|02 Lavender|

..."To me flowers are happiness"...

^^^-Stefano Gabbana^^^

...  .༆....

“You Better have a good reason for calling me, Mr Ayansh Singhania!” Reyansh whispered out impatiently to his friend, who was currently on call with him.

“Ouch man! Why the hell are you being so annoyed?” Ayansh said with his Little dramatic voice.

But before he could pull the leg of his already annoyed friend, Reyansh hang up the call.

“What the f*ck!” all Ayansh could do was stare his phone in disbelief, but soon curiosity took over his face.

“Hmm, something is going on…or else why this Mr Akdu is being so annoyed with my call. Damn, I want to know the tea!!!”

But alas, all Ayansh could do after this was-call his friend again and again, and have a taste of getting hung up by him, brutally.

Meanwhile, Reyansh, who just sat inside his car, started to roam his eyes around the every corner his eyes could spot, but they were not able to spot the person he was looking for.

He slumped on his seat and mindlessly started to drive the car. He only stopped the car, when he saw he was stuck in the traffic, just like his luck.

“My Luck is really walking on Edge” He whispered slowly and after releasing a deep breath he lay comfortably on his driver seat, because He knows that this traffic wouldn't open easily.

He roamed his eyes around and out of boredom he silently started watching the people who were passing by on the footpath. And just then he noticed her.

She was lazily walking on the footpath and swaying her body a little, tuning her steps with the song playing in her Earphone. A small smile formed on her lips when her favourite line started to play. Out of the bust of excitement, she swayed her hands in air, only to realize after a few seconds later about what she actually did under the flow.

Her face turn slightly red out of embarrassment when she saw some people were looking at her weirdly and judging her under their 1000 language.

'Hey Bhagwan, Utha le re baba!' [oh God! Kill me] she screamed in her mind and started to walk away from there while ignoring their judgmental stares.

And everything was witnessed by Reyansh. He pressed his both lips under his teeth when he saw her getting shy and quickly walking away from there.

Before he could watch her walking figure more, he heard sounds of horn, only to notice that the cars were finally moving. He started the Engine and drive his car away from there and stop it near the Flower shop.

....༆....

...Inside the Flower Shop-...

The moment Aratrika enters inside the Flower shop, she was greeted by the Shop owner. The Shop Owner was an Old man, Aratrika was his Regular costumer from past 10 Years, and he always takes her as his Grandchild.

“Oh, Miss Lavender is here.” said The Shop owner while carrying a big smile.

Aratrika stares him happily and also wave her hand in air. Over the Past 10 Years, she has been regularly coming here and always takes a Bouquet full of Lavender with her. Knowing that there is no other person to help the old grandpa, she always drops by the Shop, and help the old man. Since, she lost her Grandparents during her childhood, so She always takes the old man as her Grandpa. But due to her fondness towards Lavender, He calls her Lavender instead of her real name.

Another reason was, when During her initial day she used to come to the shop and used to by the Bouquet of Lavender. But Because she can't speak, it was pretty hard during those times to have conversation with the old Grandpa. Although, by the time they both developed a bond of understanding and tactics for having conversation among each other, still it was pretty hard at first. So the old man started to call her by Lavender without knowing her name, and soon it becomes the old man's habit to call her by this name even after knowing her real name.

The old man quickly move towards Aratrika while holding two chairs and soon they both settle down on it.

“So how's the performance?” He asked excitedly.

Hearing his excited voice, Aratrika smile. She quickly took out her phone and starts typing.

“Kya Lagta hai apko?” [“What do you think about it?”] She showed her phone to the old man.

Seeing the text, The old man laughs loudly and said proudly

“Meri Bachi stage pr dhoom machane valo me se hai” [“My child always Rock on the stage”]

“Grandpa you really think so highly about me” Aratrika just shake her head lightly.

Soon they both started to talk to each other. Aratrika start telling him about her Day. She also shares about her daily routine to the Old Man, and the old man always eagerly wait for her everyday to just listen her. Although she is mute, but her text messages are always full of enthusiasm, and it's not hard for him to imagine her saying all this from her mouth. Whenever he read out the message, she will always make expressions, so that the man wouldn't feel bored.

When they were busy, they heard the door opening sound and saw a young, handsome man entering inside the shop.

...༆Reyansh's POV༆...

The moment I step inside The Flower Shop, My eyes caught her—Her slander figure sitting on the chair. She was holding the phone in her hand and showing it to the Old Man, whom I think it's better to call him as Grandpa rather than an old man. It sounds quite disrespectful to me for calling him old man.

I slowly walk towards them, and I silently stood near them while maintaining a proper distance. They both gave me a questioning glance. Of course, anyone will throw me those stares if I suddenly walk near them without any reason.

“Um I want to buy some Flowers” I said slowly while staring the old man.

Hearing Me, Grandpa slowly nod his head while carrying a polite smile on his face, But my eyes were on the girl sitting beside him.

She was silently staring the Lavenders, which were in front of her. Her eyes only look in mine when I stepped inside the shop, but after that she normally diverted them towards the grandpa and later on, on the Lavenders.

