Amira stared at her reflection in the mirror, her dark brown eyes flickering with uncertainty. The familiar pang of anxiety twisted her stomach. It was the same feeling she had whenever she thought about opening up to someone, especially someone like Arjun. Her long, dark hair hung loose around her shoulders, but no matter how much she tried to look composed on the outside, the storm inside her raged on. She was twenty now, a college student on the cusp of adulthood, but her past clung to her like an unwelcome shadow.
She grew up in a middle-class South African Indian family, surrounded by the smell of masalas and the sounds of Bollywood films playing in the background. But the warmth and vibrancy of her community couldn't erase the darkness that lurked behind closed doors. Her father, once a loving man, had become a figure of terror. She remembered the nights he came home angry and took it out on her. The harsh words, the slaps, the bruises, both physical and emotional, still scarred her. He was gone now, having passed away two years ago in a car accident, but his presence lingered in her mind, whispering doubts every time she tried to move forward.
Arjun, on the other hand, was everything she wasn't sure she deserved. He was kind, thoughtful, and always seemed to find the good in everything. They had met in a literature class, bonding over their love of Rumi's poetry and late-night study sessions in the campus library. He had a quiet confidence about him, an energy that made her feel safe, even though she barely knew what safety felt like anymore.
But every time she thought about getting closer to him, her past rose like a wall between them. She wasn't sure if she could ever let anyone in. Would he understand her darkness? Would he see her as damaged?
YOU ARE READING
One Chance
عاطفيةa modern South African Indian story about love and its triumphs and a girl getting over generational trauma
