A day out shopping

I told Dia that I would like to go shopping and she suggested we could go to the Chandni Chowk market. It is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi. Aunt Seema called Sameer to come and escort us.

I got ready in my floral print mustard-colored cold shoulder dress with bell sleeves and made a messy bun. The dress reached my thighs. I took my sunglasses, a mobile, hat, and wallet in my tote bag. I tossed a scarf in at the last minute. The weather in Delhi is strangely hot in the day and cold at the night.

Dia wore a simple white tunic top and olive-colored pants. She tied her hair in a high pony. Arjun didn't want to come because we have a lot of walking to do. Ryan came dressed in a red polo shirt and khaki shorts.

"Are you two coming dressed like this?" Asked Dia looking at me and Ryan back and forth with her mouth slightly open and raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, what's wrong with it?" Ryan asked checking our clothes.

We look fine.

Jason walked downstairs in his graphic tee and Jeans. He sat in the living room looking awkwardly around holding the remote in his hand.

"Are you not going? Grandpa asked Jason.

"No, I'm planning to stay at home and watch a football match. Can I watch?"

"I thought you would go. Chandni Chowk has a rush of people and these two girls are going alone. Well, Sameer is there but it will be better if you are also going with them." Grandpa told him.

"Let him be a grandpa. And we are big enough to handle ourselves and we have Ryan to protect us." I told grandpa giggling and then throwing a glare in Jason's way.

"Namaste Grandpa." saying entered a guy, a guy with hair gelled back, he looks medium height and a bit muscular.



"Hello, Sameer. How are you?"

"I'm good grandpa, Raj sir called me to come as a driver whenever you want. Where do you want to go, grandpa?"

"No not me, the kids are waiting for you. Take them to the Chandni chowk market, don't wait near the car  leaving them alone to shop, stay with them, and bring them back safely." Grandpa ordered him.

"Oh okay," he smiled. He looked over at me and Ryan. I felt his gaze on me a little longer than necessary. Maybe I'm over-imagining things.

"Okay bye grandpa. We will leave now." Said Dia waving her hand at grandpa.

"Kids be careful of your belongings. There will be many pickpockets."

"Don't worry grandpa. We will be fine." I told him and we walked out to the car. Grandpa is sure overreacting like how bad can it be. I'm sure it is somewhat like a flea market.

Ryan took the shotgun while I sat with Dia in the backseat. Just as Sameer started the engine, Jason came and opened the door, and gave me a pointed look as if to move.

"I thought you weren't coming," I asked him scooting over a little to give him enough space to sit.

"It's none of your business." Remind me why did I even ask him. It's better to stay quiet than talk with this annoying jerk.

I turned my face to Sameer and asked him. "So Sameer, how old are you and what do you do?"

"I'm 20 and my father is Mr. Raj's secretary. So I come here sometimes to help them out if they need anything. I'm in my college and Mr. Raj pays me a good amount whenever I help him, which works as pocket money. I'm sorry madam but you are? And who are these boys?" He said his eyes still on road but glancing in between through the rearview mirror.

"I'm Raj Kashyap's niece from Los Angeles, this is the first I'm visiting India. This is Ryan my best friend and that's Jason." I told him with a smile.

Sameer kept telling us a lot of information about India and its culture. Ryan kept asking him questions and Dia and Sameer were busy answering them, I'm listening to them intently, While Jason is looking out of the window not bothering to open his mouth and partake in the conversation.

We reached the market, and it's nothing like a flea market. I'm amazed by its size. It sold everything from silver jewelry like earrings, nose pins, bangles, and chains to utensils. They got all types of Indian wear like daily wear, suits, sarees, bridal lehengas. They even sold perfumes here, which are so strong and intoxicating.

I understood why grandpa is worried about us going to Chandni chowk because this place is so tightly packed with people. I selected some pretty kurtas for me and Sophie which would go well with our Jeans.

I'm standing at the shop with Dia and Ryan. Jason and Sameer are a few feet away from us. I asked the shopkeeper for the price and when he told me I found it pretty cheap. I'm about to give the money from my wallet when Sameer came alarmingly close to me and stood behind me. He raised his hands over my shoulder and placed them on the counter trapping me in between his hands and started bargaining with the shopkeeper.

I tried to move away but can't as I'm locked between his hands. I looked for Dia and Ryan but they were nowhere to be seen. That's when I saw them at the next counter checking some jewelry.

"Excuse me Sameer," I squeaked.

I bloody squeaked!! I mean what is wrong with me.

I want to move away and create some space in between but the crowd of people around us and them shouting at the shopkeeper asking for the price and bargaining is not helping. The smell of sweat and cigarettes from Sameer hit me, making me flinch my nose. People are literally pushing each other here.

"Can you remove your hands Sameer?" I asked him irritated I'm not able to take the stale odor of cigarettes from him.

Jason came and threw a few bills at the shopkeeper and took the kurtas and pulled me away from the crowd by holding my hand and glaring at me.

What did I do now?

"Jason, why did you give so much money to the shopkeeper? We could buy 10 kurtas not 2 with the money you gave them." Chided Sameer.

"I don't like waiting." He stated as a matter of fact.

Yeah, King Jason doesn't like waiting...

He walked away to the next counter with my shopping bag in one hand and pulling me with the other. I followed him like a lost puppy.

"What's the matter with him?"  Sameer muttered coming next to him after Jason left my arm.

