Author's POV
Two weeks had drifted by since Esha and Aakash's temple meeting. Both were wrapped up in their routines. Sunday arrived with promises of calm.
Esha's POV
After lunch, I returned to my room, craving peace through my favourite activity: sketching. I hovered indecisively over my sketchbook when Abhinav barged in.
"Di, mein mall jaa raha hu. Ek naya mall khula hain. Tu bhi chal na. Ghumna bhi ho jayega aur teri birthday ki shopping bhi ho jayegi." Abhinav exclaimed with enthusiasm.
("Di, I am going to the mall. A new mall has opened. You should come too. You'll get to hang out and finish your birthday shopping.")
"Wow, aaj suraj kounsi disha se uga hein, jisse shopping karne mein koi interest nahi tha aaj wahi shopping ke liye puch raha hai."
("Wow, aaj suraj kounsi disha se uga hein, jisse shopping karne mein koi interest nahi tha aaj wahi shopping ke liye puch raha hai.")
"Wo sab chod, tu aa rahi hai ya nahi yo bata." It was a holiday, and I wanted to enjoy the day at home. After lots of repeated pleas, I had to give up.
("Forget all that, just tell me whether you are coming or not.")
"Accha, but jana kab hai?"
("Alright, but when are you going?")
"Ek ghanta mein I guess." He said, looking at his wristwatch.
("I guess in 1 hour.")
I sketched for half an hour, then got ready, slipping into straight-fit jeans, a short kurti, bohemian studs, and leaving my hair open. Minimal makeup finished the look. As I made my way down, Abhi was waiting, scrolling through his phone.
"Chal, chalte hai," I said to my brother while going out. He stood from his seat and followed me. We settled in the car and started.
("Come, let's go.")
We reached the mall within 20 minutes. It was a tall, massive mall, and the top floor was gaming and cinema. I quickly scanned the mall. Abhi's voice tugged me back.
"Di, chal na 5th floor par chalte hai, mera friend mere liye gaming section mein wait kar raha hai. Phir hum shopping karne jayenge." he said, obviously thrilled about the games.
("Di, come on, let's go to the 5th floor, my friend is waiting for me in the gaming section. Then we will go shopping.")
"Accha ji, toh yeh baat hai, tabhi mein sochu tu aaj shopping karne kyu aya hai. Tujhe toh shopping se sakt nafrat hai." I replied, catching his toothy grin.
("Alright, so that's the thing. That's why I was wondering why you came shopping today. You really hate shopping.")
Abhi hated shopping. Searching for new clothes, trying them on, and choosing one felt boring to him. Instead, he would prefer online shopping. He only toured malls for quick eats or gaming.
"Ek kaam kar, tu tere friend ke paas ja, mein tab tak shopping kar leti hoon." I suggested, eyeing two stores on the second floor that had caught my interest.
("Do one thing, go to your friend, I will do the shopping in the meantime.")
"No way you are going alone. Ruk ja na thodi der. Phir saath mein chalte hain na."
("No way you are going alone. Wait for a little while. Then we can go together.")
"Mein waha jakar kya karun. Tu ja aur tere friend ke saath enjoy kar. Mein kar lungi shopping. Aur mujhe na second floor par jana hain. Waha par do stores mujhe pasand aaye. I want to try them."
("What should I do when I go there? You go and enjoy yourself with your friend. I will go shopping. And I want to go to the second floor. I liked two stores there. I want to try them.")
"Par tu akeli...", he protested.
("But you are alone....")
"I can manage. Waise bhi mein upar aake kya karoon. Mujhe gaming section mein utna interest nahi hai. Tum log jo games khelte ho, woh mujhe nahi aate. Isliye tu jaa." I explained. Despite my confidence, he still seemed concerned.
("I can manage. Anyway, what would I do if I came upstairs? I'm not that interested in the gaming section. The games you all play, I don't know how to play. So you go.")
"Are you sure?" Hesitation is evident in his voice.
"Ha baba, ab jaa." I replied, and he left from there.
With Abhi gone, I hurried to 'Sutra'. I selected a few dresses and tried them. After trying on several dresses—some too loose, others too tight—I settled on two I loved and headed out. I purchased two dresses from that store and exited.
("Yes, dear, now go.")
