As the sun's first light filtered through the curtains, Priya hurried about her room, her mind preoccupied with last-minute preparations. Her bag was already bulging with carefully packed all the essentials. She was just about to head out the door when her mother's voice called out, stopping her in her tracks.

"Priya, wait a moment!"

Priya felt a twinge of irritation. "What now, Mom? I've packed everything I need," she responded, her tone a mix of impatience and affection.

Her mother, ever the picture of calm, approached her with a small bottle of freshly made juice. "Take this with you. Have it after your lunch; it's good for your health."

Priya glanced at the bottle, her mind racing with thoughts of where to fit it in her already overstuffed bag. "Mom, I already have so many things. Where am I supposed to put this?"

Her mother, not one to take no for an answer when it came to her daughter's well-being, replied firmly, "You can't leave it behind. I made this for you, Priya."

With a deep sigh, Priya relented. "Okay, fine. Can I leave now?"

Her mother smiled, her eyes soft with love and concern. She placed a gentle kiss on Priya's forehead. "Take care, my dear."

With that, Priya finally stepped out of the house, the weight of her mother's love and care accompanying her as she ventured into the new day.

The morning air was crisp and invigorating as Priya approached her shop, her sanctuary and the place she had longed to be. She took a deep breath, with a sense of relief, she unlocked the gate and stepped inside. 

The interior was bathed in the soft light of dawn, casting a gentle glow on the rows of flowers that had seen better days. Priya surveyed the scene, her eyes taking in the wilting petals and drooping stems. It was time to clear out the old and make way for the new. With a determined nod, she placed her bags aside and rolled up her sleeves. She moved gracefully through the shop, gathering the dead flowers and setting them aside. Her hands skilled from years of tending to her beloved blooms. 

The quiet of the early morning was broken only by the rustle of leaves and the gentle clink of vases being moved. As she worked, Priya felt a sense of peace settle over her. This was where she belonged, surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of her flowers.

Soon, the space was ready to welcome the fresh flowers that would arrive any moment now. Priya stood back, wiping her brow and smiling with satisfaction. Her shop was ready to burst into life once more.

With the shop now tidy and prepared for the arrival of fresh flowers, Priya stepped outside to shake out the dust from the cloths she used. The morning sun was climbing higher, casting a warm glow on the street.

As she gave the cloths a firm snap, a cloud of dust billowed out. Just then, she noticed a figure standing nearby, caught in the dusty haze. It was Ram, He was coughing and struggling to wave the dust away from his face. 

Priya exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and concern. "Is that really you?"

Ram managed a weak smile between coughs. "Yes, it's me. Didn't expect to get a face full of dust this morning."

Priya quickly set the cloths aside and motioned for him to come inside. "Come in, come in! Let me get you some water."

He followed her into the shop, still coughing a bit but visibly relieved to be away from the dust. Priya hurried to the small kitchen area in the back and poured a glass of water. She handed it to him, her eyes filled with curiosity and happiness at seeing her old friend.

"Thank you," Ram said, taking a grateful sip. "I didn't expect to see you here.where have you been ?

why ? have you looking for me  ? Priya said 

ram got confused what to say he said 

Why would i i was just asking generally ? 

Priya smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. i was down with fever she said , But what brings you here,? 

Ram took another sip of water, his breathing finally steadying. "I was just passing by."

As Ram finished his glass of water, Priya asked, "Are you feeling okay now?"

Ram nodded, though a teasing smile played on his lips. "Better, but you should have looked around before dusting off your cloths. That's a busy road out there."

Priya chuckled, feeling a bit sheepish. "You're right, I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time."

Just then, the flower vendor appeared at the entrance, his cart overflowing with vibrant, fresh flowers. Priya waved him over. "Good morning! Come in, come in."

The vendor stepped inside, carefully placing the bundles of flowers on the table. With a nod and a friendly smile, he left to continue his rounds. Priya turned to Ram, who was still looking around.

"Ram, would you mind helping me with these?" she asked, gesturing to the pile of flowers on the table.

Ram, eager to assist, stepped forward. "Of course, I'd love to help."

Together, they began to sort through the flowers, their hands moving in unison as they arranged the blooms in vases and baskets. The air filled with the sweet scent of roses, lilies, and jasmine.

As they busied themselves arranging the flowers, Ram suddenly winced in pain. Priya, focused on placing a bouquet of lilies into a vase, heard the sharp intake of breath and turned quickly.

"What happened?" she asked, concern etching her features as she saw Ram clutching his hand.

"Nothing," Ram replied, trying to brush it off. "I got stung by the roses. It's fine, Priya."

But Priya's eyes were already scanning his hand, noticing the small cut where a thorn had pricked him. "I guess this isn't really your thing to do," she said, a mix of apology and worry in her voice. "I'm sorry I involved you in this."

Before Ram could protest further, she gently took his hand in hers. "Wait, let me see your hand."

Ram's initial attempt to pull away was half-hearted, and he relented as Priya examined the cut. Her touch was gentle, her fingers cool and comforting against his skin. "It's just a small cut," he said, trying to downplay it. "Really, I'm fine."

Priya shook her head, her expression softening. "Even small cuts need to be taken care of. Hold on."

