Ali had never seen anything like it. He had just arrived in Sweden from Iran, where he had won a scholarship to study engineering at Stockholm University. He was excited and nervous, but also curious and scared.

He had grown up in a strict and conservative society, where men and women were separated from each other and had very little interaction. He had never seen a man and a woman being affectionate in public, or even holding hands. He was taught that women were to be seen and not heard, and that they were inferior to men.

But in Sweden, everything was different. Men and women were equal and free, and they could do whatever they wanted. They could dress as they liked, go where they pleased, and love whom they chose. They could hug, kiss, and laugh in front of everyone, without any shame or fear.

Ali was shocked by what he saw. He couldn't believe that men and women could be so close to each other without being married. He was also very uncomfortable with the way women dressed in this country. He thought they were too revealing and that they were trying to attract men.

Ali tried to avoid interacting with women as much as possible. He would walk by them on the street and look away, and he would never make eye contact. He felt very awkward and uncomfortable around them, and he didn't know how to talk to them. He was also very afraid of what people would think of him if they saw him talking to a woman.

"Hey, are you new here?" a voice asked him one day, as he was walking to his class. He turned and saw a girl smiling at him. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, and she was wearing a short skirt and a tight sweater. She was holding a book in her hand.

Ali felt a surge of panic. He wanted to run away, but he couldn't. He had to be polite and respectful, even if he didn't like her. He nodded and muttered a yes.

"I'm Anna, I'm in your class. What's your name?" she continued, walking beside him.

"Ali," he said, barely looking at her.

"Nice to meet you, Ali. Where are you from?" she asked, with genuine interest.

"Iran," he said, hoping she would leave him alone.

"Oh, wow, that's so cool. What's it like there?" she asked, with genuine curiosity.

Ali didn't know how to answer. He didn't want to tell her the truth, that it was a place where he felt suffocated and oppressed. He didn't want to lie either, that it was a place where he was happy and free. He decided to say something vague and neutral.

"It's... different," he said.

"Different how?" she pressed.

Ali sighed. He realized that she was not going to give up. She was not like the women he knew in Iran, who were quiet and submissive. She was like the women he saw in Sweden, who were loud and assertive. She was not afraid to speak her mind, or to ask questions.

He decided to give her a chance. Maybe she was not as bad as he thought. Maybe she was just curious and friendly. Maybe he could learn something from her.

He decided to tell her a little bit about his life in Iran, and how he came to Sweden. He told her about his family, his culture, his religion, his dreams. He tried to be honest and respectful, without being judgmental or defensive.

She listened to him attentively, and asked him more questions. She told him a little bit about her life in Sweden, and how she loved it. She told him about her friends, her hobbies, her studies, her plans. She tried to be open and friendly, without being intrusive or arrogant.

They talked for a while, and Ali started to feel more comfortable. He started to see that she was not as different from him as he had thought. She was intelligent and interesting, and he began to enjoy talking to her. He also started to relax around her and be more himself.

They reached their class, and she smiled at him.

"Hey, do you want to sit with me?" she asked.

Ali hesitated. He was not sure if he was ready for that. He was not sure if he wanted to be seen with her. He was not sure if he liked her.

But he decided to take a risk. He decided to try something new. He decided to say yes.

He nodded and followed her.

She took his hand and led him to a seat.

He felt a jolt of electricity.

He looked at her and smiled.

He entered a new world.