By Maham Asif

“FATHER, it’s Emily’s birthday today and I promised her that I’ll come half an hour earlier to help her. She’s my best friend and I can’t break my promise. And if I arrive late there’d be no cake left for me,” I pleaded with my father to let me go.

Father shook his head.

“SHE’S my best friend and I can’t break my promise and I can go to the dentist another day,” I tried again.

“It’ll only take you 15 minutes and you know Dr Wilder will be busy for the rest of the week as he has many other appointments,” he explained. I nodded realising that there was no point arguing with my father.

When I entered the waiting room of the clinic, I silently made my way to one of the empty grey couches and sat down. The crowd in the waiting area gradually thinned. I still had to wait 25 minutes for my turn. I texted Emily telling her that I won’t make it on time and told her the reason for this delay, my dentist appointment. I confirmed to her I’d be there in an hour. I asked her if the preparations were done, had the molten lava cake been delivered and had she hang the piñata. As I waited for her reply, I observed a man sitting parallel to me staring at me. He wore a blue button down shirt, faded jeans and sat as still as still as a stone statue, but what was even more peculiar about him was that he wore black sun glasses.

I observed him for a few seconds but turned towards my phone as it buzzed indicating the arrival of a text. I could feel the intense stare of the man burning holes in my skin. I informed Emily about the queer man. She advised me to stare back at the man, make eye contact with him and he’d eventually look away. I did as I was told, trying my best, however, when Emily texted me after a minute or two, nothing much had changed except for my growing anxiety and nervousness. Shortly afterwards, Emily wrote goodbye as the guests had started to arrive at her place.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. The man still stared at me with a blank expression on his face. I grew more restless with every passing second, I saw a nurse walking towards my direction. Assuming it was time to go to the dentist I stood up, but the nurse just smiled at me and handed a wooden stick to the same man. The man mumbled a quick “Thank you” as the nurse turned around towards the counter.

Perplexed I darted after the nurse and asked her if the man was mentally or physically disable or both. Shaking her head slightly she told me that the poor soul was blind. I glanced towards the man and stared at him as if I was seeing him for the first time. Silently, I headed to my seat and texted Emily, “I just had the most embarrassing moment of my life.”