Siddhesh's POV:

'Siddhuuu...welcome' I heard Mukund Bhavaji and I turned around.

'Mukund Bhavaji... how are you...' I hugged him and he hugged me back...

'Good...you are late...Shalini has been waiting for you...come come' he said and took me along...but before leaving I turned around to see the terrace. There was no one. Was I hallucinating??? I'm overworking Or probably I'm sleepy...I shook my head and ignored my thoughts and went inside. Shalini came running to hug me ..

'Oyeeee slow down...you are not supposed to run with that big tummy of yours get it?' I asked and she pinched my nose and hugged me back...

'Arey my bestie is home...I'm gonna party..even baby is partying inside my tummy...' saying she turned to Mukund Bhavaji and tilted her neck and he got her a chocolate which she was eating happily. She is a complete 8 months pregnant now. She looked beautiful and was extremely happy that I would be attending her Gurbini Kappada (Baby shower in Konkani).

***

'How is business going on Siddhu?' Sumanth Mamu asked and I nodded while he was sipping his late evening tea and I was having my dinner. It was 8pm. I always made sure to have dinner by 8. Then I take a walk and go to sleep sharp at 9 pm.

But Shalini was holding me up saying...
'You are not going anywhere...we are chatting...you are here after 2.5 years Siddhu ...Nothing doing' and my eyes were roaming around while Shalini asked mischievously...

'Well if you are looking out for our thunderstorm then she is having exams... she is studying. After all it's her 12th na...And you know her love for maths' Shalini rolled her eyes and I smiled.

'But if you want I can call her...we didn't tell her you are coming today... otherwise she would sit waiting like an owl' Shalini added and I smiled.

'Oh no no...it's fine ..let her study...I understand...12th is very important...I just wanted to give your gifts...I brought gifts for everyone...' saying I opened my suitcase giving everyone's gifts...

Amidst all of them Shalini looked at the baby pink frock in my suitcase. And she picked it up and looked at it top to bottom and then looked at Mukund Bhavaji who was also trying to bite his lips and then he covered his mouth with his palms and I wondered what happened.

'Whom is thisssss for Siddhu???' she asked and I said ...

'Who else??? Ragini!!!... and this make up kit is for you' I said and handed the little box to her while she smiled and said...

'Wellll.. thanks for this ..but I don't know about the frock...isnt it a little too big for our Ragini' she said smiling mischievously...

'Welllll...it is a long frock...last I met her she was about 5.5...even if she has grown taller this will fit her...' I argued as I knew everything about Ragini. Shalini was only pulling my leg...

She was hiding her mouth and saying...
'Sure sure... Ragini will look very pretty in that' and left from there...

I rolled my eyes as I finished my dinner and went for a walk. As now I was in India my 4pm meeting with my London team happened at 8:30pm. I was on the call and trying to keep up with everything happening. While my eyes again wandered up the terrace trying to recall what I saw...I shook my head thinking I need a good rest.

After finishing the meeting I decided to go and see Ragini but like Shalini said tomorrow was her exam and I didn't want her to screw it up. Either way it's just the matter of a night...I'll see her in the morning for breakfast anyways.

I went back to bed and lied down. In the middle of the night I woke up as a loud thundering struck making a loud noise. I woke up at once and saw it was raining...sorry pouring like crazy.

Clock was ticking 1:00 am...I felt thirsty and I was looking for water but the jug was empty. I went to kitchen to get some water for myself. While I refilled the jug. I heard the sound of heavy anklets....I turned around to see someone walking outside the house...In a white dress... I don't believe in ghosts but it was quite creepy!!!

But the next thought came in...
'What if someone tried to sneak in...I must check'

I went towards the door...I heard the anklets tingling again and I ran in that direction...

And the next minute I froze..

I saw a girl...in white salwar... blue dupatta stepping out in rain...she had long straight hair that kissed her back...her thick anklets kept making the

'Ghall Ghall' sound as she descended the little staircase of Nayak Nivas...walking outside near the garden area...

I wondered who she was...as it was raining heavily and like she gave a damn about the rain she stepped out spreading her arms. She held the loose end of her kurta with an umbrella cut and began twirling. I could hear her giggles although rain was too loud. She lifted her face up and let the rain wash her face...

I could see she was enjoying herself...she kept kicking the water that had accumulated in little muddy puddles least bothered about the fact that she wore a milky white dress. She was carefree... She kept twirling like she was feeling every drop of rain...I kept walking towards the main door without my knowledge...The sight looked mesmerizing to me... Every drop of rain bounced on her body and fell down...

I couldn't see her face as it was too dark... but the next minute lightening struck hard and my eyes fell on her face...
And I stopped breathing!!!

One flash and my heart almost came to a standstill!!!

Rain poured more and more...

One more lightening flashed and I could see her milky white baby like glowing skin...I could still not get a clear glimpse of her...

And now I don't know why...but I wanted to see her...my legs automatically kept progressing in that direction...

I don't know what was happening with me...i felt like someone had hypnotized me...my legs had their own brains today...it kept walking towards the girl who carelessly spread her arms in air embracing each drop of rain and I don't know what I was thinking and doing right now...

All I wanted to do was... See her!!!

I just wanted to see her...

I stepped out in rain...my white t-shirt and black pajamas drenched in no time as it was raining heavily...I kept walking towards the girl in white...her back was facing me...I simply went and stood there like a stone. Her floral fragrance hit my nose and I breathed deeply..

Suddenly she stopped. She probably felt my presence and in one go she turned around. I couldn't see her face yet as it was dark... suddenly lightening flashed and my eyes met her eyes...

My eyes widened in shock...the minute my eyes fell on her face...she had milky white skin...a sharp nose...thin eyebrows, plump lips but those almond like eyes looked familiar to me...I took a step closer trying to analyse who it was as I had not worn my glasses...

Another step closer to her and my breath hitched as I heard her voice...

'Siddhu???'

I was too shocked but my throat let out a hoarse... 'Ragini???'

And she smiled...My heart somersaulted a hundred times this very minute!!!

I was thunderstruck by a thunderstorm who had now turned into a thunderbird!!!
She left me speechless!!!