31st of December, new year eve. The day you realize that the year is almost over. The day you wish upcoming year to be much better and successful than the past one. Even though it always ends up being worse sometimes whenever we compare the last two….

But my baby’s in town

And we’re gonna do some WINTER THINGS

HEYO I wanna pretend I’m at the north pole,

Turning the heat into an ice cold holiday,

Made just for me and my baby.

(You all should once listen this song)

My older sister Gauri sang at the top of her lungs, waking me up.

You see, although she was attending college, she visited us for Christmas. Yes! she is doing her college from another city.

“Shut up, Gauri!” I shouted and covered my head with my pillow.

I don’t like when someone disturb my O, so precious sleep ugh I just hate it.

“Aw, don’t ruin my holiday spirit, Angel Annie” she laughed and pulled the duvet, uncovering my – now – not – so cold body.

This year Christmas was freezing cold. It had snowed a little bit too, which made it even more colder.

“You are ruining my holiday sleep. I have every right to ruin your spirit.” I answered back and grabbed my duvet from her.

“Whatever” she chuckled “Mom wants us downstairs she needs help with the preparations,” she said while picking up a pair of jeans from the floor.

“Aren’t we going to grandma’s for the new year’s eve?” I asked confused.

For years now, we have been visiting our grandmother for new year’s eve dinner. She is the best cook in the family, so we all prefer her cooking over any other’s.

Gauri shrugged. “She might be sick or something, I don’t know. Just get up n come downstairs.”

I nodded and did as I was told.

*************************************************

Walking down the stairs, in my warm black sweatpants n white jumper, I heard my mom talking to someone on the phone.

“Yeah, Umm. This year I will host the dinner, yes. Ma has gone to Australia with the nursing home. Hmm, I know, it was a nice opportunity. She had never travelled abroad before,” she said and laugh afterwards “Well, I might not be as good as her, but I will try,”

Gauri shook her head my mother’s words. “I will see you later tonight! Bye” Mom finally hang up.

Once I stepped in the kitchen, my mum looked at me smiling.

Uh oh... ALERT! ALERT! She wants something from me for sure. I so knew that look…….

“Sweetheart! She cheered “You are finally up,” she said, taking her black agenda out of her bag that was on the dining table.

Rolling my eyes. I walked towards the fridge (refrigerator) and took out the cartoon of Amul flavoured milk. I don’t know why, but I never liked milk to be warm. Not even in winter. I poured some in a cup and placed it on the counter next to our microwave, and put the milk back to its place.

“Is that all you are having for breakfast”? my sister asked, confused.

“Yeah, why?” I shrugged

“It’s not healthy” she shook her head disapprovingly. “I would take you for the breakfast with me, but you know…umm... I’m going with Om, Sorry.” She said with a pout and puppy eyes at last. I chuckled at my di’s antics, I nodded my head in understanding.

Om, as you have guessed, is her boyfriend. They have been together since their senior year in school and now they are having a distance relationship, since he goes to a university here in local, and my di is in another out of town almost 1000 km away from home and so now when she is here for her winter vacation she wanted to enjoy.

My mom cleared her throat. “She can’t come, anyway. Angel, who is a really sweet and kind person, will go grocery shopping, right Angel?” She smiled sheepishly at me.

Oh well…. I can’t say I wasn’t expecting that……

“Just tell me what you want me to buy” I sighed, starting to gulp down my dairy drink

Mom handed me a list of thirty – two things she wanted me to get from the supermarket, debit card, along with the keys of her car, which she usually doesn’t allow even to touch or take for a short trip.

“And yes, if you don’t find something at our local supermarket, go to the one that is near the lake. I need everything that’s in the list.”

My mouth was a complete ‘o’ shape.

“Whoa! You don’t mean the one that’s an hour away, do you?” I asked her annoyed and shockingly. Does she really mean to spoil my khidkitod sleep of vacation just to buy the items and that too from so far in this cooling weather? Argh! no man it’s not happening please mom say no please. This is what I was rambling and my sister…

Gauri chuckled and left the kitchen quickly. “Got to go!” she shouted and run through the front door, laughing.

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

“That’s the only thing I ask from you, sweetie. Please go” she asked me with pleading eyes.

“Ugh!” I groaned “Fine I’ll go; u relax till then” obviously can’t say no to her after all she is my mom.

**********************************

Tying my scarf and covering my nose with it, I quickly got out of the car and carefully run to the entrance of the supermarket. Fortunately, they had turned on the heating, thus everyone could do their shopping without freezing to death.

I walked over to the baskets took one for myself. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I removed its case and pulled the shopping list out of it.

