The Chase-FF-Part 1 Page 8 - Page 5

my thoughts exactly Aaru...I log on everyday to see if its updated...

ATB for exams Prach...

"I will be late today!" Kumud rushed out of the house, stopping at the door to put on her shoes.

"Late?" Krittika asked from the kitchen, cleaning up the mess Kumud had created in hurry. As usual, the young girl woke up late and was tardy for her dance lessons again.

"It's papa's birthday, I have to go to the temple." Kumud replied, and before Krittika can suggest anything else, she ran off. Krittika shook her head, a small smile on her lips.

Kumud hurried down the narrow path, cursing her late waking habit once again. Summer will end in a month, and Kumud spends her warm days learning to dance. Her father had once told her that her mother used to dance too, and that had been noting but an encouragement to continue this delightful practice.

The walk to the dance class was a bit far, about half an hour. The narrow path crossed the houses and valleys of the mountain before it opened beyond them. The classes took place every summer in a park near the Saraswati Temple. Goddess Saraswati was the goddess of education, and Kumud had learned to respect and worship this deity for as long as she remembers.

Kumud grinned, taking her bag off form her shoulder. Her skirt tickled her ankles as she walked towards her teacher and touched her feet. "Good Morning!" She chirped.

"Morning?" Her teacher asked, but put a hand on Kumud's head lovingly anyway. "I think it's more of afternoon, Kumud." Kumud bit her tongue.

"Sorry!" She held her ears with an adorable expression, forcing her teacher to laugh at her tactics.

"You're a child with enchanting personality my love." She grinned. "Come, let's start. Everyone else has already started."

Dancing was an enchantment. It wasn't just a practice to learn an art; it was a door to escape the world that she breathed in. The soulful rehearsal beguiled her with an unbounded tranquility. Her eyes were open, but she saw nothing but the light of peace.

Kumud's teacher, Savita smiled at Kumud's graceful steps. Her chest constricted with pride as she watched her best student rehearse the steps she has been teaching her since that first summer she had arrived to this land of mystifying events.

The graceful movements in her form reminded her of her long lost friend.

By the time the sun had already started to set behind the mountains, Kumud was still at the park. The dance classes were over for an hour now, but Kumud sat there and laughed with her friends. Summer might be the days of freedom, but it steals the time that should be spent with friends.

"So when is this guy coming to your house?" Aarti asked, raising her eyebrows. Kumud had told them about the news on phone the other night, and the girls had been excited more than expected.

"I don't know!" Kumud replied exasperated.

"Is he a family friend?" Aarti tried again.

"Again, I don't know!" Kumud stared of into the trees beyond the park's bush border. The place was isolated and unsafe to stay back. There hasn't been any incident for as long as she remembers, but the location itself created horrific images in people's mind.

"Fine! But don't forget to call us once you find out how hot he is!" Kumari giggled.

"You girls are hopeless!" Kumud rolled her eyes.

"Look who is talking!" Kumari said. "You are the one who never looks at a boy beyond his eyes."

"Right?" Aarti joined her partner in crime. "Kumud, I don't understand what's with you and these divine eyes! Do they shoot hotness or something?"

Kumud shook her head. The sketch of eyes she had found in her mother's room back in that land that was no longer hers was that of a child. She had no idea who it was, but a feeling in her heart had told her that she was destined to encounter them.

Kumud bid goodbye to her friends and walked towards the Saraswati temple with a quick pace. If she reaches there before the sunsets, she can safely cross the ally that will take her on the other side of the mountain to her home.

The temple was the most beautiful architecture Kumud had ever encountered in her lifetime. Trees and fallen leaves surrounded the beautiful structure. It was abandoned somewhere in the forest, kept unharmed for centuries. Her father had renovated it about quarter of a century ago, and now it was one of the closest thing that Kumud had for herself. It wasn't her temple, but it was her memory to treasure.

Whenever there was a birthday in her house, her father and her came to this temple, cherishing past memories. When he had left her lone, she always came here to cherish the memories that were lucky enough to exist.

The idol was her favorite part. A beautiful lady set with her right leg over her left knee. A sitar, the guitar-like instrument, balanced on her legs with two hands and two other hands used to hold a weapon of unique kind of book with "Veda" spelled in Sanskrit. A beautiful peacock's structure stood behind her, awing Kumud once again.

Kumud hissed, frowning as the darkness started to fell over. She hurried towards the idol and sat there, hurrying to light up the lamp, setting her bag next to her. The light glowed Kumud's face, as she spent few minutes staring at the idol, her mind thinking about her moments spent with her father. After what seemed like an age of a moment passed, Kumud prayed for the well being of her friends and turned to get home as soon as possible.

She had walked just a few steps out of the temple when she slapped her forehead, realizing she had forgotten her bag inside. She quickly held up her skirt a little, and ran towards the temple and up the steps.

