A New Step Together
I hid in the bathroom for a while, trying to clear my mind as the events of the day swirled around me like a whirlwind. Jasmin had insisted on picking out clothes for me, and while the whole situation felt absurd, I couldn't deny the odd excitement that fluttered in my chest. After what seemed like an eternity, Jasmin slipped a note under the door. It read: "Meet me at the mall cafeteria. Don't take too long!"
I sighed, changing quickly into the clothes she had given me. The outfit was stunning, a sharp contrast to my usual style. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel out of place. The clothes were expensive, likely more than 10,000 rupees, and yet they fit perfectly, transforming me into someone almost unrecognizable. Still, I had no choice but to roll with it. Jasmin had already paid for it, and I wasn't about to make a scene.
When I reached the mall cafeteria, Jasmin was already sitting at a table, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she waved at me.
"Hi!" I greeted, a little unsure of how to feel in this new, unfamiliar outfit.
"See? See? Don't you think it looks good on you?" she beamed at me, clearly proud of her choice. The energy in her voice made it feel like this was a moment of victory for her, and I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
"Isn't this expensive...?" I asked, my voice a little hesitant. The price tag on the clothes was enough to make me second-guess everything. But Jasmin just waved it off as if it were no big deal.
"Nope! No worries!" she reassured me with a playful grin.
I hesitated, wanting to protest, but she was already so excited about it. I couldn't bring myself to spoil her mood.
"But...?" I started to protest, but she cut me off again.
"No buts..." she said with a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. She was having too much fun with this, and I didn't want to be the one to ruin it.
The clothes did indeed feel designer-quality, and I couldn't help but marvel at the softness and fit. Still, a part of me couldn't fully relax. But she had already paid for them, and this was part of our odd, pretend date.
"Thanks," I said, trying to make peace with the situation. "I'll take good care of the clothes."
Jasmin nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "Sure! Now, let's go on our date!" she chirped, the giggle in her voice infectious.
We walked out of the mall and headed toward the "paradise of angles," a place I'd only ever heard about in passing. As we stood in front of the entrance, the atmosphere felt surreal. I wasn't sure if I was more nervous about the idea of being out with her, or the fact that I was about to enter a place associated with couples and romantic wishes.
Suddenly, I felt something soft and small brush against my hand. My heart skipped a beat as I looked down, realizing that Jasmin had taken my hand in hers.
"Wha…?" I stammered, my voice faltering in surprise. "We're holding hands now?"
She looked up at me, her cheeks pink as she explained, "I've always wanted to try."
My heart pounded harder, the warmth of her hand against mine sending a flood of emotions through me. Was this really happening? I had always imagined moments like this in my wildest daydreams, but now that it was real, I didn't know how to react.
"Do you not get shy?" I asked, feeling my own shyness creeping up. My hands were clammy, and my chest tightened with nervous energy.
"I do," she admitted, her voice soft but sure. "But happiness comes before that."
"Happiness?" I echoed, confused.
She smiled at me, the soft expression on her face reflecting something deeper than the surface-level excitement. "Yeah, I mean... if I were your girlfriend, I would be happy to hold your hand, right?" Her words were simple, yet they carried a weight that made my heart ache with something undefinable.
"Hmmm... I guess so." I paused, processing what she said. Her sincerity caught me off guard. "Wow, you really are getting into your character."
The warmth of her hand in mine felt like something out of a dream. And for a moment, I wondered if this could somehow become real. As we stood there, holding hands in front of the entrance to the paradise of angles, I realized that this strange day was slowly turning into something far more significant than I could have ever anticipated.
----
Did you hear that sound? That was the sound of Raj's 'Shield' cracking.
He's wearing 10,000-rupee clothes, he's got a fresh haircut, and now the National Crush is holding his hand in front of the most romantic spot in town. Raj is trying to convince himself she's just 'in character,' but Jasmin's blush says otherwise.