An hour slipped past. I left a store, hands laden with bags. I was looking for my phone when I collided with someone. Everything tumbled to the floor. I collected all my bags.
Aakash's POV
Sunday plans led me to the new mall for a movie with colleagues. Most had left after lunch at the food court, leaving me to wander alone. With mum visiting Maasi—who was ill—I had no rush to get home, and thought to pick up a gift for her.
As I headed to the escalator, I bumped into someone. Bags scattered everywhere—I stooped to help, and then caught a glimpse of her face. Esha.
She was so focused on gathering her bags, she didn't look up. "I'm so sorry," she said, meeting my gaze. Another eye contact—my heart flickered❤️.
"Hi," the words slipped through my mouth effortlessly. She responded in kind.
"I am sorry, who mera dhyan kahi aur tha." She said, pointing towards the bags. "No worries".
("I am sorry, my attention was elsewhere.")
"Should I help with those bags?" I offered help.
"Nahi, nahi, mein manage kar lungi." she said, rifling in her bags. I guess it was her phone.
("No, no, I will manage.")
"Umm.., Meera Aunty nahi aayi?" She asked, but before I could respond, her phone buzzed. She answered the call. I kept looking at her. After 5 minutes of talk, she ended the call and looked towards me.
("Umm..., Meera Aunty didn't come?")
"Maa ghar par nahi hai actually." I responded. "Aap akeli aayi hai yahan?"
("Maa is not home, actually." "You have come here alone.")
"Nahi mein mere bhai ke saath aayi hu."
("No, I have come with my brother.")
"Par koi nahi dikhra hai apke saath."
("But no one is with you.")
"Woh gaming section ko gaya hain. Uss hi ka call tha ab. Ek ghanta mein aa jayega. Mein neeche waiting area mein jaa rahi thi uska wait karne ke liye" She responded. That means she will be alone for one hour. I was thinking of something when an excuse popped up.
("He has gone to the gaming section. That was his call just now. He will be here in an hour. I was going to the waiting area downstairs to wait for him.")
"Waise aap bura mat maniye, kya aap shopping mein help kar sakti hain. Woh Maa ke liye kuch lena tha aur mujhe samajh nahi ara ki kya lu."
("By the way, please don't take it badly, but can you help me with shopping? I wanted to buy something for mom, and I don't understand what to buy.")
She thought for a minute and nodded her head. We both started walking.
"Waise aap ne Meera aunty ke liye kya lene ka socha hai?"
("By the way, what have you thought of getting for Meera aunty?")
"Woh mein ne kuch specifically decide nahi kara hai. But aapko kya lagta hai, kya lena chahiye." She thought for a moment and then answered.
("I haven't specifically decided anything. But what do you think, what should be chosen?")
"Aap unke liye koi acchi si dress ya koi accha sa saree lee sakte hai."
("You can buy a nice dress or a beautiful saree for them.")
We both moved to a store. I insisted on holding some of her bags. After lots of requests, she agreed and handed me two bags. We went inside a store. She scanned the whole store. First, she went to the dress section. She analysed all the dresses one by one. Next, she went to the sarees section.
"Yeh kaisa rahega?" She was holding a yellow saree which had dark green borders. The saree was looking pretty.
[And so is she. Isn't it😏]
("How's this?")
"This looks perfect." A small smile played on her lips.
"Aur yeh wali?" A royal blue coloured saree with golden borders. It had both royal and cultural touch.
("And this one?")
"Yeh wali bhi acchi hain." We decided to buy both the sarees and I went to the billing section to get it billed while she looked at the other designs.
("This one is also good.")
We exited the store. "Want to have something?" he asked.
"No, I am good." But not focusing on her reply, I noticed an ice cream flavour. I went near the counter and bought two butterscotch cones. I went to her and handed her one cone. We were walking together; tiny moments weaving some new connection.
I had just finished my ice cream when my ringtone echoed in the silence. I checked my phone. It was one of my colleagues. I excused myself and received the call.
Although I was on the call, my eyes were still on Esha. She was checking out some dresses in the window. At a particular corner, her eyes sparked at a dress. But her face gradually changed when she saw the price of the dress.
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Hey Folks!!
Sounds like a proper ice cream date. What will happen next? For that, stay tuned!!
Hope you like this chapter. If yes, please like the chapter and comment on your favourite part.
Thanks for reading❤️ ...