chapter 16

It was a crisp winter morning when Aarti stepped out onto her balcony, holding a steaming cup of chai. She glanced at Kabir’s side, where his lush green plants swayed gently in the breeze, the fairy lights from last night still wrapped around the railing. Her balcony, in comparison, felt dull and lifeless—a stark contrast to Kabir’s little paradise.  Kabir leaned over the railing, already sipping his chai. “Morning, Mehta. Why do you look like someone stole your last piece of thepla?”  Aarti sighed dramatically. “It’s my balcony. Look at yours, and then look at mine. It’s like comparing a five-star garden to a deserted parking lot.”  Kabir grinned. “Finally noticing, huh? I’ve been waiting for you to admit it. Your balcony needs serious help.”  “Thanks for the motivation,” Aarti said dryly.  “No, really,” Kabir said, putting his cup down. “Why don’t we fix it up? I’ll help you. You’ve got potential, Mehta.”  The Plan BeginsAarti looked at him skeptically. “You’ll help? What’s the catch?”  “No catch,” Kabir said, raising his hands. “I just can’t bear to see that sad excuse for a balcony every day. It’s ruining my view.”  Aarti rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Alright, Singh. You’re on. Where do we start?”  Kabir rubbed his hands together. “First, we make a plan. Plants, seating, and lighting. Let’s head to the nursery this weekend.”  At the NurseryOn Saturday, Kabir and Aarti found themselves wandering through a sprawling plant nursery. Kabir, as usual, was brimming with energy, picking up different plants and lecturing Aarti like a pro.  “This one’s a money plant,” Kabir explained, holding up a leafy vine. “Easy to care for and brings good luck.”  Aarti raised an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting my luck needs help?”  Kabir smirked. “I’m just covering all bases.”  She shook her head and picked up a small flowering plant. “What about this one?”  “Good choice,” Kabir said. “But you’ll need to water it daily. Think you can handle that?”  “Of course,” Aarti said, rolling her eyes. “I’m not completely clueless, you know.”  They spent hours at the nursery, picking out colorful pots, succulents, and herbs. Kabir insisted on adding fairy lights to the cart, despite Aarti’s protests.  “Trust me,” Kabir said. “Fairy lights make everything better. You’ll thank me later.”  The Transformation DayBack at her apartment, Aarti stood on the balcony, hands on her hips. “Alright, Singh. What’s the first step?”  “Clear the clutter,” Kabir said, pointing to an old stool and some empty pots lying around.  As they worked, Kabir kept up a steady stream of commentary. “So, Mehta, how does it feel to finally invest some effort into your balcony?”  “Pretty good,” Aarti admitted. “Though I feel like I’m being bossed around by a chef-turned-gardener.”  “You love it,” Kabir quipped, handing her a small spade.  They arranged the plants along the railing and in corners, creating a vibrant mix of greens and colors. Kabir carefully strung the fairy lights, making sure they draped just right.  “Now for the final touch,” Kabir said, placing a small table and two chairs in the center. “Your new chai corner.”  Aarti stepped back and looked at the transformation. Her once-dull balcony was now a cozy, inviting space. The First Tea togatherThat evening, Kabir joined Aarti on her newly revamped balcony. She poured them both cups of chai, feeling a sense of pride as she looked around.  “This is… amazing,” Aarti admitted. “I didn’t think it could look this good.”  “I told you,” Kabir said, leaning back in his chair. “Fairy lights. They’re magic.”  Aarti laughed. “Alright, you win. Thank you, Kabir. I couldn’t have done this without you.”  With each passing moments they are making new memories and getting closer and closer. . To be continue...