EYES THAT DON'T TELL LIE

“Where are you from?” asked Rina, breaking the steady hum of the bus as it wound through the hills.

“America,” John replied, looking out the window before turning back to her with a polite smile.

“What made you visit Nepal?”

“This is actually my second time here,” he said. “I came back this time because... well, I’m free.”

“Free?” Rina arched an eyebrow.

“I left my IT job a few months ago. It was getting boring, so I just walked away.” He paused, turning the question back on her. “And what brings you to Pokhara?”

“A field visit for work,” she said.

John smiled knowingly. “Not entirely.”

“Just work,” she insisted softly.

“Then why are you in this line of work?”

“Because I love to travel,” she confessed, her eyes lighting up for a brief moment.

Silence settled between them again, comfortable and quiet. A few minutes later, an elderly woman boarded the crowded bus. Without hesitation, John stood up and offered her his seat. Rina watched him, noting the quiet gentleness in his gesture.

Unspoken Words

After a grueling journey, Rina finally arrived at her home in Kalanki. Exhausted, she collapsed onto her bed, but sleep wouldn't come. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the stranger from the bus. She realized with a pang of regret that she had forgotten to ask for his name or phone number. All she knew was that he was from New York.

Driven by a restless impulse, she opened her laptop and typed vague searches into Google, looking for American travelers in Nepal. She knew it was a hopeless search, yet she couldn't stop herself. Guilt and frustration washed over her—guilt for being so hesitant, and frustration that their entire encounter had lasted no more than five minutes. It felt as though a rare door had opened, only for her to let it slam shut.

Two days later, back at her office, her colleagues gathered around her desk asking about the trip. As she recounted her field work, she casually mentioned the five-minute encounter with the foreigner. Her friends immediately teased her, reading right through her attempt to sound indifferent. The truth was, Rina had fallen for him the moment their eyes met on that bus—even if she had no idea where this path would lead.

A Second Chance in Dhankuta

A month passed. Rina found herself on another field assignment, this time in the quiet, misty town of Dhankuta. Early one morning, wrapped in a light shawl, she sat at a small local teahouse, sipping a warm cup of tea and taking in the crisp mountain air.

Then, her heart skipped a beat.

Sitting just a few feet away, quietly sipping coffee, was the man from the bus. Taking a deep, trembling breath, she walked over to his table.

“Hi,” she said softly.

He looked up, surprised. “Hi.”

“Can I join you?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Rina sat down, her heart racing. “We’ve met before, remember?”

John squinted slightly, searching his memory, but his expression remained blank. “I’m sorry... I don’t think I remember.”

A cold heavy weight settled in Rina’s chest. Trying to keep her voice steady, she offered a small, forgiving smile. “That’s okay. We met on the bus coming back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. We only talked for about five minutes.”

John’s face softened with remorse. “Oh... I am extremely sorry, but I really don’t recall. Please don’t mind.”

“It’s fine, really. I don’t mind,” she said lied softly, swallowing the disappointment that stung her throat.

Before they could say anything more, a young woman walked up to their table and pulled out a chair. “Sorry I’m late, babe,” she said affectionately, turning to John before ordering breakfast for the two of them.

Rina felt an overwhelming wave of discomfort. Feeling like an intruder, she quickly gathered her things and stood up. “Okay then. Bye. See you around.”

John offered a polite smile. As Rina reached the doorway, she couldn't help but look back one last time. They were sitting close, talking and laughing together.

Unfolding Days

The next morning, fate brought them to the same breakfast table once again. Trying to keep things natural, Rina asked, “How was your day yesterday?”

“It was good,” John replied warmly. He extended a hand. “I don’t think I caught your name yesterday. I’m John Sheldon.”

“Rina Shrestha,” she replied, shaking his hand. “What brought you to Dhankuta?”

“This time, I’m traveling with my girlfriend,” John explained with a smile. “We’re actually getting married next month. What about you?”

“Field visit again. I’m here for two weeks.”

“So are we!” John said, his eyes lighting up. “To be honest, I’m completely new to this area. Do you think you could show us around?”

“Sure,” Rina agreed, masking her aching heart with a warm smile.

Over the next fortnight, the three of them explored Dhankuta together. Rina cherished every moment spent by John's side, though she took extreme care to bury her feelings deep inside, constantly reminding herself that he belonged to someone else.

