Arnav stared at his laptop, but the numbers on the screen were a blur. Every time he blinked, he saw her. The girl in the rain.

He stopped typing and leaned his head back against the recliner, staring up at the ceiling. He closed his eyes, but it was no use. Her laughter, the way she danced in the storm, the way her wet hair framed her face—it was all flashing in his mind. He remembered the glow of her skin and the innocence in her eyes. She looked like a dream, and it was driving him crazy.

He suddenly shook his head, snapping back to reality.

"What the... what is wrong with me?" he muttered, his voice low and angry. "Dammit!"

He stayed still, his jaw tight. He was a man of logic, a man of control. So why was a stranger pulling at him like this? Why did he feel this sudden, desperate need to see her again?.

He slammed his laptop shut in anger.

"What the... what is wrong with me?" he snapped at the empty room. "Dammit!"

He tight his fists. "Why can't I get her out of my head?  What is it about her that attracts me so much? Why do I want to see her again? WHY DAMNIT?.

He tightened his jaw, his voice turning cold. ""No. Arnav Singh Raizada is not so weak that a mere girl can take control of my mind."

He opened his laptop again to focus on his work, when a soft knock broke the silence. He looked up, surprised to see his mother standing at the door.

"Mom?" he said, his voice deep and rough. "Do you need something?"

Ratna walked in slowly and sat on the edge of his bed, her eyes searching his face. "Are you busy, Chotte?"

Arnav pushed his laptop aside. "No, Mom. I'm not busy. Tell me."

Chotte," Ratna began, her voice soft but steady. "I have never asked you for anything. But today, I am asking for something very important."

Arnav watched her, trying to read her expression. He stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

"Chotte... I want you to get married," she said, looking at him, trying to read his eyes.

Arnav wasn't shocked. He knew this was coming, but the thought of it made him turn cold inside. He didn't want anyone in his life. He was perfectly fine being alone; he was satisfied with his work and his world. Most of all, he knew his own heart—if he married a girl, he could never truly love her. He didn't want to ruin an innocent person's life by tying them to a man like him.

He looked at his mother, his lips parting to say 'no,' but Ratna stopped him before he could speak.

"No, Chotte. Not today," she said firmly. "I will not listen to any more excuses. Please... for once, don't say no to me."

Arnav sighed, his frustration rising. "Mom, you know I don’t believe in marriage. I don't believe in these things. Then why are you pushing me?"

"Chotte, we cannot live our whole lives alone," Ratna replied, her eyes filling with hope. "We all need a partner—someone to share our happiness and our sadness with. Someone to walk through life with. I just want to see you happy. If you are settled, your Papa and I will be the happiest parents in the world."

Mom, I’m happy as I am," Arnav said, his voice flat. "Everything you’re saying sounds good in books, but not in real life. Are you so sure marriage brings happiness? What if I can never love her? What if she expects something from me that I can’t give? Is it fair for a woman to spend her entire life without love? Mom, we don’t have the right to ruin someone’s life."

Ratna fell silent. Every word he spoke hit her like a physical blow because she knew he was right. She couldn't bear the thought of hurting an innocent girl, but the secret reason for this marriage was weighing too heavily on her heart.

"Chotte, I know you're right," Ratna said softly, "but we don't know what the future holds. Your Papa and I were strangers before we married, yet we’ve spent our lives in love and respect."

"But Mom—" Arnav started, but she cut him off.

"Please, Chotte. For me... say yes. I want to see you settled before I die."

She knew she was doing wrong by forcing him, but she had no other choice to make him agree. Arnav looked at her, his heart tightening. He hated the idea of marriage, but he hated the thought of upsetting his mother even more. If his unhappiness was the price for her peace, he would pay it.

"Okay, Mom," he whispered. "Only for you."

Ratna’s face lit up with pure joy. She pulled him into a tight hug and kissed his forehead, her eyes shining with relief.

