The Strings Of Heart

18

Sitara POV

I look at the marron tee and then at the black one. I don't understand which one to get. Shaking my head I threw them in the shopping carriage bag.

I go towards the other rack to see the tees, they don't have the tees which I usually wear. Their collection is different and I can't complain about it now.

I hold the white tee, it has wanderlust written in bold letters. I usually prefer wearing graffiti or anime tees.

I got my pay yesterday and decided to buy a few clothes. My mum is paying me for the hours I'm working in her company.

I don't intend to waste the money but I'm in great need of new clothes. I'm busy looking at the clothes that I didn't see the man walking towards me.

"f**k!" I curse startled as someone held on to my shoulders shaking.

I turn around to see Aarav wearing a cap and mask. "What the f**k Aarav? You scared the s**t out of me."

"Sorry, I called you but you have earphones in." He laughed while I remove my earphones.

"What are doing here?" He asked.

"What does one do in the shopping mall?" I ask him turning back to the clothes. I pick the white one.

"Haha, alone? Where is your friend?"

"Nope came alone and what about you?" I ask him. Going over to the other side where they have sweatshirts.

"Same, needed the me time." I nod my head.

"Got any plans?" Aarav asked holding the green sweatshirt.

"Not really but may stop for coffee. I don't wanna go home yet," I say. My home is filled with my aunts and uncles for the festival.

"Yup, let's grab a coffee together."

"Sure." I finish my shopping after picking the sweatshirts and hoodies. I paid for the clothes using my card.

Then we go to the second floor where there is a coffee house. We enter the coffee house, the place isn't filled out but it will.

It is a famous coffee house in this mall and people come here for their coffee.

"I will go and make an order. What you want?" I ask Aarav.

I observed that people who are present took a double-take at Aarav trying to know who he is. Aarav covered his face with a mask and his head is covered by a cap.

"Irish coffee and tell him to make it strong." I raise my brow knowing they mix whisky in an Irish coffee.

"Yup." I go and wait in line.

"Good afternoon Ma'am, ready to order?" The lady asks.

"I will have a mocha and an Irish coffee. Make the second one strong."

"Sure ma'am, anything else?"

"Hmm..." I pounder looking at the cakes.

"Two Irish coffee pastries," I tell her. I wait as she types on her computer.

"That will be six hundred rupees, ma'am." I pull the five hundred rupee note and a hundred rupee note. I hand the money to her and she hands me the bill.

I step aside and wait for my order. The other lady is already making our drinks.

"Here." I carefully hold the tray and go over to the table. I place the tray and take my seat.

"Why did you pay? I wanted to pay," Aarav said.

"Chill, buy me lunch after your movie release," I tell him.

"For sure." I take a sip of my coffee and relax in my seat.

"How's it going?" I ask him.

"Been busy with the promotions and interviews. Fingers crossed until the movie is released."

"Don't worry, people liked the trailer and I'm sure it's going to be good at the box office. You even got fan clubs who are going crazy for you," I say that made him laugh.

"True but anything can happen. Can't keep my hopes high, I just want the movie to be released without any mishaps."

"At what age did you get into acting and modelling?" I ask him, eating my cake. The people can't see Aarav as his back is facing them. He chose the last corner table.

"I was twenty when I started giving the auditions and got into the modelling. I was offered small side character roles. Then as years passed got to play second lead roles."

"This is your first film as the main lead role?" I ask him.

"Yes, finally as the main lead." I never thought it would take so many years to get selected as a lead role.

"How was it before, like while giving auditions?" I ask him.

"Sucks, you get selected and mostly put on the waiting list. Need to take care of physic and skin. Always on diet or if you eat then extra hours in the gym. At one point I wanted to give up but pushed myself harder. It was a struggle to reach here."

"Understandable," I say. I ask him about his movie and he talks about his movie shootings and promotions.

There is nothing much to talk so we spoke about his work. The last time I met Aarav was one month ago when Elora was leaving to London.

