Golden Brown

what is true love?

Keeping a diary was the only thing that made Arwa feel safe. She always wrote the words she could never say out loud inside its pages. Arwa was a second-year college student majoring in Art. Drawing had always been her hobby, but now it had become her dream, her purpose, her gift.

Dear Diary🎀
7th March, 2024
Sir Yasir has been replaced by someone else. Let’s find out if the new teacher is nice.

She got dressed quickly, packed her bag, and walked downstairs.

“Mama, bye. I can’t wait for food, I’m already late,” Arwa said breathlessly.

“Okay, bye. Make sure you eat something at school,” her mother replied.

Arwa stepped out through the gate of her house.

“Aruu, I have been waiting for you! You always make me late for lectures,” Bilal complained.

“Sorry, sorry. Let’s go,” she said, climbing into his car as they drove off.

Bilal had been Arwa’s neighbour since childhood. They attended the same high school, the same college, and even shared the same major. He had protected her for as long as she could remember, and over time, they had become inseparable best friends.

Arwa was the eldest daughter in her family. She had a younger brother named Hussain. Bilal, on the other hand, was the second child in his family. He had an elder brother, Farouq, who was already married. Together, Bilal and Arwa attended classes, walked home side by side, and shared almost every part of their daily lives.

They arrived late to class and quietly slipped in without the lecturer noticing. Salma and Abdul had already saved them seats. They sat down quickly and began copying the notes from the board.

After class, they went out together to get something to eat.

“Guys, listen, today, the bill is on me!” Bilal announced loudly.

“Yeahhh! Wooohhh!” they shouted in excitement.

“Hmmm… so Bilal, did something special happen? Did Roshni finally accept your love?” Arwa teased.

“Eh no, no! That’s not it,” he laughed nervously. “My mum said I can keep the car. It’s mine now.”

“Wow, congrats, man,” Abdul said.

“Congratulations,” Arwa and Salma added.

“Let’s order, guys! All on meeee!” Bilal said happily.

They were filled with joy as they ordered a lot of food.

“Guys, I think we should meet later at the beach house. Let’s celebrate more,” Bilal suggested.

“Agreed. I’ve been wanting to relax a bit,” Salma said.

“You people like playing too much. I have a lot of things to do,” Arwa protested.

They all begged Arwa until she finally agreed to join them.

The beach house was close to their homes, so they received permission from their parents. Besides, it was not their first time going there.

They went there, played games, laughed loudly, and spent time together.

“What will you do when you find the one person you want to spend your entire life with?” Salma asked.

“Oh! I’ll answer that,” Abdul said excitedly. “I’ll date her and then marry her.”

“What is true love?” Bilal asked suddenly.

“True love isn’t real. Just find a stable person and be with them,” Arwa said honestly.

“Yeah, true,” Salma agreed.

“Let’s rest, guys. Good night,” Abdul said.

Later that night, Arwa walked out to the veranda to enjoy the cool, fresh air. The sound of the sea calmed her heart. Bilal followed her quietly.

“Fresh air… hmm… I love it,” Bilal said softly.

“What is true love?” Arwa asked again, her voice almost a whisper.

“True love… caring is love, protecting is love, but true love…” Bilal paused.

Arwa turned to look at him, focusing on every word he was about to say.

“Let me put it this way. When you see that person, your stability shakes. It’s like gravity. When you see him, it is not gravity holding you down anymore, it is him. Every step he takes, every move he makes, you begin to follow his existence. He becomes your entire interest.

Sometimes you hate him. Sometimes he becomes the only person you trust. When you start noticing the way he breathes, when you feel like no one else exists on this Earth except you and him… that is true love.”

He walked back inside, leaving Arwa alone on the veranda, standing in the silence of his words.