"Where Are You, Richer?"
The bright lights of the grocery store reflected softly on Richer's face as he turned to Ramish with a warm smile.
"Ramish, pick whatever food and drinks you like… anything your heart wants. Our trip starts tomorrow. After breakfast, we'll head to Abu Dhabi."
Ramish nodded.
"Alright… but what if we stop somewhere on the way and have breakfast there? Wouldn't that be nice?"
Richer paused for a moment, then smiled.
"That's a good idea too."
Richer began placing fun snacks into the cart—chips, drinks, chocolates, juices… all the things he knew they would enjoy.
Meanwhile, Ramish picked up a strawberry juice.
He chuckled and whispered:
"Richer, your lips look just like this juice… the same color, the same sweet taste I feel on your lips."
Richer shyly bit his lip and said,
"Focus on the shopping, you mischievous!"
Ramish lowered his voice.
"Okay listen… I need to go to the washroom."
Richer stopped the trolley.
"There's no washroom inside the store. You'll have to go outside. Just wait a bit—let me pay the bill first."
Ramish shook his head urgently.
"I can't wait anymore… You finish the shopping. I'll be right back."
Richer sighed softly.
"Fine, go. But Come Back Early."
Ramish rushed toward the washroom.
And on his way back—
A beachwear shop caught his eye.
Bright beach shirts and shorts hung beautifully in the display window.
They instantly pulled him in.
The salesman greeted him politely.
"Sir, what would you like to see?"
Ramish replied,
"I'd like to see some beach shirts and shorts."
"Of course, sir. Please come with me."
Ramish selected the outfits and said,
"Pack two identical sets for me."
The salesman asked,
"Would you like to see hats and sunglasses to go with them?"
Ramish's eyes lit up.
"Yes, show me!"
He tried on different hats and sunglasses, admiring himself in the mirror.
Finally, he chose a hat and a pair of sunglasses—two sets of each—and had them packed as well.
Then he walked toward the counter to pay.
But something glittered.
A display of beautiful bracelets.
Ramish paused…
captivated…
lost in them.
Minutes passed—
and he didn't even realize it.
Meanwhile…
Richer was standing at the grocery store counter, bags in his hands, worry growing in his chest.
So much time had passed.
No sign of Ramish.
No message.
Nothing.
He called his manager.
"Did Ramish come to you?" Richer asked, voice tense.
"No, sir. I haven't seen him."
Richer's heartbeat quickened.
"Come to the grocery store," he said. "Take all these bags to the car. And if you see Ramish anywhere, call me immediately. I'm going to look for him."
"Yes, sir. Don't worry. I'll look around too. He must be somewhere nearby."
Richer hurried toward the washroom, but Ramish wasn't there.
He began searching the entire mall, checking every floor, every corner, every shop—
his worry swelling with every passing second.
And on the other side…
Ramish paid for the bracelet he loved, walked out of the shop, and headed straight toward the grocery store.
But when he reached the entrance—
his chest tightened.
Richer wasn't there.
Ramish glanced around the area.
Everything seemed unfamiliar—faces he didn't recognize, footsteps he didn't know.
Richer was nowhere.
His breath grew uneven.
His heart trembled.
"Did he… leave me?"
Ramish's hands, holding the shopping bags, began to shake.
He whispered,
"Richer… where are you…?"
He walked right, then left…
his steps fast, panicked, confused.
His voice cracked as he murmured again:
"Richer… where did you go?"
His heartbeat echoed louder than the mall's noises.
Fear wrapped around him like cold air.
He kept searching—
but all he could feel was
the fear of losing the one person he didn't want to lose.
.
On the other side, Richer was running toward the upper floor of the mall—
his face tight with worry, his eyes filled with clear panic.
Only one thought kept echoing in his mind:
"What if something happened to Ramish…?"
Richer peered into every shop, looked down every hallway,
as if his soul was somehow tied to Ramish's presence.
Downstairs, Ramish was also hurrying, breathless.
His chest tightened with fear, his eyes filled with desperation.
He stopped in the middle of the mall,
and suddenly the last thread of patience inside him snapped.
He called out with all his strength:
"Richer…!!!
Richer, where are you? Richer…!!"
His voice echoed through the mall.
People stopped to stare—
a young man, eyes wet, voice trembling,
as if someone had snatched away the most precious part of his world.
At that moment, Richer froze on the upper floor—
he had heard his name.
For a second he stood still,
then bolted toward the stairs.
Down below, tears were running down Ramish's cheeks.
He looked everywhere with fading hope.
And then—
Richer saw him.
A whisper escaped his lips:
"Ramish!"
Ramish looked up—
and then he rushed toward the stairs, almost stumbling in his haste.
Richer was flying down with equal speed.
They met halfway…
and fell into each other's arms.
Ramish held him so tightly,
as if he had lost him once
and could not afford to lose him again.
Richer wrapped his arms around him with the same fierce relief.
People stood watching…
some smiling softly,
some staring in surprise—
but neither of them cared.
Richer gently cupped Ramish's face,
wiped his tears, and whispered:
"It's okay… quiet now, Ramish.
I'm here. I'm right here… I didn't go anywhere."
Ramish's eyes were still wet.
His voice broke as he said:
"I… I got scared, Richer…"
Richer held his hand and guided him to a bench.
"Sit. Tell me—where did you go?"
Ramish lowered his gaze.
"I was coming back… then I saw some things I liked…
I just stopped to buy them…"
A flicker of anger and hurt crossed Richer's face.
His tone was firm, but love was hidden underneath it.
"Ramish… you should've come to me first.
Do you know how worried I was?
How long I waited for you?
You could've at least called—"
Ramish cut in softly:
"You never gave me your number…"
Richer went silent.
A bitter edge crept into his voice:
"Then you could've asked!
At least I wouldn't have panicked like this!
Sometimes you… you cross all limits, Ramish!
And where are the things you bought?
Your hands are empty. Where are they?"
Ramish looked around anxiously and said:
"Maybe… maybe I left the shopping bags downstairs…"
Richer's tone sharpened:
"Did you even buy anything at all?"
Ramish looked straight into his eyes.
"Why would you say that?
Do you really think I would do this on purpose?"
Richer didn't soften.
"Then where are the things, Ramish?"
Just then, the manager approached.
"Sir, your shopping bags… you left them downstairs."
Ramish looked at Richer with a pained expression.
Richer quietly turned his face away.
Ramish asked the manager:
"How did you get these bags?
"Sir, I heard you calling out… and then Richer sir.
People said these bags belonged with you.
You didn't look back at anyone, so I picked them up for you."
Ramish thanked him.
"You just saved me from being proved wrong."
The manager blinked, confused.
Richer quickly cut in:
"Nothing. Please put the bags in the car and bring the car out front.
We'll be there in a moment."
After the manager left, Richer said gently:
"Ramish… if you want to buy anything else, come.
We can still get it."
Ramish's face was heavy with sadness.
"No… I don't want anything."
Richer immediately regretted his harshness.
He softened his tone again.
"Come on… don't be upset.
I'm here with you. Whatever you want, we'll get it."
But Ramish said nothing.
He simply followed the manager toward the exit.
Richer whispered to himself:
"Maybe… I really did say too much…"
Outside the mall, Ramish stood quietly to one side.
Richer stepped up beside him, just as silent.
The car arrived.
They opened the doors and sat inside.
The car pulled away…
And between them,
a deep silence settled—
a silence filled with hurt…
and love.
Ramish Said: Heart Touching Poetry:
The fear of losing,
the fear of fading,
the fear of growing tired…
Your love made me taste
so many kinds of fears.