Until I found you

Part 17 "meeting of the eyes"

In the evening, when the doorbell rang, Zayn slowly went to open the door and saw Daisy standing there. Daisy walked straight into the room, sat on the bed, and took out a bundle of papers from her bag, saying,

--Here, these are all the notes from yesterday and today’s classes. Once you’ve written them up, please give them back to me by the day after tomorrow. (Daisy)

Zayn, surprised, flipped through the papers and asked,

--Where did you get these from? (Zayn)

--I told you, I’ll take care of everything. How are you feeling now? (Daisy)

--Better. With the way you’re helping me, I feel like I’ll spend the rest of my life thanking you! (Zayn)
He said with a smile.

--There’s no need for that. Just think of it as me doing it out of my own will. I didn’t do this for thanks. (Daisy)

--I ordered some food online a while ago. If you don’t mind, we can have dinner together. That is, if it’s not inconvenient for you. (Zayn)

--You’re planning to eat outside food while you’re still recovering? (Daisy)

--What to do! I didn’t feel like cooking myself, so I ordered some good food online. (Zayn)

--But you’ve just recovered from a fever. It’s not right to eat unhealthy food now. (Daisy)

--Nothing will happen. And if something does, you, my personal doctor, are here. (Zayn)

Both Zayn and Daisy  laughed.

--I’ll go freshen up.
said Daisy.

--Alright, go ahead. (Zayn)

When she left, Zayn chuckled and started working on the notes.

After freshening up, Daisy put on trousers and a loose T-shirt, tying her brown curly hair loosely.

She organized her books and notes on the study table.

--I’ll study later, she thought.

When Daisy entered Zayn’s room, she saw him writing the notes.

--Oh! You’re back. Hold on a minute, he said.

Daisy sat on the chair next to his study table.

He placed a small camp table on the bed and put the food on it.

--Daisy, sit here. Zayn said.

Zayn had placed everything on the bed using the table.

Daisy laughed and said,

--You eat dinner on the bed! (Daisy)

--I don’t know if there’s anyone as messy as me, but honestly, sitting alone at that big table feels very boring. So I do everything my way. (Zayn)

She didn’t say anything.

Zayn had ordered veg chow mein, veg momos, and some soup.

With wide eyes, she said,

--Why did you order so much food? (Daisy)

--I thought we’d both eat together. I had planned to invite you to dinner, so I ordered beforehand. Also, since I’m not feeling well, I ordered veg. You don’t mind eating veg, do you? (Zayn)

--No, not really. (Daisy)

--Actually, I stalked your Facebook profile and found out you like Chinese food, so I ordered these. (Zayn)

With wide eyes, Daisy said,

--You stalked my Facebook profile! And you’re telling me this! (Daisy)

--What to do! Besides, if I didn’t tell you, you’d wonder why I suddenly ordered Chinese food. Your mind would be filled with questions, which I don’t want. So I told you beforehand. By the way, your Facebook profile is quite sweet. (Zayn)

--Did you invite me to dinner or to flirt with me? (Daisy)

--What’s the harm if I do both at once? (Zayn)

--If you put your foot in two boats at once, you’ll end up sinking. (Daisy)

--If the skilled boatman manages, there’s no harm in it. (Zayn)

Daisy smiled softly.

--Come on, the food is waiting for us, he said.

After they finished eating, Zayn cleaned up the plates, brought two glasses of water, took one for himself, and handed the other to her.

After finishing his glass, Zayn said,

-- Daisy, let me introduce you to my first friend. Wait a minute.

Zayn went to the balcony and brought in a cactus plant in a small pot. Looking at the small cactus plant, Zayn said,

--This is my first friend. I bought it myself many years ago. Everyone said it’s not good to keep a cactus at home, but I insisted on keeping it in my room. It has stayed here ever since. This plant has witnessed many things. People come and go, but some things, even without life, stay the same. (Zayn)

--As long as there’s life, there’s feeling, and with feeling comes leaving, sorrow, sadness, and all sorts of ongoing words. (Daisy)

He placed the cactus on the bedside table.

--Daisy, can I tell you something? From the first day, you’ve helped me so much, more than anyone calling themselves a friend would do. (Zayn)

--You’re talking like this again! (Daisy)

--No, no! Not because of that. I shamelessly want to ask you for another favor. (Zayn)

--From me? (Daisy)

--Yes.  This might sound odd, but sometimes words can have more impact than the person themselves. Can you answer a question for me? This is the help I’m asking for! (Zayn)

--What question? (Daisy)

--Why, even when we know new people in our lives might hurt us again and break our already shattered hearts, can’t we be truly happy alone? Why does thinking of ourselves as alone at the end of the day bring about a strange void? Why? We all say we’re used to solitude! So many poems, songs, and writings glorify the joy of solitude, but why don’t those who are truly alone feel that joy? Why, at the end of the day, despite the crowd, do we feel everything is so dull? Why are people so poetic and so dishonest in the name of showing off? Why?? (Zayn)

Daisy’s eyes welled up with tears.

In a calm voice, she replied,

--Because we love to live in fantasy.

He looked up at her.

Their tear-filled eyes met.

--Because we love to imagine the impossible. We love to live in our imagination. If we think about reality, this small life will become even smaller! So, if we try to bind our minds to reality, life will bind us. It’s a strange illusion! Such a strange illusion! As Rabindranath Tagore said, 'it cannot be avoided or let go.' (Daisy)

--Everyone wants to live, Daisy! I want to live too. But after all the success, the loneliness of having no one to share it with is really painful. (Zayn)

--The most beautiful relationship in the world is friendship. And why do you think you’re alone? You have friends! You have someone to listen to you. (Daisy)

--Who? (Zayn)

Daisy pointed to the cactus plant.

Zayn smiled lightly and looked into Daisy’s eyes.

--And you? (Zayn)

She remained silent. Forbidden thoughts started to swirl in her mind.

With the arrival of spring, a strange wave flowed around, signaling that the heart might soon become one.

To be continued...
Written by - Porna