"Beyond The Boundary "

Stolen Hours in Pink Streets

The morning sun had barely begun to stretch across the pink horizon of Jaipur when Shubman and Abhishek stood outside their hotel, adjusting their caps and sunglasses. Both wore casual kurtas—white for Shubman, sea green for Abhishek—with denim and Kolhapuris, blending well with the local flavor. A nervous excitement buzzed between them.

Their phones buzzed.

Rihi: “Gate. Now.”

Seconds later, Rihi’s jeep pulled up—sleek, polished, and rumbling like a tiger. She was at the wheel, her hair in a bun, wearing an indigo cotton kurta with silver jhumkas glinting against the sun. Aashna, in a maroon kurti and palazzo set, opened the passenger door, stepped out gracefully, and walked to the back seat.
The boys had worn mask cap and sunglasses.

Abhishek immediately opened the door for her and helped her in, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

SMACK.

Aashna slapped his shoulder, blushing fiercely. “Public mein behave karo, please!”

(Behave in public ,please!)

Shubman, unfazed, bent over Rihi’s open window and kissed her knuckles. “Driver madam, kya hum chal sakte hain?”

(Driver madam,can we go now?)

Rihi looked away, cheeks pink. “Seat belt pehn lo pehle, flirty passenger.”

(First wear seat belt ,flirty passenger)

The car ride to Bapu Bazaar was filled with laughter and music. Aashna kept DJ-ing from the back, playing Rajasthani folk remixes, while Rihi navigated the narrow alleys.

Once parked at the edge of the market, they decided to explore on foot. Rihi locked the jeep, and they merged into the colorful chaos of the bazaar—pinks, oranges, mirrorwork, and the smell of street snacks.

It wasn’t long before the teasing began.

“Rihi,” Shubman whispered, holding up a glass bangle set. “I think these are calling your name.”

“Oh? They speak now?” she raised a brow.

“They say, ‘put us on her and she’ll fall deeper in love,’” he grinned.

She rolled her eyes but held out her hand. He slipped the bangles on carefully, the soft clink of glass between them. “You’re lucky I like bangles,” she muttered.

“Lucky I’m charming too,” he winked.

Meanwhile, at the mojri stall, Aashna had picked out a pair of deep maroon leather mojris with gold thread.

“You’ll look good in these,” she told Abhishek.

“Only if you buy them for me. Mujhe aise gifts pasand hain,” he teased.

She narrowed her eyes. “Fine. But then you’re buying my jhumkas.”

“Done.”

And so the transaction of love began.

Aashna picked delicate oxidized jhumkas for herself, and in return, gave Abhishek a thick silver bracelet. As she clasped it onto his wrist, she said, “This is for protection. And fashion.”

“Just don’t make me take it off in the nets. Coach will think I’ve joined a cult,” he joked.

Rihi, watching them, giggled. “At least you didn’t get a chain like someone I know.”

She turned and handed Shubman a box.

He opened it to reveal a simple silver chain with a carved cricket bat pendant.