Chapter 1

As June approached its final days, the rain began to fall, wrapping the earth in its soothing embrace. For some, the arrival of rain was a welcomed blessing, filling their hearts with joy and a sense of renewal. Others, however, found themselves disheartened by the disruption it brought to their daily lives. Rain can be a source of comfort when you’re cozied up on your balcony with a plate of pakoras and a warm cup of tea, feeling the world slow down around you. But when you’re caught in the relentless hustle of Mumbai’s crowded streets, the rain can feel like an unwelcome obstacle, amplifying the sense of chaos and frustration.

Today, Mumbai’s scene was a perfect reflection of the stormy weather—rain cascading down in torrents, streets jam-packed with vehicles, and traffic more tangled than ever. The unnecessary honking of horns was drowning out the beautiful sound of the rain.

“Adi, speak to Mr. Bajpai again and confirm our final stand. I will not tolerate any post-meeting changes as per anyone’s convenience,” Sidharth Shukla’s voice was filled with anger. The driver, gripped by fear, clenched the steering wheel tightly, his heart racing as he anxiously pressed the horn. Desperately, he tried to navigate through the heavy traffic, knowing he had to find a way out before his boss’s temper erupted.

Over the years, the driver had come to realize one undeniable truth: his boss, Sidharth Shukla, possessed wealth beyond imagination, almost as if he had more money than anyone could fathom.. Sidharth was strict, extremely punctual, ruthless, and dominating. The driver stole a quick glance at his boss through the rearview mirror, noticing him engrossed in his laptop, and let out a quiet sigh of relief. Sidharth Shukla was not a man to be trifled with—one of India’s most powerful businessmen, celebrated as Businessman of the Year for three consecutive years. His reputation preceded him, and everyone knew better than to cross his path.

As the sky darkened and the rain poured more heavily, Sidharth groaned, brushing his hair back. He despised the rain, loathed being trapped in traffic, and couldn’t stand the thought of time slipping away uselessly. After so many days, he had managed to leave work early to spend time with his mother, but this traffic was ruining his plans.

Frustration evident in his voice, he snapped at the driver, “How much longer before we can get out of this mess?”.

The driver, scared, replied, “A little bit more traffic, sir… at least 30 minutes.”

Frustrated, Sidharth was about to return to his laptop when something caught his eye. Outside the window, a group of boys, likely no older than 14 or 15, played football in a muddy playground beside the road, completely unfazed by the downpour. He rolled his eyes, annoyed by their carefree attitude, finding it hard to understand how they could enjoy themselves in such miserable weather.. But just as he was about to look away, he saw a girl running towards the kids and joining their game.

Sidharth felt something snap inside him, surprising him. He moved closer to the window, his interest growing. The figure in the rain wasn’t a child as he’d first thought, but a young woman, graceful and poised. Her back was turned to Sidharth, concealing her face, yet something about her presence held his attention longer than he expected. His breath hitched as he noticed her curly hair sticking to her neck. She wore a simple crop top and ankle-length jeans, her carefree spirit evident as she leapt joyfully in the rain. Like a child, she played without a care in the world, embracing the heavy raindrops with a sense of freedom that was both captivating and refreshing.

Sidharth found himself frozen, captivated by her. Her white shoes were now covered in mud, but she appeared completely unfazed. Breathtaking—that was the only word his heart could summon as her graceful form danced before his eyes, blending effortlessly into the rain-soaked scene. She captivated him in a way he hadn’t anticipated, her carefree movements leaving an unexpected imprint on his mind.

“Sir, sir, where are you going?”The driver shouted in disbelief, utterly stunned to see his boss—who despised the rain—step out of the car without an umbrella. Sidharth stood there, completely drenched, as if in a trance, oblivious to everything around him, lost in a moment the driver could scarcely comprehend.

