"TWELVE-THOUSAND?", I echoed in sheer disbelief, and could feel my eyes popping right out of its sockets. "Twelve-thousand, Madam", Sudeep – a member of the event management team – calmly repeated, holding The Darshan Raval's concert ticket in his hand. "You said it's eight-thousand", I reminded. "But this is the last ticket and demand is high, which means price will be high, too, right?", Sudeep explained. "What is this? A ticket to heaven, or what?!", I huffed, angrily, and Sudeep simply stared at me, without uttering a word. "Look, this is extremely unfair. You cannot sell the ticket for different prices, yaar; that's fraudulence, it's wrong!", I stressed. "See, madam, if you wanted the ticket for the right price, you should have booked it immediately after we announced. We know what's wrong and what's right, you do not have to lecture us about it. Do you want the concert ticket?", Sudeep flashed the ticket. "Of course I do...but, twelve-thousand is too much! I cannot pay you one rupee more than eight-thousand, that's final", I stated firmly. "That is not an issue...", Sudeep paused, looking down at the concert ticket, and I smiled in relief. "...I know many other people who would pay twelve-thousand for the ticket, I'll contact them", Sudeep looked up and forced a sarcastic smile at me, which made the smile on my face to fade away. "That's cheating. God will punish you for changing the prices and fooling people, I swear. Dude, there are hardcore fans of Darshan Raval, who are dying to hear him live but they cannot because of the games all of you are playing. Come on, be fair, please. I cannot pay you a penny more than eight-thousand rupees", I explained my helplessness, calmly, and held onto my nerves. "Then, I'd suggest you to stay at home and not attend the concert", Sudeep straightforwardly said, and that was exactly when my nerves snapped.

It was hard work to keep my calm at 10 a.m. on a weekend morning, when I woke up at 8 a.m., stood in the unusually long queue in the ATM to withdraw the cash my mom deposited and traveled all the way to the venue in the heat and traffic for that one concert ticket. God was testing my patience, and I tried to handle the situation with much calmness because I was certain that if I showed my attitude to Sudeep, he wouldn't let me have the concert ticket. But he was going overboard and it was high time to drag him back to the ground, even if that meant losing the concert ticket to someone! "Who asked you for your goddamn suggestion? Who the hell are you to tell me to sit at home and not attend the concert? Are you my dad?", I bombarded him with questions, furiously, and wide-eyed Sudeep simply gawked at me, probably stunned because of the sudden change in attitude. "Your duty is to sell the concert ticket and you better focus on that; do not tell me what to do with my life, understand? With whom are you fooling around? Listen up, all the tickets should be sold for one uniform price and I know that you're changing the prices for your own benefits; this is not just wrong, but it is illegal. God will definitely punish you for this, but I'll make sure that the Police plays it role, too", I took a pause, before throwing a grenade and my favourite dialogue his way. I understood that pleads and explanations wouldn't soften or melt Sudeep's heart; I had to play with my set of cards to bag the concert ticket for the price he once promised. "My dad is a Police Officer, do you know that? All it takes it one phone call and you'll be behind the bars", I warned with half-a-truth and Sudeep's face flushed with fear. "This is offensive and illegal. I swear if my dad finds out, he won't spare you and your whole team. Think about it", I threatened, and Sudeep licked his lower lip, slowly.

"Ma'am...", Sudeep nervously chuckled and that was exactly how I dragged him on the right track. "Ma'am, why do you have to call the Police for this? I mean, I know we're wrong—but---we—we-uh—", he fumbled, and looking around hesitantly, probably because he couldn't cook up a lie on the spot. "Your concerts bridge the gap between celebrities and their fans, and you need to hold pride in the fact that you are a medium that brings happiness in many people's lives. But instead of doing things fairly, you're using a fan's helplessness for your own benefits. I'm not telling you to sell the tickets at extremely low prices, but be fair, at least. How will you succeed in the long run if you earn by cheating people and being unfair to them? Today it might bring success your way, but it's only temporary. If you want to be successful in the long run, you need to learn how to be fair and honest. It's okay if you end up earning only five-hundred rupees today; earn it with honesty and it'll bring you more wealth. Don't cheat people, that's pathetic!", I spat in disappointment and Sudeep looked at me, guiltily. "I'm sorry, ma'am", I had absolutely no idea why Sudeep apologized. "And my dad is not a Police Officer...", slowly, I admitted the truth and a small smile stretched on Sudeep's lips. "But hey! He is an army officer and that's a level higher!", I defended quickly. "Your ticket...", Sudeep said softly and held out the concert ticket towards me and I somehow managed to fetch the concert ticket for Vaish, without paying a penny more than eight-thousand rupees. I was all set to treat myself with a hot cup of coffee and a slice of cheesecake at Starbucks for the achievement!

