Late night. Heavy rain. Roaring thunder.
Perfect weather to have tea and onion fritters.
I finished making the pakoras and tea, placed them both on the table, and sat on the sofa. I sighed. It had been a very tiring day.
I laid down on the sofa to straighten my back, just for a few minutes.
In the background, “Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar” played softly. Old song, but a mood.
I was alone at home — peaceful but kinda tired.
I yawned.
And then — knock knock.
I opened my eyes, confused. Did someone actually knock?
I waited, but it was silent. Maybe this weather was getting in my head.
Knock knock.
Again. No, this was real.
My heart skipped. Mom’s warning echoed in my ears — “Never open the door at night.”
I rolled my eyes a little. As if a thief would nicely knock first.
Still… I got up slowly. Something didn’t feel right.
I picked up the rolling pin — don’t laugh, it felt like a weapon in that moment — and walked to the door.
I peeked through the keyhole. Nothing.
I opened the door a bit, and that’s when I froze.
A man. Standing there. Not wet — soaked.
Tall. Sharp jaw. Shirt stuck to his body, showing abs like he came out of a dream scene. But something wasn’t right. The water dripping from his face… it was red.
Blood. Oh my God, my heart screamed.
My eyes followed the trail — a bleeding gash on his forehead. Blood mixed with rain. He looked dazed, in pain.
Before I could ask anything, he pushed the door open and came in.
He shut it behind him and locked it.
“Excuse me, mister! What the hell?” I said, stepping back.
He didn’t answer. He went straight to the switchboard and turned off the main lights. Darkness.
“What are you doing!” I half-shouted.
He pulled me aside and whisper-shouted, “If you want to stay alive, do what I say.”
My breath caught. “What—what do you mean? Who are you?!”
He didn’t answer that. He pulled me toward the kitchen, his eyes constantly checking the windows.
Then — distant sounds. Gunshots.
I froze.
“They’ve found me,” he said, breath short. “Rival gang. I didn’t expect them tonight. Just… stay low. Please.”
My hands were shaking. I quietly followed him to my room, and we sat behind the bed. His shirt was now fully soaked in blood. His eyes never left the door.
I watched him. He was bleeding, but still focused, like he was used to this. My fear slowly turned into worry.
I opened my drawer quietly and took out the first-aid kit. He didn’t stop me. I cleaned the wound as fast and gently as I could.
When I finished, I whispered, “You need to explain.”
He didn’t look at me. “It’s complicated.”
“I don’t care,” I whispered back. “You dragged me into this.”
He finally turned his head a little. “I’m part of something… not legal. I was ambushed tonight. My team will find me soon. Just wait for a few more minutes.”
I stared at him. “And you chose my house to hide?”
“I didn’t choose,” he said. “I just knocked, trying my luck.”
Silence. The only sound was thunder and rain. No more gunshots were there to disturb us.
Finally, he stood up. “It’s safe now. They’re gone.”
He walked toward the door. I followed him, still in a daze, trying to figure this out.
“I should go,” he said.
I stared at him. “Where?” Even though I wanted him to stay.
He gave a faint but painful smile. “Where I belong.”
I said nothing.
He paused at the door. “Thanks. For helping me. You didn’t have to.”
Again I tried my luck. “You still didn’t tell me your name.”
“Maybe it’s better that way,” he said. “We were just strangers tonight. Maybe tomorrow.”
Then he opened the door and stepped out into the rain.
I stood at the doorway, watching him fade into the storm. My heart weirdly fluttered. I didn’t even know him. I came back in, smiling like an idiot, butterflies in my chest, and dropped on the sofa.
Somewhere in the distance, a car door slammed. A dog barked. I hugged a cushion tight, feeling like something unreal had touched my life.
—
Knock knock.
I opened my eyes suddenly.
Same sofa.
Same rain sound.
I looked around, dazed.
What… what happened?
My head felt heavy, like I had been asleep.
I stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.
A man stood there in a raincoat. Slightly awkward smile.
“Madam, I’m the new watchman,” he said. “Just came to tell you, the electricity will go off tonight. Big thunder warning.”
“Oh… okay,” I said, still half-lost.
I closed the door and turned.
Something was off.
I walked to the table.
My tea.
My pakoras.
Cold.
Like they’d been sitting there for hours.
I slowly sat down on the sofa again.
“What a weird dream,” I whispered to myself.
I smiled to myself. “Filmy imagination, huh.”
Then, as I reached for the cup, I paused.
My hand.
There were red marks. Faint fingerprints. Like someone had grabbed it tight.
I stared.
And smiled again.
Just a little.
“Maybe….. we’ll meet again.”
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