"When I first saw you I knew you were something else; something...unusual."

It was quiet here, or was it quiet inside me? I stared at the door, not paying attention to my surroundings. Was I waiting for someone? A mocking grin spread on my lips. Like someone would come for me.

A loud screech that nearly split my eardrums into two snapped me back into attention. I covered my ear instinctively, grimacing.

Today was the speech competition. The huge auditorium was lit with beautiful yellow lights. The walls had huge paintings depicting mystics adorned with swirling cloaks and pointed hats, and silvery swans that looked like they would take flight right off the wall. People were seated on the maroon chairs. The organizers walked on the wooden stage, watching the arrangements, managing everything.

From my spot in the first row on the left side, I could see nearby contestants glancing at the papers in their hands, mumbling under their breaths. Others chattered easily with one another, introducing themselves.

My eyes darted around, contemplating the students -- especially those who talked in groups and letting loose a loud mixture of girly and boyish laughter. I saw girls setting their dupattas on their heads. Some glanced at their reflection in the mirrors in their hands. I was dressed in one of my mother's dresses as Uncle Mubashir had requested me to wear it. It was a long black shirt and palazzo pants and the matching dupatta. My classmate Tooba had helped me with setting the dupatta on my head with pins. It was fixed on my head but still, the entire dress was too much for me to handle. I was praying in my head I wouldn't trip while walking onto the stage.

A tall guy with tanned skin seated a few rows away from me stood up. He turned towards his friend beside him.

"I need to practice." He looked quite tortured and nervous as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

His friend nodded and stood up along with him, and they both walked up the aisle towards the backdoor. A tiny smile made its way to my lips; I was fully prepared and confident enough to win. I didn't have a paper in my hand, it would make me forget everything I had memorized if I kept looking at it. I needed to relax before I went onto the stage.

We still had an hour before the competition started. The judges had not arrived yet, and neither had the professors. Then all of a sudden, out of the pleasant hubbub of socializing students, a panic spread through from the group of organizers. Their conversation could be heard from two miles away.

"Where is Aaliyan?" a girl shouted, capturing my attention first.

"I don't know," a bearded guy angrily exclaimed. I recognized him as the president of the youth council of our university. "And that idiot is not picking up the phone."

"We're doomed!" another girl cried immediately in response and flopped onto the chair. "What are we gonna do? Oh my God, why do you do this Aaliyan?"

"What did I do?"

The attractive voice oozing a calm and yet vibrant undertone instantly caught my attention. It carried the velvet of chocolate and the warmth of the sun in winters. It was euphonious; my eyes snapped in its direction as I breathed slowly. There he stood, with a naughty glint in his very unique, enigmatic brown eyes speckled with golden flecks. In this light, his eyes gleamed like a treasure chest. They were captivating. They were a pool of kept secrets and hidden mysteries, yet they sparkled with intelligence and sagacity.

His hands were busy knotting his red tie. I didn't realize I was holding my breath. Until he walked past me to join his friends and his intoxicating cologne hit my nose.

When he laughed in response to something the organizers said, my ears were pleased to listen to the husky and low sound of his laughter. My mind absorbed that sound into its depths, memorizing it as to play whenever it wanted to calm me. My heart did weird movements in my chest, making me uneasy and lighthearted all at once.

Watching that golden-eyed man, an unseen connection was drawing me to him. I had never believed in soulmates and any of that shit. But at the moment that magnetic pull between the golden-eyed man and me with the fluttering heart compelled me to believe in it. It was so powerful, I could not deny it - nor could I take it much longer, I had never felt this way. You have lost it!

It wasn't that I hadn't seen other handsome men. Even here in Pakistan, I had seen guys roaming here in university who could be simply titled as hunks but there was just something about him - something unusual that attracted me - something too damn powerful. Overwhelmed by the feeling, my claustrophobia forced me to leave the auditorium.

What is up with you? Ugh!

Outside, the sweet chirping of birds echoed from the trees at the far end of the lawn and the cool breeze calmed my nerves, brushing against my skin. My mind was going blank and empty of any thoughts.

"Excuse me!" I snapped my head in the direction of a girly voice. A girl with black curls and big eyeglasses stood behind me. I rose to my feet, standing face to face with her.

"Yes?"

"Competition is about to start, you should be in the auditorium," she babbled to me, her nose scrunching up as she pushed her eyeglasses up her straight nose.

"Okay, what's -"

I was about to ask her name, but I got interrupted by an aesthetic voice. My breath caught in my throat, my heartbeat got so loud that I feared he could even hear it from a distance.

"Aliza, I told you to collect all the participants!" He strode toward us, his blazer moving by wind, power, and superiority oozing from him.

Everything went away in the background. I could only see him talking in irritation, his full lips moving, and his voice like a song to my ears. His thick brown hair tousled in the gentle wind and his perfect olive skin shone in the morning light. His eyes closed as he tightened his jaw, causing me to notice his jawline sharper than a blade. His eyes sprang open as he groaned in frustration and I smiled with delight.

"Chalo Aliza, aao." Asking Aliza to go with him, who gave him a subtle nod - he turned toward me suddenly, leaving me caught off guard.

"You're?" he asked, his golden stare freezing me up.

"M-Mus...ca?" I had lost my voice somewhere, my tongue twisted in my mouth as I uttered the word with difficulty.

"Muus... never mind."

He tried to pronounce my name, amused. I mentally slapped myself. How could you be so stupid? Musca Stuart, of all the situations, you forgot your name here?

