By redactorshot@gmail.com The city of Hyderabad was drenched in rain, the kind that washed the streets clean and left the air smelling fresh with a hint of earth. The steady downpour had brought a sense of calm to the otherwise bustling metropolis. The neon lights of the city’s famous cafes and markets reflected off the wet streets, creating a kaleidoscope of colors in the night. Inside one of those cozy cafes in Banjara Hills, Ajay sat at a window seat, staring out at the rain, lost in thought. His fingers absently traced the rim of his coffee cup.
Looking
He was waiting for Sunita. She had always loved the rain—she said it made her feel alive. And for Ajay, she was a force of nature herself. Their relationship had been a whirlwind from the start. Sunita had an air of mystery about her, a dangerous allure that pulled Ajay in deeper every time they met. She was beautiful, yes—her long black hair always perfectly falling in waves, her deep brown eyes that could switch from playful to serious in a heartbeat—but there was something more. Something she hadn’t told him yet.
It had been two months since they met at a mutual friend’s wedding, but in that short time, Ajay had fallen for her completely. He couldn’t get her out of his mind. Her laughter, the way she touched his arm when she teased him, the quiet moments when they would just sit together without speaking—all of it felt perfect, like a dream. Yet there was always an undercurrent of something darker in her eyes, something she was hiding.
The bell above the café door chimed, and there she was. Sunita, dripping from the rain, her black hair plastered to her face, her sari clinging to her body in a way that made her even more breathtaking. Ajay stood up immediately, offering her a towel he had grabbed from a nearby waiter.
“Late again,” he teased, though his eyes were full of warmth.
“Hyderabad traffic, as usual,” she shot back with a grin, her eyes dancing.
They sat down, the air between them crackling with the kind of tension that only lovers who are keeping secrets from each other feel. She took a sip of his coffee, her eyes never leaving his, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to disappear. The rain continued its steady drumming, but inside the café, there was only the two of them.
“So,” Ajay began, leaning forward. “Are you finally going to tell me what’s been bothering you?”
Sunita’s smile faltered, and for the first time that evening, her playful demeanor slipped. She placed the cup down carefully and looked away, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her saree.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something, Ajay,” she said softly, her voice barely audible over the rain. “Something important.”
Ajay’s heart skipped a beat. He had been waiting for this moment. The part of her life she kept hidden, the secrets she never shared—he was about to finally learn what had been haunting her. He reached out, placing his hand on hers. “You can tell me anything, Sunita.”
She looked at him, her eyes filled with hesitation, and then took a deep breath. “There’s someone I’ve been hiding from.”
Ajay’s grip tightened slightly, his mind racing. “What do you mean?”
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m not just a lawyer, Ajay. I used to be married.”
His heart thudded in his chest. This wasn’t the kind of revelation he had expected. “Married? To whom?”
“His name is Sameer,” she continued, her voice shaky. “It was a mistake, Ajay. I was young and naïve. He… he wasn’t a good man. He’s dangerous. When I left him, I thought I could start fresh, leave that life behind. But I was wrong. He’s found me.”
The weight of her words hung in the air between them. Ajay’s mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was telling him. “He’s found you? Is that why you’ve been so tense lately?”
Sunita nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I didn’t want to drag you into this. I thought I could handle it on my own, but he’s been following me. I saw him today, outside my office.”
Ajay’s protective instincts kicked in. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? We need to go to the police.”
She shook her head vehemently. “No, Ajay. You don’t understand. He has connections, powerful ones. The police won’t help.”
Ajay’s hand gripped hers tighter, anger bubbling inside him at the thought of anyone hurting Sunita. “Then I’ll protect you. We’ll figure this out together.”
A flash of fear crossed her face. “I can’t let you get hurt because of me.”
“Sunita, I’m already in this,” he said firmly. “I love you. We’re in this together.”
Before she could respond, the café door swung open violently, and a man stepped inside, shaking off the rain. Ajay felt a chill run down his spine as the man’s eyes landed on their table. He was tall, with a dark, brooding expression, and he radiated an aura of danger.
Sameer.
Sunita’s face drained of color. “That’s him,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Ajay stood up instinctively, positioning himself between Sunita and the man. Sameer walked toward them slowly, a smirk playing on his lips. The tension in the room thickened as customers began to sense the danger.
“So this is the new guy, huh?” Sameer’s voice was cold, his eyes flickering over Ajay with disdain. “You really thought you could hide from me, Sunita?”
Ajay clenched his fists, his muscles tensing. “Leave her alone. Whatever happened between you two is over.”
Sameer chuckled darkly. “Over? No, it’s far from over.”
Sunita stood up, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “Sameer, please. Just let me go.”
Sameer’s expression darkened. “You don’t get to just walk away from me, Sunita. You’re mine.”
The tension snapped like a rubber band. Sameer lunged forward, but Ajay was faster. He blocked Sameer’s punch, his own adrenaline-fueled fist connecting with Sameer’s jaw. A crash echoed through the café as Sameer stumbled into a table, knocking cups and plates to the floor.
“Run!” Sunita cried, grabbing Ajay’s hand.
They bolted out of the café into the rain-soaked streets, the cold drops hitting their skin like needles. Behind them, they could hear Sameer’s shouts, but they kept running, their feet splashing through puddles as they weaved through the narrow alleyways of Banjara Hills.
Breathing hard, they finally stopped in a secluded corner, hidden from view. Sunita collapsed against Ajay, her chest heaving, tears mixing with the rain on her face. He held her tightly, his own heart pounding in his chest.
“I’m not letting him take you,” Ajay whispered fiercely, brushing her wet hair from her face.
Sunita looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and love. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Ajay.”
“You won’t ever have to find out,” he promised, pulling her in for a deep, desperate kiss, the rain falling harder around them, the world disappearing once more as they clung to each other.
The storm may have brought danger, but in that moment, all that mattered was their love. And Ajay knew, no matter what happened next, he would fight for Sunita with everything he had.