Chapter 1

After 11 years...

SHE PULLED HER sunglasses down onto her nose covering her eyes, not wanting to get blinded by the burning gaze of the sun.

She thanked God as a light breeze hit her face. Even though it's hot, just a slight breeze made her sigh. It was very hot up to forty degrees this year and she had to search for clothes that could keep her comfortable.

'Kushi. Wait! Stay with us. Don't go alone,' she heard her mother stern voice.

Kushi rolled her eyes, knowing her mother couldn't see her. 'Mumma! I am not a small kid,' saying this she hopped down from the train, to have some fresh air.

Kushi, a nineteen-year-old, young and sweet girl, was moving from Delhi to Hyderabad, with her parents because of her father transfer. She didn't understand why her father left the well-sophisticated life in Delhi and decided to move here.

Taking a deep breath, she observed her surroundings. The platform was filled with passengers, people who came to bid their goodbyes or to receive their related members, porters ready to carry baggage, different vendors selling fruits, books, and other essential products that people might need during their travel.

Turning around she found her father and mother settling their luggage down all by themselves.

Kushi quickly reached for a bag to help but her father protested. 'Princess! Leave it. I will get it,' he said as he tried to take the bag from her hand. But Kushi pulled away from him taking the bag and smiled at him sweetly.

Her father, Shashi, shook his head. His daughter was just stubborn like him. When she decided to do something, she will do it any cost. Genes! His wife, Garima, always mocked him.

Garima chuckled seeing them both.

The trio quickly settled their luggage near a pillar. Shashi went aside to make a phone call while his daughter and wife stayed near their luggage waiting for him.

Bored Kushi sat on the luggage making herself comfortable and started humming a tune. Her thoughts reverted back to her life in Delhi.

She was a BA student in her second year. She aspires to pursue her degree and quickly settle for a job so that she could take a good care of her parents.

Kushi knew her father was a hard-working man and efficient to make anything impossible to possible. He'd made sure that his wife and daughter have everything. While her mother was a perfect example of a woman. Her mother manages both her household and work hand in hand. Everything was perfect in their lives.

But!

Kushi wants to make sure her parents were fine.

Two years back her parents met with an accident when they were coming home from work.

It was a nightmare for Kushi. She only has them in the world. She doesn't have anyone like grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. In fact, she doesn't even know whether they ever existed. On that day, doctors informed Kushi that her mother was safe and had minor injuries. But it was her father. Her father had been in a serious condition. He met with a head injury and doctors said they couldn't say anything until twenty-four hours.

Those twenty-four hours, her heart was in her hands. Garima was in an unconscious state and there was no one next to her. To her fortunate, only her friend Nandakishore and his father Manohar took care of everything. Nandakishore had been that person when she needed a shoulder to cry on.

Even just thinking about that unfateful day, a shudder passed through her body. She couldn't lose them. They were the best people and the loveliest parents anyone could ever wish for.

'Kushi.'

She came out of her thoughts when she heard her mother soft voice.

Kushi instantly hugged her mother scared. Garima rubbed her back soothingly.

'You still didn't forget that day. Did you?' Garima asked.

Kushi didn't say anything. Instead, she pulled back and smiled at her mother. Garima patted her cheek smiling back.

'Have some water,' her mother said handing her water bottle but stopped midway noticing it was empty.

Laughing, Kushi took the empty bottle and tossed it away. 'I'll get a new one, Mumma,' saying this, she walked off without listening to her mother's words.

After walking for a bit, Kushi found a shop selling food items. She asked the vendor for a chilled water bottle and waited for him as they were stored inside.

In the meanwhile, humming a tune Kushi looked here and there when a movement caught her attention on the tracks.

A small pup was struck in between the tracks struggling to reach the path. Kushi stared at the pup in awe and wanted to have it. But thought otherwise, considering it might be someone else's because it had a belt around its neck.

Who the hell left it on tracks? she thought furiously.

Kushi was staring at the fluffy one when an announcement was made. A train would be arriving at any second on the same track where the pup was.

Kushi frowned when the pup didn't make any move. That's when she noticed its leg was bleeding.

She gasped. At the same time she heard the train engine sound. Not wasting a second, she ran up to the edge. But her steps halted in confusion not moving forward. It was deep for her to step a foot and the train was arriving. She panicked.

