Yamuna Swaminathan joined her hands faithfully,standing before the Sivalinga.Her fourteen year old self was a great devotee of Lord Shiva.The soulful atmosphere of the temple which consisted the chiming of bells,chanting of prayers and a slight chill soothed her body and mind equally.
The gentle wind had her smooth tresses,adorned with fresh jasmine flowers,dancing to its tune.She closed her eyes and prayed to her lord for her family's and village's well being.She didn't forget to ask him to give her future husband all his qualities.
Once the prayer was done,she walked out of the temple,the leaf that had prasad inside it,tightly secured in her palms.
The red glass bangles that decorated her wrists collided with each other.The anklets that perched on her ankles tinkled in a beautiful rhythm.The cool breeze made her small jhumkas jingle heartily. All these made her look nothing less than an angel descended from heaven.But the most precious ornament that she wore was her dimpled smile.
As she stepped outside,she saw a boy,almost of her age running towards her.There was another boy,tall and husky in his appearance,chasing him.
The first boy ran past her while the other slipped and fell flat,right at her feet.

"What are you doing?"she asked,irritation clearly evident from the cringe of her forehead.

Yamuna fluttered her eyes open.A certain melancholy oozed from those seraphic quarts.

                        .......................

"What are you doing?"asked the girl,cringing her brows.
Ruhaan Faizal looked up at her with equal annoyance.He looked at her from head to toe and she appeared to be a typical teenager,hailing from a  rich conservative Hindu family.

"I was just bowing down to your feet since I thought you're the goddess consecrated here."he said sarcastically,still laying down on the floor.
The cringe on the girl's face became deeper and apparently muttered something under her breath.
The boy slowly got up to his feet and then noticed the drops of blood streaming down a small wound below his knee.
"Sir,it is written in letters as big as pumpkins that Lord Shiva is consecrated here."the girl spoke in an angry tone,pointing at the the name written on the beautifully sculpted temple gate.

"Lord Shiva and Shakti are one.Even Soundarya Lahari states that.So,wherever there is Lord Shiva,there is Devi Parvati too."Ruhaan stated with a victorious smile and the girl keenly observed his features.
He smirked lightly and walked past her.
"Hey,your leg is wounded.Are you alright?"she asked from behind.

"Is it now that you felt like asking about it?"he asked,turning around.

"I'm sorry.But are you fine?"she asked,drooping her head to get a good look at the injury.

"I'm fine. "he replied stoically.

"There's a tap a small walk away. You can wash it there. "she remarked, pointing at the tap's direction.

"Oy! I know it better. By the way, aren't you new here? "he asked, walking forward.

"Yes. I moved in here two months back."she stated, walking along with him.

"Why are you following me? "he asked once they reached the tap. Without waiting for her answer, he opened the faucet and splashed water on his wound. She did not utter a word as witnessed him him flinch while the water dressed his torn skin.
Once he finished what he was doing, he looked at her for answer to his question.

"No, I was just wondering how you know Soundarya Lahari and all despite being a Muslim."she said on her curiously.

"Huh! How do you know my religion ?Tell me the truth, are you a black magician? "he asked suspiciosly with his knitted brows making him look furious.

"Excuse me, what else should I think when you gasp 'Allah!" when you fall?"she asked firmly, her voice lined with subtle sarcasm.

"Oh! Sorry! Well! I'm fond of our Indian culture.So I've read about it somewhere. "he said.

"Oh that's nice. My name is Yamuna. "she stated casually, happy to find someone who shared one of her greatest interests.

"Ruhaan. "he said whilst wiping his palms together.

Yamuna noticed a Tulsi plant rooted firmly near the tap. She plucked some leaves from its stem and crushed them within her fingers. Once it's juice came out, she placed the semi-paste like thing on top of Ruhaan's wound.

Ruhaan froze for a moment. None had done something like that for him. He was surprised as a stranger was considerate enough to care for his wounds.

"It's a green medicine. The injury is now going to heal quickly. "she said and walked away, without waiting for a thankful notion from his behalf.
Ruhaan stared at her retreating figure with an unknown,ecstatic flow of emotion overpowering his insides.

Ruhaan Faizal denied himself from opening his eyes. The sweetest memories of his life had turned the supreme cause of his anguish. The merry jingling of her anklets boomed inside his ears. His muscles stiffened and forehead creased, while a  lonesome drop of tear threatened to leak from his tightly closed orbs.
The solaceful sound was no longer intoxicating but suffocating.
He wanted to open his eyes to stare at her serene face, adorned with an extremely enchanting smile. But when he did, all he found was the bewitching darkness that engulfed the room. It seemed like it was inviting him to slowly blend with it,ti surrender all his worries to the deep murk and vanish himself into it. Apparently, the chilling dark had consumed him from the insides as well as the circumstances outside, leaving him with no valid reason to search for the light.

"What the hell, Ruhaan! "Zaahra,his wife cursed as she switched on the lights of the room.

Ruhaan sighed softly and walked out of the room. He could never tolerate the presence of Zaahra. Her face only made him hate himself.
She never cared for him not that he wanted her to. She picked up fights for everything big and small. It was extremely evident that that she hated him, for reasons unknown.
He strided into the living room to see his father reading newspaper,drinking his regular tea. His loyal servant and right hand, Asaf was telling him something to which he merely nodded his head now and then.
Ruhaan moved away from the room and got inside his car, then drove away to his workplace.

...................
Well well,u had heard me saying that I'm quitting romance for a while.. But Hehe.. I had this story in mind since almost an year. And I if I don't write this now, I may never do. This is a short story with 4-5 chaps maybe.
Hope you like the chapter. Please do let me know what you think through the comments:)

PS. Not proofread!