Chapter-1
Reincarnation/Rebirth is commonly based on Karma. Karma is based on the very act which you do. It may be good or evil. Karma plays its cards in such a way, resulting in rebirth. But, rebirth is always not about karma and the associate effects. Sometimes, a person is also reborn in order to fulfill his/her last wish. Or, he/she may be reborn to reach their loved ones...to join with their loved ones. Love is a strong feeling and very less recognize its importance. Reincarnation is a belief in resurrection of one's soul, in other words, when people die, their bodies decompose but their souls are reborn into other bodies. It is said that human subconscious always keeps some dim memories of previous life. However, only very few people can bring back those memories. Reincarnation is the religious or philosophical concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, begins a new life in a new body depending on the moral quality of the previous life's actions.
Twenty Five years later,
On a dark moonless summer night, with only occasional bolts of heat lightning to relieve the blackness, Ishani stretched her stiff legs as best as she could while driving the rented moving van. All her worldly possessions were stuffed behind her as she drove the long five hour trip. She turned left onto a gravel road, almost there now, almost to her new home in the country and to her new life in nearby France.
Off in the distance, an orange, yellow, and red glow flickered on the horizon. A fire! Oh no! Ishani pulled into the long winding driveway as flames leaped, dancing in the wind, while devouring the old weathered wood barn. She jumped from the van and ran toward the blaze. That barn was supposed to be an animal shelter and headquarters for her new job. Ishani felt like she was watching a funeral pyre for her new life. What kind of sign was this for her new beginning?
The fire, hot as the hinges of hell, singed her dark brown hair as she ran into the choking cloud of billowing black smoke. She collided into what felt like a brick wall and her knees buckled.
"Whoa, little lady." Large gentle hands clasped her shoulders to stop her from falling upon impact, and then guided her back out of the heat.
Ishani's heart caught at the sound of the deep, rich baritone voice. His chocolate eyes locked onto her brown ones then widened with surprise. Or was it appreciation? Perhaps the scorching heat was roasting her thinking processes? Something soft squirmed against her chest before she realized his brawny arms were filled with whimpering pups. He was rescuing the baby animals! Although glistening with sweat and smudged with charcoal, too sooty to distinguish his features, he seemed like a knight in not-quite shimmering armor. "Who are you?" Ishani whispered.
"I'm Ranveer." Ranveer remembered his manners at the same time as the wiggling weights in arms. "Here" He thrust the bundle of panicky pups into her arms before brushing a stray lock of dark brown hair from her lovely face. He took a giant step back, away from the temptation of her feminine and curvaceous form. Ranveer wondered why no one warned him that she was such a beauty. "You must be Ishani, the new vet," he tossed back over his shoulder as he again ran toward the barn to save more animal shelter strays.
Ishani settled the newborn pups on the grass, well away from the blazing barn, as fire engines roared into the driveway. Firemen hollered out directions to each other, working in harmony with hoses to blast water into flames. Ranveer hauled out the baby pup's mother, handing it and three more strays to Ishani, before dashing back for another rescue.
Professionals that they were, the firemen had the inferno down to a smolder in no time. One of the fire fighters led Ishani to a large neighboring ranch house at the end of the lane and told her the owner said for her take care of the rescued animals there.
Although she kept her hands busy by washing the smoky scent from the pups, her mind zoomed from one worry to another with the speed of a NASCAR race. What would she do now? Did God have something personal against her, for her fresh start to begin with disaster? Wasn't it all but a flashing neon sign advertising that she'd made a wrong decision to move here?
"Nah. I'm not a vet. I've come here for my job. But, wait...how does he know my name?" she asked thinking of what did the future hold for her.
Ishani sighed deeply. Only two hours ago she was giddy with glee, full of positive attitude, and excited at the potential for the new direction she was taking with her life.
Despite the animal shelter in ashes down the lane, again and again, she wondered just WHO precisely was Ranveer? Where had he come from and would she see him again? He wasn't what she would call handsome, covered head to toe in grime, but there was something about him - something she liked. Something she hadn't felt for a very long time. Something that happened instantly when their gaze met. Well, Ishani conceded, their head-on collision could have knocked her senses out of whack. She'd simply misread their physical impact. Nah. It wasn't chemistry.
