Sakshi rummaged through her almirah and found the three novels she borrowed from the college library a week ago. With a delighted grin, she stuffed them in her backpack and headed to the living room. As always, Udayveer was attending conferences on a Saturday evening and Pushpa had gone to visit a distant cousin. Only Ranveer and the family cook Lajwanti, who fancied to call herself Lajo, were in the mansion.

Twirling in front of the mirror in her maroon georgette salwar suit, Sakshi gave a flying kiss like the actresses she'd seen on award shows. Grabbing her shoulder bag, she ran downstairs but was halted by Lajo. The latter resided in the Rana household even before Sakshi's birth. She was part of the family and practically a second mother to the Rana siblings. Her silver hair was dishevelled with a sheen of sweat layering her wrinkled face. She presented a plate of ghee laddoos to her.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry, Beti?"

"Library, Aunty."

"Won't you try one of these besan laddoos I made? I've added your favourite raisins and cashews."

"No thanks, I'll come back and have plenty."

Lajo's face shrunk. "Just one?"

"Alright." She popped a laddoo into her mouth. The wholesome sweetness of the laddoos and the crunchy cashews erupted in her mouth. "Mmm, tasty! Thank you so much."

Lajo cupped her face with affectionate eyes. "How many times to remind you not to say thank you? I'm just doing what I should for my child."

Sakshi smiled warmly. "Thank you- I mean- no thank you."

The old woman laughed softly.

Ranveer barged into the living room adjusting his wristwatch. His mane hair was neatly combed and side-parted. The stoic expression on his face broke into a smile noticing the platter of laddoos.

"Oho! Lajo Aunty, whatta surprise."

"Come, Beta. You too have some."

He unabashedly jammed his mouth with two laddoos in quick succession, allowing a few crumbs to stick to his collar and tumble to the floor. Brushing his mouth with his handkerchief he lifted an eyebrow at his little sister.

"Where to, Saash?"

She pointed to her bag. "I've got to return these books to the library."

"Can't you do it on Monday? I must go pick up Baba in some time."

"If I don't return these on time, the madam will revoke my library card without a second thought. I must also do some reading for my project," she said with a miserable frown.

Ranveer sighed and glanced ahead, whirling the jeep keys on his index finger. "Fine, I'll drop you."

Her cheeks gleamed in excitement as she followed him. Thankfully he permitted her to wear whatever she liked within the college premises as it was an all-girls institution. Stationing the jeep near the main gate, he lowered the tinted window glass.

"When can I pick you up, Saash?"

"After two hours, Bhaiyya?"

"Sure, just ring me up if you need something."

"Alright, Bhaiyya."

She stayed in the corridor till his jeep vanished beyond the horizon and trotted to the library, flooding with enthusiasm. Vinnati waved to her from the library door with a sharp grin, slurping on a chocolate milkshake from a Styrofoam cup.

"Finally made it!" Sakshi said.

"Yayy! Shall we go?"

"Wait, I'll return these books and come."

"What's the hurry?"

"I told Bhaiyya that I have to give it back, so . . ."

Vinnati rolled her eyes. "Sakshi, how many times to tell you that there's nothing bad with a tiny white lie?"

"You know me, Vini. If I tell a lie, guilt will torture me."

"Offo! Alright, be quick."

She jogged inside and deposited the books on the counter. The spectacled librarian gave her a formal nod of acknowledgement and signed on her membership card with the college stamp. Muttering a hasty 'thank you', she sprang outside.

"We can leave now," she told Vinnati.

The girls stopped several autorickshaws until one of them finally agreed to ride to Lehak River Park. On the way, Vinnati handed her a pair of oxidised silver jhumkas.

"Here, wear this. Ayushman will like it."

Sakshi coughed and stammered. "What do you mean?"

"Bae, don't pretend."

"I don't have the slightest idea of what you're talking about."

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm sweating cause it's hot in here."

"Why do people in love always deny their feelings?"

"This is too much, Vini. What love? I barely know him for a week."

"That's why you're running to see him again and get to know him better, right?"

Sakshi sat in stillness and bit her lower lip, blood rushing to her cheeks.

"Hey, Ayush seems to be a fine guy. Nothing wrong in crushing on him."

"I'm not!"

"I thought you never told lies."

"Alright, I'm a bit interested in knowing him . . . but only because of his music."

"Fine, let's agree to disagree," Vinnati said, making Sakshi gnash her teeth.

She wore the earrings and adjusted the wisps of stray hair in the selfie camera of her phone. When the auto screeched to a stop near the entrance of the park, her body was a hot mess of shyness and excitement. Splitting the ride fare with Vinnati, she dialled Ayush's number.

"Hello?" He answered, his soulful voice stirring her heart.

"H-hello, we are at the entrance."

"Just a moment, I'm coming."

"Alright," she said and hung up.

Vinnati smirked. "Hey, Sakshi, what if Ayushman turns out to be a serial killer?"

"Please stop it! I'm already nervous!"

Vinnati snorted. "Accha, sorry."

Though she hated to do so, Sakshi turned to Vinnati with a bashful smile. "Do I look good?"

"How does it matter? We're here only to listen to music, right?"

"Tell me soon. He's on his way now."

"Turn around- hmm, looking good. But don't worry about that too much. Just enjoy the evening."

She nodded, taking her friend's statement to heart. If she put her insecurities aside, she could cherish every moment ahead. As she tapped her feet and bit her nails, something she couldn't help doing when she was anxious, a familiar figure approached her. Tall, broad-shouldered, a solitary dimpled smile. He sported a sleek black shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and a brown guitar strapped around his torso. His hair was neatly gelled and his cocoa orifices stole the sunlight.

"Good evening," he said greeted them formally.

