Malena was alone
There once lived a girl named Malena, who resided in a small house by the coastal line. The sound of the waves was part of her life calm yet constant, just like her heart. She lived with her younger brother and mother, who worked as a supervisor at the local factory.
Malena, at the age of twenty-two, was a girl of quiet beauty not the kind that turned heads in a crowd, but the kind that stayed in your mind long after. Her gentle smile, her thoughtful eyes, and her soft-spoken nature made her endearing to those who truly saw her. At that age of 22 she has a full grown women body which makes man to look twice.
Yet, inside, she was often shadowed by self-doubt. She would look at her reflection and think she wasn’t beautiful enough and not confident enough. Her world had always been small,a girls’ school, home, and the same familiar path by the sea. Deep inside, she longed for something she had never truly known a man’s love.
Not just romance, but the warmth of someone who saw her as she was ,a friend, a partner, a soul that mirrored hers. She wanted attention, care, and understanding.
Until one day, came a man named Kadheer, a big-sized, bald, dark-skinned man with a calm, weary face that carried both strength and sorrow. He was 46 years old, a familiar face in the neighborhood, known for delivering dry fish to homes along the coast.Kadheer had been visiting Malena’s house for years, and over time, he grew fond of her — not in a way that was spoken, but through small, meaningful exchanges. Every time he saw her, he would smile and say,
“You’re a good girl, Malena. Respectful, hardworking. Your mother raised you well.”
Malena would blush lightly and smile back, grateful for his kindness. She respected him too — not only because he was older but because she saw something gentle behind his rugged exterior. He was well build at the age of 46 dark skin.
Kadheer had lost his wife three years ago in a tragic road accident. Since then, he lived alone, spending most of his days delivering fish and keeping himself busy. His two sons, Anwar and Basheer, were studying overseas. They were close to Malena during school days, and she still remembered their laughter echoing around the village. One humid afternoon, as the salty breeze swept through the narrow lanes, Kadheer came to deliver his usual basket of dry fish. Malena’s mother was at work, and her younger brother had gone out to play.
For the first time, it was just the two of them. Kadheer stepped into the small kitchen verandah, his eyes catching Malena by the window, brushing her hair aside as the wind played with it, she was with her towel wrapped around her after a hot bath. For a moment, he forgot to speak — something about the scene felt strangely still, almost sacred.
He cleared his throat softly and touched her hair, with his fingers combing her hair and he came near to her, before his lips could even touch her lips he backed off and said sorry.
"Malena the basket of fishes is outside and and and umm i need to leave now"
He said to her and as soon he wanted to leave he turned around to head back outside he notice he was facing a mirror with she standing behind. he kept looking at her from the mirror. until she untied her towel.
