THE DATE

The day had finally arrived. Ganpat had told me about Sri Ananda Bhavan, a well-known restaurant about 20 km from our college. It would take at least 30 minutes to reach by bus or rickshaw. Booking a cab was out of the question—I had an allergy to cars, and besides, I didn't want to miss out on a good rickshaw ride.

Priya had asked me to meet her at the main gate at 10 AM, so I had woken up early. But, as usual, I was running late. While putting on my shoes, I glanced at the clock.

"Oh shit! It's 9:55! Only five minutes left! What will she think if I'm late?" I muttered to myself in frustration.

Ganpat, who was still lying on his bed with one eye half-open, lazily responded, "So why are you wasting time telling me this? Just run and don't disturb me!"

I shot him a quick look while lacing up my shoes. "When did I say I was telling you? I was talking to myself," I replied.

Ganpat was about to say something in return, but I cut him off. "I don't have time to debate with you!" I grabbed my phone and dashed out of the room.

I ran as if a dog were chasing me, my heart pounding with every step. The college gate was now just 100 meters away, and then I saw her.

Priya stood there, dressed in a stunning purple saree, her black sunglasses adding an air of mystery. A black purse hung elegantly from her hand, and a small red bindi adorned her forehead. She looked breathtaking—like an angel who had come down just to meet me. I was so lost in admiration that, for a moment, I completely forgot I was running late.

"Raghav?" Her voice called out, pulling me back to reality.

I blinked and quickly apologized, but she just smiled. Embarrassed, I said, "You look even more beautiful today than usual."

She chuckled and thanked me, and together, we walked out of the campus.

As we stood outside, I opened the Rapido app to book a rickshaw. Priya watched me curiously and asked, "Rickshaw? Why not a cab?"

I turned to her and replied, "I have an allergy to cars, so I thought a rickshaw would be better."

She looked surprised. "Really? What kind of allergy makes you dislike cars?"

I hesitated. "Uh… well, it's complicated. But if you don't like rickshaws, I can book a cab instead."

She smiled and shook her head. "No, no! I actually like rickshaw rides too."

I couldn't help but think how wonderful she was. Within five minutes, our rickshaw arrived, and we hopped in, ready for the 20 km journey. The ride was beautiful—fresh air brushing against our faces, the city passing by in a blur of colors, and the rhythmic sound of the rickshaw's wheels adding to the charm of the moment.

When we finally reached Sri Ananda Bhavan, we took a table near the window. I asked for the menu while Priya curiously looked around, analyzing the ambiance of the restaurant.

"What would you like to order?" I asked her.

She thought for a moment before replying, "Hmm… What do you have in mind? Actually, I was thinking we could order bhindi and paneer, along with dal tadka, a few chapatis, and some chaas if it's available."

She sounded like she had already planned her order. I smiled, appreciating her choice. "That sounds perfect!" I agreed and called the waiter to place our order.

As we waited, I watched her. She looked genuinely happy, and at that moment, I thought—I wouldn't mind bringing her here every day if it made her smile like this. I wasn't rich, but I would save up just for her.

The waiter soon arrived with our food, setting it down with a warm smile.

"Here is your order, sir."

"Thank you," we both said in unison.

The food was delicious. With every bite, I felt like I had been transported to Rajasthan.

"This is nice, right?" Priya asked, sipping her chaas.

I nodded. "Yeah, it's amazing. It really tastes like authentic Rajasthani food."

I watched her as she drank her chaas, wondering how someone could look so beautiful even while doing something so simple.

After a few moments, she put her glass down and asked, "So… what do you think? Should we come here once a month?"

Without hesitation, I replied, "Yeah, yeah! We definitely should."

After finishing our meal, I paid the bill and opened Rapido to book a ride back. But before I could confirm the booking, Priya stopped me.

"We have time. Let's go for a walk—it'll help us digest the food."

I smiled. What could be better than spending more time with her? I put my phone back in my pocket, and we started walking.

As we strolled side by side, talking and laughing, a thought crossed my mind—should I hold her hand? My heart raced as I hesitantly moved my hand closer to hers. For a moment, I hesitated, unsure of what she would think.

And then, to my surprise, she reached out and held my hand.

A warmth spread through me, and I couldn't help but smile.

This was turning out to be the most beautiful day of my life.