On the way to the mall Rose asked Pooja how much her mom gave her and Pooja told sadly how her mom gave her only 200 bucks and how she had to add all her savings.

“What do you want to shop?” questioned Rose to which Pooja replied, “My friend’s birthday is coming up and I wanted to buy a gift.”

“Boy or girl?” asked Rose.

“Boy” said Pooja

Rose didn’t dwell more on who that person was but changed the topic and asked, “What are you planning to buy for him.”

“Don’t know Rose, I’ve never bought a gift for a boy....what do you think I should give him?” said Pooja


“I don’t know either but if you wanna take my advice....make it something personalized.” advised Rose

“Personalized in what way?” questioned Pooja.

“Hmm...personalized means...it should show your effort in that gift.” said Rose in a matter of fact way.

“What do you want me to do....put my sweat on it?” said Pooja a little annoyed.

Both the girls laughed for a second.

Then Rose continued, “No what I meant was it should not be like you just went to a shop and picked up something...but did something personal to make them feel special....I make paintings of things they like and give it to them.”

“But I can’t paint.” said Pooja sadly.....

“Then write a small poem or something like that.” said Rose.....

“I can’t do that either....anyway giving a gift is only a big thing and you expect me do all such things....lite.” said Pooja with a streak of arrogance.

They finally reached the mall which had been opened on that morning only.

Its name was “P.R Mall”

Rose was amazed by the sheer size of it.....She said,”Ohh my God...I went to a mall in Chennai once but this is so much bigger.”

Pooja said, “Come on Rose, we didn’t come here to look at its exteriors only.”

A huge map of the mall was displayed at the entrance on a huge screen....Pooja checked if any gift shop was there and there was one in the first floor.

Rose and Pooja went into the shop which was the biggest gift shop both of them had ever seen and it had the widest array of soft toys in entire Hyderabad.


The shop also had chocolates boxes in various shapes and wind chimes which produced the most melodious music when a breeze hit them occasionally.

“Wow Pooja, all these articles appear so expensive.” said Rose in awe.

“They are all so expensive.......”echoed Pooja looking at some of the price tags.

Then the manager of the shop came and said, “Hello girls, how may I help you?”

“Umm...I am looking for something to give my friend....but I am not sure what to give him.” said Pooja.

“You can give him a chocolate box or this cute teddy bear here.” Said the manager.

“But will boys like soft toys?” asked Pooja.

“Yes, if they are given by someone special.” Said the manager and winked giving a smile.

Pooja checked the soft toys section and found a really cute teddy bear but when she saw the price her heart sank a little.....the price was 600/- and just when she was about to put it back the manager came and said, “What happened...it’s a really good choice.”

“But I don’t have that much money with me......” said Pooja grimly.

“Hey didn’t you read the banner on the ground floor.....today everything is on sale for only half the price.” said the manager.

Pooja was really elated and quickly told the manager to gift pack it and even selected a greeting card for Ravi.....

Just before leaving the shop the manager said, “Girls, don’t forget to check out the shop ‘Chocolate Fantasy’ on 5th floor....you have to try their special milk shake....you can get 2 glasses for the price of one.”

Now Pooja and Rose definitely wanted to go there and as it was on 5th floor Pooja said, “Let’s take the lift Rose...we can reach there sooner.”

But Rose said, “If we go by stairs....we can check out other shops on the way too.”

Pooja liked the logic and started walking slowly towards the last floor of the mall.

While they were exploring the mall...Rose was telling Pooja about her various experiences in Tamil Nadu but Pooja wasn’t really interested in them because she was thinking about Ravi and how he would react when he sees the personalized gift she planned to give him.

Finally they reached the shop ‘Chocolate Fantasy’....it was a room filled with aromas of chocolates imported from different parts of the world....The shop was really crowded and Rose suddenly said,”Hey Pooja, that boy Ravi from our class is here.”

“Na he can’t be here....he hates crowded places.” Said Pooja.

“No really, I never forget names or faces....see that boy wearing that red shirt is Ravi only right?” said Rose.

Then Pooja saw a dull red shirt among many colours but couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Ravi checking that nobody was watching him takes not one but 3 expensive chocolates from a container.

First reaction of Pooja was, “What the hell is he doing....why is he behaving so cheaply.....”

Then her thoughts continued, “Did I have to do so much to buy a gift, for a mere thief.”

Rose broke Pooja’s flow of thoughts, she said,”Pooja, I thought you said he was a nice boy...but he is stealing.....we should complain about him.”

The last part of Rose’s sentence brought Pooja truly back to her senses.


Pooja said, “No let him be....he will only be punished for his sins.”

“No Pooja, my dad always says that the true triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” said Rose seriously.

Before Pooja could say anything further to Rose... Rose started screaming, “Thief.... thief....”

People suddenly stopped moving and saw what was happening...only one of them moved and it was Ravi....

” This boy stole some chocolates.” Continued Rose pointing towards Ravi.

