Neil stood under the bus stand, his coat collar turned up against the chill of the evening rain. The day had been long, the weight of unspoken words and unfinished tasks lingering on his mind as he waited for his cab. 

"Kaha ho aap?" He muttered sighing for the umpteenth time checking the location of the earlier said cab, leaning onto the rusty rod he let his head fall a bit as exhaustion exerted his senses.

The city around him buzzed with the familiar hum of life—people scurrying to escape the downpour, the rhythmic patter of raindrops on the pavement, and the distant blare of car horns blending into a melancholic symphony.

His eyes, half-lidded with fatigue, scanned the crowd absentmindedly, until they paused on an unexpected sight. Among the sea of umbrellas and hurried steps, a girl in a short, vibrant kurta and loose-fitting jeans stood out like a splash of color on a gray canvas. Her attire was simple, yet there was an undeniable charm in the way she wore it, as if she belonged to the rain rather than the shelter. She wasn't rushing to escape the rain like everyone else; instead, she stood there, arms outstretched, fingers splayed, as though inviting the droplets to dance upon her skin.

His heart slowed down to a melodious note as it vibrated through his entire soul, he found himself captivated by her unrestrained joy, the way she tilted her head back slightly, eyes closed, to feel the cool rain on her face. 

It was as if she was embracing the moment, soaking in the simple pleasure of nature's gift, something he hadn't done in what felt like an eternity.

Just then, her friend, laughing at her childlike delight, gave her a gentle nudge. The push sent her stumbling a few steps forward, away from the cover of the bus stand and into the open sky, making him involuntarily stretch his arm forward as if to hold her even though she was too far to be touched. 

But he calmed when she let out a loud squeal, not of fear, but of exhilaration, as the rain intensified around her. Her laughter, bright and infectious, cut through the gloom of the evening, drawing a few smiles from the otherwise hurried crowd.

Neil couldn't help but smile, a genuine one that reached his eyes, as he watched her spin around, her clothes clinging to her frame, hair plastered to her forehead. It was as if the rain had washed away the mundane concerns of the day, leaving only this fleeting, beautiful moment. He felt a strange sense of longing stir within him, a desire to break free from the confines of his routine and simply live, like the girl before him, who seemed so effortlessly at peace with herself and the world around her.

For a brief second, Neil imagined stepping out from under the shelter and joining her, letting the rain cleanse him of all the burdens he carried.

"Haaye," he sighed softly, his hand unconsciously resting on his heart, feeling a warmth that had been missing for a long time. "Tu toh gaya!" he thought to himself with a smile, acknowledging the unexpected impact this stranger had on him.

But instead of acting on the impulse, he stayed where he was, rooted in place, watching her until his cab finally arrived. As he got into the car, he glanced back one last time, knowing that the memory of the carefree girl in the rain would stay with him—a reminder that sometimes, to truly feel alive, all it takes is to step into the rain and embrace the unknown.

_____________________

Neil sat at his sleek, minimalist desk, the large windows behind him offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. The office was pristine, every item in its place, reflecting the meticulous nature of the man who occupied it. Yet, despite the orderliness around him, Neil's mood was anything but calm. His fingers drummed impatiently on the polished wood of his desk, his eyes flicking to the clock on the wall.

She's late.

The thought ran through his mind like a sharp knife, cutting through his already thinning patience. Neil was a man who valued punctuality—time was a currency he didn't like to waste. As the CEO of NK Designs, every minute was accounted for, every second planned. So, the fact that his new secretary was not here yet, after the time they had agreed upon, was enough to put a scowl on his face.

He picked up his phone and scrolled through his emails, trying to distract himself, but the irritation only grew. His previous secretary had been efficient, almost to the point of knowing what he needed before he did. Replacing her had been a hassle, and he was in no mood for further inconvenience.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, there was a knock at the door. Neil's eyes narrowed as he called out, "Come in."

"You're late," Neil stated bluntly, his voice cold and unforgiving. The scowl on his face deepened as he prepared himself to admonish her but his word stuck-

 She walked in, slightly out of breath, her hair slightly damp as if she had hurried to get here. She was the same girl he had seen in the rain a few days ago, the memory of her carefree laughter and joy suddenly flashing in his mind, catching him off guard. But instead of softening his mood, it only added to his irritation. This was the same girl who had captivated him in the rain, and now here she was, late on her first day.

She stood there, a little flustered, but she quickly composed herself. "I'm sorry, Mr. Khanna," she began, her voice steady despite the clear tension in the room. "The traffic was heavier than expected."

