They stepped out of the shop, Sabnam's fingers still brushing his as he looked down at the new phone box in his hand.
His first real smartphone. His first real partner beside him.
They found a shaded bench under a neem tree. The crowd of afternoon buyers was thinning, and the breeze had started to cool. Arahan handed Sabnam the Toto G4 Play box with a curious look.
"I've never used a phone like this before," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Sabnam smiled warmly, already flipping open the box like she owned it.
"That's okay. From now on, I'll handle the technical side," she said, taking out the phone, battery, and the Leo 4G SIM.
With practiced hands, she inserted the SIM, slotted the battery, and powered it on.
The screen lit up with that fresh, brand-new glow. Arahan watched, fascinated.
"Alright," she muttered, fingers dancing over the screen. "First, we skip all these annoying permissions... okay. Language: Hindi and English both. Keyboard… changed."
She tapped fast. Created his Toogle account.
Email: arahan1@tmail.com
Password: Bushra@32 (she whispered it into his ear with a smirk).
"You better remember it."
Then she opened the app store and downloaded Mechat—the messaging app everyone used.
She entered the OTP to verify his Leo SIM, then added his first contact: herself.
Under the name: "Sabnam ❤️"
Next, she opened the front camera, leaned in close beside Arahan and—
Click.
Their cheeks brushed. Her hand rested softly on his chest as she smiled into the lens.
"There," she said, setting that selfie as his profile picture on Mechat. "Now people know you're not single anymore."
He stared at the picture, surprised at how natural they looked together.
She didn't stop there.
Ringtone set to her favorite Bollywood romantic tune.
Wallpaper? A wide-shot of both of them from a school picnic she had saved.
Phone brightness lowered slightly to save battery.
Auto-update off.
Contact list updated: only four people
"Sabnam ❤️"
"Principal Madam"
"Home"
When she finally handed it back, the phone felt… different. ---
[Ding!]
[System Alert!]
📱 New Device Activated: Moto G4 Play (Sabnam Configured)
✅ Leo 4G SIM Online
✅ Mechat Active
✅ Email ID Created: arahan1@tmail.com
🎁 Emotional Bonus: Trust (Digital Intimacy)
📷 First Couple Selfie Saved
📱 Relationship Link: Sabnam → Full Digital Sync
💬 Sabnam can now message Arahan directly during quests, lessons, and story events.
💞 Passive Buff Gained: Connected Presence → +0.1 Charm in public events.
Arahan stared at the glowing screen in his palm, his name printed clearly beneath the profile picture she had taken.
"It's… perfect," he whispered.
Sabnam grinned. "Of course it is. I made it."
She looped her arm into his.
"Now let's go dress you like someone who owns a smartphone."
Arahan chuckled. "Lead the way, tech queen."
They turned toward the clothes shop.
Inside Vinod Textiles & Footwear, one of the largest garment shops in the nearby district bazaar, the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as rows of shirts, trousers, kurtas, and sarees lined every wall.
With his new smartphone "Toto" safely tucked into his pocket, Arahan followed Sabnam, who had clearly taken full control of his wardrobe transformation.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully and turned to the shopkeeper.
"We'll take that black formal shirt in size 40. And matching black pants… yes, those," she pointed. "Also black lace-up shoes—clean design, no logos."
She looked back at Arahan. "This one's for staff meetings. Serious days. And…"
She let the rest hang unspoken—but he caught the glint in her eyes.
Then she picked a brown shirt, neatly folded, with a rich chocolate tone.
"Try this with dark blue formal trousers. You'll look warm. Approachable. Still professional."
He changed quickly and stepped out. The colors flattered his tone.
Sabnam stared for a second too long, then said quietly, "Perfect."
She chose two formal shirts for him, one was Black Shirt of Black Pants and Black Formal Shoes, which cost ₹1450.
And second was a little cheaper, in ₹1350 was a Brown Shirt combined with Blue Pants and Brown Formal Shoes.
Next, she picked a white graffiti-style casual shirt with vivid abstract blue and gold splashes.
"This is for weekends. For walking with me. Or maybe… village fairs."
She paired it with light blue jeans and a smile.
