Hey people from Ghumland,
Here I am with the second chapter of the story.
Saira and Neil finally met. Thanks to Naira, it happened in an unexpected way. 😆
Rest is all about a typical trip with friendly banters.
Hope you will like it. Thanks for reading. 😳
Naira fixed the trip for the next week as all of them were free all together. Once during a video call, she told Saira how caring Neil was. The night they returned home from Nice, he stayed on the phone the entire time it took her to go home from the train station. He made sure she reached home safely while her own husband was busy at work.
« The girl he will love and marry will be so lucky to have him as a caring husband. », Naira said.
« Why didn't you marry him then ? », Saira asked her.
« Are you mad ? He is my best friend. I never saw him in a romantic way, yuck. », Naira made a face.
Saira laughed seeing her disgusted face. Naira requested her to take her swimsuit because they were going to the beach. Saira was the shyest of the two and always refused to show off her body.
« I don't even know how to swim. », Saira reminded her.
« You know that I can't swim either. », Naira replied. « But you never know. We have a savior with us. You can pretend to drown. He will save you. You will be in his arms. Eyelock. Romance. », Naira daydreamed.
« No thanks. I am not going to show by body to the entire world for your entertainment. Go watch a romantic movie for that. », Saira replied.
Naira laughed. Her friend never shyed away from savagely ruining her plans. Talking about savagery, she feared telling her about the change in plan. Initially it was planned that she would go and pick her up but her car broke down two days ago. That's why she asked Neil to pick her up instead. She didn't know how to announce it to her.
« I forgot to tell you that my car broke down so I asked Neil to pick you up. », Naira talked as fast as she could.
« WHAT ? », Saira shouted. « Are you serious ? Girl, I don't even know him. », she added.
« What do you mean you don't know him ? I think you know each other way more than you think. », Naira said.
« Naira, you know that I am shy during the first meetings. It will give me anxiety. Don't do this to me. », Saira begged.
« Too late. I have already shared your number with him. He is going to contact you soon. », Naira informed her.
« I want to kill you. », Saira said annoyed.
Naira winked and cut the call. Saira was worried. More the time passed more she was getting anxious. Not only did she ever meet him before but being alone with him in the car was making her feel awkward. It was even more awkward knowing that her friend was hell bent on playing the cupid.
A day before the trip, she received a text message from him. « Hi Saira, this is Neil, Naira's friend. How are you ? Apparently I have to pick you up. What time should I come and where should we meet ? ». Saira took some time to reply as her hands were shaking, « Hi Neil. I am fine and you ? At seven in the morning if that's ok with you. Pick me up from the train station. ». He agreed, « OK. See you tomorrow, Saira. »
Neil unconsiously smiled after sending the message while he was in the middle of a party. One of his collegues looked at him suspiciously. Neil grabbed one of the beer bottles and gulped it down. The music played on and everyone joined the dance floor. Saira too smiled unknowingly and rushed out of the house. She was running late for one of her friends' Henna ceremony.
The next day Saira woke up at six in the morning and got ready as quickly as possible. She was impressed that her hair straightening from the day before was still intact. She only had to comb her hair. She wore a long black dress and applied only eyeliner and dark red lipstick, her day to day makeup. She then grabbed her travel bag and ran outside after saying goodbye to her mother. She reached the train station at seven o'clock sharp and texted him that she has arrived. Two minutes later he too reached the station and spotted her from far. He walked towards her. She startled and turned around after he greeted her, « Hi Saira. ». She put a hand on her heart and smiled. « Hi », she replied with a timid voice. He immediately understood that it was a little awkward for her to meet like this. He decided to converse with her to make her feel comfortable.
« That's all you have ? », he asked opening the car trunk.
« Yeah, I carry as little as possible. », she replied putting her travel bag inside the trunk.
« Naira and I always have a suitcase wherever we go. », he said opening the car door for her.
« I know and I always make fun of her. », she replied.
She got in the car. He closed the door, rounded the car and got in. He started the car immediately. A brief silence installed. She nervously touched her hair while he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She tried to call Naira but she didn't answer.
« I hope she is not asleep. If she isn't awake then I swear I will wake her up with cold water. », he said.