"Chotte, you have no idea what you’ve given me today," Ratna said, her voice trembling with joy. "I will choose only the best for you."

Arnav just nodded, his face was cold stone. "Goodnight, Mom."

He watched her leave the room, her footsteps light with happiness. Once she was gone, Arnav walked toward the poolside. He stood by the water, staring up at the silent stars, the cool night air doing nothing to calm his racing thoughts.

"You also have no idea, Mom," he whispered to the darkness. "You have no idea what you’ve just asked of me..."

Ratna walked back to her room, her mind already spinning with wedding plans and the bright future of her son. She was smiling, tucked away in her own world of happiness—completely unaware of the dark game destiny was preparing to play with them. She didn't know that for Arnav, this wasn't a beginning, but the start of a dangerous path that would change everything forever, Especially for her Chotte.

Next Morning .....At Raizada Mantion

The priest was called for the eldest son's marriage. He brought the best alliances in his bag, specifically choosing girls who could match the personality of the eldest son. He knew the high status of the Raizada family and could not bring any ordinary match for Arnav Singh Raizada, the CEO of AR Industries.

Ratna, Dadi, and Anjali were checking many photos scattered on the coffee table. As Ratna looked through them, her eyes caught one specific photo. She instantly picked it up and showed it to Dadi.

"Maji, see this girl..." Ratna said, her voice filled with excitement.

Dadi and Anjali leaned in, their eyes locking onto the photograph. Dadi studied the girl’s face for a long moment, a small smile appearing on her lips. She liked what she saw—there was a grace in the girl's expression that felt right.

"Pandit ji," Anjali began, her gaze still on the photo. "Can you tell me more about her?"

The Pandit glanced at the picture and nodded confidently. "She is Shashi Gupta's daughter. She is a very disciplined, cultural, and traditional girl. I know the family personally, so I can guarantee you will not regret making her your daughter-in-law."

Anjali looked up, her expression curious. "Really? What does she do? I mean, you know Chotte... he is very well qualified."

"She is highly educated," the Pandit explained. "But along with her education, she holds deep values and morals. Even with all her talent and the many opportunities she has, she always puts the family first. She is the kind of girl who knows how to balance her life perfectly."

"That's good," Dadi said, her tone filled with approval. "Pandit ji, talk with them and fix a date. We are looking forward to meeting them."

"I will speak to the family immediately," the Pandit replied, gathering his things. "Now, I must take my leave."

The Pandit left the grand house, while Dadi, Ratna, and Anjali headed to their rooms, feeling very hopeful about this match.

--------------------------------

Aman was getting ready for the office when his phone began to ring. The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression turned serious. He quickly picked up the call.

"Hello..." Aman said, his voice tense.

The person on the other end spoke quickly. Aman’s jaw tightened in shock.

"WHAT?" Aman’s voice was low but sharp. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

As the person explained, Aman’s grip on the phone tightened. "Okay... but don't ever repeat this mistake again. Got it?"

Aman cut the call and stood there, lost in deep thought. He didn't even hear Anjali enter the room. She watched him for a second before gently tapping his shoulder. Aman jerked back, startled. He Quickly changes his expression and looks at her calmly.

"What happened?" Anjali asked, her eyes searching his face.

"Nothing, Anju..." Aman replied, forcing a small smile. "I was just thinking about some office work, that’s all."

Anjali felt that something was off with his behavior, but she didn't push him for answers. Instead, she changed the subject. "You know, we selected a bride for Chotte. She is beautiful!"

Aman's face turned serious. "Anju, don’t you think you all are rushing into this? I mean, just give him some time."

Anjali frowned. "We aren't going to marry him off tomorrow just by looking at a picture," she explained. "I just want Chotte and the girl to meet and get to know each other. Fixing a wedding takes time, and during that period, they can understand one another."

