He just wanted to drown in her eyes!
Her eyes felt like a deep ocean to him.
Nikhil wished time would stop right there.
But when does time ever listen to anyone?
What happens is only what destiny has written.
Nikhil was completely lost in thought, but Samaira suddenly called out to him loudly.
"What happened to you? Where's your attention? Where are you lost? By the way, you haven't told me your name."
It was like Nikhil snapped out of a trance.
"I was just… lost in you."
Samaira tilted her head and asked playfully,
"What did you say?"
Nikhil, trying to cover up, replied quickly,
"No… no… nothing! Oh, my name is Nikhil."
He tried to manage what he had just said so that Samaira wouldn't suspect anything.
Samaira smiled and said,
"Okay Nikhil, I should go now. I'm getting late."
Nikhil, smiling, said,
"Alright… but, when will we meet again?"
Samaira gave him another teasing glance,
"What do you mean by 'when will we meet again'?"
Nikhil scolded himself in his mind for sounding foolish and tried to cover again,
"No… I was just asking casually."
Samaira smiled and replied,
"If destiny is on our side, we will meet again and again. And besides, what's the rush?"
Nikhil laughed and answered,
"No, there's no rush. I was just asking. You're right—if it's in our fate, we'll meet again."
She held the child's hand tightly and softly said,
"Some questions don't have straightforward answers, Nikhil."
Nikhil stood stunned.
What kind of answer was that?
He became even more confused by Samaira's reply.
"Are you really hiding something from me?" Nikhil asked slowly.
Samaira took a deep breath and looked at the child, who was gazing at Nikhil with his tiny eyes.
"Look, Nikhil," she began,
"There are some things in everyone's life that they don't want to share.
Some relationships can't be given a name.
Some wounds don't have any cure."
Nikhil's curiosity deepened. He was about to ask more, but Samaira stepped ahead.
"I should go now."
Nikhil wanted to stop her, but he had no excuse.
Samaira walked a few steps, then stopped and turned back—
"Sometimes, incomplete things are the most beautiful, Nikhil."
Nikhil just stood there, watching her.
His eyes stayed on her until she vanished into the crowd with the child.
Once again, she disappeared—just like the first time.
Like a shadow lost in the dark.
As soon as she vanished, Nikhil realized it was time for office, and he was running late!
He quickly checked the time and grumbled to himself as he got into his car.
"Oh man, I'm so late today—boss is going to be mad!"
He started the car and headed for the office.
But even there, Samaira's thoughts wouldn't leave his mind.
His boss scolded him for being late, but he didn't care.
He could only think about Samaira.
He went to his cabin, but couldn't focus on work.
His mind kept drifting.
Eventually, he made an excuse of feeling sick and left the office early,
hoping—just hoping—that he might see Samaira on that road again.
Even though he knew coincidences don't happen every day,
somehow he believed fate might help him meet Samaira one more time.
Nikhil wasn't sure if it was a series of coincidences or part of some planned twist of fate.
But whatever it was, for him, Samaira was no less than an angel.
No amount of praise could do her justice.
Nikhil returned to that same place once more,
hoping to catch a glimpse of Samaira.
But she wasn't there.
He waited for a long time, but she never showed up.
It felt like he was under a spell.
He kept trying everything just to see her again.
When it got very late, Nikhil returned home with a heavy heart.
He was truly upset that day.
And with that same sadness, Nikhil embraced the lonely night and fell asleep.
---
The next day…
Nikhil got ready and went to the office.
Days passed like this.
He never saw Samaira again.
He continued using the same road to and from work.
His hope had not yet faded.
Somehow, he still believed that he would meet her again one day.
He didn't know why, but Samaira had become someone very special to him.
Maybe… maybe Nikhil had fallen in love with her.
He couldn't focus on anything.
Her smile kept him awake at night.
He kept wandering down those same roads, hoping…
If this wasn't love, then what was it?
Samaira had become a part of his life now—
a part that perhaps was beginning a new chapter in his story.
Nikhil's life continued to pass without joy.
He would come home from work,
clutch Samaira's memories to his heart,
and sleep with a silent longing…