♧♧♧

Yash had been staring at his eighty-year-old grandmother for the last ten minutes. He wasn't that close to her. Reason being that he lived the twenty-eight years of his life in Mumbai and only went to his hometown Ahmedabad for family weddings.

Hetal Ben was a superstitious lady with huge faith in astrology. The previous day, her family astrologer predicted that if her grandson Yash didn't get married before 10th of January, he won't be able to get married for the next ten years.

This prediction was the reason why Yash was staring at his grandmother in confusion. His best friend Siddharth was sitting beside him in awkward silence.

“Baa, how can Yash get married in just nine days?” Siddharth expressed his doubt.

Baa put down the cup of tea and replied, “It's not impossible,” She turned towards Yash, “you had your eyes on your grandfather's chain of hotels in Mumbai, right? You can have them if you get married before 10th of January.”

Now that caught Yash's attention. Getting married didn't seem like a bad idea anymore. He was dating Saloni for four years. Maybe he should marry her.

Yash shared a look with Siddharth and then he turned towards his Baa.

“I'm ready, Baa.”

✿ ✿ ✿

“You really thought Saloni will marry you?” Siddharth asked Yash, who was boiling with anger as they were eating in their favorite restaurant.

Yash did ask Saloni to marry him. But she refused immediately, saying that she never intended to have a future with him and was looking for a chance to break up with him.

“Sid, am I not handsome?” Yash was traumatized by the fresh heartbreak.

“Bro, you are the second most handsome guy in our Gulmohar society,” Siddharth declared while eating a spoonful of rice.

“Then who is the first one?”

“Of course, it's me.” Yash rolled his eyes at that reply.

“Ah, even the food doesn't taste good today,” He complained.

“Yeah, the food here never tasted so bad. Maybe the chef is also heartbroken today,” Siddharth commented, while looking at the gloomy food on their plates that resembled Yash's gloomy face.

“I'm not heartbroken,” Yash glared at Siddharth.

Siddharth ignored the glare and signaled their regular waiter Manish.

“Manish, the food tastes weird today,” Siddharth told the waiter calmly. There was no point in getting angry because they had been eating there for last four years and the mishap happened for the first time.

“Sir, the chef who had been preparing your orders all this time. Her brother got arrested for stealing money from his workplace. She is worried and... she has messed up five orders since the morning,” Manish told them in a hushed voice.

“Oops, that sounds bad,” said Siddharth.

“She spent a lot on her brother's education but he always took undue advantage of her kindness,” Manish shared.

“Today's world is not for kind people. Take the food back and bring the bill,” said Yash.

The waiter brought the bill and the guys left after paying the amount.

✿ ✿ ✿

Jigyasa was preparing an order when Manish returned with a tray of half-eaten food.

“What happened?” She asked.

“They said the food tastes weird. But they paid the bill, unlike the other customers,” He replied and dumped the food in dustbin.

“This is the sixth order you messed today,” said Komal, Jigyasa's senior chef.

“I'm sorry, Komal Didi. I don't know why I keep ruining the food today,” Jigyasa sighed in distress.

“You are in distress, Jigyasa. You should go home,” Komal advised.

“I don't want to go home. Neighbors keep rubbing salt my wounds by saying pitiful words,” Jigyasa felt like crying at that moment.

“You should go to the beach then,” Manish suggested her.

Jigyasa liked the idea of going to the beach, “Okay, I'm going.”

She removed the apron and cap and headed out of the kitchen. Her body felt cooler now that she wasn't around stove. She picked her bag, said bye to her coworkers and headed to the beach by foot.

✿ ✿ ✿

Siddharth went back home but Yash headed to the beach. He bought six Vada Pavs, two carbonated drinks, and some green chillies. A simple snack time by the beach was perfect to cope up with the sudden breakup he experienced a few hours ago.

He sat down on a rock and pulled out a Vada Pav from the bag of snacks. He took a big bite of the Vada Pav and that was when he noticed her standing by the seashore.

“Chef Jigyasa!” He called her name loudly. And when she turned around, he waved at her with the hand carrying the half-eaten Vada Pav.

Jigyasa knew Yash as the regular customer at the restaurant. They have crossed paths in the restaurant plenty of times over last four years. But this was the first time they met outside the restaurant.

She waved back and went towards him who was eating Vada Pav while sitting on a rock.

“Hey! You are?” Even though they had seen each other several times, Jigyasa still didn't know his name.

“The sixth order you messed today,” Yash joked, leaving Jigyasa dumbstruck.

“Yash Patel,” he laughed and forwarded his hand for a handshake. The only problem was that his hand carried Vada Pav.

Jigyasa first looked at the Vada Pav and then at Yash. That was when Yash realised what stupidity he did and quickly pulled back his hand.

“Oops, sorry. Please join me,” he offered and quickly pulled out a neatly wrapped Vada Pav.

Jigyasa hadn't eaten anything since morning so she took the Vada Pav and sat next to him on the rock.

Both of them ate in silence. Yash offered her the cold drink which Jigyasa gladly accepted and then also offered her another Vada Pav and some green chillies.

“Why did you come to the beach though?” Jigyasa asked him as they together witnessed the beautiful sunset. It was a gorgeous painting drawn on nature's canvas. As if the sun was drowning into the sea.

“I got dumped today,” Yash shared with a sigh.

“Oh...” that was all Jigyasa could say.

“And you know what's funny about my situation? She dumped me when I asked her to marry me because if I get married in next nine days, my Baa will hand me our entire hotel chain of Mumbai.”

“Wait, that's a lot to take in. I only understood that you are super-rich.”

“Why did you come to the beach though? By the way, I already know about your brother.”

“Oh, you already know. I messed six orders today in this tension. I don't want to go home because neighbors keep bugging me. So a beach felt like the perfect place.”

“So what exactly happened?” He asked cautiously because he didn't want to hurt her.

“My brother stole ten lakh rupees from his office and when the manager found out, he got him arrested. Later, I got to know Jigar has became a gambling addict. In the last two years, he took money from me saying he is doing investments for our future and blah, blah, blah. I believed him and gave my savings to him multiple times. Now... he will stay in jail for years or till the time the company don't get it's ten lakh back. I don't have that much money. I know my brother lied to me, but I want to save him. But I can't,” She wiped her tears and took a bite of Vada Pav.

“I have been eating your cooked food for last four years. And the love you pour into your cooking tells how kind of a person you are,” Yash said honestly.

“Thanks. Can you help me? I will return the money in the next... ten years?” Jigyasa felt shameless for asking for money. But she was in a desperate situation.

“I want to help you. But I need your help too. I have to get married in nine days.”

“So you want me to find you a bride?” She asked, quite confused why he will need her help in this matter.

“No, I want you to be my bride.”

And the Vada Pav fell down from her hand.

•••

Finally Yash and Jigyasa are here!!!
How's the first impression?