A mischievous smile curled at the corner of Shourya’s lips as he glanced at Jagathi. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Jagathi, do you believe in ghost stories or things like that?”
Shourya’s mischievous smile widened as he took in Jagathi’s theatrics. She leaned closer, adopting a mockingly sinister expression like an old-time movie villain. “Why wouldn’t I believe in it? I’m very familiar with black magic,” she whispered dramatically. “I’m a pro in it, you know… especially in spells like chathabadi and bananathi.”
Shourya raised his eyebrows in pretend shock. “Really? So, was it you last night, practicing your spells? I heard strange noises from the terrace but… I was way too scared to check it out.”
Jagathi tried to hold back her laughter, her eyes twinkling as she continued her villainous act. “You should be scared,” she replied, making her voice as eerie as possible. “I could have summoned all sorts of spirits to roam around…”
Meanwhile, their two dogs, Tiger and Bruno, who were lounging nearby, overheard the strange conversation. Tiger glanced at Bruno with a concerned look, while Bruno’s eyes widened.
“Did you hear that?” Bruno muttered in dog-speak, backing up a little. “I always thought Jagathi was innocent, but… oh my dog… she might actually be into black magic!”
Tiger snorted. “Stop overreacting. She’s just joking.”
Bruno shook his head, looking horrified. “No way. If you believe me, one day, she’ll probably be at the center of some spooky ritual, offering up poor, innocent creatures like us to Kashmora or other spirits. I’m telling you, I’m staying far away from her.”
With that, Bruno bolted, running in circles around the garden. Tiger sighed and ran after him, trying to reassure his overly dramatic friend. “Bruno, calm down! She’s not that kind of girl!”
Shourya raised an eyebrow, still curious. “So, what were you really doing on the terrace so late?”
Jagathi’s lips curved into a secretive smile. “That’s my personal space—completely mine, forever. It’s something nobody should ask about, and nobody should know. Even my brothers don’t have a clue. And if you did overhear something… don’t mention it to anyone.”
Shourya tapped his own shoulder, grinning. “You’re talking to the best secret-keeper in town. Look at me, holding onto one of Jagathi’s secrets.”
She narrowed her eyes playfully. “If I ever find out you’ve leaked my secret, Shourya, I’ll go all out. I’ll learn every black magic spell in the book, just for you, and I’ll make sure they work.”
Shourya gasped dramatically, putting a hand to his heart. “Oh no! Now I’m really terrified.”
As they continued walking through the fields, Jagathi led Shourya further down the winding path where a group of farmers was hard at work. Shourya spent some time speaking with them, discussing crops, soil quality, and even advising them on how to manage plant diseases. The farmers seemed impressed, nodding as he explained a few practical methods.
When they finally moved on, Jagathi looked at him, a bit surprised. "Not bad," she said with a playful smirk. "You actually know quite a lot about this stuff."
Shourya chuckled, glancing at Jagathi with a mischievous smile. “I have to say, every other time I've seen you, you’re either in a simple pajama suit, your brothers’ T-shirts, or some tracks. Is there something—or someone—special today? You're actually wearing a churidar.”
Jagathi raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Oh, so I don’t normally look good?"
Shourya’s reply came quickly, almost instinctively. "No, you look wonderful," he said, the sincerity in his tone catching her by surprise.
"She gave him a triumphant smile, adjusting her dupatta with a little flourish. “Exactly! That’s why I wore it. But just so you know, I don’t dress up for anyone else; I get ready for myself. I like myself way too much.” She playfully pinched her own cheek, then gave it a light kiss to her fingers.
He couldn’t help but smile, watching her infectious energy
they continued walking through the fields, the vibrant energy between them as warm as the morning sun.
Jagathi glanced up at the sky and said, “Shourya, we should head back to the house in five minutes, or else the rain will catch us.”
Shourya raised an eyebrow, skeptical, as he looked at the sky, now clouded over with dark, swirling clouds. “Really? I don’t believe you,” he said, his voice laced with playful doubt.
She tapped his shoulder, grinning mischievously, and before he could respond, she started running. “Run fast, if you want to stay dry!” she called out over her shoulder.
Shourya couldn’t help but chuckle, then quickly began sprinting after her, the rain seemingly chasing them like a predator. The sky cracked open, and the first heavy droplets hit the ground, forcing them both to increase their pace. Jagathi stretched her hand out, letting the rain droplets touch her palm as she laughed, her veil flying in the wind.
The two of them raced towards the large tree ahead, their breath coming out in rapid bursts. Just as they reached it, the rain came down in full force, soaking everything in its path. They stood underneath the tree, panting, their clothes damp with rainwater. Jagathi, still laughing, high-fived Shourya, both of them exhilarated by the race and the sudden downpour.
“Well, that was close,” Shourya said, catching his breath. “You were right about the rain.”
Jagathi grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Told you! You just had to trust me.”
They stood there, under the tree, as the rain poured down around them, the sound of the storm adding to the warmth.
Jagathi leaned back against the tree, a peaceful smile on her face, her fingers lightly tracing the rough bark. "This is my friend," she said softly, almost as if speaking to the tree itself.
Shourya raised an eyebrow, surprised. "This tree? Your friend?"
She nodded, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Yes! And those peacocks, too," she added, pointing to one of the peacocks that was gracefully dancing nearby.
She then turned her gaze back to the tree, her voice gentle yet playful. "I want a custard apple," she said, as if making a quiet request.
Shourya let out a small laugh. "Oh really? You think the tree is going to hand you a custard apple?"
To his astonishment, before he could finish his sentence, a ripe custard apple fell from the tree and landed perfectly in Jagathi's outstretched hand. She raised her eyebrows in triumph, a wide grin spreading across her face as she held the fruit up to him.
Shourya stared at her, his mouth slightly open in shock. "Wait... Do you really know Black Magic?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Keep smiling
Chandanakshi
YOU ARE READING
Misty Rain
Romance"Oye, Miss Universe," he teased, a playful grin dancing on his lips. She shot him a fierce glare, determination etched across her features, and turned away to walk forward. "Lucky!" he called after her, quickening his pace. She continued to ignore h...
