Esha's POV
When my car broke down, I opened the bonnet of my car and scrutinized whether all the connections were alright. I checked the battery wire, but it seemed alright.
Next, I did what most of the girls normally do. I opened Google and typed 'How to mend a broken car'. I went to the pictures and verified them carefully. However, I still could not find the fault in the car engine.
I was still thinking about what must be done when....
"Hello, Miss, do you need help?" I heard a male voice from behind me. I turned around with a ray of hope for help, and I was stunned.
He had dusky brown eyes, full of wit, which showed maturity and strength. He was tall and broad-shouldered. The smell of his cologne felt heavenly. He had a sharp jawline and a sharp nose, which added to the beauty of this man. His hairs were perfectly gelled. I could feel his deep stare right on me.
I didn't notice when my eyes stopped at his face to admire his features.
Some other day, I would have been a goner. But today was different. Struck in the middle of a less crowded area with a man and no one near is just enough to make me nervous.
I just stared at him for some time. After some time, I decided to break the trance that I had been in.
Aakash's POV
"Hello, Miss, do you need help?" I asked in a soft tone, possibly not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She heard me and turned, and it seemed that the time just stopped.
She was BEAUTIFUL...
She had almond-shaped eyes, which were deep and endless. The spark in her eyes was so alluring. The bow-shaped lips were parted like dawn. Her jawline mirrors the crescent phase of the moon. Her nose was slender and curious. Her cheeks were like flowers that bloomed during the first rays of the day. Overall, she looked perfect.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. She looked so eternal. I didn't realise when I started staring at her. My trance broke with her responding to the question.
"Umm...woh...mere gaadi kharab hogayi.", she said, looking towards me and the engine.
("Umm...the...my car broke down.")
"Need any help?" I asked, looking towards her. She slowly nodded her head.
Then, I came to the engine and analysed it.
Author's POV
Aakash came to the engine and checked all the connections. Esha kept observing the things he was doing with the wires, and then her sight went straight to his face.
It was as if Aakash had a certain charm that attracted Esha towards him. Her sight repeatedly went to his eyes. She almost felt like drowning in his eyes.
Here, Aakash was no different; he side-eyed Esha and found that she was looking at the engine. Aakash turned his face, and their eyes met. They immediately looked away, unable to bear each other's gaze.
He just wanted to talk to her or have a small conversation with her. But he was in a dilemma whether it was right or not. He was normally cold with others, but when he saw her, it seemed like his coldness may have faded in the drops of the rain. It took him a few more minutes to fix the engine.
He turned towards her.
"Kya aap ek baar gaadi start karengi?"
("Will you start the car once?")
Esha came near the driver's seat and started the car. It got started on the first try. After the car started, Aakash closed the bonnet and was about to leave.
"Um...Suniye", she said when she saw Aakash leaving.
("Um...Listen")
Aakash stopped in his tracks when she heard her voice. He turned and looked straight into her eyes.
"Ji"
("Yes")
"Thank you", she said in a slow voice.
"You're welcome, drive safely", he said and moved to his car. They both started the car and drove it in opposite directions.
Esha was driving, but her mind was preoccupied with the man who mended her car. 'Shit, naam puchna bhool hi gayi', she thought to herself.
('Shit, I forgot to ask his name.')
She reached home in 20 minutes. She put the bags down and knocked on the door. Her mother opened the door.
"Sorry Mumma, aaj late hogaya. Woh car kharab ho gaya tha."
("Sorry Mumma, I'm late. The car broke down.")
"Theek hai, jaa fresh up ho ke aa. Mein ne khana dining table par rakh diya hai." Esha nodded and went to her room.
("Ok, go and get freshened up. The food is ready on the dining table.")
She came downstairs in her nightdress. She sat next to her brother and started eating.
"Kaisi hai Neha?" her father asked, taking a bite of his chappati.
("How is Neha? ")
"Acchi hai, woh academy ke weekend batches join kar rahi hai."
("She is good, she will be joining the Academy's weekend batches.")
"Nice"
And all of them ate their dinner silently. After eating, Esha and her mother cleaned the dining table and went to sleep.
When Aakash came home, he saw the door was locked from inside, indicating that his mother was home. He knocked on the door, and his mother opened it.
"Kahan gaya that tu?" her mother asked when Aakash was removing his shoes.
("Where did you go?")
"Mein grocery store gaya tha, phir socha Sanjay se milta aao isliye uske ghar ko gaya tha", he said, showing the grocery bags to his mother.
("I went to the grocery store, then I thought of meeting Sanjay, so I went to his house.")
"Accha, jaldi se fresh up hoke aaja, phir saath mein dinner karenge."
("Ok, get freshened up quickly, then we will have dinner together.")
"Theek hai Maa, mein 2 minute mein aaya." Saying this, Aakash went to his room.
("Ok Maa, I will be back in 2 minutes.")
He got freshened up and changed into something comfortable. He went downstairs. He saw that his mother was already sitting at the dining table, waiting for him. He sat opposite his mother, and they both started serving themselves.
"Aakash, main ne socha hai ki main dance classes join karongi." She told me to bring her food.
("Aakash, I thought of joining dance classes.")
"Kya, kyu?"
("What, why?")
"Kyu matlab, mein din bhar ghar mein akele rehe kar kya karu?"
("What, why, what should I do staying alone at home all day?")
"Movies, cooking, and Insta scroll...", he said, having his food. His mother gave him a stern look.
"Kab tak wahi karti rahoon, meri bhi kuch hobbies hai ki nahi?", she told with an offended tone.
("How long should I keep doing the same thing? Don't I have any hobbies of my own?")
"Waise bhi, mein tujhe puch nahi rahi hoon, balki bata rahi hoon."
("Anyway, I am not asking you, I am telling you.")
"Theek hai, jaise aapko theek lage."
("Ok, as you wish.")
They both had their food silently. They both cleaned the dining table and went to the living room. His mother sat on the couch, scrolling through reels. Then came a reel, its music knocking gently on the doors of nostalgia.
Barakha se bachhalun tujeh
Seene se lagaa loon
Aa chhupaalun aa chhupaalun
Dil ne pukara dekho rut ka ishaara dekho
Uf ye nazara dekho
Kaisa lagtaa hain
When he heard the lyrics, his mind diverted towards the girl he saw while he was heading home. He remembered her little actions, how she would look at him when he was fixing the engine, and how she would tuck a hair strand behind her ear, which would fall on her face. He was still thinking about her when his mother tapped his shoulder, and he came out of the trance.
"Aakash, kounsi duniya mein khoya hua hain. Tab se bula rahi hu par tu alag hi duniya mein khoya hua hai. Kiske baare mein soch raha hai?" his mother said with a smirk on her face.
("Aakash, which world are you lost in? I have been calling you for a long time, but you seem to be lost in a different world. Who are you thinking about?")
"Kuch nahi Maa, bas kaam ke baare mein soch raha hu." His mother just rolled her eyes at his excuse.
("Nothing, Maa, just thinking about work.")
"Chal sone chale."
("Let's go and sleep.")
They both departed for their rooms.
Aakash lay on the bed, still thinking about the girl. After a few minutes, he dozed off due to tiredness.
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Peheli hi mulakat mein, dono ne ek dusre ke dimag mein jagah bana liya. Kab aayegi dil ki baari. For that, stay tuned!!
Hope you like this chapter. If yes, please like the chapter and comment on your favourite part.
Thanks for reading❤️...