After a while, she woke up from sleep. She looked toward the window; it was evening by then. She changed her clothes, tied her hair, and went outside.
"If I go out, where should I go?" she wondered as she walked along the road. While walking, she kept thinking, *I'll go to the same place I always go,* she said to herself with a faint smile.
She reached a small old market where all kinds of food and drinks were available. She picked up a cold drink and some snacks and went ahead. In one corner, there was a blue wall with a benches. She went there and sat down.
Suddenly, a boy came there as well. He also bought something to eat and came and sat beside her. After a while,"Oh—hi. We've met before. Hello. How is your injury now? Is it better than before? And what about the piece of glass that was stuck in your foot?"
She looked at him in surprise.
"How do you know that there was glass in my foot?"
"I asked Momo how your injury was, and she told me," he replied.
"By the way, do you come here often?"
"Yes, I come here quite often—especially when I feel sad. I was very upset during the day and really wanted to come here, but because my foot was injured, I couldn't," she said.
"Well, I also come here most of the time because I don't know many places in this country, and it's close to my home," he said.
"Actually, I felt happy helping you. Alright, since you helped me, I'll treat you to food. Okay done—but I have one condition."
"What kind of condition?"
"That I'll pay."
"That's not fair," she said.
"If you agree, then decide the venue ; otherwise, I'm leaving," he said and got up from the chair to go.
"Alright, fine," she said and also stood up.
"By the way, can I have your contact number?"
"When you want to go, just call me and let me know."
"Yes, why not? Note it down," Li said as she saved his number.
They both came out of the market. Zhao's house was in the street right in front. He said to Li, "Would you like to come to my house?"
"No, I'm getting late. I'll come some other time."
"Alright then, I'll leave now," Zhao said.
Li also said bye and left.
"Zhao, son, you're back?""Why are you so late?"
"I just met a friend. While talking, I didn't even realize how much time had passed."
"A friend? Was it a girl?"
"It's nothing like what you're thinking. She's just a friend," he said and went to his room.
She sat in her room and opened her books.
"Oh yaar," she sighed, resting her head, placing her pencil on the notebook and drawing small circles absent-mindedly. She gathered all her notebooks and put them in one corner, picked up her mobile, She texted Zhao, "Hi."
Zhao replied, "Hello."
"What are you doing?"
"I was reading a novel."
"You read novels too?"
"Yes, sometimes. What were you doing?"
"I was studying."
"When do your vacations end?"
"There's still time."
"Alright, I'll hang up now—it's gotten late."
"Okay, bye."
Li said bye and placed the phone beside her pillow. Then she lay down, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.