Her feet stopped their act and her breath hitched as she came to face the eyes she had been looking at for years now. He had the lamp in his hand. His eyes shined under the fortunate lamp's glow. His iris black wit an enigmatic enchantment. They yellow glow failed to dissolve itself in them, unable to change the color. His lips were slightly open, probably shocked at her uninformed presence. Then before she could manage to overcome her surprise, and say something, she noticed something trickle down his fair forehead, making its way over his thick eyebrows and spread over like an artistic paint.

Then in a flash of an instant, he turned to the side to place the lamp on the parapet and in a swift motion, swung his legs and jumped over the wall. Kumud ran towards him, leaning over the wall, trying to get a glimpse of the stranger with familiar eyes, but he was gone, covered by the long, lush trees. Kumud sighed, and looked down at the lamp, taking it in her hand so softly, as if it was made of glass. Something glistened under the lamp, emerged in the oil. Kumud carefully took it out, but hissed when the flame burnt her finger.

As she looked at the beautiful band shining between here fingers, she forgot her pain, and couldn't help but stare at the illuminated object. The golden band glistened, and a jewel on it sparkled in the light. There were few decorations inscribed, but it was almost impossible to read it under the flame. Kumud turned to look into the forest when she couldn't decipher anything, where the young boy had disappeared.

She looked at the ring for a moment longer before dropping it back into the lamp, she put it back at Goddess Saraswati's feet, hoping she hadn't intruded into a personal attachment. A belonging. With one lasting glance into the forest, she turned around, took her bag and quickly ran away.

It wasn't the stranger she was running away from, and that is exactly what surprised her. She was running away from the strange feeling that had settled inside her. It was the kind of feeling that she found herself helpless against.

When she arrived the gates of her house, she found Krittika sitting on the porch step, straining her neck to look at her. As soon as she spotted Kumud, she ran to her.

"Kumud!" She said, horrified at the hour. "Where were you? I was so worried!"

"Sorry!" Kumud said as the guilt settled. "I lost track of time at the temple."

"Kumud," Krittika said exasperated, then after making sure nothing had harmed her daughter-like young girl, she pulled her inside. "Come on now, have your dinner."

Kumud suppressed the hiss that fought to escape her lips as Krittika's hand pressed around her burnt finger. As if sensing a strange presence, she looked around. The streetlights fell over the isolated street. Houses were buzzing with voices as everybody had come back home for dinner by now. The cars and bikes were parked in their designated places, but there was no soul there.

Kumud turned around and went into the house, relieved as the feeling started to fade, but a thought clicked in her mind. He was bleeding.

"I better get a chocolate for desert!" She joked, and walked to the kitchen with a slight jump in her feet, ignoring the heaviness in his heart that came with the news.

College was starting tomorrow. New students had started coming and renting houses near the college. Some had found it cheaper to share a house among few friends. Kumud had found a new friend a little down on the next street. Her name was Kusum, a lively child with kindest heart.

The news of a guest arriving had come more than a month ago now, but no one had arrived their door step yet. Kumud wasn't complaining though, she was glad no one wanted to disturb the peace of her mind. She hoped they had changed their mind about this uninvited welcoming.

"What would you take for dinner, your highness?" Krittika asked, looking over the magazine she was reading. Kumud groaned in reply and pushed her face in the pillow. The clouds outside thundered, and Kumud looked up in surprise.

"Why did it rain so early these year?" Kumud frowned. She jumped up from the sofa and ran outside, lifting her skirt to jump down the porch steps. She quickly lift up the pot of rose plant in the corner beside the stairs, and turned to make her way back in the house before the rain soaks her.

A car stopped behind her. Kumud turned to look at a shining limousine stop outside her doorstep. A driver's door opened and a young chauffeur jumped out, holding up an umbrella. He walked towards the second door and opened it for his boss.

A young boy wearing a green shirt and dark jeans stepped out of the car, a scowl on his face, and Kumud's frown descended to revelation. The boy looked up at her, soaking wet under the first monsoon rain. His scowl turned into an expression that matched hers.

His face was fair and smooth. His hair gelled up in a perfect mess. His eyes black, surrounded by thick, long eyelashes. His forehead that had creased was now smooth and bore a small forgotten scar. His jaw clenched. His lips that had parted in amusement a moment ago were now closed and pressed together into a straight line.

Kumud stared at the face, and soon enough, her mind gave her the answer. With a diminished amusement, she turned around and walked back into the house. Making sure she shut the door.

Tu apna ID change karwana band kar 😳

You write such beautifully, so descriptively that its so easy to paint a picture of everything that is happening. That is the power of a great writer and you my dear have that.

Waiting for the next update.

PS: For a second I thought who is this new girl

Suspense? That wasn't suspense :P Haha!

I am so happy you liked it, I spent two hours on this! Worth some appreciation :P Haha, just kidding! Thank you so much Di <3

I will update as soon as I can! And next time, longer update!

PS : New girl? =/ Kaun?

Lol! Fair enough. I miss you too 🤗 I keep wanting to text ya but then I remember 🥱