Chapter 1: Introduction
The sun was just beginning to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink that bled into one another like a watercolor painting. Kiran and Sree were sitting on the balcony of their small, cozy apartment, the cool breeze ruffling their hair. Sree was sipping on a glass of wine, her laughter bubbling up like the effervescence in her glass. Kiran was watching her, his eyes soft as he took in the way her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
"You're in a good mood," he said, leaning back in his chair and putting his feet up on the railing.
"What's her name?"
Sree rolled her eyes, but her smile never wavered. "Very funny. No, I'm just happy, that's all."
Kiran raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the issue. He knew better than to pry when Sree was being cryptic. Instead, he took a swig of his beer and looked out at the city sprawled out before them. The hum of traffic and the distant chatter of people in the street below filled the air, a comforting background noise to their quiet evening.
The sound of the front door opening made them both look up.
In walked Harisree, her hair a cascade of dark curls around her shoulders, wearing a simple dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Kiran's heart skipped a beat, his eyes lingering on her longer than he meant to. He quickly looked away, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks.
"Hey, guys," Harisree said, flopping down onto the couch with a sigh. "Long day at work."
"Tell me about it," Sree said, standing up and grabbing another glass from the kitchen counter. "Want some wine?"
Harisree nodded gratefully, taking the glass from Sree.