Chapter 5: Bargains and Bonding in the Bazaar

I took Kabir with me to the bustling bazaar.

He’d never been, and the chaos clearly overwhelmed him. As a vendor shouted too close, Kabir instinctively clung to the edge of my dupatta, covering his ears as rickshaw horns blared.

The fishmonger’s calls, the sharp smell of dhania and ginger, the honking from the main road—all pressed in. I squeezed his shoulder: "Don’t worry, bhai, just follow me."

I didn’t expect much—just some help carrying things.

But WhatsApp forwards had their own take:

[Why villain acting so posh? Banda thinks he’s Bandra ka prince!]

[Wants Didi to do everything. That spoiled look, uff!]

[Arre, villain’s struggling yaar. Didi should pamper him more, no?]

Ignoring the comments, I went to the veggie stall, picked out a cauliflower: "Aunty, kitna?"

"Sixty rupees."

I bargained her down to fifty-five, got free coriander too.

Kabir watched, dazed.

Seeing him embarrassed, I nudged him with my elbow: "This is how you survive, okay? Seekh le, bhai."

Then we went to buy chicken.

The butcher, a young woman, said, "Didi, one-fifty."

I was about to pay when Kabir, face serious, piped up, "Didi, thoda kam karo na? One-forty?"

I stared, shocked. Kabir kept a poker face, but his ears were red as chilli powder.

[Villain learning jugaad already!]

[Didi’s reaction—priceless!]

[Who bargains with such a serious face? Boardroom meeting lag raha hai!]

It was both hilarious and sweet.

The butcher laughed: "Thik hai, beta."

She handed over the chicken, and Kabir looked down, then glanced up at me, eyes bright.

I couldn’t help but pinch his cheek.

Tch, cute.

In that noisy bazaar, it felt like we’d scored a small win against the world.