Return With Skills

When I walked into the house, Abhi was sitting on the couch, grinning from ear to ear. "Bro, do you enjoy?" he teased me.

"How's college going?" I asked him, trying to play it cool.

"Just fine," he said, still smiling. "But tell me about your date. Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, it was good," I replied, sitting down at the dining table.

"What 'good' boys?" our mom asked, walking into the room.

"Bro went on a date with that girl he talked about yesterday," Abhi said, unable to contain his excitement.

Mom looked surprised but happy. "Oh, that's nice," she said, giving me an approving nod. "How was it?"

"It was... interesting," I said with a small smile, not wanting to reveal too much.

As I climb into bed, the warmth from the day's events linger in the air. My phone buzzes with a message notification, and I eagerly check it. It's from Priya. "What are you up to?" she asks, her name lighting up the screen like a beacon in the dark.

A smile spreads across my face, a feeling of giddiness I haven't felt in a long time. "Just got into bed," I text back, trying to sound casual.

Her response is immediate. "Oh, so early. Your dinner done?"

"Yes, mom's orders. She says it's for good health," I reply, the mention of dinner reminding me of the delicious meal we had shared earlier.

"I see," she types, her words filled with understanding. "How's your family?"

"They're great. How about yours?" I ask, eager to learn more about the mysterious girl who has captured my heart.

"They're okay. Just the usual," she responds, her tone a bit more subdued. "But let's talk about something else. Tell me, Jain, what's your favorite thing to do?"

I laugh at her playfulness. "I like reading and playing guitar. How about you?"

"I enjoy listening to music and exploring new places," she says. "But right now, my favorite thing is getting to know you better."

Her words make my heart skip a beat. "Mine too," I confess.

"Good night, Jain," she texts, followed by a kiss emoji.

I can't help but feel a flutter in my stomach as I respond with a good night of my own, ending with a heart emoji.

I lay in bed, replaying the events of the evening over in my head. The way she looked at me, the softness of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against mine – it was all so surreal. I couldn't believe that she, a being as otherworldly and enchanting as a jinn, could have feelings for someone like me.

But as much as I wanted to revel in the passion that had flared between us, I knew I had to tread carefully. It was my first date with a girl, Even though she didn't hate it because she was made for me, I didn't want to become a womanizer. I had been so eager, so eager to make her happy and to show her how much I cared.

With trembling hands, I type out a message to her. "Hey, Priya. I had an amazing time today. But I just wanted to check if you felt okay about what happened in the movie theater." I hit send, feeling vulnerable.

The response comes back almost immediately, and my heart skips a beat when I see the words. "Don't worry, Jain. I liked it," she says, followed by a winky face.

I call her immediately.

The relief floods through me, and I can't help but smile. 

I called her, and she picked up immediately.

"Hi!" I said with a little awkwardness.

"Hallo! Jain.." She replied with her soft and lovely voice.

"So, do you want to go out tomorrow?" I ask, trying to keep the excitement from my voice.

"I'd love to," she responds.

We talk for hours, our conversation meandering through topics like our favorite movies and books, our families, and our hopes for the future. It's as if we've known each other for years. And as the night grew later, We talked until we fell a sleep.

The next day, I woke up early, filled with anticipation. I had a meeting with Priyatama, and I didn't want to be late. I quickly got dressed and headed out the door.

"Going anywhere?" Abhi called out from the couch, his eyes still bleary with sleep.

"Yes, just a meeting," I replied, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice.

"With the new student?" he asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Maybe," I said, evasively.

Ratika poked her head out from the kitchen, curiosity piqued. "What's going on?"

"Bro has a meeting," Abhi said, his grin growing wider.

"It's nothing, guys," I said, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "Just a school thing."

They exchanged a look that spoke volumes, but I didn't bother explaining. I knew they were both thinking about the rumors that had been swirling around us. But this was different – this was real.

I stepped outside into the cool morning air, the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon. The world felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for the magic that was about to unfold.

I made my way to the coffee shop where we had agreed to meet, my heart racing. As I walked in, I spotted her sitting at a table in the corner, her eyes lighting up when she saw me.

"Hey," I said, sliding into the chair opposite her.

"Hi," she replied, her voice as sweet as honey.

"Sorry, have you been waiting long?" I asked, my voice filled with genuine concern.

"No, no," she said, shaking her head. "I just got here."

"Thank goodness," I sighed with relief. "I don't know what I would do if I kept you waiting."

"It's okay," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I've got plenty to keep me occupied."

I couldn't help but wonder what she meant by that, but before I could ask, the waiter arrived. "What can I get for you today?" he asked, pen poised over his notepad.

"Two cups of coffee, please," I said, looking to her for confirmation.

"That sounds perfect," she agreed with a warm smile.

As we waited for our drinks, the tension between us grew palpable. It was a mix of excitement, nerves, and the lingering electricity from our first kiss.

Finally, the waiter set our cups down, breaking the silence. "Thank you," I murmured, taking a sip to calm my nerves.

"So," she began, leaning forward. "What do you have planned for today?"

Her question snapped me out of my reverie, and I realized that I had no idea what we were going to do. I had been too caught up in the moment to think about the actual date.

"Well," I said, thinking on my feet. "I thought we could go shopping together?"

Her smile grew wider. "That's a great idea," she said, her eyes lighting up. "I've wanted to buy some clothes anyway."

Leaving the coffee shop with our hands intertwined, it felt like the world was just for us. She was like fresh air, making me happy with her lovely laugh. As we walked down the busy streets, the sun kissed our faces like it was shining just for us.

We went into a shopping mall, and she sprinted to a clothes shop. She looked through the clothes with the same sparkle in her eyes that a kid has in a candy store. She picked out a t-shirt and held it against me with a hopeful smile. "This would look great on you," she said.

Surprised, I asked, "For me?"

"Yes, please," she begged with those beautiful eyes. "Can I buy it?"

I said yes with a big smile. "But let's get something for you first," I suggested.

Her face glowed like a bunch of candles, and she jumped back to the clothes. It was so romantic watching her, feeling more connected than ever. Even though she's jinn, she's so human and real when she's happy.

As we browsed through the racks, my eyes were drawn to a black gown with a blue shade that had a touch of boldness on the right side. I picked it out and held it against her, "What do you think?"

"I think it looks amazing on you," I said, unable to hide the admiration in my voice.

"Let me try it then," she said with a smile that could light up a room.

I nodded, handing her the dress. As I waited outside the fitting room, I couldn't help but imagine how she would look in it. When she emerged, it was like watching an angel descend from the heavens. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places and made her look like a vision of beauty.

Everyone in the store couldn't help but stare. She had that kind of presence.

"How was it?" she asked, a hint of shyness peeking through her confidence.

"It's not just good," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You look breathtaking."

Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and she ducked her head. "Really?"

"Let's buy it," I said, taking her hand and leading her to the checkout.

The entire trip to the mall had been filled with laughter and sweet whispers, but this moment was something else. It was like the universe had stopped to admire her beauty, and all I could do was agree with it.