DIVYA
I groaned in annoyance as another thunderclap shook the house. I cursed the rain for what felt like the thousandth time. Burying my face in the pillow, I let out a frustrated groan. Sleep was already elusive, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of a man with piercing grey eyes. A shiver ran down my spine as my mind replayed the scene in his bedroom, the intensity of his gaze, the things he said...
With a sigh, I sat up in bed, looking out the window at the heavy downpour. The rain was relentless, but there was something soothing about it. I knew many people despised weather like this, but for me, it had always been different. I loved the rain.
The rhythmic sound of the raindrops against the glass had a calming effect, washing away some of the tension. I drew my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I watched the storm. There was a strange comfort in the chaos outside, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside my head.
Rain brings a different kind of peace. I slipped out of bed and picked up the shawl draped over the sofa, wrapping it tightly around myself. The weather was quite chilly. Opening the window, I stepped onto the balcony, greeted by the beautiful chaos of the storm. Despite its wildness, it felt peaceful.
I stretched out my hand, catching a few rain droplets on my palm. They felt cool and refreshing. The sound of the rain falling to the ground was a soothing melody to my ears. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to fully embrace the moment, letting the rain wash away my worries.
This was the perfect weather for a cup of hot coffee. The thought of it made me smile. Turning around, I closed the window to keep the rain from entering the room, and hugged myself to ward off the chill. Clutching the shawl more tightly, I walked out of the room, heading to the kitchen.
As I descended the staircase, a familiar figure lounging on the sofa in the living room caught my eye. I stopped in my tracks. The room was shrouded in darkness, with only a few lights casting soft, dim glows.
His face was partly obscured by shadows, but I could still make out his featuresâhis sharp jawline and dark hair. He leaned back into the sofa, exuding a relaxed demeanor. He was dressed in a tee and sweatpants, looking effortlessly good in casual attire. It struck me that I had never seen him in anything but formal clothes before.
I gulped nervously as the memory of our last encounter in his bedroom flashed through my mind. The urge to retreat to my room was strong, but it was too lateâhe had already seen me. He turned his face towards me, and I noticed the book in his hand. His expression was blank.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't go back now; it would show that I was afraid of him. It wasn't a lie, but I didn't want him to know that his presence affected me more deeply than any man's ever had.
Seeing the dark circles under his eyes filled me with a petty sense of satisfaction.I could tell that he also had difficulty in sleeping. Why should I be the only one suffering? He should endure some of this, too. I slowly made my way towards the kitchen, aware of his gaze following me. I forced myself to remain calm, resisting the urge to glance back at him.
As I stepped into the kitchen, the automatic light flickered on, sensing my presence. I quickly turned on the gas and placed a pot of milk to boil. Opening the cabinet, I retrieved coffee and a mug, setting the mug on the counter. My eyes drifted back to the living room, and on a whim, I decided to make another cup.
Raghav seemed like the kind of person who preferred black coffee, but I was making a cappuccino. I hesitated for a moment about offering him some, then shrugged. My job was to offer; whether he wanted it or not was his choice. Besides, it would seem rude to use his kitchen and not offer him a drink.
I was jolted back to reality by the hissing sound of boiling milk about to spill over. Quickly, I switched off the gas and sighed in relief. Pouring the milk into the mugs, I finished making the coffee and carefully carried both mugs back to the living room.
I placed one mug on the coffee table in front of him. He raised an eyebrow in question, and I nervously explained, "I was making coffee, so I decided to make one for you." Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked towards the large floor-to-ceiling window, which framed a beautiful view of the rain.
This is what peace feels like, I thought to myself, taking a sip of the hot coffee and losing myself in the serene beauty of the falling rain.
A clap of thunder echoed through the room, sending a shiver down my spine. I sensed a presence beside me and tilted my head to find Raghav standing there with his cup of coffee in hand. He glanced outside, taking a slow sip of his coffee, his demeanor calm and composed. He looked like he had walked out of a storybook scene, every detail about him perfectâthe way he sipped his coffee, the way he stood, just everything.
My gaze lingered on his lips as he licked away a few drops of coffee. A wave of satisfaction washed over me, knowing he was enjoying the coffee I had made. Suddenly, his eyes met mine, catching me staring. Flustered, I quickly averted my gaze and took a sip of my coffee, trying to mask my embarrassment.
When I glanced back, he was still watching me, his dark grey eyes intense and unwavering.
The coffee went down the wrong way, causing me to cough violently. My chest burned and my eyes watered as I struggled to catch my breath. Suddenly, I felt his rough hand gently caressing my back. "Be careful," he murmured, rubbing soothing circles over my back.
After a few moments, I managed to regain my composure. "Thanks," I said, my voice still a bit shaky.
Raghav nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. The room was filled with the sound of rain and the lingering tension between us, making the moment both awkward and strangely intimate.
After that, we settled back into silence. I was glad he didn't mention the scene in his bedroom. Another thunderstorm rumbled, and I noticed Raghav's reaction. He closed his eyes for a second and clutched his mug tightly. It seemed he wasn't very fond of the rain.
"You like rain?" he asked. I nodded, smiling. "It's beautiful," I replied.
He chuckled at my response. "Only you can find something beautiful in such a destructive thing," he said.
"It's not destructive," I insisted, but Raghav just gave me a blank look before turning to leave.
"You should sleep now. It's quite late," he said, continuing up the stairs and disappearing into the darkness. I sighed, picking up our mugs and placing them in the kitchen before heading back to my room. Sometimes Raghav really behaved strangely. He was a mystery to me.
