It was during my summer vacation, just after my 12th board exams, when this small yet unforgettable incident happened. One evening, I was practicing riding my bicycle on the road in front of my house. I was still learning, so I was a little nervous and clumsy on the cycle.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, I accidentally clashed with another bicycle. For a second, my heart skipped a beat. Luckily, neither of us got hurt. As I looked up, I saw him—the guy I had bumped into. He looked around 21, with fair skin, striking eyes, a neatly kept beard, and a decent height. He had this presence that immediately caught my attention. It wasn’t love, but in that moment, I definitely felt something.
Embarrassed, I quickly apologized. He gave me a reassuring smile and said, “It’s okay. Are you hurt?” His concern felt genuine, almost as if he was worried about me even though we were strangers. When he realized I was fine, he asked me for directions to the nearby market. I told him the way, but then, without really thinking, I offered to take him there—it was just five minutes from my house.
As we rode side by side, we started talking. He told me he was from Kashmir, a Kashmiri Jain, studying at IIT, currently in his second semester. He was calm, polite, and carried himself with a certain charm. At one point, he asked for my number, but I only gave him my Instagram ID. Even then, I felt strangely comfortable around him—though somewhere deep inside, I also had this tiny instinct that he might be a red flag.
Still, I couldn’t deny how thoughtful he was. He noticed I was new to cycling and kept guiding me to the safer side of the road, making sure I didn’t lose balance or fall. I liked the way he cared—it felt protective, in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
When we finally reached the market, one of his friends called to cancel their plans. He looked a little disappointed and then turned to me with hopeful eyes, asking softly, “Are you free? Maybe we can go somewhere nearby and talk?”
I was free—and honestly, I wanted to spend more time with him—so I agreed. We decided to ride to a park, near the road where my gym was located. On the way, I mentioned that I worked out there. He seemed surprised, almost impressed, that I had already started going to the gym.
The park was about a 30-minute ride, and throughout the journey, he kept looking out for me, making sure I was steady on the cycle. I could tell he had already understood that I was still inexperienced, yet instead of making fun of me, he patiently cared in those small, quiet ways.
