TPQ (Aru Shah) One Shots

BEACH DAYSSSS

The potatoes were going to the beach! Finally something normal in their ever so chaotic lives.

"Why are we going to the beach when we can literally go to Naga Loka?" asked Rudy on the way there.

"The beach is amazing!" retorted Aru.

"We're finally doing something normal for once and you want to make it alarming?" asked Brynne dryly.

"Everyone needs to wear sunscreen to prevent UV rays," said Mini, taking out a bottle of sunscreen from her ginormous What-If-Someone-Gets-Hurt-on-the-Beach-Bag.

"Why?" asked Rudy, staring at the bottle.

"Because you could get skin cancer which can make you-"

"Die?" asked Aru and Brynne in unison.

Mini was not amused.

Once the Potatoes arrived, Aiden almost immediately started taking pictures.

"There's no way you're gonna do that all day," said Nikita, making a face at Shadowfax.

Aiden hastily covered the camera, "It's art,"

"Making designs and bringing them to life is true art." said Nikita haughtily.

"You're talking to the person who takes pictures of those designs for your website," retorted Aiden.

"Whatever, cameraman," said Nikita, waving him off. "You do you."

"EVERYONE DO NOT GO IN THE WATER RIGHT AFTER EATING," hollered Mini.

"Yes ma'am," said Aru, taking a bite out of a cookie.

"How are you so smart, my queen?" asked Rudy, gazing at Mini with admiration.

A smile touched her lips as she shrugged, picking up a water bottle, "You should drink water, Rudy. I don't want you getting dehydrated."

"Of course, my queen."

Aru smiled at the couple, even though they weren't a couple yet, they acted like it so it gave her all the reason to call them a couple.

Hira and Brynne played volleyball together, though it was mostly Brynne teaching Hira how to play, but she looked like she was enjoying spending time with her. Aiden took pictures near the shore of the sunset, Sheela watched the ocean dreamily and Nikita sat next to her, drawing in her sketchbook.

Their parents sat on the biggest beach mat Aru had ever seen in her whole life, food placed inside their cult-like circle. Krithika laughed at something Mr.Jagan had said, taking a bite out of her samosa. Gunky and Funky shared stories about VPD, Malini talked about the next dinner party and Mini's parents talked about internet safety for their kids.

Aru ran up to the circle and stole a samosa from her mom's plate before running away, "Thanks, mom!"

She heard Krithika snort behind her, "Why are you so greedy?"

"I AM NO SUCH THING!" Aru hollered back.

She then walked up to Aiden, samosa in hand, "'Sup, Wifey?"

Aru could tell Aiden rolled his eyes, even though she wasn't looking at him. "What is it, Shah?"

Aru stood next to him, broke off a piece of her samosa and offered it to him. He looked at her quizzically before breaking into a smile and accepting the samosa.

"Today was a good day," said Aru, taking a bite of her half of the samosa.

Aiden nodded before finishing the samosa and wiping his hands on his shorts to get rid of crumbs.

Aru smiled at the sunset, "It's pretty, isn't it?"

She heard the shutter of Aiden's camera. "Beautiful," he muttered, looking at Shadowfax.

"Can I see?" asked Aru, peering over the camera.

Aiden backed up, "No way."

Aru glared.

Aiden sighed before turning Shadowfax into a watch. He looked at her, eyes glinting in the evening sun. His arms snaked around her waist, drawing her against him. Aru sighed into his touch, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Years ago, she could've only wished that they shared moments like this.

But now, here they were, feet in the sand, held together by their embraces, surrounded by the people the love most.

And that's why we love beach days, thought Aru, taking a bite out of her samosa.

Authors Note --- I think the Potatoes have delt with many issues throughout the years, because of the war and pressure that the Otherworld was putting on them. At the end of the day, they're also kids who were scared for their lives, because almost everything was a threat to them. I really do think they needed a break and some time off to visit the beach :)