I slowly averted away my eyes, not to make myself look like a creep or pervert who shamelessly stares the ladies.

“Young Man, which type of flowers you want?” the sudden voice of Grandpa almost startled me.

I stare him with my confused expression because Honestly, I have no idea about Flowers. All I know is Rose, Sunflower, Marigold, Lotus, Tulip, Lavender, Jasmine, but If anyone ask me about what they represent or which flower signifies what, then I'll be declared as a duffer in this area.

I started to roam my eyes all around the shops. Silently watching all the flowers present there. And they were so many, Literally tons of variety of Flowers. Some of them, I have never ever seen or heard about. I suddenly felt a huge headache coming.

“Um, Honestly, I don't know which type of Flower I should buy.” I gave my awkward smile to the Grandpa.

Hearing me, He chuckles. He started to ask me for whom I was buying and for what occasion, like these questions, and the moment He started to explain me about the flowers and their significance, I helplessly shake my head. I never knew buying a simple flower could be this hard for me. I thought all we give are Rose as flowers to someone, but I feel stupid now.

Now all I could do was blink my eyes and give my dumb smile. When I suddenly felt someone lightly tapping on my back, and the moment I turned around, I saw her looking at me with her those beautiful brown almond eyes.

She stares me for few seconds before talking to me in sign language.

“If you don't mind, then May I help you in choosing the flowers?” she stares in my eyes after completing the sign language.

Oh! My stupid heart, please stop troubling me right Now!

“Yes, Please, I'll be very grateful to you.” I quickly replied with a small smile.

After hearing me, she quickly starts helping me.

“I heard that you want to buy the flower for your Grandma, right?” I nodded my head after understanding what she was implying to. Indeed, I wanted to buy the Flowers for my Grandma. She loves Flowers, and it's always Rudra who buy Flowers for her, but this time since I left the function earlier, leaving all the responsibilities on Rudra, so He is Quite busy. Hence, I decided to buy the flowers for her.

“Pink Roses symbolize Gratitude and appreciation, making them a perfect choice to gift your Grandma. Red Roses convey deep love and respect. Carnations represent love and admiration. They are the popular choices when it comes to give them to the Elders.”

She slowly narrated me the meaning of these three flowers. Honestly, My mind long ago forgot about buying the flowers. It was currently busy on admiring her hand sign.

“Oh I see. Thank you for helping me out” I give her my polite smile because she really helped me out although, I wanted to know more, but I decided to not push myself.

“Young man, it seems like you know sign language” I heard the voice of Grandpa, who was silently watching us while sitting on the chair.

“Hanji Baba.” I said to him while waiting for him to complete the Bouquet like I requested him to make as after getting the advice from Her.

[“yes, Grandpa”]

“Haha, Can you teach me too? I will give you the Bouquet for free, if you help me and teach me the Sign language.” I heard him speaking this while staring her with a smile.

“Hmm, How about you join my Special School and learn them?” I chuckled slightly while saying this to him, because it might look like I'm advertising, but I just wanted to add some humour in my words since this grandpa looks like to love such style of conversation.

And as I predicted, he laughed after listening to me.

“You pass the vibe!” said the Grandpa, and I chuckled after hearing him.

“But Honestly, Grandpa, I'm not joking. If you want to, then you can join. I promise the teaching is top-notch, and it'll help you to easily understand the one for whom you want to learn it.” I smiled while saying this.

Furthermore, I have met so many people, who joined the School to learn the sign language and to understand the emotions, feelings of the people who are not blessed with everything. The School is not just for Special people, it's also for those who wants to learn about those people and understand them.

“Aye wait young man, Lavender ain't it's the same School where you work.” Suddenly I heard the Grandpa talking to her.

I listen to them curiously.

“Yes, Grandpa, and he is the current Chairman of the Miracle's” she types the message in her phone and showed it to him.

“Oh, so it means you know him, right?” Grandpa said while nodding his head as if just understood something.

But she quickly shakes her head as no, after hearing him.

“I only Know him as The Chairman.” seeing this, my eyes widen slightly because I was taken aback knowing that she doesn't remember me.

'Maybe because it's been more than 10 years, that's why.' All I could think was this. I release a deep breath.

“Young man, Here is your Bouquet.”

I was brought back to the senses after hearing Grandpa. I quickly took the bouquet and asked the price of the Bouquet, but he quickly denied saying -

“Take it as a Thank-you gift from my side. After all, Your Miracle School helped My Lavender a lot and played a big role in her life.” I was a little taken aback hearing him, but I didn't force him much, knowing very well that he wouldn't accept the money.

I, Helplessly, stares her, but she just claps her hand together while saying a Thank-you to me, and requesting me to listen him.

In the end, I left the Shop while holding the Bouquet, But My mind was now In chaos.

There were so many things I was curious about, and only she could clear them. I was shocked after seeing her using Hand language, I was shocked after seeing that she really doesn't remember me.

Why it feels strange. Just Now, It felt like I was seeing the complete stranger, but when she was dancing, she felt familiar.

Seems like, So Many things changed in these past 10 Years. Especially, Her.

…

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