NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: stuck for the ( Q )
CH2: Stuck for the ( Q )
VOL 2 - Was It Just Luck?
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"Today's weather will be cloudy all day, with a high chance of rain. Be sure to carry your umbrella!"
The weather forecast played on the TV as Shyam sat at the breakfast table, idly chewing his toast. The TV was on, and his eyes were fixed on the screen, but his thoughts were miles away. Something about Raitha had occupied his mind again, though he couldn't quite pin down why.
As a result, when he left for school that morning, the one thing he should have brought—a trusty umbrella—was nowhere to be seen.
The clouds loomed heavy overhead, a clear sign of the impending downpour. Shyam glanced up at the sky on his way.
"Hmm... Looks like it might rain. Maybe I should've brought my umbrella... Oh well."
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The classes passed uneventfully until, about an hour into the day, the rain began. At first, it was a gentle drizzle, but it quickly grew into a torrential downpour. Thunder cracked, and the sound of rain hammering against the windows filled the school.
By lunchtime, the rain showed no signs of letting up. The school decided to close early, anticipating worsening weather conditions. Students were instructed to head home—but with the rain falling relentlessly, many stayed back, waiting for it to calm down.
Shyam was among them, sitting on a bench near the library and watching the rain in silence. He didn't have an umbrella and wasn't in the mood to get drenched.
Suddenly, he felt a light touch on his shoulder. It was soft and cold, startling him slightly. Turning around, he found Raitha standing behind him.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Aren't you going home? Were you waiting for me?"
Her barrage of questions came quickly, as always. Shyam had grown used to it by now—Raitha was endlessly curious and always full of energy.
"Uh, well..." Shyam scratched his head sheepishly. "I forgot my umbrella. What about you? Why are you still here?"
Raitha's expression turned slightly awkward as she hesitated before replying.
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Raitha's father had handed her an umbrella as she prepared to leave for school.
"Take this with you. It's going to rain today."
But Raitha, ever confident, laughed it off.
"Oh, Dad, you worry too much! I'm 100% sure it's not going to rain today. Trust me!"
She had left the house umbrella-less, her confidence leading her astray. Now, standing in front of Shyam, she regretted it deeply.
"Well, guess what!" she finally admitted, her voice laced with embarrassment. "I forgot my umbrella too..."
Shyam raised an eyebrow but couldn't help smirking. "Really? So much for being 100% sure, huh?"
Raitha crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Anyway, we're stuck here now, so let's just wait it out in the library."
The two of them found a quiet corner in the library and settled in, surrounded by the soft hum of rain and the occasional sound of pages turning. The silence stretched for a while until, out of nowhere, Raitha broke it.
"Do you have a phone number?"
Her question came out so abruptly that Shyam froze, momentarily caught off guard. He turned to look at her, wondering if he'd misheard.
Raitha, noticing his reaction, quickly added, "I mean... I was just thinking we could exchange contacts. You know, in case we ever need to talk about school stuff or whatever..."
Her tone was casual, but Shyam could see the slight redness in her cheeks. She wasn't as composed as she tried to seem.
Shyam himself wasn't sure why his heart had started pounding so hard. Giving someone his number should've been simple, but in that moment, it felt like the most monumental decision in the world.
After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah, sure. Let's exchange numbers."
The two of them traded phones, typing in their contacts. Shyam's hands trembled slightly, but he managed to keep his expression calm.
The rain outside began to slow as if waiting for this moment to end before quieting down. By the time they were done, the downpour had stopped completely, leaving only a soft drizzle in its wake.
Raitha glanced out the window and let out a relieved sigh. "Looks like we can finally head home. I'll see you tomorrow, Shyam."
"Yeah. See you tomorrow," Shyam replied, watching as she walked off into the fading rain.
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That night, Shyam was getting ready for bed when his phone buzzed with a new message.
Raitha: "Hey, are you awake right now?"
Shyam: "Yeah, I was just about to go to sleep. Did you need something?"
Raitha: "No, nothing important. I was just wondering how late you stay up. Anyway, goodnight!"
Shyam stared at his phone for a moment, a small smile tugging at his lips.
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STUCK FOR THE RAIN