She laughed, « She is always late. »
« Thank you for confirming it. I thought she was late only with me. Once she wanted to spend the day with me. We were supposed to meet at ten in the morning. She showed up at four in the afternoon. », he told her.
« She gets late in her own party. She was late in her own wedding. She asked everyone to come at four but she herself showed up at six. She was two hours late. », She laughed recalling the scene.
« What ? Glad you told me this because she never did. », he said.
« I didn't see you at the wedding. », she remarked.
« Yeah we weren't in touch for some time. She is lucky because I wouldn't have let her get married to him. », he said.
« Why ? », she asked.
« Yohann is not the right person for her. Both are way too different. She needs her freedom while he is a homebody. He is a nice person but personality wise they don't match at all. », he replied.
« True. », she replied.
« But he is as crazy as her so I guess that's what's working for them. », he added.
« Yeah he is. We were colleagues and I kind of was surprised when she introduced him to me. The world is quite small. », she said.
« Indeed that's crazy for a coincidence. So what do you do ? », he asked.
« I was a graphic designer but then wanted to try something else. Currently I work at a tour operator. », she replied.
« Oh interesting. So you are an artist and a travel junkie. », he remarked.
« Yeah. What about you ? », she asked.
« I am a chemist. I have a boring job but we colleagues always do crazy things. As a person I am anything but boring. », he replied.
« I know... I mean Naira told me a lot about you. », she said.
They didn't realize how quickly thirty minutes passed and they reached Naira's place. He parked the car and both came out of it. Naira welcomed them with kisses on the cheeks. She put her luggage in the car and whispered Saira to sit on the passsenger seat while she will sit behind. Saira turned her head unable to stop laughing.
« What did I miss ? », he asked confused.
« Girls talk. », Naira replied winking at Saira.
She then jumped in the back seat leaving no option for Saira other than sitting on the passenger seat. Neil started the car, ready for a three hours drive. An hour later, they stopped at the rest area to have their breakfast. Neil and Saira made fun of Naira when she chose a plain croissant when they had so many other options. She rolled her eyes. As a gentleman Neil took out his wallet to pay but Saira stopped him. He frowned confused and Naira facepalmed.
« She is abnormal. Unlike any normal girl she hates when someone else pays her bills. That weirdo can even pay on a date. », Naira explained.
« Ok Miss Abnormal, I understand your uneasiness but please let me pay this time. If you want you can pay the next time. », he requested her.
She nodded timidly and walked to the book shelves. Naira went to reserve the table asking Neil to get as many sachet of sugar as possible. He waited at the counter for their coffees and pastries. He looked at Saira who was busy with the books. He smiled remembering how she stopped him from paying. This was the first time he came across a girl who doesn't act like a typical one. She smelled one of the books and smiled. He found it weirdly cute. Naira watched that scene from far and smiled. She was convinced that these two would end up together. Saira looked up and saw him struggling with the coffees and the pastries. She went to help him and picked one of the coffee cups and the pastry bag with a smile. He smiled back and thanked her.
« I can't drink this coffee. There is not enough sugar. », Naira said once they were all seated.
« You have already added two sachets. Take mine too as you know I don't like sugar in coffee. », Saira said.
« I need more. », Naira complained.
« Wait I am going to buy some more for you. », Neil left rolling his eyes.
« I told you he is so caring. », Naira said.
He came back with six sachets of sugar.
« Add more sugar and get diabetes. », he said.
« Bla bla bla. Who told you to get me more ? », Naira made a face.
« I knew you would complain during the entire breakfast. Now let me have my coffee peacefully. », he said.
« Saira be ready to see the real Neil. Once he has his coffee he becomes uncontrollable. You know a few years ago we worked at Parc Asterix again during summer vacations. He would drink coffee after coffee and do all the crazy stuff. His favorite pastime was dressing up as Obelix and hit the kids with inflatable hammer. He used to look so cute with his orange braids. », Naira said pulling his cheek.
« The kids used to love it and giggle. », he explained.
« He used to jump and run from one place to another like if his ass was on fire. », she added.