Think! Think! Think! She tried to calm her mind.

Praying to God, she jumped down. She groaned loudly as she landed hard. Her soft skin was grazed by the stones. Maybe, hearing her voice, the pup started barking.

It might be in pain or scared, Kushi considered as she took slow steps towards it.

'Hey! Puppy. Dha Dha. Come here,' Kushi said stretching her hands towards the pup as if it could understand her words. But the pup continued to bark as Kushi moved cautiously.

Finally, Kushi reached the pup and caressed its head softly making weird sounds. The pup calmed down and leaned into her hand. Smiling, Kushi stooped next to it, even though the stones stung her, and examined its wounded leg. The pup flinched in pain moving away but Kushi held it firmly.

Kushi heard someone shouting distantly but she ignored. She scooped up the pup. At the same moment, she heard the arrival of the train, and she looked up to find the train at a distance. Panic hit her. Involuntarily, she stood up but didn't make any other move. She froze on her spot as different scenarios played in her mind. Her parents, her friend, her college, everything.

'Oh god! I don't want my life to end like this,' she cried.

'Then run you, idiot,' her subconscious yelled.

The barking sound of the pup made her come out of her reverie. Reality struck her as the train raced towards her.

Again instead of running away, she closed her eyes letting out a loud scream, expecting the worst to happen.

Instead, she has been dragged aside just as the train went past her. Her ears were filled with puppy barks dominated by the loud rattling sound of the train. She hugged the pup close to her and leaned into the wall hiding her face.

The screeching sound of the rail indicated that the train stopped. As her mind was still reeling around, suddenly she realized the wall was moving. She opened her eyes to find herself embraced protectively in someone's arms.

She could feel his rock-hard chest underneath her cheek as he heaved heavily and she could literally hear his rapid heartbeat.

The pup barked again. Maybe. The sound made him realize what he was doing, he left her immediately.

She felt her knees buckle as he left her. He gave his back to her and ran a hand through his hair. She frowned as he muttered incoherent words under his breath. She couldn't make out his voice and face as he turned to the other side before she could get a glimpse of his face.

Kushi took a deep breath as her mind started working again. She looked at the pup in her hands and relaxed as its safe. She smiled a little as the pup licked her hand.

Oh, my! I am alive, she thought happily.

'Puppy! We are alive,' she said out loud, jumping on her spot.

'Are you insane?' she heard a furious voice.

She gasped at the person's audacity.

She might be insane, but there was no need to point it out, she thought equally furious.

Enraged, she lifted her head to lash out at the person, but she was left dumb-founded. Her mouth opened apart with just one look at him.

He was beautiful... Incredibly beautiful.

Can a man be called beautiful? the rational side of her mind asked thoughtfully.

Whatever the vocabulary she used, Kushi thought it doesn't matter, unlike the epitome of the man standing in front of her. This man was incredibly beautiful with thick chocolate brown eyes, chiseled jaw, sharp nose, neatly cut hair. He's one hell of an eye candy, she thought.

What Kushi didn't realize was that she'd been openly checking him out with her mouth open apart.

His lips were moving but she couldn't make out anything. She stared at him in a daze. He was talking to her, throwing his hands in the air. He seemed angry.

But why?

'Are you even listening?' Kushi heard him say as he gripped her arms.

That made her snap out of whatever world she was floating in.

She gasped. 'What?' she asked as she glanced around. Few people stopped in their places and were watching them curiously.

'Are you really mad?' he asked making her look at him.

Her eyes widened. How dare he?

She freed herself from his grip while shouting at him. 'I am not. It's you who is mad,' she reverted back.

From the look on his face, she could say he was shocked.

'What did you say? Come again,' he asked incredulously, towering over her.

His towering physique made him even more attractive.

'Yea... Yeah,' she stuttered.

Hey Devi Maa (God)! What's happening to me? Kushi wondered, as once again she stared at his handsome face.

'Snap out of him, Kushi,' her subconscious chided.

'Yes,' Kushi said keeping a brave face, 'It's you, who is shouting at me without any reason. That makes you insane,' she said as a matter-of-fact and mentally patted herself for not stuttering. 'By the way, I don't even know you then what is your problem?'

The stranger stared at her coldly. 'Confirm there is something wrong with you,' he said.

Kushi gasped.

'I must not have saved you,' he said while turning around to go on his way.

