Chapter 1.

The night of monsoon rain gives off a certain scent. The flow of air traces your warm skin like a wet leaf falling on it.

The sky becomes flawless after heavy rain, allowing stars to twinkle. It seems like someone is answering your questions, far from the sky. But you just cannot hear them.

The midnight of that day was alike the idealized monsoon night.

The icy breeze numbed my skin, soaking my lashes as I stood against the railing, with a warm shawl wrapped around me, on the porch of my house, admiring the sea.

That was the last thing I could do to drive myself to sleep. I hadn't been able to fall asleep for a month.

It is said the sea is a treacherous place to be after the rain. It can wrap you in its arms without you realizing it. You'll sink deep into the darkness, unable to see the light ever again.

The lurid music it hummed with terrifying tides seemed to be evidence of that claim. It's even louder at midnight.

It was gruesome from afar. I wondered how would it look up close. Or better. Deep in the sea.

I felt bad for the shore, struggling because the clouds couldn't hold in their tears.

The striking waves slapped the shore with such cruelty. My reality wasn't any different from that.

I wondered if my brother felt the same. He was too young to pedal such pain. Because I couldn't control my tears.

I hated to accept that the monsoon was going to leave me loathing it.

The next day arose without a warning. I still hadn't dreamt of sunlight yet. My eyes still were swollen, and my hands were still stony.

I was looking at the sea from the window of my kitchen, when my brother, Taksh, showed up. He walked down the stairs, sitting in front of the counter behind me.

"I'm going to be late!" He panicked, urging me to rush my hands. I still had to cook his breakfast.

He had taken an interest in growing vegetables. And when he met Mrs. Dalvi, he found a way to learn how.

Every day he'd wake up early in the morning and go straight to her house, assisting her to grow the vegetables in her backyard garden. After learning from her, he would help me with the restaurant.

Since Mrs. Dalvi owned a small vegetable shop beside my café. She had to work there as well. Amazing how she also lived ten minutes away from our house.

She agreed to teach him. Maybe because she took pity on us. Or for some other reason. But whatever it was, it helped both of us.

I had never seen him take an interest in something which will wake him up at 6 a.m. I was happy. At least he's trying to live a normal life.

When my father said the monsoon holiday would be well spent. I didn't have this in my mind.

I didn't know that he will not be here to read my brother's night stories or play with him as the rain settled for a while.

I anticipated my mother cooking in the same spot where I was struggling, calling all of us to help her. But she was not there.

They both were far away from us. Somewhere in the sea. They were together. I hated them for it. Why did they not take us with them?

"Tashi, it's burning!" He rattled, dashing at me as he turned off the gas nob, glaring at me in disbelief.

"I'm sorry. Give me five minutes. I'll fix this." I stuttered, picking up the pan from the gas stove.

My café still had to stabilize. I and my brother were the only two workings there. I wasn't looking for an employee either. The work kept my thoughts in line and worn out from overthinking.

Thanks to my father, we didn't have to suffer and we could settle easily. Peacefully, I just wished.

He had paid the last payment of the house and the store, where he wished to settle from the city. The countryside was always my father's dream. His desire and purpose.

Like every day, I gazed at the sea with hope, which was visible from the café as well, and started my daily routine.

Abruptly, Mrs. Dalvi appeared as I placed the coffee for the customer sitting by the window. She was walking with my brother who walked with his bicycle to his side.

The smile on his face was distant. Somewhat not natural. It just had been a week since we shifted there. Three days since he started learning from her. But he already seemed well suited to that place.

It was like he was born and raised there. I didn't think that I'd ever fit in that place ever."Mrs. Dalvi gave this." He appeared at the restaurant after helping Mrs. Dalvi open her store.

"I think my brother's working quite hard to earn this." I stroked his fuzzy black hair, similar to mine, as he smiled.

His black eyes always twinkled like my mother's. Opposite to me and our father. He had taken a lot of our mother's features. And I took mine from our father.

"So, do you want me to make you a strong cup of chai with this? Mrs. Dalvin said this turmeric is as fresh as her youth." I laughed at his silly joke as he walked to the kitchen, ignoring the chattering boys sitting at the table near the window.

"If she hears you say that, she'll stop teaching you." I followed him to the kitchen, watching him wash the turmeric. It did appear fresh and salubrious.

"I don't think she will. She says I'm the most handsome boy she's seen here." He looked back at me as I sat on the counter.

"She's probably partially blind."

We still hadn't been able to attune to the work. It was tiring. And like other days, my brother didn't even try to talk to anyone of his age.

