Chapter 38 A Day Through Londons Streets
The next morning...
The hotel suite...
Was anything but peaceful.
"Wake up!"
Rohan's loud voice echoed through the entire suite.
"Nobody is sleeping today!"
A pillow flew across the room.
It hit him directly on the face.
"Ouch!"
Rohan looked towards the culprit.
Siddharth calmly adjusted his blanket.
"Five more minutes."
"You've been saying that for twenty minutes!"
Before another argument could begin...
Dev walked past them carrying a cup of coffee.
"If both of you are done acting like children..."
"We're supposed to leave in an hour."
Rohan pointed dramatically.
"Look at him."
"He already sounds like somebody's father."
Dev ignored him.
"Get ready."
...
Meanwhile...
In the other room...
Shanaya and Naina were helping Aadhira decide what to wear.
"Don't you have any other good clothes."
Shanaya sighed.
"We're sightseeing."
"Not attending a board meeting."
Naina searched through the wardrobe before pulling out a light blue oversized sweater.
"This one."
Aadhira looked at it.
"It's too casual."
"Exactly."
"That's why you're wearing it."
Within ten minutes...
The two of them had completely taken over Aadhira's wardrobe.
When she finally stepped out...
She wore the light blue sweater, white jeans and white sneakers.
Her hair was left open.
She looked years younger.
Shanaya smiled proudly.
"Perfect."
Naina nodded.
"Now you finally look like someone on vacation."
Aadhira looked at herself in the mirror.
"...I suppose this is acceptable."
Both girls laughed.
---
Outside...
Everyone slowly gathered in the living room.
The moment Arjun looked up...
He forgot what he was about to say.
Aadhira...
Looked beautiful.
Simple.
Natural.
She looked completely different.
Kabir noticed Arjun staring.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
He quietly walked towards Aadhira.
"Blue still suits you best."
She smiled.
"I know."
"You told me that a hundred times."
"And I'll say it a hundred more."
Arjun folded his arms.
For some unknown reason...
That conversation annoyed him.
Rohan slowly leaned closer.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You've been staring at Kabir for the last thirty seconds."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
Siddharth smirked.
"Our CEO appears..."
"Disturbed."
Arjun shot both of them a warning look.
They laughed even harder.
---
After several minutes...
Another problem appeared.
"How are we travelling?"
Kabir asked.
"I rented one SUV."
Dev nodded.
"So did I."
Everyone looked at the two vehicles waiting outside.
Rohan immediately announced,
"I'm taking the front seat."
"So am I."
Siddharth replied.
"You don't even know which car."
"I'll decide after seeing the seats."
Naina covered her face.
"I already regret this trip."
Shanaya nodded.
"We've been together for five minutes."
"And they're fighting."
Kabir clapped once.
"Simple."
"Let's split into two groups."
Before anyone answered...
He smiled at Aadhira.
"You come with me."
Arjun immediately spoke.
"No."
Everyone turned towards him.
He cleared his throat.
"I mean..."
"We're husband and wife."
"It makes sense for us to travel together."
Silence.
Rohan blinked.
Siddharth looked at Dev.
Dev looked at the ceiling.
The next second...
All three burst into laughter.
Kabir folded his arms.
"Oh..."
"So possessive already?"
"I'm not possessive."
"Sure."
"I simply stated a fact."
Kabir grinned.
"If you say so."
Aadhira quietly watched the exchange.
Then...
Without saying anything...
She walked towards Arjun's vehicle.
"I'll go with Arjun."
Arjun tried not to smile.
He failed.
Kabir noticed.
Interesting...
Very interesting.
---
The convoy soon reached the busy streets of London.
Their first stop...
Tower Bridge.
The weather was pleasant.
Tourists filled the streets.
Street musicians performed near the river.
Everyone immediately took out their phones.
Rohan stretched both arms dramatically.
"I officially declare..."
"This trip amazing."
Naina walked past him.
"You've been here for thirty seconds."
"You declare things too quickly."
He placed a hand over his heart.
"I appreciate life."
"You appreciate talking."
The others laughed.
---
As they walked across the bridge...
Kabir pointed towards a nearby café.
"They still sell your favourite hazelnut latte."
Aadhira looked surprised.
"They're still open?"
"They've survived because of your weekly visits."
She laughed softly.
"That's impossible."
"It almost happened."
Kabir replied confidently.
Without asking...
He walked inside.
A few minutes later...
He returned carrying two cups.
He handed one to Aadhira.
"Careful."
"It's hot."
She accepted it naturally.
"Thank you."
Arjun silently watched.
How...
Did he know exactly what she liked?
He didn't even know...
How she took her coffee.
The thought lingered in his mind.
Long after everyone had started walking again.
---
Rohan quietly nudged Siddharth.
"Our CEO..."
