Is it love?

It was just like any other day. After college, I was heading back home. While cycling I could see some dark clouds gathering up in the sky and the wind was getting bitterly cold. Those cold winds urged me to buy something hot to drink so I stopped at my favourite snack bar and ordered a hot chocolate with whipped cream on the top and some roasted Marshmallows.

As I was having my snack, a sudden downpour started.

I didn't have an umbrella at that time so I just waited for the rain to stop and enjoyed my hot chocolate.

Once the rain stopped, I took my cycle and started going home. I could smell the Petrichor in the air.

Since I was already late I thought of taking a shortcut. It was a new path that I never travelled down before.

I went through a narrow street where I could see houses on both the sides and the street was really slippery due to rain. I got off from my cycle and started walking through the street so that my dress doesn't get dirty from all the mud that was spraying off when I cycled.

There at a distance, I saw a girl with a cute face.

It was really a pleasure to see her flowing, moon shadow short hair in the wind after rain. Her outfit was quite normal, she was wearing a normal pink top and a Capri with specs.

On a glance, she was just like any other girl but with a different aura, I don't know why I started blushing when I saw her. Somehow I controlled myself and kept walking.

She was also walking through that narrow street. I thought if I walk fast I could get a glimpse of her. So I started walking fast.

After a few moments, we were side by side but again I thought she would consider me a stalker if I kept walking by her side, so I increased the pace and as I was going to overtake her I saw that she was not paying attention to the road, and there was some stagnated water over which see kept her feet and was about to slip. All that happened in an instant so without thinking much I grabbed her hand and prevented her from falling.

That moment was quite dramatic, I was holding her with one hand and my cycle fell on the other side. At that time I felt like time was frozen. We were like that for a few seconds but then she recognized the situation and stood up.

She was surprised and shy at the same time.

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds and then just I was about to leave with my cycle, She said

"Thank You, I was being careless. I should walk more carefully ". I wasn't expecting her to speak after that awkward silence.

But then I replied, " It's okay,

It happens sometimes".

I can see that she was really depressed about something, I obviously didn't know why she was depressed so I thought why shouldn't I just tell her a joke and relax her mood.

I said "We're you doing a gravity check? Because I can't believe a graceful girl like you can trip."

I said that in a funny accent and after saying that I was thinking wasn't there any other cool joke. What the fuck did I just say, that was the lamest joke I ever said. I was sure that now she would just consider me a creep and will ignore me.

She was surprised because I said that suddenly but then she started laughing. I could see she was getting comfortable talking with me, we then talked about random topics like where she lives and what subject she studies etc. I could see that now her mood was relaxed.

Then suddenly I asked, " what's your name".

She replied, "Ana, my name is Ana."

" That's a cute name" I replied in an instant without thinking that she was still a stranger whom I just met.

She blushed, there was a moment but then she asked "what's your name "

I replied " My name is Kevin"

We were talking very friendly and then a few minutes later we arrived outside her home.

She said "That's my home "

"Oh, we reached your home. "

then I paused for a minute I was feeling a bit sad, that we reached her home so quickly I wanted to talk more with her. I was feeling kinda bad but then I said:" Okay then take care, bye".

As I was going ahead with my cycle, my strange emotions were bubbling up.

But then suddenly my cycle stopped. I felt someone just grabbed my cycle. When I turned around, it was her. She grabbed my cycle.

I was astounded, I asked what happened

" It's really getting cold right now. Why don't you have a tea at my place, you can accept it as a gratitude for helping me" she said that in a low and sweet tone. At that moment she was not maintaining eye contact. I understood that she was feeling shy while asking that so I could not just reject her, but then again I cannot just go inside a girl's house whom I just met.

So I replied, " Is it okay ?"

She replied " Why not it's just a tea"

What was I thinking at that time? But I went inside. In her house besides her, there was her little sister and a grandmother in the house. They were in their rooms.

I was waiting in the living room for tea, then suddenly her mom appeared from outside. Apparently, she was a working woman. The first question that she asked when we met was

"Who are you?"

I was startled,

Unconsciously I stood up and started was thinking about what should I reply.

I'm just a stranger what can I reply,

If I replied that I'm Ana's friend, that will be odd.

I was quiet for a second, then Ana arrived and she also got nervous. It looked like her mom was strict. But then, she said " Oh, mom you are back.

He is my friend, he helped me on the way back home. "

Her mom was quiet for a bit, then she asked: "why are you h....."

In middle, I stood up and said "I should go now. It's getting dark "

I stood up and as I started going towards the gate, Ana said: " I'll drop you out to the gate".

Her mom was glaring at us and my nervousness increased.

I said "Bye Ma'am " and left the living room.

When we were out of her house she said" sorry for the trouble "

" It's okay, it was not a trouble at all" I replied.

Inside I was really scared of all the scenario that happened.

I said, " see you later ".

She smiled,

When I saw her smile I felt something which can not be expressed.

Her subtle and tender smile made me blush but then I turned around so that she won't see me blushing.

She said " Ya, then see you later, *Kevin*. "

" Hmm," I said while rushing towards my cycle.

I don't know why I rushed my cycle, maybe when she said my name I was all red and I didn't want her to notice that

I cycled all the way home thinking about Ana. What was that feeling that was lingering inside me?

I really wanted to be there for a bit more,

I really wanted to see her again.

Why was I so restless at that time.

I didn't know the answer to all those questions, but one thing that I knew was that I was really happy.