chapter 7

The following morning, Aarti stepped out onto her balcony, still groggy, with her usual cup of chai. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft golden glow over the city. She rubbed her eyes and froze mid-sip when she noticed a small plant sitting on the divider between their balconies.  It was a tulsi plant, its fresh green leaves catching the morning light. Beside it was a handwritten note:  "Every balcony needs some Tulsi. It’s good luck.– Kabir"Aarti couldn’t help but smile. She picked up the plant gently and examined it, running her fingers over the delicate leaves. She leaned over the railing, looking for Kabir, but his balcony was empty.  Just as she turned to head back inside, Kabir appeared, holding his own mug of chai and a mischievous grin. "Good morning, neighbor. Did you find your surprise?"  Aarti held up the tulsi plant. "This? I don’t know whether to thank you or accuse you of bribing me to improve my gardening skills."  "Bribing?" Kabir said, feigning offense. "It’s a gift, Aarti. A little greenery to kickstart your balcony garden. Plus, tulsi’s a classic. No Indian balcony is complete without it."  "Well, I can’t argue with that," Aarti said, setting the plant down on her table. "It’s beautiful. Thanks, Kabir."  "You’re welcome," Kabir said, leaning against the railing. "Now it’s your turn."  "My turn?" Aarti asked, raising an eyebrow.  "Yep," Kabir said with a smirk. "You can’t just accept a gift without giving something back. That’s Balcony Neighbor Rule #1."  Aarti rolled her eyes. "I don’t think that’s a real rule."  "It is now," Kabir said, crossing his arms.  Aarti laughed, shaking her head. "Fine. Give me a day."  The Next EveningAs twilight descended, Aarti carefully placed her chosen gift on the divider. It was a small cactus in a cheerful, brightly colored pot. Beside it, she left her own note:  "For someone who claims to be a plant expert, here’s one even you can’t kill. – Aarti"She stepped back, arms folded, and waited for Kabir to notice. It didn’t take long. He walked out with his usual evening chai and spotted the cactus instantly. Picking it up, he read the note and burst out laughing.  "A cactus, huh?" Kabir called out, holding it up. "Is this your way of saying you don’t trust my gardening skills?"  Aarti grinned. "Not at all. It’s my way of saying even plant experts need low-maintenance options. Plus, I thought the pot was cute."  Kabir examined the pot, nodding in approval. "It’s very cute. And practical. I like it."  "I knew you would," Aarti said, sipping her chai.  Kabir set the cactus on his table, positioning it carefully among his other plants. "You know, this is officially my first cactus. I usually go for leafy or flowering plants."  "Well, now your garden has a bit more edge," Aarti teased.  Kabir laughed. "Touché. "As the evening settled around them, the two neighbors chatted easily, their banter flowing as naturally as the breeze. The tulsi and the cactus sat proudly on their respective balconies, silent witnesses to a friendship that was beginning to grow roots of its own.. To be continue...