Chapter 38 A Day Through Londons Streets #3
Children laughed as soap bubbles floated through the air.
Musicians played cheerful tunes that blended perfectly with the evening breeze.
"Look over there!"
Naina pointed excitedly.
"They're making handmade chocolates."
Without waiting for anyone...
She hurried towards the stall.
"Wait for me!"
Rohan immediately followed.
"If you're buying chocolates..."
"I deserve some after carrying your shopping bags all day."
"You deserve one."
"Only one?"
"If you behave."
"I've behaved all day."
Siddharth laughed.
"That's the biggest lie I've heard today."
"Oh please."
"I've been the most responsible person here."
Dev looked at him.
"You nearly walked into a fountain because you were looking at pastries."
"That fountain appeared out of nowhere."
"The fountain has been there for years."
Everyone laughed.
Kabir shook his head.
"Our friend has no shame."
"I have plenty."
"You just don't use it."
---
As everyone crowded around the chocolate stall...
Aadhira noticed a small bookstore across the street.
Its window displayed several old classics she hadn't seen in years.
She smiled.
"I'll be back in a minute."
Her soft voice was drowned out by the group's laughter.
Only Arjun heard her.
"I'll come with you."
She looked at him.
"You don't have to."
"It's alright."
"I'd like to."
She gave a small nod.
Together...
They quietly crossed the street.
Neither of them realized...
The others were completely occupied with tasting chocolates.
---
Inside the bookstore...
The atmosphere was calm.
Soft instrumental music played in the background.
Rows of books stretched from floor to ceiling.
Aadhira slowly ran her fingers across the spines.
"It's exactly the same..."
She whispered.
Arjun looked around.
"You've been here before?"
"Many times."
"Whenever I felt homesick..."
"I used to come here."
She smiled faintly.
"I'd buy a book..."
"Sit near the window..."
"And forget the world for a few hours."
Arjun looked at her thoughtfully.
"I wish..."
"I had known you back then."
She turned towards him.
"Why?"
He smiled softly.
"I think..."
"You must have been very lonely."
For a brief moment...
She didn't answer.
Then...
She nodded.
"I was."
"London gave me opportunities..."
"But it also taught me how to be alone."
There was no sadness in her voice.
Only acceptance.
Arjun looked at the shelves before speaking again.
"I feel like..."
"I'm meeting a different version of you every day."
Aadhira tilted her head slightly.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No."
He smiled.
"It's just..."
"Every time I think I've understood you..."
"You surprise me again."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"I could say the same about you."
He looked genuinely surprised.
"Me?"
She nodded.
"When we first met..."
"I thought you only knew how to work."
"I still do."
She laughed softly.
"No."
"I've seen you play football with children."
"I've seen you wear a flower crown."
"And today..."
"I saw you rescue my cheesecake."
Arjun rubbed the back of his neck.
"I couldn't let it fall."
"I noticed."
Their eyes met.
For a few quiet seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
The silence...
Didn't need words.
---
Outside...
Kabir finally looked around.
"Where's Aadhira?"
Everyone stopped talking.
Rohan blinked.
"She was just here."
Siddharth looked towards the road.
"And so was Arjun."
Kabir smiled knowingly.
"I think I know where they went."
"Come on."
---
A few minutes later...
The group reached the bookstore.
Through the glass window...
They saw Arjun and Aadhira standing side by side...
Talking quietly.
Rohan grinned.
"Well..."
"Look who's on a secret date."
Siddharth folded his arms.
"We leave them alone for ten minutes..."
"And they've disappeared."
Dev chuckled.
"I'd say we're the ones interrupting."
Kabir pushed the door open.
"There you are."
Both Arjun and Aadhira turned around.
"We've been looking everywhere."
Aadhira blinked.
"Were we gone that long?"
Rohan dramatically checked an imaginary watch.
"Long enough for us to consider filing a missing persons report."
Shanaya laughed.
"Don't exaggerate."
"I'm not."
"I was emotionally affected."
Naina rolled her eyes.
"You were eating chocolates five minutes ago."
"That doesn't mean I wasn't worried."
Everyone laughed.
Kabir looked at Arjun with a teasing smile.
"So..."
"Enjoy your private sightseeing?"
Arjun cleared his throat.
"It wasn't like that."
"Of course."
Kabir replied innocently.
"We believe you."
The grin on his face suggested otherwise.
Even Aadhira couldn't hide her smile.
As the group stepped back onto the lively streets of London...
The laughter returned once again.
The evening ended...
With jokes...
Endless teasing...
And memories that none of them would forget.
For Arjun...
One thing had become clear.
Somewhere between the laughter...
The conversations...
And the quiet moments they had shared...
His heart...
Had taken another step towards the woman walking beside him.
End of Chapter 38