Ritika sat in the backseat of a taxi, her gaze fixed on the raindrops racing down the windowpane. Each droplet traced a unique path, merging and diverging as they slid across the glass, distorting the view of the city outside. The urban landscape appeared as a blur of gray buildings and shimmering reflections from streetlights and neon signs. She sighed annoyingly, now don't get her wrong, she loved the rain, she really did.

There was something about the sound of rain tapping on the roof and the way it made everything look like it was wrapped in a silvery sheen that she found soothing. But today was different. Today, the rain was just another obstacle. It had already delayed her flight, and now it was making traffic crawl at a snail's pace. She checked her watch for the tenth time in as many minutes, her irritation mounting.

She was supposed to be at her cousin's wedding reception, a family event she had been looking forward to for months. It wasn't just a celebration; it was a chance to reconnect with cousins she hadn't seen in years. The thought of being stuck in traffic while the festivities began made her sigh again, louder this time. Ritika closed her eyes in frustration, leaning back on the seat of the taxi. Ritika closed her eyes in frustration and leaned back on the seat of the car.

The rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers and the dull hum of the engine filled the taxi's interior. The rain continued its relentless dance on the windows, blurring the world outside into a watercolor of gray and mist. Despite her efforts to stay calm,she lost herself in thoughts of the wedding reception she was missing, the taxi suddenly jolted to a stop.

The door swung open with a creak, breaking the rhythm of raindrops on the window. Startled, she blinked and looked up, her heart skipping a beat at the sight before her. A man, drenched from head to toe, slid into the seat beside her. He shook his head vigorously, spraying droplets in a halo around him, and offered an apologetic, sheepish grin.

"Sorry about that."

He mumbled, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate through the small space.

Ritika felt a curious flutter in her chest at the sound of his voice—sweet yet husky, it carried a warmth that made the chill of the rain outside seem distant. Ritika's gaze shifted towards him, her surprise evident as her eyes widened. She couldn't help but notice just how thoroughly drenched he was. His white shirt clung to his torso, plastered against his skin and accentuating his muscular frame. The damp fabric outlined the contours of his broad shoulders and well-defined chest, emphasizing the physicality beneath.

Droplets of water cascaded down from his hair, dark and slightly curly, each strand laden with moisture. Some strands clung to his forehead, framing his face in a disheveled yet strangely captivating manner. His eyes, a deep and intense shade of hazel brown, met hers briefly, a hint of amusement flickering within them. Her gaze involuntarily trailed downward, and she caught a glimpse of his well-defined abs through the translucent fabric of his shirt. Her breath hitched, and a warm flush spread across her cheeks, her mind was momentarily distracted by the unexpected sight before her. She tried to tear her eyes away, but it was as if they had a mind of their own, drawn to the sight of the guy next to her.

As Ritika's thoughts lingered on the unexpected sight before her, the taxi suddenly jolted to a stop, trapped in a dense traffic jam. The honking of cars and the murmur of impatient voices brought her back to the present moment, she blinked rapidly and shook her head. She turned to the driver and asked, "How long do you think this will take?"

The taxi driver glanced at Ritika in the rearview mirror, his expression reflecting the exasperation of navigating through the gridlocked traffic.

"Hard to say, miss," he replied with a hint of resignation in his voice. "Could be a while with this rain. Seems like everyone's out and about tonight."

Ritika sighed, her frustration mounting as she leaned forward slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of the congested street ahead. She could see the blur of brake lights and the faint outlines of umbrellas as pedestrians hurried past the stationary vehicles. "Oh, for heaven's sake! This traffic is slower than a sloth on sedatives!" she muttered, her voice dripping with exasperation.

With a frustrated sigh, she leaned back in her seat, feeling the tension in her shoulders and neck. Closing her eyes, she tried to block out the incessant honking and the low rumble of engines idling all around her. Ritika's eyes were still closed, her face a mask of exasperation, when she heard a deep, warm chuckle beside her. She opened her eyes and turned to see the drenched stranger shaking his head with a bemused smile.

Meanwhile, the stranger, still rummaging through his black waterproof shoulder bag in order to find his mobile, overheard Ritika muttering something under her breath. His search paused momentarily as he chuckled softly to himself. "Slower than a sloth on sedatives, huh?" he muttered to himself, grinning. "That's one way to put it."

