"Oye, Miss Universe," he teased, a playful grin dancing on his lips. She shot him a fierce glare, determination etched across her features, and turned away to walk forward.
"Lucky!" he called after her, quickening his pace. She continued to ignore h...
Vinodh nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Exactly! Something feels off. Why the sudden introduction to this 'friend's son'?"
Priya, watching Jagathi disappear down the road, chimed in. "And now Jagathi has run off alone. It's going to rain any moment; shouldn't someone bring her back?"
Just then, Srinivas, overhearing on his way to his room, turned back with a calm wave of his hand. "Don't worry, Priya. Let her have her space. She'll be back soon enough, rain or not."
•••••
Jagathi leaned against the counter at the coffee stall, glancing at the rain with a smile. “Hi, Chotu!” she greeted, her voice warm.
“Hey, di! Two days since you’ve been around,” Chotu replied with a grin, pulling out her favorite ice creams from the cooler. “Saved these just for you.”
“What to do, Chotu?” she sighed dramatically. “You know my mom would flip if she found out I’m eating ice cream in the rainy season.” She winked, snatching an ice cream and taking a delighted bite.
Just then, the rain intensified, and she looked out to see a young man stepping off a bus, looking around uncertainly with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. Her eyes narrowed in curiosity. “Chotu,” she called, “pass me an umbrella, will you?”
Taking the umbrella in one hand and the ice cream in the other, Jagathi strolled over to the newcomer. She raised the umbrella over his head, and he instinctively reached up, his hand grazing hers. A slight spark passed between them, and his eyes fell on her bracelet—the very one he'd gifted. His breath caught as her face began to emerge from behind the flurry of her dupatta, caught by the gusty wind.
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In a moment that felt like eternity, her almond-shaped eyes met his, framed by dark lashes and gently arched brows, a tiny bindi nestled between them. The rain caught the sparkle of her nose pin and accentuated her soft, rosy cheeks, now touched with a smear of melting ice cream. She wiped at it carelessly, her fingers brushing her lips—a pair of petals resting beneath a small mole on her lower lip’s right side. Shourya felt his heartbeat thunder louder than the storm around them.
Caught off guard, he forgot to blink, caught up in the vision in front of him. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head, bringing him back to reality. “Oye! Dreaming or what?” she teased. “Let’s get you out of the rain. Come on.”
Shourya snapped out of his daze, clearing his throat. “Uh, yes… let’s,” he stammered, following her to the stall.
As they settled under the stall’s awning, he muttered to himself with a half-smile, his heart whispered back, Jagathi
Jagathi turned to him, a playful glint in her eyes. “So… Shourya, isn’t it?” she asked, her gaze shifting to the rain as she casually lowered the umbrella.
The sound of his name on her lips made Shourya’s heart skip, but he quickly masked his reaction, feigning surprise. “How do you know my name?” he asked, pretending to be completely unaware, though he was certain her father, Srinivas, must’ve mentioned it.
She shrugged, gathering her long hair up into a loose bun. As she lifted her arms, strands of hair escaped, catching raindrops, and Shourya couldn’t help but feel captivated, as if everything around him blurred except for her. She turned back to him, raising an eyebrow. “I’m Jagathi. Srinivas’s daughter,” she introduced herself with a friendly smile.
“Oh! Uncle Srinivas’s daughter—nice to meet you,” he replied, smiling back.
She narrowed her eyes, her smile turning mischievous. “Then why were you staring like you’d come to kidnap me when I walked over with the umbrella, hmm?”
Shourya attempted to look serious, crossing his arms. “Excuse me, do I look like a kidnapper to you?”
She tilted her head, playfully studying him. “Hello, Boss! Kidnappers don’t exactly come with an ID badge, “But don’t worry, you don’t quite look the part.”
Keep smiling God bless you Chandanakshi
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