A grin appeared on his face and I forgot to breathe. That damn dimple.

"Shall we?" Aliza asked, breaking the trance. I nodded and walked with her.

Aaliyan, the owner of the beautiful name, was walking in front of me. All I could see was his long legs, wide shoulders and back - get a grip girl, you're not a hormonal teen!

His phone rang. He took the call, brusquely said something, and cut the call immediately after. To those in the auditorium, he kept chirping orders into the phone about the arrangements and whatever.

I took my seat like everyone else and waited until the show began. I couldn't explain how I was feeling- like my heart had grown wings like it wanted to break this cage called ribs and fly to Aaliyan. Ugh, stop staring at him!

I looked around, hoping there would be someone like me intently watching him the way I was. Everyone was aware of the powerful presence of the man, but no one was as bothered as me. Why was I so bothered? Why did I feel like I was somehow connected to him? I didn't believe in soulmates, but at that moment my soul called out to him.

An emotion stirred up in me, it was like some burden was put on there. I grimaced when a sudden jolt of vexation went through my body. I felt disgusted. Why this feeling? I summoned all my courage to turn my gaze away from him and enjoy what I was there for.

I listened to the students present on stage, enjoying their speeches. Each speech was eloquent and beautifully delivered. Even the nervous ones changed their posture to such confidence I was surprised. I had a competition. All the competitors were so powerful and talented. I feared I would probably faint while going to the rostrum.

It was a mystery how I managed to wend my way up to the rostrum with confidence and dignity when my name was called. I mustered all my energy and grace into presenting on the topic, 'the importance of understanding niche marketing.' I was shaky and my heart virtually exploded by the time I was done. Backing away from the mic, I let out a heavy sigh.

People who had never bothered to even acknowledge me were clapping for me, and oh my! They were giving me a standing ovation!

We had an hour-long break after all the participants had given their speeches. I left the auditorium to purchase coffee for myself, then returned, settling in the fourth row with some of my classmates. From here, I had a perfect view of Aaliyan, seated on the first row of the right side.

He was silent the whole time, his fingers busily tapping away on his tablet and his eyes never leaving the screen. If some students came to him to talk, he nodded, chirping a word or two in reply and returned to his tablet. He seemed quite insolent and arrogant - and I didn't like arrogant people.

I leaned and tapped my classmate Aayat's shoulder. "Who's the man in the grey tux?"

Her light brown eyes flooded with astonishment. "You don't know him?"

"Well, no?" I shrugged.

"Aaliyan Haider, he is a top businessman, runs multiple companies, textiles, IT, electronics and whatnot." Her face was covered with a thin veil of dreaminess as she sighed.

I stifled the urge to roll my eyes at her. "I mean, why is he here?"

"To attend this event of course," she shrugged.

This time I stifled the urge to smack her face, hard. "I mean, is he a jud—"

She cut me off, waving her hand. "No, no... he is the chief guest, he is a very successful businessman and his research partners organized this event. He is here to help them. And well, he studies here."

"Here?" I only caught the interesting part.

"Yeah," she nodded and talked to her friends again. I didn't question her again. I didn't want to give her the thought that I was interested in Aaliyan Haider, because I wasn't.

Liar!

I then returned to my original seat when Uncle Mubashir entered the auditorium. He ignored me as if he had never seen my face before, and that made me furious. My eyes followed him as he went to the judges and where our honorable chief guest Aaliyan Haider was seated.

My eyes popped out of my sockets when Aaliyan Haider stood up and hugged Uncle. Uncle hugged him back with the same affection and enthusiasm. Uncle sat next to him mysteriously talked in low voices like childhood best friends.

Oh my God! When will life stop surprising me?

Finally, it was time for the announcement. Aaliyan came to the stage and stood behind the rostrum. He greeted everyone and then opened the envelope that contained results.

God, I'm so nervous!

He was going to announce results, as he was the chief guest and head organizer of this competition. Even though I wasn't excited about this competition, I wanted to win, and the thought of losing made me feel sick.

Aaliyan announced the name of the third position, a girl from the psychology department. My leg shook violently, I gripped it hard with both of my hands, but it wouldn't stop shaking. Glancing up to the stage I was shocked to find Aaliyan watching my actions with squinted eyes. I averted my gaze away, quickly wetting my dry lips.

Now only four students were remaining and I was sure it wasn't me. They were a hundred times better than me and I knew it. I had already failed.

"The second prize in the speech competition goes to..." He stopped abruptly. "May I?"

"Yes," everyone shouted.

"I can't hear you people." He put his right hand to his ear.

"Yes," everyone roared. I was getting irritated by the suspense. Say it already dammit!

"Okay okay, so the second prize goes to Miss... Musca Stuart."

No, it can't be, I thought. No, it's not you Musca, I told myself. Oh God, this is probably a dream.

I went to the stage to receive my award and gift. Saying 'thank you' to all the judges and shaking hands with the professors.

Uncle Mubashir was standing there, saying into the mic. "She is exactly like her mother; her mother was the topper of this university while she was here. She never failed to surprise us when we were younger."

"She was incredibly intelligent. There was nothing she couldn't do. Studies, sports, arts, literature - she was everywhere, taking possession of first prizes. I was so jealous of her. I had never seen a talented girl like her - until now. Today, I feel like I saw Sabira again."

He was talking so proudly of my mom, tears were rolling down my cheeks, and I was laughing and crying at the same time. Uncle Mubashir put his hand on my head to console me. As I cried for everything I had lost and for everything I was going to snatch back from life.