She no sooner settled the pups into a make-shift bed, than she heard the smooth baritone that Ishani recalled from earlier. She turned her head toward its source and her mouth went dry. Surely this wasn't Ranveer? This man was freshly showered, his features no longer smudged and indistinguishable. She inhaled deeply as she detected the pleasant sensation of his pure masculine scent. With his tan coloring, brown hair, and chocolate eyes that also held a mixture of humor, wisdom, and kindness, the man before her could give any number of professional male models a run for their money in the fluttering-of-the-female heart department. The smoky voice was saying something, but her heart was thudding too unevenly to hear. This man couldn't possibly be Ranveer-the-pup-rescuer, could he?
Yet he smiled slowly at her gaping mouth and that rich deep tone rumbled, "You okay, Ishani?"
Wow! Swallowing hard, she forced her gaze away from his chocolate one before her face could betray her thoughts. He looked like a modern-day gladiator with broad shoulders, corded neck, and perfectly sculpted face. When she dared another glance, he stared at her for a moment. From the twitching at the corner of his mouth, Ishani guessed he was trying to hold back a laugh. She wasn't sure if she wanted to slap him or kiss him now. Instead, she cleared her throat. Twice. "I'm fine thanks."
Ranveer leaned his back against the tree and stuck his hands in his belt loops, regarding her with that same lazy, sexy smile. Disturbed, Ishani looked away.
Ranveer held out one large hand. "I'm Ranveer Vaghela by the way." When her much smaller hand gripped his in a handshake, Ranveer attempted to regulate his breathing. He'd prayed for God to make the way clear, to make the path obvious in the direction Ranveer should take his life
How did you invite a gorgeous woman you've just met to spend the life without making it sound like a pick-up line? "Welcome to France, Ishani."
She snorted ineloquently. "Yeah sure. I arrive just in time for heat lightning to strike and start an inferno. Some omen, huh?"
Ranveer tried to catch his breath, reminding himself of why he couldn't let himself like her. Or touch her, caress her. Something electrifying was brewing between the both of them and he wasn't able to figure out. Yet he couldn't release the smooth peaches and cream hand in his. Her touch was affecting him like being struck with a white-hot bolt of heat lightning. "Hmm. Start an inferno is right."
He reluctantly released her hand when she tugged. She nibbled on her bottom lip as her brown eyes narrowed on him. Her honey-sweet voice seemed to pick up a little spice when she asked, "How was it that you were there at the fire so quickly?"
"I can give you the answer. But I need the answer for my question, Ishani"
"Question? What question?"
"Um...well, I asked you whether you were the new vat, if I'm not wrong" he gave her a pleasant smile.
"Oh yeah! I mean, I am Ishani, but I'm not the vet. But how did you know my name? I guess we are seeing each other for the first time" she said, now leaning to the opposite tree.
"Um, well...I don't know. It's like I've known you for so many years...rather, decades. I just guessed it."
"Good, I must say" she gave him a blank smile. That was enough for him. It was as if he was yearned for so many decades to see that one smile. Something was emotional between them, he felt, again.
"Um, coffee?" he asked, with a doubt. The doubt of whether she'll accept it or not. It seemed awkward for him to call a lady for coffee whom you had just met. Though it was, he did not feel so. He felt like he had known him for years. He felt like he knew her completely, in and out.
"Coffee? Now? I gotta go. I've got my appointment tomorrow at the Oakley's" she said, smiling reluctantly. She did not want to let go off him. She wanted to have him forever. Such was their spark.
"Yeah. There's a cafe here. Just step in. By the way, you are looking for a job here?" he asked, his puppy like eyes gazing at her, as lovingly as ever.
"Yeah, I've always had the love for literature and hotel management. So I wanted to try my luck in the industry" she smiled awkwardly.
"So, you're coming?"
"Huh? It's fine. I mean, I'll have to search for an accommodation. So, I'll make a move. It's nice meeting you" she pulled her hand forward for a handshake.
