The First eye contact

I shifted to Chandigarh, India for studying law from Panjab University in June, 2017. I got admission in the department of laws but did not get hostel accommodation facility as hostel seats were limited and alloted according to the merit list. I was one of the last names in the list so I had to take a room on rent in sector 15, my room was at a walking distance of just 10 mins from the university, so I preferred that room despite of the fact that it was a room in an old house with no resent renovations done. I still choose that room, and I am glad that I did that, I did not know this at that time that it's going to be one of the best decisions of my life, but now when I recall that day, it brings a wide smile on my face.

I entered the room, it was a small room with a low ceiling, a single bed at the left side and a cupboard at the right. There was a window which opened facing a very beautiful municipal park. I was so happy being in the green beautiful city of Chandigarh. Nine out of 10 boys of our village, just like most of the villagers in Punjab, either start dreaming about going to Chandigarh or to Canada after high school. I was dreaming about this time from last 3 years, when one of my cousins got a job in Chandigarh, and started sharing about his experiences , I also decide that I will be going to this city " the city beautiful - Chandigarh " as soon as possible and with God's grace I was here, finally.

I started unpacking my stuff and in an hour or so, I was done with settling down in that room. I was really exhausted due to traveling and settling down things in the room, I literally fell in the bed and took a deep breadth, in a minute or two, someone knocked at the door. It was the landlady, Mrs. Dillon, she was in her fifties, very jolly personality. She was standing there with a cup of coffee in a white tray with a bowl full of home made biscuits. She came in with a smile and said "oh wow! boy you have arranged the room in a very subtle manner. I thought you must be tired and it's your first day here so I should offer you a cup of coffee and I also want to tell you that if you want, I can provide you home made meals everyday and you can pay for your meals along with room's rent at the end of the month. " I said," thank you aunty! that will be great. " I asked further, " What will be the price of each meal?" To this she quickly replied , " 40/- per meal " I said, " OK aunty, done."

she left the room. I felt good, and said to myself, wow Preet! you are awesome, room and food both done. you were simply meant to be here in Chandigarh, not in the village, you smarty! " With a smile on my face and cup of coffee in my hand, I looked out of the window, some small kids were playing in the park, and one one bench in the corner, a girl in pink salwar suit, with very long hair tied in a ponytail which was kept on one shoulder, like a deep black waterfall , and shinning eyes, lost in her own thoughts , sitting silently in mid of chirping birds. I don't know for how many minutes I kept on looking at her mesmerised by her beauty. Suddenly she also looked at me, and our first eye contact lasted for a few seconds. I felt like I wanted to take my eyes off her, but my senses were no longer in my control. After a few seconds I realised that it might create a bad impression In her mind that I am one of those bad boys who keep on starring girls shamelessly. I did not want to leave a bad image of my personality in the very first sight. I got little panic. one of the little boys playing in the park said, " Ria didi, please pass the ball. " when their ball reached near her feet. She smiled at the kids and threw the ball saying "catch it champ! " I turned around, and said to myself " Ria! what a beautiful name! as beautiful as she is, Ria! " I turned back to have one more glace at her beautiful face, but I could not find her there. After looking for her, here and there, for a few seconds, I got a gimps of her, moving away in a lane on the right hand side of the park.