*Rashmi Pov*

"Rashmi!" I can hear someone whispering my name and I replied to that with my own whisper asking, "What?"

"You need to get up. I already got ready." I slowly opened my eyes to see Karthik leaning over me smiling.

I smiled back, waving at him. Damn! I don't think I ever woke up in such a good mood when another person woke me up.

"Why do they all say it is very difficult to wake you up and that you will be angry whenever someone does? You woke up very easily." He said, moving back and sat on his bed while I moved to sit properly.

"Maybe because no one woke me up as sweet as you." I replied, yawning while he chuckled hearing my words.

"I am not lying. They either shout my name and call me. You know how bad is my ring tone. How will I react peacefully to such stuff?" I added and he nodded, still smiling.

I realized I was smiling back at him and I must definitely look weird because of which he is smiling like that. I took my phone and saw that it is high time I get ready otherwise they will again rush me without breakfast.

"You are feeling fine now?" I asked him after hesitating for a few seconds.

"Rashmi! You know that I listen to you more than anyone, right? So, just like before, I am going to listen to you and enjoy without letting anything cause disturbance to that." He replied and I sat stunned listening to him.

Is he really telling the truth? He listens to me more than anyone? Why does it surprise me so much? Can I actually believe that?

"You get ready. I will be downstairs in the dining hall." He said standing up and walked towards his bag.

"Okay!" I mumbled and waited until he left the room before getting down from the bed.

What happened to him suddenly? I thought, frowning and just shook my head to clear all those thoughts, realizing I will be late if I don't rush right now.

****

"Good morning!" I greeted everyone when I reached near the table they are sitting.

"I was about to call you." Kalyan said waving his phone.

"He woke me up." I said, pointing Karthik and Rohan laughed hearing me.

"I can't believe you woke up because of him. He doesn't know how to wake people up at all. I still don't believe him whenever he says he tried to wake me up." Rohan said teasing him.

"I think he is perfect for me. I will go and get breakfast." I said, ignoring their coughs after hearing my words.

"I already got it here for you." Karthik said, stopping me and I smiled at him before sitting beside him.

"These are my favorite breakfast during the holidays." I said in surprise looking at the items he got me.

"I know!" he said, smiling in return and we both turned when we heard some gagging noise from beside me.

"I think I lost my appetite." Chitra said shaking her head.

"Same here! Is this how two people act to pass as a couple?" Rohan asked, chuckling and I frowned at him.

"We both are not acting at all. I think you are not able to adapt to the understanding we both have." I replied, taking a bite from the pancakes Karthik placed along with the french toast.

"Exactly!" Karthik added, placing his hand around my shoulder and I immediately coughed when he did that.

"Fine, fine! Just ignore them and finish your breakfast." Kalyan said, waving off the anymore argument we may start right now.

"Do you want something else?" I glanced at Karthik to see he is actually not teasing me or acting because of others but is genuinely doing this.

"Umm... No! All this is more than enough." I replied, smiling and he nodded before finishing his breakfast but didn't remove his hand.

Wait! Is this all because of the bet? Damn! I completely forgot about that while worrying about him. I need to pick up and somehow win this so that none of them will ever tease me again regarding dating again.

Actually, more than others I don't want Karthik to think that way. All this time I never imagined he also thinks like them, but that day he commented just like others.

"We are going shopping today, right?" I asked Rohan and he nodded while I sighed.

"I am actually worried about these both. How will they survive today?" Chitra commented, looking at both of us.

"But I am more worried about Kalyan. I mean, how will he manage to carry your bags today. Just call for some help if you need and don't make him join hospital because of the pain he may feel by carrying your things." I commented back making her glare at me while others laughed.

"That was a good one. And don't worry about us." Karthik said, waving off her concern.

"By the way, we will be leaving separately after reaching the area where we can go for shopping. I hope everyone has the address of the hotel if you guys want to return soon." Preetha said looking at us.

"And we will be going to the club near to the hotel in the evening. So, shop for that if you guys want." Rohan added.

"Do we have to go as a couple for this shopping?" I asked looking at them.

"Don't say we have to go together as girls. I can manage with Preetha but you will make me stop in the middle by giving me all those tired looks." Chitra said shaking her head in negative to my question.

"Even I can't manage with these two. It is better if we both go together." Karthik commented and I glanced at him to see if he is joking this time but again he is not.

"Okay! But don't complain later, though." I mumbled to which he said, "You don't do the same."

"I don't think I can watch this anymore. These are very perfect actors." Rohan said, standing up and I really want to tell him we both are not acting again, but even I am confused with all this, so I stayed silent.

