Naina lost herself among the dusty shelves, her fingers brushing over cracked spines and yellowed pages. She was in paradise. First editions, rare finds, and even a signed copy of her favorite poetry collection.
Meanwhile, Arjun wandered aimlessly, poking at random books as if they might bite him. His boredom was almost palpable.
Naina glanced over, amused. Bored already?
Arjun made a face. Why are books so… bookish?
She rolled her eyes. Because they're books, genius.
He flopped onto a plush armchair, sighing dramatically. I don't understand how you find this fun.
Naina clutched a novel to her chest, scandalized. Fun? This is magic. Each of these holds a whole world inside.
Arjun looked skeptical. They look like paper bricks to me.
Naina gasped. Blasphemy!
He smirked. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt the bookworm's feelings?
She narrowed her eyes. He was insufferable. But… he had brought her here. And she did love it. Not that she'd admit that out loud.
She tossed him a book, which he caught with a startled yelp. Here. Educate yourself.
Arjun looked at the cover, his face twisting in horror. Romance? Are you kidding me?
Naina grinned wickedly. Thought it might improve your charm.
Arjun shot her a wounded look. I'll have you know I'm very charming.
To who? Your reflection?
He opened his mouth to retort, but the shopkeeper's voice rang out. Careful with that one, son. It's a limited edition.
Arjun's eyes went wide. He handled the book like it was made of glass. How much is it worth?
The old man smiled mysteriously. More than your life, probably.
Arjun blanched, placing the book down with exaggerated caution. Naina laughed so hard she had to hold onto a shelf for support.
Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Arjun grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
After exploring the shop for what felt like hours, Naina finally approached the counter with her chosen treasure: a beautifully bound collection of poetry she had been searching for forever. She could feel Arjun's eyes on her, a curious glint in his gaze.
Did you find everything you were looking for? the shopkeeper asked kindly.
Naina smiled. More than I expected, actually.
As the man carefully wrapped her book, Arjun cleared his throat. By the way, about what you said earlier…
The shopkeeper's eyes twinkled. About young lovebirds?
Arjun's ears turned pink. Yeah… that. We're not— I mean, she's—
The man held up a hand, stopping him. Ah, my mistake. But sometimes, the heart knows before the mind does.
Naina looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the store's decor. Why was her face suddenly warm?
She stole a glance at Arjun, who looked equally flustered. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second before they both looked away, a nervous cough escaping Arjun.
The shopkeeper chuckled softly. Ah, to be young.
They left the store in awkward silence, Naina clutching her new book protectively to her chest. The streets were buzzing with activity, vendors shouting, children laughing, and the scent of street food wafting through the air.
Arjun broke the silence first. So… do you always get so emotional over books?
Naina shot him a look. I don't get emotional.
You hugged that book like it was a long-lost relative.
She felt her cheeks heat up. It's special, okay?
Arjun grinned, that annoying yet endearing grin that made her want to smack him and smile at the same time. You're kind of cute when you're all book-crazy.
She froze, the world around her going quiet. Had he just—?
Arjun looked away, his face suddenly serious. Anyway… we should get going before your neighbor reports a stolen scooter.
Naina snapped out of her daze, her heart thudding. Right. Stolen scooter.
They walked back to the scooter in silence, the air around them charged with unspoken words.
As they reached the familiar yellow vehicle, Naina turned to him. Arjun…
He looked at her, his expression guarded. Yeah?
She hesitated. Then, her lips curved into a playful smirk. Next time, don't 'borrow' someone's ride.
He laughed, the tension evaporating. Noted. But I make no promises.
Naina rolled her eyes but found herself smiling. When had things gotten so… complicated?
She climbed onto the scooter, clutching her book tightly. As Arjun started the engine, she caught herself glancing at his profile, the way his hair fell messily over his forehead, his relaxed posture…
She shook her head, annoyed. This was Arjun Sharma. Arrogant, infuriating, and utterly ridiculous.
So why was her heart racing?
With a roar of the engine, they sped off, laughter trailing behind them as the city stretched out before them, waiting for whatever adventure lay ahead.
--END--