THE WAITING OF LAST MEETING

Chapter 2 — The Little Things That Brought Us Closer

After she arrived, things slowly started becoming different in my everyday life. We were still in the early stages of knowing each other. Everything was new, and our conversations were mostly about simple things. We didn't have any special topics to discuss every day, but somehow, we always found something to talk about. Sometimes we talked about her studies, sometimes about food, and sometimes about the little things happening around us. I never thought too deeply about those ordinary conversations at that time. They were simply becoming a part of my daily routine. But looking back now, I realise that sometimes the beginning of a beautiful story doesn't come with any special announcement. It begins quietly, through small conversations and moments that we don't even realise will become precious memories one day.

There was a particular reason she had come. She wanted to continue her education and study law. Before getting admission to a law college, she needed to prepare for the entrance examination. It was an important step towards her future, and I knew she wanted to do well. So, I started searching for the best law colleges in the state. I looked for different books, checked study materials and explored online courses that could help her prepare for the examination. I wanted to find the right resources so that she wouldn't have to struggle to find everything herself. Sometimes, I spent time searching online, comparing different books and trying to understand which study materials would be most useful for her. It was her dream, but somewhere in my heart, I also started feeling connected to that journey. I genuinely wanted her to clear the entrance examination and move one step closer to becoming a law student.

During those days, I often saw her studying. Sometimes she would sit with her physical books and read aloud, while at other times she would use online resources to understand different topics. I could see that she was preparing seriously for her examination. I wasn't the one who had to appear for that entrance test, but I still found myself thinking about her preparation. I wanted to know whether she had the right books, whether the online courses were useful and whether she was getting enough information for her studies. Whenever I found something helpful, I tried to share it with her. I don't remember every conversation we had about her studies, but I remember the feeling I had during that time. I wanted her to succeed. I wanted to see her achieve what she had come there for. Sometimes, we don't need to be part of someone's dream to genuinely wish for it to come true. We just need to care enough to stand beside them.

But our days were not always about studies, books and entrance examinations. There were plenty of ordinary moments in between. While she was studying, sometimes she would feel hungry or suddenly want something to eat. Sometimes she needed something from the kitchen or wanted a little help with something. Whenever she asked, I tried to be there for her. I never considered those things to be big sacrifices or extraordinary efforts. They were just small things I could do. If she needed something, I would try to arrange it. If she wanted something to eat, I would try to bring it. Perhaps that was one of the ways I expressed my care during those early days. I wasn't thinking about what I would get in return. I was simply happy whenever I could make her day a little easier. And without realising it, these small moments were slowly becoming memories that I would carry with me for a long time.

There is one particular thing I still remember whenever I think about those days. She loved momos. And the interesting part was that, until then, I had never really eaten momos in my life. It was something I had never experienced or even thought much about. But one day, she told me that she wanted to eat momos. So, I went to the market, found a place selling them and brought some for her. It might sound like a very ordinary thing, but I remember it because it was one of those little moments when I started learning about her likes and preferences. She enjoyed eating momos, and she also liked South Indian food. Slowly, I began discovering the little things she loved. I didn't need to ask her a hundred questions to understand everything. Sometimes, just listening to someone and noticing what makes them happy is enough. For me, bringing those momos was never about the food itself. It was about seeing her enjoy something she liked.

Another thing I gradually started noticing was her smile. Whenever we talked, she often smiled while speaking. She had beautiful eyes, and her smile made even our simplest conversations feel a little more special. She was straightforward in the way she expressed herself, and I liked that about her. There was something natural about our conversations. We didn't need to create special moments every day or make every conversation meaningful. Sometimes we simply talked, laughed and continued with our everyday activities. At that stage, I didn't know what the future had planned for us. I wasn't thinking about how our story would end or what would happen between us later. I was just living those days as they came. But when I look back now, I realise that some of the memories I miss the most were created during those ordinary days. I never knew that such simple moments could become so important to me.

And then came an evening that I still remember differently from all those other ordinary days. After returning from work, I was suffering from a terrible headache. My head was hurting badly, almost as if it were about to burst. I remember telling her about the pain and how uncomfortable I was feeling. She listened to me and offered to help. She asked me to come to her room and gently offered to give me a head massage. It was such a simple and thoughtful gesture. Until then, most of our moments had been about conversations, studies, food and little acts of care. But this time, she was the one offering to take care of me. I didn't know what to make of that moment or what it would mean for us. Perhaps it was just a small act of kindness, but sometimes a small moment can become the beginning of something we never expected. And that evening, I found myself facing an invitation that I hadn't imagined receiving.

But the question remained: Would I gather the courage to walk towards her room, or would I let that unexpected moment pass without knowing what could have happened next?