Roy looked into the mirror. Saw his own reflection. Checked his hair-do and dress. Yup, he looked smart. Kelly was going to agree to his proposal after all. Who wouldn’t? He thought to himself with pride –

He looked good and yup ! He was smart…

He smiled within…

He looked smart for himself, but nope, not for Kelly. Heartbroken by the end of the day, especially after listening to the way Kelly spoke to him about his looks, it was difficult to bring his smile back on his face. He walked away with a heavy heart.

Riya had noticed him when he had approached Kelly and she also saw him walk away slouched.

That was so mean !!! – thought Riya looking at Kelly smirking at Roy.

Riya watched Roy come day after day, and undergo various kinds of rejection from all his classmates. A year flew by. High school was bad enough, and Roy wasn’t spared as people booed him down. But by the end of the spring his steps had gained an aloofness that defied gravity. That was a confident walk to behold!

Finally, Riya walked up to him smiling, as he stood outside the school ready to head home. It had taken her two years to walk up to him. He acknowledged her presence with a nod of his head and a smile. They had known each other forever. They were neighbors and had literally grown up together.

She asked curiously,”What is it, that gives you a spring in your step nowadays?”

He looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes, smiled and said, “I start my days with the thought that everyday is a new day in my life. I count everyday as a new gift received. I have realized in life, that there are no guarantees for a tomorrow that we so assuredly plan for. I love the way I look, I love the way I am and I am smart. So I think to myself – let me enjoy my day as is.”

Riya looked at him, took in a deep breath and gushed, “I always had a crush on you…from like forever… just never knew how to express. Now that no one is looking at you, I finally had the guts to express. There was a time when you were mobbed by friends and fans, and today those same people shun you. Yet, you walk with more space in your heart than before. Your attitude today makes you more special and has made me drawn more to you. Is it OK, if we could catch up more often over a cup of coffee too?”

Roy stared down, took a deep breath with his eyes closed.

Riya was watching him, not sure anymore what was running inside him, as he looked up at her. She asked,”What happened?”

It had being more than a year, when Roy had the accident. The scars on his face weren’t kind and the society had being cruel…

Roy replied slowly, “I was just thinking… of how I look in the mirror every day and see my own reflection.”

She waited with bated breath and he continued with a smile, “Every day I convince myself, of how good I look. But today, I definitely know for sure, how good I look, and also how smart I am. Else I wouldn’t have gotten you….”

She breathed a sigh of relief, looked deep in his eyes and replied,”From now on, I shall be your mirror and you don’t have to convince me…”

She smiled, took his face that fate had inscribed with her own hands, and kissed him with love that had been overflowing for quite some time…

They broke the kiss.

Looking at each other with love so deep, they turned towards the setting sun.

They started walking, hand in hand, belonging to a world, where only they knew they would understand each other.

Yup, that was all they needed…

He looked at her as they walked on…

Well, life did look better, now that he had someone other than his mirror to tell him that…

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