Chapter 38 A Day Through Londons Streets #2
That even Aadhira herself had forgotten?
He didn't even know...
What kind of books she liked.
For the first time...
He wished...
He had met her years earlier.
---
Dev slowly walked over.
He noticed Arjun staring at the bookstore.
"You alright?"
Arjun nodded almost immediately.
"I'm fine."
Dev followed his gaze before looking back at him.
"You're thinking too much."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Dev smiled.
"Maybe."
"But if I were you..."
"I'd stop comparing years of friendship."
"You can't compete with memories."
Arjun looked at him.
Dev simply shrugged.
"You can always make new ones."
With that...
He casually walked away.
Leaving Arjun standing there...
Thinking about those words.
---
Not far away...
Shanaya picked up a ridiculous-looking woollen hat.
She held it in front of Siddharth.
"This is perfect."
Siddharth frowned.
"For who?"
"You."
He looked at the hat.
Then back at her.
"I've done nothing to deserve this insult."
"It wasn't an insult."
"It absolutely was."
"You have the personality to match it."
"Oh really?"
He picked up an even stranger hat with giant fluffy ears.
"In that case..."
"This one belongs to you."
Before Shanaya could react...
He gently placed it on her head.
She froze.
Everyone turned to look.
For one long second...
Neither of them spoke.
Kabir slowly began clapping.
"Outstanding."
"You two already look like an old married couple."
"What?!"
Both of them shouted together.
The synchronized response made the entire group laugh.
Shanaya quickly removed the hat.
"I would never date someone this impossible."
Siddharth folded his arms.
"Good."
"I like peaceful people anyway."
"You mean people who can tolerate you."
"They don't exist."
Even Aadhira laughed at that.
---
As the afternoon stretched on...
The laughter never seemed to end.
Between shopping bags...
Friendly teasing...
And endless conversations...
The group slowly grew closer.
And somewhere in the middle of it all...
Arjun realized something.
Every time Kabir made Aadhira smile...
He found himself wanting to be...
The reason behind that smile instead.
---
By late afternoon...
The shopping bags had become impossible to count.
Rohan stopped walking in the middle of the street.
"I'm protesting."
Nobody paid attention.
He sighed dramatically.
"I said..."
"I'm protesting."
Naina looked over her shoulder.
"Against what?"
"Against you."
She blinked.
"What did I do?"
Rohan slowly raised both of his hands.
Every finger was occupied by shopping bags.
"My shoulders hurt."
"My arms hurt."
"I've forgotten what freedom feels like."
Shanaya laughed.
"You've only been carrying them for an hour."
"Only?"
"It feels like I've been carrying them since childhood."
Kabir walked past him.
"You wanted to impress Naina."
Rohan nodded confidently.
"I still do."
Kabir pointed at the bags.
"Congratulations."
"You've been promoted."
"From admirer..."
"To personal luggage carrier."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Even Naina couldn't stop smiling.
She walked towards Rohan.
"Fine..."
"I'll carry one bag."
Rohan's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
She reached for the smallest paper bag.
The one that probably weighed less than a bottle of water.
"There."
"I helped."
Rohan stared at the tiny bag in her hand.
Then at the mountain of bags he was still carrying.
"You call this helping?"
"I do."
"I think we have different definitions."
"Mine is correct."
Siddharth patted Rohan's shoulder.
"You'll survive."
"I won't."
"You will."
"If not..."
"We'll remember you fondly."
Rohan looked betrayed.
"I need better friends."
Dev smiled.
"You've been saying that for years."
"And yet..."
"You never leave us."
"Because nobody else would tolerate you."
The entire group laughed again.
---
After another few minutes of walking...
They reached a beautiful riverside café overlooking the Thames.
Shanaya looked around.
"This place is beautiful."
Kabir nodded.
"The desserts here are famous."
Rohan immediately forgot his complaints.
"Desserts?"
"Now you're speaking my language."
Aadhira quietly smiled.
"Some things never change."
Everyone settled around a large outdoor table.
