Love Departing From Plateform 1

17 | A Breath Away

Every breath shared in close proximity carries a silent promise 🦋✨

Aakriti's POV

Today, we're attending the anniversary celebration of my parents' colleagues, and my parents have entrusted me with the all-important task of selecting the perfect gift. So, here I am, standing in front of a gift store, trying to make a choice that'll reflect both elegance and meaning.

As I stepped inside, the familiar scent of fresh paper and polished wood welcomed me. And there, standing near the counter, was Samarth. We locked eyes, and I offered him a warm smile.

"Oh! Hi!" he greeted, his voice carrying a pleasant surprise.

"Hi, Samarth," I replied, matching his tone.

Before we could exchange more than pleasantries, two different salespeople approached us, eager to assist.

"For whom are you looking to buy a gift?" one of them asked, her tone professional yet welcoming.

"A couple," Samarth and I said in unison, causing both of us to glance at each other, amused.

"Any special occasion?" the other salesperson asked.

"Wedding Anniversary," we said together again. This time, we both chuckled softly.

"Any specific details about the couple?" the first salesperson continued.

"They might be in their 50s," I began, just as Samarth added, "Sir is around 55, and Ma'am must be 52 or 53. It's their 25th wedding anniversary, and they're both doctors." He offered quite a detailed description. Wait... Doctors?

"You're going to the anniversary of...?" I started, sensing something familiar.

"Mr. and Mrs. Arora," he finished with a nod. "And you?"

"The same!" I exclaimed, he looked at me in shared surprise. "They're my parents' colleagues," I explained, watching his expression shift to understanding.

"They're my neighbors," he added, nodding again. I blinked, piecing things together. If they're his neighbors... and Samarth lives next to Yash... then...

"They've invited a lot of people, relatives, colleagues, and all the neighbors," I said, emphasizing the last part.

"Yeah, especially all the neighbors," Samarth replied, a mischievous glint sparkling in his eyes.

We both selected our respective gifts and got them wrapped. As I was finishing my payment, I noticed Samarth hesitating near the exit. He turned back to the counter, looking a bit uncertain.

He approached the salesperson again "Um... I was wondering," his tone unsure. "Do you have something special?"

"We have many special items, sir. Do you have any specific preferences?" the salesperson asked.

"I mean something special, something unique... something like the moon," Samarth said, and everyone, including me, turned to him in amusement.

He quickly waved it off, "Never mind, sorry to disturb you."

"No problem, sir. Can I help you with anything else?" the salesperson asked.

"No, thanks."

I couldn't resist teasing him as we walked towards exit door. "Moon and all, haan?"

"Tch! Buying a gift for a girl is the most difficult task," he sighed, clearly confused. So he's buying gift for a girl.

"Try to figure it out. Girls are so simple," I said, grinning.