The blooming Magnolia

Chapter : 9

The rain was back at its previous pace as I sat on the driver's seat with the woman seated beside me in an uncomfortable silence. On the way to her house, the weather got worse. It was becoming harder and harder to look beyond the windshield as the thick rain poured haphazardly on it. The wipers literally appeared hopeless. I was driving at a slower pace to avoid bumping into other cars as I could not see anything properly. The strong sounds of the rain falling over the car hood was doubled by the thunder and lightning. Miss Tripathi seemed to slowly relax on her seat listening to the songs on her phone. Now that I knew she was uncomfortable with lightning, I gave her my headphone so that she could stop being afraid.

The traffic was unbearable with jam packed vehicles moving at a turtle pace on the water logged road. My car stopped every 2-3 minutes. The otherwise 30 minute journey would likely take an hour.

I couldn't help stealing silent glances at her from the rear-view mirror when the car stopped at a signal.

She had her eyes closed as she leaned back on the seat with the headphones on her ears and the cellphone on her hand. I wasn't sure if she was sleeping. She slowly tried to cover herself with her dupatta with her eyes still closed. She might be feeling cold. I adjusted the temperature of the AC to a higher degree. I turned to the beautiful view beside me.

She had a wheatish complexion which was glowing more in the peacock blue colored kurti. Her curls were lazily lying over her shoulders. A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes which were partially covered by the glasses. Her nose was buttony and her lips... I shouldn't be thinking all this. I looked away from her face. What is happening to me? I am not supposed to be like this. It's only been a few hours that I had met her. But why does she feel so familiar?

I restarted the engine at the green signal trying to dismiss my thoughts. The vehicles around constantly honked.

She suddenly stirred, before sitting straight on the seat. I tried to flash a smile at her but she seemed so stony. Was she avoiding me for some reason? Why would she?? We just met 3 hours ago. Vansh thought to himself.

I saw her making a few calls to someone. The first one probably went unanswered but she talked with someone in the next call. What I could understand was she had someone waiting for her back at home. She was telling that person that she would be home soon. I wondered who that might be. She said she lived in Patna so she might be staying with her relatives here.

I saw her pulling the headphones out of her ears. I worriedly said, "Please don't pull them out. The thunder has not stopped yet."

Not listening to me she quietly kept the headphones on the back seat of the car and said, "It's okay. I don't need it anymore."

"What if you're scared again?" I asked.

Those dark wistful eyes gazed at me making me nervous for a second before she looked down to her hands again. Then came a soft

"I am used to it."

Her words somehow hit me deep. I didn't reply. I couldn't.

The next 30 minutes went by in complete silence before I stopped outside her apartment. Despite my repeated requests to take the car inside the parking area , she didn't allow me to. As she proceeded to move out of the car I said, "Please take the umbrella at least , Miss Tripathi. You will get sick."

"No, I don't need it. Thank you for the lift and for offering me the umbrella. Good night Mr Arora." She said and walked away.

What's with this woman? So stubborn. Why the hell was she so cold towards me? I was now a bit offended by her behavior.