The streets were a blur of neon signs and rushing cars, their headlights slicing through the darkened sky. The rain had come without warning, drenching the city in an instant. Vihaan sighed as he pulled his hoodie tighter around his head, weaving through the crowd in search of shelter.
He wasn't the only one caught off guard.
A small café stood at the corner, its warm glow spilling onto the wet pavement. The awning barely covered the entrance, but it was enough to keep the rain away. Vihaan ducked under it, shaking off droplets from his sleeves.
Then, he noticed her.
A girl stood just a few feet away, hugging her arms to her chest, staring out at the rain as if lost in thought. Her long hair clung to her shoulders, damp from the drizzle. She didn't seem to mind the cold, nor the way the city moved around her.
Vihaan stole another glance.
Something about her felt... familiar.
Not in the way of someone he had met before—but as if he should know her. As if she was a name on the tip of his tongue, a dream that had blurred with reality.
The girl must have sensed his gaze because she turned slightly. Her eyes met his for just a moment before she looked away, pulling out her phone as if searching for something.
Vihaan hesitated. Should he say something?
Before he could decide, a sudden gust of wind sent a stack of napkins from the café's counter flying. Instinctively, they both moved—reaching for the same fluttering piece of paper.
Their hands brushed.
A jolt ran through Vihaan, something unexplainable—like a memory trying to claw its way back.
The girl blinked at him, momentarily stunned. She pulled her hand away quickly, clutching the napkin like it was something fragile.
"Sorry," she murmured.
Vihaan shook his head. "No problem."
Silence stretched between them, only the sound of rain filling the space. The café's door opened, and the scent of fresh coffee drifted out.
The girl shifted on her feet. Then, almost hesitantly, she spoke.
"Do you ever feel like you've met someone before… even when you know you haven't?"
Vihaan's breath hitched.
A strange feeling curled in his chest.
"Yeah," he admitted. "I do."
She didn't respond. Instead, she just nodded, as if she had already known his answer.
And just like that, the rain started to slow. The city exhaled, and the world kept moving.
But Vihaan remained still, watching as the girl turned and stepped into the night—disappearing into the crowd before he even thought to ask her name.