When Safe Eyes Unlock Silent Souls - A Personal Reflection on Unexpected Connection

 I have always been the quiet type—the kind who takes time to open up even when spoken to. Growing up in a nuclear family, spending years in hostels, and later as a dutiful daughter-in-law, I’ve carried the tag of a "loner" like an old, familiar companion. I never really minded it. In fact, me and my overthinking brain became best friends long back. I could sit for hours doing nothing, yet feel deeply occupied in the world inside my head.

Crowds were never my comfort zone, but life demanded I navigate them often. I learned to survive them, especially in social settings where I had to attend family gatherings, hide my discomfort behind polite smiles, and nod to conversations that drained me. Over time, I figured out how to say "no" to many such occasions, choosing my peace over pretenses.

But the other day, I decided to step out, craving a little change. I ended up in a family gathering, and true to form, the old me resurfaced. Silent smiles, awkward pauses, observing rather than participating. The men were engrossed in talks of finances and properties—territories where I had neither interest nor patience. Thankfully, there were books on display. I grabbed one and handed another to my son, escaping into a quieter room where we could be undisturbed.

And then, she entered—the lady from the extended family, someone nobody had even mentioned until now. We exchanged the usual greetings. Deep down, I hoped she wouldn’t try to make conversation. But she did. And what happened next surprised not just my son, but me as well. Hours flew by. We talked. Freely. Lightly. Effortlessly.

When it was time to leave, I realized I didn’t want that conversation to end. I secretly wished she would ask for my number. She didn’t. And we parted with polite goodbyes.

The ride back home was filled with overthinking as usual. Why did I talk so much? Was I just bored? Or maybe I’ve grown old enough to open up? But as the chores of home life took over, I shelved the thought away.

It was only the next day, while scrolling through social media, that I stumbled upon a quote that seemed written just for me:

"Your nervous system relaxes around people who have peace in their eyes and kindness in their voice."

Maybe that’s what happened. Maybe it wasn’t boredom or age. Maybe it was my nervous system finally finding a moment of safety in a room full of noise. Maybe that lady carried the kind of quiet warmth that made my inner alarms switch off.

This experience made me realize something important:
We aren’t as closed as we think. We aren’t always the loners we label ourselves to be. Sometimes, all it takes is the right person with the right energy—and we open up like a locked window to a gentle breeze.