The little five-year-old girl threw the ball at me, her eyes sparkling with expectation and excitement as she waited to see if I would catch it. The ball flew low enough for me to grab it easily, but I decided to miss it on purpose.

The moment she saw the ball sail past without me catching it, Jessie squealed in delight. "I won! I won!"

I pulled a mock-disappointed face. "That was a close one... Too bad."

Jessie jumped and twirled, her joy contagious as she danced around. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her exuberance.

"If you want, I can teach you how to catch, Akka," she offered earnestly.

"Yes, sure," I winked, my smile growing even broader. I loved the way she called me "Akka," the Tamil word for "elder sister," in her sweet, innocent voice. Every time she said it, it made me feel warm inside.

Even though Jessie was Uncle Joseph and Auntie Radha's daughter, I considered her my little sister. I could still remember the day Auntie Radha introduced me to Jessie, just a few days after she was born. It was hard to believe how quickly the years had passed. Almost in the blink of an eye, Jessie had turned five—today was her fifth birthday.

I knelt in front of the little darling. "Since I lost, can I get a consolation prize?"

"Do you want a kiss?" she asked, her mischievous smile making me laugh.

I nodded, grinning. She quickly pressed her soft lips against my cheek.

"She's very fond of you," a voice came from behind me.

I turned and realized the front door was wide open. Standing in the doorway, with his arms crossed, was Crowther—Jessie's older brother.

How long had he been watching us? I wasn't sure, but it made me feel self-conscious. Without my noticing, he had observed my playful interaction with Jessie.

Thank goodness for my brown skin—otherwise, Crowther would have easily seen the blush spreading across my cheeks.

Wait... had Crowther just spoken to me? I could hardly believe it. Despite being my neighbor for years, he and I had never really talked. He was always so quiet and reserved, even more than George, who was famously the "Quiet One" among my closest friends—John, Paul, Ringo, and George.

Crowther had always been the lonely type. I never saw him with friends, and he never seemed to mind being alone. He was a good guy, though—kind-hearted, sweet, and even good-looking. But our exchanges had been limited to the occasional greeting or shy smile.

So, to hear him initiate what could be a real conversation took me by surprise.

"Y... yes," I stammered.

Damn. That was the best I could come up with? And even then, my voice wavered.

Crowther must have noticed my nerves because his smile faded, and he averted his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Divya. I didn't mean to disturb you," he said, still not looking at me. "I'll go inside. You two carry on."

"Don't you want to play with us, Anna?" Jessie's voice suddenly cut through the awkward tension. I had almost forgotten she was standing there with us. She had addressed Crowther in Tamil, calling him "Anna," meaning "older brother."

"No, Jessie. Maybe next time," Crowther replied with a soft smile for his little sister. He turned to leave, but something made me call after him.

"Crowther... You can stay if you want."

He stopped in his tracks, staring at me as if he couldn't believe I had actually invited him. Slowly, a shy smile crept onto his face.

Was it possible for anyone to be as reserved as him? I couldn't help but think. Even George seemed more outgoing by comparison.

"We'll play again next time, birthday girl," I said, smiling at Jessie and patting her head.

"All right, Akka," she said, though I could see the disappointment flicker in her big brown eyes. I gently ruffled her hair and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. The corners of her lips lifted into a slight smile as she turned and skipped toward the house. Her white dress twirled around her as a gentle summer breeze caught it.

"I'm also very fond of her," I said softly as I watched her disappear through the door. "She's an angel."

"She is," Crowther replied quietly, almost as if lost in thought.

When I looked back at him, I found him staring at me, a contemplative look on his face. For a moment, I wondered if his last words—"She is"—were meant for me rather than for Jessie. Was he calling me an angel?

Crowther must have noticed me frown in confusion because he suddenly broke eye contact, guilt flashing across his face.

"Do you mind if we sit on the stairs?" he asked, breaking the tension.

"Sure," I said, grateful for the distraction. I carefully adjusted my saree as I sat on the top step, trying not to ruin its pleats. Crowther sat beside me, and for a moment, we just stared ahead at the wrought-iron gate at the entrance to the yard.

"You look beautiful in this saree," Crowther said softly, surprising me with his sudden calmness. His voice was steady this time, no hint of the nervousness he'd shown earlier.

Both my mother and I had chosen to wear sarees for Jessie's birthday party, but the one I was wearing belonged to my mother—a simple red cotton saree with black borders. To complement it, I wore a full-sleeved black blouse.

