" Tarika, kahaan le jaa rahe ho mujhe? ", he asked in confusion.
" Yeh leke pure panch baar puch liya.. kahaan jaa rahe? kahaan jaa rahe? Kidnap karke le jaa rahi hu tumko ", she rolled her eyes.
" Areh kidnap.. Ab tum haar baar yahi bol rahe ho, bas agey. Pure mele ghum liye abhitak woh agey wala stop toh aya nahi na? ", he smiled sheepishly.
" Kya karu mil hein toh nahi rahe woh stall ", she murmured and unknowingly started biting her nails.
" Nakhun maat kaato ", he sound disturbed.
" Tum chalo toh ", she pulled him by hand.
After a while they reached at the prized stuffed toy stall.
" Mil gaya.. See ", she sounded so happy.
" Yeh! ", his jaw dropped.
" Hmm ", she nodded.
Holding his hand she pulled him close and whispered,
" Meine suna hai ki tum sharpshooter ho? "
" Koi shaq? ", he smirked.
" Prove it.. ", she whispered.
" Ah haan? "
" Win me that teddy. See, Woh... wala cute fluffy bear mujhe chahiye ", she pointed towards a peach coloured teddy bear.
" Hmm and that's the first prize? "
" Haan, tumhe bas pach dart sahi nishane pe lagana padhega ", she smiled big.
" Accha toh iseliye mujhe le aye "
" I want that " she pouted.
" Okay okay ", he nodded..
The shopkeeper passed him five dart. He kept eying towards the dart board.
Focusing over the distance.
He breathed out heavily.
" Okay, now tell me a number ", he eyed towards her.
" Umm Three ", she replied.
" Okay.. "
" No wait.. ", she stopped him when he was about to throw the dart .
" What? ", he asked in confusion.
" I think five sahi rahega ", she smiled awkwardly.
" Five.. Okay ", he responsed.
Once again he stared at the board.
" One minute.. ", once again she called him back.
" Five cancel? ", he made a face.
" Please, thoda jaldi ki jiye aur bhi log hai ", the gift shoper said politely.
" See ", he acted and passed her a helpless look.
" Ahnn nothing.. nothing . You do continue.. All the best ", she showed him a thumbs up.
He nodded disprovingly. Then settled his sleeve by pulling it upward.
How breath taking he was looking. She kept watching at him shyly.
Here goes the first dart..
He threw it with very perfection and she hide her eyes with both of her hands in anticipation.
" Bravo ", the shopkeeper yelled.
She peeped though her palms. The dart hit at the perfect Five. She smiled big.
" Next number? ", she sound so excited.
" Tum rehne do.. Ap bataiye ", he eyed towards the shopkeeper.
" Hmpff ", she made a face.
" Okay, Sir then hit the number 3, 4, 7 and the center 9 ", the man replied smilingly.
His sharp eyes read the dart board.
Then suddenly he threw all three dart back to back.
His act made her eyes double in size and in a very moment her eyes captured the position of all three darts.
" Perfection ", she wondered.
" Wanna try? ", he smirked.
" Haan? "
" Come on let's give it a try ", he pulled her close.
" Hey, No no no Abhijeet its the last one. I don 't wanna lose it ", she chuckled.
" Relax ", he went behind of her.
Then slowly grabbed her hand and gripped the last dart.
" No.. ", she offended and shut her eyes.
" Keep your eyes opened, Tarika ", he whispered behind of her ear.
His soft tone made her restless. She felt as if current passed though her spinel cord .
Before she could get any hint he made her to throw the last dart.
That hit at the center. Her face made a perfect " O " shape and she turned to face him.
He just passed her a smile.
" Here you go. The fluffy friend is your ", the gift shopper handed him the teddy.
He turned to face her. She smiled big that made his heart skip a beat.
" Gimme naa? ", she demanded.
" Sure, lady ", he acted in a dramatic way and passed her the stuffed toy.
She hugged it so tightly and held it close.
Then kissed it.
" Lucky bear.. ", he mumbled
" Hmm ", she looked at him.
" Why can't I get a hug? ", he murmured.
" Kya bole jaa rahe ho? ", she patted his back.
" Nothing.. You are happy naa? "
" Very happy ", she crused the teddy against her chest.
" Chalein "
" Hmm "
" Accha.. why did you made me throw the last one? Miss ho jata toh? "
" Aise kaise miss hota? You too had trust on me naa ? Aren't you? ", he asked.
" Well.. I can't deny "
" Haha ", he laughed and she playfully hit him.
Suddenly her eyes capture something.
" Abhijeet, woh dekho "
He found a little girl is crying. Her mother is trying to console her.
They went there.
"What happened mam? ", he asked.
" Actually.. I bought her a teddy and someone tried to snatch it from her.. then she hold it back and it turns the teddy ripped off ", she tried to explain.
" Aahaann...my teddy ", the girl cried more.
She looked at her prized teddy that he won for her once again. Then glaced at the ripped teddy. Both were same in color.
Hiding her teddy behind she kneeled down to face the little kid.
" Hi.. ", she spoke.
" Hello ", the girl replied while wiping her tears.
" What happened to your Mr. Teddy? "
" Bad boy ayaa.. ", she again started crying.
" Shhh.. don't cry. I can fix him ", she smiled.
" Kaise? Ap doctor ho? "
" Ah.. haan "
" Thik kardo na doctor! "
" Yeah, I will. Give it to me "
The little girl passed her the teddy.
" Now close your eyes and count from 1-10 "
She passed that almost ripped toy to her mother and signalled her to hide it.
She looked at him. He passed her smile and assure with an eye blink.
" And ten.. ", she opened her eyes.
" Teddy! ", the girl jumped and almost snatched the prized teddy from her.
" Thank you so much, Mam. I can pay you back ", the lady spoke.
" No, you can't. This happiness is very precious "
" Thank you, Doctor aunty "
" You are welcome, baby "
They waved them bye and left the place.
They were silently walking . Cold breeze blew her curls.
She crisscrossed her arm.
" Abhijeet.. "
" Hmm? "
" Meine sahi kiya naa? Tum naraz toh nahi ho? "
" Kya? "
" Matlab.. you win that for me naa? "
" Relax, Tarika.. You know, I am proud of you ", he cupped her face.
She felt really lucky.
" Waise if you are missing a teddy hug than still you can have it ", he uttered and opened his arm big.
" Accha? ", she stepped forward.
" Hmm "
" Haan waise thik hein hai. Dekho kaisa pettu bahaar aa rahe tumhara.. Bilkul teddy ki tarha ", she laughed .
" Hey.. "
" Huggies? "
" Nahi dena ab ", he looked other way.
" But I want na ", she locked her hands over his neck.
He wrapped his hands around her . She rest her head on his chest. They shared a warm embrace.
Smile Smile... Thank you so much for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts.
Stay happy, stay bless and
Keep loving Abhirika.
- Shadow grey 99