Sidharth never realized when he stepped out of the car. He needed to see her face to feel alive. An intense, inexplicable connection pulled him toward her, an almost magnetic force that he couldn’t ignore. It was as if something deep within him was irresistibly drawn to her presence, compelling him to bridge the distance between them.As he reached closer, she turned around, her face meeting his gaze.

Oh, good god. She was the most beautiful and stunning girl he had ever seen. Her almond-shaped eyes were deeply expressive, brimming with emotion. Her fair skin, with its delicate blend of white and pink, glistened in the rain, while her lips, wet and radiant, resembled rose petals. Small curls framed her face, lending her a doll-like charm. Her enchanting smile seemed to infuse him with a renewed sense of purpose, giving him a reason to feel alive.

He stood there, motionless, under the furious rain, completely drenched. Her almond eyes were like an ocean of emotions, so profound that anyone could easily lose themselves in their depths. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her, as if she were the sole person in the world, capturing all his attention and focus.. She was full of life, happiness, and love, making the world blur around him.

For the first time, he wasn’t bothered about his laptop, his mobile, or his work. Her expressions shifted with every passing moment—flashing from smiles to anger, from sweet to playful, from sadness to a charming baby face, and back to a radiant smile. Each emotional change captivated him deeply, making him feel as though he could watch her endlessly, utterly mesmerized by the ever-changing tableau of her feelings.

She shouted and jumped in happiness, “I won… yesss!” Her voice was sweeter than honey.

A small smile crept onto Sidharth’s face, watching her joy. He stood there for what felt like an eternity, lost in his own thoughts, while she remained absorbed in her world, jumping, dancing, and shouting with unrestrained joy. He yearned to gently touch her rosy cheeks, to tuck those playful curls behind her ear, to hold her close and feel the comforting warmth of her presence.

Lost in his thoughts, he moved closer when a girl shouted from a car on the road, “Naaz…!!!!”

Her eyes moved towards the car, and Sidharth stopped in his tracks. The girl shouted again, “Coming…”

Sidharth softly whispered, “Naaz…!!!!” As he whispered her name, he felt a peculiar, yet profound affection stir within him, an emotion that seemed to wrap around his heart with an unexpected tenderness.

Naaz left the ground and started running towards the car. She looked like a princess running in the heavy rain. Sidharth was so absorbed in watching her that he didn’t blink even once. His entire focus was fixed on her every move, utterly captivated by her presence. She reached the car, sat inside, and it zoomed away as the traffic eased.

Sidharth’s eyes widened in shock and fear, watching her leave. He felt an intense desire to see her again, if only for a fleeting moment. The thought of catching another glimpse of her was a longing he couldn’t ignore. But it felt impossible to think of anything else but her. He stood there, endless, under the pouring rain, lost in her thoughts. He closed his eyes, letting the rain cascade over him, feeling its touch as if it were something extraordinary and unique today. The sensation was different, almost magical, as though the water carried a special significance just for him.

The driver shook him slightly, bringing him back to reality. Startled, Sidharth glanced at himself, drenched and soaked, and frantically searched for her. But she had vanished, leaving him alone amidst the rain, with only the memory of her presence lingering in the air. He needed to see her, needed her. He sat back in the car, and it zoomed away. He closed his eyes, angry at himself, trying every way possible not to think of her.

But his angry face turned into a smile, thinking of her smile. It can happen to anybody, anytime, anywhere, anyhow.

He groaned at the most stupid act of his life and wondered how he could get attracted to someone so easily. Did he dream, or was that real?

Her face and smile kept replaying in his mind, a persistent image he couldn’t shake. Frustration boiled over as he struggled to let go of the thought of her, and he snapped at the driver, “How much longer will this take?”

The driver, already unnerved by his boss’s unusual behavior, responded quickly, “Almost there, sir.”

The car moved further, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t move further in his thoughts. All he could think of was her—her curly hair, muddy clothes, that smile on her face, her name.

Naaz.

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Shehnaaz giggled like a child as she sat in the car, completely drenched from the rain.

