An Unexpected Encounter

CHAPTER 1

AARYA'S POV:-

Tears welled up in my eyes remembering my family,as I tried to blink them away. The most I have been away from my family is for 7 days .That so happened to be ,when me and my friends had a small trip to Europe.

I continued walking towards the terminal. I was excited to be finally able to do as I wish and chase the only dream that i had since ever.

I had all my valuable paintings packed in my suitcases along with all the essentials. I had to wait for 2hrs until the boarding starts. So i decided to go the business lounge as I can rest for a while. I didn't sleep for almost 2 days straight as I had a lot going on. So i needed some rest, but these heavy suitcases didn't help the situation.

Boarding began, I took my luggage and went ahead without looking back, because I knew for a fact that if I look back now,I might not be able to leave Delhi.

»»---->»»---->

Finally after so many hours I landed in Jaipur. Jaipur's golden light danced across the pink hued street's whispering secrets of the past.
A smile made up to my face.

I had already booked a cab. I saw my cab and went ahead, the driver uncle helped me to put my luggage in the back. I sat inside the cab, as the cab wound through jaipur's streets, I gazed out at the kaleidoscope of colours, my heart skipping a beat at the city's breathtaking beauty.
"Wow! Jaipur's really stunning!!"
" The architecture, the colours.... It's like nowhere I've ever been "
I whispered under my breath.

I reached my hotel within an hour and checked in.

As soon as I entered the room I decided to call my father.
After the fifth ring , my father picked up my call...
"Hello papa, it's me aarya"

"Beta, how are you doing? Did you reach jaipur safely? "

"Yes papa I'm doing well and have checked in to the hotel that you've booked for me "

"Also, how is maa doing?she might be mad at me? " I asked

"Yeah she is doing good but she is not talking with me as of now " Whispered papa.

"Papa why are you whispering?"
I whispered

"Beta, you know that your mother is scary when angry. If she hears me talking to you she might kick me out of the house and hand me a bowl to beg with "

"........."

" Itna sanaata kyu hai?? Aarya you there? " Whispered papa

"Oh, yeah I'm listening "

" But dont worry beta aapki maa humse kab tak naraj rahengi? "
"I'll try my old convincing tactics on her... The last time i used those tactis ,were when I had proposed her and she was trying too hard to get . But in the end we ended up together. So this might work once again , right?? "

"......... "
"Yeah-yeah, right I suppose"
"All the best papa "
"I'll talk to you later "
I said

"Bye beta, take care and please eat the food on time. Don't skip your meals!! Okay!?."

"Yes papa" I replied and hung up.

I decided to take a shower and then rest for a few hours before I go out to explore jaipur.

I want to capture jaipur's beauty through my paintings as I believe that cities come alive on my canvas vibrant hues capturing the essence of my travel.

»»---->»»---->

I got dressed up in a pink kurti. The kurti's soft cotton Carressed my skin, it's gentle rustle a soothing serenade. I wore my jhumkas and then started packing my canvas in my tote bag along with all the paints, brushes and other essentials that I needed.

I decided to go to a nearby café and then continue with my day as I had it planned.

I looked around me with hope to find a café but my hopes were crushed when I couldn't find one.

Defeated I decided to take help from google . I took my phone out and searched for a nearby café. A café showed up on the google map and according to tha map it was just 10 min down the lane. I skipped happily all the way to the café.

As I entered the café, the place pulsed with energy, every table occupied. Warm lighting illuminated lively chatter and laughter. Rich coffee aroma's wafted through the crowded places as steam rose from the crowded countertops, masking the hum of espresso machines.

I searched for a free table and found one near a window just next to the entrance of the café.

I ordered a latte , croissant and cinnamon swirl. I went through my phone to check on any messages and updates till my order had arrived.
whole 15 min of wait later, my order is finally here.

As I was about to have a sip of my coffee, the café door burst open. A boy mainly a travel blogger with worn out backpack and piercing green eyes that shone like polished moonstones glowing with quite intensity ,stumbled in.

As he made his way towards the café, his backpack snagged on the chair sending cameras and lenses crashing on my table.

My precious paintings and sketches that were kept on the chair across me scattered, ink bleeding, colors smudging. My heart sank.

"Hey, watch it!!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with frustation and anger.

The boy rushed to gather his belongings, but further chaos ensued. My sketches fluttered to the floor, torn and crumpled.

"Seriously?!! " My anger boiled over
"These were months of work! "

His apologetic expression deepened
"I'm so sorry, let me help you "

My eyes blazed "just leave me alone"

"Let me help-"

"Leave!! "

He hesitated then backed away his eyes lingering on aarya's ruined art.