Siddhesh's POV:

My lips parted seeing her full blown smile. Lightening flashed again and my eyes shined in appreciation again of what these two years did to my thunderstorm. Such that I gasped at once. Her cheekbones digged deeper and I saw her pearly white teeth flashing more of her beautiful dimples growing into a beautiful smile.

Time is a traitor indeed!!! My heart tickled me more. She still stood there looking at me and finally asked...

'You are really here or I'm imagining you thanks to my stupid maths exam' she asked and I couldn't stop laughing now.

'Im here darling...I landed today evening' I said and next second she engulfed me into a bone crushing hug. I couldn't breathe for a brief interval. Rains were still pouring and here this girl was snuggling into my chest began crying loudly now invoking unknown emotions in me. I didn't know how to react.

This was strangely the same Ragini who fell down 3 years back from her cycle and sat flat on ground crying with a bruised knee and torn frock. I carelessly carried her in my arms scooping her all the way from the playground to Nayak Nivas, while all her friends made fun of her but I cared a damn. That minute all I was bothered was my Ragini was hurt. She was in pain. And that is something I could never tolerate and I still can't tolerate!!! Tears in eyes bleed my heart!

I didn't know how should I react. She had grown taller and much more leaner now. Her fists we're grabbing my t-shirt like she never wanted me to leave again. I didn't know how to comfort her. She wasn't that little now after all.

She wasn't a girl...

She.........she was a woman!!!
I didn't find it appropriate to pull her closer. Strangely I was staring at her few minutes ago...she pulled me into her like she was a magnetic field and I was a mere piece of iron helplessly getting drawn into her.

I heard her loud sobs which came muffled thanks to the rains...
'Why didn't you pick my calls....why were you busy for me Siddhu...why did you leave me and go...how dare you...how dare you' she said beating my chest with both her hands and her button like eyes shot me dead with anger. Although everytime lightening flashed onto her face they looked more shiney, more beautiful and more glimmering. The smiling girl now had a dolorous look on her face and I felt a gnawing pain in my heart. There was a growing nervousness...a constant prostration making me feel giddy...I still remember...
I just left that night because I knew if she would know I'm leaving to London, she or her tears would never let me go...

Rain kept pouring and she still cried on my chest. I had to console her. I slowly touched her by her shoulders and pulled her away. I lifted her chin up with my index finger and slowly wiped her tears off...rain was already doing the job but I felt the need to calm her down...

'Im sorry Ragini...' I said softly... and she rubbed her nose with the back of her hand and said... 'Ok fine...but I have to do this...it's my 2 years 8 months of frustration...saying she punched in my stomach.

'Auuuuuuuuuu' and before I could balance out stomped upon my feet and I groaned crying in pain while she said...
'Sorry Siddhu...this is necessary' and she pulled my wet hair like a witch.

'Ahhhhhhhhhhhh' I cried in pain. And finally she let out a deep breath.

'Now I'm satisfied!!!' she said and I looked at her.

My fault...
This one's still the same...she can't change even a bit!!!
But then I don't want her to!!! She is perfect the way she is!!!
Crazy thunderstorm of mine!!!
I smiled at that thought. Rain turned into a drizzle and she held my hand in hers and limping along with her I went inside the house again ...

There was ample amount of light now I could see her face clearly now. Unknowingly my chest heaved taking a deep breath in...

She looked beautiful...
The girl who always kept her hair tied in ribbon had long beautiful hair now, dripping wet thanks to the rain goddess who showered abundantly tonight...her beautiful almond shaped button like eyes had grown more beautiful now, probably it's her eyebrows that was now shaped well enhanced the beauty of her eyes, her skin radiantly glowed, her cheeks looked more shiny with a tint of pink...Her little jhumkas kissing her long peacock like neck everytime she parted her lips to flash that breathtaking smile...
Dressed in a white salwar kameez she looked like nature came alive in a female form tonight...

'Siddhu...you must probably change...you are wet too...I will also change and meet you soon...let's talk' she said while trying to ruffle her hair with her fingers...her hair was dripping wet and droplets from her long beautiful hair was fall on her wet kurta and I felt a sudden jolt in my body...sound of her anklet broke my trance and it striked me... What the heck am I doing...she is Ragini...I must behave...and then tomorrow is her exam...

