Page 5 of Twisted Bonds

“Sir? Hello? Are you making a donation?”

He blinked, feeling slightly flustered by her presence and his reaction.

What is happening to me?

“Do you have any coins?” she asked.

She even has a beautiful voice.

Taking a deep breath, he focused on what she was saying. He had to make a donation.

He decided to donate generously. He reached for his wallet, only to realize he didn’t have it with him. He must have left it behind in his formal trousers when he had changed into jeans.

“I forgot my wallet,” he said.

She looked at him for a moment.

“It’s okay,” she said. Reaching for a pouch near her waist, she took out a couple of coins and put them in the donation box.

“All set,” she said.

He realized she had paid on behalf of him.

Beautiful and generous.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

There was a surprise in her eyes. “I’m Chitra.”

It was a beautiful name.

“Chitra, I would like to pay you back the money,” he said. “Will you be here tomorrow?”

She shook her head. “There’s no need to pay me back. You can donate to the temple next time. The money goes towards the children’s charity.”

Before he could ask when she would be at the temple again, he was asked to move by the person behind him. Not wanting to delay the line, he moved away.

Even as he walked away, he felt a strong urge to stay. He wanted to wait and ask her when she would be at the temple again.

But he took a deep breath and resisted the urge.

Shaking his head at his strange feeling, he continued to walk away. He was almost near the temple exit when he heard a voice.

“Wait!” a feminine voice shouted with urgency.

He turned, and his heart jerked when he saw it was Chitra. She was running towards him.

She stopped in front of him. Her face was flushed, and she was breathless from the running. He couldn’t take his eyes off her face.

“Whoa! You are quite tall,” she said.

His mouth curved into a smile at her unexpected remark. She had been standing on a step near the donation box, which must be why she hadn’t realized he was tall. She was shorter than average, and the top of her head was at his chest level. Since she was standing in front of him, she had to crane her neck to meet his eyes.

“You are the new Indian student at the university, right?” she asked.

Surprised, he nodded. “Yes.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow…” She frowned. “Sorry, I forgot your name.”

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