ONLY YOU

                      Episode 3 - The meet 

I was 19 when I landed the job—charming, young, and brimming with creativity. Now, at 23, the monotony of my life sometimes feels overwhelming. I never imagined that a 10-minute encounter with a woman could transform my perspective. Before August 5th, I was dull, reserved, and closed off. But her charm, somehow, set my life on a vibrant path.

As days passed, my hope of seeing her again began to fade. A month went by, and there I was, sitting at the bus stop with all hope lost. It was dawn, the sky draped in a tangerine veil. A flock of birds soared overhead, likely returning to their homes, while a gentle breeze kept my hair untidy. I watched each passerby, waiting for the bus to take me home.

As my bus approached, I stood up, adjusting my bag to make space to board. 

Amid the chaos, I saw her 

I couldn’t believe my eyes. 

I blinked once,

rubbed them twice,

and pinched myself thrice. 

It was Asha, sitting on the very bus I was about to board—a miracle out of the blue. My body shimmered with nervous energy.

The bus was crowded, but I pushed my way toward her. Asha sat by the front window, engrossed in a book, lost in her solitude. She was, as always, a vision of divine beauty. She wore a sky-blue cotton saree with black stripes, her hair half-braided with delicate strands framing her forehead. A small black bindi adorned her face, and a brown watch hugged her wrist. The breeze from the window played gently with her hair.

Nervously, I clenched my fist, mustered my courage, and broke the ice. “Hello, miss,” I said.

She lifted her gaze from the book, tucked her flowing hair behind her ear, and looked at me. My face flushed with warmth. 

Before she could respond, the conductor interrupted the moment, barking, “Ticket, ma’am! Ticket, sir!”

Dear readers, do you think Asha will recognise him or she will just ignore?