Two Lives, One Sky
562 Words
Life had settled into a rhythm.
Two countries.
Two different worlds.
Yet under the same sky.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The university campus buzzed with students rushing to their morning lectures.
Hania walked across the pathway wearing blue jeans, white sneakers, and a university hoodie. A backpack hung from one shoulder while a stack of research papers rested in her arms.
"Hania! Wait!"
She turned around.
It was Zara, running toward her with two iced coffees.
"You forgot this in the cafeteria."
Hania blinked.
"Oh... that's where I left it."
Zara sighed dramatically.
"You'll forget your own head one day."
Hania laughed.
"Impossible. I need it for my research."
Amina joined them a moment later.
"And for getting lost."
"I do not get lost."
"You got lost in the library yesterday."
"I was exploring."
The three girls burst into laughter.
Research Laboratory
Professor Daniel Wong smiled as he examined Hania's project.
"Excellent observations."
"Thank you, Professor."
"You ask a lot of questions."
Hania smiled.
"I like understanding the 'why' behind everything."
"That's the quality of a good researcher."
She accepted the compliment with a humble smile.
Nearby, Zara whispered,
"See? I told you your hard work would pay off."
Mussoorie, India
The Singh house was unusually lively.
Shanya had returned home after covering a college journalism event.
She entered the living room dramatically.
"Maa! I'm starving."
Isha laughed.
"Kitchen."
"No welcome hug?"
"You'll get food first."
Colonel Arvind folded his newspaper.
"How was your event?"
"Successful."
"And my article is getting published in the college magazine!"
"That's wonderful," he said proudly.
Just then...
The front door opened.
Captain Eshaan Singh walked inside with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
"Bhai!"
Shanya ran and hugged him.
"When did you come?"
"Five minutes ago."
"You didn't even call!"
"I wanted to surprise everyone."
Isha smiled happily.
"My son is home."
During dinner...
Shanya was unusually quiet.
Eshaan noticed.
"What happened?"
She smiled.
"Nothing."
"You're thinking about Hania, aren't you?"
Shanya looked surprised.
"How did you know?"
"You become quiet whenever you miss her."
She sighed.
"I do."
"It's been six months."
"I know we talk every day..."
"But it's different."
"The house feels incomplete."
Eshaan didn't say anything.
He simply continued eating.
But for a brief moment...
He remembered the loud arguments.
The sarcastic comments.
The girl who called him "Strict Officer."
The house really was quieter now.
Malaysia – That Same Night
Hania sat by the hostel window after finishing her assignments.
Her phone buzzed.
Shanu ❤️
She answered immediately.
"Miss me already?"
Shanya rolled her eyes.
"Too much."
Hania smiled.
"Me too."
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"Monster Brother came home."
Hania laughed loudly.
"He still hasn't learned how to smile?"
Shanya grinned.
"No."
"Poor future wife."
(The poor woman who marries him.)
Hania shook her head dramatically.
"Allah hi uski madad kare."
(May God help her.)
The two friends laughed so hard that Amina looked up from her book in confusion.
Miles away...
Eshaan walked onto the balcony after dinner.
He could hear Shanya laughing while talking to Hania on the phone.
Although he couldn't hear Hania's words...
He immediately recognized her laughter.
He shook his head with a faint smile.
"Some things never change."
Little did he know...
The same girl who joked about his future wife...
Would one day become the woman who turned his perfectly disciplined life upside down.
- Writer