Clever trick, right?

Examining the list for a moment, I started moving forward, towards the aisles.

I began by grabbing the pre - packaged products first, such as sugar, butter, canned tomato, even a bottle of white wine. Then, I headed for the fruit and veggies. Oh god, most of the lug boxes were empty or almost empty. Sighing I prayed that they had at least the things I needed to buy, I just hope whatever mom needs are here only and I don’t have to go to that not – so – near mall. Please, please, god ji meri baat sunn lena. (Please God listen to my prayer).

Otherwise, I have to travel another half an hour. Just to buy what… a potato or an apple …. oh no…no please!

I started up with the list and was on the final product mom needs… I have whatever she needs is in my basket, leaving the basket on the floor, I took the plastic bag and put a pineapple in it. All done finally I smiled proudly.

“Oh! Was that the last one?” a woman about my mom’s age said disappointed, looking at the plastic bag in my hand yet to be kept in the basket. “Snap!” she clicked her fingers.

Come on, Angel. Be the angel that will help this poor woman.

I groaned, turning around.

The woman was now talking to a guy, who I guessed was her son. “There goes my pavlova.” She complained desperately, “What will I take to your dad’s childhood best friend now? I can’t go with empty hands!”

“Um, excuse me lady” I tapped her shoulder.

She turned her head around slightly and as soon as she noticed it was me who interrupted her, she widened her eyes.

“I just wanted to give u this pineapple,” I smiled nervously, scratching the back of my head “I guess you need it more than I do”

“Really”? She exclaimed. “Thank you so much beta! You are my angel” she hugged me out of blue.

Her son smirked, noticing my uncomfortable state I had gotten myself into. He was still standing there at her back and was easily seeing me smirking. Rolling my eyes, I gently broke the hug and went back to my basket.

My phone rang in my pocket at the same time and before the caller could get tired of my tune, I picked up.

“Ya, mom?” I spoke as I saw the caller before picking up the call.

“Have you found everything I told you, sweetie?” she said in her ever so sweet voice.

“Actually, no” I whined. “They don’t have any pineapples. Do you need one that much mom?” I said heading to checkout and with a hope that mom says “It’s ok sweetie come home I will adjust”

“I told you!” she squealed “Everything in the list is necessary! How am I going to make sweet and sour chicken without pineapple? Have you ever tried? No. because u cannot make it without pineapple. Pineapple is really important for this re-……”

“I get it, mom!” I interrupted her “Don’t worry I will be back with your ‘super important pineapple’ for the chicken recipe, okay now I’m leaving from here and will talk once home.”

“Thank you, bacha” she laughed “Have fun, sweetheart” she finished

Have fun, is mom serious, argh! now how to have fun when I have to drive for the another mall and then back to home giving mom helping aid in the setup of function…Hmm. Chal Annika, lets go and get pineapple before mom give you complete recipe.

I was on the checkout counter finally when suddenly… “Do u need help with that?” the guy from before said, pointing at my red basket, which was now full of food.

“Nah, I can do it on my own. I don’t need a man to carry my things.” I snapped smajhta kya hai yeh apne app ko (what does this man think of himself I thought to myself.

Trying to get the basket on the counter, I became aware of how heavy it was. Oh shit, aab mera to pappu ban gaya. And my eyes fell on the boy back.

The guy raised an eyebrow, smirking “Are you sure?”

Ah! I want to remove that smirk off his face. Idiot!

“Fine” I rolled my eyes, letting him carry my things and get them on the checkout counter. “Thanks” I murmured

“You are welcome” he chuckled lightly. His mom waved at him shouting that they are leaving, but he signalled her to go alone.

Putting the stuff, I bought in bags, I saw him waiting for me. “What are you doing?” I asked confused, while waiting for my bill update on phone ‘paper saving’. The cashier returned my card and my phone beeped twice with the message of money deduction and bill send on my phone meanwhile cashier wished me for a happy new year with a same smile I said ‘Same to you’ to him and move towards the Exit.

“I am coming with you to find a pineapple” he smiled widely. His white teeth were in full view, showing off their perfection with his gym body.

“Not a chance” I shook my head, zipping my jacket and taking my bags in one hand and my keys in the other.

“But why?” he argued running behind me.

“Because you are a stranger?” I stated, but it came out more like a question.

“My name is Shivaay Singh Oberoi, I am twenty-three years old and I am a businessman from past three months and I love cooking. See? Now we are acquaintances.” He smirked knowingly.

“What are we?” I rolled my eyes and continued walking towards the parking lot.

I heard footsteps behind me, which meant he hadn’t given up. I ran a hand through my hair angrily.

