The Gymnast's Escapade

The Inner Traditions

Shipnames 

Aarsh and Harshka (By fans)

Arsha (By me)

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Act 2, Scene 1

Pencils, sheets, colours spread on the bed while holding his head in his palm Harsh sat in the middle, after discarding another sketch he drew in the past one hour of his drawing routine to bring out something different than ever. The new collection demanded designs for bold, sassy, elegant yet innocent at heart brides who'd not wear the heavy bridal attires to grab the attention of the mass audience but sophisticated and intricate designs representing their own character and believes.

It has been three days since he'd been making but so far nothing he made impressed his eyes.

At the same time, he was trying to win the challenge of his prospective match.

The challenge went something as—before he left the Khandelwal Mansion that night, he asked for Aashka's number while having the delicious dessert of blueberry cheesecake made by her father. But that was not the end of that night, the dinner was eventful when they discovered that the food was cooked by him as well.

On one side he found himself completely enthralled by the man's cooking skills but on the other side, his grandfather's unimpressed face troubled him.

Rule two was in danger! Figure it!

Back to the challenge, as they sat beside the other on the sofa while chewing the fluffy cake, he had leaned near her ears and asked in a mere whisper for her to give him her number. Surprised, she turned her head to face him, gave a grin, and challenged.

In her exact words, it sounded as, "You're smart. Try finding it yourself, at least I'll know to what extent your smartness extends."

And after messing up his brain, she had joined the others as they conversed, while he debated how to find her number, but even after three days, he couldn't.

Wow!

Award for the slowest man goes to Harsh Sehgal!

The valid options he had were to either ask directly from his grandfather for Aashka's grand father's number which was his least favoured option or to call her father and demand her number which seemed somewhat reasonable given that he'd made a good rapport with the man.

In your mind, Sehgal! *Subconscious taunt*

Now, for her father's number as well he had sneaked in his grandfather's room, got hold of his cell when the man was in the shower, and found the number, but there was no sign of Aashka's number or for that matter any Khandelwal women.

He doesn't have your mother's number; how will he keep other household women's number? You idiot!

Pouting his lips as his mind chastised him, he pushed away the thick sheets, grabbed his cell from the nightstand, and taking several deep breaths, he dialled Aayush's number. Unable to handle the wait, he got down the bed, and stood near the window, gazing out at the front garden of the Villa.

The smell of mud filled his nostrils— the courtesy for the same went to the freshly showered grass of the lawn while the gardeners now planted the new flower plants as directed by Devansh who's a botany fan. At any other time, he might've been the botanist but as lucky as he was, Devansh couldn't impress his grandfather to choose the field.

Thus, he now handled one of the new departmental stores but that didn't stop him from taking care of the plants in his home.

He devoted his time equally to store his botany love as well as in maintaining his promise to his grandfather.