Another random and a different kind of OS. Do let me know how was it. 😊
And Psst... everyone! I don't send PMs of Updates to anyone. So please stop sending me buddy requests. I'm not going to accept any and honestly, I'm tired of rejecting them.😆
He sat quietly on his recliner and looked outside as rain slashed heavily against his French Windows. It was as if a storm had gathered in Delhi. With half of the city clogged with water and roads flooded, the entire traffic had come to a standstill and thus, Arnav Singh Raizada had decided to take a day off from work and spend the rest of his day at home.
But he wasn't happy about it. He was grumpy and gloomy.
Arnav simply hated rains. It annoyed him because a rainy day like this meant he couldn't go to the office and he had to cancel all his important work and meetings. And that equated to loss of his precious time and money.
But there was nothing he could do against Mother Nature's wishes.
"Arnavji!" his thoughts were interrupted by the voice of his wife, who was now holding out a mug to him. "Here's you black coffee." Khushi said, and taking a seat on one corner of the recliner, she began sipping her coffee and ate the freshly prepared hot samosas. "Want?" she asked, holding out the plate to him.
"No." he replied grumpily, sipping his sugarless black coffee. Looking sideways, he noticed how happily Khushi was munching on her samosa, dipping it in the delicious tomato ketchup and his stomach growled at the sight with hunger. Even he wanted to eat it and enjoy.
But that would mean he would be enjoying this day and a rainy day like this wasn't meant to be fun for him.
"Arrey Arnavji! Don't look at me like that. Eat." She once again offered the samosa which she was eating, to his mouth. At first he hesitated, but then, after she patted his shoulder assuring him, he decided to take a bite.
Oh god! He realised he was really hungry. Maybe grumpiness made him hungry.
"Like it?" she asked, licking the ketchup off her fingers and he nodded silently.
"Arnavji, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do you hate rain? I'm observing you from morning. You seem grumpy but at the same time, you look really sad. What happened?" Khushi asked concernedly, holding his arm.
"Nothing." He replied, looking away at the rain.
Khushi rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh. It was raining and this man, her boring husband was sitting silently, low-spirited and sullen instead of enjoying such a wonderful day. How could she waste such a nice opportunity like this? No, she had to do something to lift up his dampened spirit.
Grabbing his wrist, she stood up and pulled him towards the French Windows.
"What are you doing?" Arnav raised his eyebrows in alarm.
"Arnavji, do you trust me?" Khushi asked, looking at him.
"Yes, but now, why do I feel a bit afraid about this?" He replied, knowing very well that something was up in her mischievous little mind.
Entwining her fingers with his, she slowly pushed open the French Windows, allowing a sudden rush of cold wet wind inside the room while Arnav gasped out in utter shock. "What the hell!" And before he could react, she pulled him outside, as they stepped beside the pool whose smooth surface was being battered by heavy rain drops.
"No, no." Arnav shook his head, refusing to budge from his place as he sought refuge at the corner of the wall.
Khushi smiled at him warmly, like a shield to the coldness surrounding him and holding his right hand in hers, she stretched out his hand, letting the cool water graze over it. Looking sideways at him, she observed how his eyes were closed, struggling at first to withdraw his hand, but soon, he relaxed.
"It isn't that scary." She said, and saw him opening his eyes to look at her. "You just need to give it one chance." Saying so, she walked backwards, still facing him, into the rain and let the cold rain submerge her completely.
Arnav stared at Khushi in complete awe as she stretched out her arms wide open and closing her eyes, she faced the sky, letting the drops pour over her, as they cascaded down her every crevice. After about a whole minute of getting drenched, she opened her eyes and with her hands, gestured him to come ahead. "Come!"
"I cannot." Arnav replied, feeling goosebumps already erupting over his entire body.
"Arnavji…" Khushi called out, urging him to come. But when he refused for the second time, she walked towards him and before he could react, she pulled him outside.
Arnav gasped out loudly, as the first drops of rain drenched him. It was cold, brutal and ruthless.
Just like him.
He tried to run back for cover, but he couldn't. It was as if his legs were frozen to that spot. He could feel the cold droplets stream down his scalp, traversing down his neck, entering his green sweatshirt and finally, tracing down his spine.
Shutting his eyes tightly, he tried to fight a strange feeling slowly burning inside him. He didn't know what it was, but it felt like it was some kind of a release, waiting to be let out after being caged for a long time.
And then, he felt her, as both his palms were enveloped by smaller ones in a firm grip.
He didn't know whether he was just imagining it or whether it was a reflexive reaction to her touch, but he was sure that warm salty tears were suddenly rolling down his eyes as the gates of his mind finally opened up.
For once, he was really grateful that it was raining as the rain droplets masked his tears and Khushi probably wouldn't notice this. He had no idea why was he crying but he didn't want her to see him in this state.
He let those tears roll silently, not having any control over them. Years of pain, anguish and sorrow that had been trapped inside him, locked away deeply, suddenly emerged to the surface, threatening to consume him if he didn't let them go.
And Arnav Singh Raizada finally collapsed on his knees, as he looked upward at the dark cloudy sky.
Maybe that's why he had always hated rains because they made him lose control over himself. They made him vulnerable like how he was right now.
However, Khushi wasn't stunned or surprised at his reaction. Somewhere deep down inside her, she had expected this. Letting go of his hands, she moved closer to him and towering over his head, she bent forward and brushing away the wet strands of his hair, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
"It's alright." She assured him, as rain drops spattered over her head and fell on his face. "Let it all go."
He gazed into those hazel eyes and his lips slowly curved upwards into a faint smile, feeling light and relieved after so many days, infact years.
"Taste the rain. It feels heavenly." Khushi said, trying to cheer him up and sticking out her tongue, she waited for the cold drops to roll over it.
Although, Arnav found it a bit stupid to do so, he nevertheless, licked the cold drops lying over his lips, quenching his parched throat.
It was an absolute euphoric feeling, for once letting go of everything, to be free of all the burdens.
"Thank you Khushi." He said, looking up at her, as he held her hand and stood up.
"Atleast now, I hope you will enjoy rainy days like me." She replied back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I guess I will." He said, and immediately scooped her up in his arms and twirled her around, indeed enjoying the rain for the first time in his life. Maybe he could now finally have happy memories associated with the rain.
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