Heart In The Stars

CHAPTER 1 ✨

"They are made for the horse riders to keep their foot from slipping out of the stirrups."

"Interesting!" Her dimpled face twinkled. "I don't wear heels often, so I will somehow stumble even though these are only two inches high." She cursed her crimson boots.

"They missed the memo about making them comfortable for everyday wear."

She laughed, her head shaking slightly. "Seriously! I feel so clumsy whenever I wear them, like a newborn giraffe."

"Does the baby giraffe have any New Year resolutions?" I leaned in with curiosity.

"My New Year's resolution is to read more, so I'll turn on the subtitles on my telly!" She laughed momentarily. "What about you?"

"Maybe to read more too, because I'm taking up The Civil Services Examination."

"Good luck on passing the exam and my deepest early condolences if you don't." Her warm chuckle could have turned bread to toast from twenty yards away!

"I'll certainly try my level best," I replied, a confident smile playing on my face.

"My name is Ritisha. Nice to meet you!" She wrapped her arms around herself.

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Jaikar," I greeted, extending my hand in a gesture that, despite my attempt at composure, couldn't entirely conceal a hint of nervousness. I couldn't help but scrutinize my hand, suddenly self-conscious about its features, broad fingers as thick as sea shells.

Her hand was warm in mine, and there was a subtle electricity in the air as our eyes met briefly before the handshake ended. "Did you know," I ventured, a touch of curiosity in my voice, "that your name translates to the 'Goddess of Truth?'"

"Wow, I wish I had known that earlier. To be a liar, you need a good memory, and I don't have that. So, you're right!" She laughed, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Your charm," I remarked, a grin starting to form, "makes up for any memory lapses."

She let out a soft, melodic chuckle. "At least my name translates to something positive. What about yours, Jaikar?"

"My name doesn't have such a poetic translation. It's just a simple name."

"Simple can be beautiful too," she replied, her sweet gaze lingering on mine.

Joy seemed to lift my heart, carrying it on gossamer wings. With absentminded contemplation, I found myself coiling a loose string from the hem of my jacket around my finger. My attention shifted, and I couldn't help but notice her delicate struggle against the cold wind. An impulse guided my actions, prompting me to deprive myself of the jacket. I removed it and held it straight in my arms, shielding her. "Hey, I think you will need this!"

"No problem, it's okay." She wrapped her arms around herself again.

"Please, I insist." I smiled warmly with a hint of shyness.

"Thank you very much," she expressed with a gracious smile, adorning the jacket on her shoulders with a touch of elegance.

"Ready to trade the sand for some warm Samosas?" I grinned heartily.

"I'm all in, as long as there's no sand in our samosas," she declared, laughter bubbling up from within like a spontaneous melody.

"So," I began, falling into step beside her, "what do you do on a lazy afternoon?"

"I find cooking to be so therapeutic. There's just something about being in the kitchen, trying out new flavors and tasty dishes."

"I'm more of a taste-tester than a chef," I joked. "But I definitely appreciate a good meal. Any favorite dishes you like to cook?"

She chuckled softly. "Oh, one of my favorites to cook is paneer tikka masala. It's always a hit with friends and family."

"That sounds delicious," I replied, my mouth watering at the thought.

"It really is," she nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "Aside from taste-testing, what else do you enjoy doing in your free time?"

I glanced at her, considering the question. "In my free time, I really enjoy chatting with friends, exploring new places, and diving into a good book or movie. Any other favorite pastimes, besides cooking?"

"I'm a big fan of those activities too!" Her eyes lit up with excitement. "Drawing, or even just rearranging furniture, brings me so much joy. There's something oddly satisfying about getting creative."

"You're an artist at heart! It's an honor to be included in your New Year's adventure."

"I'm pleased to hear that. The feeling is mutual," she replied, her smile widening.

We made our way to a samosa stall that exuded the irresistible aroma of freshly fried samosas. The seller, adorned in a colorful apron skillfully maneuvered between large cauldrons sizzling with hot oil and trays filled with an assortment of golden brown samosas. He welcomed us with a bright smile and a polite gesture.

After buying some samosas, we found a spot on the sand and sat down together for the first time. The crispness of the snack blended with the sound of the waves, providing a soothing backdrop. With a nervous yet excited energy, I adjusted my shirt collar and ran a hand over my neck in an attempt to appear calm and composed.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, she shared her sparklers with me. We attempted to synchronize our sparkler lighting, without burning our fingers. Our collaboration turned into a slapstick ballet, with sparklers behaving like disobedient pets. Unexpected moments with sparklers often become the most memorable.

The waves of the sea raced like wild horses, rising before hitting the sand with their white foam hooves. Every wave kissed the shore, while the sand hugged her boots, and the wind brushed her cheeks. One hand scrunched into her hair, those curls that defied rules and gravity with equal contempt. She continued to check her watch, while I cherished every minute.

"I need to leave now. It's getting late," she declared, her expression slightly tense.

"My jacket-" I spoke in a subdued voice. My internal dialogue weighed the discomfort she might endure in the winter wind.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Please take it, Jaikar."

"Hey, it's okay -I think it suits you well," I stammered, the words carrying a sincerity that perhaps outpaced my ability to maintain consistent eye contact.

"Thank you, but I'm not good at safekeeping." She looked very serious, no pleasure at all, not even masked.

With no other recourse, I offered a smile and took back the jacket. A sense of disappointment washed over me as my gaze fell upon a sandcastle. Its corners crumbled like a raisin cake in the grasp of a hungry child. It struck me how relationships, akin to a sandcastle, demand time to construct, yet a wave of misunderstanding can dismantle them.

"Goodbye, Jaikar!" She waved casually, then sauntered off without a backward glance, as if deliberately avoiding any acknowledgment of my presence. The cold wind, oblivious to my presence, raced past as if I were an inconsequential specter.

With every step she took, the gap grew wide.
Her casual goodbye, an ever haunting tide.
A yearning stirred, a glimmer of hope inside.
That fate would reunite us, no need to hide.

Any possibility for their paths to cross once more? Did he create a positive first impression? Mark your attendance by clicking on the star!