[ The distance between heart]
The winter morning was quiet and cold. A thin fog covered the college campus, and the sunlight struggled to break through the clouds. Students walked quickly toward their classes, holding books close to their chests.
But for Sahib, the world felt strangely heavy.
It had been a few days since he last saw Ayesha. She had not come to college, and no one seemed to know why. Every day he sat in the same classroom, hoping she would walk through the door with that calm smile of hers.
But the seat beside the window remained empty.
Sahib tried to focus on his lectures, but his mind kept drifting toward her. Every small memory came back to him—the way she listened carefully in class, the way her eyes lit up when she understood something difficult, and the quiet kindness she showed to everyone.
He realized something important during those days.
His feelings were no longer just admiration.
It was love.
But it was the kind of love that lived silently inside his heart.
He had never told her.
He wasn't even sure if he ever would.
One afternoon, after class ended, Sahib was walking slowly through the college corridor when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Sahib…"
His heart skipped a beat.
He turned around quickly.
Standing at the end of the hallway was Ayesha.
For a moment, time seemed to stop.
She looked slightly tired, but her gentle smile was still there. The soft wind moved her hair as she walked toward him.
"Where were you?" Sahib asked before he could stop himself.
Ayesha looked a little surprised by the concern in his voice.
"I was at home," she said quietly. "My mother wasn't feeling well, so I had to take care of things."
Sahib felt relieved but also guilty for worrying so much.
"I hope she's better now," he said.
"She is," Ayesha replied softly.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The hallway had become quiet as most students had already left.
Sahib wanted to say something important—something he had been feeling for months.
But the words refused to come out.
Instead, he simply asked, "Did you miss college?"
Ayesha smiled.
"A little."
Then she looked at him carefully.
"But it seems like you missed someone here."
Sahib's heart raced.
He quickly looked away, pretending to check something in his notebook.
"Maybe," he said.
Ayesha didn't press the question further. She understood that Sahib was not someone who spoke openly about his feelings.
That was part of what made him different.
Over the next few days, things slowly returned to normal.
Sahib and Ayesha began talking more often after classes. Sometimes they walked together toward the college gate. Sometimes they discussed their studies or shared small jokes.
But even as their friendship grew stronger, Sahib kept his feelings hidden.
He was afraid.
Afraid that if he spoke, everything might change.
Afraid that he might lose the quiet happiness he already had.
One evening, the sky turned orange as the sun began to set behind the old buildings.
Sahib was sitting alone in the college garden, reading a book. The cool wind rustled the leaves of the trees.
Suddenly, someone sat down on the bench beside him.
It was Ayesha.
"You're always reading," she said with a soft laugh.
Sahib closed the book.
"Books are easier to understand than people," he replied.
Ayesha tilted her head slightly.
"Are people really that difficult?"
Sahib thought for a moment.
"Sometimes," he said quietly. "Especially when you don't know what they feel."
Ayesha looked toward the sunset.
"And what if someone feels something but never says it?"
Sahib felt his chest tighten.
"That happens more often than you think," he answered.
A gentle silence filled the air.
The sky slowly turned darker as evening approached.
After a few minutes, Ayesha stood up.
"I should go now," she said.
Sahib nodded.
But before leaving, she turned back toward him.
"Sahib," she said softly, "some feelings don't need words. Sometimes they are already understood."
Then she walked away.
Sahib sat there, watching her disappear beyond the garden path.
Her words kept echoing in his mind.
Some feelings don't need words…
Did she understand his silent love?
Or was it just a coincidence?
Sahib didn't know.
But one thing was certain.
His story with Ayesha was far from over.
And somewhere deep inside his heart, hope quietly continued to grow.
Ayesha smiled.
"A little."
Then she looked at him carefully.
"But it seems like you missed someone here."
Sahib's heart raced.
He quickly looked away, pretending to check something in his notebook.
"Maybe," he said.
Ayesha didn't press the question further. She understood that Sahib was not someone who spoke openly about his feelings.
That was part of what made him different.
Over the next few days, things slowly returned to normal.
Sahib and Ayesha began talking more often after classes. Sometimes they walked together toward the college gate. Sometimes they discussed their studies or shared small jokes.
But even as their friendship grew stronger, Sahib kept his feelings hidden.
He was afraid.
Afraid that if he spoke, everything might change.
Afraid that he might lose the quiet happiness he already had.
CHAPTER END 4
TO BE CONTINUED..
CHAPTER 5 INTRESTED