A wrought iron gate creaks open slowly revealing a long, winding driveway ahead flanked by beautiful trees swaying in the wind.

The rain pouring down bathed the trees fresh while the wind made them dance on its tunes.

At the end of the drive stands a grand mansion, its architecture screams elegance.

The sound of tires hissing through puddles grows louder as a sleek black range rover emerges from the darkness.

Running through the driveway the car slows to a stop just outside the mansion's massive double doors.

Steam rises faintly from the hood of the car as it idles, its engine growling softly before falling silent.

For a moment, there is only the rhythmic patter of raindrops pelting the roof and windows, blending with distant thunder rolling across the horizon.

The car door opens. Stepping out with the coat hanging on his left arm he closed the car door behind.

Running his hand through his wet hair he pushed them back while walking towards the double door.

Pushing the door open he steps inside. Closing the door behind he walks inside the mansion.

It was dark !

The darkness screamed the power this place holds.

Walking through the dark hall he threw the car keys on the glass table present in the hall.

There was no one. This huge mansion was all empty. It was just him.

All alone !

That's how he likes it.

He likes to live alone !

No worries, all risks !

Switching on the lights he walked towards the staircase. The house echoed with the sound of his footsteps as he went upstairs.

Just the sound of his footsteps. That describes the silence this house has.

Taking long steps he steps inside closing the door behind. The lights were switched on.

The black themed room it was !



Keeping the wet coat on the couch placed in the room, he went towards his walk in closet.

Removing his shoes he put on a slipper. Taking off his watch he took a fresh pair of clothes from his closet and went inside the washroom.

___________________________

"sanu, kahan chli gyi thi tu? kitni baar bola hai akele bahr nhi jaana. Kahan bhaag gyi thi tu?" entering inside her home she was met by her angry mother.

Her face was laced with worry as she stood on the entrance looking at her daughter with disappointment.

"mumma, vo na..." she was interrupted in between before she could complete her sentence.

"sanu tu bahr kyun gyi? aise kabhi nhi karti tu toh phir aaj kyun aise bhaag gyi thi achanak. aisa bhi kya hogya tha?" the concern could be heard in her tone even when she was angry.

"mumma, shant...shant ho jao meri pyaari mumma. ye dekho chhota sa baby. ye bahr baarish mai bheeg raha tha. iski mumma le ke gyi thi mujhe iske paas toh mein bas isse lene gyi thi mumma" she explained the situation making her mother notice the puppy in her daughter's hands.

"arre ye bacha toh pura bheeg gya hai" her mother was now worried for the little puppy.

"wahi toh mumma, tabhi mein isse lene gyi thi" she made her point again relieving her mother. Her mother felt calm understanding the situation.

"theek hai par aage se aise mat karna sanu, abhi isko le ke andar chlo. isse achhe se sukha ke dudh pila dete hain aur tu khud bhi puri bheeg gyi hai, baad mai khud bhi naha ke kapde badal lena" agreeing with her mother she entered inside through the main gate.

They were about to close the door when something caught their attention. The mother dog all drenched in rain was standing on the gate.

She looked at them with hope in her eyes !

She was relieved that her only baby was safe. She didn't have to go through the pain of loosing her only child left with her.

That's how their life was. Only a very few of the babies survive while living near the roads. Either they would come under some speedy vehicle or they will die out of hunger.

"aa gyi tum bhi, ye dekho tumhara baby bilkul theek hai. tum bhi andar aa jao, chlo" the girl baby talked with the mother dog while showing her the puppy in her arms.

The mother dog stepped inside through the gate. She had the needed trust on this family. The family had fed her whenever she stopped in front of their door. She was never sent back hungry whenever she visited them.

She knew she and her baby were safe with them !

Smiling at her daughter, her mother locked the door carefully. The kindness her daughter carries in her heart, she was truly a God's child.

"sanu tu isko saaf karde achhe se, mai andar se kambal aur dudh le ke aati hun" the mother went inside while she made the baby sit in the varandah.

Getting a towel she cleaned the baby with utmost care while the mother dog stood beside her looking at her.

"aaja, tujhe bhi saaf kar deti hun" she then cleaned the mother dog as she was also wet. The mother dog let her do so without giving her any trouble.

"ye lo bachon, dudh pilo aur chup chap so jaao, ye le sanu kambal pakad" the mother came back with a bowl of milk, a packet of bread and a quilt in her hand.

Giving the quilt to her daughter she kept the bowl down and started to mix the pieces of bread in the milk.

The mother daughter duo fed both the babies. Afterwards they made them sleep hiding them under the quilt.

