It was a beautiful day. For the first time in as far back as he could remember, Anad woke first. He made coffee and brought the steaming mug to her bed. Sashi was surprised, but that didn't keep her from enjoying the coffee that was a little extra special.
After the gracious start, the day couldn't falter. They began readying to go out. Anad's showers were long, because he loved the feeling of water running down his body. But he dressed quick. Sashi's showers were short, in comparison. But she only air dried her hair. And that, for her long hair, took a while. In the end, Anad was ready earlier.
He never minded waiting as a friend. Now, the urge to tease was strong. Maybe it had to do with their changed relationship. Or maybe, it was something else.
"Sure you're done?"
Sashi looked at him confused.
He was amused by her blank face. He explained himself readily.
"It's been a while since I was ready. Just saying. If you were just a bit quicker, we would probably be in the east market right now."
Sashi smiled. But she felt that something was different. She just couldn't put her finger on exactly what. Pushing it out of her head, she grabbed his hand.
The east market had a long and glorious history. Sashi and Anad were students of history, and so their love for the east market wasn't surprising.
During the reign of the seventh king of the Nyzer kingdom, a merchant caravan from the north asked audience of the court. The variety and the exquisiteness of their wares impressed the king greatly. The merchants were allowed to set up a market in the east of the city, thus earning the name east market. Over two centuries later, the east market was still the east market even though the city had vastly changed and the market was closer to the middle of the city. The majority of the shops in the east market were passed down in the families of the original merchants of the caravan. The shops still essentially sold the same wares. And the families were richer than most would think possible for merchant families.
That was reason enough to love the east market. But it was more than just the history. The east market was most popular for pearls and stones and ornaments, as well as foods and beverages of the old. They were an amalgamation of the many cultures and times. Sashi loved the bangles of the east market. In a year, she had more bangles than all the girls of her class combined. And yet, she could never have enough.
The first stop was no surprise. Sashi was familiar with all the shops that sold bangles, and she was recognised by them all. She even had a favourite, aunty Sansui. Sashi bought most of her bangles from aunty Sansui.
Aunty Sansui was a pretty woman in her thirties. She had always wanted a daughter with whom she could enjoy her bangles, but she only had three sons. They were good boys, but they weren't a girl. And so, when she saw Sashi's love for her bangles, aunty Sansui started to look at Sashi as the daughter she didn't have. Which was why Sashi was always welcomed warmly.
"My dear, you're finally here," aunty Sansui greeted as Sashi walked in. "I just opened up, and you walked in. Today is going to be a very special day. I was missing you. It's been three weeks since you last came. I have new clay bangles to show you. You'll love them."
The older woman dragged the younger girl inside. Her joy was true. Anyone could see that. Anad didn't mind that he was ignored. He had a suspicion that most of the time, aunty Sansui didn't see him. So she wasn't ignoring him, she didn't even know he was there. He smiled at aunty Sansui's assistant.
"Could you tell her I'm over at Pradi da's?"
The assistant understood who Anad was talking about and nodded. With a smile, Anad left.
Pradi wasn't a descendant of the original merchant families of the caravan. He was actually from the east, which made it seem more fitting that he had a shop in the east market. Where Pradi was from, da was a respectful address for an elder. That was why Anad called him Pradi da.
Pradi's shop was a bookstore that had books from all across the world. At least, that was how he advertised the shop. The shop was paradise for all who loved reading and stories. It wasn't one among the bigger shops of the market, but it was crammed with so many books, getting lost inside was easy. There were even rumours of some of the more ardent readers losing themselves inside for a few days straight.
Pradi was a bespectacled, bald and round man with a handsome smile and a pleasant face. He was also slow, in the sense that every action of his seemed so slow that a snail would be faster. Even time seemed slower inside the shop. The overarching slowness was an inescapable attraction for the book lovers.
Anad loved stories too. But it was more than that. Pradi knew Anad's identity.
"Young master, good morning," the round man greeted brightly the moment Anad walked in.
"Good morning Pradi da," Anad greeted back respectfully.
Pradi looked flustered.
"Young master, you don't need to."
"I do," Anad said, stopping the older man. "Anyway, anything new?"
Pradi was bobbing his head excitedly.
"Oh yes," he answered. "Oh yes, young master. Many new books. But allow me to make the suggestion one more time. You really should get yourself a phone or a computer. Web novels are supposed to be read on a monitor. I don't mean to say I can't print out the latest chapters, but it's just not right."
"I'll think about it," Anad said.
But Pradi knew what Anad really meant. He shook his head sadly. Sometimes, he just couldn't understand Anad.
"Show me the new books. I'm feeling romantic."
This, Pradi certainly understood.
"Young master seems happy. Does it probably have to do with Ms Sashi?"
Anad didn't have to answer. The smile with a touch of embarrassment said it all.
Pradi brought out a small stack of books. There were books from all over the world, including translations. Pradi stood by introducing the books to Anad. Anad hadn't yet decided when Sashi walked in, her face glowing and wearing new bangles on both hands. One look at the two and Pradi saw that they were truly a couple now. He smiled, saying nothing.
"You're buying any?" Sashi asked, looking at the books.
"Maybe," Anad answered. "Not made up my mind yet."
"Pradi da, which is the best?"
Pradi wasn't troubled by Sashi's greeting. He liked the young girl. Her exuberance. Her charm. And he liked her for young master. At least for now, he could accept her addressing him as Pradi da. He showed her a book, which she pushed into Anad's hands.
"There," she said. "This is the best. We're buying this."
Anad shook his head dejectedly. He looked at her hands.
"Nice bangles," he said.
"Thank you. They're pretty, aren't they? Aunty Sansui put them aside just for me."
"I'm sure she did," Anad said.
She missed the sarcasm the first time, but not this time. She gave him a questioning look. She felt it faintly last night. Slightly stronger now. He was being strange.
Anad laughed lightly. He held up the book to Pradi.
"I hope you like the book," Pradi said.
In the presence of Sashi, Anad wouldn't be called young master. And whatever Anad said, Pradi followed without question.
"Looking at the size, I think I'll see in you in a week," Anad told Pradi. "Until then, bye."
"Bye Pradi da," Sashi followed.
"Bye," Pradi said. "You might want to visit Yorhan. He was saying he'd be making new bread today. And I saw him buy crabs earlier."
The last time Yorhan made meat buns with crab filling, Pradi got a few for Anad. And Anad loved them.
"Maybe later," Anad replied. "Maybe, next time."
Sashi made a face. She wasn't a vegetarian, but her palate was limited to the meat of terrestrial animals. Crab was just too frightening.
"Oh, sure," Pradi said in understanding. "I'm sorry Ms Sashi."
"No need," Anad answered for Sashi. "You don't have claws."
Pradi was confused. Sashi was stunned. Anad was smiling victoriously as he walked out.
"Let's have cakes," Anad said, earning Sashi's smile.