'Well thanks a lot for saving me, my dear angel,' she said sarcastically.

He stopped to look at her. Anger evident in his eyes.

You asked for it, Mr. Rude. If you're nice to me then there is no need for me to be sarcastic, she thought, as she glared back at him.

Not giving a care, she turned on her heel. She didn't know how to climb up to the platform.

Kushi placed the pup, which hid behind her scarf all the while, on the platform thinking she could freely hop up. But the pup started barking not wanting to leave her side making it difficult for Kushi. After a few futile attempts, she placed it on the platform by making weird sounds.

Placing her hands on the platform and putting all her weight on them, she lifted herself off the ground. When she thought she succeeded, her hands gave up. She tried again and again but of no use.

'Hey Devi Maa!' she said, panting heavily.

A squeal left her lips when she suddenly felt a pair of hands on her waist.

'What the hell are you doing?' she yelled at the beautiful stranger. Ignoring her, he held her hips firmly. An unknown shiver ran down her spine.

Oh, my! I think I might die like this, she thought, as she struggled to get out of his grip.

'He's rude to you Kushi. Don't fall for his charms,' the rational side of her mind reminded.

Kushi thought it was right. She was utterly shocked at what she thought a second ago.

As she struggled to get out of his grip, he easily lifted her up as if she didn't weigh anything. She groaned loudly as he didn't place her gently. Following her, he too climbed up without any effort.

Angry with his behavior, she stood up and turned to lash out at him but found him on his way through the crowd.

'Hey!' she shouted loud enough for him, but he didn't even spare a glance back at her.

Kushi fumed. She wanted to give a piece of her mind and forwarded towards him. But stopped, as she found the pup near her feet barking and licking her toes.

Throwing one last glare on that stranger's way, she took the pup in her hands. She inspected it's wound and felt sorry for it.

Kushi searched her surroundings hoping to find the owner of the innocent one. But found none.

Sighing, Kushi made her way back to her parents taking the pup along with her. She didn't get the heart to leave the innocent one alone.

When she neared her parents, she found their worried faces. They would blast her off with questions now.

'Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!' Kushi said as she hurried towards them.

Seeing her, they relaxed visibly. Though her mother seemed angry. 'Kushi, you-' her mother started but stopped jumping back when the pup barked at her.

Kushi laughed.

'Kushi! From where did you get that? Leave it,' Garima ordered backing away from it.

Kushi totally forgot that her mother was not a big fan of dogs. 'Mumma! It is such a cute little thing. How can you say to leave it?' she pouted and moved the pup towards her mother making her step back again, 'Look it's even injured,' she added.

Garima face softened a bit.

'Dad! Please, can we keep it?' Kushi asked her father excitedly, who was trying to hold back his laughter seeing his wife.

'Shashi! No!' Garima warned, 'Make your daughter understand. We cannot keep this thing,' she said, keeping her eyes on the pup the whole time.

Shashi looked in between the two girls of his life feeling crushed.

'Please Dad,' Kushi showed her big doe eyes for which her father melts easily.

Shashi sighed. 'Fine. Only if we don't find its owner,' he said and received a glare from his wife.

'Sweetheart! Leave it,' Shashi said sweetly to his wife flopping his arm around her shoulder, 'Think it as a welcoming present for us.'

'Do whatever you want,' she said, slapping his arm around her, 'When did you both listen to me. But keep that one away from me.'

Kushi squealed happily, thanking her parents. She looked down at the pup saying, 'Hey cutie! Now you are going to stay with me.'

The pup barked in reply and patted its tail on her arm. Shashi and Garima watched their daughter with a smile on their faces. How could they miss the happiness on her face for her small wish?

Kushi hugged her parents and just when she was about to pull back, she caught a glimpse of her beautiful stranger at a distance. He was with a guy and a girl talking to them. Something snapped inside when he hugged that girl and kissed her forehead.

'Just chill Kushi! Why do you care? We won't be seeing him again,' her subconscious said.

Kushi agreed with it. He might be beautiful, but a rude one. She just wished she won't meet him again.

━─━────

A/N:

Hi my lovely readers!

Thank you very much for your love and support.

This is Chapter 1 and bonus to you all. The next update will be on Tuesday.

What do you think? 

Please vote, comment and share your feedback.

Best,

Revathi.