The first thing I wanted to do when I got to university was bump into a beautiful girl in the hallway.  I had the scene planned out in my mind already. She would be wearing a pink blouse and would have long hair and a mesmerising smile.  Oh, how I yearned for it!  Life, though, had other plans. As it always does.  

I had been a student for over two months at the University of the Free State and I still hadn’t bumped into the love of my life, even at Thakaneng Bridge, where I always bought my food. I was quite sure that I was simply the victim of a Western romance conspiracy produced by Hollywood. Scam! Those  American movies could not be trusted, but then neither could Generations  soapie writer Mfundi Vundla.  

In time, I came to understand that perhaps growing up and maturing means accepting the world for what it really is and sucking up your wild fantasies of lovers in hallways with falling books. 

One day, the sun hung lazily in the April sky and I was a willing victim to its merciless heat. I was sweating and breathing heavily from running. I was late and I knew that I only had about ten minutes before class started.  I ran past the gigantic Economics building sign and rushed past a crowd of rowdy students who had just come out of class, almost knocking down one poor girl as I made my way to the ground floor restroom. I looked up for just a moment and time froze. Across the passage stood a girl with the most mesmerising smile I had ever laid my eyes on. My jaw dropped in that magical moment as I continued to stare at her, hypnotised.  

The girl looked up when she saw me staring and made eye contact. But I could have sworn she had touched my soul. I stared in amazement at this gorgeous being: one of God’s masterpieces.  Her smile widened and I thought that perhaps she was intrigued… until I hit the female’s toilet door headfirst and a loud bam reverberated through the passage. She broke into a giggle as heads rose from smartphones and books to look at me.  

Her laughter was the sound of harmony. I could hear melodies in the air and each note gently tugged at my soul. My head still throbbed from the pain when I gathered myself, laughed rather awkwardly and shuffled in embarrassment into the men’s toilet.  

The smile that beamed on my face can best be described as “sunshine after the rain”. 

The bird in my chest, or ‘inyoni’ as ama’gents usually call it, screamed for me to disregard those beautiful eyes. A thousand scenarios were running through my mind of the many things that could go wrong should I be dumb enough to talk to this girl who had just charmed the life out of me. Another voice reminded me that I am a Dlamini man who fears nothing, not even random girls who stalk hallways to mesmerise innocent passers-by. 

The door creaked as I shut it and faced this girl, this goddess of all things beautiful and pure. She was still charging her phone. She smiled as she looked up at me (half a smile, half a laugh). She was still standing against the wall, her blue ripped jeans gently hugging her waist. I could not help but admire the beauty of her chocolate skin. Her hands were gentle and soft as they held the silver Mobicel phone.

Tell us: Do you believe in love at first sight?