As the morning sun filtered through the dusty Delhi haze, the city erupted into its usual, chaotic rhythm. While early risers were already navigating the chaotic streets, our dear Tara ji remained fast asleep, dead to the world. In her defense, she firmly believed that 9:00 AM was entirely too early to function. Besides, if you stay up until 2:00 AM dissecting every thought of your real-life crush and brooding over fictional men, waking up at 7:00 AM is mathematically impossible. So, she slept on—not in some picturesque, aesthetically pleasing posture, but contorted like a fallen log, just as her friends fondly described her.Suddenly, her peace shattered. Her mother’s voice pierced right through her subconscious. "Ms. Tara Shah, wake up right now! Itna koi zinda laash bhi nahi sota jitna tum soti ho... Din mai soti ho, raat mai soti ho, shaam mai soti ho! Kitna soti ho?!" her mother yelled.

Tara didn't even open an eye. She simply groaned, shifted her weight, and buried her face under a plush pillow. But the universe had other plans. From the street down below, a booming, melodic voice echoed through her window

Kabadhi wale! Bottle, plastic, cooler wale... Kabadhi wale! Ji aaiye aaiye, apne ghar ka purana saaman dijiye!""Huhh, ye subha subha kqy aate hai..." Tara mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

She desperately tried to slip back into her dream, but the local street-vendor orchestra was just getting warmed up. Another voice, sharp and high-pitched, cut through the air:"Sabji wale! Aloo le lo, bhindi le lo, tori, ghiya, tinde, karele le lo! Kheera, mooli, gajar, palak le lo... Sabji wale!""Agghhhh, sone do yarr..." Tara whined into the mattress, fighting a losing battle. Making one last ditch effort to save her sleep, she pulled the blanket over her ears.

Right on cue, the final blow landed:"Ji han, aa gaye aapki gali, aapke mohalle mai chain wale! Bag ka, purse ka, suitcase ka chain lagwaye, vo bhi kam daam me... Chain wale!""Agghhhh! Koi sone nahi dega!" Tara snapped. She whipped the pillow away, sat bolt upright on her bed, and fiercely rubbed her eyes.

She glared around her bedroom—a space that was surprisingly simple and cozy, completely opposite to her loud, chaotic personality."Yarr, kya hai? Auro ke waha kitni aesthetic morning hoti hai, aur hamre yaha kabadhi-sabji wale se morning hoti hai!" she grumbled to herself.Shaking off the annoyance, she slid out of bed and blasted some upbeat music to reset her mood

As the heavy bass filled the room, (listen beobo song)

she found herself grooving, executing a wildly chaotic dance that doubled as her morning workout and daily routine. Suddenly, a realization struck her."Ohhh hannn! Aaj tho market jana hai, kal se school jo starting hai!"

Galvanized, she threw on her favorite halter-neck crop top and a pair of shorts, quickly getting ready for the day. She practically flew downstairs, spotting her mother in the living room.

"Yoo, Mata Shiri!" she chirped.Her mother looked up, unimpressed. "What 'yoo'? Aur subha subha ye kya gaane bajati ho? Kuch bhakti song play karo... Par nahi! Khair... Aur kha chli dupher mai, han?""Vo hum, Veer aur Ira market ja rahe hai. Kal se school start ho rahe hai tho kuch saaman lana hai," Tara replied smoothly.

Glancing around the empty house, she asked, "Vase, Di kha hai?""Vo apne friends ke saath gayi hai bahar," her mother answered."Acha acha, chlo mai chlti hu," Tara said, grabbing her keys. "Bye!"Stepping out into the bright Delhi sunlight, she instantly dialed her two ultimate partners-in-crime.

"Kha ho?" Tara demanded the second the call connected."Ghar par," Veer's lazy voice replied."Raste me," Ira chimed in from the three-way call."Acha Veer, jaldi nikal! Mai bhi sidha market aati hu," Tara ordered and abruptly cut the call

.As the screen light dimmed, her eyes lingered on her phone wallpaper—a heavily blurred, secretly taken picture of her long-time crush. She had fallen for him way back in the 4th grade, yet they hadn't spoken a single, proper word. She had spent years watching him from a safe distance, meticulously noting every tiny detail about him.A heavy, dramatic sigh escaped her lips. "Huh, pata nahi ye bhoundu kab meri taraf dekhega..." she mumbled in a low, wistful voice. "Sari duniya ki kitabe padhne ka time hai—moti se patli, lambi se chhoti... Kitabe padh leta hai, samajh leta hai... Par meri do aankhne nahi padh sakta!"

Stopping in her tracks, she dramatically tilted her head backward, glaring up at the sky as if the Almighty were standing right in front of her. "Hey bhagwan! Kuch karo taki usee bhi pata chale ki uski deewani uska wait kar rahi hai!"Realizing she was talking to thin air, she shook her head, a self-deprecating smile gracing her lips. "Khair... kya hi kare," jesi jiski kismat...she muttered to herself, turning the corner and plunging straight into the bustling chaos of the Delhi market.

Okay… chapter khatam, but your job isn't! 👀

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