"The Beauty Within"

The Beauty Within

Inaya stood before the mirror, brushing her long, dark hair, her wide eyes scanning her reflection. She sighed softly. Her beauty was subtle—hidden, she thought—but Ayla never missed a chance to remind her of her supposed inadequacies.

"Inaya, you're going to wear that again? No wonder no one notices you," Ayla said, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she sauntered into the room. Ayla, with her striking features and confident demeanor, was always the center of attention. But her beauty was often overshadowed by her sharp tongue and lack of grace.

Inaya turned to her sister, her voice calm. "Ayla, beauty isn't just about what people see. It's also about how you treat others."

Ayla rolled her eyes. "Well, good luck with that, Miss Perfect." She walked off, leaving Inaya alone.

That day, as Inaya walked to the library, clutching her favorite book, she felt a sudden jolt as someone bumped into her. Her books tumbled to the ground.

"Oh, I’m so sorry!" a deep voice said. She looked up to see a tall, handsome man with soft brown eyes and a kind smile. He bent down to pick up her books, his fingers brushing hers.

“It’s alright,” she replied softly, her cheeks warming under his gaze.

"I’m Basil," he said, handing her the book. "And I think I owe you a new copy of this. The spine looks bent now."

Inaya shook her head quickly. "No, really, it’s fine. Thank you, Basil."

He smiled, his heart fluttering at her shy demeanor. “If you say so, but maybe you’ll let me treat you to coffee as an apology?”

Inaya hesitated, her heart racing. "I—I don’t even know you."

"Then let’s fix that," he said with a charming grin.

Over the next few days, Basil found himself thinking about her. Her soft voice, her kind eyes—they lingered in his mind. Unable to resist, he asked around and discovered where she lived. He rented a house nearby, not to intrude but to be close enough to admire her.

From his window, he saw her watering the plants, her hair glowing in the sunlight. He didn’t realize Ayla was watching him watch Inaya.

Ayla noticed his attention and decided she wanted it for herself. She approached him boldly one afternoon. “So, Basil, why are you always staring at my house?” she teased, flipping her hair.

Basil smiled politely. "I’m just admiring the beauty."

Ayla preened, assuming the comment was about her. But Basil’s eyes drifted toward Inaya, who was walking toward the garden.

Later that evening, Basil finally approached Inaya. She was sitting on a bench, reading.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he said, sitting beside her.

Inaya looked up, startled. “Basil? What are you doing here?”

“Would you believe me if I said fate brought me here?”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “I think you mean coincidence.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Maybe. Or maybe I just couldn’t stay away from the most enchanting woman I’ve ever met.”

Her cheeks turned crimson. “I… I think you might be mistaken.”

Basil chuckled, his eyes locked on hers. “I’m never mistaken when it comes to recognizing beauty, Inaya. And trust me, I’m looking right at it.”

She tried to hide her smile, her heart fluttering at his words. "You’re very charming, Basil."

"And you’re very humble. But tell me, why don’t you see what I see when I look at you?"

She looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “Because… I’ve never thought of myself as beautiful.”

Basil’s expression softened. “Inaya, beauty isn’t just in the face; it’s in the way you speak, the kindness in your heart, and the grace in your actions. You have all of that and more.”

Their connection deepened as they spent more time together. Ayla’s attempts to win Basil’s attention only made him admire Inaya’s humility and charm even more.

One evening, under the stars, Basil finally confessed his feelings. “Inaya, I’ve been falling for you since the day we met. You’ve shown me a kind of beauty that’s rare in this world. Will you give me the honor of being by your side?”

Inaya, blushing furiously, managed a shy smile. “You already are, Basil.”

He grinned and teased, “Well, then, does that mean I can keep calling you ‘my enchantress,’ or should I think of a new nickname?”

She laughed, her eyes sparkling. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re irresistible,” he replied with a wink.

They shared a laugh, their bond growing stronger. Ayla, though initially upset, eventually found someone who matched her energy and left them in peace.

