The girl in the mirror

chapter 8

Eve POV

Ashwin follows behind me smiling to himself. Ugh, probably laughing at me. At that moment I just pointed at the stall to get out of the awkward situation I put myself in. However as I look closer, the stall has a lot of interesting wooden toys. Wooden animals,dolls and other peculiar items.

I picked up a doll. It has a simple painted face with just two eyes, a nose and a smile. I trace my fingers over the dress. The floral pattern gives me deja vu. What does it remind me off?

Its really a stupid thing but I love collecting little figurares and stuffed animals just for keepsake. I don't need it but it would suit the rest of my collection. I'm not a child, I don't need a doll.

"I see you like the doll meale" A soft voice says behind the stall.

"Ahhhh!" I dropped the doll in shock. Ashwin rushes in front of me glaring at the stall. An old woman came out from behind it. Her brown eyes twinkled with mischief. Her saree is green with gold trim. Her hair streaked with gray.

"Calm down ah, I'm not going to hurt your girlfriend. Boys these days" ,she shakes her head,"Why? What could a little old woman do" she said in a sly voice. Ashwin tenses up. I pat his shoulder to calm him down.

I pick up the doll and swipe off the dust.

"Sorry auntie, you just scared me".

She smiles a gummy smile "At least your girlfriend has some manners unlike you boy".

"Ah no auntie he's not my um boyfriend we're just friends" I quickly say.

"Right just ...friends auntie" Ashwin adds.

She looks us up and down like she doesn't believe us "Well then do you want to buy the doll?".

I think about it, it is really cute. "Yes please and the tiger too". There is a wooden tiger that catches my eye.I pick up the tiger. Its face is yawning as it lies down. This meant makeup for the one Emma lost.

"I'll wrap it up for you meale.'' She wraps the doll and tiger in a muted green cloth. We head off when the auntie calls us "Ah wait boy come here". Ashwin stops and looks back.

"Wait here, I'll be back" he gestures at me to wait by a stall selling sarees before he headed over to the auntie.

Ashwin POV

I walk over to the auntie. She gestures for me to come closer.

"Ah boy it's clear you like her. I have lived so many years. You and her would be a good match. She is very pretty and nice to elders. good choice".

I tighten my fist " Auntie like she said we are just friends " I give a fake smile.

"You think you can fool me boy. I see the way you look at her. Listen to this old woman and tell her that. What do you just rush in front of any women you see?".

I thought back to when Eve got scared. It was just instinct to protect her. I couldn't let someone I love get hurt again. The auntie slaps my arm.

"Auntie what was that for!" I yelp. My arm stings from her slap.

"For you being stupid. I'll tell you now Ashwin you will only have one chance to tell her and if you don't it will be too late" she grabs my hands and puts something inside it.

"Wait how do you know my-".

"Ashwin!".

I hear Eve yelling for me.Shit I forgot she hates crowds. I'm an idiot to leave her alone. "Coming!".

The auntie pushes me forward"go on Ashwin she's waiting". I ran up to her. "

What did the auntie say?" She asks, peering over my shoulder.

"Ah just some auntie advice you know". I look over my shoulder to look at her again but its like she disappeared in the crowd. How did she know my name? I shiver. Man that auntie gives me the creeps.

Eve just laughs and pulls me forward "come on lets buy something for Anshia".

I take a look at what she put in my hand. It was the necklace I wanted to buy for Eve earlier.

"Oh did you get that? It's so pretty. here let me help you put it on" she says seeing the necklace in my hand.

"Yeah. I thought it looked pretty". How did that auntie get that?

"Do you want to put it on? I can help you" she offers. I nod but in the back of my mind I was thinking I wanted to put it on you. Maybe next time.

She takes the necklace and tries to put it on me. I'm much taller than her so she has to tiptoe to put it around my neck. Her face is full of focus. Cute. I smile looking down at her.

" Okay all done" she beams.

"Thanks".

We send the rest of the afternoon roaming around. She is in wonder of all the new things in the market. I know the market like the back of my hand. It began to get boring so I didn't really go there anymore. I chuckle to myself. With her it feels like a whole new place. Eve makes me buy a pair of earrings for Anshia. Not like Anshia doesn't have enough but I can't say no to that face. I crackle inside of how jealous she's going to be that I met Eve before her.

We stopped at another stall selling clothes. Eve was observing a saree.She begins a bargaining battle with the auntie. When she wins and walks up to me with a smug face. She holds up a beautiful sky blue saree. Her grin stretches from ear to ear. She is clearly proud of her achievement. That's my girl.

"That will look really good on you".

"Thanks I don't have any traditional clothes to wear. I was always jealous of my friends when they wore theirs. Now I have my own". She couldn't stop smiling the whole time. I see the size tag on the saree and take note of that. I should get her some. What are her favorite colors?

I go to ask her when her phone rings.