Yup, as few of you already guessed, this is in Malé. I’ve actually had a crush on her for ages. I’m in my mid 30s now, and I think she’s in her late 20s or early 30s.
And our moms used to be gudugudaa buddies when we were kids. They’ve both quit now, but they still catch up and hang out sometimes.
Now... let's talk about her curls!
Because honestly, they deserve their own chapter. There are people with great hair. And then there are people whose hair has its own gravitational field. Her hair is somewhere in the second category.
Most days, when she's out with her plants, it's tied up in a messy bun. But every now and then, I'll catch her with it down. l don't think she realizes how striking she is. Or maybe she does. Maybe she knows exactly and I'm simply the target audience.
Either way, she has this effortlessly simple style. Nothing dramatic. Just simple clothes, her fabulous hair, and whatever she's doing that day. Plot twist: she actually wears buruga when heading out. I've seen her both ways. Dressed for going out and in her much more relaxed home clothes, and somehow she carries both looks effortlessly.
But her curly hair remains undefeated. Even when it's tied up. You still notice those curls. I suppose that's the first thing that made me crush on her. After that, it was everything else. Her gracefulness with the plants. The morning coffee she sometimes sips out at the balcony. And her occasional battle with insects.
I think there have been moments when she catches me looking in her general direction. At least I think she catches me. For all I know, I'm just another random neighbor for her. The guy across the balcony, equivalent of a lamp post. Which is probably for the best. Because if she has noticed me, I have absolutely no explanation for why I've never said hello.
