" When I saw you, you felt like a dew,
You smiled as if a breeze anew. "

  Ishaan's POV

Waking up at the break of dawn with that annoying sound of the alarm, I let out a deep breath. Immediately rushing to the washroom and taking my time in relieving my bladder from the harsh pressure, I sighed. Followed by a short shower and a highly needed time to groom myself, I opened the door to reach downstair for breakfast. But, I was surprised with the two musketeers taking their seats on the dining table already.

" Good morning Ishan beta ." Both my Mom and Dad wished me with their alluring smile.

This was perhaps the first time in years, they wished that before me. There must be some reason, I wondered.

" Happy birthday beta." She said

" Did you really forget your birthday this time too, huh?" I heard her voice with that infamous fake glare of hers. It's the only thing, that reminds me of her being a lecturer. A strict and boring one !

" Thank you Mom and Dad. I guess, I am never going to remember my birthday by my own. Btw, why is it even needed, when you both are their to remind me ?" I replied with a wink and a wince, as a smack landed on my arm.

It was really beautiful to see them laughing so heartily. Maybe, that's what called the bond of a family !

Quitely munching on my parathas and palak paneer, we discussed a few upcoming plans for the weekend along with the events of my Mom's college and Dad's company.

Mom was constantly speaking of two of her pass out students, who wanted to join my music studio.

" Mom, can we discuss about them later ? I need to leave for the studio, and today afternoon there's the Mt. Litera school's annual fest too. I am running late." I quickly sprouted the words hurriedly as I saw the clock ticking towards half- past seven.

I dashed towards the door, while folding my sleeves. As I was about to step out of the house's threshold, I remembered something and turned back. Placing a soft kiss on my Mom's cheek and hugging my Dad, I started on my day's pre-planned schedule.

I reached my company's studio at 8:00 a.m and completed my pending work as soon as possible to leave for the school's fest.

It was a very cheerful day with those brightly shining school students. Seeing them jumping on my songs and getting all pumped up with enthusiasm to see me was so vibrant. I was driving back home recalling all the events if my day. I was really curious to know what Mom would have planned to surprise me.

A huge smile was struck on the corner of my lips thinking of what more fun, the day has held for me. I stopped the car seeing the red signal and glued my eyes on my cell phone. Meanwhile, something caught my attention.

A tall girl with deep black and wavy hair, donning a black crop top with a leather jacket and a baby pink skirt rushed out of her car and was running towards the other road as if the world was going to end today. She was completely unaware of the buzzing around vehicles passing by her side.

I glanced at her, hopping down my car. All the people waiting for the signals to turn green now had their heads snapped at the running figure with pure shock painted on their faces. She reached the other road and what happened next left all of us gobsmacked .

I saw two children, whom I met today in that school holding each other's hand and crossing the road. Erstwhile, a car was scuttling towards them at a high speed too rashly. When the car neared the two innocents, that girl pushed both the kids backside, in the process, ripping her skirt at a side. That fast bolting car bumped into a tree and halted.

The kids helped her to get up and she smiled at them adoringly . She hugged them and kissed their chubby-muddy cheeks with so much tenderness. Everyone standing there, were adoring her and appraising her bravery. After bidding them a good bye, she sat on her car and waved her hand at them.

I was so busy admiring her that I didn't know even notice, when the the signal turned green and the place was vacated already. But I stood beside my car, without caring about the people and vehicles moving to and fro. She scrambled towards her car fidgeting with her torn skirt, exposing her legs till mid-thighs. She removed her muddy jacket and was about to sit inside but came out after realising that it has already started to shower.

The road was quite quiet . The sky hovered with slight dark clouds , with frequent lightenings. She stood on the mid-road, stretching her arms , feeling the rain droplets trickling down her skin. The gentle breeze was caressing her wavy hair. Indeed a sight to sore eyes !

From inside the car, I clicked some of her pictures. It was ethically wrong, but hasn't god given us two eyes to admire his majestically created landscapes ?

Then, who can I leave this masterpiece behind ?

She was truly beautiful. My eyes darted on her, she started taking turns and jumping on the mud. She was shouting loudly something amidst the heavily cracking rains and thunders. I could make out her words briefly - " Thank you for making everything awesome."

She was cute with so much childishness and bubbliness beneath her. Before I could approach her, she sat on the car and drove away. Missed the chance, buddy !

I too stretched my arms and felt the rain. I was spell bound by the pleasure shooting through my nerves, after a long time I looked up at the sky and shouted- "Please make us meet again."

Speaking out to the sky, gave a surreal feel. It felt as if my wish was being heard by someone, blessed and preserved in my heart forever. This was a weird yet fuzzy feeling altogether. Life, as if bloomed again with the touch of a new breeze.