While carefully shoving the concert ticket inside my handbag, I headed towards the exit when I ran into him at the entrance. He stood midst a crowd of event organizers and shared an intense conversation, holding a sheet of paper in his hand. His eyebrows were furrowed, eyes were narrowed and his hands animatedly explained something; he looked tensed and angry. Or, maybe that was how he always looked. Truth to be hold, he never looked a certain way and that was exactly why it was hard to read him; one moment he'd look furious and the next moment he'd smile from ear-to-ear. I stood to my ground and studied him from a distance, before picking my iPhone out of my handbag. I dialed his number and listened to the outgoing rings, while keeping an eye on him from where I stood. Abruptly, he stopped talking to the organizers once his phone began ringing in his hand and looked down at it; it didn't take him too long to answer the call.

"What is it, Dityaa?", Darshan hurriedly questioned in one breath. "The black sweatshirt looks good on you...but who wears sweatshirts in summer?", I questioned back with a smile, and Darshan looked down at his outfit, as though he had absolutely no idea about what he was wearing. "Even I have a Varsity sweatshirt. We should twin one day, what do you think?", I continued to play around with him, and my eyes fell on the small smile that stretched on his lips. "Where are you?", Darshan questioned, but his voice was soft and almost inaudible to the ear. "Look up; you'll find a pretty girl in a blue blouse", I ordered, and within nanoseconds, his head snapped up. His tired eyes desperately searched for me, and almost thirty seconds later, our eyes crashed. The smile on his lips widened, and it was beautiful. "There's a coffee shop down this lane; drop into that coffee shop and I'll meet you in thirty minutes", Darshan's soft voice reached my ear. "Thirty minutes mean thirty minutes; no delays!", I said sternly. "I'll try", Darshan whispered. "And the treat is on you!", I told. "Okay, Madam. By the way, good morning", Darshan said in one breath. "I shall not reply to that. Come greet me personally", I said, and cut the call. From a distance, he flashed a sheepish smile at me, before shifting his focus back to the organizers.

♥

"Good morning!", Darshan cheerfully greeted, and I grinned at him. "Are you following me around, or something?", Darshan breathlessly said, and collapsed back on the chair in front of me, as he swept his feathery-soft hair behind. "You wish!", I flatly said, and stirred my coffee with a small steel spoon. "I bought your concert ticket", I told Darshan, adding a spoon of sugar to my coffee, and a smile slowly stretched on his lips. "No, wait! It's not what you're thinking", I exclaimed, and his smile stopped widening. "Allow me to complete, Mr. Raval – I bought it for a friend, who is your big fan", I completed. "Oh...Vaish?", Darshan interrogated, and I nodded my head sincerely, as I took a sip of my coffee. "Did you listen to her covers on YouTube?", I raised my brow and looked up at him, expectantly. "I did...last night....she sounds beautiful. She has a unique voice, for sure", Darshan complimented and I smiled with pride, although I had absolutely no idea how Vaish sounded; I held pride in the fact that she was my friend. "I might have something in store for her, but let me talk to my manager first. I cannot decide on my own. I'll let you know if it works out", Darshan informed, fidgeting with the menu card, and we fell silent for a moment. I turned my head to the side and looked past the tempered-glass, at the bustling city of Mumbai, which still rushed and was crowded on a weekend morning. The City of Dreams never took a break, and that was its specialty! Midst the fast-moving crowd, my eyes fell on an old-man, who limped beneath the scorching sun and approached people with a basket of apples, who walked past him, without even bothering to acknowledge his existence. Seconds later, he stood to his ground and wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead, before staggering his way ahead, again; my heart dropped on witnessing the sight. I looked away from the old-man, and snatched the menu card from Darshan's hand, provoking him to shoot a perplexed stare at me.

