An Encounter on the Metro - Chapter 10
Vibrant Hues
“You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two and you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah”
Humming along to Bruno Mars’s voice leaking through her earplugs, Ari leaned back against the metro seat, on her way to the KR Puram flower market. Three days had flown by, and it was Sunday again — the day she had agreed to meet Mira at the market the previous weekend.
Ari found herself scanning the compartment, half-hoping to spot Amy among the commuters — the familiar, bubbly girl in pink who had, quite unintentionally, shaken her quiet little world. Unfortunately, the metro announcement rang through the speakers first. Ari sighed, a hint of disappointment in her furrowed brows, and got off at the station.
Soon enough, there she was — the ever-enthusiastic Mira, waving her hand with a wide grin, standing out easily among the indifferent rush of the crowd. Ari smiled back and walked over, pulling Mira into a hug.
“Woahhh! Putti, you initiated the hug?? Wow, is it going to rain today or something?” Mira teased, eyes wide in mock shock, her upturned lips betraying her delight.
Ari was never one to initiate physical contact first, especially in public. She doesn’t judge against PDA; it just wasn’t for her. Today, however, she was genuinely happy. On her way, while thinking about Amy, she realized that while Amy brought hints of oranges and pastels into her world of blues and greys, it was Mira who convinced her to put it on the canvas. All Ari needed was that gentle push from a close friend - who feels like family - to boost her courage.
“Tsk, don’t jinx it! I’ve got plans in the evening,” Ari replied, rolling her eyes.
They exchanged a knowing look before bursting into laughter.
“Well, you do look energetic today,” Mira said, giving her a playful once-over. “Sure, the dark circles are still there, but your eyes — they’re practically twinkling! Oh my God, my best friend is glowing! You’re so beautiful!”
Ari laughed, a subtle red coating her cheeks.
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Negotiations went surprisingly well that day. Mira finally managed to strike a deal with a vendor on her terms. Amid the lively bustle of the flower stalls, Ari filled her in about the new collaboration at the tea stall. Ravi had already discussed the terms with his friend to rent out the studio twice a week, to be booked at least three days in advance — better terms than initially discussed. Rams and Maya supported the idea of a test run at the café with the available instruments later that evening after their shift. They’d fine-tune the music and correct anything necessary for two days. If all went well, proper recording would begin by Tuesday morning, just as they had talked about earlier in the week.
Ari also invited Mira to drop by on Tuesday. Mira, of course, agreed instantly, grinning ear to ear.
“How could I miss this?” she said dramatically. “I’ll use my pre-allocated paid leave for that day! Don’t worry, ba!”
Ari couldn’t help but smile at her support.
After the tea break, they continued wandering through the market. Mira’s creative streak kicked in full force. She was already brimming with ideas for the lyric video — colors, tones, visuals, transitions. Ari sent her the Google Doc containing the lyrics, explaining the emotions behind each verse, how she had tried to weave the lingering feelings from that metro encounter into words.
Mira listened intently, nodding as she visualized everything. “Okay, I can already see it — black-and-white theme for the intro, a little warmth and color around the chorus, maybe some ambient light animation for the instrumental parts…” she said, eyes lighting up.
Ari chuckled, shaking her head. “You’ve already gone into director mode, haven’t you?”
“Of course!” Mira said, mock-seriously. “I can’t let down my best friend now, can I? Especially when it seems like another person is trying to steal my spot as best friend.” (A/N: Referring to Ravi)
Ari smiled, looking at her friend’s — sorry, best friend’s — animated expression. The swirl of colors from the flowers around them, and the soft light reflecting off them, mirrored in Ari’s eyes.
She realized that while the world had always been beautiful, she could only now see its vibrant colors after so long.
The colours…they are beautiful!
-TBC-
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