Aman stayed silent. He knew he couldn't make her understand why he wanted to slow things down. She didn't know about Arnav’s past, and he wasn't ready to share those secrets with her. He simply nodded and grabbed his things.

"Okay... I have a meeting, so I have to go. Bye."

Aman left quickly, leaving Anjali alone. She began cleaning the room, still feeling a bit uneasy about his reaction.

On the other side, Arnav gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. He was already running late, and the sight of the rows of cars ahead of him made his jaw tighten.

"That stupid traffic jam," he muttered, his voice deep and rough. "Again... I have to take this long road."

He swung the car into the side lane, trying to find a way around the mess. As he drove, he passed the same temple where he had seen her before. Immediately, his mind drifted back to the 'rain girl.' Just the memory of her made his blood boil. He couldn't stop thinking about how she had soaked him in the rain, and the fact that he couldn't get her out of his head made him even more restless. That restlessness only fueled his anger toward her.

He was so busy staring at the temple, lost in his dark thoughts, that he forgot to look at the road ahead.

On the otherside, Khushi was crossing. When Arnav finally looked in front, he was shocked. He slammed on the brakes and shifted the gear, but the car still slowly bumped into Khushi.

Arnav hurried out of the car. He saw Khushi sitting there, her face hidden by her long hair. She was looking down at her hands, which had minor scratches from the fall. Arnav stood frozen, just staring at her.

Slowly, Khushi stood up. She reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears. A soft breeze began to blow, making her hair flutter in the wind as she finally looked up at him.

Arnav was still staring at her, lost in his thoughts. He finally snapped out of it when Khushi clicked her fingers angrily in front of his face.

"Who was the idiot who gave you a license?" Khushi snapped, her voice sharp. "Don't you know how to drive? Can't you see people crossing the road?"

Arnav stood frozen. He was shocked to see the 'Rain Girl' right here in front of him. He looked her over from head to toe, noticing her bright white and pink churidar. His shock quickly turned back into the anger he had been feeling earlier.

"You..." Arnav narrowed his eyes. "If I had known it was you in front of my car, I would have hit you with even more force."

Khushi’s jaw dropped. She stared at him, completely shocked. She didn't know this man at all, and here he was, telling her he wanted to hit her with his car?

Are you mad?" Khushi snapped. "I’ve never even seen you before, so how could you possibly know me?"

Arnav didn't answer. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his leather wallet. He glanced at the scratches on her hand with a cold, bored expression.

"How much?" he asked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Tell me the price for your injuries. I don’t have time to waste here."

Khushi’s mouth dropped open in shock. Arnav smirked, thinking he had silenced her with his wealth, but her next words made his blood boil.

"Didn't your elders teach you any manners?" Khushi shouted. "If you just said a simple 'sorry,' your ego wouldn't break!"

Arnav’s face darkened instantly. "Don't bring my family into this. It won't be good for you."

"You don't even know how to talk to a girl," Khushi countered, her eyes flashing. "I’ve never met a Laad Governor like you in my life!"

Arnav stepped closer, his shadow falling over her. "What did you call me?"

"Laad Governor!" she repeated, standing her ground.

Arnav pointed a finger at her, his voice low and dangerous. "If one more word comes out of your mouth, you will regret it."

Khushi didn't flinch. She pointed right back at him. "What will you do, huh? I’m not afraid of you!"

"You have a lot of guts, Miss..." Arnav narrowed his eyes. "I’m not letting this go. You will definitely be punished for this."

"I told you," Khushi said with attitude, "I’m not afraid."

With a final huff, Khushi turned and began to walk away. Arnav watched her, his chest heaving with rage. Suddenly, Khushi turned back and gestured toward her head, signaling that he was "Mad."

Arnav roared in frustration and slammed his fist onto the car bonnet. "What the hell! So much attitude? I’ve never met a girl like you, Miss Rain Girl."

He jumped back into his car and sped off, his anger hitting the roof as her face—and her words—refused to leave his mind.

To be continued.......

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