CHAPTER 1 ⁠♡

A Little Note Before You Begin The First Chapter of WHEN THE RAIN FOUND US!

Hey Homies🤍

This is my very first book, and it means a lot to me that you’re here. I’m still learning and growing as a writer, so there might be a few mistakes along the way, feel free to point them out kindly, I’d truly appreciate it.

Your support means everything, so if you enjoy the story, don’t forget to Like, comment, and Vote. It really motivates me to keep writing and improving.

Thanks for giving my story a chance ✨

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Here I'm gonna give you some songs that you should listen while reading...!

Agar Tum Saath Ho

From Tamasha movie!

🌸 ♥️ 🎵

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The night was drowning in rain.Not the soft kind,Not the kind people romanticize.This rain was loud. Violent. Unforgiving.Thunder cracked across the sky, tearing the silence apart, while flashes of lightning lit up the empty road for a second… only to throw it back into darkness again.

And in that darkness, A MAN was running.His breath was uneven, almost breaking. His clothes were soaked, sticking to his body, his steps unsteady but desperate. He wasn’t just running.He was escaping. Or maybe… he was already too late.

In his arms, wrapped tightly against his chest, was a BABY. A tiny, fragile life.He held her close, trying to shield her from the storm with his own body, but the rain still found its way , droplets falling on her soft, glowing face.She let out a small cry.The man’s heart clenched.

“Shh… shh… I’m here,” he whispered, his voice shaking, almost lost in the roar of the rain.“Just a little more… please…”

His eyes scanned the empty road, filled with panic, fear, and something deeper,something broken.

Then suddenly,Headlights,A car. His steps faltered for a second before he forced himself forward, running towards it with whatever strength he had left.

As the car approached, he moved behind it and screamed “MADHU…! MADHU!!”

The car screeched to a stop.For a moment, everything froze.The engine hummed softly under the sound of rain. The headlights cut through the darkness, falling directly on him,on his trembling figure, on the baby in his arms.

The car door opened.First, an umbrella appeared, unfolding against the rain.Then A foot stepped out.A WOMAN.

She slowly came out of the car, holding the umbrella above her head. She was wearing a saree, now slightly damp at the edges, moving gently with the wind.Even in that storm, she looked graceful.But her eyes,Her eyes told a different story. Red,Swollen, As if she had been crying for hours.She looked at him.And everything in her expression changed.

“VIJAY?!” she gasped, her voice filled with shock and disbelief.

“What are you doing here? In this condition? And… why are you out in this weather with your baby?!”

Her words came out fast, confused, almost scared. But Vijay shook his head immediately.

“Don’t ask me anything, Madhu,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “Not now. There’s no time.”

Rain slide down his face, mixing with something that wasn’t just rain.

“I know…” he continued, his voice breaking slightly, “I know I’ve done wrong to you. I know I don’t deserve your help… but please” He stepped closer.“Please help me now.”

Madhu stood still. Her mind couldn’t catch up with what was happening. Nothing made sense. Not his condition. Not his words. Not the fear in his eyes.

Then suddenly, Vijay moved the baby towards her. and said,“Take her.”

Madhu froze. Her hands instinctively moved forward, but her mind resisted.

“Why…?” she whispered, almost to herself. “Vijay… what is happening?”

But he didn’t answer that.“I can’t explain,” he said quickly. “There’s no time. Please, Madhu… just take her.”His voice was no longer steady. It was desperate. Breaking.“If I can’t reach you…” he swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the baby for a second before looking back at her, “then keep her. Raise her as your own.”

Madhu’s breath hitched.“What are you saying...”

“Please!” he almost begged.“Please…” his voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m begging you.”

Madhu’s eyes filled again. Questions rushed through her mind. Thousands of them. But none of them mattered in that moment. Because what stood in front of her… was not the Vijay she knew. This was a man who had nothing left except this one hope.

Slowly, without another word, she took the baby into her arms.The baby cried softly, her tiny fingers curling slightly as if searching for warmth. Madhu held her close instinctively. Her heart felt heavy. Confused.

But something inside her made a decision. Without asking anything more, she turned around. Step by step, she walked back to the car. Every step felt heavier than the last. She opened the door and got in, holding the baby protectively. But before the door closed

She looked at him. Vijay stood there in the rain. Still. Silent. Like a man who had just lost a part of himself.

Their eyes met for one last time.And without words She gave him a small nod. An assurance that she will be safe. The door closed. The car started. And slowly… it drove away, disappearing into the rain.

Vijay didn’t move.Not immediately. He stood there, staring at the empty road, the sound of the car fading away. The rain kept falling. But he didn’t seem to feel it anymore. Because the moment that car left, Something inside him left with it. He closed his eyes for a second.Took a shaky breath.

Then some sounds. Footsteps.Not his. His eyes snapped open. Without wasting another second, he turned And started running again....

Into the darkness.

Into the storm.

Into something unknown.

_ _ _ _

The car moved through the storm, its wipers struggling against the heavy rain.Inside, it was quiet.Too quiet.Madhu sat in the back seat, her saree slightly damp, her fingers still trembling as she held the baby close to her chest.She looked down.