"A coffee will do no harm. Trust me" he pleaded her. Any other person would have earned red slaps from her by now. But this guy seemed different to her, in all ways. Was it love or yearning? She did not have any answer.
"Okay" she answered him, affirmatively as they left for the cafe which had streaming amount of guests even during the late hours. They found a place for themselves in the corner of the cafe which was the perfect view for the stars and the moon.
"Hello Monsieur. Hello Madame. May I take up your order?" the waiter asked them, politely with a contended smile.
"Yeah, sure. Two cappuccinos, please" Ranveer looked at her and she nodded.
As he took their orders, they sat down in silence for the next few minutes. As usual, he had to break it. Girls are sometimes too shy, right? And boys, they'll be boys.
"So, how's life?" he asked, opening up a safe topic. He wasn't flirting, according to him. He was just keen on knowing about her, her lifestyle.
"It's fine. Fine, actually. Yours?" she asked, as though asking a robot.
"Mine too. What are your parents?"
"Uh, I don't have any" Ishani's face fell. His lips nibbled and he bit his tongue for opening a serious one now. For him, he never wanted to see her face sad.
"Well, I'm sorry. I didn't know they died..."
"No. I never had any. I was brought up in the orphanage until Nysa adopted me" she gave him a sober answer. For her, parents meant nothing. But she did respect them but never loved them. Love, for her is Nysa. She never called her as her mom. But she was, from her heart.
"Oh" he said as the coffees landed up in their table as hot as ever. The aroma of the coffee and the ambience was perfect for a blind date. This was sort of one, though not exactly.
."So, what are your parents?" Ishani asked him, avoiding eye contact.
"I have my mom by my side. Dad left us long back. Back when I was nine" he said, gazing at her lips which were having the hot coffee.
"Nine? That's so small!" she said, wiping off the excess from her mouth with the tissue on the table.
"Yeah, I know. Never mind" he changed the topic as Ishani stared at him, lovingly. She was lost into him completely that he had to snap his fingers, again.
"Are you okay?" he bit his lips controlling his smile.
"I am. Shall we leave?" she asked, picking up her wallet.
"Yeah, sure. I'll just pay the bill. Just wait outside the cafe. I'll be back" he held her shoulders and left for paying the bill.
"Why am I having strange vibes with this guy? This is definitely not love. But, there's something between us. He picked my name perfectly! This can never happen and this guy seems to have a dark past, just like me. Poor guy, his dad left him when he was nine. But he seems happy now...and seeing him smile, I'm lost into his smile and chocolate eyes."
She left the cafe and waited for him as he snapped his fingers at her.
"So, how was the coffee?" he asked her, joyously.
"Many things can happen over a cup of coffee, you see" he threw a hint on him as he saw her, bemused.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, nothing" she smiled sheepishly as he saw her blushingly.
"Okay. Are you sure that you'll find a place today? If not, I can give you shelter for a day. My mom is not in town and you can trust me. I'm a man of principles" he said, controlling his smile. It was true, he wasn't able to stop smiling at her. According to him, she was the most beautiful in the universe.
"But...Okay" she agreed, finally. Though she was happy that she could spend at least a few more hours with him, she was sad at the same time because he wasn't her love or life.
"Cool!" he squeaked in joy while she just smiled.
Driving down to his large penthouse, she opened her mouth wide open, seeing the luxurious setting of the house.
"This guy should be a born millionaire!" she thought as he invited her into his house.
"I'm not sure if this was as big or luxurious as your house. But, I can guarantee you sound sleep and good rest in the place" he smiled at her.
"This house is five times bigger than mine! I live in a tiny cottage, actually!" she wailed, laughing. Seeing her laugh, his heart bled with love. He figured out, it was love at first sight for him.
"Okay. Take rest and good night. All the best for the interview too. I'll be back at seven tomorrow. By the way, want to drink something?" he offered her.
"No. Not today" she said and waved him a good night.
Fate has once again made a ploy in their lives by bringing them back together with different backgrounds and lifestyles. They are reborn, again. But will they be destined enough to have a happy life?
Done. Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos :D