'Umm...No Ragini... tomorrow is your exam...go study...we can talk tomorrow...right now you need to study and it's too late' I said trying to move away from her. While she held my wrist and the same jolt hitting my chest more now...I could feel heat rising in the pit of my stomach...

Siddhu...stop!!! It's Ragini!!!
It's only Ragini!!!
Exactly Siddhu...it's Ragini...So just leave!!!

And I felt the portion that asked me to move away from her right now was very right!!!

'Its late Ragini...let's talk tomorrow...all the best' I said removing her grip off my wrist and leaving from there...

'Siddhu it's my preparatory exams yaar... and I have prepared well...I'll punch you again tomorrow you Stupid Siddhesh Pai...Raab re dhavnaka (stay back...don't run away in Konkani)
But I had to calm my racing heart which could not take it's eyes off her...she suddenly looked too much for my poor heart to handle. I knew she will be mad at me next day morning but I was still ok to take her madness but right now I needed to figure out this raging madness inside my heart. I quickly changed into warm clothes and slipped into sheets and covered myself and closed my eyes.

While her plump lips dripping wet in rain flashed infront of my eyes and I shot my eyes wide open!!!
What the actual fuck!!!
Stop!!! Calm down Siddhesh... relax...sleep... Slowly I slipped into a deep slumber.

First time ever in my life I woke up late. I saw the clock it was 11 am. I woke up 6 hours late!!! My timetable was as messed up in just one night by this thunderstorm of a girl who didn't let me sleep. I even had flashes of her playing in rain in my dreams. I couldn't take that sight off my eyes. It was like printed in there!!!

Cursing under my breath I woke up, had bath, skipped my yoga and walked down to have my brunch. Thank god she had left to college and I drew a chair and sat to eat while Sushma aunty smiled saying...

'My boy woke up late today... what's the matter' she asked cryptically and I felt like piece of Undi (rice dumpling) was stuck in my throat recalling the sight of Ragini playing in rain again... Fuck my messed up mind!!! I cursed myself and I took a sip of water to swallow in and I nodded a no.

'Siddhu is only tired Amma...but nothing doing ..he is coming for shopping with me and Mukund' Shalini said circling her hand around mine...

'But Shalini...I have meetings'

'I don't care...you work in UK hours also India hours... what nonsense...just come with me for shopping...This weekend is my baby shower Siddhu...our cousins will be coming...this boring husband has a terrible taste and zero patience. Come along na' Shalini whined...

'Ohhh ofcourse... please yaar Siddhu...come along...it's tough to manage this pregnant tigress...she creeps the hell out of me with her mood swings' Mukund Bhavaji said and I smiled saying
'Ok let's go for shopping'

While I heard a voice that made me choke on my coffee...

'Whos going shopping without me??? And how dare they' and my heart starts beating louder like a drum ...while I hear anklets tingling and reaching the dining table and I still don't have the guts to lift my head up to see the owner of that voice...

'You are back??? This early???I'm very sure you are again going to just pass or this time maybe fail in maths' Shalini said while the person exactly behind my chair now said...

'Oh please Akka...I wrote well... the teacher is mad...she keeps asking value of x y and z...who for god's sake needs a x y z value in life yaar... I hate maths... and anyways this is preparatory exams...I'm done with it ..2 weeks from now is my finals...I will score well in other subjects...but maths sucks ya' she said while I felt her hand hold the top rail of my chair and my body stiffened.

'Oh wooow...who made Kashi Halwa... and why didn't I get it for breakfast' I heard her voice and next minute she almost dived over me to reach the bowl of Kashi Halwa kept on my right. Her body brushed against mine in a swoon way and passed by my right shoulder to pick the bowl. I closed my eyes at once as I felt her floral fragrance hit my nose... Lavender...my all time favorite...
I unknowingly turned my head in her direction such that now her cheeks faced my lips...I opened my eyes while my eyes saw her blue jhumka and her long hair having a tug of war as in who would kiss her pink cheeks...I fell short of breath seeing her so close to me...she took a spoon full of Halwa in her mouth and moaned a 'Ummmmmm' and her head bobbed in my direction... Her eyes met mine and I was left stumped!!!
My brains stopped working!
I don't know what is wrong with me!!!