Knowing that Sehar was awake and the others would be up soon, I managed to get a few hours of sleep.

Aleesha had made pancakes for breakfast while Hreedhan went outside to buy some necessities for the rest of our stay here.

I sat around the kitchen island with my friends and listened as they planned out our activities for the day.

"What do you think Yara ?"

"Huh?" I replied back startled, coming out of my zoning thoughts from the night before.

" Beach or mall ? " Aleesha repeats while Sehar looks at me with worry. She has probably figured out what I'm stressing over and hence shoots me a reassuring smile.

" Let's go to the mall first. I need to buy some things for the beach." I answer and the girls nod in agreement.

~★~

At the mall , we all go in separate directions to shop for our individual needs. I didn't have much to buy except some sunscreen cream and a beach hat.

Aleesha and Sehar needed more time so while they continued shopping, I walked through the mall checking out other places.

I came across a small stationary shop which had a miniature library on one side. By now it was raining heavily.
I took a seat by the window and watched the raindrops race against each other down the glass panels.

The soothing sounds of the heavy downpour gushed through my ears and calmed my nerves. I felt at complete peace being surrounded by the things I loved the most - that is rainfall and storybooks.

I spent some time browsing through the available books and was happily surprised to see some of my favorite series available.

My fingers glided across the smooth cover of a particular book which seemed interesting and I stood contemplating whether I should get it or not.

A long hand reached across from me and plucked another copy of the same book from the bookshelf.

I glanced up at the person in question and his alluring hazel eyes clashed with my brown ones for a brief second before he looked away and walked towards the counter.

The guy's whole face was covered with a mask and he had the hood of his green hoodie pulled up over his head underneath a gray cap.
The only part of his face visible was his eyes.

I watched discreetly as he paid for the book. His gaze turned back and met mine and I quickly looked to the other side so he wouldn't think I was weirdly staring at him like a creep.

Which I was but hey - I was just wondering about the book and making general observations. Nothing else.

The masked guy walked across the store and picked out an umbrella before going back to the counter and finishing his purchase. He kept glancing around nervously and seemed to be in a rush.

As soon as the cashier was done billing his items , he grabbed them and nodded at the man once before turning around and walking out of the store.

I went back towards the window and watched from the corner of my eyes as he opened the umbrella to shield himself from the downpour and started briskly walking down the slippery street . He had put on a pair of sunglasses and was walking with his head bowed down .

Why was he wearing sunglasses during such weather? I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion .

As he passed by the shop's window, he slightly lifted up his head and his face turned towards mine for the briefest second before he was gone.

Maybe I was just overthinking it but I'm pretty sure I had made eye contact with that mysterious stranger three times in the span of our brief encounter.

The tempo of the rain slowly decreased until only a light pitter patter drizzle was left falling from the sky. I decided to buy that same book which I was previously holding in my hand.

Hreedhan met us at the mall and we ate at the food court before going back to the bungalow with our shopping bags in hand.

Aleesha and Sehar had their hands full of bags and I had no idea what they had bought.

The rain had completely stopped by now. I noticed stray droplets of water dangling from the leaves of the trees while the damp air, rich with the scent of petrichor wafted through my nostrils making me smile.

As we walked towards our bungalow we passed by the one beside ours and I noticed something peculiar.

There was a bag of food delivery on the porch. I nudged Sehar's shoulders and nodded my head towards that bungalow's door. Her eyes widened after the same observation and she shrugged her shoulders in confusion.

"Maybe someone delivered it to the wrong address? " she contemplated.
" I asked the salesman again and he repeated what he said earlier. No one lives here, the bungalow is empty. "

My memory from the previous night flashed through my brain and I remembered that single illuminated window across from my room's balcony.

But I didn't say anything and took one last glance at the food delivery before walking back inside our bungalow.

☠️

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