Chapter 22

(Just a random bollywood melody for music lovers above.)

Stopping the car at a parking lot they both got out. Jay went to park the car and Sameera stood at the footpath. There was a railing separating the footpath and the lake. Granite statue of lord Buddha stood at the center of the lake with ferry boats circling around it.

"It's beautiful."

Jay said and she nodded.

No, he was not looking at her. Every story doesn't needs to be same.

"CHANA JOR GARAM*! CHANA JOR GARAM!"

A boy yelled and Sameera looked at Jay.

"You want?"

And he nodded. She went and bought two small parcels of it. Handing it one to him, she said

"If we are on our way to visit places on our feet, without this our trip is incomplete."

He laughed lightly. Gosh, he had a beautiful laugh.

"You got that right."

Both of them then made their way to the entrance of Lumbini park.

Different rides were there and people were laughing.

Suddenly Jay grabbed her hand. She looked at him and he pointed to a place where Musical Fountain was happening. Both of them ran towards it and stood there.

Water strips were changing shape and colour on beats of a song. In the dark night red, green and blue fountains were looking incredible. Jay was also glancing at the fountains but more time, he was looking at Sameera's face. The awe that her face showed was beautiful.

They actually never spoke anything after entering the park causing Sameera to forget that the person behind him was Jay, not Shrithik.

Mistaking Jay as Shrithik she slowly leaned back and rested her head on his chest. But she quickly went back to her initial position. It was not Shrithik's chest. It was more buff and it literally had a place for her to fit in. And it was more comfortable. But this chest, was none of those. Her eyes widened at the realisation. It was Jay. She looked back at him to find him looking down at her with slightly wide eyes.

Jay's heart was beating rapidly. Did she just, supported herself and leaned on his chest?

No, no. She must be looking at the sky which caused her to lean back.

He hoped it was not it. But his hopes were crushed by her.

"I......um..... I'm sorry. I was just looking for the pole star. And that um.... caused me to lean back. I'm sorry."

He just shrugged it off. Too shocked to say anything. After the musical fountain was over they once again started roaming. Going to different small rides and small shops.

"Hey, you want one ice cream?"

Jay asked and Sameera grinned.

"Savior! My savior."

She said and Jay laughed. They both made their way to the ice cream shop when Jay faked a British accent and asked.

"Milady, what flavor would you like?"

"Choclate would do, nobleman."

She also bowed down in royal manner.

He bought two choclate ice cream cones and handed one to her.

"Can we also have a ferry ride, if you have some time left? It's just 9:pm."

Sameera asked Jay and nodded.

"Ofcourse. I'm a free man......For you."

Sameera laughed at his attempt to flirt.

"So let me utilise your free time. Come on."

This time she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the ferry boat which was just a minute away to board.

"I'll pay."

Jay said when Sameera took out some money from her back pocket. She looked at him and refused.

"I can pay, Jay. No need for the formalities. Be normal, my friend."

Sameera said thinking that he will think that she'll judge him if he'll let her pay.

"Yes my friend. Do you also refuse when Raj pays for something you bought? No? Yes. Then keep quiet and let me buy the tickets."

Saying this he went to get the tickets. Sameera shrugged and waited for him.

After he came back both of them made their way to the upper deck.

Sameera chose to stand along with Jay, supporting herself on the railing. Both of them were quiet. The thing she liked with Jay was, the silence between them was somehow, not awkward.

Jay was looking intently at a small girl. Probably 8 or 9 years old. Not much cute though. That girl was posing and her mother was clicking her pictures. After the shots were taken that girl inspects her photo. And gets the bad ones deleted.

"How even these small kids are so picky. My nine year old self was so shy that I didn't even got out of the curtain my mother's saree provided me."

He muttered and Sameera snorted.

"That's true with me too."

"Seriously these kids. Especially small kids. I don't like them."

Jay said shuddering.

"Oh, me too, Jay!"

She cheered and held her hand out for him to shake.

He held her hand and shook it.

"It's nice that we have came to a decision, ma'am."

He said in a formal tone and she laughed along with him.

Jay looked at his phone and sighed.

"Let's go home now. It's late. You also have to pack."

Sameera nodded though she really wanted to stay some more. Plus, Jay was also a great company.

When the ferry dropped them, they both made their way to Jay's car.

They made a small talk in the car and they arrived at Sameera's apartment building.

"I really had fun. Maybe we can go once more when you'll come back to Hyderabad afterwards?"

"Yeah, sure. Goodnight."

Saying this he sped off.

He smiled to himself recalling how silly she was. Any person would have liked her if they would have seen her reaction when she was jelly beads in the shape of a bear. She ran to the shopkeeper and literally whined to get them in every colour.

They looked like gummy bears.

Sameera also made her way to her flat.

Opening the door, she saw him sprawled on the sofa. He was laying on it with one of his hand and leg dangling to the side and a book covering his face.

She smiled and slowly went towards him.

More bodies will fall: Ankush Saikia.

She hummed to herself. It was the third book of detective Arjun Arora series. She looked at table beside the couch to find the other two books kept there.

He must've read them.

Shrithik's reading speed was about 700-800 words per minute. Which was fast.

She silently switched the lights off when he spoke

"I've kept some food for you in the kitchen. If you're hungry, you can eat it."

