K3G Returns! #MissionDesi

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Dosti

ASMARA WAS GROWING MORE AND MORE DESPERATE. She sifted through the cabinets of the shop over and over again.

She had lost her sketchbook two days ago. She had received an urgent, last-minute order from one of their most important customers, and she had dropped it on her way, only realizing it until after she made her delivery.

Asmara was completely lost without it. Akin to a diary, it contained all her inspirations and personal ideas: everything from henna designs to drawings of flowers.

The book itself was one of her biggest secrets: it reflected her one dream, her dream of becoming an elementary school art teacher.

Odd wasn't it? People didn't normally aspire to have that kind of job. Especially not young girls who made sweets for a living. But Asmara had never considered herself normal. To her, kids represented the future. And art was one of the most important subjects there was. Where would the world be without it? There would be no color, no architecture, not even greeting cards to gift your loved ones, at the very least. If she could help a child discover a talent through art, help them find their passion, then her life would be made.

But right now, her safe haven was lost. She needed it for her art teaching classes definitely, but most of all, she needed it for herself.

It was with these thoughts of panic that Asmara continued her search. Wherever it was, she prayed to Allah that nobody saw the last few pages.

Here was the situation: Asmara rarely ever drew people. Maybe once or twice she had drawn her parents, or her grandmother. She had even drawn Ghasi once, as a joke. But she never drew strangers. Especially not strange, handsome boys.

For the past couple of weeks, Asmara had noticed a very cute boy who came in almost daily, at the same time, on the dot. He would order chai every time, and sit in the same corner. But what was most unnerving about him was that he was always staring at her.

Now, Asmara didn't know much about boys. Why was he looking at her like that? It was unsettling, to say the least.

But he was very cute. And he came in everyday during her lunch break, when she was doodling or completing an assignment in her book. And before she knew it, she was drawing him.

There were rough sketches of the handsome stranger everywhere. Some of his eyes, his smile, his face, him running his hands through his hair, even a full-body one of him sitting at the table with the cup of chai. She knew it was creepy, but she couldn't help it. He was intriguing.

But, God forbid, if he saw her book - or worse, someone else saw it . . .

Asmara hid her head in her hands. Ghasi patted her head sympathetically. He hadn't mentioned the sketches of the stranger to her, but he had definitely seen her working on them from over her shoulder.

"Tension mat lo [Don't worry], Ara. It'll turn up." He tried to smile at her, but then walked off to collect a dirty cup from an empty table left by a customer.

Just then, the wind chimes hanging off the door began to jingle, signaling the entrance of another customer. Asmara sighed, and began restocking the premade boxes of sweets on the shelves.

"Excuse me?"

Asmara turned around at the sound of a gentle voice, coming face-to-face with Krish. He was smiling at her slightly, and it was turning her insides to jelly.

Krish, on the other hand, was ecstatic to finally see her twinkling honey eyes meet his. Momentarily forgetting about the tall blonde and the cousin reading menus from outside the shop where he had ditched them, he approached Asmara.

"Hey. I believe this belongs to you." Krish pulled out the book in front of him. Asmara breathed a sigh of relief and gently took it from him. He chuckled.

"I've noticed you sitting here with it, so I knew it was yours." He gave her a crooked smile.

Asmara was too shy to say anything, so she settled for a timid smile, a faint pink staining her cheeks.

She hid her face. He was too charming.

"Thank you," she nearly whispered, but the tenuous sound was music to Krish's ears. Nervous, she turned to leave, when suddenly Krish took ahold of her hand. She gasped softly, turning around to face him without looking him in the eyes.

"You know, if you wanted to draw me, you could have just asked. I would have posed for you and everything," he whispered, smiling cheekily.

He went through her book! Asmara's face hardened in annoyance, her lips forming a pout.

"Kameena [jerk]," she blurted out softly under her breath, without realizing it. Shocked at the crude slip of tongue, she gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. Krish laughed, surprised by the tiny outburst.

Leaning in closer, he murmured, "Tere se toh gaali bhi compliment lagta hai, meri jaan. [From you, even a curse sounds like a compliment, my love.]"

Asmara's eyes widened as he grinned. Was he teasing her?! She furrowed her brows and turned to leave yet again. Alas, Krish took her hand again as well.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you." His face suddenly turned serious, his tone sincere. "I was just looking for a full name or return address."

Asmara rubbed her lips together, unsure at the turn of events. She looked up at Krish, seeing a guilty expression forming on his face. She didn't like that expression one bit.

"It's okay," she said softly. His face broke out with a smile and she smiled back.

"I've wanted to ask your name, but you always look so serious," he admitted. "Par ab, mujhse dosti karenge? [But now, will you be my friend?]" Krish gave her a hopeful look.

Asmara contemplated the offer. He seemed nice, though she didn't know him at all. However, he had seen her sketches. What was the harm? She nodded shyly at him.

"By the way, I'm Krish." He grinned at her.

"Asmara."

Krish's happiness was short-lived though, as an irritated Yuvi suddenly shoved the door open, shouting, "BHAIYYA! Tu kya - [BRO! What are you -]" He stopped midsentence, staring at his cousin with a girl he had never seen before, confused.

Krish immediately dropped Asmara's hand. He hadn't realized that he had still been holding it. Asmara looked away, embarrassed.

"Uh, tu ruk. Main aa raha soon [You wait. I'm coming]," Krish answered back awkwardly, as his cousin nodded slowly. Waiting until the taller young man left, Krish shot Asmara a departing smile before leaving himself.

"Uh - Ara?" Asmara jumped at the sound of Ghasi's unexpected voice. The man in question raised an eyebrow at her. "Wahan kya ho raha tha? [What was happening there?]"

"K-kuch nahi [Nothing]," Asmara murmured before scurrying away. This Krish would be the death of her!

. . .

I originally wrote this with the previous chapter, but the entire thing was 2000+ words! And I felt this should be a separate part. :)

So, what do you think of Asmara? I'm thinking Priya should make an appearance in the next chapter, what do you think? ;)

Thank you so much everyone for all the comments! I got so many follows, messages, votes, and comments only yesterday! It hasn't even been 24 hours since I updated! I LOVE YOU GUYS! <3<3<3

-Meenal