She hurried to the back of the shop, returning quickly with a small first aid kit. Carefully, she cleaned the wound, applying a bit of antiseptic before wrapping it with a bandage. "There," she said, looking up at him with a reassuring smile. "All better."

Ram watched her, a mixture of gratitude and admiration in his eyes. "Thank you, Priya. You didn't have to do all this."

For a moment, they stood there in the flower-filled shop, the air fragrant and the atmosphere calm. Priya's touch lingered a bit longer on Ram's hand, a silent testament to the care and concern she felt. Ram smiled, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the summer day outside.

"Alright," he said, breaking the moment with a light-hearted chuckle. "But no more rose thorns for me. I'll stick to the safer flowers."

Priya glanced at the clock and then back at Ram, noticing the time. "No, you should be leaving for your office now," she said gently. "I've wasted your morning already."

Ram shook his head, about to protest. "It's not like that, Priya. I enjoyed—"

Just then, Ram's phone rang, interrupting him. He answered it, and his face quickly changed from calm to concerned as he remembered the morning meeting he had forgotten. With an embarrassed look, he turned back to Priya.

"I need to go," he began, but Priya interjected with a reassuring smile. "No, no, it's fine. I can handle the rest of it."

Ram hesitated, guilt flashing across his features. "Are you sure? I don't want to leave you in the middle of this."

Priya waved off his concern. "Really, it's okay. You've helped a lot already. Go take care of your meeting."

Ram sighed, his shoulders relaxing a bit. "Alright, if you're sure. But I'll come back later to check on you."

No no that's not needed at all , she said 

With one last grateful look, Ram left the shop, his steps hurried as he made his way to his car. Priya watched him go, a mixture of amusement and fondness in her eyes. She returned to her flowers, her hands working methodically to arrange the remaining blooms.

As she continued her work, she couldn't help but think about the unexpected joy Ram's visit had brought. With renewed energy, she finished the last of the arrangements just as the first customers of the day began to trickle in, her heart light and her mind at peace.

During the meeting, Ram found it difficult to concentrate. His thoughts kept drifting back to the morning at Priya's flower shop, especially the moment when she had gently tended to his cut. It had been a long time since someone had shown him such genuine concern, a kind of care he hadn't felt since his mother. The memory brought a soft smile to his face, lifting his mood significantly.

Once the meeting concluded, Ram retreated to the solitude of his office cabin. He sat at his desk, absently twirling a pen between his fingers. His gaze fell on the bandage Priya had wrapped around his hand. It was cute, printed with small, cheerful cartoon characters. Ram couldn't help but chuckle, the sight of it so out of place on his otherwise professional demeanor.

"Who buys this kind of thing?" he murmured to himself, a grin spreading across his face as he nibbled lightly on the edge of the bandage. The whimsical print seemed to carry a piece of Priya's warmth and care, a stark contrast to the usual antiseptic, plain bandages he was accustomed to.

As the noon sun climbed higher, Priya sat down for a much-needed break, her lunch spread out before her. She took a bite of her sandwich, but her mind soon drifted back to the morning when Ram had helped her in the shop. She smiled to herself, remembering his awkward attempts to handle the flowers and the genuine care he had shown despite the mishap with the thorn.

"He's not that bad," she mused aloud, thinking back to their past interactions. "Maybe he was just having an off day when I misjudged him." Her mind wandered further. "But why was he passing by my shop? He could just park in front of his office." She shook her head, chiding herself for overthinking. "Priya, what are you even thinking? It was probably just a coincidence."

She sighed and her gaze fell on the bottle of celery juice her mother had insisted she take. With a mixture of affection and exasperation, she muttered, "My mom, always trying to get me to drink these things. When will she understand that they just don't work for me?"

Reluctantly, Priya opened the bottle, the faint smell of celery hitting her nose. She wrinkled her nose but took a tentative sip, bracing herself for the taste. The bitterness made her wince, but she continued to drink, knowing it was her mother's way of showing love and concern.

Finishing her lunch, she stood up, ready to face the rest of her day with renewed energy. The memories of the morning and the thoughts of the people who cared for her lingered, making her feel a little less alone and a lot more loved.

As the day drew to a close, Ram found himself restless. The memory of the morning with Priya lingered in his mind, compelling him to take another look at her shop. It was already late, but he decided to swing by anyway.

When he arrived, he saw the shop was already closed. The shutters were down, and the street was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights. Ram checked his watch and saw it was already 8 PM. A pang of disappointment hit him, and he sighed heavily.

"Why am I looking for her again and again?" he muttered to himself, frustration evident in his voice. "I shouldn't be."

He stood there for a moment longer, the stillness of the night amplifying his thoughts. The rational part of his mind chastised him for his actions, reminding him that he had no reason to be there. Yet, a deeper, more emotional part of him yearned for another glimpse of Priya,  

With a resigned sigh, Ram turned away from the closed shop. He walked back to his car, each step echoing his internal conflict. As he settled into the driver's seat and started the engine, he cast one last glance at the shop. The closed sign seemed to mock him, a reminder of his own uncertainty.

Driving away, Ram tried to shake off the feeling of disappointment. The city lights blurred past as he drove, leaving the quiet street and the closed flower shop behind. But the memory of Priya's touch, her laughter, and the warmth she brought into his day stayed with him, a persistent reminder that maybe, just maybe, he was looking for something more.

4o