"Uh nothing, Jason the great, lives in his world, where all that matters is HIM. Just don't mind him." I told Sameer and moved away from him to join Ryan and Dia.

After roaming around the market we are famished and my legs were hurting badly with all the walking. And Delhi's scorching heat is not helping either.

"Are you okay with eating here? I mean the food is so tasty but the ambiance may not be up to your liking." Dia said haltingly.

"If you want we can go to some nice restaurant nearby. I can G****e. We can come back after having our lunch." She continued.

"I'm okay with it. I don't have the energy to walk back to our car and again come back here." I told her wiping the perspiration from my forehead. I want to see the rest of the market.

The shop looked small and many people are bustling in and out of the shop. The tables are placed very close to each other, even the aisles are narrow. There are no fancy lights or decor. The waiters are covered in sweat and are busy serving everyone.

Usually, I don't prefer eating in such a place but the aroma of the food is so strong even if we are standing on the street. I felt like I'm gonna to deeply regret it if I don't try this restaurant here. But I'm not sure if Jason and Ryan are okay with it.

"Are you guys okay with it? If not we could go somewhere as Dia suggested." I asked looking at Ryan and Jason.

"Oh, I don't want to go to some other place. This place smells like heaven and I low-key miss the Indian food your mom used to prepare," said Ryan while Jason just shrugged his shoulders. Why can't this guy open his mouth to answer me, if it's to shout at me he gets all the energy in the world.

After lunch, Sameer pulled us to Jalebi( deep frying all-purpose flour batter and soaked in sugar syrup) shop saying we shouldn't miss the dessert.

It's a small counter on the street side with no tables or chairs to sit. We are standing there and waiting for the Jalebis to be served. After getting the Jalebi and tasting it I can't help but moan in satisfaction. Yes, I'm the type of girl who moans during eating.

A group of boys nearby mimicked my moaning and I can't help but giggle at the way they sounded.

That made one of them pass some comment in Hindi and another winked at me. I averted my gaze from them.

They kept passing some comments in Hindi which I can't understand. But looking at Dia's annoyed and uncomfortable face I understood that they were vulgar and mean.

Jalebi is served on paper plates. So after finishing I went near the dustbin kept next to the shop to throw my plate. One of the guys came behind me and placed his hand around my waist.

What the freaking hell!! I pushed him off.

"F*** off" I yelled at him.

He ran back to his friends and gave them hi-fi and fist bumps. The next thing I know is the guy who dared to touch me is lying on the ground. With Jason over him and throwing a punch after punch on his face. I stood there for a few seconds bewildered.

"Jason stop!!" I yelled at him.

"Ryan, go stop him," I shouted at Ryan. But I can see Ryan and Dia both with mouths open and gaping at Jason like statues. The boys' friends are standing like spectators just like the circle of a crowd now forming around us.

I walked over to Jason grabbed his arm and tried to pull him away from the guy. But he is too strong for me to pull. I called Sameer for some help, who is recording everything on his mobile.

What is this some sort of joke for him? Recording and posting on YouTube??

After Sameer arrived at my help, we successfully dragged Jason away from the boy.

"Jason stop it. Enough" I yelled at him.

"Just leave me" he roared back. Startled I let his arm out of my hold. He lunged again for the guy. Not knowing how to stop him. I clasped his arm and pulled him into a hug to stop him.

I don't want him to kill the poor guy!

The boy's face turned to a bloody pulp which made my insides churn and my hands shivered in fear. Tears stung in my eyes.

"Please stop, you are going to kill him. I'm scared. Please." I whimpered to him scared to death.

The guy is passed out and his friends are trying to wake him up. I can sense Jason's tensed muscles relax slowly. I hugged him for a few more minutes till I can hear his heart beating normally again.

I slowly let go of him and come face to face with him. "Let's go back home okay," I asked him and he nodded sighing.

I looked back at Ryan and Dia who are still stupefied by what happened a few minutes back and Sameer stood there with a cocky smirk.

"Let's go back," I told them. I'm pretty shaken up but what happened earlier. I can't continue shopping. What if someone already called the cops? It's better to get out of this place as soon as possible.

I took hold of Jason's hand in mine and pulled him with me towards the car. I'm alarmed to see his knuckles busted and blood oozing out of them.

"Why did you get so angry? See you didn't even care that you are hurt. You scared me to death."

"Just shut up and keep walking." He groaned. I think he is back to normal asking me to shut up.

"Sameer, can you go and get some medicine for Jason's knuckles?" I called out to Sameer. He nodded and went to a nearby drugstore.

"I'm fine. I don't need any medicine." Saying Jason pulled his hand from mine.

We walked back to the car and waited till Sameer came with the medicine. I pulled Jason to sit beside me in the backseat. Sameer started the car. I tried to apply the medicine to Jason's knuckles but he pulled his hand from me every fucking time.

The nerve of this guy!

"I'm so irritated with you Jason. Just let me apply for fucking medicine. What the fuck is wrong with you?" I shouted at him.

Sameer and Ryan looked at each other and tried to stop their smiles while Dia gasped at my choice of words. At least Jason doesn't stop me again from applying for medicine. The rest of the car ride is eerily quiet.

Tired of events, I can feel my eyelids heavy and sleep taking over me.  My head is swaying with the ride. I woke up startled a few times with the way my head kept wobbling. But then I leaned back into the seat finally gave in to the sleep.