"Hey, can I have a breakfast meal and a bottle of cold water? Pack it!", I ordered the waiter, in haste, and he shook his head in an agreeing nod. "Please make it quick!", I added, and he nodded again, before hurrying back to the kitchen. "Are you going?", Darshan blankly asked, as I kept an eye on the old-man through the gigantic window. "No...that Uncle...he must be hungry, right? It's extremely hot outside and he's struggling to sell the apples...", I said back, absently. "People are so inconsiderate, right? I mean, what's the most they'll lose if they buy one apple from that man? It won't even take one minute of their time, and it wouldn't empty their pockets. Instead, they'll be filling someone's stomach and they'll welcome blessings into their lives. Everyone buys fruits from groceries and supermarkets, and it's the prices are three times higher than what these people on the roads sell. And now, I know that the fruits they sell are not hygienic and all, but what's going to happen if you buy one apple?", I blabbered in disappointment, and Darshan was patient enough to listen to what I said. "God, I'm not making sense. I'm sorry, I blabber when I'm hungry", I apologized and Darshan laughed, hanging his head low. "When you blabber, you make a lot of sense, trust me...and whatever you said...that's very thoughtful", Darshan smiled at me. "You know, sometimes I wish I could help everyone's who is in need, but then I realize that I'm a beggar, myself", I sighed and Darshan laughed.

Once the waiter dropped the breakfast meal on our table, I picked up the bag and rose to my feet. Darshan almost stood up, too, and I shot a stare at him. "Where are you going?", I questioned, confusedly. "I'm coming with you...", Darshan answered, blankly. "I'm not going to a wedding house. I'm going to give him food, I'll come back in two minutes, Darshan", I said. "Woman, I thought I'll lend him some money", Darshan snapped in annoyance. "Then, why didn't you tell me before? God, come!", I huffed and Darshan's jaw dropped open. "Only if you allowed me to tell you", Darshan muttered, walking behind me. "I haven't stuck a tape on your mouth", I said, pushing the door open. "But you don't even breathe while speaking, how will I get a chance to speak?", Darshan asked. "You shouldn't wait for a chance; you should create your chance", I said, and Darshan held my upper-arm, holding my back and I turned to look at him. "You said it right – you do not make sense when you're hungry. Please eat well, otherwise someone will admit you in a mental hospital", Darshan said, jokingly, and I pushed him away, making him stumble backwards. "Be honest...", Darshan trailed behind me on the footpath, as I walked towards the old-man, who wandered around with his basket of apples. "...you ran away from a mental hospital, right?", Darshan teased; I had no idea what happened to him that morning, he was beyond annoying! "Yes, I did...two days after you run away, we were in the same ward, don't you remember, Darshan?", I sarcastically said back. "I do, I do. You are the same person who used to bang her head on the wall in the mental asylum every morning, right?", Darshan played along, quite well, and I slapped his arm. "I'll beat you up black and blue, Darshan", I lightly warned. "Oh, but I prefer blue and white", Darshan said back. "Your sense of humour is like you; simply pathetic, so please don't even try to be funny. I cannot even force a laugh at your 'joke'...and oh, humble advice, Darshan Raval – do not crack a joke in public, you'll lose all your fans", I said seriously, and tapped on the old-man's hunched back, which faced us. It him almost forever to turn back around, and he flashed a kind smile at the two of us.

"Hello, Uncle", I greeted and folded my hands together in front of him. "This is for you...", I held the breakfast bag open for him. "...there's food and a bottle of water; finish everything", I told the old-man. "I don't want food—", the old-man said in his quivering voice. "—buy an apple...I have to feed my wife...buy an apple", he completed his sentence, and I honestly wanted to scream 'Aww' on the top of my lungs for the whole world to hear. "Uncle, we'll buy your apples. Have this, too", Darshan insisted, and fished his wallet out of his track-pants pocket. A genuinely happy smile widened on the old-man's thin lips, which reflected in his wrinkly eyes, and the sight simply baked my heart warm; I could stand in the heat for the rest of my life and stare at the happiness in his smile. The best, beautiful and most heartwarming moments in life lie in the little things, happy smiles and small gestures!