“Just let me help you” he shouted grabbing the bags from my hand.

“Why?” I raised my hands in the air, frustrated.

“Because you helped my mom. Oh god, are you always that grumpy?” He asked with a confused smile.

What did he say? I am grumpy? Stupid! face me grumpy now. I will kill this guy with my bare hands.

“I am not grumpy get this clear in your that mindless brain” I protested furrowing my eyebrows. Snatching the bags back, I opened the trunk of my car, dumping the shopped items inside and closing it again. I turned to him and placed my right hand on my hip, raising an eyebrow.

“Sure thing, grumpy dwarf” he smirked. Walking towards the passenger side of the car and got inside, leaving me standing out there with my mouth open.

“What the hell?” I murmured when the horn of my car echoed in the parking lot. My heart picked its pace and I jumped in fear on the sudden commotion of noise. “What the hell man?” I repeated louder this time.

“I don’t have the entire Day” he yelled tapping his imaginary wrist watch.

“Get out you, dumb head I’m not taking you with me! don’t you understand?” I snapped at him

He opened driving side gate from inside signing me to get in and said “You better get in otherwise you will get late because I am not going without helping you so don’t be a stubborn head.” He smirked saying this last feature of my character.

This guy will be a dead body at the moment, if one more time he says about my another feature which is not me.

Not having the courage and time I dropped the argument and I just got into the car and started driving. Through the ride, I could feel his green blue kanjhi eyes burning holes into my head. I kept my eyes trained on the road and continued driving without saying any word for the first few moments.

“Hey why are you staring at me like that? stop that!” I tried to put sense in him

“Will you be my date tonight?” he asked out of nowhere.

I was sure I heard something wrong. I kept driving.

“Okay, do u like to play games?” he asked after some more minutes passed.

Ignoring I turned on the radio, I started humming the song, acting as if I hadn’t heard him.

“Come on, grumpy dwarf” he smirked

“Fine!” I shouted, taking my hands off the steering wheel and throwing my hands in the air annoyingly. “What game?”

The car slipped slightly, but I got it under control again.

Shivaay glared at me “I am not in the mood to get killed, you know” he shook his head. “Anyway. Do u want to play twenty questions?”

I sent him a tired glance, before focussing my attention back on the road.

“Sure” I replied, hoping it would sooth the tension that had started to linger in the air “You first”

“What’s your favourite colour?” he asked

“Really? You don’t even know my name, and you are asking for my favourite colour?” I grimaced

He smirked “Your name for me is grumpy dwarf, so….”

I rolled my eyes “It’s yellow.”

“Nice. Why were you at the supermarket on a day like this?” he questioned, genuinely curious.

Not being in the mood to ask him any question myself, I kept answering his own.

“I had to pick some groceries and other necessity for mom’s dinner party tonight.” He nodded at my response as if it had been exactly what he wanted to hear.

“And the pineapple?” he wondered aloud, obviously trying to understand what will pineapple do in the dinner as because of that one pineapple I have to travel to this place.

“My mom’s special sweet and sour chicken dish. She thinks it can’t be prepared without it.” He chuckled quietly, amused.

“Did I say something that was funny?” I asked. He shook his head staring out the window as I was about to pull my car into the parking lot his next question came running

“No it’s nothing like that. So, what about my proposal of being the date tonight in the new ear eve party?” he asked looking towards me with a hopeful eye.

“What looking like that won’t make me agree of being a date of someone unknown and also I have a party at my place so it’s a big no for that, now let’s go for what we are here.” I was shocked for a moment at his direct question but then balancing myself I said him no and then we both moved out of the car.

When we were finally in the store, I hunted for the pineapple quickly while Shivaay disappeared somewhere in the store’s accessories section, leaving no trace of where he went, behind him.

I too took it as an opportunity to leave and free myself from this annoying guy and hurried towards the registers to pay as soon as I find the pineapple.

I sent a quick look over my shoulder to make sure he still wasn’t anywhere in the sight and walked out of the automatic doors.

“Happy new Year” I murmured to myself smiling like a fool “Dear acquaintance.” And I laughed loudly and stupidly making all the people’s gaze towards me. Revenge completed for calling me a grumpy dwarf!

Open next to know what's next.

This work is a collaboration of _annie353my bestest friend cum sister on Wattpad family
Thanks dear u r a sweetheart n u know that. You were the biggest help in writing the beautiful part and helping me in the idea to get it done and specially the hardest work to bug me on time n interval to write the part🙈🙈🙈 such a alazy girl I am otherwise so yaa without u this was impossible to even think to participate in competition. Thanks dear once again.