Beyond The Golden Skies

♛ 03: Falling Slowly •

Ayushman Singh carried Chirag in his protective arms as they moved through hundreds of people. His heart tingled with a strange feeling.

Sakshi. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl, he thought. 

He walked to the other end of the fair, finally spotting Chirag's father. A man in his thirties with well-oiled hair waved at them from a jewellery stall.

"Papa!" Chirag waddled to him like a duckling. 

Gaurav lifted his son and settled him on the table, raising a brow at Ayush. "Look at you! Chirag must have troubled you a lot."

"It's alright, Bhai. How is your wife now?" Ayush asked. 

"Maanya is still unwell, that's why I called you," Gaurav said.

"Still unwell? You should get her some dry fruits or dates." 

"Dates? Where did that come from all of a sudden?" Gaurav said.

"That sweet girl gave us dates!" Chirag shouted with an innocent smile.

Ayush glared at the boy. He shouldn't have given him a chocolate earlier.

Gaurav grinned. "Ohh, so that's the matter. Who is she?"

Ayush took a deep breath and explained the entire situation about the girl who helped them. She had kind eyes and a vibrant eyes. She had offered them shelter and also dried his jacket."

"I left my jacket with her!" he said.

Gaurav patted his shoulder. "It's official! The shy and quiet Ayushman Singh is interested in a girl!"

Ayush scratched his hair with a smile. "It's not like that. I just need to get my jacket from the shop."

"And meet your girl." Gaurav said, winking.

Ayush's heart fluttered hearing 'your girl'. But the logical side of his brain didn't agree.

"I first need to know her. She's sweet, but what if we're not each other's type?"

"Mr Accountant, don't bring your boring calculations into love. Go get her number!"

A mix of fear and excitement surged in his chest. He hurried to the spice shop like a piece of iron pulled by a magnet. His muscles stiffened as he neared the shop. Instead of Sakshi, a stern man with a big grey moustache sat in the chair.

"Namaste! We offer the purest spices and dry fruits in Sonambar! May I show you some samples?" The man said in an enthusiastic voice.

"I'm looking for the girl who was here."

The man frowned. "Why do you want to meet her? You can ask me whatever you want."

"It's alright." He sighed in disappointment. His hopes of meeting Sakshi crashed like a sandcastle in a storm. 

The smell of fried peanuts and snacks wafted in the air. He walked past camels and horses covered in colourful blankets. Children screamed as they rode the toy train. But nothing made him feel better.

"Chirag's guardian!" A sweet voice rang in the air.

It was her.

She waved out to him from beside the giant wheel. Warmth spread through his body. He sprinted to her with a bright smile.

Like an accountant observing a balance sheet, he observed her features- her bright eyes, her pearly teeth, her fading acne scars. In a flowing silver dress, she looked like a cloud that strayed down to earth.

He managed a breathy whisper, "Hi again."

She handed him his jacket. "I saw it only after you left."

"Thank you so much," he said, breathing in the soft rose fragrance around her.

"I guess Chirag is with his father now," she said.

"Yes, finally. So... what are you doing here?" he asked, trying to sound casual. 

"My friend is buying tickets for the giant wheel ride. Would you like to join us?"

He was tempted to join her but if his office friends spotted him, they would tease him for the rest of his life. They might even record a video and share it on their WhatsApp group. 

She looked up with hopeful eyes. "It will be fun." 

His worries faded away hearing her words. "I'd love to join you!"

"Great, I'll tell my friend to get another ticket."

She raced to the ticket counter and spoke to a curly-haired girl. The girl looked at Ayush with a grin and slapped Sakshi's arm.

He felt the same vibe when Gaurav teased him about Sakshi. Did that mean... Sakshi was also interested in him? Why else did her friend tease her with a smile?

Sakshi waved out to him again, tickets in hand. "We've got your ticket, Mr---?" 

"Ayushman Singh. You can call me Ayush." 

"Ayush," she whispered with a smile.

A thousand fireworks exploded in his brain hearing his name on her tongue. He wished he could hear it again and again. 

The curly-haired girl joined them, still grinning. 

"Vini, meet Ayush. And Ayush, this is my friend Vinnati. " Sakshi said. 

Vinnati leaned towards Ayush. "So you're the handso-Ouch!" 

Sakshi elbowed Vinnati in the stomach, cutting her words.

Ayush's face heated up. Was she going to say 'handsome'? Is that what Sakshi told about him? His bones reeled with excitement at the thought.

He got into the giant wheel cabin with Sakshi and Vinnati. The girls sat opposite to him. As the giant wheel prepared to take off, the ride manager approached them with three teenagers. 

"Sir, these kids have no place. Please shift to the other side," the man told Ayush.

He couldn't believe it. Everything was bringing him a step closer to her. Vinnati smirked at Sakshi and moved to the corner. 

As he sat down beside Sakshi, his hand brushed against her arm, sending mad sparks through his body.

The wheel started to move up and Sakshi closed her eyes tight with a frown. The crinkles on her nose reminded him of a frightened kitten. 

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm scared of heights, but it's fun to try something new. Please don't mind if I scream."

"Thanks for the warning." Ayush chuckled.

The giant wheel stopped in the middle of the the sky.

"Look around, Sakshi. You can't miss this view!" Vinnati said.

"I don't feel safe, Vini."

"Sakshi," Ayush said in a calm voice. "You're safe between Vinnati and me. Nothing will happen, I promise."

She fluttered her eyes open, drawing deep breaths. Her frown melted into the cutest smile he had seen.

A flock of parrots swooped past them. The entire fair looked like a toy city with tiny people, cars, and shops.

"Vini, there's your shop! Your father is talking to a customer!" she said, looking around like a curious toddler.

A sudden jerk jolted the giant wheel and Sakshi grabbed his arm for support. Every nerve in his body tensed under her soft touch.

What was this girl doing to him?

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