MEIN HOON NA

Part 8

It was one of those days that seemed to stretch on forever. Rashi and Aarohi, exhausted from their hectic schedules, decided to escape to the mall for a bit of retail therapy. The bustling mall was packed with people, but that didn't stop the two of them from indulging in their shopping spree—bags in hand, laughter in the air, and some lighthearted banter as they moved from store to store.

After what seemed like hours of wandering and purchasing more than they intended, Rashi suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her eyes lit up as she turned to Aarohi, practically tugging at her arm. "Yaar, Aaru, I don't know why, but mera na, ice cream khaane ka bohot man kar raha hai. Please, ja na le ke aa."

Aarohi raised an eyebrow, her expression amused yet exasperated. "To tu khud chali ja, Rashi. Itni lazy mat ban."

But Rashi wasn't ready to give up that easily. She pulled out her secret weapon—the innocent, wide-eyed face that always worked. "Please, Aarooo...," she said, voice soft and eyes pleading, making an adorable pout.

Aarohi groaned, rolling her eyes. "Acha, baba, thik hai! Tu toh drama queen ban ke baith ja yaha pe. Main le ke aati hoon."

As Aarohi disappeared toward the ice cream parlour, Rashi made herself comfortable on a nearby bench, looking around and scrolling through her phone.

Aarohi soon returned, holding two ice creams, one for herself and one for Rashi. She was weaving through the crowd, eyes focused on her friend when—bam! She collided with someone, sending the ice creams flying to the floor.

Before Aarohi could process what had happened, a strong arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back to keep her from falling. Startled, she looked up to find herself face-to-face with none other than Rajveer. He had caught her just in time, his grip steady as he prevented her from hitting the ground.

For a split second, Rajveer's gaze softened. He didn't let go. He was lost in her eyes, the world around him seemingly fading. Aarohi's indignant expression hadn't registered with him yet. He was supposed to be on a call with Vijay, but the words faded into the background as he just stared at her.

The spell broke when Vijay's voice suddenly yelled through the Bluetooth, causing Rajveer to blink and return to reality. "Rajveer! Raj! Kya hua? Sunai de raha hai?"

Aarohi, now realizing what had happened, immediately stepped out of his grip, fury flashing in her eyes. "Tumhe dekha bhi nahi kya?" she snapped, straightening her clothes and glaring at him.

Rajveer, trying to play it cool, responded casually, "Sorry... woh maine dekha nahi."

Aarohi crossed her arms and scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Sorry? Tumne meri saari ice cream gira di! Aur tumhe lagta hai 'sorry' kaafi hai?" She pointed at the mess on the ground.

Rajveer glanced down at the fallen ice creams, unimpressed. "Haan, to? Ice cream hi thi... it's not the end of the world."

Aarohi's eyes widened. "Ice cream hi thi? Tum andhe ho kya? Itna bada mall hai aur tumhe yahi dekh ke nahi chalna tha?" She reached into her bag and pulled out a business card. "Yeh lo, Dr. Sharma ka card. Jaa ke apni aankhen check karwa lo. Mera naam le lena, paise kam lagenge!"

Rajveer narrowed his eyes, clearly irritated now. "Arre, bas bas! Tumne bhi toh dekha nahi! Tum bhi toh mujh se takrayi thi."

The two of them were soon bickering like children in the middle of the mall, completely oblivious to the stares of passersby. Their voices grew louder, attracting the attention of none other than Vijay, who had just arrived.

"Arre! Aaru, Raj, kya ho raha hai yahan? Baccho ki tarah kyun lad rahe ho?" Vijay asked, stepping between them to defuse the situation.

Aarohi turned to Vijay, her voice still agitated. "Jiju, dekho na! Isne meri ice cream gira di, aur ab sorry keh ke nikal raha hai!"