Perfect by Ed Sheeran played and Alex started humming the song.Though originally from Ontario,yet he was very inclined to India courtesy his aunt who was Indian.Plus he was die-hard romantic and somehow this particular song struck with him. He felt happy listening to the song.

One day he was playing the same song in the balcony just then,he heard a chuckle of laughter. He opened his eyes to see a girl on the opposite balcony.Seeing her, he felt embarrassed and went inside.

Next morning,he didn't take a risk and started dancing in his room.From his window he peeked; after a few minutes he saw the girl again.She had come to dry her hair,she had long black hair till her waist.

This went on for few days when he just observed her from his window, and somehow the sight of her drying her long tresses struck with him and he felt captivated. Her face felt calm and devoid of any emotions.

One morning,he saw she seemed a bit and lost.After a few minutes,he played the song "Perfect" and started dancing in the balcony,seeming to notice her. From corner of his eyes,he could see her smiling.He felt amused by her smile, and his eyes met her.

Soon it became difficult and they would
write lines in the chart paper and converse.They shared phone number,and started chatting.Their conversation seemed to flow easily like a river,once it started it never felt ending.

"Hey why don't you come out of your house ?" Alex asked Ananya texted one day.

"Uhm...I am unwell" Ananya replied.

"Should I check on you? You need a doctor?" Alex texted back.

"No need to come here,I am fine" Ananya typed hastily.

"What's wrong with this girl?" Alex thought to himself.

Next day Alex found himself standing at Ananya's doorstep as he felt anxious for Ananya.

He pushed the bell button and tapped his foot on the ground.

Ananya looked through the eye peeping hole of the door but didn't open it.

Alex phoned and texted Ananya repeatedly still no reply came from her side.

Ananya sat on the couch,scared and nervous." Ananya open the door or else I will call police" Alex shouted.

At last Ananya opened the door,"Alex please go from here" she pleaded.

"Tell me what is the matter? Is someone troubling you?" Alex rose his eyebrow.

"No, please leave me alone" Ananya persisted.

"What's the problem?" Alex repeated.

"I need rest,I am unwell" Ananya replied.

"I will help you out" Alex spoke.

"Nobody can help me, please leave me alone" Ananya spoke teary-eyed.

"Tell me what it is" Alex asked softly.

"I dated a guy, he kept it secret that he was HIV positive and he got me infected with AIDS.When I confronted him he blamed me and left" Ananya at last spoke out sniffing.

Alex was speechless and he left without speaking a word trying to process what he heard.

Ananya's health degraded and she remained indoors. Alex on the other hand felt numb.

A week later Ananya found a bouquet of red roses at her doorstep with a note, "Always with you, Alex".

Tears rolled through her eyes reading the note. Following days Ananya suffered fever and chills as her health depleted. Every Alex was by her side.

She developed severe pneumonia and got into ICU. Alex met her everyday and he sang "Perfect song" along with the tune of his guitar to comfort her.

The rain drizzled as Alex saw pyre of Ananya. Alex did all last rites of Ananya as her relatives had cut all ties with her due to her illness.

He spread her ashes into Ganges with tears in his blue eyes. He returned back with a heavy heart.

Next morning he came to his balcony, his heart yearned to Ananya in her balcony with her smile but his mind knew he could never see her again.

The glimpses of her drying her hair in that balcony flashed in his memory. A sad smile and tears in his eyes glistened as he contemplated with whether to cherish her memory or to cry over her memories.

Alex spent year to built an NGO to help peoples suffering from AIDS. He often missed Ananya standing in her balcony but now he knew she would be so proud of him watching over him through the stars,walking beside him unseen as his guardian angel.

A few years later as Ananya's favorite festival of Diwali arrived, Alex decorated it with earthen lamps and lights.

A blonde woman helped along with him.She spoke out,"It's a beautiful balcony lovestory".

Alex looked at her with astonishment.
"Honey, that's your first love I know,you are gem kind of man that I am lucky to have" Jessica responded with a warm smile.