The next morning, I was reluctantly roused from sleep by a gentle knock on my door. With half-closed eyelids, I stumbled to the door and found Auntie Nandini waiting there with a cheerful greeting. "Good morning, sweetheart," she chirped as she entered the room. "Morning," I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"Go and get a shower, and then I'll take care of your wounds," she instructed, her tone gentle yet firm. I nodded in agreement, eager to comply. After a quick shower to freshen up, I emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel.
Auntie Nandini proceeded to dress my wounds with practiced skill, and I couldn't help but marvel at her expertise. "How do you know how to do this?" I asked, genuinely curious. She chuckled softly in response. "Because I was a nurse," she explained simply, her eyes twinkling with memories. Gratitude filled me as I offered her a heartfelt smile.
"Get dressed and come downstairs before breakfast gets cold," Auntie Nandini's voice echoed as she left the room. I stepped into the closet, opting for a white top and blue denim shorts. Pairing them with white flats, I applied some makeup to conceal my dark circles.
As I dressed, my mind wandered back to the events of last night. It had been surprisingly pleasant sharing coffee with Raghav amidst the rain, but I couldn't ignore the fact that he remained a mystery.
As enjoyable as it was to share coffee with Raghav. I couldn't shake the feeling that he remained an enigma. For my own well-being, it seemed prudent to keep my distance. My priority was to focus on recovering swiftly and returning to my old life.
Once dressed, I made my way downstairs to the dining room. There, I found Raghav seated, engrossed in something on his tablet while sipping his coffee silently. Did he not like eating food? I wondered to myself, though for me, I loved nothing more than a good meal.
I pulled out a chair and sat down far away from him. I had no interest in talking or mingling with him. Last night he seemed nice, but he radiated danger, and I knew I had to stay away. I was about to sit when his hoarse voice cut through the room, "What are you doing? Sit beside me."
I gulped nervously, never expecting such a demand. I started to protest but shut my mouth when he fixed me with a look that clearly said, 'Go on, dare me, and bear the consequences.' Reluctantly, I made my way towards him and pulled a chair beside him. With an angry huff, I sat down, glancing at him. A smirk played at the corner of his lips.
I wanted to defy him, but I couldn't afford to make him angry. After yesterday's incident in his room, I was genuinely scared. I didn't want to be punished again. God knows what kind of weird punishment he had in mindâprobably locking me in a dark room or something worse. I had hoped he had forgotten about yesterday, but he proved me wrong.
"Don't think I forgot about your little stunt yesterday. You will get your punishment, but first, eat your breakfast," he said. His words made my stomach churn, and I lost any appetite I might have had.
The room felt colder, and I shivered, not from the temperature, but from the tension. I forced myself to pick up a fork, my hand trembling slightly.
But still, I ate a bit since I had to take my medicine and couldn't do so on an empty stomach. I sighed, looking around, feeling awkward sitting alone with him. He had such a big mansion, but there were only a few people who stayed here. It felt so lonely. Didn't he feel lonely?
Does he have a pet? I wondered. Glancing at him, I thought he didnât seem like someone who would enjoy having a pet, not a dog or even a cat. But my curiosity got the best of me, and I asked, "Do you have a pet?"
He snapped his head toward me, his expression blank for a moment. Then a smirk crept across his face. "I do. Would you like to meet him?" he asked. I gasped in shock. He didn't seem like a dog or cat person, but this really surprised me.
Raghav had different layers, ones he probably didnât show to anyone.
"Can I meet him?" I asked excitedly. I had always wanted to have a dog or a cat, but my parents never allowed it. When I moved into my apartment, the building's strict no-pets rule thwarted my dream. But now, the chance to meet his pet made my heart leap with joy.
"I'm pretty sure my pet would also love to meet you," he said, a glint in his eyes. I felt a twinge of fear, but my excitement overshadowed it. At least I wouldn't be lonely here, and Iâd get to play with his pet. I didn't care whether it was a dog or a cat; I loved both.
He stood up, and I followed, the excitement of meeting his pet killing me inside. "Let's go," he said, heading towards the main door. I happily followed him.
"Where are you both going?" Aunty Nandini asked, and I replied, "To meet his pet." Her eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, I felt a little suspicious. Why did she look so scared? I was just going to meet his pet. I glanced at him, but he looked as calm as ever.
Maybe he had a German Shepherd or Doberman? Those breeds could be intimidating, but as long as they were cute, I could handle it. I saw him walking out of the house and hurriedly followed, giving Aunty Nandini a reassuring smile.
He turned left and made his way into the forest. The forest looked fresh and lush after yesterday's rain. He walked calmly, and I struggled to keep pace with him.
"So, what's the breed of the dog?" I asked, breathing heavily when he stopped in the middle of nowhere. He smirked at me and said, "You'll find out soon," then added, "By the way, it's not a dog but a cat."
What? A cat? He didn't seem like a cat person. And why would he keep a cat in the forest? Cats love staying indoors. I had thought it was a dog when he brought me here. I gulped nervously, sensing danger. Did he lure me here to punish me? After yesterday's incident, I should have been more cautious.
I was brought back to reality by a roar. I quickly took a step back and hid behind him. Raghav calmly whistled as if calling his pet. I gulped nervously when I heard another roar, clutching his suit in fear and hiding behind him.
A dangerous aura surrounded me, and a shiver ran down my spine. Goosebumps covered my skin. On tiptoe, I peered over his shoulder and saw... something that made my eyes widen in shock and my body tremble with fear.
"Won't you like to say hi to my pet?" he said with a chuckle.
A pet? It wasnât just any pet. It was a freaking tigerâa big cat.