His grin widened as he found his mobile and retrieved it from the depths of his bag. The stranger began typing on his phone, his fingers tapping lightly on the screen as he got busy replying to a text of his friend, it was finally after tapping on the 'send' button, that he felt like someone was glaring at him. As he slipped his mobile back into the bag and zipped up, he looked up raising an eyebrow at Ritika, "Damn, miss, why are you glaring at me?" he asked with a playful grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he leaned back comfortably in his seat.

Ritika glanced more like glare at the stranger, her brow furrowed in mild curiosity as she asked, "Sorry, but what exactly did you find so funny that you were laughing?"

The stranger chuckled again, his amusement evident in the crinkles around his eyes as he replied, "Your comment, about the traffic is slower than a sloth on sedatives. It was quite the analogy!"

Ritika felt a sudden warmth flood her cheeks as the stranger chuckled, his amusement unmistakable. His reaction made her realize that she had muttered her frustration aloud without intending to. Embarrassment washed over her, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Did... did I say that out loud?" Ritika asked sheepishly, her voice betraying her mortification.

She glanced down, avoiding his gaze momentarily, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and amusement at her own candid outburst. The stranger's grin widened at her reaction, and he nodded slightly, still wearing a playful expression. "Yes, you did," he confirmed, his tone light and teasing.

She shifted slightly in her seat, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement as she realized the stranger had overheard her colorful remark. "Um, yeah... It's just... well, it really does feel like that sometimes." She admitted, her voice softening with a hint of awkwardness. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear nervously, as she managed a shy smile and a small, self-conscious giggle, her eyes briefly darting away before returning to meet his gaze.

As Ritika nervously chuckled and glanced away, the stranger couldn't help but find her reaction endearing. His grin softened into a smile as he regarded her with a playful glint in his eyes. "But don't worry," he said warmly, his voice carrying a hint of admiration, "it was a creative analogy. Descriptive, too."

He chuckled softly, the sound genuine and lighthearted. Ritika's cheeks warmed at his response, feeling a slight relief at his good-natured reaction. She returned his smile, meeting his gaze with a mixture of curiosity and appreciation. There was something about the stranger's easygoing demeanor that put her at ease, despite the chaotic circumstances of their meeting.

As their eyes met, a moment of unspoken understanding passed between them—a recognition of shared frustration with the rain-delayed evening, yet a budding connection sparked by their brief exchange. Ritika's deep brown eyes, filled with soft intensity met his hazel brown eyes, filled with a gentle amusement. They both felt a strange yet warm flutter in their chest, a sensation that was both unfamiliar and comforting.

She held his gaze for a moment longer than necessary, a small smile playing on her lips as she appreciated the way he had handled her earlier outburst with such grace and understanding. The stranger's smile widened, it was a genuine smile, one that reached his eyes and radiated warmth, as he continued to meet her eyes with quiet confidence. The rain continued to drum a soothing rhythm on the taxi roof, the sound of raindrops a constant background symphony, but inside the car, the atmosphere had shifted.

Ritika and the drenched stranger held each other's gaze, the world around them fading into a background blur of raindrops and city lights. For a moment, the traffic, the rain, and the frustration of the delayed evening all seemed to melt away, leaving only the silent connection between them. Their eye contact lingered, his hazel brown eyes holding her gaze with a gentle intensity.

Both of them felt their breath catch in their throats, unable to tear their eyes away. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The space between them was filled with an unspoken connection, a subtle yet undeniable chemistry. Their heartbeats quickened, and both of them wondered if the other could hear it, in the intimate silence they shared.

Suddenly, a loud horn blared from a nearby car, jolting them both back to reality. Ritika blinked rapidly, her eyes widening in surprise as she turned her head towards the source of the noise. The stranger also looked away, his expression shifting from the tender moment to mild irritation at the disruption. Ritika took a deep breath, her cheeks still flushed and tried to gather her thoughts. She glanced back at the stranger, who was now looking out the window, his face thoughtful.

As they sat in comfortable silence, Ritika couldn't help but steal a few more glances at the drenched stranger beside her. She turned her attention back to the window, her sigh mingling with the ambient noise of the traffic. The gridlocked cars stretched out before her in an endless queue of red brake lights, a testament to the city's ceaseless congestion. Her frustration mounted with each passing minute, knowing that she was likely going to be late. She watched the blur of brake lights and the muted movement of umbrellas on the sidewalks, her thoughts returning to the wedding reception she was missing.

