It was around 12:20 PM when a sudden knock at my door jolted me from my thoughts. I quickly got up, unlocked the door, and there she was! The girl whose picture I had been captivated by for what felt like an eternity, leaving me utterly speechless. Words escaped me entirely. She resembled an angel, her jawline exquisitely defined, and her eyeliner flawlessly applied. Her large, sparkling blue eyes seemed to hold a thousand untold stories. Her hair was elegantly tied back, and the delicate chain around her neck was simply charming. I could tell her lips were soft without even touching them, and she stood at a petite height. I found myself lost in her presence, and now she was right in front of me! "Um, hey, I'm Novita. Could you check if my cell phone is here? Some idiot took it and claimed he hid it somewhere on the fourth floor where an Indian family is staying. I have no idea why he did that. He's just strange. Anyway, forget it," she said in a sweet, clear voice. Yes, it was resting on my bed
I opened my drawer and pulled out her smartphone, handing it over to her. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, before stepping out of my room. As she made her way down the hallway, I followed her, and just as she turned to leave, she caught sight of me. With a cheerful wave, she called out, "Bye!" Once back in my room, I flopped onto my bed, my mind swirling with thoughts of her. I switched off the lights and drifted into sleep. A sudden jolt woke me up, and I found myself sitting up in bed, the room illuminated by the harsh glow of the lamp. To my astonishment, it was only 3 a.m., and my thoughts were still consumed by her. Why was I so preoccupied with someone I barely knew? Moments later, I heard raised voices outside, prompting me to step out and see what was happening. There she was, caught in a heated argument with a guy. I approached her, concern etched on my face, and asked, "What's going on?"
"You know, he's the one I mentioned last night—the idiot. He's my ex-boyfriend, and he's trying to win me back, but I'm not interested. I've had my fill of his controlling ways. He used to blackmail me, and I felt cornered into agreeing with him. I can't go into details about the blackmail; it's too personal," she confided, her voice trembling and barely above a whisper. I could sense her pain; it was palpable.
She was deeply hurt, trapped by his manipulations, and my heart ached for her. Her sorrow felt like my own. "Listen, man, you need to cut this out before it backfires on you. Imagine if someone treated your sister like this.
How would you feel? Why don't you give me her number, and I'll blackmail her too, force her to be my girlfriend, and use her however I want? Are you okay with that? If you are, then go ahead and give it to me. If not, then you better start treating Novita with some respect.
You're not a child who needs everything spelled out for him! Respect women, and you'll earn respect in return," I said to him calmly. "Alright, man," he replied, sounding remorseful for his actions.
"Novita, I regret what happened between us so long ago. I understand if you can't forgive me, but I hope you can find it in your heart to try. I promise to be a better person and treat women with the respect they deserve," he said before turning to leave.
As I watched him go, I noticed Novita's smile, and to my surprise, I found myself smiling back. There was something about her smile that was contagious, lifting my spirits in an instant.
"Thank you, Arjun. We may be strangers, but your kindness means a lot to me," she said, handing me a glass of water. "No problem at all!
From this moment on, we're friends. You shared your thoughts with me, even though we just met," I replied, taking a sip of the refreshing water.
Afterward, I headed to my room while she stepped out of the hotel, disappearing into the unknown.
I silently prayed to the universe, hoping for another chance encounter with her, and if fate allowed it, I would surely express my feelings.