Tum Aur Khwab

Chapter 2: A Glimpse of Him

⋆.˚┊اس کی ایک جھلک┊⋆.˚

Eshal had never been one to believe in love at first sight, nor did she expect anything extraordinary to happen at her cousin's wedding. It was supposed to be just another event to attend, a celebration full of family, music, and endless sweets-nothing more. After all, she had attended numerous weddings before, each one a whirlwind of excitement and fleeting moments, but none ever left a lasting mark. However, this wedding, the one she had been dreading and anticipating in equal measure, was about to change her life in a way she couldn't have possibly imagined.

It was the kind of wedding that felt as if it had stepped out of a dream, the kind where every detail seemed too perfect to be true. The venue was lavish, with cascading floral arrangements of roses and jasmine, and the air was thick with the sweet scent of wedding cake and freshly brewed chai. Guests dressed in shimmering silks and delicate chiffons filled the hall, their laughter and chatter blending with the soothing sounds of a string quartet in the background. Despite the grandeur, Eshal couldn't help but feel a subtle sadness in the air-a quiet reminder of how weddings always seemed to highlight everything she didn't have.

It was Amara's wedding, and though she loved her deeply, Eshal couldn't shake the sense of being an observer, never truly part of the love stories unfolding around her. She had been to countless weddings before-witnessed the joyous celebrations, the endless promises of love-but never once had she imagined her own place in them. Sure, she had her fair share of admirers, but none who made her feel like she could be swept away by a story as captivating as the one she was watching unfold in front of her.

Amara was radiant, glowing in her wedding attire, as the ceremony proceeded in the center of the grand ballroom. Eshal stood nearby, dressed in a traditional green and gold lehenga that complemented her graceful frame, looking on with a mixture of awe and wistfulness. The love between the couple was evident, the way they gazed at each other as if they were the only two people in the world. It was a love that was both simple and profound, grounded yet tender. Eshal could almost feel the warmth radiating from them, and as much as she wanted to bask in the joy of her cousin's special day, there was a quiet ache within her-a longing she didn't fully understand.

The laughter around her was gentle, but in the back of her mind, Eshal couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the celebrations and her own heart. She smiled at her cousin's joy, but her thoughts drifted far away, wondering if she would ever experience that kind of deep, unshakeable love.

The ceremony came to a close, and the reception continued in full swing. Eshal's mind wandered between the lively chatter of the guests and the soft music that filled the air. She stood to the side, away from the dancing crowd, her eyes scanning the room as she absentmindedly picked at the hem of her dress. The evening felt surreal, like she was trapped in the quiet space between being happy for her cousin and yearning for something she didn't yet have.

That was when she noticed him.

At first, she couldn't put her finger on it-he wasn't someone who immediately stood out in the way others did. He wasn't loud or flamboyant like some of the other guests. But there was something about him, something that caught her attention almost instantly. He was standing across the room, a few feet away from the buffet table, his posture relaxed but with an air of quiet confidence. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his perfectly tailored suit seemed to accentuate his natural elegance. There was a calm about him, a stillness that contrasted with the flurry of activity around him.

Eshal found herself studying him from afar, unable to look away. He wasn't part of the wedding party, nor was he a familiar face in the sea of relatives and friends. And yet, there was something magnetic about him-something that made her curious. He was standing still, almost as though he were watching the entire event, and yet, there was a gentleness in the way he observed, as if he were lost in his own thoughts, just as she had been.

She told herself to stop staring, to turn away, but there was a pull-a quiet tug-that kept her gaze fixed on him. He looked... different. Not in a flashy, attention-grabbing way, but in a way that made her wonder what was going on behind those dark, thoughtful eyes.

Minutes passed, or maybe hours-it was hard to say-before their eyes met. It wasn't a dramatic moment. No sudden recognition or wide-eyed surprise. It was simply a moment when the noise of the wedding seemed to fade, and Eshal felt her breath catch as their gazes locked across the room. It was fleeting, and yet, it was as if the entire room faded into the background, leaving only the two of them in that singular moment.

But then, a flicker of recognition danced across her mind. He was the same man she had seen at the bazaar days ago. She had dismissed the memory as fleeting, insignificant. Yet now, as his steady gaze held hers, it was impossible to ignore the peculiar twist of fate that had brought him into her path once again.

The quiet connection felt electric, a spark that neither of them expected but that neither of them could deny.

Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly looked away, embarrassed at being caught staring. But the oddest thing happened: He didn't look away. Instead, he took a step toward her.

Eshal felt a flutter of nervousness, wondering if she should flee or just stay frozen in place. But before she could process what was happening, one of her cousins, a lively and insistent girl, grabbed her arm. "Eshal! Chalo, tum yahan saari raat kharay nahi reh sakti. Tumhe naachna hoga!"
(Come on, you can't just stand here all night. You have to dance!)

She hesitated, resisting for a moment, but eventually relented, allowing herself to be pulled into the crowd. As the music shifted to an upbeat tune, her cousins formed a circle around her, clapping and cheering her on. At first, her movements were awkward and tentative, but as the rhythm took over, she began to sway more freely, a shy smile forming on her lips.

But as she twirled, her gaze instinctively sought him out. He was leaning casually against a pillar, a glass of water in his hand, his eyes never leaving her. The intensity of his stare sent a wave of nervousness through her, making her pulse quicken. She tried to focus on the music, on the laughter of her cousins, but his gaze was unwavering, piercing yet calm. Eshal tried to ignore him, telling herself she was imagining it, but every time she glanced his way, she found his eyes still on her. Her steps faltered as her heart raced, and the rhythm of the music seemed to fade into the background.

And then it happened.

As she spun, the hem of her lehenga caught under her foot, and she slipped, her ankle twisting painfully as she fell to the ground. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she clutched her ankle, her cousins rushing to her side. "Eshal! Kya tum theek ho?" one of them exclaimed, their voices laced with concern.
(Are you okay?)

She winced, trying to sit up, and nodded. "Mai theek hoon. Bas... phisal gayi."
(I am fine. I just slipped.)

Her mother arrived moments later, her face etched with worry. "Eshal beta, kya hua? Kya tumhe chot lagi hai?" she asked, kneeling beside Eshal and checking her ankle.
(What happened? Are you hurt?)

"Mai theek hoon, ammi," Eshal reassured her, though the pain was evident in her voice.
(I am fine, Mother.)

Amid the commotion, a figure emerged from the crowd, carrying an ice pack. It was him. He didn't say a word as he approached, handing the ice pack to one of her cousins with a calm demeanor. The cousin quickly pressed it against Eshal's ankle, and the cool relief helped ease the pain slightly.

Eshal avoided looking at him, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She couldn't understand why his presence unsettled her so much. He hadn't said a word to her, yet there was something in the way he carried himself-a quiet strength, a confidence that seemed effortless.

Once she was able to move her ankle slightly, her cousins helped her stand. Leaning on one of them for support, she made her way to a nearby couch and sank into it, grateful to be off her feet. Her mother hovered nearby, fussing over her while her cousins dispersed back into the crowd.

He lingered for a moment longer, his eyes meeting hers briefly before he turned and walked away. It wasn't a grand gesture or a dramatic moment, but something about it stayed with her. As Eshal sat there, watching the celebrations continue without her, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something she couldn't yet comprehend.