"Thanks," I whispered, feeling his gaze on me. Though his compliment was genuine, it made me uncomfortable for reasons I couldn't quite place. I knew Crowther wasn't trying to make me uneasy, but I still couldn't appreciate his kind words as I normally would.

"How's work going?" I asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Good, thanks," he replied, his face brightening. "I've always wanted to teach, and I'm glad I could make my dream a reality."

My father had told me Crowther recently started teaching at Stockton Wood Primary School. At twenty-one, just a year older than me, he was the youngest teacher there.

"What about you, Divya?" he asked. This was the second time he'd called me by my first name, which surprised me. Considering how little we interacted, I hadn't expected him to even remember it.

"You're working as a bookkeeper at the Manchester office of Deloitte, right?"

"Yes... well, I'm just a bookkeeping assistant for now. I joined Deloitte last year," I said, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"It's a great accomplishment to be part of such a prestigious firm. Your parents must be proud of you," he said with a smile, his eyes meeting mine. "And I'm sure you'll do well there."

"Thank you," I replied, genuinely touched by his words. "I'm sure you'll do great in your career too, Crowther."

As we talked, I could see him become more relaxed. His earlier nervousness had vanished, replaced with a quiet confidence I hadn't seen before.

So, this is the real Crowther, I found myself thinking.

We sat close enough that our hands brushed against each other. Feeling awkward, I discreetly moved my hand away, but when I glanced at Crowther, he hadn't noticed. His mind seemed to be elsewhere.

Suddenly, he turned to me. "Divya... I'd like to ask you something. Please don't take it the wrong way."

His voice had turned unsteady again, and I saw a flicker of anxiety in his eyes.

I waited for him to continue, but part of me already guessed what he wanted to say.

"Wonderful Life is being screened at the Forum Cinema. Would you... would you like to see it with me?" His words hung in the air, and it took me a few seconds to process them. Had he just... asked me out? Was this supposed to be a date?

"If you don't want to, I understand," he added quickly. Though he tried to sound casual, I could tell he was nervous.

"As a friend, I'd love to come," I finally managed to say. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but I had to be honest. "But I don't feel that way about you. I'm... I'm sorry."

Crowther's face fell, but he nodded. "Oh... okay." He ran a hand through his hair, clearly embarrassed. "Damn, I feel like an idiot now. Just forget I even asked."

"You're not an idiot," I said quickly. I hated seeing him so down. "I'm sorry," I repeated, feeling guilty.

"Don't be, Divya. It's fine. I just... I don't know when I started liking you. It's strange because we never really talked before. But I... I like you. I'm in love with you," he admitted, his voice quiet but full of emotion.

I was stunned. How had I not noticed his feelings all these years? When had he fallen for me? My mind was racing with unanswered questions.

"Let's just forget this, okay?" he said, his eyes distant. "I guess time will heal things."

Hearing him say those words with such sadness made my heart ache for him. But I couldn't lie to him or pretend I felt something I didn't.

"Come on, Crowther, I'm not that exceptional," I said, trying to force a smile, hoping it would ease the tension between us.

"You don't know how exceptional you are, Miss Divya Lucinda Thomas."

I winced slightly when he called me by my full name. His gaze was locked onto mine, intense and unwavering.

"Crowther," I said gently, "you're an exceptional man. One day, you'll find a girl who sees your true worth, and when she does, she'll fall head over heels for you." I meant every word. All I wanted was to lift the sadness from his heart. What could be so special about me that someone like Crowther had loved me quietly, without saying a word, for years? I was just an ordinary girl, nothing more.

"Thank you, Divya," he whispered, his voice soft but filled with emotion.

"So... can we call this the start of a real friendship?" I smiled shyly, extending my hand toward him.

Crowther's lips curled into a small, tentative smile as he reached out to shake my hand. His grip was gentle but firm, and though there was still a trace of sadness in his eyes, I could see a glimmer of hope. Maybe he was right—time might heal his heart after all.

"Did you two just sign a peace treaty? Too bad I missed it!"

Both Crowther and I jumped, our hands breaking apart instantly as the unexpected voice cut through the air.

I knew that voice, and that strong Scouse accent, better than anyone.

Turning toward the entrance gate, I wasn't surprised to see John standing there, grinning mischievously, watching us through the bars.