TPQ (Aru Shah) One Shots

Chaat Date?

Aru was getting ready for her first ever date. With Aiden.

Brynne said that it was "about time" and that they should get married already. Mini had gone on a rant about the bacteria living in the human mouth and that they SHOULDN'T KISS because it could contract deadly diseases.

"Mini, I'm sure Aiden doesn't have herpes," reassured Aru.

"You can never be too sure!" exclaimed Mini.

Brynne rolled her eyes, "It's not that big of a deal."

Exactly, thought Aru.

Until she realised it wasn't.

She was going on a date.

WITH AIDEN I-ONLY-LIKE-MY-CAMERA ACHARYA.

How is this not a big deal? Brynne would feel the same if she was going out with Hira, and Mini with Rudy.

She actually said that once and Brynne had responded by pushing her into a wall with a powerful gust of wind. Hooray to her dislocated spine.

Aru had opted on a pastel yellow hoodie and dark blue flare jeans. She decided to accessorize with the necklace her mom gave her, simplistic but classy earring Nikita had gifted her and of course, Vajra.

The doorbell of the apartment rang and Aru knew exactly who it was.

It wasn't her mom, because Krithika Shah had left on a buisness trip, unfortunately leaving Aru and the museum behind.

So it could only be one person. Someone who promised to pick her up at 5 sharp.

Aru grabbed her phone and hurriedly walked towards the door. She opened the wood door to see Aiden, looking as handsome as ever.

He wore a simple black hoodie and jeans. His glossy curls tipped over his eyes and the sun from the window illuminated him perfectly. Aru thought the sun and moon were particular to Aiden, because they highlighted his existence perfectly at all times of the day. Surprisingly, Shadowfax wasn't with him.

"What happened to Shadowfax?" asked Aru, glancing at his neck. Usually, the camera would've been strapped there, but was seemingly replaced by a thin gold chain that adorned his neck.

"Still with me," said Aiden, glancing at his watch.

"It's pretty," muttered Aru.

"What's pretty?" asked Aiden, looking up from his wrist.

"Your," Aru gestured to her neck.

"Oh," said Aiden, the tops of his ears reddening. "Nani gave it to me."

"How sweet," said Aru, linking arms with him. "Shall we go, Wifey?"

Aiden smiled, "We shall."

The two walked to a little shop on the corner of the street, owned by a nice Uttar Pradeshi couple.

The shop might've been small, but it was cozy, filled with the smell of chai, cardamom and sindhur.

Two tables, each with two chairs were placed at either sides of the entrance, next to big windows. Directly in front of the entrance was the cash register and a display of all kinds of Desi snacks and treats.

The lady at the front desk smiled at them. She had light brown skin, bright brown eyes, a nose ring glinting on her nose, and long, straight hair that fell to her elbows. She wore a plain black shirt under an apron. Her name tag read Jyothi.

"Is there anything I can get for you two?"

"Chaat, please," said Aru.

"Same," said Aiden.

The lady smiled at them and headed into the kitchen behind the front desk.

"Gods, Aiden," said Aru. "I thought it was gonna take you hours to order again."

Aiden rolled his eyes, "It's trauma from always being the deciding vote."

Aru scowled, "What trauma? You back out every time!"

Aiden laughed and held her hand from across the small table, "You're the trauma, Shah."

Food came soon after and Aru could not lie, it was DELICIOUS.

Aru hoped that days like this would happen more often. Her laughing with Aiden over chaat with everyone safe and sound.