It all started on the way to the office one day, it was a routine day I woke up early dressed up and had my breakfast and reached the bus stop before the bus arrived as I have been doing for the past years.

Just as the bus was about to arrive I saw someone coming towards the bus stop, just one glimpse of her was enough for me to get mesmerized I couldn’t take off my eyes off her I still remember her dress combination of pink and white, slim, tall and her beautiful big eyes and a smile that would take you to the highest level of jealousy if its not for you. I never knew this was the moment that will haunt me for days to come reluctantly I boarded the bus with several thoughts in my mind and with a hope that I may see her again the next day.

When I came back from the office tired and exhausted I just wanted to sleep, my mother asked me for dinner but I refused. That night deep in my dreams, I saw myself at a traffic signal on my bike suddenly somebody appeared from nowhere and threw color on my face with her hands when I wiped off my eyes to see who she was, I saw the same girl standing in front of me with the same unforgettable smile slowly walking away I woke up surprised and could feel a sweet pain in my heart.

Luckily I saw her again after one or two weeks beautiful as always but she was wearing colorful bangles on both hands, a weird thought that she might have married someone crossed my mind and I cannot express how much it pained the whole world was looking so empty, living life was looking worthless I was in the storm of my thoughts and suddenly she vanished I wanted to say something, wanted to know about her thought of listening to her voice but she was nowhere to be seen. I boarded the bus for my destination in midst of pool of my heart wrenching thoughts.

The next day when I woke up there was havoc all around the world pandemic had gripped the world and a nationwide lockdown was declared which meant we were locked inside for the next couple of years  in confusion and despair and we had to work from home.

My heart was pounding to even think that I will not be able to see her but I gathered myself in the hope to live so that I see her again, i could do anything for the moment when i will see her again.

Life was returning to normal I went to the same bus stop again with a desire to see her again and today I was very much determined to talk with her, my wait grew longer and I missed my bus today. At last, she appeared her aura and her presence made me go flatter but today she was very unusually dressed eyes looking as if she has cried, face was like a wither rose before I could walk up to her I saw an elderly lady besides her, she hired a rickshaw and went away. I overheard some people talking about the death of her husband due to Covid-19 just after some months of marriage , my heart was broken to know about the pain she must have gone through I cried , I cried that day.

The next day I was carrying a smile with a hope to see her again and very much determined to end this vicious circle of being a stranger as I was ready to make her life full of love again if ever she accepts me.

– Gulzar N Dar