When Lightning Strikes..[11]

Annie was sitting on one of the treetrunks of the sidepath that almost touched the ground below. Sitting there, she could see the nearby cottage in a different view. It appeared even more beautiful in that view. Annie had literally fallen in love with that cottage, even before seeing its insides. Maybe it was due to the silence that prevailed in the atmosphere, or maybe the yellow-flowered background was doing the magic..Annie didnt know the exact reason..But she knew one thing for sure-she has totally fallen for it!!

The daylight was already fading away for the moon & its stars. And from a distance, a battalion of fiery dark clouds were rampaging towards the white cottage as if to embrace the clear sky above it which was filled with the shining stars. After a while she spotted Ajay at a distance, accompanied with a middle-aged woman who wore a red saree in an unusual fashion..something like you see in fancy dress competitions! Not to mention the big round red bindi on her forehead! But more than anything else, it was her big broad smile that was prevalent in her whole appearance. Annie quickly stood up when the woman, along with Ajay reached near her & the treetrunk. Out of the sudden rise from the trunk, Annie had slipped her balance and had fallen right into Ajay's arms. Ajay, who was totally unexpecting such a quick fall, stumbled himself with Annie who was still in his arms. At the same time, as if in a fairy tale, a thunderous lightning occurred which shook both of them from their inclined position & made them resume back to their standing positions.

The woman was standing there with a big broad smile on her face. Ajay was clearly embarassed with all these chaos & without much hesitation, he introduced the woman to Annie as 'Sangri Bai'. 'Sangri Bai'??!! the name also seemed to be quite strange to Annie. Suddenly large drops of water started pouring from above..it was raining!! Giving a quick hug to Annie, Sangri Bai said something to Ajay in the strange language & started running towards her house with both her hands above her head. It was again a strange sight!

By that time Annie realized that she was totally drenched in the rains & Ajay was nowhere to be seen!!