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For a long time, Agnes Ferreira stared through the glass doors and windows at the streets of Fontainhas, the latin quarter of Goa's capital, Panaji or locally known as Ponjé. The bougainvillea trees and vines covered most of the narrow lanes and colourful portugese villas that were situated on the left bank of the river, Mandovi. Since it was a coastal region, the rains during the monsoon season were heavy but she didn't mind the heavy downpours, to her, things seemed so much more beautiful when it rained. The rain meant good things for her.
Agnes watched the light outside fade as dark clouds positioned themselves above the city and she was sure that this was the case in many of the neighbouring cities as well. The weather forecast predicted heavy showers for the day and knowing this, she had walked out of her apartment without an umbrella.
Her unruly curly hair, a gift that was passed onto her from her mother, was pulled into what barely passed as a bun as she retrieved a tray of chocolate chip cookies from the oven and placed them on the counter to let them cool off. She had decided she wouldn't bake anything more since it seemed like there wouldn't be any customers coming in that day. There were some leftover chocolates from the other day as well, enough to sell to a handful of customers if, in case, they decide to drop by. After all, it was her shop, no one was there to boss her around or fire her. She did as she pleased.
Wearing her headphones and pressing play on Prateek Kuhad's 100 words, Agnes dropped herself on one of the cushioned chairs and slouched as she propped her bare foot on the chair next to her. She watched the wind blow and slowly and then all at once, the rain that came pouring down. She grinned.
She didn't know how long she sat there, lost in the music as the rain poured with greater intensity by the minute; everything else was still.
Her thoughts ran around her family and friends that she left behind, some intentionally and some that she hadn't meant to.
Agnes must've unconsciously closed her eyes because when the closed doors of the bakery opened, letting in a girl in soaked clothes, she didn't notice. Not, at least, until there was a light tap on her shoulder.
The girl stood next to Agnes, her clothes dripping water on to the tiled floor. Agnes squinted as her blurry vision focused on the girl standing next to her. Her breath immediately got caught in her throat.
Agnes's jaw dropped a little as her eyebrows knitted in confusion. The girl shivered a little. Her yellow floral dress clung on to her thin and small frame and she was panting. Clearly, she hadn't taken an umbrella and got caught in the rain.
"Do you have spare clothes?" the girl in the dress spoke.
"Um... I-I have my baking shirt?"
"Great! Anything would do"
Agnes didn't know why she got up from the chair and went into the kitchen to get her baking shirt without any question. "It has chocolate stains on it and um, it's very loose and big" she informed as she walked back from the kitchen with a long black shirt.
Taking the shirt from Agnes, the girl in the dress said "That's alright. Where can I change?"
Agnes pointed towards the kitchen and stepped aside to make way. As the girl in the dress took tiny but quick steps in the direction of the kitchen, Agnes wondered what she was going to do about pants. Personally, she liked the way the drenched dress clung on to the girl's body and how well it defined her curves. But who was she to give any opinions?
"I hope you don't mind, but I used the towel that was left on the counter to dry my hair" the voice called out as the girl reappeared.
It was then Agnes realized that she hadn't moved from where she had been standing when the girl took the shirt from her. She turned on her heels to face the girl and her breath was caught in her throat for the second time that day.
Agnes was wrong. She liked her better in just the black shirt.
The girl was shorter than Agnes and so the shirt that was long for Agnes herself, fell a little above the girl's knees. She wasn't wearing any pants. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled up. Her long black hair, Agnes noticed, was still a little wet; the small towel could only do so much.
Agnes nodded.
"Rashi" the girl spoke.
"Sorry?"
"My name's Rashi", she stuck out her hand.
Agnes took it as she said "Oh, I'm Agnes"
The two smiled at each other and an awkward minute or two passed before Rashi said "I didn't know it was going to rain today. I'm not from here"
"Where are you from?"
"Gujarat"
"What brings you to Goa?"
"Final year in college, wanted to visit Goa before I graduate."
"Alone?"
Rashi shrugged at that. "I like travelling alone" she said and moved towards one of the chairs next to Agnes before making herself comfortable on the seat. "Tomorrow is my last day here though. I can only afford missing two days of class" she faced up to look at Agnes as she uttered these words.
Rashi had really beautiful eyes, they were big and black. If you were to look closely though, you'd realize that they weren't really black but a dark shade of brown; the most mesmerising ones that Agnes had seen. The way she looked up at her, open eyes, full lips, and the damp hair framing her face made Agnes a little nervous. Right then, Agnes knew she was trouble. Or more specifically, Agnes was in trouble.
"The hotel I'm staying at is like thirty minutes away and I chose the wrong day to rent a bicycle. There was no way I could go all the way there when it's raining like this!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Did it really have to rain?"
"I don't know. I love it"
"I hate it"
"What?! Why would you hate the rain? Have you looked outside? It's the best!", Agnes defended.
Rashi rolled her eyes and Agnes quickly covered up the smile that threatened to show. This confused Agnes, she had never been drawn so easily to someone. Especially not to someone she barely knew.
"It's annoying! You don't get to go outside, my phone has no bars. My clothes are all wet and I'm stuck wearing only a shirt"
"You just need a different perspective". Rashi rolled her eyes again and Agnes couldn't stop her smile from forming. She smiled brightly at Rashi.
"What are you smiling at?"
"Nothing. Are you cold?" Agnes gestured towards the girl, who was hugging herself tightly.
"A little"
"Wait here. I'll get you some hot chocolate"
"Holy shit. I love you!" Rashi exclaimed mindlessly amidst the excitement of being offered some hot chocolate. But this meaningless exclamation got Agnes's heart to skip a beat as she walked into the kitchen and broke into a grin.
