Stories Hidden in the Eyes:
All the friends entered the Global Village, laughing and chatting. The world of colors and lights felt like a scene from a magical tale. Everywhere there were crowds of people, flags from different countries, and men and women in traditional attire representing their own cultures.
Ramish looked around, a spark of joy lighting up his eyes.
"Mehmat, this truly is a beautiful place," he said.
Mehmat nodded with satisfaction.
"I told you, you'd like it here. You can see the culture of almost every country in the world, and models of their iconic buildings."
Then, in a slightly lower voice, Mehmat added,
"You can also see Thailand's culture and architectural displays here."
Ramish glanced at Mehmat for a moment. Perhaps he wanted to say something, but remained silent. A faint moisture gathered in his eyes, yet he gave no reply.
Just then, one of the friends asked,
"Where should we start?"
Mehmat suggested,
"Let's start from one side, so we can see everything in order."
Walking together, they first arrived at the China section, where traditional gates stood proudly and red lanterns swayed gently in the air. Then they passed beneath Japan's beautiful artificial cherry blossom trees. Every step brought a new color, a new taste, a new fragrance.
After quite some time wandering, Ramish said with a touch of fatigue,
"Friends, let's sit somewhere. I'm tired."
Everyone agreed.
"Yes, good idea… and we're hungry too, we can eat something while we rest."
Checking his phone, Mehmat said,
"My friend is just outside. If he comes in, we can sit and eat together."
Ramish immediately asked,
"Zuraiz has arrived?"
Mehmat smiled faintly.
"Yes…"
A few moments later, Zuraiz appeared. Joy was evident on Mehmat's face. As Zuraiz came closer, Mehmat introduced him to the group.
"Friends, this is Zuraiz… my childhood friend, dearer to me than my own life, and… my love."
The friends greeted Zuraiz warmly, shaking his hand. Then Mehmat gestured towards Ramish.
"Zuraiz, this is Ramish."
Zuraiz shook hands with Ramish, a polite smile in his eyes.
"Mehmat talks about you often. I've been eager to meet you… and today, finally, we meet."
Ramish smiled in return and thanked him.
Then they all headed toward a restaurant. The soft music and the aroma of freshly prepared food made the atmosphere even more enchanting. Everyone found their seats, but Ramish lingered behind, his gaze distant, as if lost in some other world of thought.
"Ramish, come sit with us," Mehmat called.
Ramish replied softly, "No… you enjoy with Zuraiz."
But Zuraiz quickly said,
"No, Ramish, come on. We're both sitting right here—you should sit with us too. There's still time before the food arrives, we can talk. If you sit with us, it will make me happy."
With a faint smile, Ramish nodded and joined them. Soon, he, Mehmat, and Zuraiz were seated around a round table, facing each other. A waiter set down glasses of water and handed them the menu.
"Go ahead, you order," Mehmat said to Ramish.
Ramish shook his head. "No, you and Zuraiz decide together. Tonight we'll eat what you both like."
The two of them chose the dishes together. And when the conversation began again, Mehmat smiled.
"So, at last the two of you have finally met… I'd been wanting you to meet each other."
Zuraiz turned to Ramish with a gentle look.
"Truly… Mehmat speaks of you often—especially about your honesty and pure heart. And I've heard from him about your love story. I used to wonder, what kind of person must this be… someone who seems destined to meet love with wings on his back, yet still waits with such fierce devotion for it to come? Now that I've seen you, I feel Mehmat was exactly right."
He paused, his gaze softening.
"Ramish, your face tells the story of your heart. Your eyes… they reveal that you're waiting for someone. You truly are remarkable. I'm sure your love will find its way to you soon."
With a small laugh, he gestured toward Mehmat.
"Perhaps Mehmat told you our story… and I believe you can draw strength from it. Mehmat walked a long, lonely road for our love, but he never gave up."
A tender light glimmered in Zuraiz's eyes as he looked at Mehmat and said quietly,
"At last… Mehmat's efforts bore fruit, and I too fell in love with him. Now I can't even imagine living without him. I count the days until we meet again."
Mehmat lowered his gaze, but a shy smile tugged at his lips.
Suddenly, Zuraiz's eyes locked on Ramish.
"Ramish… looking into your eyes brings some beautiful words to mind."
His voice softened, almost like poetry.''Ramish,,
"Some eyes are beggars, some are merchants… and some have set up entire shops. Eyes… they trade in glances, and it is the eyes that pay the price.
Eyes… wound other eyes, and eyes themselves become the cure.
He was speaking slowly and Ramesh was getting lost in his words.
Eyes… plant dreams in other eyes, and eyes themselves are the ones that cry.
And when the beloved's face vanishes from sight, it is the eyes that endure the agony of waiting."
Ramish's eyelids trembled faintly. He looked at Zuraiz with quiet seriousness.
Zuraiz said in a low voice:
"These eyes tell many stories," Zuraiz murmured. "And yours Eyes clearly tell me… you love Richer very deeply."
He paused for a moment, then asked softly,
"Am I right… or wrong?"
Ramish's gaze lingered on Zuraiz's face for a long moment. Then, with a faint sigh, he said slowly,
"You're right."
A heavy silence settled over the table.
Mehmat quickly changed the subject.
"All right, no more sad talk for now… tell us, Zuraiz, how's you're travelling going?"
Zuraiz's voice brightened as he began to share stories from his journeys—the traditions of different countries, the flavors of foreign cuisines, and the beautiful memories from the road. In the flow of their conversation, the old closeness between Mehmat and Zuraiz was clear, as though they shared their own private world.
Ramish sat in silence, listening. Sometimes watching Mehmat's laughter, sometimes noticing the way Zuraiz spoke. But deep inside, somewhere in his heart, there was a dull ache—like he was standing at a quiet distance from it all.
He closed his eyes for a moment, and in the silence of his mind, he recited:
The one who has the comfort of your eyes…
Will never care to look at the moon or the stars.
If one sits face-to-face with love—
And that love is you—
Then no one will ever care to count the losses of the heart.