A waiter handed them the menus.
Before anyone could decide...
Kabir looked towards Aadhira.
"They still make that dark chocolate cheesecake."
"You always ordered it."
She looked surprised.
"I haven't had it in years."
Kabir closed the menu.
"Then today's the day."
He looked at the waiter.
"One dark chocolate cheesecake."
"And one hazelnut latte."
The waiter nodded.
Arjun looked up.
"You didn't even ask what she wanted."
Kabir smiled casually.
"I didn't have to."
"She orders the same thing every time."
Aadhira laughed softly.
"He's right."
"I've never changed my order."
Arjun quietly looked back at his menu.
For some reason...
It bothered him.
He had been married to Aadhira for weeks.
Yet...
He didn't know something as simple as her favourite dessert.
---
Siddharth noticed Arjun's silence.
He leaned closer.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"You've answered 'nothing' at least six times today."
"I'm just thinking."
"About business?"
"No."
Siddharth followed Arjun's gaze.
Kabir and Aadhira were discussing an old university festival.
A slow grin spread across Siddharth's face.
"Oh..."
Arjun frowned.
"What?"
"I finally understand."
"Understand what?"
Siddharth lowered his voice.
"Our CEO..."
"Is jealous."
Arjun immediately looked at him.
"What nonsense."
"It isn't nonsense."
"It is."
"You've been watching Kabir all day."
"I've been watching everyone."
"No."
"You've been watching one person."
Arjun folded his arms.
"I don't get jealous."
Siddharth couldn't help laughing.
"Keep telling yourself that."
---
Just then...
The waiter arrived with everyone's desserts.
As he placed Aadhira's cheesecake on the table...
Another waiter accidentally brushed past him.
The plate tilted dangerously.
Before anyone could react...
Arjun instinctively reached forward.
He steadied the plate before it slipped.
"You alright?"
He asked, looking directly at Aadhira.
She blinked.
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Only after hearing her answer...
Did he realize what he had done.
Rohan slowly smiled.
Dev looked down to hide his grin.
Kabir quietly observed everything...
Without saying a word.
---
While everyone enjoyed their desserts...
Naina suddenly stood up.
"Let's take a group picture."
Rohan immediately agreed.
"Finally."
"Something that doesn't weigh ten kilos."
Shanaya rolled her eyes.
"You'll never let that go, will you?"
"Never."
Everyone gathered near the riverside railing.
Rohan handed his phone to a passerby.
"Excuse me..."
"Could you please take a picture for us?"
The woman smiled.
"Of course."
Everyone quickly arranged themselves.
Kabir stood beside Aadhira.
Arjun glanced at them for a moment.
Without thinking...
He walked to Aadhira's other side.
Rohan noticed.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"So protective."
"I'm just standing here."
"Of course you are."
The camera clicked.
Then another.
And another.
The woman handed the phone back.
"They all turned out beautifully."
"Thank you!"
Naina replied happily.
---
As they continued walking along the riverside...
Street performers entertained the growing crowd.
One magician invited volunteers from the audience.
"I need two people!"
Before anyone could escape...
Rohan pointed dramatically.
"I nominate Arjun and Aadhira!"
"What?"
Both of them looked at him.
"The newlyweds should participate."
Kabir nodded immediately.
"I support this idea."
"So do I."
Shanaya added.
Within seconds...
Everyone agreed.
Arjun sighed.
"I have terrible friends."
The magician laughed.
"Come on."
"I promise I won't embarrass you."
Rohan whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"We'll do that ourselves."
The group erupted into laughter.
Arjun looked at Aadhira.
She was already smiling.
For the first time...
He realized something.
Maybe...
Being surrounded by this noisy, impossible group...
Wasn't so bad after all.
Especially...
When every laugh...
Every smile...
Brought him a little closer...
To the woman beside him.
---
The sky..
Slowly turned shades of orange and pink.
The streets of London became even more beautiful as the city lights began to glow.
The group continued strolling along the riverside.
Street performers entertained the crowd.