"Traffic is not an excuse," Neil replied sharply. "This is not the impression you want to make on your first day."

There was a brief pause, where she seemed to weigh her words carefully before speaking again. "I understand, and I apologize. It won't happen again."

Neil studied her for a moment, his gaze unwavering. There was something about her—a mix of determination and calmness that intrigued him, even if he wouldn't admit it. Still, he wasn't one to let such things affect his professional demeanor.

"See that it doesn't," he finally said, his tone softening just a fraction. "I expect you to be here on time, every time. Now, let's get to work. I have a list of tasks that need to be completed by the end of the day."

She nodded, moving quickly to her desk just outside his office, her composure unshaken. Neil watched her for a moment longer before turning back to his own work, the image of her in the rain briefly flickering in his mind again. He pushed it aside, reminding himself that this was business, and he couldn't afford distractions, no matter how intriguing they might be.

As he focused on the documents in front of him, Neil couldn't shake the feeling of something different around him. 

Nothing which he didn't liked which irked him somehow. 

"Sir, Mr. Makhaana is here. He would like to address you regarding the project you denied going forward with?" she read aloud, her eyes flicking back to the notepad with a slight frown of confusion.

Neil looked up from his work, his annoyance clearly visible. The irritation that had been simmering all day finally found an outlet. "The one thing I expected you to do correctly was to read the instructions properly. Is it that difficult?" His voice was sharp, almost biting, and he could feel his frustration boiling over.

He had been on edge since the moment she arrived—something about her presence seemed to unsettle him in ways he couldn't quite understand. It was as if his usually controlled emotions were suddenly heightened, his nerves stretched thin by her mere proximity.

She blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden outburst, but to her credit, she didn't falter. "I'm sorry, Mr. Raizada. I must have misunderstood," she said, her tone measured, though he could detect a hint of defensiveness. "I'll double-check the instructions."

Neil leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath as he tried to regain control over his emotions. This wasn't like him—he was always calm, always in command. But today, something was different. And that something seemed to be her.

"Just... make sure it doesn't happen again," he finally said, his voice lower, though still carrying a note of impatience. "And for the record, it's Mr. Makhana. No extra 'a's in his name. It's important to get the details right, especially when dealing with clients."

She nodded, scribbling a quick note in her notepad before looking back at him. "Understood, sir. I'll inform him you'll see him now."

Neil waved her off, trying to push the irritation aside as he mentally prepared to deal with Mr. Makhana. But even as she walked out of the office, his eyes followed her for a moment longer than necessary. There was something about the way she handled his reprimand, the calmness under pressure, that both frustrated and intrigued him.

As he turned back to his desk, Neil couldn't help but wonder why she was getting under his skin so easily. He shook his head, dismissing the thought. He had a meeting to focus on, and he couldn't afford to let his emotions get in the way. But the feeling lingered, an unsettling awareness that this wasn't the last time she would challenge his carefully maintained composure.

_______________________

"Avni, what is wrong with you?!" she muttered to herself in frustration, her voice barely above a whisper as she sat in her small cabin, her head resting in her hands. The events of the morning replayed in her mind, each mistake glaringly obvious, each one piling onto the other until they felt like a mountain she couldn't climb over.

She rubbed her temples, trying to soothe the growing headache that had taken root since the moment she had arrived at the office. It wasn't just that she had been late—though that had set the tone for everything that followed—it was how everything seemed to go wrong after that. Mispronouncing Mr. Makhana's name, delivering the wrong message to Neil, stumbling over basic tasks she knew she could handle in her sleep... it was like her brain had decided to take a day off, leaving her fumbling and flustered.

"This is not how you wanted your first day to go," she sighed, leaning back in her chair and staring up at the ceiling. She had been so excited about this job, so determined to make a good impression, and yet here she was, counting all the ways she had managed to screw things up. The worst part was the way Neil had looked at her—disappointed, irritated, and just a little bit angry. She could still hear the sharpness in his voice when he had reprimanded her, and it stung more than she cared to admit.

"Come on, Avni, get it together," she muttered, giving herself a pep talk. "It's just a rough start. You can turn this around. You have to."

She glanced at her reflection in the small mirror on her desk. Her hair was still slightly damp from the rain, and she noticed a few strands clinging stubbornly to her face. She pushed them back with a sigh, trying to collect herself. She had faced challenges before—she wasn't going to let one bad day define her or this job.