"Let's go! The vehicle is here." Kalyan said checking his phone and we all got up to walk out together.

****

The moment we reached the place, they all left us and walked away to different directions while we both stood there looking at them.

"What should we do?" I asked him and he too looked confused.

"Okay! What if we exchange?" I asked after standing for a few minutes.

"What do you mean?" he asked frowning.

"I will shop for you and you do the same for me. Like that we will finish soon and we may even enjoy this." I replied and he thought for a second before nodding.

"Okay! Do you want to shop for yourself right now or someone else?" I asked, walking towards the direction away from others.

"I guess for my parents." He replied, but his expression closed off.

"You said you will forget everything." I pointed out and he immediately smiled nodding.

"You have to tell me what is their taste. I never met your parents, unlike others." I said looking at him.

"My Mom is definitely stylish but cares a lot about different kinds of things even though they are small or not that valuable." He explained.

"She likes jewelry, right?" I asked, reaching one shop and he nodded to my question.

"Let's buy this stuff then. It's cute, but even looks special. I think she will like them." I said, looking at the jewelry made of sea shells.

"I don't know whether she will lwear it or not but she will definitely love to receive them." He said and we immediately chose the ones with her favorite colors.

"This will look good on you." He said showing one of them.

"I am not going to spend any money over me." I said waving him off.

"Why?" he asked frowning.

"I didn't bring much and I have to buy something special for Mehrin. So, I don't want to spend for anything other than that." I replied smiling.

"Okay!" he said and continued to collect other small things into the basket and we finally purchased all the things he chose.

"Now, it's your turn." He said looking at me.

"Can we look for hats? My Dad will love them." I said and he nodded before we walked more to reach the hat shop.

"Buy those two. I think he will look good with these both. And I think even you can buy one. They all looked good over you." I said after he modeled for a few hats.

"Then I will buy for both of us. It will be weird if only I will wear it." Saying that he bought one for me without asking my hcoice but what he chose was good too.

"Fine! I never say no to gifts." I said taking it from him.

"Now, it's your Dad's turn." I added and he sighed thinking.

"He is too formal all the time. I don't know what can we buy for him from this place." He said frowning.

"I know!" I said holding his hand and dragged him toward sthe shop I saw before.

"Are you serious?" he asked laughing at the beach wear clothes with funny patterns.

"You said he is formal and all he needs is informal. And he will definitely wear this if you give it to him after returning home." I replied smiling.

"Are you sure?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"I am more than sure." I replied assuring him and pushed him towards the trail room so that he can wear them one by one.

"Oh god!" I laughed when he wore one and walked out.

"How will you chose?" he asked looking at me when I passed another one.

"You are also very formal, right. So, the one for which I laugh more than anyone will be the one we will buy." I replied looking at him and he groaned hearing that.

For the next half an hour I laughed so much that I started feeling pain in my stomach. I thought he will stop in the middle but he continued to model with the clothes and we finally selected two of them with different size but same pattern.

"You should buy one too." I said looking at other clothes and turned to see he already bought three more.

"What? I liked them." He said looking away while I chuckled pinching his cheek and we both stilled realizing what I did.

"Anyone else is there for whom you have to purchase?" I asked removing my hand and cleared my throat to remove the awkwardness.

"That's all! Now, we have to buy for Mehrin. What do you want to buy?" he asked looking at me.

"Let's have lunch first." I replied looking at the time surprised to see it's already too late.

I didn't observe the time at all and we were walking so much going to different places that I am very hungry right now.

"Let's just have something from here." He said and we both looked around finally finding a small hotel.

"I think I will have something light." I said ordering my food and he did the same.

"I never enjoyed shopping like this." He commented when we sat waiting for the food.

"Same! And I think I laughed for the whole month today it self." I said remembering the clothes he wore.

"I hope my parents too laugh in the same way." He said shaking his head and we finished our food before walking out of the restaurant.

"Now, did you decide what to buy?" he asked looking at me.

"I think I will buy summer dress for her." I replied after thinking for a few minutes.

"What? Do you think she will wear that?" he asked frowning.

I can understand his reaction because her family is kind of rigid regarding a few things. But now she may get married soon and I know he is not like them along with his parents. So, she will be able to wear it without any worry.

"She will wear it soon." I replied asking the sales person in the shop regarding any shop that has such dresses.

"We need to take taxi." I said when I finally got the address.

"Let's go!" he said looking for one.

"If you want, you can stay here along with them." I said looking at him.

