OS : "Safarnaamaa!"


(Alternate Universe)

Happy Reading!!

"This is an announcement for all the passengers travelling through Air India Flight no AI-312. Your flight has been delayed due to bad weather conditions. We'll be soon announcing it's boarding once we are ready to take-off. We're sorry for your inconvenience."

Avni heaved a helpless sigh first at the announcement and then looking at the lead-grey sky that's laden with dark-clouds as she glanced through a far-away glassy wall.

She has just got to know her flight to Mumbai has been delayed for god-knows how long and waiting at Airports is just not her thing. Not when she isn't accompanied by her best friend with her; Books!

Stuffing her cell-phone and boarding pass inside her hand purse, her eyes roamed everywhere searchingly. The instant brightness shining in her eyes was enough to convey that she has found the place which can help her use the time productively; The Book Store and the Cafe!

Now that's why Airports are blessings on Earth!

Avni strolled through the aisle between the racks that harbour stacks of books arranged lengthwise. She kept picking up one book after the other, flipping through their pages and reading a few lines in between them. All the while her phone tucked under her ear, supported between her raised shoulder and tilted head.

"Same old Maa! Flight delayed! Bad weather!" Avni spoke in as few words as she can, with her mind still busy in the printed words her eyes were going through. She might have just got an interesting book in her hand.

Busily, she was about to cross the passage to reach another shelf when someone appeared in front of her face out of nowhere and shouted with his outstretched hands, "Boooommm!"

Startled, Avni shrieked with panic. The contents of her hands were now scattered on the floor as her eyes shut close and hands reached over her racing heart.

It was when she heard triumphant breathy laughter that she opened her eyes to see a kid of little more than half her height laughing at her. He's a well to do boy of around 7-8 years with messy hairs peeking through his cap. An empty space of a tooth at his upper jaw can be seen when he seemed to be laughing unabashedly.

She was too stunned to react!

A young man with coffee coloured curly hairs bent to pick up her stuffs that included two books and her mobile phone which went dead by now. She couldn't see much of him until he straightened up and extended her things to return.

A very handsome elongated face half covered in perfectly trimmed stubble looked back at her. He was staring with his big curious hazel eyes that were peeking through the cover of his long lashes. Wrapped in a decent white tee and military cargo with a loose jacket, he resembled the fanciable alpha persona.

"I'm really sorry from his side. He's a very naughty kid."

He lightly slapped at the back of the kid's head, narrowing his eyes, "Div! Apologise now!"

"It's.. It's fine!" Avni said, running her hand through her hairs trying to normalise her breaths.

The little guy poked his tongue out at him and ran away. The man passed an awkward look and apologising again, he went behind the kid while Avni's gaze kept staring at the path. There was an eerie feeling at the pit of her stomach that was undefined.

Later, she had settled herself in a far-off corner of a cafe with her fav latte and was all set to dive in a whole new journey of love and emotions through the pages of the book. However, for some unknown reasons, her mind kept on playing that little incident at the book-store in the loop.

As her gaze involuntarily flickered from her novel and glanced at the table ahead, Avni was surprised to find the same duo. While the little kid was deeply engrossed in some comic books that she assumed they had bought from the same store. The man readily looked away as if he was caught staring and due to the abrupt motion ended up burning his tongue with hot coffee.

Avni couldn't help the tiny smile that automatically made its way to her lips at the way he was fanning his hand in front of his mouth!

The boarding was announced soon and Avni again saw them waiting in the same lounge, occupying the chairs opposite to her row. Compelled by some undefined pull, she couldn't take her eyes away from them.

The little kid was notorious in pulling out pranks and was constantly keeping the man on the edge. He was huffing and puffing at him yet the kid's smile brightened up his eyes! He would eventually hug him after warning him to behave. He's certainly a good father!