She tried to dry her hair with her hands, but an inexplicable restlessness took hold of her heart. As she glanced out the window, a sense of leaving something special behind lingered, filling her with confusion and unease. She kept glancing back, lost in her own thoughts, until her sister’s voice snapped her out of the trance.

Mahi chuckled, “Naaz di, you end up playing anywhere and everywhere!”

Shehnaaz made a face, “What did I do wrong? Who wouldn’t want to play in such a beautiful rain?”

Mahi rolled her eyes, “Yeah, but when mom asks why you have sinus issues, you better have a good explanation.”

Shehnaaz playfully smacked her forehead, exclaiming, “Oh no, mom is going to kill me!”

She made a face at Mahi, who replied immediately, “No way, I’m not helping you this time.”

Shehnaaz had a cute baby face on display, “Please, Mahi…”

Mahi sighed, “Didi, I won’t tell mom that you were playing in the rain…”

Shehnaaz perked up.

“…but she’ll eventually figure it out when you start sneezing and making a fuss.”

Shehnaaz sent a quick prayer, “Oh Wahe Guru ji, please save me…”

Mahi rolled her eyes, amused by the reversal of roles between the siblings. She wondered aloud who was really the elder and who was the younger. Soon, they arrived at the mall.

Mahi eagerly pleaded, “Didi, can we do my shopping first, please?”

Shehnaaz looked at her own drenched clothes and replied, “Just look at my state.”

Mahi twisted her lips and looked away. Shehnaaz sighed, “Alright, let’s go. What do you need?”

Giggling, they went to a particular section of the store.

Meanwhile, Sidharth Shukla was in no condition to think clearly. Throughout the ride home, his thoughts were consumed by the girl he had seen just moments ago. Her face was etched in his memory. Annoyed, he asked the driver to stop the car as they entered the Shukla mansion gates.

Getting out of the car, he walked through the garden and sat by the pool. The rain had stopped, but he felt as if it was still raining and she was still playing football in the garden. He moved towards her in his mind, but she disappeared, leaving him annoyed and frustrated. He had never experienced this kind of emotion before. No one had ever made his heart race the way she did. What was it about her that set his pulse pounding so wildly? Despite his attempts to deny it, he found himself longing to see her again, driven by a desire he couldn’t ignore.

He snapped out of his thoughts and headed to the outhouse instead of the mansion. The outhouse became his sanctuary whenever he craved solitude. Drenched, he decided to change. As he walked into the bedroom, he imagined her jumping on the bed like a child. A smile spread across his face as he moved toward her, eager to pull her into his arms. But just as he reached out, she vanished once more.

Frustrated, he changed into casual clothes and pulled out a file, hoping to distract himself. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to focus, all he could see was her name: Naaz. He couldn’t believe he was so drawn to someone he had only seen once. Was it love at first sight? He dismissed the thought; such things didn’t exist for someone like Sidharth Shukla. Maybe it was just an attraction.

He threw the file on the study table and opened another, trying his best to keep busy and not think of her. But his world started to revolve around the single word: Naaz. He hated himself for being so helpless. He closed his eyes, and her face, her movements, her expressions danced vividly in his mind. His frustration slowly melted into a gentle smile as he thought about her pink lips, rosy cheeks, and fair, pink-tinted skin. He even imagined how she might look with straight hair instead of her playful curls, visualizing her standing right in front of him.

Suddenly, reality struck him. HHe opened his eyes, overwhelmed by frustration as he struggled to understand how he had become so dependent and unlike himself. The unfamiliarity of his emotions left him both bewildered and angry, his eyes burning with intensity. His helplessness was driving him insane. He lay down on the reclining chair, closing his eyes in an attempt to calm his turbulent thoughts. His fingers almost trembled with the desire to hold her in his arms. Who was this girl who had managed to make Sidharth Shukla lose his composure in an instant? Who was she?

His phone rang, breaking his chain of thoughts. It was his sister Anishka. “Haan, Anu.”

“Hello, bhai…”

Sidharth sat up, “Haan, Anu, bol.”