"Do you think they all are still here? Even they may have left this area for other shops. Anyway I don't have phone and it is better if I come with you." He said and we finally got a taxi.

"You are going to chose just like this?" he asked when I looked around.

"Then what should I do? Model for them and make you laugh this time?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"That's not a bad idea. And for whom is she going to wear it for?" he asked and I laughed realizing he is more than curious about the secret I talked about that day.

"When she wears it, anyone should be able to fall for her." I replied and he rolled his eyes hearing my reply.

"I am serious!" I stressed and he finally looked at me before slowly nodding understanding that I am serious.

"Then I will model them but don't you dare laugh." I said selecting a few and walked into the trail room.

I walked out wearing one and like I asked he didn't laugh but just stared at me. After a few dresses, when he just continued to stare and not react by saying anything else, I got fed up.

"You need not act that strict just because I said don't laugh. You can laugh if you want." I said looking at him.

"I don't want to laugh though. I think you need to buy the previous one for her but..." I cut him off saying, "You should have told that then only. I wore this unecessarily."

"But you need to buy this for yourself." He continued ignoring my words.

"I told you that I will not buy..." he cut me off asking the sales person to pack the two he chose.

"You pay for her dress and I will pay for this." He said looking at me and I rushed into the trail room to change so that I can stop him from doing that.

"You already paid?" I asked reaching him when I saw him holding the bags.

"The dress is still there." I said gesturing the trail room.

"For Mehrin I took the one with different size like you told her in the beginning. And I chose another one for you. You need to pay me for Mehrin's dress." He said forwarding his hand.

"I will pay for both. Tell me the total amount." I said but he just informed me the amount for Mehrin's dress.

"This is not fair. Now, I have to buy something for you." I mumbled after paying for Mehrin's dress.

"One of these days, you can buy something for me too. And I will accept it for sure." He said shrugging and glanced at his watch.

"We need to return to the hotel. It will take time to go and it's already late." He added and we found a taxi before returning to the hotel.

When we walked into the lounge, we saw others are just walked towards the elevator. We called them immediately and they waited for us until we reached the elevator.

"You all came here together?" I asked them and they nodded.

"I called Preetha to ask for something and realized we all are still at the same place. So, we decided to come together." Chitra explained.

"By the way, you bought something for today's club, right?" Preetha asked looking at me.

"No! I already have the attire I can wear." I replied to which they both looked at each other.

"We should have just bought it without thinking much." Chitra commented.

"We can't go back now and buy anything, right." Preetha said sighing.

"No!" Rohan and Kalyan said groaning.

"Why are you guys so tired?" Karthik asked them frowning when we reached the floor and walked out.

"I want to ask why are you not tired." Rohan and Kalyan looked at him curiously.

"Because it was fun." He said smiling and they both looked more confused.

"And she got a dress right here. So, no need to worry." He added lifting the bag in which my dress is there.

He didn't give that bag to me saying I will go and return it if it is in my hands. Why would I do that when I already decided to buy something for him in return but I don't know how much he spent on that.

"You lied to us?" Preetha asked looking at me.

"No! I don't remember that at all. He bought it and it was not in my hands too. So, I completely forgot." I explained.

"Wait!" Chitra said holding my hand when I moved to unlock the door.

"We are getting late. It will be completely packed if we don't leave soon." Saying that Kalyan dragged her away and Preetha dragged Rohan before he cans ay anything.

"I can't believe you told them all that." Karthik commented when we walked into our room.

"Why not?" I asked him frowning.

"Nothing! Shall I get ready first? You will be comfortable if I leave, right." He said looking at me and I nodded before walking towards the bed to sit down.

"You can sit for some time before getting ready too. We both walked too much." I said, closing my eyes before leaning back on the headboard.

"Rashmi!" I opened my eyes to see that he is all ready.

"Did I sleep off?" I asked, rubbing my eyes and he nodded smiling.

"I will go downstairs then. And I bought something else. So, don't forget to wear it if it compliments the dress." Saying that he walked off before I can say anything else.

"What did he buy now?" I asked myself looking at the bag he put on my bed near my legs and took out the dress along with a small packet.

Is he serious? I thought, smiling, looking at the sea shell jewelry he showed me saying I need to buy. I shook my head still smiling and slapped my forehead.

He is being a good friend. Don't think too much! I thought when I felt my heart fluttering a little like all those years back. I shouldn't go back to that moment, no matter what.

I took a deep breath pushing them away at again and decided to take some serious steps to somehow win this bet. And this club may help me somehow without making it too awkward.