first meeting

Ashi(P.O.V.)

With every step I was taking, my heart was thumping furiously, my chest could feel a sharp stabbing pain, my body went limp and my legs were about to paralyse. My eyes were still closed. with all the courage I had, I was moving ahead.

After a while, I felt something beneath my right foot. Initially, I was baffled about what it could be. Then it hit me and a chill went down my spine.

simultaneously, I reversed my foot back and opened my eyes only to see what I was afraid of. I crushed the tail of a baby monkey under my foot by mistake.

"oh, God! don't....don't do this to me...what's wrong with me...why the hell did I close my eyes? I am so sorry for this baby monkey but I know that they won't say IT'S ALRIGHT" I cursed myself for closing my eyes that arose more problems for me.

"I'm dead now" I whimpered tightening a fist of my hands to control the chaos inside my heart created by the terror looking at Rhesus Macque who were now geckering on me.

They looked into my eyes, opened their mouth and bared their teeth. I was frozen at my place. They were armed with two-inch-long canines. My throat dried out having a glance at their teeth, my voice choked and my eyes filled with tears. They warned me with a grunt. Fear grimaced me accompanied by a scream and mechanically, my legs started running with full strength. All I wanted is to escape from these aggressive Rhesus. They faked a lunge toward me with a shrill. I didn't look back, I was running with all the vitality I had.

Perhaps, they stopped chasing me but I was still running. When I tilted my head slightly to assure that I am far enough to feel safe, I bumped into a boy and we both fell on the ground.

"Hey! I am sorry...so sorry. Ahh! I will kill myself today. Such an unlucky day it is. Are you okay? I am sorry." I blurted out in one breath rushing to get up. I was panting heavily for oxygen to take in.

"It's okay. I am alright. How are you? you look petrified. Is anything off with you?" He asked in his velvet voice with calm manners searching to make sure I am safe.

"oh yeah! yeah! I am all okay. it's just monkeys at the corner of that street which were about to attack me but thankfully I succeeded in escaping from them." I said gesturing with my hand toward the street I just passed.

"oh! I must say your audacity is plausible as it's arduous to escape from Rhesus. May I ask why did they attack you?" He asked expecting me to answer. I didn't utter as I was too busy cleaning the dust off my clothes.

He paused. After a moment, he again spoke up.

"oh sorry!. I don't have good etiquette. I should ask first if you are hurt. Here's a bench nearby. let's have a seat. You must be scared and tired too." he said moving towards the bench. He held out his hand for me with a touch of gentleness.

Without saying anything, I grabbed his hand. The feeling of his hands was reassuring. Then only I looked at his face.

"oh my God!!!" my mouth fell open looking at his face. I was literally staring at him unabashedly. I squinted my eyes once again.

His unfathomable Hazel eyes were radiating brown sun-warmed with inner gold. However, he had a medium skin complexion but he had that appearance that could make him stand out in the crowd. His face had that faraway look in it, which cannot be described in words. My eyes scanned him down. He was not extremely muscular but he had his way of carrying himself.

He furrowed at my unanswered constant gaze.

"what is it?"

I pretended to cough and acted like nothing.

"ohh! it's nothing but just....."

"my eyes??" he narrowed his eyes upper ward.

"What!?" I was shocked. Was I caught staring at him sheepishly? No, that's not good. Then I saw a squirrel and got the idea.

"It's a squirrel just behind you. I was looking at it not YOUR EYES." I rolled the dice cunningly. After all, I would never want to be ashamed in front of a man especially a man like him.

He chuckled at what I said as an excuse. Well, I don't care whatever it is. Meanwhile, I saw sidhi running to me. She stumbled and fell into my arms. I was about to lose my balance if the boy would not hold me up again. She looked more worried than I was a few minutes ago.

"Hey!! are you okay? are you hurt? did they bite you? I am sorry Ashi. I should not have left you alone. Say something. Are you alright?" she said hurriedly in one breath.

"It's ok di. Look! I am all right standing in front of you. Don't worry." I smiled as I knew she was tense for me. No matter how much we fought, we were sisters and loved each other unconditionally. I hugged her.

"Who is he?" she looked questioningly at me. He was standing with complicated expressions. I looked at him blankly to expect an answer as even I didn't know who he was actually.

"umm...I don't know." I said simply what was the truth. She was still confused.

"Are you trying to bamboozle me?" she pouted to get the clarification.

"Answer her!" this time I frowned at him. Then he knew what I meant. He put his hand on his forehead, seemed like he forgot his name and was trying to remember.

"ahh! hii. I am Mark. I am new in this city. I, with my family, have just shifted here a few days ago. I was roaming here enjoying the beauty of this early morning when I saw her in problem and reached out to help her." He introduced himself to us.

Listening to his words 'help', I realised how ungrateful I was. I thanked him respectively.

"Thank you so much for offering a hand."

"You are welcome." He smiled politely.

There was an awkward silence between us. After a second, he nodded reminding me that it was our turn for the intro. I looked at Sidhi for her to reply.

"My name is sidhi and she is my younger sister named Ashi. We have been living here since birth with our parents."

"How did you come to know that monkeys attacked me?" I asked sidhi turning in her direction.

"I will tell you on the way home"

"Okay! " I turned toward Mark. "nice to meet you. Looking forward to seeing you again." I greeted him.

"Thanks once again. Have a nice day!" Sidhi said.

"Yeah, sure! see you soon. " he waved his hand and we turned around to go away.

At the end of the street, I tilted my head slightly to see him again only to find his back on me.