fully understand you as a person and all the complexities that come with that but I do know that your desires are simple and I understand and respect them. I know you are the one for me."

Mahtab: "I value you because when two people feel as close as I feel we do then no words should be hard to come by."

Luke: "Mahtab, Las Vegas has changed me and I contacted every agency I could to find you. I'm so glad you found me. Please know that it was just a matter of time before I would have found you."

Luke was in New Jersey and arrived at Mahtab's hotel four hours later. Luke contacted the hotel and had them deliver chocolate covered strawberries with a note saying, "I'm willing to give, take, talk, listen and share with you every aspect of who I am and to discover who we are together."

They spent three full days together. The realization of commitment, sacrifice and the compromises made in this relationship were unknown to both of them at the time.

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