Closer Than Before | 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙 ✅

Chapter 11: You still remember?

Radhika's POV:

As we strolled through the mall, the delicious aroma of sweetcorn suddenly caught my attention. I paused, unable to resist the temptation, and quickly bought a cup.

The vendor handed it to me just as Samar noticed I had stopped. He hurried back toward me, looking a bit puzzled.

Before he could offer to pay, I quickly paid online and smiled at him. "Got it covered," I said, feeling a small sense of satisfaction.

I offered him a bite, but he shook his head. "No, thanks."

Shrugging, I took the first bite myself. The warmth and sweetness burst in my mouth, and I couldn't help but let out a small, contented sigh.

It was good, but still, it didn't compare to the food he made. Just thinking about his cooking brought a blush to my cheeks.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I barely noticed when he leaned in slightly and said, "Give me one bite."

Startled, I snapped out of my daydream, my heart doing its usual dance whenever he was close. Trying to act normal, I took a full spoonful and held it out to him. He leaned in and took the bite, his eyes never leaving mine.

For a moment, everything else seemed to disappear. The way he looked at me, like I was the only person in the world, made my heart skip a beat-or maybe two.

I felt a warmth spreading through me, and I quickly cleared my throat, looking away as I started walking again, hoping to escape the intensity of the moment.

He jogged a little to catch up with me, falling into step beside me. "You walk so fast," he said, sounding amused.

I couldn't help but smile a bit, though I wasn't sure why. There was something about his company that made everything feel lighter, easier.

"Let's go to the arcade, what do you say?" he suggested, his tone suddenly full of excitement.

I looked at him, seeing that playful gleam in his eyes, and nodded. "Sure, let's go," I agreed, feeling a rush of anticipation.

We reached the arcade, and it was like stepping into a different world-bright lights, the sound of coins clinking, and the excited chatter of people around us.

Samar and I jumped into the games right away, laughing and teasing each other whenever one of us lost. It felt so easy, so natural, like we were kids again, with no worries in the world.

As we moved through the arcade, I suddenly spotted a claw machine filled with soft toys. My eyes lit up, and without thinking, I grabbed Samar's wrist and dragged him over to it.

"Let's see how good you are at this," I challenged, flashing him a grin. "Whatever we win, we exchange, deal?"

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Deal. Ladies first."

I took a deep breath and started my first attempt, but the claw barely grazed the toys before dropping empty.

I frowned, determined not to lose. The second time, I managed to catch a penguin, and my heart leaped with excitement-only for the claw to cruelly drop it at the last second.

"Stupid claw!" I muttered, glaring at the machine.

Samar chuckled beside me, clearly enjoying my frustration. I narrowed my eyes and focused. This was my last chance, and I was not going to let this stupid machine win.

I carefully maneuvered the claw over a Pikachu, held my breath, and pressed the button. The claw descended, grabbed the Pikachu, and held on.

I watched with bated breath as it slowly made its way to the chute, and when it finally dropped the Pikachu into the prize bin, I jumped in happiness.

"Yes! I got it!" I almost hugged him out of sheer joy but managed to restrain myself just in time. Instead, I grabbed the Pikachu and turned to him with a triumphant smile. "Your turn."

Samar stepped up, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for battle. His first try was a miss, but on the second try, he managed to snag a dinosaur. He smirked at me, clearly pleased with himself. Then, on his third try, he caught a cute donkey.

"Not bad," I admitted, though his smirk was starting to annoy me.

He grinned even wider, clearly enjoying this. "Looks like I'm better at this than you," he teased.

I frowned, crossing my arms. "Tum jo hona whi mila hai tumhe-gadha, dinosaur!" I burst into laughter, unable to hold it in.

He joined in, laughing with me, but then he paused, looking at me with an amused expression. "Oh God, you still remember?"

His words took me back in time, to one of our playful banters from college.

One afternoon, as we were walking to the cafeteria, Samar nudged me playfully. "You know, you're like a walking disaster zone."

I laughed and shot back, "Well, you're just a big gadha!"

"Oh, really?" he grinned. "And you're a cockroach."

"gadha Dinosaur !" I countered, giggling. He chuckled. "You're just a pile of kachra."

"And you're a kachre ka kidra," I replied, with a playful scowl.

Samar's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You're naali ka pani."

I grinned. "And you're naali ke pani ke kidre."

He scoffed and took my books from my arms. "Alright, alright. Let's get to class before you turn into an even bigger disaster."

The memory was so vivid, so full of the laughter and the easy connection we used to have. It reminded me of the bond we shared, a bond that had felt unbreakable back then. I looked at Samar, my heart feeling a little heavier with nostalgia, but I managed a smile.

"Of course I remember," I said softly, more to myself than to him.

Samar must have seen something in my expression because his smile softened. He handed me all three of the soft toys-the Pikachu, the dinosaur, and the donkey. "You can keep all three," he said, his voice gentle. "Let's go."

I took the toys from him, nodding as I followed him out of the arcade.

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