Then someone got hold of Ravi’s collar and started getting rough with him... Agent Scar wanted to remove that person from his sight in an instant but did not react as there were too many humans.

“Hey, how dare you steal...you little punk...expensive clothes, good shoes...what are you some kind of high end thief?” said the man holding Ravi’s shirt.

Ravi said, “Let me go, I am not a thief...”

Rose came in and said, “Yes you are.... I saw you stealing.”

Ravi saw that it was the new girl at school and at a little distance behind some people he could clearly see utter disbelief in Pooja’s eyes.....an expression he couldn’t see for long.

Ravi said, “Is it wrong to take chocolates from your own fridge....”

“You are talking as if this shop is yours....” said that gruff man who was holding Ravi tightly.

Other people started closing in on Ravi to thrash him.....

Suddenly the manager of the mall came and he was shocked at what he was seeing......he said, “What’s the matter sir?”

That man who was holding Ravi tried to say something but the manager cut in and said,”I wasn’t talking to you.”

“He is the thief and you are stopping me from talking.” Said the gruff man.

“Who do you think this boy is....he is the owner of the entire mall.” Said the manager.

Now everyone were in disbelief and Pooja suddenly felt very proud.

Rose was the most embarrassed among all and she wanted to hide her face in a bag......

Agent Scar said, “Next time...check before hand whose collar you are holding.”

That man suddenly left him and walked away silently.......

Everyone slowly cleared the way and Ravi went to meet Pooja.
Ravi asked,”Pooja what did you buy?”

“Why do you want to know that?” taunted Pooja.

“Nothing special, just like that.” said Ravi casually.

During this conversation between the couple Rose coughed suddenly and reminded them of her presence.

Pooja said, “Ravi this is Rose....our new classmate”

Agent Scar thought, “Does this Pooja think I can’t see.....” But simply said,”Umm Hi nice to meet you.”

Rose was still too embarrassed to say anything and nobody forced her to either.

Pooja was the only one doing most of the talking among the three.

She said, “Ravi, why did you take the chocolates so sneakily?”

“I took them just like I always do.” said Ravi.

“People don’t take things like that...so silently, secretly....anyway why did you take 3.” asked Pooja.

“Actually I saw you people and thought of giving you free samples........” said Ravi

Rose was really impressed by Ravi and thought he was a nice guy.

Pooja like a little girl asked, “Where is my chocolate?”

Rose pulled Pooja’s sleeve but Pooja repeated the question again and this time Ravi dug deep into his pockets and removed 3 medium sized bars of chocolates. He gave one to each of them and kept one for himself.

Pooja and Ravi were walking very slowly, talking to each other while Rose was walking pretty fast and after a while she had left them behind.

The couple were so engrossed in their discussions about mundane things that they had forgotten a person called Rose was with them.

Pooja finished her chocolate and then she suddenly realized something and said, “Ravi, Rose doesn’t know the routes here......and if we go on like this she might get some unnecessary doubts about us..... I need to go now....talk to you later.....”

“Do you really have to go.....” asked Ravi longingly.

“Yes dear......” said Pooja and she was about to leave but just then Ravi caught hold of Pooja’s hand and pulled her closer.

Pooja got alarmed and said”What are you doing?”

“I wanted to give you something....” said Ravi

“What?” asked Pooja now getting a bit red faced.....

Ravi removed another bar of chocolate from his pocket and gave it to her....
Pooja said “That’s it....”

“Ya what else do you want... I only brought 3 chocolates.....” said Ravi a little confused.

“Thanks for the chocolate....you are really sweet.....” saying that Pooja ran off.

Agent Scar thought “Why does she always leave so suddenly.....just when I am getting to know her a little better. “

Then his thoughts continued “No what am I thinking....she is a human and I am an Assassin....she is just a tool useful to complete my mission that’s all”

Checking that the coast was clear, he jumped into a nearby dark alley and vanished.
Pooja remembered that she hadn’t told bye to Ravi and turned back only to find thin air....no sign of him anywhere.

“You sometimes seem so complicated and sometimes so simple....Ravi, I don’t know if you are too good at acting or are really innocent.....but one thing is for sure....you never fail to surprise me”, thought Pooja. She then quickly ran to catch up with Rose.

“You people seem to be really good friends.” Said Rose.

“Heh heh Ya....” said Pooja forcing a cackle.

Rose didn’t talk much after that and they reached her hostel pretty soon.

Pooja said,”Meet you at school tomorrow and ya this is my phone no. ...if you need anything just give me a ring...”

“Umm don’t you have a cell phone?” asked Rose...

“Well I asked for one but parents said they will buy me after tenth finishes....” said Pooja sadly.

“OK fine, bye, take care....” said Rose.

“You too.” Said Pooja and both of them went their separate ways.

That night after dinner Pooja lay in her bed and thought how Ravi’s reaction would be on seeing ‘The Personalized Gift’ she planned to give him on his birthday.