She straightened the crease that had appeared in the folds of the wrinkled table cloth and leaned back to admire the effect. A new palpable energy seemed to course through her being as an involuntary smile made its way to her lips. Lifting her bag in a swift motion, she made her way out of the house, smiling to herself as she strode down the stairs.
He was waiting for her in the ascending whirl of car parks. She looked up at his form, dark against the setting sun. He seemed as usual, unassuming, his eyes on her every movement, the gleam in them brightening as she came closer.
She was surprised when her heart skipped a beat.
***
He opened the door to find her there. Her smile was nervous and her eyes held the fear that was reflected in his. A babble of people had come with her. Pleasantries were exchanged and talks commenced. A crazy bandwagon seemed to have descended upon him.
In between the laughs, the fun and talks, his eyes sought her and found more often than not that she was looking back at him. Gradually the fear in them eased and they laughed as she laughed. He was relived to see that they could still communicate without words. The world around him had started to blur as he decided his next course of action.
He saw her glance up in surprise as he made way towards where she was sitting and resolutely sat next to her oblivious to roving eyes and teasing comments.
A smile lingered on her lips for long after.
***
They were sitting in a horse cart that was a rare leisurely attraction of a city which was known for its fast pace. The ride took them along the sea face of the island. She smiled as the horse rider gave her tidbits about the city that she knew so well. He watched her with interest as the man proceeded to tell her about the mosque and the temple on the coast of the city which together protected it from the sea. He was amused as she took genuine interest in the story and engaged the rider in continuous discussion.
When she showed no signs of stopping, he gently took her hand in his.
He could feel her tense against his shoulder as her speech came to an abrupt halt. The horse rider gave a knowing cough and became duly silent.
The salty sea air caressed her air as the cart rode smoothly along the glittering sea line.
Then slowly she turned towards him and smiled. He returned the smile warmly as their fingers interlinked.
She was aware it was a new chapter being written.... but was it an entirely new story?
He was waiting for her in the ascending whirl of car parks. She looked up at his form, dark against the setting sun. He seemed as usual, unassuming, his eyes on her every movement, the gleam in them brightening as she came closer.
She was surprised when her heart skipped a beat.
***
He opened the door to find her there. Her smile was nervous and her eyes held the fear that was reflected in his. A babble of people had come with her. Pleasantries were exchanged and talks commenced. A crazy bandwagon seemed to have descended upon him.
In between the laughs, the fun and talks, his eyes sought her and found more often than not that she was looking back at him. Gradually the fear in them eased and they laughed as she laughed. He was relived to see that they could still communicate without words. The world around him had started to blur as he decided his next course of action.
He saw her glance up in surprise as he made way towards where she was sitting and resolutely sat next to her oblivious to roving eyes and teasing comments.
A smile lingered on her lips for long after.
***
They were sitting in a horse cart that was a rare leisurely attraction of a city which was known for its fast pace. The ride took them along the sea face of the island. She smiled as the horse rider gave her tidbits about the city that she knew so well. He watched her with interest as the man proceeded to tell her about the mosque and the temple on the coast of the city which together protected it from the sea. He was amused as she took genuine interest in the story and engaged the rider in continuous discussion.
When she showed no signs of stopping, he gently took her hand in his.
He could feel her tense against his shoulder as her speech came to an abrupt halt. The horse rider gave a knowing cough and became duly silent.
The salty sea air caressed her air as the cart rode smoothly along the glittering sea line.
Then slowly she turned towards him and smiled. He returned the smile warmly as their fingers interlinked.
She was aware it was a new chapter being written.... but was it an entirely new story?
