Drenched Heart's || COMPLETED✔️||

Healing in the Rain

He arrived at the quaint little café that overlooked the rain-drenched streets. Inside, he spotted Anjali sitting by the window, her expression contemplative as she gazed outside. The warm glow from the café contrasted with the grayness of the rainy evening, but what caught his attention was how beautiful she looked, even amidst her worries.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and walked inside, ready to face whatever emotions lay ahead.

"How are you?" he asked as he settled into the seat.

"I'm fine, how about you?" she replied in a soft yet soothing voice.

"I'm good. Um, I'm sorry—" His words were cut off by her.

"Do you like the rain?"

"Huh? Oh, no, not really," Aryan replied, confused by the sudden change of topic.

"I love the rain," Anjali said, her voice soft. "When raindrops fall on my face, it's like they're helping to ease the pain in my heart. Rain and books are the only things that bring me peace."

"You know," she continued,

"I started writing books because it was the only place where I could truly express myself."

She took a sip of her chai, her eyes reflecting memories from the past.

Aryan leaned in, his attention completely focused on her. "When I was in college..."

she began, her voice steadying as she took comfort in his presence. Aryan listened closely, eager to hear her story.

"A senior had a crush on me. He was in his final year, and I was in my third year. I wasn't always like this,"

she laughed softly, but the weight of her memories was clear in her voice.

"One day, my classmates told me that this senior had called me to the canteen. Without thinking much, I went. When I got there, he was on his knees, proposing to me. Everyone thought I liked him too, but that wasn't true. I rejected him, and just like that, the smile on his face disappeared. It was replaced by anger. I ignored it and walked away."

Her voice faltered, the pain of those memories resurfacing.

"Months passed, and there was a festival at our college. That night... that night was the worst of my life."

Anjali's hands shook, and Aryan instinctively reached out, holding her hand, rubbing his thumb gently across her knuckles to comfort her.

"I wasn't feeling well, so I left the fest early to go back to my flat. It was late, and I was alone. I-i-i waited for a cab, put in my earphones, and st-st-arted listening to music."

Her voice trembled as the flashbacks played in her mind. Aryan's grip tightened; he was not going to let her face this alone.