Anurāgaḥ

Chapter 1

Play the song above when you see ▵▵▵

~ Arjun ~

I sat at my desk, with a mountain of paper work to finish. My team and I had recently taken out a gang and their illegal business and now that the fun part was over, we were drowning in the legalities and paper work of the whole ordeal. 

"Chotu, ek chai" I called out to the sweet little helper thats always around. Right now I need tea otherwise my head would burst into a million pieces. 

As I was flipping through a few pages my phone rang and read out AMMA. 

"I expect you home by 5pm today and you need to take a day off tomorrow" her voice came through the line as soon as I picked up. 

"Hello to you too Amma," I tried to give her sass. Keyword tried.

"Ah ha, of course these things only matter to DCP sir now. For the past few weeks you've forgotten all about me and all of a sudden you're upset over the lack of hello?" Came her reply. 

"Sorry Ma, I've been too busy with work and now I'm swamped in paperwork" 

"I don't want to hear any of your excuses. You're taking a day off tomorrow and that's it," With that final statement, she cut the call.

I closed my eyes in defeat. There is no winning with this woman. 

"Bhai, your chai" Chotu finally came back with my much needed replenishment. 

"Thanks chotu" I said and got back into finishing off whatever document I stopped on last. My mother has passed her order and if I wanted to obey, I needed to finish this off as fast as I could. 

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Later that day at 8:30pm 

I know Amma told me to get back home by 5 but if she wanted me to take the day off tomorrow, she has got to compromise. 

Exhausted from the long day, I couldn't be bothered to drive. I silently passed my keys to my best friend and loyal coworker, Chandu. He understood my silent plea and chuckled while shaking his head and got into the drivers seat of my jeep. 

There was minimal traffic on the way back home but with the constant pour of rain, it was quite difficult to get through the roads at a faster speed. But as inconvenient as it might be, I love this weather, I find it absolutely relaxing and therapeutic. Hands down my favourite season for sure. 

The car was filled with comfortable silence until Chandu breaks it with "Arjun, could we stop at the chemist on our way back. Kaavya asked for a few medicines for Jaanu," Kaayva was his wife and Jaanu was their adorable 2 year old daughter. 

"Of course."

"Okay give me 5 minutes, I'll be back before you know it," He said as he opened the car door. 

"Take your time, no rush," I smiled as he left and went back to looking out the window into the beautiful rainy night. 

That's when I saw her. 

▵▵▵

Love at first sight.. It wasn't really a concept I believed in.

That is until I saw her.

One look at her and she swept me off my feet.

She was dancing in the rain without a care in the world, smiling and laughing along with the children. Having fun as if it's the only thing that mattered right now. 

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. 

The only source of light was the faded street lamp, yet I could see her as clear as day. 

Her waist long wavy hair. Her intoxicating eyes. Her breathtaking smile. Her alluring aura.

They say your world stops for a moment when you meet your soulmate, she indeed stopped my world. 

I heard violins and flutes playing somewhere in the background and in that moment I decided that if I ever got married, it would be to her and her only.

▵▵▵

I was completely engrossed in her that I didn't even realise that Chandu came back. I was brought back to reality when he suddenly said, "Should we go, or do you want to keep looking at her some more?" 

I turned towards him and with a slight blush and said "Shut up Chandu, keep driving. I need to go home and sleep, I'm too tired." 

"Sure sure, I am telling Sita Amma though," He chuckled.

"Oh drop it Chandu, it was nothing, I was just enjoying the weather" I said turning my face so he doesn't see the growing embarrassment on my face. 

He chuckled but luckily dropped the topic. Another 10 minutes in silence and we finally reached my house. 

"Thanks Chandu, take care and drive safe, text me once you get home" I said while getting down from the jeep. 

"Sure, I'll drop your jeep off tomorrow morning," 

I nodded and walked towards my house, knowing that my mother and sister would still be awake waiting for me to return. 

As soon as I entered, my beloved monkey engulfed me in a hug while my mother stood up from the couch and said "hmmm, I said 5pm and sir decides to show up at 9pm," she walked away towards the dining table and starting resetting the dinner. 

I detangled myself from my sister and kissed her forehead and walked towards my mother. 

"Amma..." 

"What?" she asked without looking at me. 

"Ma, I'm sorry, but I had to finish all the pending work if I wanted to take the day off tomorrow" I said trying to pacify her. 

"So you've got the say off tomorrow," she turned towards me with a glow on her face. 

I chuckled "If the maharani has commanded, would it really be possible for me to disobey" 

She twisted her lips as my sister let a laugh out behind me, "Shut up and go freshen up, I'll reheat the dinner." 

I quickly did as I was asked, not wanting to upset her anymore. 

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I came back down after taking a refreshing shower and sat down to eat dinner and relax with my mum and sister. I debriefed them on my day, conveniently leaving out the details of the rain girl, and listen to the happenings of their day. 

As I finished my dinner my mother said "Okay go sleep now, I'll be waking you up early tomorrow, I don't want excuses about how you haven't gotten enough sleep and whatnot." 

"Okay, but what do I need to wake up early for?" I questioned. 

"It's a surprise Anna" my sister said giggling with my mother, as if there was an inside joke that I wasn't part of. 

"Okay that's enough, go to sleep now both of you," my mother said. 

Pranavi skipped off towards her room still giggling while I skeptically eyed my mother and walked towards my room, shaking my head. These two woman are always up to something. 

Shaking off all thoughts, I crashed on my bed. I'll think about everything else tomorrow morning, right now I need sleep and with that I drifted off to sleep, still thinking about my rain girl ♥

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This is a kind of short update but it is more of introducing the main lead and setting the scene if yk what I mean :)

The next chapter will be more focused on Subha :)) 

Thanks for reading ♥