Two days had passed since the Raichand family began discussing the welcome arrangements for Jess and her friends. The plans had slowly started taking shape, but Radhika hadn't been able to contribute as much as she wanted.
Her examinations had kept her occupied almost every hour of the day. Whenever the family discussed gifts, decorations, or arrangements, she would usually join for a few minutes before disappearing again with her books.
But today was different.
Her final examination was finally over.
By the time Radhika stepped through the front door that afternoon, she felt as though a heavy weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders. She dropped her bag onto the nearby sofa and let out a long breath before looking at the family members gathered in the sitting area.
"Finally," she announced with a tired smile. "I'm officially free from examinations."
Shristi immediately turned toward her.
"Thank God! We were beginning to think your books had permanently adopted you."
Radhika laughed as she sat down.
"Believe me, I was beginning to think the same thing."
Siddharth, who had been waiting impatiently for this exact moment, leaned forward.
"Then there's no excuse anymore. We're going shopping today."
Radhika raised an eyebrow.
"You sound more excited than the people we're actually buying gifts for."
"Because I'm excited," Siddharth replied without even attempting to hide it.
"Shopping is shopping. Whether we're buying gifts or not, I'm coming."
Shristi exchanged an amused look with Radhika.
"Look at him."
"He has been waiting for two days just to say that sentence."
Siddharth placed a hand dramatically over his heart.
"Why are both of you acting like I'm doing something wrong? Someone in this family has to bring enthusiasm to the planning."
The younger member of the group, who had been sitting quietly nearby, suddenly jumped into the conversation.
"I'll bring enthusiasm too!"
Everyone turned toward him.
He immediately straightened his posture, clearly pleased that he had finally been noticed.
"I know exactly what I want to buy."
Siddharth laughed.
"Then let's go before you change your mind."
After a little more discussion, they decided to visit the mall first. The plan was simple: find suitable welcome gifts, finish everything in one outing, and return home before dinner.
Within the next hour, everyone was ready.
The car moved through the busy evening streets, filled with the usual sounds of traffic, vendors, and people returning from work.
Siddharth was driving while Shristi sat beside him, continuously discussing what they should buy.
"We shouldn't just pick expensive things," Radhika explained from the back seat. "The gifts should actually feel connected to India.
"Something they can take back with them and remember the trip by."
Shristi nodded.
"Exactly. That's why I want something handmade."
Siddharth glanced at them through the rear-view mirror.
"Okay, Madam Gift Consultant. What's your final decision?"
Radhika smiled.
"I'll decide when I see the options."
They continued for another few minutes before Radhika suddenly looked outside the window.
Her eyes caught something beyond the traffic.
"Sid, stop the car."
Siddharth immediately looked at her through the mirror.
"What happened?"
"Just stop here for a minute."
There was something about her expression that made him obey without asking further questions.
The car pulled over.
Shristi looked confused.
"Why are we stopping here? The mall is still ahead."
Radhika didn't answer.
She simply opened the door and stepped out.
The others exchanged puzzled looks before following her.
The moment they stood outside, Radhika pointed toward the crowded street ahead.
"Look."
Shristi and Siddharth turned.
Their expressions changed almost instantly.
What stood before them wasn't an ordinary roadside market.
It was a massive traditional shopping area, crowded with stalls selling handcrafted decorations, fabrics, jewellery, brass items, wooden crafts, embroidered products, pottery, souvenirs, and countless other things.
The younger sibling stared at the colourful chaos with wide eyes.
"Whoa..."
Radhika smiled.
"You were looking for something that actually represents our culture, weren't you?"
She gestured toward the market.
"You can find almost everything here. If we don't find something suitable, we'll continue to the mall afterward."
Shristi looked around with growing excitement.
"Why didn't we think of coming here first?"
"Because everyone was busy thinking about the mall," Radhika replied with a small laugh.
"Sometimes you don't have to look in expensive stores to find something meaningful."
Siddharth nodded appreciatively.
"Alright, Radhika. You win."
The group entered the market.
Within minutes, the peaceful shopping plan turned into complete chaos.
Shristi discovered a collection of beautifully handcrafted jewellery and immediately began comparing different designs.
Siddharth became interested in traditional décor pieces.
The younger sibling wandered from one stall to another, fascinated by everything around him.
But Radhika became the final checkpoint for every purchase.
"Radhika, will this look good?"
"Radhika, is this actually handmade?"
"What about this?"
"Should we take this one or the other?"
At first, she laughed.
After the tenth question, she finally shook her head.
"You people have decided that I'm responsible for every purchase today, haven't you?"
Shristi grinned.
"Of course. You have the best judgment."
Radhika carefully examined each item before giving her opinion.
"If we're giving this to someone coming from abroad, it should be something they can actually carry easily."
She picked up a handcrafted piece and turned it around.
"This one is beautiful, but it's too fragile. If someone has to take it on a flight, it could easily break."
The others nodded and moved on.
The shopping continued.
One by one, their bags became heavier.
Shristi looked extremely satisfied with the collection they had gathered.
Even Siddharth seemed pleased.
But there was one person who hadn't found anything.
The younger sibling had slowly fallen behind.
He wasn't complaining.
He wasn't interrupting anyone.
He simply kept looking from one stall to another, hoping something would catch his attention.
Nothing did.
Finally, after everyone had finished their purchases, he stood a few steps away with his hands in his pockets.
His expression had changed completely.
Radhika noticed him first.
"What's wrong?"
He looked at her, then at Shristi, and finally at Siddharth.
His eyes carried the unmistakable expression of someone who felt forgotten.
"Everything is fine for you three," he said with a small pout. "You all found things you wanted."
He pointed toward their shopping bags.
"But what about me?"
Everyone became quiet for a moment.
"I was planning to find some popular games, models, maybe something I could add to my collection."
He looked around the traditional market with a disappointed expression.
"But there's nothing like that here."
Shristi gave him a long, knowing look.
"You could have told us earlier instead of walking around like a lost puppy."
He crossed his arms.
"I thought someone would ask."
Siddharth couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Alright, buddy, don't look at us like that."
He walked over and lightly ruffled his hair.
"We still have time. The mall isn't going anywhere."
The boy's expression immediately changed.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Siddharth smiled.
"We'll go to the mall, find your models and games, and make a contribution toward your collection."
The boy's disappointment disappeared almost instantly.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Radhika laughed softly.
"Look how quickly his mood changed."
Shristi shook her head.
"Five minutes ago he looked like the world had ended."
"Now he's ready to conquer the mall."
He grinned proudly.
"I just needed someone to understand my problem."
Siddharth raised both hands in surrender.
"Alright, collector. Let's go."
Everyone laughed as they made their way back toward the car.
The bags were loaded into the trunk, the doors closed, and within moments all of them were comfortably seated again.
This time, however, the destination wasn't home.
It was the mall.
And unlike the first half of their outing, nobody was thinking only about gifts anymore.
They were going together simply to enjoy the evening, tease one another, explore the stores, and spend some uninterrupted time as cousins and siblings.
As Siddharth started the car, the younger one immediately began explaining exactly which models he wanted.
Shristi deliberately interrupted him with ridiculous suggestions.
Radhika joined in, pretending to misunderstand every gaming term he mentioned.
Even Siddharth began teasing him about how much space his collection would eventually need.
The car filled with laughter and playful arguments as they disappeared into the evening traffic.
For once, there were no wedding arrangements to discuss.
No family expectations.
No responsibilities weighing on their shoulders.
Just four young people enjoying an ordinary evening together.
And sometimes, it was those ordinary moments that quietly became the memories everyone remembered years later.