Sparks Fly

CH8: you & me

The air of a new city is filled with promises and the bustle of the crowd. Just like us many people thought to utilise this one week and the streets are littered with people. This makes me want to stay cozied up in my hotel room but a freshly showered Sara's level of enthusiasm is dangerous. I'm sharing a room with her. My mom and Sara's mom are together in a room and Neil and his mom are sharing a room with separate beds. Sara urges me to get ready and practically pushes me into the bathroom.

We all get ready and meet downstairs. Since we have lost half our day to travel, a unanimous decision is to shop in the local markets. Nothing gets that adrenaline rushing than good old shopping. We take rickshaws and land up in the local markets. Sara and I decide to go on our own into the shops and reassure our mothers that we have our mobile phones with us. But that is never enough. So a 6ft personal bodyguard follows us. The humidity around is making me itchy and sticky all over but it gives slight volume and waves to Neil's hair.

We have been roaming around for an hour with shopping bags weighing us down. Neil is holding Sara's shopping bags like the gentlemen he is. He offered to hold mine as well but I declined. I call out this to be the last shop as we enter. This happens to be a unisex clothing shop. While they have dresses and kurtas for women they also have printed shirts for men and Neil starts to go through them. He takes out an indigo shirt with blocks of elephants all over. It would suit him, I think.

"You should try it," I told him.

"Really?"

"That is definitely your colour. It will suit the hair situation you have going on up there."

"So you like my hair? " he teases. "I tried a new hair product today."

"We stan a man who likes to take care of himself," shouts Sara from the other end of the shop. Looks like word travel faster here. I urge him to try it on and the salesman points him towards the changing room. My eyes also find a pink summer dress for myself and even though i have already shopped a lot, i can't help myself and reach for it. Holding it in front of me to get an idea of how it will look, I turn towards the mirror. I was kind of feeling myself when Neil comes and stands behind me with that indigo shirt on. I don't turn and talk to him while looking at his reflection.

"You look good. You should definitely get that."

"You should definitely get that too. Pink is so your colour," he says. I put the dress back into its place and turn to walk up to him.

"I've already shopped a lot," I said while looking up at him. I bring my hands up to his chest and flick away an imaginary lint.

"There was something," I said awkwardly to justify my actions.

"Sure there was," interjects Sara again but this time in a sing-song voice.

All of us meet up again and head to the hotel. Since it's almost 9pm we straight go into the dining halls to have dinner. But since we can't take our shopping bags inside, Neil and I volunteer to take everyone's bags to their rooms. Once we've deposited everyone's bag, we take the lift to the dining hall. As soon as the gates are about to open Neil hits the halt button which doesn't let the gates open.

"Something wrong?" I ask in a confusing tone.

"Meet me in the lobby at 12am."

"What?why?no,"I said hysterically.

"Just meet me at 12am. There's something I'd like to show you."

"What about Sara?"

"No, just you."

"No, I meant what will I tell Sara."

"She knows about it. Don't worry, she won't tell a soul." That being said he pushes the button and the lift door opens. We sit down with our family and have dinner.

At quarter to 12 I'm standing in the lobby when I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning around I see Neil in jeans and a t-shirt while I'm in my pyjamas and a loose shirt.

"Cute pjs," he says.

"You didn't tell me there was a dress code," I said grimly.

"And yet you find a way to treat my eyes".

I don't respond to him and he looks at the time on his watch.

"We have to hurry up, I don't want to be late," he says.

We hurry back into the lift and Neil's hits the last floor button. I ask him whether there is someone we have to meet and he just tells me that it's worth the wait. We reach the last floor of the hotel and Neil takes charge. I just silently follow him. Opening the door that leads to a staircase he goes up towards the terrace. His pace fastens and by the time I reach the door of the terrace, Neil is standing in the middle of it.

"Are we even allowed to be up here," I ask.

"Who cares," he says nonchalantly.

He again glanced at his watch.

"It's about time," he says.

He comes towards me and drags me in the middle of the terrace by my hand. Pointing at the sky he says

"Just keep looking."

There it is. A shooting star. It's beautiful and my eyes linger on the sky even when it disappears within a second. I look towards Neil and he has his eyes closed. I realise that we are still holding hands, so I squeeze his hand. He opens just one eye and asks,

"Is it gone?"

"Yes and you missed it".

"Well, I was being smart about it and wished for something. As you should have".

"I don't need anything. I'm happy with what I have," I confess.

"Are you happy right now?" he asks and I again squeeze his hand.