Arnav's day had started off mundanely, like any other. His car betray him as he headed to college. He dispatched a quick call for a taxi to ferry him to campus.
The driver was taking longer than expected, nearby convenience store. Lost in thought, he remained beside the taxi, scrolling through his phone.
Meanwhile, Khushi was also on her way to college. Her day was just as chaotic; she had lost track of time and was running late for her first day of college. Spotting the taxi, she decided it would have to do. She slid into the backseat without so much as a glance at the occupant.
"Han mai band kr leti hu, aap gadi chalae," Khushi said, her words a mixture of urgency and nonchalance.
Arnav turned, instantly bewildered. "Ye taxi meri hai," he replied, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
Khushi's eyes widened in surprise. "Sach me? Mujhe b dhikra hai ye taxi aapki hai. Kya chale hum ab? Mujhe late ho raha hai."
"I'm not a driver. This taxi is booked by me!" Arnav exclaimed, growing more frustrated.
Khushi brushed aside his protests, "Okay, okay! I am sorry. Ek request hai, mujhe kahi pauchna hai, mein bht late ho gyi hun."
"Mai samaj gya. Aap baith jaiye, pehle mai utar jaunga, phir aap utar jana," he said, trying to sound calm.
Khushi crossed her arms defiantly. "Mujhe pagal samjha hai? Ek anjan admi ke sath jaane se bht bhtar hai, mai paidal chali jau."
"Taxi wale ko janti ho tum?" Arnav countered, unable to hide his irritation.
"Nahi," she replied tersely.
"Toh vo anjan nahi hai," Arnav reasoned.
"Woh taxi wala hai!" she snapped back, dismissively. Without another word, she got out and slammed the door, convinced she could make it on foot.
Arnav sighed, ready to let it go but just as he was about to shake his head in disbelief, he spotted something on the backseat. "Excuse me! Aapka phone!" He called out after her.
Khushi spun around, her expression shifting from irritation to alarm as she realized she had indeed forgotten her phone. "Ab tum mujhse mera number mangoge aur mein dedungi!" she yelled, tossing her bag on the ground in frustration.
"Baat suno meri, mai bht sabar se kaam le raha hu aapki harkato pe, varna…" Arnav began, but he was cut off.
"Varna kya kroge tum? Kya karoge tum? Aa, laao apna phone!" she challenged defiantly.
In a moment of frustration and defiance, Khushi picked up her phone and threw it towards a nearby garbage bin, intending to make a point. But as it sailed through the air, she watched, horror-struck, as it landed squarely within the trash.
"Wait! No!" Khushi screamed, realization dawning upon her. "Woh mera phone hai!"
Arnav couldn't suppress a smirk.