Taking a deep breath, Avni opened her notebook and started reviewing the tasks she had for the rest of the day. She needed to be focused, precise, and above all, calm. She couldn't afford any more mistakes, not if she wanted to prove herself capable of handling this role.

"One thing at a time," she reminded herself, scribbling down a quick list of priorities. "You're good at this, Avni. You know you are. It's just the first day jitters. Shake it off and show them what you can do."

She looked at the clock on her desk. There was still plenty of time to salvage the day, to make things right. And maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to show Neil that she wasn't just some inexperienced rookie who couldn't handle the pressure.

With renewed determination, Avni stood up, straightened her kurta, and walked out of her cabin, her mind focused on the tasks ahead. She wasn't going to let a few slip-ups define her. This was her chance to prove herself, and she wasn't going to let it slip away.

Holding onto the files in her arms, Avni took a deep breath, gathering every bit of confidence she had left before heading to Mr. Raizada's cabin. The weight of the morning's mistakes still hung heavy on her, but she was determined to make things right. With the files embraced tightly against her chest, she shouldered her way through the door, expecting to find Neil seated at his desk, as usual.

But as fate would have it, just as she pushed the door open, it swung inward more forcefully than she anticipated. Avni stumbled forward, her heart skipping a beat as she suddenly found herself face-to-face with Neil, who had been in the process of opening the door from the other side. Their eyes met in a split second of surprise, and before she could react, her momentum carried her right into him.

The impact was gentle but enough to knock the files out of her grasp, scattering papers across the floor in a messy heap. Avni gasped, her hands instinctively reaching out to steady herself, only to find them awkwardly pressed against Neil's chest. She froze, her cheeks flaming red as she realized the position she was in—practically leaning against her boss, her face just inches from his.

Neil, to his credit, had reacted quickly, one arm instinctively wrapping around her waist to keep her from falling completely. His other hand still held the door, but his usual composure was momentarily shaken as he looked down at her, their proximity leaving both of them slightly breathless.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Avni's mind raced, the embarrassment of the situation flooding her senses. She couldn't believe this was happening—of all the ways to make an impression, this was definitely not what she had in mind.

"I—I'm so sorry, sir," she stammered, pulling back quickly and stepping out of his personal space. Her heart was pounding, her mind scrambling to find something to say that would make this less mortifying.

Neil blinked, the surprise in his eyes quickly replaced by something else—something she couldn't quite place. He released his hold on her, straightening himself as he looked down at the mess of papers on the floor. "It's... alright," he said, his voice oddly soft, as if he was trying to find the right words himself. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Avni replied quickly, bending down to gather the scattered documents, her hands trembling slightly. She could feel his gaze on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look up, not yet. Her mind was still reeling from the unexpected closeness, and she needed a moment to compose herself.

Neil knelt down beside her, surprising her once again. He began helping her pick up the papers, his movements calm and methodical. "It was my fault," he said after a pause, his tone more even now. "I didn't expect anyone to be on the other side of the door."

Avni glanced up at him, finally meeting his eyes. There was no anger there, no sign of the irritation she had come to expect from him. Instead, there was something almost... apologetic in his expression, as if he understood how rattled she must be.

They continued picking up the papers in silence, the air between them heavy with unspoken thoughts. When the last of the documents was back in her arms, Neil stood up, offering her a hand to help her to her feet. She hesitated for just a moment before taking it, her fingers brushing against his in a way that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Thank you," she said softly, finally finding her voice. "I'll be more careful next time."

Neil gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod. "It's fine," he repeated, though there was a hint of something in his voice that made her think he was just as unsettled by the encounter as she was. "Let's go over these files."

Avni nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and something she couldn't quite name. She followed him into the cabin, her heart still racing, but this time, it wasn't just because of her earlier mistakes. There was something different about the way Neil had looked at her—something that made her wonder if perhaps, just perhaps, she wasn't the only one feeling the strange tension between them.

______________

Hola Amigos!! 

I had to write something regarding the monsoon season, it was the demand of heavy rain in Mumbai. 

I always want such situations in real life, but sticky puddles have always left me to detest rain, while my glasses never helped in me drenching in rain. Let me also add few other things which lets me detest rain- handling devices, mobile, laptop, glasses again, college stationary/projects. and what not!! Family chiding and- 

I have a long list...But the way Avni had a moment in Rain I wish all the girls and guys out there could feel rather than being irritated by it- which I always do.

Just another perspective of looking at the rain.

"Mud puddle cackling behind the scene"

Anyways, please share your love, make sure to vote, comment and share.

I won't be able to know if you liked my work or not.

Amor Seem.