Anu made a baby face, “Bhai, come here now.”

Sidharth sighed, “Where, Anu? And why aren’t you at home? It’s raining heavily, baby.”

Anu rolled her eyes and said, “Just come here, and come now.”

She gave him the address of the mall. Sidharth sighed. When Anu was determined, she was impossible to sway. Returning home after four long years in London, she was someone he had missed profoundly. He yearned to make up for the lost time by showering her with love and attention. He never liked his brother and sister trying to fill the missing place of their father.

Shaking his head, he decided to drive himself. He sat in the car, only to find her sitting beside him in his imagination. She was still drenched and muddy, yet he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was so beautiful, so pure. He reached out to embrace her, but she disappeared again, slipping away just as his hand was about to make contact. He closed his eyes, feeling frustrated.

A thought struck his mind. He wanted to see her. He felt like his heart would sink if he didn’t see her, at least once. He could do anything for that. He drove through the same road where he had seen her, hoping for one glimpse. He stopped the car beside the ground and went there.

The rain had lessened. He looked at the ground, imagining her playing there. His heart fluttered like a bird seeing her. She was jumping in the air. The thought of her getting hurt if she were to fall filled his heart with fear and anguish.The mere idea of her being in pain unsettled him deeply. He ran to hold her as he saw her foot slipping, but she just disappeared. He groaned loudly, brushing his fingers through his hair. He knew he was being stupid looking for her there, but he tried his best to see her again.

She was nowhere to be found. He was getting restless. Nothing made sense. He couldn’t understand what was happening to him, why he was feeling so different. His thoughts were consumed by her and her smile. He realized he needed to talk to his mother, or he might lose his grip on sanity.

Wrestling with his emotions, he finally reached the mall.

#Threads of Fate

By the time Mahi had picked out a few dresses for herself, Shehnaaz was half asleep, her head resting on her hand.

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes as she woke up, “Finally, you’re done. Now let’s find some T-shirts for me.”

Mahi sighed, “No way. Mumma said we need to pick out some sarees for you.”

Shehnaaz made a playful pout and sighed, “Oh no, not again…”

Mahi giggled, “Let’s go.”

Shehnaaz gave Mahi a playful glare before her face broke into a smile. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you,” Mahi said.. “Mumma called while you were playing in the rain. She said we’ll look at sarees together later, so let’s just get some T-shirts now.”

Mahi showed her the call log, “When you were playing, Mumma called. She said no arguments—sarees for you.”

Shehnaaz twisted her lips in annoyance and said, “Oh, come on! I was just joking about needing more T-shirts. I don’t have that many new ones left.”

Mahi conceded with a smile, “Didi, we’re shopping for Veerji’s wedding, not a pajama party.”

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes, “Yeah, right…”

Mahi teased with a mischievous grin, “Don’t tell me you’re planning to wear those ripped jeans and boxy T-shirts to the wedding functions.” She laughed as she spoke.

Shehnaaz glared at her but then joined in the laughter. Mahi grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the saree section..

Shehnaaz was far less interested in the sarees than Mahi. She skimmed through the racks, finding nothing that stood out—they all seemed too similar. Frustrated, Mahi selected a few outfits herself and insisted that Shehnaaz try them on.

Shehnaaz looked at her, “Ha ha, very funny.”

Mahi pleaded, “Diiii…”

Shehnaaz sighed and said, “Mahi, trying on all these sarees is going to take forever.”

Mahi responded, “Fine, just pick one from these.”

Shehnaaz selected one at random. It was a white brasso saree with black borders and designs, smooth like silk and shining in black and white shades. She moved to the trial room.

Meanwhile, Sidharth arrived at the mall and saw Anu entangled in a rack of dresses, looking completely flustered.

Sidharth reached her, worried, “What’s wrong? Why did you call me so urgently? Is everything okay?”

Anu sighed, “Nothing is okay, bhai. Look at this, I can’t decide which ones to buy.”

