Retail Therapy
He held her hand as soon as they got off the car, he gave extended instructions to the driver over where to park.
"Hum jaante hain, you shouldn't worry Teeku shrugged proudly
"I am in safe hands then? he taunted amused
"U don't believe me? she asked
"I do he squeezed her hand warmly
There were people all over the sidewalks, and to top it off merchants had displayed their wares clear into the street. The old marketplace looked festive, songs blaring from radios and playlists
Young boys walked by waving combs, maps, socks anything they could sell
"Didi le lo, make up le lo didi, theek laga denge hum
"Bhayya cap lenge
"Behenji khilona le lo, kabhi na kabhi to munna hoyega aapko
"Madam, dikhayen ek kitchen chopper?
"Where to now? he asked taking an occasional picture
"Hum yahi se apne traditional wear ke dupatta kinari lete hain, tailor bhi yahi hain she informed
He nodded amused pausing in front
"What else?
"Ma ek jagah Corelle khareedti hain
He laughed and shook his head "I om OK with my china he said amused
"hum keh rahe hain bas she was miffed
"Kinke saath aati thi aap? he asked gently probing
"Ma, bhabs... Dhruv bhayya, Vibhu to bhaagte hain shopping ke naam se she laughed
He pulled occasionally to ensure she didn't step off the sidewalk and twist her foot
They walked the next half hour window shopping, she bought a bunch of hair accessories for the female niece(S)
There was a store tucked between two brightly lit ones, it looked like an alleyway with stairs with no light
"Oopar ek fabric store hai challenge?
"This way? he asked pointing to the staircase
She nodded eargerly
"u are sure you don't plan to take me up some vault and dump me? he asked pulling on her hand and stopping her as she began to go up
"Kyon karenge? she asked shocked
He looked at her with sheer joy, a wave of ecstasy going over his eyes, like she had just acknowledged love
"U know we know how much you hate lawyers he muttered softly
She bend down self consciously as her heart hammered
"Not so much I will do that
"Phew then? he quizzed wanting to know if he was safe
"Chaliyeee she tugged
She spent an hour zeroing in on 3 fabrics, sitting down on the floor divan in a cramped 20 *20 room stacked to the ceiling with rolled up handloom fabrics
"Avantikaaa... please he was exasperated
"Aap bhi Vibhu ki tarah hain? she asked incredulously
How could anybody hate shopping tone
The young girls in the store shopping as a group giggled and whispered
Harit was embarrassed
"I will give you 10 mins he whispered
"Hamey ghar ka raasta maloom hai she shot back
"Funny he smirked not amused
She didn't bring her purse, and she just let him pay which shocked the bajeesus out of him
"Bhabhi aayin thi aapki gaye mahiney, aapke liye who gotey waala le gayin the man smiled
"Oh really? Teeku was delighted
"Ab banwaakar jaayerngi ghar? Harit was infuriated
"Banwaakar, pehankar she giggled
"Avantika!!
She paused in the step above him and scowled "Ufff at his calling out her name as if she was in trouble
"Exactly! he said turning around