"so jao ab aaram se" satisfied they stood up and went inside their home with peaceful smiles plastering on their faces.

That night the mother dog and her child slept peacefully in the warmth of that quilt. The warmth which they never got to experience.

____________________________

Wearing a woolen pink night suit, she came out of the washroom while her wet hair was tied in a towel.



Moving towards the dressing table she kept a pink baby hair clip on the table. The hair clip which she was wearing earlier and had taken off while taking the bath.



Her room was like her only. The cutest. Standing in front of the mirror, she took the dryer and started to dry her wet hair. Once she was done she kept the dryer back on its place.

Moving her hands through her hair she closed her eyes feeling most relieved after the bath.

"can you stop" the deep voice rang in her mind making her open her eyes in a sudden shock.

The voice !

The voice had made her shiver then.

The voice made her shiver even now.

The incident flashed in front of her eyes making her feel the shivers running through her body.

'who was he?' the moment she closed her eyes again, his face flashed in front of her vision.

Her heart thudded against her chest while her hand moved up to her chest. She felt restless !

A mere thought of his made her heart beats fast. She was scared !

Shaking her head she opened her eyes not wanting to think about him. She didn't know him. She didn't need to think about him.

Blocking the thoughts running in her mind, she thought to sleep.

Taking a rubber from the table she tied her hair in a pony tail while the pink baby clip placed on the table took her attention.

"arre, mera dusra clip kahan gya. ye toh ek hi hai" taking the clip in her hand she looked around in confusion.

"kahin washroom mein toh ni reh gya" voicing out her thought she went towards the washroom to check if it was there.

"washroom mein bhi nhi hai, kahan chla gya dusra clip" a pout formed on her lips while she again started to search the clip in her room.

The clip was nowhere !

"ye mera favourite pair tha" holding the baby clip in her hand she looked at it with sadness flashing in her eyes.

The other clip of the pair was lost. Now she was left with only one clip.

The thought made her sad !

That's how she was. Little things could make her sad if her heart was attached to them.

____________________________

Sitting on the couch placed in the room, he poured himself a drink.

Taking a sip he made himself relaxed on the couch.

The wet coat placed on the couch took his attention. Keeping the glass down he took the coat and went to keep it inside.

Coming back he settled back on the couch. Taking the glass he took another sip sitting in the silence of the room.

Silence ! He likes silence.

While having his drink his sharp gaze caught something. Looking to his left side on the couch, something caught his attention.

A pink baby hair clip!

Taking the clip in his hand he looked at it in surprise. The surprise reflecting through his inexpressive eyes !

The eyes which never expresses any other emotion expect danger !

'A pink baby hair clip in his house?' the thought crossed his mind while he kept looking at it. The question in his mind made him think.

His eyes got closed as he replayed the day in his mind. There was nothing.

The night !

Until his mind stopped at the night.

The rainy night !

The scene flashed in front of his eyes as his thoughts took him few hours back in his mind.

The signal was red. The heavy rain has flooded the roads making the traffic go slow.

Sitting in the car he was talking to someone over call. Looking outside the window his gaze stopped on the other side of the road.

Wearing a pink night suit with the pink scarf and pink teddy bear slippers, the girl was running alongside the road.

The baby steps of hers even when she was running, he observed.

A little more running of hers and there she was sitting in the mud with her lips forming a pout.

Instead of getting up she started talking to herself. Slapping her forehead as if scolding herself.

Forgetting to answer the person on the call, he looked at the astonishing scene unfolding in front of his eyes.

His fixed gaze on her observed every little thing she did.

He observed everything!

Finally getting herself out of the mess, which seemed a difficult task for her she went few steps away from the road.

Holding a tiny puppy in her arms she started talking to him while caressing his head. Covering him with her scarf, she moved back towards the road.

The mud stuck slippers of hers made it difficult for her to walk steadily. Holding the puppy in her arms, her attention went on cleaning her slippers while her steps never stopped.

She was walking in the middle of the road.

He realised !

The horn of the speedy car on the other side of the road took his attention. Throwing his mobile on the seat, he opened the car door and ran outside.

Just a second late, she would have gone !

It was her !

The pink hair clip could be of her only!

It was a baby clip!

Her choice was as innocent as her eyes reflected.

She was scared of thunderstorm.

Another thought !

"neeche utarna hai" her innocent request !

The words rang in his mind making him close his eyes.

Her voice felt soothing !

The wide open eyes of hers reflecting her fear realising their proximity made his heart

feel something.

An unknown emotion !

Opening his eyes he looked at the clip again. Taking another sip he kept looking at it in silence.

It was hers !

Fisting his palm with the clip inside, he never threw it away !