Memories to Grave

Chapter 1 : Daisy's Hope?

It was a summer evening at 5 pm. The sun was almost set in the west, bidding farewell with a promise to return the next morning. The street was crowded; vehicles were moving, vendors were busy selling goods, and people were chit-chatting.

An auto stopped at a stand, and a man stepped out. He looked to be in his thirties, with a neatly trimmed beard, wearing a black shirt and grey chino pants, looking quite well-off.

He took a wallet from his back pocket and handed the driver a 500 note. The auto driver mentioned the fare was only 100 and he didn't have change. The man asked if the driver accepted online payments, but he did not. With a little laugh, the man remarked that the world was changing and wondered why the driver wasn't, noticing a bookstore, he asked the driver to wait while he got the change.

He went inside the bookstore. There were no customers, only a girl at the counter, looking like a teenager, desperately waiting for customers. He asked her for change for a 500 note.

She replied, "We only sell books here, not change."

"I didn't ask you to sell the change, I'm asking you to exchange the note," he said.

She sighed deeply and explained she was stuck in the bookstore because of her dad, missing a promise to meet her friend. No customers had come in since it was summer and schools were closed, reducing notebook sales, and very few people were reading books these days.

"That's okay, but why are you telling me all this?" he asked.She replied loudly, "Because I want you to buy a book so I can close the shop for today and go home with the satisfaction of having at least one customer."

Seeing the disappointment on her face, he laughed and picked a random book without even looking at the title or content, saying he would buy it. Her lips widened into a smile, and she said the price was 200. He gave her the 500 note and asked, "Are you satisfied now?" She replied with a big yes while taking the note. He said, "Not only you, but I'm also satisfied seeing your smile. Since we both got stuck by people and had a boring day." She packed the book and the receipt in a cover and handed it to him, thanking him. He asked her name, and she replied, "Ananya." He introduced himself as Vishwa and said, "Nice to meet you, Ananya," wished her a great evening, then left the shop.

Vishwa handed the auto driver a 100 note and apologized for keeping him waiting. The auto driver said it was okay and took the note. Vishwa started walking home, which was a short distance away.

His father was watching TV, holding a cup of tea. Noticing his son's presence, he asked, "You're back?" while placing the teacup on the table in front of him. Vishwa replied, "Yes." Hearing the conversation, his mother came from the kitchen and stood at the kitchen door. Both his parents simultaneously asked, out of curiosity, how his date went. With a little hesitation, Vishwa started towards his bedroom. Entering his bedroom, he replied, "Nothing good." His parents looked at each other in silence.

At 9 pm, Vishwa's father was at the dining table, and his mother was on the couch, both having dinner. Vishwa came out of his bedroom after a shower and sat next to his mother. He took the TV remote and started flipping through channels. His mother asked again how his date went. He didn't respond, appearing engrossed in the TV. His father insisted, "Vishwa, give some response since your mother is asking something important." Vishwa finally said, "It failed." His mother began nagging about how much effort she put into setting up the date and finding a perfect girl for him. Vishwa, with anger on his face, retorted, "Is a perfect girl means a rich girl for you?" Both kept staring at each other.

Vishwa's father, having finished eating, went to the balcony to check on the car. He asked Vishwa, "Did you park the car in the cellar?" Vishwa replied, "No."