After a tough session at FitZone Gym, Shalini Patel caught up with Arjun Sharma as he headed to his Maruti 800, her FitZone cap tilted, her voice soft. "Sharma ji, can you drop me at D-Mart? My scooter's a hassle to carry," she asked, slinging her gym bag over her shoulder. Arjun, wiping sweat from his brow, grinned. "Hop in, Shalini. Let's make it quick." Later that day, they navigated the bustling aisles of D-Mart, filling their cart with high-end snacks—roasted cashews, gourmet biscuits, chocolates, and mangoes—for Priya and Ananya. Shalini, hesitating, added a small pack of chocolates and apples. "Can't resist these, Sharma ji," she said, smiling shyly. Arjun tossed in more biscuits, his tone warm. "I'm covering this for you, Priya, and Ananya—my treat."
As they moved through the store, Arjun noticed young couples, girls perched playfully in their boyfriends' carts. Shalini, rubbing her legs after a long day at FitZone, looked drained. Arjun, with a teasing grin, gestured to the cart. "Hop in, Shalini. I'll push you like those couples." Shalini laughed, her cheeks flushing. "No way, Sharma ji. That's for lovers, not us," she said, her tone light but firm, dodging the romantic hint.
Mid-aisle, Shalini winced, a sudden leg cramp buckling her knees. Arjun caught her arm, steadying her, their faces close for a brief moment. "You okay?" he asked, concern in his voice. Shalini, embarrassed, nodded. "Just a cramp. Long day." Arjun pointed to the cart's child seat. "Sit, Shalini. No arguments." Shalini hesitated, then climbed in, her face red but a spark in her eyes. "This is absurd," she muttered, tucking her legs awkwardly. Arjun chuckled, pushing the cart. "You're lighter than my gym bag."
Their ride drew stares from shoppers, some smiling, others whispering. Arjun, sensing the attention, took a quick photo of the moment, both avoiding eye contact to ease the tension. "This is viral in my dreams," he joked, breaking the silence. Shalini giggled, her shyness easing. "Don't you dare post that, Sharma ji."
At checkout, the total hit ₹15,500, and Arjun paid it all, his generosity earning a grateful glance from Shalini. "You didn't have to do that," she said, her voice soft. Arjun shrugged, smiling. "It's nothing, Shalini." They loaded the bags into his Maruti 800, and he drove her to Pali Hill, a gated community in Bandra, recognizing it as the home of Smita Nair, a past blind date he'd blocked after a tense coffee meetup—her high demands had clashed with his grounded nature. To avoid an encounter, he stayed in the car. "I'll wait here, Shalini. You good?" he asked. Shalini, struggling with heavy bags, nodded but called Smita for help. "Smita, I'm outside with groceries. Can you grab some bags?" she asked over the phone.
Smita, a tall woman in her mid-30s, arrived, her expression souring as she spotted Arjun's car. "Who's that?" she asked, helping Shalini. "My trainer's client, Sharma ji. He gave me a lift," Shalini replied. Smita scoffed, her tone sharp. "What, your perfect partner? Some rich uncle?" Shalini frowned, shaking her head. "He's just a friend, Smita. Helped me out at the gym." Smita, still bitter from her failed blind date with Arjun—whom she dismissed as stingy and dull, unaware it was him—rolled her eyes. "I'm done with old, broke, boring guys. My last date was a total flop."
Shalini, lugging bags, sighed. "Smita, you're 36. Maybe loosen those standards. Not every guy's a loser." Smita bristled, her voice defiant. "I'd rather stay single than settle for some old, ugly nobody." Her bitterness clashed with Shalini's gratitude for Arjun's support, highlighting their differing perspectives. As Arjun drove off, the system buzzed: "Task Progress: Efficient reading ongoing. Continue for 20 days to unlock full rewards." Shalini's heavy bags and Bandra's lively streets lingered in his mind, his commitment to boundaries firm.
Attribute Panel:
Height: 185 cm (+)
Physical Age: 42 (-)
Wealth: ₹31,01,390
Strength: 72 (+)
Spirit: 64 (+)
Props: Knowledge Scroll=7, Electrolyte Drink=8, Protein Shake=2
Daily Tasks: Nutritious breakfast, gym check-in, Ola rides, Efficient reading