Chapter 1- Sight of her eyes
““In the peaceful corners of our church, I found more than just comfort in Amelia’s music. Her songs touched my heart and turned into a beautiful Friendship.”
The church was peaceful and beautiful. Sunlight came through the stained glass windows, making colorful patterns on the wooden benches. The air smelled like incense, and the walls had paintings of Bible stories. Candles flickered gently, giving the place a warm feeling.
Raghu was calm in the church. As the pastor started the service, Raghu looked at the pictures on the walls, lost in his thoughts. He took out a small notebook and began writing. When the service ended, people left, but Raghu stayed, focused on his writing.
After a while, Raghu noticed the church was empty. He put his notebook away, closed his eyes, and started to pray. He heard footsteps but didn’t get distracted. Suddenly, a guitar started playing. Raghu opened his eyes and saw a girl with a guitar. The music was beautiful, matching the hymns. She was very pretty, with eyes like the sea meeting the shore. The candles flickered as she played. Raghu was amazed by her beauty. She turned and saw him. Embarrassed, he looked down quickly.
“I’m so... sorry,” he stammered, his voice betraying his nervousness. “It’s fine,” she replied, her voice as soft as her music. The kindness in her words put Raghu at ease. He dared to look at her again and was met with a gentle smile that made his heart skip a beat. “I’m Raghu,” he managed to say, still feeling a bit awkward.
“I’m Amelia,” she replied, her smile widening. “Do you like music?“Raghu nodded, his voice more steady now. “Yes, I do. Your playing is beautiful.“”Thank you,” Amelia said, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. “Would you like to join me?” Raghu hesitated for a moment, then nodded again, feeling a strange but comforting connection between them. He moved closer, and as they shared the space in the quiet church, the world outside seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them and the soft notes of the guitar.
“I haven’t seen you around before,” Amelia said, her voice gentle. “It’s my first visit,” Raghu admitted, smiling awkwardly. “But your music… it’s something special.” Amelia blushed slightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you. I’ve always loved playing.” Raghu couldn’t help but notice the grace in her movements, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing the soft curve of her neck. He found himself even more entranced by her. In his distraction, his notebook slipped from his pocket and fell to the floor.
Amelia noticed it and saw that there were some writings inside. Raghu quickly picked it up and shoved it back into his pocket, a little flustered. “I forgot to ask your name,” Amelia said, her tone light. “I’m Amelia.” Raghu smiled shyly as he extended his hand. “I’m Raghu.” Their hands met, and for a moment, it felt as if time had slowed. “Do you have Instagram?” Amelia asked, breaking the spell. “Yeah, I do,” Raghu replied, showing her his Instagram ID. “Great! I’ve sent you a request. I’ll message you later,” she said with a warm smile. “Bye for now.” “Bye,” Raghu replied, his heart fluttering as he watched her walk away.
LATER THAT EVENING...
A notification popped up on Amelia’s phone. She picked it up and saw Raghu’s follow request. A smile played on her lips as she accepted it. Raghu, who had been eagerly waiting, quickly checked her profile. His heart sank a little when he saw that there was a guy in almost every photo. But despite that, he couldn’t stop scrolling through her pictures, captivated by her beauty.
In his absent-mindedness, he accidentally liked a photo from a year ago. “Shit!” he muttered under his breath. In a panic, he quickly sent her a message to explain. Then, feeling anxious, he locked his phone and waited. To his surprise, Amelia replied almost immediately, teasing him lightly. “Are you stalking me?” Raghu’s heart raced as he quickly typed out a response. “I’m sorry, it was an accident. I’m not stalking you, I swear.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I was just kidding,” she replied with a playful tone. “Had your dinner?” Raghu felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Yes, I have. What about you?” “I did too. I’ve got college tomorrow, so I should probably go. I’ll text you tomorrow. Bye, bye.” “Yeah, sure. I should head to bed too. Good night.” “Good night,” Amelia replied, and with that, they both put their phones away.
Amelia set her phone aside and drifted off to sleep, while Raghu lay in bed, unable to stop thinking about her. His mind replayed their conversations, a smile spreading across his face as he blushed, feeling something new and exciting stirring within him.
THE NEXT DAY...
Raghu spent the entire day anxiously waiting for a message from Amelia. Finally, at 7:00 in the evening, his phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from her: “Hi.”
“Hi,” Raghu replied immediately, his heart leaping with excitement. But then, he noticed she didn’t see his message right away. He waited, checking his phone repeatedly until finally, after what felt like an eternity, she replied. “Sorry, I was freshening up.” Raghu let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “It’s okay. I was freshening up too. How was your day?” “It was pretty good. How about yours?” Amelia asked.
Raghu hesitated for a moment before typing, “How do I put this? It’s been one of my worst days.”Concern filled Amelia’s next message. “Oh no, did something happen?”“Yeah,” Raghu replied, “I’ve just finished my degree, and now I’m stuck at home, doing nothing. Everyone’s yelling at me to help out with chores.”Amelia’s reply came quickly. “I totally get that. By the way, how old are you?” “I’m 21,” Raghu answered.“Oh, I’m a year younger than you,” she said. “Which college did you attend?” “I applied for an MBA entrance exam,” Raghu replied.
“That’s great!” Amelia said, her enthusiasm clear even through the screen. “I’m studying CEC, but I want to become a soldier and serve our country.” “Wow, that’s amazing,” Raghu responded, genuinely impressed. “But why did you choose CSC?”
“It’s because of my mom. She doesn’t want me to be in danger.” Raghu smiled at her honesty. “I understand. We can’t say no to our parents—typical Indian family dynamics. No offense.” “None taken,” Amelia replied, laughing softly. “They are typical Indian parents, after all. Have you had dinner?”“Not yet,” Raghu admitted. “What about you?” “I’m starving. I should go eat. I’ll text you later, okay?”“Yeah, sure. Enjoy your meal. Bye.”“Bye,” Amelia responded before heading to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Raghu couldn’t stop smiling. Just as he was about to get up, there was a knock on his door.
“It’s time for dinner,” his mom called. Raghu got up, his mind still filled with thoughts of Amelia, and headed out of his room to join his family. From that day on, their conversations became a regular part of his life, and with each passing day, his feelings for her deepened.
