A downpour of rain lashed the city, dimming the yellow streetlights into faint flashes. A faint rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, while muddy water was splashing beneath the fast moving vehicles.
Inside the crowded market street, people hurried under broken umbrellas and shop awnings, trying to escape the rain.
But amid the chaos, Sub-Inspector Samar Agarwal stood near the police barricade, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Rainwater dripped from the edges of his dark brown hair and fell onto the collar of his uniform.
Despite the exhausting evening, his face remained calm. This was Samar's life, with no time to eat or rest, it was a life full of struggle.
A constable ran towards him, covering his head with a file.
"Sir, the traffic is completely jammed ahead."
Samar glanced toward the long line of honking vehicles before replying in a steady voice.
"Get the ambulance through first, to the side."
"Yes, sir."
Without wasting another second, Samar stepped into the flooded road himself, signaling vehicles to move aside. Rain soaked his uniform completely within moments, but he ignored it.
A small child suddenly began crying loudly from inside a stranded auto.
The terrified mother tried calming him while balancing grocery bags in her lap.
Samar immediately walked toward them.
"What happened?"
"Sir, the child has a fever. We were on our way to the hospital."
He bent slightly near the child, his voice unexpectedly gentle.
"Just a little bit of the road is getting cleared, okay?"
The child stared at him quietly through teary eyes.
Samar turned toward the nearby vehicles.
"Move the car back a little.!"
His sharp voice instantly cut through the rain and noise.
Within minutes, the ambulance and auto were finally able to move ahead.
The woman folded her hands gratefully before leaving.
Samar simply nodded once and stepped back.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He took it out.
The caller ID read: Maa.
He exhaled softly before answering.
"Yes, Maa."
"When are you coming home? Have you seen the rain outside?"
There was a hint of anger in her voice.
"As soon as duty ends." Samar replied calmly.
"Don't stay without eating. And ride the bike carefully."
A faint smile almost appeared on his face.
"Hmm."
Before he could keep the phone away, another constable approached hurriedly.
"Sir, there has been a fight between two boys near the square."
Samar closed his eyes briefly.
"Let's go."
The rain showed no sign of stopping.
Nearly two hours later, Samar finally entered the police station with tired steps. A fan was idly spinning above scattered files and half-empty tea cups.
This heavy rain and power problems.
A constable fell asleep while sitting on a chair in the corner, his mouth half open.
Another one was writing a report, but he was also yawning due to fatigue.
Samar removed his wet cap and placed it on the desk before sitting down heavily on the wooden chair.
Water dripped from his sleeves onto the floor.
"Sir, tea?" a young constable wearing glasses asked.
Samar looked at the steaming glass of tea for a moment before taking it.
"Thank you."
Outside, thunder rumbled again.
He leaned back slightly, exhaustion clearly visible in his eyes.
The city would sleep peacefully tonight.
But his duty was not yet over.
Suddenly a faint, almost fragile sound echoed through the room like a tiny baby kitten crying.
Everyone in the station stopped.
Heads turned in confusion. A few constables looked around the corners, under desks, even near the filing shelves.
Samar, who had been leaning back in his chair with tired eyes, slowly lowered his gaze toward the floor.
Near the main door, a tiny white kitten sat drenched and shivering, its small body trembling as it let out soft, helpless cries.
For a moment, the room went quiet.
Then Samar exhaled through his nose, almost like he didnβt believe what he was seeing.
A soft smile formed on his face.
He stood up slowly and walked toward it, careful steps echoing on the wet floor. He crouched down in front of the kitten, his uniform still dripping water.
"Where did you come from.?" he murmured softly.
The kitten mewed again, stepping forward uncertainly.
One of the constables peeked from behind.
"Sir⦠I think it wandered inside because of the rain."
Samar gently extended his hand. The kitten hesitated for a second, then moved closer, pressing itself lightly against his fingers.
His expression softened even more.
"So smallβ¦" he said under his breath.
Carefully, he picked it up in his hands. It fit easily against his palms, trembling but warm.
He turned slightly toward the constables.
"Bring a small box and some dry cloth."
"Yes, sir," one of them replied quickly, almost smiling.
Samar looked down at the kitten again.
Outside, thunder rolled once more, but inside the station, for a brief moment, the chaos felt a little softer.
A constable brought a small box and a soft brown towel.
"Sir, here it is."
Samar first gently wiped the kitten with the towel, then wrapped it in the same cloth so it could feel warm.
"Bring a lit lamp and get some milk and biscuits," Samar said, placing the kitten carefully inside the box.
The kitten let out a soft sound and slowly settled down, drifting into sleep.
***
At Night 11:30 PM
Samar arrived home looking tired and sleepy, faint dark circles resting beneath his eyes.
He stepped inside the house quietly. The faint sound of the television echoed through the living room along with the whistle of the pressure cooker from the kitchen, where his mother Janki and sister Divyanshi were preparing dinner.
His father, Anand, sat on the couch wearing dark green lowers and a pale pink polo t-shirt while watching the news.
Samar quietly removed his shoes and walked into the living area. Anand looked at him immediately.
"Youβve come. Come, sit here."
Anand said gently, patting the empty space beside him. Samar nodded slightly and sat down, carefully placing the carry bag on the tea table, the small kitten sleeping peacefully inside.
He rested his head back against the couch and sighed tiredly.
Just then, Janki walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a small towel.
"Samar, have you eaten anything, dear?" she asked softly while walking towards him.