Sometimes she would find them hi-fiving each other, sometimes laughing like bonkers, sometimes making fun of things together! And there was time this man would steal glances of her like he's reading her. It was soft and sincere, not with bad intention but still, it made her squirm under his security!

Div flicked his neck from extreme left to extreme right then again left only to find them looking at each other like there's no-one around that matters to them. He shook his head in helplessness and facepalmed.

Avni was forced to tear her gaze away as she felt someone tugging at her forearm. When she looked down, she found the little kid cutely holding both his ears and pouting. "I'm sorry!"

She smiles running her hand over his hairs affectionately, "You don't have to be! It's ohkay!"

"Hi, I'm Divyansh! Friends?" he said, extending his hand with a teeth-baring smile.

"Umm.." Avni pretended to think before shaking her hand with his little one, saying, "Friends! Btw I'm Avni!"

"Are you also going to Mumbai?"

"Mhm! What about you and your Dad?"

"Dad?" Divyansh knitted his brows in confusion while Avni looked unsure between him and the man.

"Ohhh.. That Boring Khanna!" Divyansh made a face pointing towards the man sitting at the opposite chair who was well alert by now. Avni resisted the urge to laugh at his antics.

"He's My Maamu. Neil Khanna! You know he is police and catches bad guys and also have a real gun!" Divyansh said amused while Avni smiled at the admiration in his eyes.

Looking at Div's pointed finger towards him, Neil smiled courteously and waved his hand to Avni. She nodded in acknowledgement.

They continued to converse while Neil was getting restless by every passing second. Firstly, Divyansh is not this open to strangers and certainly not this well behaved.

The call for boarding came as his saving grace as Divyansh jumped up from the chair beside Avni and ran towards Neil waving goodbye to Avni with a big genuine smile on his face. Neil was definitely amused.

Later, at Mumbai Airport, Neil happened to cross Avni's path again while collecting their luggage!

Not knowing what to do or say, he passed a smile that was strained and awkward. She smiled back saying, "I'm sorry to hear about you! It must be hard for you na!"

"Excuse me!" Neil was confused beyond his understanding.

"Uh.. Div told me about your girlfriend's accidental demise. He's so concerned about you!"

"What!! Divvvv!! Urgh!!" Neil cursed under his breath while the little kid was enjoying his candy.

"I.. I never had anyone in my life.. in fact, I have started liking you and..."

"Wh.. what did you say?" Avni asked bewildered while Neil stood scratching the nape of his neck.

"I.. I mean, Div is a prankster! He played you! I mean us! He played us." Neil stated, embarrassed shooting daggers through his eyes towards a hysterically laughing Divyansh.

For a few seconds Avni couldn't understand anything but when she did, she couldn't control joining Divyansh. Neil has had the pleasant sight to witness and behold as she laughed throwing her head back. He noted how her eyes almost closed with her bulging cheeks when she does that! Beautiful!

Getting conscious of his dreamy eyes that were stuck on her, she composed herself.

"I should take you leave now!" She said tucking the few of her hair strands behind her ears while Neil's gaze followed her movements.

"Uh.. ca.. can I..have..." Neil hesitated.

"Mamu! I might be having what you want" Div said swaying his I-pad in his hand in front of Neil's face, teasingly.

"It's 97725... baki ka Ice-cream and Water-park and 5D show ke baad.." he poked out his tongue and laughed at the expense of Neil's embarrassment. Avni pressed her lips together in order to contain her bubbling laughter.

"You blackmailer!" He muttered.

"I heard that! Btw, Miss New Girlfriend, Remember, I am too possessive for my Maamu!" Laughing at their reddened faces, he ran away.

Sometimes, A Twist of Fate can give you more than you have ever expected!

With the end of one journey, Another begins for them, literally towards their home and figuratively towards their happily ever after.

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Delhi Airport! This is the exact place my next book is going to begin! 😍😍

Anyway, do lemme know about your views on this one!

And if u want to read more such short simple stories on different concepts, keep voting and sharing!

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