"It was tiring, right?" I stroked his hair, tucking him under the blanket.

"I'm not a kid anymore. You know that?" He teased.

"You're just seventeen," I replied, as I paced to the window.

"It's not just seventeen. I'm just two years younger than you. That makes me old enough." Crackling again, I sat on the chair beside his bed after closing the curtains.

"Does it not mean you should have friends?" His smile dropped, and he wavered his eyes away from mine. "Friends are not that important." He muttered.

"Who said that? Everyone needs a friend." His eyes returned to me. "Why is that?"

"Hmm. Friends, take your problems away. They make you laugh. They listen to you. They don't make you feel lonely. It's like you always have someone to depend on. They help you and most important. They love you."

"Why do I need a friend, then?" His eyes gleamed at me. "I have you. You do all of these things for me."

"I'm still your sister. You need a proper friend." I got up. I didn't want to pressure him. He's been hesitant about this topic since the day we came here.

"You need a friend, too. Someone on whom you can depend." I turned back, freezing. My fingers stopped on the light switch as he added. "I want you to make a friend, too. If you make a friend. I'll make friends too."

My brother's words stoned heavy on my chest as I again stood on the porch of my house for the same reason.

Do I need a friend? Could I depend on someone after my parents?

It hadn't rained that day. So, I wished to take a close visit to the sea. I thought it would unwind me more.

I walked to the sea forming footsteps on the sand. Just my footsteps.

The gust was sharper near the sea. Colder as an ice cube and refreshing as a mint lemonade.

I went near the sea on the first day we reached there. Since then, I hadn't found a chance because of the heavy rain. It was pleasing to feel such serenity again.

No one was there. It felt hollow and frosty.

Sluggishly, I started walking closer to the sea, seeking the unknown in the dark, as a pair of hands yanked me from my waist, leading both of us to fall. "What are you doing?"

His blue eyes glimmered in the surrounding darkness. His curly hair covered most of his forehead, enhancing his peculiar features.

His pale face was as if someone sculptured it. His slim but strong body grasped me closer as I lay numbed on top of him.

For a second, I thought the besieging breeze stopped. The warmth of my body increased and my eyes forgot to blink.

"What are you doing?" He had panic but kindness in his eyes. He was worried but serene.

I quickly climbed off of his body, sitting right beside him as I fixed my clothes. "Are you okay?" He asked, sitting beside me on the sand as he held my chin with his fingers.

He gazed at me with a thawing sensation. It was passive, yet astounding. "Yes. I'm okay." I stuttered, turning aside as I fluttered at the sand.

"What were you doing, then?" His tone reflected concern. "I was. I was just looking at the stars."

"Hmm." Somehow, he didn't strain me to talk as he added, "It sure is a beautiful night. But isn't that too late to admire it?" He again gleamed at me after caressing the night.

"I know. I just couldn't sleep." I again gawked at the deep darkness in the sea. "But I can say the same for you. What are you doing here?"

"Admiring the moon." He simply replied.

I was astonished again as he gazed at the moon longingly. "The moon? Why?" I wanted to see what he was seeing. I wanted to fill my eyes with the same joy his eyes were filled with.

"It's warm. Moon is like a friend to me. I talk to it." His voice was calm and subtle, explained with tranquility.

His words were lax as if your mother stroked your cheek with her warmth.

"Do you get answers?" I asked, to which he mildly chuckled. "No. But at least it hears me patiently. It lets me say whatever I want."

I glared at him in bewilderment again as he said, "You should try too."

I didn't know what to say, and I altered my gaze at the moon.

I wanted to do what he suggested. "Do you live here?" He asked, gazing at me again, and I couldn't disregard his eyes. They looked at me so differently.

"Yes. Right there?" I showed him the wooden house, fixed by enormous stones. "Why is it so dark?" He said, squinting his eyes to take a good look.

"It's night. Of course, it would be dark."

"No. It was dark even when it shouldn't have been." He added, "You should get someone to fix your house's lights. It will look more wonderful with more lights."

He sat close to me. I could feel the warmth of his body grazing me. "You should not hide in the darkness." He gleamed at me with alarming continuity.

My heart pounded faster with his every word. His beauty corrupted my mind.

I hadn't felt even a tiny amount of warmth for the last month and the few moments spent with him were laying heavy on me.

I leaned in, cupping his face in my palms as he rested his face on them. His eyes pulled me closer, and I planted my lips against his.

Warmth. I felt so much warmth.

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