While, the stranger beside her, still dripping wet and looking out his own window, was trying to calm down his racing heartbeats and gather his thoughts to make sense of the unexpected encounter with the Ritika. The stranger couldn't deny the effect Ritika had on him—her initial nervousness had been endearing, and her smile had felt like a small victory.

As he looked out the window, watching raindrops trickle down the glass as the taxi moved ever so slowly, he found himself replaying their brief interaction in his mind and trying to calm the flutter in his chest. The Keyword 'Trying'. I mean come on, now we can't blame him it wasn't every day you met someone who could elicit such a warm feeling in such a brief moment.

He glanced at Ritika and heard her sighing while looking out. With a slight shift in his seat, he turned towards her, deciding to break the silence that had settled between them after their brief moment of connection. His voice was soft yet carrying a hint of empathy as he asked, "Rough day?"

Ritika turned to him, surprised yet strangely comforted by his inquiry. She sighed softly, a small smile tugging at her lips as she nodded in response. "Yeah, you could say that," she replied, her voice softening with a hint of amusement. "I guess rain really knows how to make an entrance and slow down everything."

He chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "Tell me about it. Rain seems to have a way of making everything a bit more complicated than it needs to be." He glanced out the window briefly before returning his gaze to her. "Are you headed somewhere important tonight?"

Ritika nodded a touch of resignation in her expression. "Yes, my cousin's wedding reception. I was supposed to be there already."

His eyebrows raised in understanding. "Ah, weddings. They always manage to mix joy with a bit of chaos, don't they?" His tone was sympathetic as if he could relate to her predicament.

A small chuckle escaped Ritika's lips at his observation, appreciating the shared sentiment. As they continued to converse, the taxi slowly started to move again, albeit at a sluggish pace. Ritika and the guy exchanged small talk, finding an unexpected comfort in each other's company amidst the frustrations of the rainy evening. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, punctuated by shared laughter and sympathetic nods.

Ritika found herself surprisingly wishing that the traffic would slow down again, just so she could continue talking to this stranger who had somehow managed to ease her irritation and bring a smile to her face. And Oh Boy! Her fate always loved doing something completely opposite to what she thinks every time.

Just as she was beginning to enjoy their conversation, the traffic started to move faster again. Ritika couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment as the taxi picked up speed, the scenery outside shifting more rapidly. She glanced at the stranger beside her, a faint smile lingering on her lips. "By the way, I'm Ritika," she introduced herself, her voice carrying a hint of warmth and curiosity.

The stranger met her gaze with a genuine smile, his hazel brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Nice to meet you, Ritika," he replied, his tone soft yet earnest.

Ritika hesitated for a moment after introducing herself, unsure why the stranger hadn't reciprocated with his name. She glanced at him, a slight furrow forming between her brows as she asked gently, "And, I never caught your name?"

The stranger's smile softened,"Some call me the wanderer," the stranger replied with a mischievous glint in his hazel brown eyes, his smile taking on a playful edge.

Ritika raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his cryptic response. "The wanderer?" She echoed, her curiosity piqued.

He chuckled softly, nodding slightly. "Yes, I'm known for drifting into unexpected conversations with strangers in taxis," he explained, his voice carrying a hint of adventure.

Ritika couldn't help but laugh at his unexpected answer. Before either could say anything more, the taxi driver interrupted them with, "Kid, we're here!"

The sudden interruption from the taxi driver startled Ritika and the stranger, breaking the momentary spell of their conversation. The stranger blinked, realizing they had arrived at his destination amidst their exchange. "Oh, um, right," he replied, slightly flustered as he glanced out the window, before exchanging a surprised glance with Ritika, "Looks like this is where I get off," he said, his tone tinged with regret while a sheepish smile was on his lips.

Ritika nodded, her own smile faltering slightly as she realized their conversation was about to end abruptly. "Well, it was nice talking to you," she said sincerely, trying to mask her disappointment.

He nodded in agreement. "Likewise, Ritika. Thanks for making the traffic a bit more bearable."

His hazel eyes held a warmth that lingered even as he began to gather his belongings. As the guy reached out and gently opened the door of the taxi, he turned back towards Ritika, a lingering smile still playing on his lips. With a small nod and a wave of farewell, he gracefully stepped out onto the sidewalk, the streetlights casting a soft glow around him. His gaze briefly met Ritika's once more as he turned around to close the door, but Ritika, who was seeing all this, paused briefly, gathering her courage before speaking up.