The baby had stopped crying.She was asleep now.Peacefully.As if nothing had happened.As if the world outside wasn’t falling apart.A faint glow rested on her tiny face every time the streetlights passed by. Her small lips were slightly parted, her breathing soft and steady.Madhu’s heart tightened.

“How…?” she whispered under her breath. "How could a child sleep so peacefully… in the middle of a storm like this?"Her grip around the baby tightened unconsciously, almost protective.But her mind,Her mind was chaos.

"Where am I going to take her?What just happened?Why did Vijay…"She closed her eyes for a second. No,She couldn’t think about everything at once.Not now.Not when she didn’t even understand half of it.

The car slowed down.Bright lights appeared ahead.A large building.

INDIRA GANDHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, DELHI.

The driver spoke from the front, slightly turning his head, “Ma’am… we’ve reached.”

Madhu blinked, as if coming back to reality. She stepped out of the car carefully, holding the baby close,shielding her from the rain with her umbrella.

The airport was crowded despite the storm.People rushing. Announcements echoing. Luggage rolling. But everything felt distant to her. Like she was standing in a different world. She walked inside.

At the entrance, security stopped her.“Ma’am, your PASS and ID, please.”

Madhu adjusted the baby in her arms and handed over her documents with slightly shaking hands.

The officer glanced at them, then at the baby. “Your child?” he asked.For a second, Madhu froze. Her heartbeat rose. A pause that felt too long.Then she nodded. “Yes.” Her voice was soft… but steady.

The officer didn’t question further. He stamped her entry and let her pass.

Madhu walked forward, but her steps slowed down. "Your child…" The words echoed in her mind. She looked down at the baby again. Something inside her shifted.She reached the waiting area.

The announcement echoed:“Due to heavy rainfall and weather conditions all flights are delayed until further notice.”

Madhu exhaled slowly and sat down on one of the chairs. The baby stirred slightly in her arms, then settled again. Madhu brushed a wet strand of hair away from her face. Her mind was racing again.

"What am I doing?" "How am I going to take her with me", "There are no documents… no proof… nothing…", Her fingers tightened around the baby.Fear slowly started creeping in.

A thought struck her. Her eyes widened just a little. Without wasting time, she shifted the baby carefully into one arm and pulled out her phone with the other. Her fingers moved quickly.She dialed a number.

The call rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then....

“Hello?” a voice answered from the other side.

“Ananya…” Madhu spoke, her voice low but urgent.

“Madhu? You reached? What’s going on? Your voice...” Ananya answered.

“Listen to me carefully,” Madhu cut her off, her voice shaking but controlled. “I don’t have time to explain everything. I need your help.”

There was a pause. “Madhu? At this hour? What happened?” Ananya asked with stress in her face.

Madhu glanced at the baby. “I’ll explain later. Right now, listen to me carefully,” she said. “I have a newborn with me… around two week old. I need to take her with me. I don’t have any documents."

Silence. Then the voice became serious.“Are you okay? Whose baby is this?” Ananya asked.

“I’ll tell you everything,” Madhu said quickly. “Just tell me,what can I do?”

"Okay... okay, now listen, as you don't have any documents there's only one option. Don't panick just confidently say it's my baby .”Madhu’s grip tightened. Her gaze softened as she looks at the baby and she answered,"Yes".

“Listen to me,” Ananya said firmly. “At this stage, you know without passport a baby can't go. There are some people who will help you. Don't worry. Don't show anyone that it's not your baby, be confident and don't panic.”

Madhu stayed silent.Her eyes moved to the baby again. Her child. The word felt strange. But not wrong.

“Stay where you are,” he said firmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll call the authorities. You’ll be cleared.”

Madhu closed her eyes for a second.Relief… mixed with fear.“Thank you,” she whispered.

Within minutes, an airport staff member approached her.“Ma’am, are you MADHURIMA SHARMA?”She nodded.

“Please come with me.”Madhu followed, holding the baby tightly. They took her to a small office.

A senior officer was there. He looked at her, then at the baby.“Ma’am, we’ve been informed about your situation,” he said politely. “We just need a simple declaration from you that the child is yours."

Madhu swallowed.Her fingers tightened slightly.“Will that be enough?” she asked quietly.

“Yes,” he replied. “Since the child is an infant and you are the guardian currently, we can allow travel with written consent and verification.” He slid a paper towards her.

Madhu stared at it for a second. Then slowly...She signed.Her name.Under a responsibility she never planned.But didn’t refuse.

The officer nodded and smiled slightly. “You’re good to go, ma’am. Now we'll manage everything, Ananya ma'am is going to handle everything. You can go without any stress."

_ _ _ _

The flight was finally announced. Passengers began to move. Madhu walked slowly, still holding the baby close, as if afraid someone might take her away.

She boarded the flight.Took her seat near the window. The cabin lights were soft. The outside was still dark, rain hitting against the glass. She adjusted the baby in her arms carefully. The baby slept peacefully. Unaffected. Untouched by the chaos.

Madhu looked at her.For a long timeHer expression slowly softened.Her fear didn’t disappear.But something else replaced it. A quiet… unspoken bond.

As the flight began to move,The engine roared softly. The lights dimmed. Madhu leaned her head slightly back, still looking at the baby.And then Memories.Old ones.Painful ones.Started to return.Her eyes slowly closed.And the past began to unfold.