Heart of Two Brothers

chapter 08: Side by Side

Priti pov:

Today was the day we had decided to go shopping. I waited at the bus stop for Sia and Abhinav, and by 10 AM, they were nowhere to be seen. After twenty minutes, I suddenly heard my name. I turned to my left and saw Sia and Abhinav walking toward me.

"Hey, you guys are late!" I called out, a teasing smile on my face.

Abhinav: "We're sorry! I was on time, but it took Sia forever to decide on her dress."

As I glanced at Sia, I couldn't help but admire the gorgeous outfit she had chosen. It hugged her figure perfectly, and the vibrant colors brought out the sparkle in her eyes.

Sia: "Sorry for keeping you waiting!" she exclaimed, her voice bright and cheerful.

"It's alright," I replied, trying to keep the mood light. "But that doesn't mean you can do it again, okay?" I said jokingly.

She smiled at me, her expression radiating warmth. "Yeah, I promise!"

"And you look beautiful in your dress," I added, genuinely admiring her.

"Aww, thank you!" she said, playfully nudging Abhinav in the stomach. "You should learn something from her."

Abhinav: "Aww, that hurts!" he groaned, pretending to be in pain as he laughed.

Just then, our bus arrived. We climbed aboard, paid the fare, and settled into our seats together.

As we rode, excitement bubbled up inside me. When we finally reached the mall, I couldn't believe my eyes. Shops lined the entrance, including H&M, Nykaa, Lakmé, Bata, Zara, Maybelline, and so many more!

"We have to start with H&M!" I exclaimed, pulling my friends toward the store.

As we walked inside the shop, Sia's eyes suddenly lit up. She spotted a dress that caught her attention and dashed toward it, pulling it out from the rack with an excited smile.

"Look how beautiful this dress is!" she exclaimed, holding it up for us to see.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, the design and color are stunning! It'll look amazing on you!"

Abhinav chimed in, "Why don't you try it on?"

"Great idea!" Sia replied, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she headed toward the fitting rooms.

After a few moments, she emerged, and Abhinav and I couldn't take our eyes off her. I couldn't help but grin and said, "You look absolutely breathtaking!"

"Thanks!" she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. I noticed Abhinav hadn't said a word yet; his gaze was fixed on Sia, and I could sense a slight tension in the air. Sia looked down, clearly shy under Abhinav's intense stare, and she cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.

Finally, Abhinav seemed to snap out of it. "You look gorgeous! You should definitely buy that dress," he said, his voice warm and genuine.

"Aww, thank you!" Sia beamed, her smile brightening the moment. I could see a flicker of connection between them, a spark that made the atmosphere around us feel charged.

"Priti, have you picked out any dress for yourself?" Sia asked, her tone shifting to a more inquisitive one as she looked at me.

I glanced around, feeling slightly overwhelmed. "No, not really. Some dresses are too short, and the colors aren't what I prefer to wear."

"Okay, then let's check out some other shops! Maybe we'll find something perfect for you," Sia suggested enthusiastically.

"Yeah, sounds good!" I replied, feeling more motivated.