“I am waiting downstairs, come down”, he said over phone. She turned sideways to take a final glimpse of her body in the full-length mirror of her room, puckered her lips making sure lip gloss is properly done and brushed her hair a few times taking care of a few unattended locks. She had worn a simple kurti, without glamming up but ensuring the sartorial elegance at the same time. After all, she was going out with him for the first time.

She chose a corner seat in the restaurant, away from staring eyes and entry-exit disturbances. Showing a gentlemanly behavior, he asked her to order. Although she was not a big fan of pizzas, but she had come along. She cursorily glanced at the menu and ordered a farmhouse cheese burst pizza, a name she had come prepared with. Appetite was there, but not for pizza. They just wanted to sit and talk for hours. So, they bought a few hours disguised as pizza.

She had written something for him. He, however, had implored her to read it to him instead of sending it over phone and she had agreed. She pulled out her phone, cleared her throat and started reading. It was a rehash of their story and ripening of her feelings with each passing day. Her articulation was immaculate. Her tempestuous narration was so real that it felt as if she was reliving those moments again. He was bewitchingly looking straight into her eyes. When she looked up in between, their eyes met. Her cheeks flushed with blush, with a demure smile adorning her face. After a lot of persuasion, she started reading again ensuring not to look up this time. He, on the other hand, was spellbound. Without batting an eye, he silently observed her talking, absorbing the existence of her being. He was sitting there catching the whiff of perfume from her body and watching her eyes gleam every time she laughed, her lip movements while grabbing a bite, her cheeks going crimson when she blushed. He wished he could stop time. Helplessly, he gazed the fiery colors of the rain-soaked dusk melting hastily into a moonlit, star-studded canvas in the backdrop of thunderous heart beats.

Love was in the air, lilting like a mellifluent rhythm touching and inebriating every single particle of the atmosphere. And these two souls were drenched in that rain.