David met Sheena in London. It was their mutual thirst for travelling round the globe that had brought them together. They had bumped into each other in a coffee shop. Not finding any place to sit, Sheena had asked him if she could share his table. He had shaken his head rather non-chalantly. And as one thing had led to the other, both of them realised that they shared the same passion – exploring the world.

Now while Sheena was from India, David had come all the way from Berlin. Both had read a lot about each other’s countries and were curious to learn more. And since their purpose was the same, they decided to go around together, which would in turn reduce expenses for both.

Sheena was neither beautiful nor extraordinary. Nothing would make her stand out in a crowd – she was dusky with very regular features. Having lost her father at a young age, she had learned about taking up responsibilities at an early age. As she grew older, she imparted a sort of joy to whomever she met. She was not beautiful, but she made others feel beautiful about themselves.

Sheena was a student of history so she taught David a lot about the places they went to. They became fast friends and she fell fast in love with her rugged handsome partner, much to her own amazement.

Sheena had to return to India for a short time as her mum was unwell. David went to see her off. While he was cheerful, Sheena felt she was leaving a part of herself behind. David was on his own and guess what he did? He fell in love with a beautiful British girl Amy. Amy was stunning with eyes the bluest blue.

“She looks like an angel,” he told Sheena when she returned and Sheena swallowed the news as a lump at her throat. As long as he was happy, she would be happy, or so she tried to. She helped him write the most beautiful letters to his Amy, visioning it was she receiving those very letters. She helped him choose the right clothes, say the right words, and buy the right gifts for his angel.

Sheena cried but that never stopped her from giving more. Then one day, David’s angel left him for a richer man. David was so hurt and shocked, he did not speak for days. Sheena helped him come to terms with it. He cried on her shoulder and she cried with him.

In a few weeks, David’s wounds healed and he realized something about Sheena that he had never thought of before – her smiles brightened up his darkest days and somehow she looked stunning to him! It was wonderful to have her around – she made his days meaningful.

His plain Jane Sheena was beautiful to him. And he began to fall in love with this beautiful girl. They did everything together – shopping, going to the libraries, museums (though he didn’t like the second place much). All of a sudden life was beautiful. By this time they were in New York where Sheena had her brother. He was a cool chap and David took a liking to him. They went round the city together and anyone who saw them was sure that they had been friends for long and not just a few weeks.

It was a bright morning and Sheena had gone to the World Trade Center where her brother had his office. She had to give him something as it was his birthday. He was with Microsoft. David was supposed to join them in a while.

David decided to propose to her in front of her brother. He picked up all his courage to finally tell it to her. He walked to the World Trade Center, nervous, and fidgeting. He was still a few minutes away from the building when he heard the sound of aeroplanes above him. This was a little weird as the airport was nowhere near the vicinity and planes never flew this low.

Before he could realise what was happening, he saw not one but two airplanes zooming and crashing into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

David had never felt so helpless before. He fell to the ground, conscious and unconscious at the same time. He could see it all, but nothing was registering. He was just not getting it that everyone on board and many more working in the buildings had been killed. He stared at the buildings that collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. All this while he stared and he could see only one thing – Sheena’s smiling face.

After hours, David started crying, but it was too late. His beautiful girl, his princess was buried under the rubbles. It started raining – it was as if the heavens too had broken down. Sympathizing with him and crying at his loss.

He could not tell her how much he loved her. But deep within him, he felt as if she knew, as if she knew all along that one day he would fall head over heels in love with her.

She was the most beautiful girl in the world and she had taught him the meaning of love and what it was to be loved.