CHAPTER 13: Green or Black?

'The Pacific mall' the board read. "We are here," Zoya told Riya who was just looking out of the window and enjoying the busy streets of Delhi. They got down and paid the driver with paytm.

Riya then received a message from Kunal saying he'll be a bit late as he still didn't see the traffic clearing on the road. Riya messaged with a "no problem we'll be in the clothing section." The girls moved into the mall. They were quite a lot of stores there. After a while, they decided to go 'H&M' for picking up some college outfits. It was already half an hour since Kunal had texted Riya, but the girls didn't seem to get bothered waiting for him and his friends, in fact, they had great fun in choosing clothes for each other. Another fifteen minutes had passed. Zoya was just checking out the t-shirts on the racks next to a mannequin when she noticed someone slightly wave a hand towards her. It was Kunal who had finally found one of Riya's friends after ten minutes of searching in the mall. Behind Kunal were Max and Aryan. While Max and Kunal seemed happy, Aryan, on the other hand, was looking very unenthusiastic. After a greeting, Kunal asked Zoya where Riya was. Zoya was just about to tell him that she had gone to the trail room to check on an outfit when Riya came out of the dressing area. She was surprised to see the boys. Riya felt shy and so just waved her hand towards the boys. Both the boys except for Aryan had responded back with a wave towards her.

"Oh god, such a guy he was, not even caring to greet a person." Riya thought to herself when she remembered she a worn a top with a tag on it and that she had to change it. Riya immediately went back to the trail room and got herself changed into the maroon hoodie she was wearing. After she had come back she started to talk to Kunal and Max. Aryan who saw this got angry. Did she ignore him? How could she? Riya, on the other hand, loved the disgusted expression on Aryan`s face. Well, of course, she could ignore him. Didn't he do the same to her? It was like a 'tit for tat'. A while later they decided to go to a fancy store where they could find their perfect homecoming outfits. It was an exclusively interiored, bright-lit store. The store, unlike any other shops, didn't have a lot of clothes. There were only a few sets of cocktail and party dresses which were hung on the racks. Kunal and Max suggested Aryan try some suits for himself but he refused. The lad was rich enough to heir his own designer even for petty occasions too. Zoya who thought this meet was just a waste of time, was actually enjoying Kunal and Max's company. Kunal was helping Riya and Zoya help select their dresses. Zoya was quick to decide. She chose a cherry red, sleeveless dress with golden sequin embroidery. The knee-length dress turned out to look amazing on her. Riya, on the other hand, was really confused between the two dresses she had tried out. One was a dark green and the other was black. Everyone told her that both of them looked equally good on her. Riya was just standing in front of the mirror with both her hand catching the dresses. Kunal, Max, and Zoya were in the other section trying out other things. Riya was looking at the mirror when she and the person leaning to the wall caught each other's glances. Aryan looked at Riya who seemed to have a problem choosing the outfit. Both of them ignored each other for a few minutes before Aryan came up to Riya and stood exactly behind her. He examined both the dresses through the reflection in the mirror and then told "The black one, its nice."

Riya planned to stay silent. She simply moved from there and walked to Zoya. They were done shopping, so everyone came to the billing counter. When the worker there was scanning the tags, that was when he saw Riya's dress. It was the green one. He couldn't help but feel outrageous. If she knew all along which one to buy, then why waste so much time in choosing. Didn't he tell her the black dress was good? "Never mind, do as you wish you arrogant little girl" he thought to himself.