"By the way," she began, her voice slightly hesitant but determined "It's not fair, you know who I am, but I don't even know your name," she said with a rueful smile, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

The guy chuckled, as he looked at her, and for a moment, he seemed to ponder his inquiry. Then, with a teasing glint in his eyes, he replied, "Ah, but where's the fun in knowing my name right away? Let's keep it mysterious until destiny decides to make us meet again, and then perhaps, I will reveal my identity, to you madam." With that, he gave Ritika a playful wink before closing the door.

As the stranger's playful remark hung in the air, Ritika felt her cheeks flush as the stranger called her 'madam' with a teasing glint in his eyes, coupled with the wink, sent a delightful shiver down her spine. She couldn't help but smile, feeling a mix of surprise and intrigue at his confident yet mysterious demeanor. Her heart fluttered as she watched him close the taxi door with a charming ease, his lingering smile etched in her memory.

Meanwhile, the stranger closed the door of the car, and walked a few paces away from the taxi, as the streetlights cast shadows around him. He had a slight smile still playing on his lips, enjoying the playful exchange with Ritika.

While in the taxi, as the driver saw the stranger close the door of the taxi with ease, he couldn't help but chuckle softly, as he addressed Ritika. "Kid, did you Really not recognize him, or were just faking it?"

He asked with a playful grin in the rearview mirror, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. Ritika furrowed her brow in confusion, glancing between the departing stranger and the driver. "Sorry. What?"

The driver chuckled again, shaking his head. "I couldn't help but hear you asking the guy's name," he began, his tone light. "You're telling me you don't know who that was? He's been all over the news lately. That's Rohit Sharma, the cricketer. He's the emerging star player and new heartthrob of cricket these days. You must've seen him in some match or the other."

Ritika's eyes widened in disbelief as the realization hit her. She turned to look out the window, watching as the figure of Rohit made his way to an apartment building. As the taxi, started moving again, Ritika leaned back in her seat, her mind racing with the revelation. She couldn't believe she hadn't recognized him. The fleeting moments of their conversation replayed in her mind, his teasing smile and mysterious aura now making sense. She watched the raindrops slide down the window, a small, wistful smile tugging at her lips.

"Rohit..."

She muttered softly to herself, the name feeling strangely intimate yet good on her tongue, she chuckled, shaking her head as she looked out the window.

At that very moment, Rohit, who was just about to step into the apartment building, felt a curious flutter in his chest and paused mid-step. He turned around, his eyes scanning the street as if he had sensed someone calling his name. Through the veil of rain, he saw the taxi disappearing into the distance. He stood there for a moment, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched the vehicle fade away, as he was lost in his thoughts, a figure suddenly appeared from behind, slinging an arm around the guy's shoulders with a boisterous laugh.

Rohit let out a sigh, as he rolled his eyes, "God, Vi seriously? Slow down there! You're going to dislocate my shoulder with that enthusiasm," he chuckled, gently shrugging off his friend's arm.

Virat rolled his eyes playfully and teased, "Took you time to be here, Ro! I was starting to think you ditched our plan. And by the way why are you staring at the road, what happened? Are you looking for something?"

Rohit chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Nah, it's nothing. Just felt like someone called my name, that's all."

His smile widened as he glanced back at the fading taxi, his thoughts drifting momentarily before he turned his attention back to Virat. Virat grinned mischievously and teased Rohit, "Ro, you must be experiencing side effects from sleeping too much! Hearing things now, are we?"

Rohit rolled his eyes good-naturedly, his smile widening. "Very funny, Vi. You're exaggerating as usual," he replied, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "Anyways, from where are you coming from?"

Virat rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance as he replied, "Oh, you know, just Ma decided to whip up your favorite curry and rice tonight, despite knowing fully well I can't stand it."

As Virat complained about their dinner plans, Rohit couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's dramatics. "Well, Vi, what can I say? Aunty loves me a little too much."

His grin widened mischievously as he playfully nudged Virat's shoulder. Virat rolled his eyes in mock indignation, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in, why don't you?"

He replied, nudging Rohit playfully as they walked into the building, their banter echoing through the hallway.

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I was listening to the above song and got this one-shot idea. Though I wanted to publish my Virushka one-shot, but I thought to convert it into a book, so it will be out soon lol. Do let me know your thoughts on this...I usually don't write in such a writing style, but tried it this time. Also, in the future, shall I develop this into a proper Rohika book? Lol IDK...drop in your thoughts!

PS. I have published a Rohika book, so do check it out, and give your thoughts on it. 

XOXO!