"Hello, Ayushman," Vinnati said.

"Good evening, Ayush. How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thanks. And you?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

They had enjoyed a delightful morning at the fair a week ago. Now, all the relaxation had washed off from both of them. An atmosphere of hesitation dangled heavily as they trudged inside.

The cobblestone pathway of the park facing the river was lined with fragrant yellow rose bushes and mango trees. Their clothes and hair fluttered in the warm summer breeze. Ayush steered them to a cement bench under a mango tree close to the river bank. Sunshine filtered through the leaves and a couple of fishermen filled their buckets with live fish. The remote honks and screeches of vehicles faded in the soft gurgling of the river.

"Where's Gaurav Bhai?" Sakshi asked.

"He very much wanted to be here, but his wife is still unwell. He's taken her to the hospital," Ayush said.

"Oh, hope she gets well soon. Where is Chirag?"

"He's at his grandparents' place."

"That's good."

"Ready to practice your singing?" Vinnati asked.

"Y-yeah. Ready."

He stood like an uneasy stork, shuffling the pressure of his body between his feet.

"Come sit here, Ayush," Sakshi said.

"No thanks, I'm good."

He cleared his throat and looked around. No one else was within earshot. Taking a painfully deep breath, he began strumming the guitar with his bare hand. Sakshi assessed that this was the reason his fingertips felt rough when he gripped her hand at the fair. For a brief moment, her pulse pounded from the memory.

"Ohhh . . . hmmm . . ." He hummed a peaceful melody that filled her bones with mirth. He went on to sing a song by Arijit Singh, one of her favourite singers.

"Yeh laal ishq, yeh malaal ishq,

Yeh aib ishq, yeh bhair ishq . . . "

Though self-conscious at first, he eased into the song and hit the high and low pitches with perfection. His ardent vision fixated on her and he sang with a shy smile, making her heart bounce. She was lost in the surging vibrancy of his voice and had to break away for a moment when their eyes met. Vinnati too stared in an impressed manner and gleamed at Sakshi. When he was done, Sakshi's felt butterflies soaring in her stomach.

"That was out of the world!" Vinnati said.

"Thanks, Vinnati." He said, but his gaze trained on Sakshi, eager to listen to her words.

Her lips twitched as she tried to cough out words. Vinnati placed a hand on her shoulder. "Bae, I'm going for a stroll. Be back soon."

Before she could react, Vinnati had already stridden farther. She merely stared at him, tongue-tied. Never had she imagined the singing session would be this intense.

"Did you like it?" He asked in a mild tone.

Gathering herself together, she said, "Very much. I'm speechless, I don't know what to say in praise. You are blessed with one of the most beautiful voices I've heard."

"Haha, then you haven't heard many voices."

"No, I meant it. I could go on listening to you . . . forever." The words escaped her lips before she knew it.

Startled by her sudden statement, he broke into a smile. "Thank you."

"Why don't you sit down now?" She patted the space beside her.

He rubbed his neck and slowly settled down, placing the guitar on the other side and closing the space between them.

"So, what do you do?" He asked her.

"I'm in my final year B.Com."

"Great choice. It's a fast-moving course in our day. Where do you study?"

"Kanakji Girls College."

"I've heard of it. It's in Sonambar North, right?"

"Yes, near Chocomilk Café."

"I've been there once, they have the best coffee in town!"

"Milkshakes too! By the way, are you a full-time musician, Ayush?"

"I wish, but no. I work as an accountant with the boring Yash Services Ltd."

Her pupils expanded. "Accountant? That's amazing!"

He let out a laugh. "What's so amazing?"

"Very few people are good with accounts. I find it very difficult, and my lecturer is the worst! She herself doesn't understand head or tail of what she teaches."

"That's terrible. You can ask me if you have any doubts."

"Really?!"

"Of course! I'm glad to help."

"Thank you so much. I have quite a few doubts in cost accountancy."

"When are your exams?"

"In three months."

"Oh! We must start preparing soon."

She bit back a giggle. "You're more excited to teach than I am to learn."

He shrugged and smiled. "Yeah, but I become very serious when I teach. Is that okay with you?"

"Haha, double okay. What about your office?"

"It's from 7 AM to 3 PM. I'm available after that."

Sakshi couldn't contain her elation. "My college ends at 4:30. Anytime after that is fine."

"Perfect," he said, patting his feet rhythmically with a grin.

"I hope I'm not being a bother."

"Not at all."

"I don't know how to thank you, Ayush."

"Hey, anytime. Where shall we meet?"

"At Chocobar Café?"

"That would be perfect. Let's start from Monday."

"How much will you charge?"

He shot a glare. "Sakshi, you're embarrassing me. Firstly, I won't ever charge money from a friend. Secondly, I'm not a trained teacher. I'm just a normal accountant who will be clearing your doubts."

She was stunned and studied his honest eyes. "Alright, Mr Accountant."

"I forgot to tell you that I have my YouTube channel where I post cover songs," he said.

"Woah, what's the name?" She rapidly pulled out her phone and opened YouTube.

"It's called TheChordDreamer."

"Interesting, what's the meaning behind it?"

"My dream is to keep composing music and bring the chords to life."

"That's truly deep. There! I found your channel."

"It has only 400 subscribers." His voice was weak and uncertain.

"Plus one now, cause I have subscribed."

"Thanks, yaara," he said, as the slanting sun rays drenched his face in a fiery glow.

It was the first time he used a word of endearment to address her-'yaara'- meaning friend or companion. She wished his words would come true in their lives. They peered at the swans spiralling the waters, drawing ripples with slim tail feathers. The sunset painted the waters with inflaming streaks of orange, purple and gold. As the day slipped by, Sakshi couldn't wait for Monday.

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