Three years ago, when we moved to St. Matthew Town, into Iqbal Nagar Colony, we settled next to a white, creamy house. Ours stood in a grey-and-white combo, giving off a friendly vibe to both houses. A red brick wall separated them.
My room's balcony faced another one-a cozy space decorated with red roses on one side and a chair resting on the other. That night, as I unpacked my clothes and arranged my new things, exhaustion weighed me down. I hadn't even had dinner. I was too tired to chew, man. Ah!
Collapsing onto my bed, I switched off the lights, ready to pass out.
Then, I heard it.
A silvery laugh.
I was still lying down, too drained to get up, but curiosity lifted my hand, pulling back the orange curtain with white floral designs. The night was dark, but the lights in my neighbor's balcony were still on. A girl stood there, her back to me, talking on the phone.Her raven-black hair was tied in a bun with a white clip, and she wore a white kurta with delicate designs.
Before I knew what I was doing, I stood up, pushing the curtain aside completely, exposing myself in the dim light. Our balconies, separated by 5 feet and a brick wall, carried two different worlds. Between them, my room had a glass slab, reflecting everything like an unspoken barrier.
I should've gone back to sleep. But something in me insisted I stay.
She finally turned, still focused on her call, her gaze lowered. Her long lashes nearly brushed against the tops of her cheekbones-dark silk veils shielding the thoughts hidden beneath.
I thanked my Lord for blessing me with sharp eyesight because I caught the elegant curve of her lips as she smiled. A dimple formed on her left cheek.
"Oh please, Ahad," I heard her saying.I guess she was referring to the person on the call.
She smiled again, lifting her chin slightly and staring at something in the dark velvet night. The moonlight kissed her almond-shaped eyes, making them gleam like hidden secrets in the dark velvet sky.
It was that moment, I decided-the girl casually hanging out on her balcony, completely unaware of my presence, was the one I was going to spend my life with.
And I meant it.