Sidharth rolled his eyes and looked at her in mock anger. Anu made a cute face, “Please, bhai…”

Taking a seat beside her, Sidharth picked up a red dress. The moment he touched it, he imagined the girl, Naaz, wearing it. Her red dress, red lipstick, red cheeks—all of it made his heart race. He felt a sizzling excitement with a single thought of her. Unable to help himself, he set it aside and picked another one, a blue dress with light designs.

He suggested to Anu that she try it on, and she liked it immediately, rushing to the fitting room. Meanwhile, Sidharth picked up the red dress, savoring its softness as if he were touching her. He bought the dress before Anu could return.

He waited patiently for Anu to come out, his eyes fixed on the bag in his hand, feeling a surge of restlessness. He realized he needed to speak with his mother, to understand her better, and perhaps even consult a doctor, he thought.

Shehnaaz, meanwhile, wore the saree neatly, though it still looked a bit messy. She bunched the pallu and rested it on her shoulder, giving a full view of her waist. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, blew a playful kiss to herself, and then changed back into her jeans and top.

As she left the trial room, Sidharth came in from the other side, looking for Anu. He stood frozen, feeling something he couldn’t understand. He closed his eyes to feel it. He was sensing her smell, a scent he had never known but instinctively recognized as hers.

Restless, he looked for her everywhere, but she was nowhere to be found.. He stood there, calling Anu.

“Haan bhai, just two minutes, I’m coming,” Anu replied.

Sidharth was going mad, “Anu, I have something urgent to do. “I’m leaving.” He ended the call abruptly before she had a chance to reply.

Sidharth walked towards the lift, unaware that his life was waiting for him inside.

When he entered the lift, it was empty. He turned away from the elevator doors, opting to check some emails to distract himself. He realized he was likely hallucinating again. His heart pounded wildly, and he sensed that something was wrong.

Shehnaaz called Mahi after changing, and Mahi informed her that she was on the ground floor at a jewelry shop. Seeing the elevator doors closing, Shehnaaz sprinted to catch it, managing to stop them just in time. Little did she realize, this was the door to her destiny.

The moment she stepped inside, Sidharth felt her presence immediately. His fingers clenched as he closed his eyes, struggling to regain control. He was on the brink of losing himself entirely to her. He feared this feeling. He was melting into her, submitting to this stranger about whom he knew nothing except her name—Naaz.

He closed his eyes, thinking of her, but couldn’t discern where she was. Shehnaaz, lost in her own world, sighed in relief at making it to the lift. Her heavy breaths made him realize she was there, right behind him, so close.

She felt it too, the same restlessness, the same feelings. A wave of affection and a sense of possessiveness washed over her. Her heart raced, causing her to take deep breaths. What was happening? She had never felt this way before, as though something was drawing her in, as if someone was completely taking hold of her. Her stranger. She didn’t know who, how, or when.

Restless, he turned to meet her eyes.

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I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of our story. This chapter delved into the unfolding emotions and connections between Shehnaaz and Sidharth. From their unexpected encounterl to the undeniable attraction that sparked between them, each moment was crafted to resonate with your hearts.

Did you find yourself swept away by Shehnaaz’s charm or intrigued by Sidharth’s inner conflict? The twists and turns of their brief but significant meeting were designed to stir a range of emotions, leaving you eager for more.

Your thoughts and feedback are invaluable to me. Please share your impressions and let me know how you felt about their encounter and the emotions it stirred. I’m excited to hear your thoughts as we continue this journey together!

Looking forward to sharing more of Shehnaaz and Sidharth’s story with you soon!

Also, stay tuned for Bhula Dunga, Mora Piya, Beintehaa and Thodasa pyar which will be starting soon along with the rest of the stories. There’s so much more in store, and I can’t wait for you to dive into these new adventures.

Don’t forget to follow me on  Wattpad, Instagram and Youtube  for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more. Your support on these platforms helps keep the creativity flowing.

Warm regards,

Shalaka