After reaching Magenta, Abhi parked the car and turned to Nandini. "Okay, Nandini, you’re home," he said, glancing at the still pouring rain outside.

Nandini looked at him with concern. "Abhi, it's still raining heavily. I advise you to wait for a while until the rain slows down. It's risky to drive in this weather. Come inside, we can talk about old times and have some tea."

Abhi hesitated, dripping wet and uncomfortable. "No, I’m fully soaked. Maybe some other time. I have to come this way until my aunt gets better anyway."

Nandini insisted, "I’ll arrange clothes for you. Don’t worry about it. Come on, Abhi."

Reluctantly, Abhi agreed. "Okay, Nandini."

Once inside her home, Abhi noticed how stunning Nandini looked, even more beautiful than the last time he had seen her. Her presence exuded a calm grace, even as she busied herself finding dry clothes for him. She handed him clothes that belonged to her husband, who was away on a business trip.

"How is Ravi?" Abhi asked, accepting the clothes.

"He's fine, just busy with office work," Nandini replied, her voice carrying a hint of affection.

After changing into Ravi’s clothes, Abhi joined Nandini in the living room. She handed him a cup of hot tea, and they both settled down, enjoying the warmth of the tea and the coziness of the moment. Nandini was wearing a sleeveless gown that highlighted her natural beauty even more, making her look effortlessly radiant. Abhi couldn’t help but admire her, his eyes following her every movement.

Nandini noticed his gaze and smiled softly. "Abhi, do you remember the day when our seniors asked you to propose to me on our first day?"

Abhi chuckled, "Of course, I remember. It was a dare, and I was so nervous."

Nandini looked at him with a twinkle in her eye. "You did it so nicely. I have to tell you a secret—I started dreaming about you after that day. It might have been one-sided love, but a few days later, Ravi proposed to me. He was my childhood friend, so I decided to go with him. You never talked to me much, so I wasn't aware of your feelings."

Abhi's expression softened. "I took that incident as something that made you uncomfortable. I thought you would feel uneasy if I spoke with you more. But the truth is, I have been dreaming about you too, Nandini. Even today, seeing you, I can't help but feel the same way."

The rain continued to pour outside, creating a soothing backdrop to their conversation. The warmth between them grew as they reminisced about their shared past, their laughter filling the room. Abhi couldn't take his eyes off Nandini, her presence stirring feelings he had buried long ago.

Nandini looked at Abhi, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Life has a funny way of bringing people back together," she said softly.

Abhi reached out and gently took her hand in his, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "Yes, it does," he replied, his voice filled with longing.

They sat there, hands entwined, the connection between them rekindled in the most unexpected way. The rain outside seemed to cocoon them in their own world, a world where time stood still, and only their hearts spoke.

© Aman