« Don't disgrace my excitement and energy, please. I am a little hyperactive but that's it. », he shook his head. « Let's talk about you now. Remember all the times you have beaten up your colleagues. », he added.
« It's because one of the guys placed his hand on my butt so I just slapped him. And the other one tried to show off that she could dictate me. I just slammed her head against the counter. », she defended herself.
« Gangster Nini. », he chuckled.
« I remember when Saira and I used to work in Jardin d'Acclimatation, there was that grumpy oldie colleague who always complained about her coffee drinking habit. She always feared that Saira would spill the coffee. One day when she started to argue with her, Saira purposely spilled the coffee on her. She did it in such a way that it looked like an accident and the boss couldn't even fire her. It was so hilarious. », Naira told Neil.
« Damn ! Is it only us or everyone working at amusement parks are quite savage ? », he asked.
« It's because we were quite young back then so we were carefree and also we were just working during vacations. We didn't care about getting fired as it didn't have any impact in our career. », Saira explained.
« Yeah true. Our boss was a nice guy though. Once I accidentally made a man fall in the lake. I went to my boss and tried to tell him what just happened before he could fire me but he said he didn't want to hear it as if nothng happened. », he said.
« It's nice to have friendly bosses. I had one who was color blind so I used to prank him sometimes by making him believe that he was wearing weird color combinations like pink shirt with green pants or red shirt with orange pants. », Saira said.
« Ahhh old days. », Naira sighed.
« I think we should leave. We are getting late. », Saira reminded them that they were short in time.
They were walking towards their car when Neil jumped on Naira making her almost fall on the floor.
« Neeeeiiill you idiot. Ouuuch my back. Coffee and this guy, dangerous combination. », Naira complained.
« Love you too Nini. », he said.
Saira chuckled. She loved Naira being called Nini. Neil put his arm around her shoulder and walked to the car while Saira was just behind them enjoying their friendship. Once they reached the car, Naira went in the back and when Saira was about to do the same Neil just stopped her.
« I am not a taxi driver so please one of you next to me. », he ordered.
« You look like a taxi driver though. », Naira stuck her tongue out.
Neil looked at her with a poker face. Saira sighed and sat next to him. As soon as they were on the highway, Naira played the music on speaker. Neil suggested that they should play a song each in turn. He loved rock music and rap. He asked Naira to play Ossy Osbourne's Dreamer. Both Neil and Saira went on a discussion about their favorite rock songs while Naira opened her eyes wide as she didn't like the genre. When it came to Saira's turn she asked her friend to play Era's The Mass as she hasn't listened to it for long. She loved folk, celtic, viking, new-age music a lot. She also loved trap and bass music. Neil and Saira were in tune when it came to music. They liked the same artists and knew the same unpopular artists.
« Actually I don't think I have a favorite genre. I can listen to anything that pleases my heart and ears. Even classical, fusion. And not to forget I love Indian songs and also the 90s and 2000s French songs. », Saira said.
« Now I understand it better otherwise I was thinking how come a girl like you can be into rock, viking, new-age genres. », Neil remarked. « What are you making us listen to, Naira ? », he asked.
« I don't know. My playlist is big. I have many genres. », she replied.
« Play anything girl. Why are you wasting time ? Or are you afraid to be judged, Nini. », he teased her.
« She is going to bore us with her Edith Piaf. », Saira made fun of her.
« Shut up, I just love her. », Naira said with a poker face.
« Quand il me prend dans ses bras, il me parle tout bas, je vois la vie en rose, huh Nini ? », he sung to make fun of her.
« You both are so annoying. », Naira said sulking. « I am going to put Come on by Barry White. I just love his voice. », she added.
« Oopss ! This is a song you can't play when you are alone with someone. », Saira said embarrassed.
« Definitely unless you have the intention to bang the person. But quite romantic if you organize something on a special occasion. », he said.
« He was blessed with his voice. », Naira said.
« I thought we wanted to have fun not think about making out. », he teased her.
« If you both can't control your desires it's not my fault. », Naira shrugged.