She gently pushed the damp strands of hair away from his forehead before touching it lightly.
Her expression instantly changed.
His skin was warm again.
Rain and cold weather never suited him. He would always fall sick easily, but because of his duty, he never paid attention to his health.
Samar kept his eyes closed and simply shook his head in denial. He swallowed quietly, his Adamβs apple bobbing slightly.
"Youβre burning with fever, son. Go shower first and lie down. Iβll come in a moment."
She spoke gently.
Samar nodded silently in response.
Meanwhile, Anand placed his phone on charging before standing up to close the windows as the cold breeze outside had started making the warm house too chilly.
"Divyanshi, make ginger tea for Samar."
Janki called out loudly before walking towards the balcony to switch off the outer lights.
"Seems like the rain wonβt stop tonight," she whispered worriedly while pulling the curtains shut.
Samar slowly stood up and walked towards his bedroom.
He opened the door and stepped inside the dimly lit room.
The lights were off. Only the small lamp near the bed illuminated a corner of the room, leaving the rest covered in darkness.
Quietly, he began opening the buttons of his uniform shirt one by one before dropping it into the laundry basket.
After that, he walked inside the bathroom and turned on the lights and geyser.
The warm water slowly ran over Samarβs tired body as he stood silently beneath the shower, his eyes closed.
The exhaustion in his muscles felt unbearable tonight.
Rainwater, dust, long hours of duty, endless noise, paperwork, responsibilities⦠everything felt heavy on his shoulders. Even his fever seemed worse now, making his body feel weak and unusually warm.
He pushed his wet hair back tiredly and let out a slow breath.
For a few moments, the bathroom remained completely quiet except for the sound of falling water.
After finishing his shower, Samar changed into a loose dark grey t-shirt and black lowers before stepping out of the bathroom.
The room was still dimly lit by the small lamp near the bed.
Outside, rain continued pouring heavily against the windows.
Samar walked towards the bed with slow tired steps and finally sat down at the edge of it, rubbing his face once with both hands.
His eyes burned with exhaustion.
He leaned back against the headboard for a moment before finally lying down on the bed.
The soft mattress sank slightly beneath his weight.
The moment his head touched the pillow, his entire body relaxed as if it had been waiting for this one second all day.
He pulled the blanket slightly over himself and closed his heavy eyes.
Sleep was already taking over him.
But even in that exhausted state, his mind still wandered towards unfinished responsibilities waiting for him tomorrow morning.
Another long day.
Another endless duty.
Outside, thunder echoed faintly through the rainy night while the dim yellow lamp continued glowing quietly beside him.
A soft knock echoed against the bedroom door before it slowly opened. Janki carefully stepped inside, balancing a tray in her hands.
A cup of hot ginger tea rested beside warm aloo parathas covered neatly with another plate so they would not turn cold.
The room was still dim.
Rain continued pouring outside while the yellow lamp near the bed casted a soft glow across Samarβs tired face.
He was asleep or perhaps only half asleep.
His fever had slightly flushed his skin, and his damp hair rested messily over his forehead.
Jankiβs eyes softened immediately.
My poor child.
He looked exhausted beyond words.
She quietly placed the tray on the side table before sitting carefully near him.
"Samarβ¦"
Her voice was gentle, she gently touched his shoulder.
"Samar, wake up for a little while and eat something first."
Samar frowned slightly in sleep before slowly opening his heavy eyes.
For a moment, he simply stared at the ceiling silently, trying to gather his senses.
Then he slowly sat up against the headboard.
Janki adjusted the pillow behind him properly before handing him the warm tea.
"Drink this first."
Samar quietly obeyed.
The warmth of the ginger tea instantly relaxed his sore throat a little.
Meanwhile, Janki tore a small piece of paratha and held it near him.
"Eat."
Samar looked at her for a second before silently taking the bite.
The room remained peaceful.
Only the sound of rain and Jankiβs soft voice filled the silence.
"Navratri is coming soon," she spoke casually while feeding him another bite. "This time we should decorate the temple properly. Last year everything happened in such a hurry."
Samar listened quietly without interrupting.
His tired eyes occasionally shifted towards the balcony where raindrops continued sliding down the glass.
"And listenβ¦" Janki sighed.
"I showed you pictures of so many girls in the last few months, but you refused to look at them even once."
Samar closed his eyes in silent defeat.
"Maaβ¦"
"Thatβs all you say every time," she complained softly. "Youβre thirty one now, Samar."
He remained silent, chewing the soft paratha.
Janki looked at him carefully before her expression softened again.
"You come home this exhausted every single day." Her voice lowered with concern. "A wife would take care of you, beta."
Samarβs gaze slowly shifted towards her.
"She would wait for you at nightβ¦ make tea for you when youβre tiredβ¦ scold you for ignoring your health." Janki smiled faintly while adjusting the blanket over him properly.
"When your eyes become red from stress and lack of sleep, she would kiss them softly and tell you to rest."
Samar looked away quietly towards the rain again.
"And when your mind feels heavy after an entire day outsideβ¦" Janki continued gently, "she would sit beside you silently and make all that stress feel lighter without even trying."
For the first time, Samar's expression changed slightly. Just enough for the exhaustion in his eyes to soften.
He stayed silent the entire time, listening carefully while the rain continued pouring outside and the warmth of home slowly wrapped around the tiredness he carried all day.
"Sleep now, and if your fever gets worse, take medicine..."
Janaki took his face in her hands and kissed him on the forehead.
"Good night, beta." Samar nodded in response.
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