YOU AND ME

Ayush

The airport was a whirlwind of noise and movement. People rushed around me, announcements blaring overhead, but all I could focus on was the weight of my upcoming meeting. Jaipur had been a last-minute stop, and now I was headed back to Delhi to finalize details for a major business deal. My secretary, Ravi, was buzzing at my side, reminding me for the hundredth time that we were on a tight schedule.

"Mr. Sharma, we need to hurry. The

meeting is in a few hours," he said, practically bouncing on his feet.

"I know, Ravi. Just relax. We have time," I muttered, though the truth was, I felt the pressure too.

As we moved through security, I barely registered the people around me, my mind already running through potential talking points for the meeting. But then, out of nowhere, it happened. I wasn't looking where I was going, and I collided with someone. Hard.

For a split second, I was disoriented. The scent of jasmine filled the air, and when I looked down, I saw her-dark curls spilling over her shoulders, skin the color of rich caramel, and those eyes... she was stunning. Time seemed to slow as I stared at her, my heart doing an unexpected flip in my chest.

"I'm so sorry," I stammered, trying to gather myself, but she barely gave me a second glance. Her voice was soft, almost distant as she muttered a quick, "It's fine," before walking away.

I watched her, unable to move, my pulse racing. There was something about her, something that made it impossible to tear my eyes away. My mind went blank, all thoughts of my meeting forgotten.

Ravi was still talking, his voice pulling me back to reality. "Sir, are you alright? We should get moving."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, though I couldn't stop myself from glancing back at her retreating figure. What was it about her? There was something... magnetic.

We moved through the airport, but my thoughts were no longer on business. She was all I could think about. I had no idea who she was, but I had to find out. There was a pull, something deeper, and I wasn't the kind of man to ignore it.

As we made our way outside, I spotted her again-standing by a taxi, her bags being loaded into the trunk. Without thinking, I grabbed Ravi's arm. "Follow that cab."

Ravi blinked in surprise. "Sir?"

"You heard me. Follow her."

Ravi didn't argue. He knew me well enough to understand when I was serious. We slipped into our own car, and I watched intently as her taxi pulled away. The streets of Jaipur blurred around us, but my focus was entirely on her.

Minutes passed, and finally, her taxi stopped in front of a grand hotel, one of the top ones in the city. She disappeared through the entrance, and my pulse quickened. Who was she? What was she doing here?

I didn't have time for subtlety. I walked straight up to the front desk, flashing my business card at the concierge. "The woman who just checked in-can you tell me anything about her?"

The concierge hesitated, glancing at my card and then at me. He clearly recognized the name. Being a Sharma in business came with its perks. "I'm afraid I can't divulge personal information, sir."

I slipped a few bills across the counter. "I just need her name. That's all."

After a moment of hesitation, he took the money, typing something into the computer. "Her name is Amina. Amina Moyo, from Malawi."

Malawi. Africa. That explained her accent, the slight foreignness in her features. But it only added to the mystery. Why was she here in Jaipur? And more importantly, why did I care so much?

"She's staying in one of our deluxe suites," the concierge added. "Anything else you'd like to know?"

"No, that'll be all. Thank you."

As I turned to leave, my mind was spinning. Amina. A name that now felt etched into my brain, impossible to forget. I had no idea what this connection was, but I wasn't about to let it slip away.

The next day, back in Delhi, I couldn't shake the image of her from my mind. My family greeted me with the usual warmth, but everything felt... off. I went through the motions, hugged my mother, listened to Priya's chatter about school, and exchanged a few jokes with Raj, my older brother. But underneath it all, my thoughts kept drifting back to Amina.

Raj stumbled into the room, a drink already in hand, his usual haze of alcohol surrounding him. "Welcome back, little brother!" he slurred, a broad grin on his face. "Missed me?"

"Yeah, missed you and your bad jokes," I replied, forcing a smile as I plopped down on the couch.

He flopped down next to me, swigging from his glass. "So, what's the plan? Are you finally going to introduce us to your mystery girl? I can't wait to hear about her. She must be some exotic princess or something."

I hesitated. I wanted to tell him about Amina, but I knew how Raj was-his alcohol-fueled antics could draw unwanted attention from our mother. "I met someone in Jaipur," I began, carefully choosing my words.

Raj raised an eyebrow, instantly alert. "A girl?"

I nodded, glancing toward the door to make sure no one was listening. "Her name's Amina. We bumped into each other at the airport. She's from Malawi."

"Malawi? As in Africa?" Raj's surprise was palpable. "Damn, bro. That's bold, even for you. But you know how Ma is. She won't like this at all."

"I know," I muttered, frustration creeping into my tone. "But I can't stop thinking about her. There's something about her that feels different."

Raj leaned back, swirling his drink. "You're playing with fire, Ayush. You know Ma has her plans for you-no one goes against her. And if she finds out you're interested in someone who isn't Indian, you'll have a storm on your hands."

"I can handle her," I replied, but even as I said it, doubt crept in. Ma was a force of nature, and no one in the family could stand against her will.

Raj sighed, taking a long gulp of his drink. "Just be careful, man. If you're serious about this girl, you'll need to be smart about it. Ma has a way of getting what she wants, and you don't want her interfering."

I nodded, knowing he was right. My mother had always been the one in control, dictating how things went in the Sharma household. But I was determined. I had to see Amina again. Whatever this was between us, I wasn't going to let it slip away.

No matter what.