Neil and Saira cracked up. Naira changed the song with Luciano Pavarotti and James Brown's live performance suggested by Neil. After that Saira suggested Tushar Lall's Believer, 99 Luftballon, Everything by Lifehouse, Dil Ibadat rock version. Neil and Naira shared a few anime songs while Saira was clueless. Then they also listened to, sung at the top of their lungs and even danced on 90s and 2000s French songs.
They reached the Mont Saint Michel an hour before noon. They climbed to the top to visit the Abbey of the same name as the tidal island. Neil and Saira climbed easily those nine hundred steps to the top but Naira had a tough time. Neil called her an « Oldie » and even wanted to lift her up but she refused.
« I can lift a 40kg sack. », he made fun of her.
Naira slapped him on the shoulder and Saira laughed. Once at the top, they clicked so many pictures as the view was breathtakingly beautiful. They enjoyed the historical part of the rocky island and also the architecture of the Abbey. He took some pictrures of the girls and Saira took a picture of him with the scenery. They visited the souvenirs shops and bought magnets and jewelries. They ended the visit with a late hour lunch. They were lucky to be placed with the panoramic view. They ordered salads as starter. Naira ordered a regular chicken dish with a crème brulée which he disgusted her by calling it a pigeon meat. Saira always loved eating the local and traditional food of the places she visits. She opted for the Mont Saint Michel omelette and chips with a Dame Blanche ice cream. Neil wanted the same but then thought it won't fill his stomach. He decided to eat grilled salmon with rice and a mousse au chocolat. When it came to choose the drinks, the girls being muslims don't drink alcohol. They opted for the local apple juice. He ordered local red wine.
« Are you sure you don't want to have alcohol. I would love to see you drunk, Nini. », Neil teased her.
« Never. », she replied.
« I will make you taste non alcoholic beer next time you will come to my place. », he said.
« What's the point in drinking non alcoholic beer. », she frowned her eyes.
« To know how it tastes, duh. », he explained.
« I heard beer tastes like piss. Is it true ? », she asked.
« Depends on the quality. But seriously I would love to see you drunk. », he said.
« You have Saira for that. She does crazy stuff after getting high. Watch her. », she said.
« What ? », he looked shocked at Saira.
« Don't look at me like this. She is exaggerating. », Saira said.
« Who went to Amsterdam to get high ? Dude, you should have seen her. She was so high that when we asked her a question she answered ten minutes later... ten f**king minutes later. You know by the time the question went to her brain and then the answer came down to her mouth. », Naira made fun of her.
« Oh my God. This shy and innocent looking girl was high and that too to that level ? », he was dumbfounded by the revelation.
« Innocent and her ? She has a weed nerd personality hidden inside her. », Naira confessed.
« Nonsense. », Saira rolled her eyes while Neil laughed.
« And who smokes shisha in every country she goes ? », Naira shocked him even more.
« That's because my cousin has this habit of trying shisha in every country which she visits. So after traveling with her in so many countries I got that habit too. », Saira defended herself.
« Amazing. Surprising... no no shocking but amazing. », he extended his hand for a highfive and after Saira clapped his hand he added, « We will be good friends then. We have the same hidden passion. ».
« Made for each other. », Naira murmured rolling her eyes.
« So in which country did you like shisha the best ? », he asked.
« Istanbul of course as Turkey is the country of shisha. Barcelona had one of the best too. We quite liked in Budapest too. The shittiest one was in Malta. », Saira told him.
« Interesting. I had the best in Greece and also Spain. We really should smoke in Paris and make Naira try it too. », he winked at Saira.
« Pathetic. », Naira looked at him annoyed while he laughed.
Once they were done eating, Saira insisted on paying. As promised, Neil didn't refuse. They ended the Mont Saint Michel trip and watched the island one last time, once again lost by its mesmerizing beauty. They didn't take the shuttle bus to return to the parking lot instead walked for fourty five minutes. They enjoyed the sunny day and did crazy things. Neil and Naira kept teasing each other and he even picked her up ready to throw her on the field. Saira took a picture as souvenir. Naira slapped him on the shoulder as soon as he put her down. He gave a fake angry look at her. Saira enjoyed their friendly complicity. They also spotted many giant pop cows as street decoration. They climbed on them and clicked pictures.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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