"Looks suspiciously quiet."
Siddharth glanced towards Arjun.
Then towards Kabir and Aadhira.
A slow smile appeared.
"Oh..."
"I see it."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Dev looked between the three of them.
Then simply smiled.
"This trip..."
"Is going to be entertaining."
Far ahead...
Completely unaware of the conversations behind them...
Aadhira laughed at one of Kabir's university stories.
Arjun watched her.
Once again...
He felt that strange feeling.
The one he couldn't explain.
The one he refused to name.
Yet...
Every time Kabir made her smile...
It quietly grew stronger.
---
Nearly an hour later...
The group finally reached...
Covent Garden.
The entire street was bursting with life.
Street musicians filled the air with cheerful melodies.
Artists painted portraits of tourists.
The aroma of freshly baked pastries drifted from nearby cafés.
Small souvenir shops lined both sides of the street.
The atmosphere itself...
Felt festive.
Rohan looked around dramatically before spreading both his arms.
"I've made a decision."
Everyone turned towards him.
"I'm moving to London."
Siddharth didn't even look up from his phone.
"You've been here for less than five minutes."
"So?"
"You also wanted to move to Goa last month."
"That was different."
"You wanted to move there because the resort had unlimited breakfast."
Dev nodded seriously.
"That's true."
Rohan looked offended.
"Can I not appreciate different cultures?"
Dev replied without missing a beat.
"You appreciate free food."
The entire group laughed.
---
Suddenly...
Naina stopped in front of a souvenir shop.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Oh my God..."
"Look at these!"
Without waiting for anyone...
She disappeared inside.
Shanaya immediately followed.
"Aadhira!"
"Come here!"
"You have to see this."
Aadhira smiled faintly before walking inside with them.
Rohan looked at the shop's entrance...
Then at the sky.
He sighed.
"This is how legends die."
Kabir patted his shoulder.
"Be brave."
"You'll survive."
"I won't."
"I know."
---
Inside...
Every shelf seemed to attract Naina's attention.
"This keychain is adorable."
"So are these mugs."
"Oh..."
"And look at these snow globes!"
Rohan blinked.
"Weren't we only buying souvenirs?"
Naina looked at him innocently.
"These are souvenirs."
"For who?"
"My cousins."
"My friends."
"My neighbours."
"Myself."
Rohan slowly closed his eyes.
"I should've stayed at the hotel."
Shanaya picked up another gift box.
"Naina..."
"This one is even prettier."
Naina gasped dramatically.
"You're right!"
Rohan looked at Siddharth.
"Help me."
Siddharth folded his arms.
"Why?"
"Because we're friends."
"We are."
"Then help."
"I'm helping."
"How?"
"I'm enjoying the show."
Everyone burst into laughter.
---
A few minutes later...
The shopping bags had multiplied.
Rohan stood in the middle of the shop...
Holding bags in both hands.
Another bag hung from his shoulder.
One more rested awkwardly under his arm.
Naina walked over with yet another package.
"Can you hold this too?"
Rohan stared at it.
Then at her.
"Naina..."
"I have exactly two hands."
She smiled sweetly.
"I believe in you."
Kabir couldn't stop laughing.
"She's motivating you."
"She's exploiting me."
"No..."
"She's trusting you."
"That's worse."
Even Aadhira covered her smile.
---
After leaving the shop...
The group continued walking.
A small bookstore caught Kabir's attention.
He stopped.
"Aadhira."
She looked up.
"Remember this place?"
She studied the storefront for a moment.
Then...
Recognition appeared in her eyes.
"They're still here..."
Kabir smiled.
"I knew you'd remember."
They stepped inside.
Rows of old books filled every shelf.
The familiar smell of paper and coffee instantly brought back memories.
Kabir walked confidently towards one corner.
He picked up a brown leather-bound journal.
He turned towards Aadhira.
"You wanted this during our final year."
She looked surprised.
"You remember that?"
"Of course."
"You spent nearly twenty minutes reading it."
"Then walked away because you thought it was too expensive."
She laughed softly.
"I'd completely forgotten."
Kabir smiled.
"I didn't."
He handed her the journal.
"This time..."
"Don't put it back."
She shook her head.
"Kabir..."
"I'll buy it myself."
"You've said that every single time."
"And every single time..."
"You've ignored me."
"Exactly."
He walked towards the counter.
Before she could stop him...
The cashier had already packed it.
Aadhira sighed helplessly.
"You never listen."
Kabir accepted the bag with a grin.
"I've known you for years."
"If I listened to you..."
"You'd never let anyone do anything for you."
She couldn't argue with that.
---
Standing just outside the bookstore...
Arjun had watched everything.
Every conversation.
Every smile.
Every shared memory.
He quietly looked away.
How...
Did Kabir remember things...