Misty Rain

25. what's there in your eyes

Jagathi's face lit up as she saw her senior, Hasit, and her friend, Pavani, walk into the room. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she beamed at them. Shourya, sitting quietly by her side, observed her enthusiasm with a soft smile.

Urmila entered the room, balancing a tray of coffee cups. "Here you go," she said, offering the steaming mugs to everyone.

"Hasit, Pavani! It’s been so long! How have you both been?" Jagathi exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine excitement.

Pavani’s face brightened as she chuckled, "Seriously, you remembered me? It's been ages!"

Jagathi grinned, her eyes shining with warmth. "Of course, I remember! Chachi," she said, turning to Urmila, "this is Hasit, my senior from college, and this is Pavani, my friend."

Urmila smiled warmly at them, offering a respectful "Namaste" to both.

Hasit leaned forward with a proud smile, handing Jagathi an invitation card. "I’m going to take charge as chairman of our college. My dad has handed over all the branches of SH Colleges to me. We're organizing a big event soon, and it's also going to be like a get-together. You have to come," he said, his tone filled with excitement.

Jagathi looked at the card in her hand and grinned. "Congratulations!" she said sincerely, admiring the card.

Pavani, leaning in eagerly, added, "Please! Please! Say yes, Jagathi!"

Jagathi smiled, looking between them. "I’ll check with my brothers and my dad first. Once I get their approval, I’ll let you know," she replied, her tone playful yet thoughtful.

Hasit laughed, shaking his head. "You haven’t changed at all after all these years."

Pavani's eyes shifted to Shourya, her curiosity piqued. With a mischievous smile, she leaned in closer to Jagathi and whispered, "Who is this handsome guy?"

Jagathi couldn’t help but smile at Pavani’s playful tone. She gently nudged her friend and whispered back, "Leave it, Pavani. He’s an innocent fellow. If he were in college with us, we’d probably tease him endlessly."

Pavani giggled, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she glanced back at Shourya, who remained quiet and composed, unaware of their teasing. Jagathi then turned to Shourya and introduced him, her voice softening with affection. "This is Shourya," she said, gesturing towards him. "

Shourya, noticing the attention, gave a polite smile and a small nod, still not fully understanding the playful exchange. Jagathi turned to Pavani and Hasit, "Shourya, this is Pavani, my friend, and Hasit, my senior from college."

Pavani’s eyes widened, and she flashed Shourya a teasing grin. "Nice to meet you, Shourya," she said.

Hasit glanced at Shourya with a thoughtful expression, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Shourya! I think I know you. I’ve seen you somewhere before," he said, his gaze lingering for a moment as if trying to place where.

Shourya, a little taken aback, just smiled politely, unsure of when or where Hasit might have seen him.

Hasit then checked his watch and sighed. "Alright, guys, I’m getting late," he said, standing up. "Jagathi, don’t forget—*you* have to come to the event!"

Jagathi nodded, her expression both excited and a little thoughtful. "I won’t forget, Hasit. I’ll check with my family and let you know," she promised.

Pavani, standing beside Hasit, waved with a cheerful smile. "Take care, Jagathi! See you soon!" she called out as she followed Hasit out the door.

As the door clicked shut behind them, Jagathi stood for a moment, holding the invitation card, a mix of excitement and contemplation crossing her face. Shourya, still sitting quietly beside her, gave her a curious glance, sensing the shift in mood.

"Looks like it’s going to be a fun event," he said softly, breaking the silence.

Jagathi smiled, looking at him with a twinkle in her eye. "Yeah, but let's see if I can convince my brothers and Dad first," she replied, already thinking ahead.

As soon as Pavani and Hasit left, Jagathi raised an eyebrow and turned to Shourya with a playful grin. "Oye, Shourya," she teased, "I think Pavani’s fallen for you."

She reached over to the table and grabbed a laddoo, popping it into her mouth, clearly amused by the whole situation.

Shourya, rolling his eyes, chuckled softly. "Very funny," he muttered, shaking his head, before heading toward his room. But as he walked away, his mind raced. Oh, idiot Jagathi. I came here to make you say yes to our marriage, and you’re busy fixing me up with your friend! Oh God, this is so irritating.

Jagathi, not one to let him off the hook so easily, followed him. "Oye," she called, catching up with him. "Tell me, is she beautiful?"

Shourya sighed, trying to ignore her, but she wasn’t giving up. He turned back to face her abruptly, and in the process, Jagathi lost her balance and nearly stumbled. Without thinking, Shourya reached out, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards him with surprising force. Their bodies collided, and for a brief moment, Shourya’s heart skipped a beat, his chest pressing against hers.

Be careful," he said softly, his grip steadying her as he looked into her eyes. His breath caught for a moment, but he quickly pulled away, keeping his composure.

Jagathi blinked, momentarily disoriented by the sudden proximity. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she took the laddoo from her hand and popped it into Shourya’s mouth before he could react.

"You have something in your eyes, Shourya," she said with an innocent smile. "I don’t know what it is, but by the way, how’s the laddoo?"

Shourya, caught off guard with his mouth full, couldn’t do anything but signal with his hand, giving her a thumbs-up, his eyes still wide from the surprise. He chewed, savoring the sweet taste, and then nodded in approval. "Amazing," he said, still half-smiling as he backed away toward his room, still thinking, One day, Jagathi, you’ll understand what’s in my eyes... A blush crept up his face as he disappeared into his room, the weight of his feelings lingering in air.

Keep smiling
God bless you
Chandanakshi