3

Ayesha always loved the swings.

She would always hang only by the swings the whole time she was in the park. She would happily swing and not get up even for a bit because she knew someone else will take up the spot.

But that was in the day and in the evening, when the park was filled with people. Now it is night time and even the two kids were picked up by their mother, leaving only her and Rahul in the park.

Ayesha looked at her feet and was very glad she decided to match her outfit with nice shoes instead of heels this time. Maybe she knew deep inside if her parents had actually locked her out or something she didn't want to be stuck in heels.

"What are you thinking?" asked Rahul.

Ayesha looked at him. "About my shoes," she answered honestly.

"That's a wierd thing to think about."

"Is it?"

"I think so."

"Maybe you're right."

"I'm very often right," he said.

They stayed quite again for the next two minutes.

"Who's your favorite Professor in college?" asked Rahul.

"Huh?"

"I'm starting conversation, Raizada."

"Oh. Well, I really think Professor Chopra is the coolest of all. Um, yours?"

"I like Professor Anand the best. He's really nice and knows his subject. Chopra is nice too, but I think she is sometimes partial."

"True," she agreed. "Anand is fine. Knows his subject."

"He's awesome."

Ayesha thought for a while. "Who's your best friend?"

"Nihal," he answered without hesitation.

She frowned. "Who's he? I don't remember any Nihal from college."

"He's from my school. He's been my best friend since we were ten. Who's your best friend?"

"Ria."

"You guys seem close," he commented.

Ayesha scoffed. "We are."

He just smiled, and then stood up. "I want to try something. "

"What?"

"Sand castle."

"Huh?" He just pointed to a sand kit.

"What are you, five?" she asked.

"Maybe that's how old I was since I last did it. Or a bit older."

"Rahul..."

"C'mon Ayesha, don't be such a prick."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine."

Rahul sat outside of the sand kit claiming he wouldn't fit, and Ayesha copied his actions. The sand was wet and Rahul slowly gathered sand to start. Ayesha would've been lying if she had said she didn't have fun at all. Surprisingly, building sand castles brought up a lot of fond memories. They even had a fun competition on whose would be better. Ayesha was determine to make Rahul fail... but in the end, he was the one who won. Like said, it bought up a lot of childhood memories and the two began recalling what cartoons they used to watch before.

"Power Rangers, that's for sure!" said Rahul.

"Yep, Ninja Storm used to be my favorite Power Ranger series," replied Ayesha.

"Really? Mine was SPD."

"How about Noddy?"

He laughed. "That was my ultimate morning cartoon. I also used to love this one... Courage the Cowardly Dog."

"That was epic! Though you have to agree, Tom and Jerry is classic."

"Childhood is incomplete without it," he agreed. "I used to watch Phineas and Ferb, too. Ah, those everlasting summer."

She smiled. "True. Did you ever watch Galactic Football?"

"Oh my god, I used to love that show!"

"Same."

"I even liked Suite Life of Zack and Cody. But I think Suite Life on Deck was better."

"Deck was better. Wizards of Waverly Place?"

"It was funny. But my sister used to watch Hannah Montana a lot, and I watched it with her. I must admit, it was damn funny. Possibly, my favorite disney show."

"You have a sister?" she asked.

"Elder one. She's twenty one."

"Oh. Do you have a girlfriend?"

Rahul seemed startled by the question. "What?!"

"I asked," she said slowly, "if you have a girlfriend. Ring a bell?"

He cleared his throat. "Uh, no. Do you?"

"Yeah, I have a lot of girlfriends."

"Shut up, Ayesha. Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Nope, I don't."

"Why? So many guys have proposed you. I have seen it."

"You have seen it?"

"It's not just you who observes me."

She felt her face go red. "I don't observe you."

"Yeah you just check me out," he teased. "All the time."

"I don't!"

He laughed. "So tell me. So many proposed you. You didn't accept anyone's or did you have a break up recently?"

"Uh, I didn't accept any."

"Why?'

"I don't want to tell you." She stuck out her tongue.

He just smiled at her actions.

The two now laid on the ground resting on their elbows. They weren't sure what they were staring at, but they were smiling. Ayesha stared at her hands. "Shouldn't we wash our hands or something?"

"We probably should. Are there any water nearby?"

Ayesha sat up straight. "I don't see any."

"Then let's just take light."

"Uh, can we go somewhere else? The night is too good to stay just here."

Rahul looked at her, smiling. "Really? Where do you want to go?"

"I always had a wish."

"What is it, Ayesha?"

"I want to go to Marine Drive with only my friends, and have ice cream while looking over the water."

"Marine Drive?"

"Marine Drive... possible?"

He thought for a moment. "There's a bus that can drop us there..."

Her eyes widened out of happiness. "Can we go now?!"

He slowly began to grin. "I mean... it's possible."

Ayesha grinned back.

~

"Wow," she couldn't help but exclaim.

Of course, she had seen Marine Drive many times, but this was the first time she had ever seen it night time. It was mesmerising.

Wow, I wasted so many nights on just partying when I could've spent some doing stuff like this, she thought.

She looked at the guy beside her. Rahul Lohiya. She couldn't help but smile whenever she saw him. He was nothing like what she thought he would be. He wasn't quite, he wasn't shy, and he definitely wasn't lonely. He was... something else. He was a boy that had the courage to runaway from his house, but deep down he knew he would go back. He was a boy who observed. He was a boy who didn't judge her by what he heard from others. He was a boy that Ayesha realized she liked hanging around.

"It's awesome, right?" he asked.

"Yeah," she agreed. "It's almost breathtaking. I love it."

He went and sat on the top, and Ayesha mimicked his actions. She couldn't help but eye his runaway bag.

"What are you seeing?" he asked.

"Your bag."

"Why?"

"I still don't get you running away. It's bizarre and I don't know."

"This is my fifth time," he suddenly declared. "I don't like it much, but it is better than staying at my home. And I feel it brings peace upon the house for at least some time."

Ayesha was shocked.

"Leave it," said Rahul. "You wanted ice cream, right?"

END OF CHAPTER THREE