This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Characters:
Mylo
Laila
Pluto
Setting:
iota island in the 1960s
Story Name:
The Coincidence of Mylo & Laila – Mylo’s Version
Story:
Oct 1960 – The Coincidence of Mylo & Laila – The Start
Mylo was exploring in his hometown Iota, and he saw a girl sitting next to Pluto. The girl looked pretty, and Mylo thought she would make someone happy someday. He heard someone calling her from far away by the name Laila.
On the next day, Mylo decided to write a letter and deliver it to Laila’s address, which according to Pluto, was on the other part of the island. As soon as they arrived, Laila was sitting on her balcony drawing. As soon as she went inside, Mylo threw the letter and ran away.
Mylo waited for a letter back, but he received nothing. Mylo was wondering what happened to his letter. Maybe the letter was read by Laila, and Laila showed it to a friend, and they both laughed. Or perhaps it was gone missing, and Laila did not get to read it yet. Or maybe Laila had a boyfriend already, and they found the letter weird/inappropriate.
After a couple of months, Mylo thought maybe Laila did not find his letter worthy of a reply. So, Mylo decided not to send another letter because he did not want to ruin anything before it started. Mylo was hoping for a coincidence to see Laila again, and then he would talk to her in person.
Aug 1961 – The Build Up
After almost a year from the letter, Mylo was with his Mafia, and while he was walking with a Mafia member, he saw Pluto strolling next to Laila. Mylo was surprised, and he did absolutely nothing. He continued the day with his Mafia and wondered if that pleasure he felt was for just seeing Laila from a couple of meters away.
Nov 1961 – Third Time’s a Charm
A couple of months passed, and while Mylo was swimming in the lake, he saw Laila walking around alone. But Mylo could not ruin his rituals, so he had to stay in the lake till it was time to go out. After an hour or so, Laila appeared again, walking around the lake, this time with Pluto.
When it was time for Mylo to get out of the lake, no one was around. Mylo did some stretches, and on his way back, he saw Laila again by herself. She looked lost. As if she did not know where she was going. Mylo continued on his way and thought all these collisions with his eyes today should mean something. You do not see someone you don’t know who lives far away three times in the same day. Everything happens for a reason, no?
Suddenly, Mylo thought he had to turn back and walk to find Laila again. But this time, he had to talk to her. What Mylo was going to say was always what troubled Mylo. He usually knows what he should have said after the girl is gone. Mylo thought he could talk to her about a project he was doing and that he would need her help. As to interview her, and ask her a couple of questions.
When Mylo finally found Laila again, she was no longer alone. She was again with Pluto. So, Mylo didn’t know what he should do now. Now, all his plans have to change. Mylo stood frozen till Pluto barked a friendly bark: Mylo, is that you? I was thinking; this face looked familiar.
Pluto greeted Mylo with a handshake, and they talked till Pluto introduced Laila & Mylo. Laila was possibly expecting a handshake from Mylo, but he didn’t go for it. Instead, he preferred to say hi and keep talking without any physical contact. Mylo chatted with Laila, and gladly someone joined & kept Pluto busy.
Mylo found out that Laila was an artist, and she didn’t mind working out; she just wanted company and someone to motivate her. Mylo & Laila continued their conversation while walking to a place where Laila offered to buy Mylo a drink, but Mylo thanked her & said he had to go to have dinner. Mylo was late for dinner; because he was having a hard time leaving Laila & Pluto.
On his way to dinner, Mylo thought of how wrong everyone had been that a girl like Laila would be arrogant; and so hard to talk to. Laila was the opposite; she was down to earth, kind, and extremely friendly. A girl with Laila’s beauty inside and out would be the crush of whoever meets her. Mylo thought if she was single, she was not staying single for too long.
As soon as Mylo arrived at dinner with his Mafia, everyone told him: you look so happy today! Mylo replied I’m always smiling. Mylo knew it was Laila’s effect, and he was already thinking of when can he see her again. Mylo had no idea when. He did not ask her out again or anything; because Pluto was always a couple of steps away, and he didn’t want to look so crazy about the girl from the first meeting.
Mylo was hoping for another coincidence around the lake. Yet, Mylo couldn’t wait. So, he visited Laila’s house the following night and left her a note that said, “I guess we are friends now, right?”
On the next day, when Mylo visited Laila’s, he found his note had a message on the back saying, “Right.” The letter was in the exact place Mylo stated for Laila to leave it in. Mylo took this one-word answer as a sign of acceptance, and he was pleased.
To show his gratitude, he wanted to make everyone he saw on that day as happy as he was. So, Mylo surprised everyone who came in his way with something that would make them happy, and Mylo couldn’t stop smiling. Maybe he looked a little crazy; no one could tell.
On the weekend, Mylo saw Pluto again, and he talked to Pluto about Laila if she has a boyfriend or not in an indirect way. Pluto’s words indicated Laila had no one in her life right now. Also, Pluto mentioned that Laila was on her way. So, Mylo excused himself, went to work on his routine, and said he was coming back. As soon as Mylo finished, and returned Laila was already there sitting with Pluto and a group of people.
