Sanjukta Das is an author, educator, Art of Living teacher, life coach, and social entrepreneur passionate about inspiring personal growth and positive change. Through education, storytelling, and community service, she empowers people to discover their potential and lead more meaningful lives. She is the author of two books of poetry—‘My Twirls: The Said and the Unsaid’ and ‘The Trivial and the Perfect’.
The University of Toronto’s St. George Campus stood timeless, its ivy-draped walls and Gothic spires whispering stories of years gone by. Among these enduring echoes of history, Angelo and Jim found themselves back where it all began – forty years after life had first entwined their fates.
Picture by Sanjukta Das for The News Dare
As students, Jim and Angelo were inseparable, two high school buddies who made it to university together, their days consumed by soccer and late-night study sessions. Romance had seemed an elusive dream, secondary to the relentless rhythm of their youthful ambitions. But one afternoon, the Victoria College Quad – quiet and serene – wove a thread of destiny into Angelo’s life.
Walking through the peaceful courtyard, his cleats slung casually over his shoulder, Angelo noticed a girl crouched by a bench, her face a blend of worry and focus. Drawn by an innate chivalry, he approached her.
“Can I help?” he offered, his voice steady and warm.
The girl looked up, her eyes the color of a summer sky. “I lost an earring. It’s very dear to me – my grandmother gave it to me when I got into university.”
With a determination fueled by something he couldn’t quite name, Angelo crouched beside her, carefully moving the wooden bench.
Between the ivy-covered walls and the worn stone floor, he spotted the delicate glint of gold. “Found it,” he said, handing her the treasure as though it were the world’s most precious gem.
Picture by Sanjukta Das for The News Dare
Relief and gratitude lit her face. “Thank you so much! I owe you a coffee. When can we meet?”
“Now,” Angelo replied impulsively, captivated by her luminous smile.
“I wish I could,” she said with a soft laugh, “but I have class. What about 5 p.m.? Right here?”
“Perfect,” Angelo agreed, forgetting entirely about his soccer practice that evening.
As he walked away, he knew he’d have to explain to Jim why he’d missed their match. But for now, his thoughts lingered on Kathy – the girl with the ocean-blue eyes who had unknowingly stolen his heart.
The weeks that followed were a blur of coffee dates and stolen moments. Angelo found himself skipping practices, his passion for soccer eclipsed by his growing affection for Kathy. The depth of her laughter, the way her eyes danced as she spoke – he was falling, and he didn’t want to stop.
University of Toronto, picture by Sanjukta Das for The News Dare
But guilt tugged at him for leaving Jim out of his newfound joy. One evening, Angelo broached the subject with Kathy. “Jim’s my best friend, and I hate seeing him alone. Do you think we could introduce him to someone?”
Kathy’s face lit up. “Actually, I have the perfect friend for him!”
The introduction was set, but fate had its own plans. When Angelo finally shared the idea with Jim, his friend smiled knowingly.
“Funny you should mention that” Jim said. “I’ve already found someone. She’s incredible – loves soccer, just like us.”
Years passed like pages in a book, each chapter bringing its own joys and challenges.
Picture by Sanjukta Das for The News Dare
Angelo and Kathy’s love story grew stronger with time, and they often reminisced about that fateful day in the quad. On their 40th anniversary, they decided to return to the campus that had brought them together.
A couple of days before their visit to the university campus, Angelo sent a message to Jim, who now lived in another province. To his surprise, Jim replied with excitement: “I’ll be in town that day! Let’s meet and bring Kathy. My wife, Jenn, will join us too!”
At noon, as they strolled hand in hand through familiar paths, Angelo and Kathy approached the bench in the quad, where two figures stood waiting. Time had added lines to their faces but couldn’t dim the light in Jim’s eyes. Beside him was Jenn – the very friend Kathy had once suggested introducing to Jim.
Laughter and stories filled the air as the four of them walked through the campus, the years folding away like a map. In that moment, amidst the echoes of old architecture and the memories they carried, love felt timeless – a connection that, like the university itself, stood unwavering against the tides of time.
Sanjukta Das is an author, educator, Art of Living teacher, life coach, and social entrepreneur passionate about inspiring personal growth and positive change. Through education, storytelling, and community service, she empowers people to discover their potential and lead more meaningful lives. She is the author of two books of poetry—‘My Twirls: The Said and the Unsaid’ and ‘The Trivial and the Perfect’.
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