Love at first sight

In the everyday hustle and bustle of life, I had a moment that changed everything in my life. It was just an ordinary day, just like any other, until I saw her. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my entire life. Her presence was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, instantly brightening my whole world. Her radiance was beyond explainable as if I was witnessing the divine in front of me. Yeah I know I am exaggerating way too much but it ain't a sin to compliment her beauty in such a way.

As I stood there, spellbound, thoughts kept popping up in my mind like bubbles rising to the surface of a calm pond. "Was she the prettiest of all?" I asked myself. "Well, maybe not, but to me, she was no less than a goddess." I thought to myself. Her beauty was more than skin deep; it radiated from her very being and her aura spread across perhaps only visible to me.

But, like many of us often do, I doubted myself. "You idiot," I yelled at myself, "muster up the courage and go talk to her." A mix of anxiety and excitement filled my thoughts. I wondered, "What if she doesn't like me?" The fear of rejection grew large, casting a shadow on my desire to approach her. Then, a more practical concern crossed my mind, "Do her parents agree?" and "How would my mother react if I said I am going to marry someone else and not the one you are going to show me?" Society's expectations and family approvals are sometimes stumbling blocks in the path of young love especially when it is more patriarchial.

The biggest question of all was, "Who is she? Where has she been all this time?" Her sudden appearance in my life was as surprising and mysterious as a shooting star. I only wished to hold her hand and never leave her alone. I couldn't help but wonder what had brought her to this place and time.

Lost in my thoughts, I was so enchanted by her presence that I didn't notice what was happening around me. Suddenly, a loud shout pierced the air, "Watch out!" someone yelled, but it was too late. A ball came hurtling through the air and struck me on the head. I fell to the ground, but even in that dazed moment, my gaze remained fixed on her.

I remember the details of that moment vividly. Her curly hair was lustrous, flowing gracefully until it rested on her shoulders. Her eyes were deep and enigmatic, carrying both a sense of sadness and a determined hope for a fresh start. She wore a long mustard kurta, slightly crumpled and torn at the edges, which only added to her mystery. She stood there, almost motionless and emotionless, holding a cloth bag in her hand. Her presence was like a breath of fresh air amid the chaos.

That's all I managed to see before everything went black. I didn't care about where the ball had come from, who had shouted the warning, or who had helped me when I fell. I was completely and utterly in love, a feeling I had never experienced before in my entire life.

I awoke in a nearby hospital, my head throbbing with pain. I was explained that I had suffered a concussion, which was partially true. But the truth was that, on that fateful day, the girl I had seen had given me an unknown energy boost. She had awakened something within me, a surge of emotions and determination that I had never felt before.

With this newfound rush of adrenaline, I felt an irresistible urge to pursue her. You know me, right? When something happens in my life, I feel the need to share it with someone. This time, it was my faithful diary, who would bear witness to the unfolding chapters of this unexpected love story.

I couldn't help but reflect on how ordinary my life had been until that day. Nothing particularly exciting had happened to me in a long while. I grew up with my mother and her alone. I had an absent father, well technically he fought for the country in bringing independence which in fact should be something I should brag about, but I am not going to lie, growing up without a father or an absent father is one of the nightmares to grow up with. But now, this encounter with the mysterious girl had turned the page, and it marked the beginning of a new and unexpected chapter.

As I penned these thoughts on the first page of my diary, I couldn't help but wonder about the countless stories that awaited me. I knew, in my heart, that the tale of the girl in the mustard kurta with the lustrous curls was just the first of many to come. I made a promise to myself, and to you, dear diary, that I would try to write a lot more. For, as they say, trying is always better than not trying at all.

Days turned into weeks, and my obsession with the mysterious girl deepened. I found myself visiting the place and particularly the road where I had first seen her every single day. It had become a ritual, a pilgrimage of sorts, in the hopes of catching another glimpse of her. But luck seemed to not support me, and it became increasingly frustrating. I was here raising my expectations and hope to be with her yet, felt like fate had another plan, making her hide away from me.

I couldn't bear the uncertainty any longer. I decided to take matters into my own hands and make inquiries about her in the neighborhood. I began asking people if they knew anything about the girl in the mustard kurta with the lustrous curly hair. However, my efforts yielded no results. It was as if she were a ghost, a fleeting presence in my life.

The nights were the hardest. I couldn't sleep, my mind constantly replaying the image of her, and I would wake up in a cold sweat, longing to see her once more. In an attempt to keep her memory alive, I started to sketch her from memory. Each stroke of the pencil on paper was a feeble attempt to capture every detail of her face, every strand of her curly hair. And that is when I realized how bad of an artist I was, if you would show me the picture I drew myself after a couple of days, I would say that is a work of a two-year-old. So, I took my diary and started writing...

Dear Diary,

To what do I owe, to see such a beauty? I had my heart skipped for a moment and then lost it forever in her eyes. This mysterious woman that just chased my heart shall be found very soon and will then be yours truly mine. I hope this is not overconfidence because the moment I saw her I knew she was my one and the "only one".

In all these years I ached, the minimal laughter I had was with my mother, hope she brings the dead joy in my life to life and gives me comfort. I also wish my mother would be happy with her too...I know the reason why my mother hadn't had a second marriage was because of the fear, what if they don't love me enough, I have the same doubt pursuing this girl, however, my heart says the otherwise. I hope they get along.

yours loving,

Mohan