Last night was one of those nights when sleep refused to stay with me.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t sleep properly. My body rested, but my mind never did. Every thought seemed to find its way back to one person—my Pappa.
Somewhere between being awake and asleep, I had a beautiful dream.
We were riding together on my bike, with the wind brushing past us as we traveled without any destination in mind. It wasn’t a long dream, but it was enough to leave me smiling after I woke up.
Maybe that’s what happens when you miss someone so much—they quietly find a way into your dreams.
I woke up around 6:50 a.m. here in Dubai. Back home in India, it was around 8:20 a.m., which meant my Pappa would soon be leaving for work.
I rushed to get ready as quickly as I could because I wanted to call her before she reached the office.
The moment she answered the video call, my sleepy eyes forgot they were tired.
Her smile…
It was so bright that, for a moment, it felt like it could compete with the morning sun.
We spoke throughout her journey to work, laughing about random things, teasing each other, and talking about our day ahead. Somewhere during the conversation, I told her how much I had missed her.
Distance has a strange way of making even ordinary conversations feel precious.
After she reached the office, we ended the call.
A little later, I called my grandpa. We spoke for a while, catching up on how things were back home, before I got ready for the day.
After taking a bath, I headed downstairs for breakfast.
Today’s breakfast was simple—a few slices of fresh watermelon and a chilled laban drink.
Sometimes, simple meals are all you need.
With breakfast done, it was time to begin work.
But honestly…
A part of me was simply waiting for lunchtime.
Not because I was hungry.
Because I knew my Pappa would call after finishing her lunch.
The moment her name appeared on my phone, I couldn’t hide my excitement. I quickly walked to a quiet corner of the hotel where no one was around, just so we could talk without interruptions.
We laughed about the silliest things.
Those conversations may not seem important to anyone else, but to me, they mean everything.
Seeing even the smallest smile on her face somehow makes my entire day brighter.
Time, as always, moved faster than I wanted.
We ended the call, though a part of me wished we could keep talking just a little longer.
Afterward, lunch arrived, and my teammates and I sat down to eat before getting back to work.
The lack of proper sleep from the previous night was finally catching up with me.
Feeling exhausted, I decided to take a short nap.
I didn’t sleep for long because I didn’t want to miss talking to my Pappa after she finished work.
I was genuinely looking forward to that call.
When I called her, she said she would call me back after reaching the next stop.
For a brief moment, I felt a little disappointed.
But then I thought about it.
Maybe one of her colleagues was nearby, and she simply couldn’t talk freely.
Not every moment belongs to us.
Sometimes, caring for someone also means respecting their space without asking unnecessary questions.
So I waited.
A little while later, my phone rang.
It was her.
The moment I answered, it felt as though the waiting had been worth it. We slipped right back into our usual conversations, laughing over random topics that only made sense to the two of us.
Those little moments of happiness are often the biggest part of my day.
Eventually, she reached close to home, where her brother came to pick her up.
We wished each other goodbye and ended the call.
Later that evening, I waited for her usual messages.
Normally, she asks whether I’ve had dinner, tells me to eat properly, and we chat for a little while before saying good night.
But today was different.
She simply sent me a “Good night.”
It felt… unusual.
I asked her if everything was alright.
She replied that everything was fine.
Even though her words reassured me, a small part of my heart still wondered if something was bothering her.
Maybe I was just overthinking.
Or maybe that’s what love does—it notices even the smallest changes.
After that, I joined my teammates for dinner. We ate together, chatted for a while, and then returned to the hotel.
Now, as I finish writing today’s diary, my room has become quiet once again.
Tomorrow will bring another sunrise, another busy day, and hopefully another chance to see her smile.
For now, I’ll close my eyes carrying only one wish in my heart.
I hope my Pappa is doing well.
I hope she sleeps peacefully.
And I hope tomorrow brings another beautiful conversation between us.
Good night.