I S H A

I was busy distributing balloons and gifts to the children, trying to focus on their bright faces, but there was this constant feeling, like someone’s gaze was burning into me. I tried to shake it off, to ignore the strange sensation, but it lingered, refusing to fade.

Once I finished handing everything out, I straightened up, feeling a pull to look around. And that’s when my eyes landed on a man, his back turned to me. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, the sensation only growing stronger. It felt so strange, yet I couldn’t quite place why. I shook it off, dismissing it as nothing, when suddenly, I heard Midhat call my name.

She motioned me toward her, a glint of excitement in her voice as she told me, "Ishhh! Come here, meet the owner of the orphanage. Quickly now."

We had talked about him so many times, but every time, she would say he was anonymous— no one had ever seen him. A mystery. I had been eager to meet him, curious about the man who had quietly changed so many lives.

With a tender smile gracing my lips, I greeted softly, "Hello."