I really hope we meet again.

By the time, the sun had settled down the horizon, I was standing by our house door. Mom opened the door and looked at me, as if she saw an alien.

"How did you get wet? Change quickly or you will catch cold." Mom was continuously blabbering.

" I am going to change , Mom " I interupted her, and ran to my room.

I changed into some warm clothes and trotted downstairs. My parents were literally behaving like kids. My Dad blindfolded me and made me walk to somewhere, which I assumed to be our garden. As the cloth uplifted from my eyes, I saw the garden was extravagantly decorated with white and red roses and same colour-themed curtails. It felt homely.

" You must know, it would be amazing as your mom planned it ." my conscience replied me.

Three of us , together cut the cake and fed each other while smearing some on the faces of each other. The invited guests including my friends, family relatives, Mom's colleagues and Dad's business partners joined us and wished me.

Everything was perfect, just a certain integral person was missing. Someone, who was the backbone of our family.

As many insisted me to sing a song, I struck the chords of my guitar. Humming with the tune I started singing, followed by a thunder of claps.

" I close my eyes and I can see
The world that's waiting up for me
That I call my own
Through the dark, through the door
Through where no one's been before
But it feels like home

They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design

'Cause every night I lie in bed
The brightest colours fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
Oh a million dreams for the world we're gonna make"

I poured my heart, while singing this song. My dreams. My passion. My love. Actually, it came out effortlessly and the one I was thinking about while singing was that brave and beautiful girl.

Confused about why I think so much about that girl, and felt such a strong attraction towards her, I continued writing the lyrics of my new song.

All the guests had already left. But one annoying friend of mine was glaring at me intensely.

Guess, who ?

My one and only best buddy, Rohit.

" Didn't you think it was necessary to tell me about your girlfriend, huh?" Rohit whined like a school girl.

" Oye, I don't have any girlfriend ? And even if I had one,why would I tell you? " I replied.

" Okay, find as much as you can. I will definitely get a hint of it real soon. Those red cheeks and heart eyes were indicating that too well. " Rohit replied, with his eyes glowing with mischief.

Suddenly, he snatched my phone from my grip and ran away.

Bro, that was unexpected !

What else can be expected from this certain big body- tiny brain creature, who's known as the most annoying creature of this planet ?

" Beta, where's Rohit ? If you find him anywhere just tell him to go after having dinner here. He is here from noon, helping me with the decors. He must be tired too." Mom spoke and walked away to stir the curry, sitting on the stove.

Okay, he is annoying but he isn't that bad too.

I was standing there till the time, I spotted Rohit looking at something on my phone, with a smirk intact on his visage.

" So, this is the reason for how you were drowning in the ocean of love and calmness with your eyes shut while singing ?" He wriggled his brows as his lips played their favourite smirk.

" See, how much you have changed? You dared to break our 'no secrets' deal. I was almost loosing hope of finding something from your phone, when I found them." He winked. Such a drama queen !

" You are so whipped, buddy. Seriously 35 pictures of a single girl ?" He was laughing like a lunatic as redness and heat was crawling slowly up my cheeks.

" Blushing and all, huh? So, she is the theif of your heart. I think, I have seen her somewhere. Btw, will you tell me about her or should I use my sources to find out ?" Ugh, this crazy man.

" Who told you to make him your best buddy?" My mind mocked.

" Are you going to tell me about this picture and this girl ?" Rohit smirked.

" I was just coming back home today. That was when I saw this girl running towards the other side of the road and saving two children. The first few picture are of those moments of her with those children. Others are of the time, when she was enjoying the rain like a peacock enjoys dancing in the first ever showers. Simple ." I recited the whole incident to him and he was grinning like an idiot.

" I am so happy for you . You finally met your soulmate." Rohit giggled.

Now, clearly his brain is something that I can never ever get a hold of.

I was unable to understand him and gave him an are-you-serious look. Maybe, he understood my query and answered, " Do you know, why out of 900 pictures in your gallery, there are almost 35 pictures of girls that too of a single one . If you are so interested in girls who admire rain, there are zillions of girls out there who love and enjoy them. But, why you took this girl's picture only ?" He raised his one brow at me. He was roght, though.

" I don't know." I said agreeing to him because I have seen many girls but never took anyone's picture, but why her ? Rohit seemed to be in deep thoughts.

" Hey dude, are you there? " I waved my palm before him, breaking his trance.

"I have seen this girl . But where? " He said, gaining my full-fledged attention.

" You know her ? Dummy, think hard." I asked desperately, earning a I-knew-that-too glare from him.

" Oh my, yes. How can I forget? That girl ? " He said jumping out of joy, like a kangaroo.

_________

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Love,
Biswa ❤️