"You'll make people stare."
Arahan shrugged. "Let them." He noticed it cost ₹850.
He wandered toward the ethnic section and picked out a cream-colored kurta and a dark blue lungi for ₹600.
Sabnam raised an eyebrow.
"You still love those?"
"Yes," Arahan smiled. "For resting at home."
Just as they approached the billing counter, Arahan paused.
His eyes lingered on the saree section—rows of color, texture, tradition. And there it was: a pure black georgette saree, light as air, with silver threadwork tracing the borders like quiet moonlight.
He looked back at Sabnam.
"It'll match my black formal. We'll go together someday. Like that."
She blinked, surprised.
"Arah—"
Before she could say anything, he had already picked it up. He didn't ask.
And beside it, almost quietly, he added black undergarments—the ones that would go beneath.
Sabnam looked away, visibly shy for the first time all day. Her fingers played with the edge of her dupatta.
She didn't stop him.
She only whispered, "You're dangerous."
He gift her, the Black Saree with Matching Undergarments, which total cost was ₹1100
Soon the billing appeared.
Total Expense Summary
Formal Wear Set 1: ₹1450
Formal Wear Set 2: ₹1350
Casual Wear Set: ₹850
Kurta & Lungi: ₹600
Gift (Saree + Undergarments): ₹1100
Total : ₹5350
They get the discount of ₹300
He has some extra cash and with the system money, his wealth was emptied in a few seconds.
---
📲 [Ding!]
Your wardrobe was upgraded with help from your partner. Show unity, self-respect, and emotional generosity.
Total Spent: ₹5050
+2 Relationship (Sabnam: 60 → 62/100)
Charm Passive Enhanced: First Impressions (Formal Dress Bonus Activated)
Sabnam Bond Strengthened: Matching Outfits Activated
Gifting System Triggered: Saree of Connection
New Text Unlocked on Toto:
From Sabnam ❤ ️: "I'll wear it. One day only for you."
Outside the clothing store, Arahan and Sabnam stood beneath the soft hues of the setting sun. The market was quieter now, lanterns being lit on shop fronts, and a few scooters hummed down the lane.
Sabnam glanced at the paper shopping bags in his hand—his new wardrobe, carefully folded and packed. Then at the phone in his pocket—Toto, still fresh and glowing with energy.
She didn't say much at first. Just reached forward and smoothed the collar of his new brown shirt gently.
"You'll wear this tomorrow?" she asked.
He nodded. "First full day as a Junior Teacher. I will."
She smiled, eyes proud. But something flickered behind them too—something warm and wanting to stay longer.
Instead, she leaned forward and gave his arm a soft squeeze. "Text me tonight. Or I'll spam your new number with 200 emojis."
Arahan chuckled. "I'm still figuring out how to reply. You might just get one 'ok'."
"That's enough," she said softly. "As long as it's from you."
She turned away with a light wave, her dupatta trailing behind like the last breeze of summer.
Arahan walked slowly toward the northern edge of the village, the shopping bags shifting in his hand as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
The dusty trail curled past the old well and neem tree, leading to the back of Bushra's small rental complex, where his room sat nestled behind the sweet shop.
The door creaked open, and he stepped into the familiar space. Inside, everything smelled like stone, rust, and a faint trace of agarbatti from Bushra's morning prayers.
He placed the shopping bags carefully on the wooden trunk near his cot—one for his new formal clothes, the other carrying the black saree he bought for Sabnam.
He sighed softly, running his fingers through his hair. The day had been long—emotional, physical, full of firsts.
But his duties weren't done.
He untucked his shirt, slipped out of his formal pants, and reached for the comfort of home.
A soft, cream kurta and a well-worn dark green lungi, folded neatly near the window.
These were his usual clothes—comfortable, humble, and light. In this part of the village, unless he was going to school or market, kurta and lungi were every man's daily wear.
He looked at himself in the mirror for a second.
He stepped outside, locking the door behind him. The light was orange now, the scent of fried onions floating from nearby stoves. Somewhere in the distance, a radio played an old Kumar Ganu melody.
He adjusted the strap of his bag, where math worksheets for Akash rustled inside.
Time to teach.