"By the way David is returning tomorrow, we will be coming on Sunday."

I don't say anything, he is returning already. Two months passed just like that?

"We?" I ask him in confusion.

"Yeah, my parents, David's mum and his cousins. We all gather in your home for bonalu. You don't know about this?" He asks.

"Nope." He chuckled. I finish my coffee and eat my cake.

"Does the day gets any worst," Aarav mutters under his breath. I look at him to see him outside. I follow his line of gaze.

Outside a short lady is standing with a guy. She is smiling, anyone can say she is beautiful in one look.

"You know her?" I ask him.

"Sharon, David's ex. They dated for years before they broke up."

"Oh," I observe the lady. With her short hair and beautiful smile, not a surprise that David dated her. She seemed like his type, she is a beautiful lady no doubt in that.

"Fuck." Aarav cursed turning his head away when the lady turned and faced us. Realization dawned on her. She said something to the man before making her way inside the café.

"Hello Aarav," she spoke looking at Aarav. Her voice is sweet I'm sure David melted because of her voice.

"Hey Sharon, how are you?" Aarav asked. The lady glanced at me, she gave me a smile which I returned.

"I'm doing good, and you?"

"Doing good."

"Is he your husband?" Aarav asked the man who is calling her.

"Yes, my husband Joseph."

"Hope to see you later Aarav," Sharon said before leaving. I watch her leave with her husband.

"Why did your friend broke up with her though? She seemed sweet and good," I say.

"David loved her, he was a medical student and couldn't be there for Sharon all the time. Sharon didn't agree on long distance. She broke up, I wouldn't say it was her mistake nor David's. David loved her truly but he kind of neglected his relationship because of his studies. To be honest he is laid back guy..."

"Oh." I finish my cake and stand up to leave.

"See you on Sunday then," I tell him.

"I will drop you," he said.

"Nope drove my Vespa here." Aarav put his mask and cap back.

"Okay."

"See ya, go safe," I tell him before leaving the café with my shopping bags.

I reach home in forty minutes, I shake my head hearing the loud voices of my cousins.

"Watch out," I yell looking at Nishu. Too late she fell on the floor and Minu fell on her.

They started crying loudly. "Told you to watch out," I say helping them up.

"What are these bags?" Pihu asked.

"Shopping bags," I tell her. Mini and Nishu run away when they see their mum.

I climb the stairs with Pihu following behind. I turn my head and look at her, she kept her head down.

I go to my room, I keep the door open knowing Pihu would be entering. I remove the socks and throw them in the laundry basket.

We don't wear shoes inside the house. We have personal shoe racks at the entrance. Pihu falls on my bed, I don't ask her anything and go to the washroom.

I sigh unbuttoning my jeans and taking a leak. I flush the toilet, wash my heads and look at my face in the mirror before stepping out.

"What happened?" I ask her.  Opening the wardrobe and take the pyjama pant out.

"I feel so bored."

"Where is Rishi? Isn't he here?" I ask her.

"He is helping Rithesh bhaiyya," she replies looking at the fan.

"Oh, then watch a movie or help them." I throw the jeans on the wing chair where a mountain of clothes is laying.

"Nah, I'm not interested." I keep the shopping covers in the wardrobe. Then put my phone on charging.

"Sitara Akka can I ask you something?" Pihu said.

"Yup."

"Do you know when David is returning? Two months passed and they aren't telling about him," she said.

"Haha, why don't you ask your mum or my mum. I'm sure they will tell you."

"I did and they scolded me. That's why I'm asking you." I don't know why she is obsessed with him.

"I don't know and why are you so obsessed about him?"

"Because David is cute and polite. He would be the best boyfriend." She says dreamily.

"You know right you don't have a chance with him. He is too old for you."

"Ugh, I know but it's not bad to try my shot."

I shake my head, I forget the fact that she is Pihu who behaves like a major than a minor.

I pull my laptop and watch a movie while she goes through her phone.