Story of a young man from the land of River Sindhu, who always dreamt of receiving letters from the distant lands 

A story based on some true events

By Abdullah Usman Morai

In the quiet town of Moro, nestled along the banks of the River Indus in the Sindh province of Pakistan, lived a young man named Ayaan. With a curious mind and a heart open to the world, Ayaan found joy in small things, like receiving letters from distant lands. One day, through a pen-pal exchange, he began corresponding with a girl named Lucia from San Sebastian, a coastal city in Spain. What began as a simple exchange of pleasantries soon blossomed into a friendship that spanned continents.

Ayaan was fascinated by Lucia’s descriptions of San Sebastian’s golden beaches and rugged mountains. Through her letters, he felt as if he had walked along the crescent-shaped Concha Beach, heard the distant roar of the crowd from the bullfighting stadium, and stood atop Mount Igeldo gazing at the endless ocean. In return, he painted vivid pictures of the ancient wonders of Sindh—the mighty Indus River, the grand forts of Kot Diji and Ranikot, and the mysterious ruins of Mohenjo-Daro.

She was even familiar with the Sindhi Ajrak, a traditional block-printed shawl symbolizing Sindhi heritage, and the Sindhi Topi, an intricately embroidered cap worn with pride. She also knew about the Sindhi Rally, a cultural celebration showcasing Sindhi identity and traditions. Over the phone, she even attempted to sing “Hojamalo,” a historic Sindhi song that commemorates the bravery of Sindhi warriors. Their bond grew stronger with every letter, postcard, and photograph they exchanged.

Lucia was especially intrigued by the Sindhri mangoes Ayaan described. She marveled at how the summer markets of Sindh overflowed with the golden, juicy fruit. In her letters, she confessed how she longed to taste one. Ayaan, in turn, dreamt of the day he might stroll through the cobbled streets of San Sebastian with Lucia by his side, sharing laughter and stories under the Spanish sun.

As the months turned into years, their friendship deepened. They began calling each other occasionally, despite the time difference and their busy lives. Ayaan would sometimes step out of his university classes to hear Lucia’s warm voice, while Lucia, ever cheerful, would chat with him while getting her hair done or shopping for new shoes. They shared their dreams, their fears, and even the most mundane details of their lives. Lucia, the only child of her parents, found solace in Ayaan’s words. And Ayaan, while preparing tirelessly for a competitive job exam, found strength in her encouragement.

One day, during a routine call, Lucia’s voice trembled with an unusual fragility. After a long pause, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Ayaan felt a weight settle in his chest, an ache that words could not ease. Yet, he refused to let his sorrow show. Instead, he comforted her with jokes, stories, and reassurances that everything would be okay. Despite the miles between them, Ayaan became her pillar of strength, always lifting her spirits when the shadows of illness loomed too large.

Months slipped by, and the day arrived when Ayaan received the news he had been hoping for: he had passed his job exam. Bursting with excitement, he called Lucia to share the news. Her voice, weak but full of pride, congratulated him. She promised to send him a gift—a T-shirt from San Sebastian—to celebrate his success. Ayaan was touched by her kindness and felt an even deeper gratitude for their friendship.

A week later, on a chilly evening, Ayaan sat with his friends around a crackling wood fire, the warmth of the flames cutting through the cold air. As they sipped steaming cups of chai, his phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. Hesitantly, he answered. On the other end was an elderly couple speaking in broken, sorrowful English. It was Lucia’s parents. Their words fell like stones into his heart: Lucia had passed away.

The world around Ayaan seemed to blur as he stood up and walked into the night. The cold wind brushed against his face, but he hardly felt it. For fifteen long minutes, he stood beneath the vast sky, gazing at the stars. One star, brighter than the rest, seemed to twinkle with an unusual warmth. Softly, he whispered, “Goodbye, my friend. Maybe we shall meet again someday.”

A week later, two envelopes arrived. One held the official job offer letter he had worked so hard for. The other was a parcel from San Sebastian. With trembling hands, Ayaan opened the parcel to find a soft, neatly folded T-shirt and a letter from Lucia. In her familiar handwriting, she had written how proud she was of him and how she wished she could see him in his new job. Tears blurred his vision as he realized he could never thank her in person for the gift and her unwavering support.

Seventeen years passed, but the memory of Lucia never faded. Life had taken Ayaan to many places, but a part of his heart remained with that bright star in the sky. One spring, he finally fulfilled a long-cherished promise. He traveled to San Sebastian, the city he had only known through Lucia’s words and photographs.

Standing by her grave, he placed a bouquet of fresh flowers on the cold stone. The wind carried the scent of the sea, and the distant waves echoed the warmth of their friendship. “Thank you,” he whispered, “for the T-shirt, for the support, and for every smile you gave me.”

That night, as he strolled along Concha Beach, Ayaan tilted his head back and gazed at the heavens. There, twinkling brightly above, was the same star that had shone on that cold night in Moro. A smile crept across his face, and for a moment, he felt as though Lucia was smiling back. Beneath that starlit sky, he whispered once more, “Until we meet again, my friend.”