Basil had been planning to formally meet Inaya’s family for weeks. Although he was confident in his feelings for her, the thought of facing Ayla, her sharp-tongued sister, and the rest of her family was intimidating.

One Sunday afternoon, Inaya invited him for tea. He arrived at their house wearing his best suit, clutching a box of pastries he had specially ordered. The moment he stepped inside, he was met by Ayla’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Well, well,” Ayla said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall. “So, you’re the reason Inaya’s been glowing like a lightbulb these days?”

Inaya flushed and shot Ayla a look. “Ayla, stop it.”

Basil, unbothered, grinned. “If she’s glowing, I must be doing something right, huh?”

Ayla raised an eyebrow, smirking. “You’ve got confidence, I’ll give you that. But confidence won’t save you from Mom and Dad’s interrogation.”

At that moment, Inaya’s parents entered the room. Her mother, a kind-looking woman with a warm smile, was followed by her father, who had an intimidating presence but kind eyes.

Basil straightened up, extending the box of pastries. “Mr. and Mrs. Khan, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I brought these for you. Hopefully, they’re as sweet as your hospitality.”

Inaya’s mother chuckled, taking the box. “Oh, he’s charming. Thank you, Basil. Please, sit down.”

As Basil sat on the couch, Ayla joined him, smirking mischievously. “So, Basil, what do you do? Besides staring at Inaya from your window?”

Inaya groaned. “Ayla, please!”

Basil laughed, undeterred. “I run a tech company. But to be fair, staring at Inaya does feel like a full-time job. She’s very distracting, you know.”

Inaya’s father raised an eyebrow, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Tech, huh? Impressive. But tell me, Basil, are you the type to keep promises?”

“Absolutely, sir,” Basil replied confidently. “For example, I promise never to take the last samosa at family gatherings. It’s a sacred rule, and I wouldn’t dream of breaking it.”

Inaya’s mother burst into laughter. “Oh, I like him already!”

The conversation flowed easily after that. Basil’s humor and wit won over Inaya’s parents, and even Ayla, though she tried to hide it, found herself smiling at his jokes.

At one point, Inaya’s father leaned forward. “So, Basil, you seem like a clever young man. But what’s your biggest weakness?”

Basil glanced at Inaya, his eyes twinkling. “Her,” he said simply, pointing at her. “She’s my weakness. Every time I see her smile, I forget what I was supposed to say or do. It’s both wonderful and terrifying.”

Inaya’s face turned crimson as her mother clapped her hands together. “Oh, isn’t he sweet?”

Ayla snorted. “Sweet, sure. But let’s see if he survives the ultimate test—Mom’s biryani. It’s so spicy it could set off fire alarms.”

Basil grinned. “Bring it on. I’ve faced boardroom battles; I think I can handle biryani.”

When the biryani was served, Basil took a bite, and his eyes immediately watered. “Wow, this is... incredible,” he choked out, reaching for water as everyone laughed.

By the end of the evening, Inaya’s family had fully warmed up to Basil. As he was leaving, Inaya’s father patted him on the back. “You’re a good man, Basil. Take care of my daughter.”

Basil nodded, a serious expression on his face. “I will, sir. And if I don’t, feel free to send Ayla after me. I’m sure she’ll keep me in line.”

Ayla smirked. “Oh, I will.”

As Basil and Inaya walked to the door, he leaned down and whispered, “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Inaya smiled. “You charmed everyone. Even Ayla, and that’s not easy.”

He winked. “What can I say? I’m irresistible. But not as much as you are, enchantress.”

Inaya rolled her eyes, her cheeks pink. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, you adore me,” he teased, taking her hand.

The family watched from the doorway, laughing as Basil stole one last glance at Inaya before leaving. They knew he was the perfect fit for their polite, kind-hearted girl, even if he did love to make her blush.

Inaya and Basil’s love blossomed, proving that true beauty lies in the heart. Basil’s playful flirting never stopped, and Inaya’s blushes became his favorite sight. Together, they created a love story that was as deep as it was beautiful.