♥

Darshan and I walked back to the coffee shop with warmth in our hearts and contentment in our smiles, but grumbling hunger in our stomachs. We hogged on good food, downed a cup of coffee, each, and shared a casual conversation about our lives, before we decided to part ways when Darshan received an incoming call from his management, I reckon. "Puneet, I'll be there in thirty. Tell Esther to pick an outfit for me, I won't have enough time to pick one because I'll take time to reach...the roads are jammed...Puneet, you should have told me that I have an event to attend today...if they decide all of a sudden, you should know to decline the offer...how do I dress up in thirty minutes and be there?...this is very disappointing...anyways, I'll be there...yeah, sure...bye", throughout the conversation with his manager – Puneet – Darshan looked disappointed. He cut the call, dropped his iPhone on the table and shook his head to the sides. "Looks like someone ruined your perfect weekend...", I prompted. "Nothing of that sort, because I didn't have any plans for the weekend. But I have to show up for an event within three hours...I haven't even shaved", Darshan sadly studied his reflection on his phone screen. "And look at my hair...it's so dry", Darshan adorably complained and I couldn't conceal my smile. "But the 'dry' hair suits you", I subtly complimented. "Is that a compliment?", Darshan narrowed his eyes. "Of course it is! Honestly, you look far better when your hair is messed up and your outfit is not formal. And super honest confession, Darshan – you look like an Uncle at work, at times. I mean, the formal suit looks good on you, but the way you carry yourself in that suit ruins everything; a good-looking boy with an Uncle's attitude", I rolled my eyes. "Woman, are you complimenting or criticizing me?", Darshan demanded of me. "I don't know...I'm just saying what I feel. In the office and out of it, you're two different people and it is saddening how you cannot maintain your originality, for whatsoever reason", I blurted. "I am maintaining my originality", Darshan defended. "Don't lie. You're holding your breath at work, all of us know it. You try so hard to be this super strict boss, who needs perfection, but you're not that person and I believe that's okay, yaar. It's not a rule that all the bosses in the world should be strict and serious people. You can be a joker and you still can be a boss, if you know how to maintain balance between the two. Don't quit having fun because you have to maintain an image; after all, for how long would you maintain that image? If you're going to pretend to be someone, one day the skin will shed. So, take my advice; be original, your originality lasts longer", I lectured. "Of course I'm original, Dityaa. But when you share a space with other people, you'll have to adjust for their sake", Darshan argued. "No doubt about that, but there are certain things you should never compromise on; never means never. Be who you are and be proud about that. When people find out that you stand by you, they'll learn to love you for who you are. Be you, and let the world adjust. And if they don't find a way to adjust...they can fuck off", I shrugged and Darshan smiled, widely. "I want you to smile more often at work, from tomorrow...and I think it's okay if you leave a button open...it looks good...like, kind of", I fumbled. "Yes, Madam; anything else?", Darshan tilted his head to the side. "No. You may leave", I said back and wrapped my hands around the coffee cup. "And how will you go back home?", Darshan raised his brow. "I'll take the train", I answered. "I'll drop you off", Darshan offered and I shook my head to the sides. "You're running late, anyways. I'll manage", I said. "Sure?", Darshan asked. "Yes. Now, go!", I rolled my eyes. "Drop a message once you reach home, then", Darshan said, and stood up from his chair. "And...", Darshan cleared his throat, rubbing the side of his neck. "...you're not coming to the concert?", Darshan questioned. "I wish...but, no...you have no idea about the struggle to buy one concert ticket. I'll have to trade my kidneys for another concert ticket, I swear, and...this is the last ticket. Congratulations, your concert has been sold-out, big man", I said, monotonously. "I'm out of the office for two days. I'll see you on Wednesday, then", Darshan informed, and although my heart did drop a little, I bid him goodbye.