A Sew Through Time [Banbudh And Budbak]

10: Fantastic fabulous mall trip!!!

"Oh there you are!" Ananya waved at Khushi in the ocean of people. She ran into her arms and hugged her when she noticed her bag,

"Why did you take this?"

"Wanna study in the mall?" Souvik chuckle.

"It's a, never mind...let's go" she replied hastily.

Several long lines stood in the front with security guards checking bags. Proceeding, they went in, sheer excitement in their eyes. As they stepped into the grand atrium, Khushi was enveloped in opulence. Marble floors gleamed beneath her feet, designer boutiques, clothing brands and accessory stores beckoned with sleek displays. The air was thick with the soft hum of conversation. The play area buzzed with children's laughter, while parents relaxed on nearby benches. Colorful stores were lined the corridors, offering everything; from toys to treats. The atmosphere was lively, with families enjoying a day out together.

Checking her phone, she noticed that it was just six thirty pm. She had the entire evening to enjoy.

Ananya pulled her friends towards the crowd. The populous mall sparkled with bright lights. They wandered through the stores, flipping over cloth tags having unimaginable prices. Souvik pleaded the girls to visit the arcade, but unfortunately he lost all his free tickets in the claw machine. Walking into Westside, Ananya picked various tops and dresses and tried their sizes on Khushi's back.

"Hey try this" she handed a sleek white dress to her.

Khushi walked to the dressing room when Souvik halted her,

"Hey don't take that bag with you, give it to me"

Trying the dress, she appeared in front of her friends, posing and twirling around. The hem of the dress made a circular shape,

"Thoughts?"

"Ate and left no crumbs" Ananya smiled.

"Want to buy it?" Souvik inquired, her bag on his shoulders.

Returning to the dressing room, she changed back into her own clothes and checked the price tag. It costed 799 rupees.

"Uh... you know what?" she told her friends, "I'll buy it some other day"

Leaving the store, they ventured into Spencer's and the other floors. Hamleys had been stocked with new animatronic puppies; one of them softly chewed on Khushi's finger as she lifted it up, making one of the salesmen furious,

"Don't pick it up like that!"

"Sorry..." she apologized.

The long stretch of people were already formed once they reached the venue. It was a part of the mall as an adjacent area, with one large gate for the entry and exit. It overlooked the parking lot behind the mall.

Souvik opened his phone. Patience ran out and he began tapping his feet on the floor,

"This will take time, a lot of time"

"Well that's what they say, good things take time" Ananya chuckled, "Why don't I get ice-creams for us and stand here?"

"Ice-creams? Nahh" Khushi handed her some rupee notes, "Get me some chips"

"For me too" Souvik added, "I feel hungry"

Ananya hurried to the small store to buy the food.

The fan fest started thirty minutes late. Souvik showed their three tickets on his phone. The guard scanned the QR code and let them in.

Ananya gave out a shrill cry of excitement upon noticing her idol at a distance. Holding Khushi's shoulders, she jumped up and down like a spring. Pushing through the crowd, they caught their line which led towards his signing table.