Whispers under the Stars

Eventually, the final days of the trip arrived. On their second-to-last evening, Rina and John sat on the quiet balcony of the guesthouse, sipping coffee as the sun dipped behind the hills.

John broke the long silence. “Can I ask you a personal question, Rina?”

“Sure.”

“Do you have a boyfriend? Have you ever been in love?”

Rina froze. She looked down at her coffee cup, unsure of how to answer.

“Hey, I’m sorry,” John said quickly, noticing her discomfort. “I shouldn't have asked.”

“No, it’s fine,” Rina said, giving him a quick, practiced smile. “To tell you the truth, no one has ever proposed to me, and I’ve never really loved anyone.”

John leaned forward, studying her eyes closely. “Are you lying to me?”

“No! Why would I lie?”

“Because of that fake smile,” he said gently.

“Seriously, John, I’m not in love with anyone.”

Silence descended upon them once more. When their eyes met this time, neither looked away.

“Do you love your girlfriend?” Rina asked suddenly, the question slipping out before she could stop it.

John blinked, taken aback. “What kind of question is that?”

“Most of the time... I feel like you don’t really love her,” Rina said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “It feels like your heart is somewhere else.”

“Really? What makes you say that?”

“Your eyes,” she whispered. “They tell a different story.”

John paused, a bittersweet smile touching his lips. “I really do love her, Rina.”

Before she could respond, his girlfriend appeared at the glass door, calling his name. John stood up, gave Rina a quiet look, and walked away into the night.

Unspoken Truths

The following day was their last in Dhankuta. As Rina folded her clothes into her suitcase, her mind was entirely consumed by John. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she replayed every shared laugh and silent glance from the past two weeks.

In the adjacent room, John sat on the edge of his bed, staring blindly at the wall. Unbeknownst to Rina, tears were falling from his eyes as well. He had fallen deeply in love with her, but the weight of his commitment trapped him in agonizing silence. Stepping out onto the terrace, he looked up at the evening stars, filled with regret over time that could never be reclaimed.

The Revelation

The next morning, the courtyard was quiet as they gathered with their luggage, waiting for transport. John and Rina stood a short distance apart, looking at each other in poignant silence, unable to bridge the painful distance between them.

Jenny walked out to join them, carrying her own bags. She looked between the two of them and offered a gentle smile. “Hey guys, what’s up? What happened?”

“Nothing,” John said, forcing a calm tone.

“I know you’re lying, John,” Jenny said softly.

“No, really, I’m—”

Jenny reached into her bag and pulled out a small leather-bound notebook, holding it up. John froze, his face turning pale. “Where did you get my diary?”

“Where I found it doesn't matter,” Jenny said, her voice steady but laced with emotion. “What matters is what you wrote inside it.”

She looked at him with profound sadness and gentleness. “You don’t love me the way a man should love the woman he’s about to marry. You love Rina. You lied to her about not remembering the bus ride from Pokhara because you were confused—you didn't know if what you felt was just a fleeting distraction or something real. But coming here and spending these two weeks with her made you realize the truth.”

Tears began to trace down Rina’s cheeks as she listened in disbelief.

“You wanted to tell her,” Jenny continued, turning to John. “But you held back because of me. You didn't want to break my heart after everything we’ve been through together. I appreciate your loyalty, John, but you can’t build a marriage on obligation.”

“Jenny...” John choked out, stepping toward her. “How could I do that to you? Think about yourself—”

“I am thinking about myself,” Jenny interrupted gently, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “And I’m thinking about you. Rina is your true love, John. You two belong together, and I want you to be happy. I’m just glad I got to have you as a true friend. We can still be friends, right?”

Overwhelmed, Rina stepped forward and pulled Jenny into a tight, tearful embrace. John joined them, holding them both as the weight of the past weeks washed away.

Jenny pulled back with a bright, tearful smile and looked at John. “Well? Propose to her properly.”

John turned to Rina. Taking a deep breath, he knelt down on one knee on the gravel path.

“I lied to you about Pokhara because I was scared,” John said, looking directly into her eyes. “I remembered every single second of those five minutes. I love you, Rina—truly, with all my heart. Will you be my life partner forever?”

Rina wiped away her tears and smiled brightly. “Yes!”

He stood up and pulled her into his arms. For a long moment, the world around them vanished. When they finally parted and looked around the courtyard, Jenny and her luggage were gone. She had slipped away quietly into the morning light, leaving them to begin their journey together.