invisible string ✓

twenty one

Noticing that she wasn't online, I convinced myself, telling that she must be in her classes. Hence, I roamed around the bookshelf aimlessly.

Five minutes later, I heard my mobile pinging thrice, letting me hopelessly wish that it must be Advika.

And, yeah, there she was.

Advika:
Hey!
Sorry for not texting soon. I was in a class back then.
Well… Technically speaking, you're carrying a “How To Be A Fucking Green Universe: Men's Version” series. If you want to take notes and get jealous by seeing me simping those men, take it!

Me:
Me? Jealous? No way, sweetheart. I'm not that guy to do so.

Advika:
Oh, yeah! You aren't. *sideway glance*

Me:
Oh, yeah! You read “the book”, right? *skull*

Advika:
Twenty times. All for you.

Me:
Had to be so. People say that they find it hard to leave me.

Advika:
Who wouldn't if you are THIS irresistible? You sometimes make men question their sexuality, Ishaan.

“Excuse me?” A teen girl in a mustard yellow Brooklyn hoodie shirt requesting me to move aside from where I was standing had brought me back to the texts I had with my lady, thereby forcing me to wipe that coy smile on my face.

“Yeah. Sorry.” I moved away with my copies of the Twisted series and You Belong With Me to the billing department.

As I came out of the bookstore, I texted Aarvi, forwarding the image of the books I had sent to Advika.

Me:
I bought these four books as hardcovers. Don't tell Advika that I bought these.
P.S.: Shall we meet after college? I need to propose a plan to you. For her birthday.

Aarvi:
Okay. Meet me at 5.

Below was a location pin of a coffee shop near Aarvi's university.

***

TWO HOURS LATER…

“Hey, Aarvi!” I waved at Aarvi, who slumped in her seat and looked around the café aimlessly, and sat opposite her. “So, did you order something?”

“Not yet. Waiting for you to come.” She pushed the menu card towards me and opened it for me. “What was the plan?”

“I have a few questions. Could you please answer it for me?” I requested, scanning for good food through the menu card while looking up and seeing her nodding a yes. “Good. One: What is this place called The Ahluwalia's Abode?”

After stalking (yes, real stalking) Advika and Aarvi's joint Bookstagram account, kitabiphilics, I found a reel where Advika ranted that despite being in Delhi for three years, she had never been to that bookstore (which was a great disgrace to her).

“Dude.” Her mouth went O at the mention of the bookstore and let out a surprised chuckle. “You have no idea how amazing that place is. It's Disneyland for us book lovers. It's the G.O.A.T. of aesthetics. I mean…” She gave up talking and propped her head against the table, whining, “You have no idea about that, dude. I have always wanted to take Advika there, but it was either that she's busy, or I'm busy, or both of us are busy, or both of us are too lazy to go there.”

“Oh! Cool.” Taking time to bring the second question to the tip of my tongue, I asked, “Two: What about her favourite food?”

Sighing as if I asked the most inappropriate question, she asked, “I'm sure she must have said that Italian cuisine is her favourite, right?” Surprised at her knowledge, I nodded a yes while she let out a mocking chuckle. “That girl says this to everyone. But… Trust me, she's a hardcore Desi Girl by heart. And… No one would love butter naan and paneer tikka the way she does. Oh, also a grilled chicken breast from the restaurant near our house would be a cherry on the cake for sure.”

“Wow! That sounds so good! Also…” I pause to take my mobile out of the pocket and search for a particular video. As I found it after half a minute, I asked, “Could you please teach me this? I need your help,” play the video, and showed the mobile screen to her.

She carried my mobile in her hands, and fifteen seconds later, she paused it and said, “Only the accent?” I nodded a yes, enough with what she was offering me. “Okay. I'll teach you. Get a printout of its lyrics and… Let's catch up tomorrow. Same time, same place. We have only four days, so we must hurry up. Okay?”

“Yes, Chief!” I saluted like a diligent militant and shot a toothy grin, my heart racing and stomach releasing a zoo of butterflies at the thought of making it a best birthday for my best woman in the universe of universes.

***

Finally... Harsh is out of Advika's life, peeps! *standing ovation*

If you're asking, "What could go worse now?" Wait. I'm not done yet. *devilish smirk*