Sameera looked at him shocked. She swear she could hear his soft snoring just five seconds ago and now he was awake and the most surprising part was, that his voice was neither groggy nor raspy. It was normal.

She just muttered an okay and made her way to the kitchen.

Sameera tended to not eat fully or she sometimes never even ate when she went out with someone. She just wasn't exactly comfortable while eating with someone. Raj and Maaya being an exception.

Shrithik was very well aware of it so he left some food for her.

After Sameera was done eating she made her way to her room. Ready to sleep when her phone rang. Picking it up she was met with the voice of Maaya.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Sameera. Have you packed your bag?"

"For what?"

"I knew it. We are going tomorrow. In the morning. Remember?"

"Oh crap! I totally forgot. Thanks for reminding."

"Haah! Always mention. Bye. Goodnight."

"Bye. Goodnight."

Hanging up, she started packing her bag. She packed about three simple t-shirts, two lowers, one shirt, two jeans and three salwar kurta for functions.

She was keeping them in her bag when Shrithik came hugging his pillow to his chest and then threw himself on her bed, beside her bag. The pillow was acting as his mattress.

"When are you going?"

He asked looking at her.

She looked at him and responded

"Tomorrow morning."

He nodded.

Sameera just looked at him.

"Hey old man?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did Nobita got late for his school when he had Doraemon's anywhere door? He could use it also, right?"

Shrithik sighed and buried his head in the pillow which was sandwiched between his front and bed.

"Maybe it was not allowed in his school."

She nodded, understandingly.

"Possible. But how will anybody know? He could just get in the corridor in front of his class and then enter the classroom. Nobody would know."

"Cameras."

He mumbled and she once again nodded, understandingly.

"But-"

He his got up and left her room, wondering if he was also just as annoying as her.

She pouted to herself.

"That was rude!"

She shouted.

"Shut up and sleep!"

He yelled back and she just stuck her tounge out at him. Totally oblivious to the fact that he couldn't see her.

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Sameera was already a morning person and the excitement to go to Mumbai woke her up, thirty minutes earlier at 4:30am.

She brushed her teeth, did her morning buisness and came out of her room. It was already 5:30am and darkness was nowhere to be seen.

Believe it or not but it took exactly fifteen minutes to brush her teeth. She claims that if she doesn't spend this much time brushing her teeth, her body won't work.

She decided to get out of her room and make something, since her stomach was growling loudly.

Entering the kitchen she saw him.

His back turned to her and he was stirring something and his back muscles flexed. Plus he was shirtless!

But what caught her eye, was a tattoo. A small tattoo directly below his nape on his back. She never saw that tattoo because Shrithik never roamed around shirtless. It was only on the first day when he and Shrey came out of their room in nothing but only boxers. But it the first and last day. After that day they had atleast two clothes covering them.

Sameera always had a thing for tattoos, but couldn't get it. Her aim was to join the Indian administrative services and tattoos were not allowed.

(This is the tattoo I imagine him having at his back.)

To say she was mesmerized by it would be an understatement. She took small, slow steps towards him.

Shrithik almost missed her, because of how quiet she was. Almost.

He saw her by the side of his eye and continued his work.

As soon as she reached near him, she lifted her hand up and lightly traced the tattoo. His back stiffened. He turned his head to the side and looked at her by the side of his eye. Her face held awe. Not once did she lifted her eyes up.

"Dragon. Japanese Dragon. It represents strength, power, freedom and chaos."

She whispered still tracing it lightly. He slowly turned around.

She tilted her head up to look at him. They were standing too close. Their fronts almost touching now.

"How do you know it's a Japanese dragon? It can be Chinese also."

He asked, testing her.

"It's toes. Japanese dragon have three toes while Chinese dragon have four or five toes."

She said looking up at him.

If Shrithik was to lean down, their noses would touch.

"That's right."

"Does it hurt? The tattoo?"

She asked him and he let out a small laugh.

"I got it 50 years ago, Sweetheart."

He said and smiled at her.

But his smile slowly faded. Something changed in the environment. It suddenly felt hot. Sameera was feeling same.

God knows what came in her but she started leaning upward. He also started leaning downwards. It was like time slowed down.

She now stood on her toes. Their lips were mili miters away from touching when her phone rang.

Both got startled and pushed each other away as if burnt.

Shrithik took deep breaths.

He needs a cold shower.

While Sameera picked up her phone.

"Hello Maaya, why did you call"

"Just to tell you that our flight is at 8:00am. An-

"Yeah okay, bye."

Saying this she hung up the call to find the spot, where Shrithik stood earlier, empty. It was soon after sound of shower running came.

She chuckled and went inside her room. She also needs a bath.

She couldn't believe that she was going to actually kiss him.

But that big smile, nobody could wipe it. She covered her face with her hands and squealed.

Laughing she went in the bathroom.

While Shrithik gritted his teeth, hearing her laugh.

Was she enjoying his misery this much that she cannot control her laugh.

Looks like nobody cares for him.

Drama queen.

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*Chana Jor Garam*

Chana Jor Garam is a common street snack in most Indian states. It is usually made from chickpeas that are roasted and spiced. The chickpeas are soaked, dried, fried and then later flattened into mini discs. The main ingredients are freshly chopped tomatoes, onion, few spices and a green chutney. It has a zesty and tart flavor. It is eaten with onion, lemon, tomato and green chilies. It is enjoyed both as a snack or as a crunchy addition to side dishes.