Surprisingly, Laila looked like she couldn’t fit in. Mylo sat next to Laila at the very end of the table and gave no one attention but Laila. Mylo talked to Laila about her passion and her creative hidden side. Laila did not show even her best of friends her talent, and when Lila showed Mylo a piece of art. Mylo did not think this was something human-created. Mylo thought it was digital, and he asked Laila to show him how she imitated the thing. Laila smiled and told Mylo this is what she drew. Mylo looked surprised and said WOW.
Mylo told Laila this was AMAZING! You are talented. Show it to anyone, and they will say this is outstanding. The only thing Mylo thought would make a difference to Laila’s drawings was a signature at the bottom. In Mylo’s opinion, Laila’s work did not differ from any artist whose paintings sold for hundreds or thousands or even millions. Art is art, and Laila herself was art. Can you imagine art creating art?
On the first chance, Mylo got to walk with Laila, only the two of them he told her, “I admire you.” Laila’s face turned a little red, and she shyly replied, “This is fast.” Mylo told her, “I thought you should know. So, now you know.” Laila replied, “I think we can be friends.”
Then, Laila & Mylo were again with the group, and nothing worth mentioning happened. Until after the sunset, when Mylo & Laila were excused and went in different ways & when they both returned, Mylo told Laila that he knew where she was, indicating that he knew her, but Laila hinted that Mylo was wrong. Later, when they walked to bring something for Pluto, Mylo asked Laila if she would fancy breakfast or a picnic sometime with Mylo around the lake, but Laila didn’t show any interest in any of these plans.
Mylo did not see Laila till another weekend, and when he met her coincidently, she acted like she was doing something, said hi and literally ran away!
Mylo was disappointed. On that day, when he met his Mafia at dinner, everyone noticed he looked sad, and even one of the Mafia members told him, “Did someone break your heart?” and Mylo replied confidently, “No one can.”
Dec 1961 – The Getaway
During the following weeks, Mylo did not see Laila at all. All the plans Mylo had in his mind for the two of them vanished, and he suddenly wanted to celebrate New Year’s Eve, an occasion he usually spends every year alone in his bed. Mylo believed when he was first introduced to Laila that this New Year’s Eve: was going to be memorable for the two of them. He planned to go to the neighbouring island. But since Laila ran away from Mylo on their last meeting, he decided to go alone anyway, and maybe there he will meet someone special.
On the neighbouring island, Mylo met a couple of girls, but Mylo couldn’t stop thinking of Laila. Secretly, Mylo wished Laila was there. So, Mylo couldn’t flirt with anyone; and all he could do was treat any girl he met kindly as a friend. Frankly, all the girls Mylo met didn’t find him interesting; or at least they did not show any of it if it was there.
On New Year’s Eve, while the party was ongoing, Mylo only had one thing in mind what if he wrote a letter for Laila. Mylo had a couple of things in mind to write; one of them was,
“Last year, I slept and woke up in a new year. This year I am thinking of you, and when the clock ticks a new year, I will still be thinking of you; that means that I’ve been thinking of you for a couple of years now. I hope you’re thinking of me too. I wish we were together now.”
No, Mylo could not leave the neighbouring island and go back to throw a letter he knew would mean nothing to Laila. Mylo knew that for him; the thought itself counts, and he wished that secretly Laila thought of him too.
1962 to 1963 – The Coincidence of Mylo & Laila continues – Island Life
As soon as Mylo returned to the island after the new year; he intended to write to Laila,
“Haven’t seen you since last year! Missing you so much, wanna be the first one to take you out this year for lunch/dinner; what about pizza? I have a place in mind; give me a sign & let’s talk about it.”
Mylo delivered the letter to Laila, but Laila never gave any sign.
After a couple of days, Mylo knew that he should burn the proposal letter he prepared as soon as possible. A letter he wrote especially for Laila; a letter inspired by a book he was reading. The first time he saw this letter in the book, he couldn’t think of anyone but Laila.
The letter was secretly with Mylo every day, and Mylo was too lazy to burn it. Will Mylo ever get rid of it? To be continued. Or not.
Later, whenever Mylo & Laila met around the island, they talked casually and even spent time together. No in advance plans were between Mylo & Laila. They were friends whenever a coincidence put them together.
Moral of the coincidence short story:
Beautiful people on the outside can be even more beautiful from the inside.
You can still be friends with someone you thought you loved. (Not best friends but human friends)
The way we end things says more about who we are than how we begin. Beggings are luck and heavenly alignment. Endings are about choices we make throughout our lives and for which we are responsible.
Go to our Previous Short Story:
Love in the Time of Corona — Modern Life is Rubbish
Credits & useful links:
Story name is inspired by the book The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden
Books links of goodreads.
