REGRETS: An Unspoken Longings

SHOPPING.

Suhani's point of view-

The exams were finally over, and the collective sigh of relief among our group was almost palpable. After weeks of being buried in books and cramming for exams, we all needed a break. What better way to unwind than a trip to the local Indian market? The vibrant colors, the tantalizing smells of street food, and the lively chatter of vendors felt like a perfect escape from the academic grind.

The market was as bustling as ever, with stalls lining both sides of the narrow lanes, selling everything from handmade jewelry to spices and traditional Indian clothes. The lively chaos was oddly comforting, and I found myself smiling as I walked alongside Nandini and Saanvi, with Arjun, Vivaan, and Veer following closely behind us.

"Look at these bangles, Suhani!" Nandini's voice broke through the noise of the market, pulling me out of my thoughts. She had spotted a stall filled with an array of colorful bangles, each one more beautiful than the last. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and I could already tell she was in her element.

"They're gorgeous," I agreed, watching as Nandini picked up a set of deep green bangles, holding them up to the light.

Behind us, the boys were already up to their usual antics. Arjun, with his mock exasperation, teased Vivaan. "Vivaan, if you buy one more thing for Nandini, we're going to need a truck to haul all this stuff back."

Vivaan just grinned, clearly not bothered by the prospect. "What can I say? I'm just making sure Nandini has everything she needs."

Arjun rolled his eyes dramatically. "Yeah, right. Admit it, you're just trying to impress her."

Vivaan shot back with a playful smirk, "And it's working, isn't it?"

Nandini, who had been admiring the bangles, blushed slightly but quickly regained her composure. "Vivaan, stop showing off," she said, trying to sound stern but failing to hide her smile.

The banter continued as we moved from stall to stall, each one offering something new and interesting. Saanvi had found a stall selling traditional earrings and was busy picking out a pair, while Arjun stood nearby, pretending to be uninterested but clearly keeping an eye on her.

"You know, Saanvi," Arjun said, leaning casually against a post, "those earrings look a bit old-fashioned. Are you sure you don't want to pick something more... modern?"

Saanvi shot him a withering look. "Just because you have no sense of style doesn't mean you get to judge mine."

Arjun feigned shock. "Excuse me, I have an impeccable sense of style."

"Sure you do," Saanvi replied sarcastically, holding up a pair of earrings. "Which is why you should just stay over there and let me handle this."

Arjun's eyes narrowed in mock challenge. "You think you can do better than me?"

"Absolutely," Saanvi retorted, not missing a beat.

Their back-and-forth was so familiar and oddly comforting. I couldn't help but laugh quietly as I watched them. They might argue and bicker, but it was clear that underneath it all, they genuinely cared about each other.

Meanwhile, Veer had sidled up beside me, his gaze following the others as they moved through the market. "You know, watching those two is like watching a sitcom," he said, his voice filled with amusement.

"Tell me about it," I replied, shaking my head with a smile. "They argue more than anyone I know, but somehow, it works for them."

Veer chuckled, leaning in a bit closer. "They say arguing is a sign of passion."