WHEN PRIYA LOST HER WALLET - STORY BY WILLIAMSJI MAVELI

WHEN PRIYA LOST HER WALLET
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Anjuna flea market, a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds swirling around Priya and Arjun. Priya, her eyes wide with excitement, darted from stall to stall, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns of silver jewelry and the vibrant hues of hand-woven textiles.
"Arjun, look at these silver earrings!" she exclaimed, holding up a pair of intricately designed jhumkas. "Aren't they absolutely divine? I have to have them!"
Arjun, his hands tucked into his pockets, sighed gently. "Priya, we're supposed to be heading to Curlies for the sunset. Remember? You wanted to get there before it got too crowded."
"Just a minute, just a minute," Priya replied, her attention already focused on bargaining with a vendor. "These are a steal! And besides, we have plenty of time."
Lost in the thrill of the market, Priya rummaged through her sling bag, searching for her wallet. She had bought a refreshing coconut water earlier and remembered putting her wallet back. But now, it was nowhere to be found.
"Oh no," she gasped, her eyes widening in panic. "Arjun, my wallet! I can't find it!"
Arjun raised an eyebrow, a familiar sense of exasperation washing over him. "Seriously, Priya? Again? You always lose things when we go shopping."
"Hey, it's not funny!" Priya retorted, her voice trembling slightly. "It has all my cash, my cards, everything! Maybe it fell out when I was looking at those scarves?"
They retraced their steps, scanning the ground and peering under the crowded stalls. The market was a maze of narrow pathways and bustling crowds, making the search even more challenging.
"Let's ask some of the vendors," Arjun suggested, his voice calm and reassuring. "They might have seen something."
They approached a stall selling colorful handmade bags, the vendor a friendly-looking woman with a warm smile.
"Excuse me, did you happen to see a brown wallet?" Arjun asked. "My friend lost it."
"Wallet? Brown?" the vendor replied, her brow furrowing in thought. "Hmm, there was a big crowd here earlier. Someone might have picked it up."
Priya's heart sank. "Oh no, what if someone took it?"
"Don't jump to conclusions," Arjun said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Let's check with the security guys at the entrance. They might have had someone turn it in."
They made their way through the throng of shoppers to the market entrance, where two security guards stood watch.
"Excuse me," Arjun said, approaching the guards. "Did anyone turn in a brown wallet? My friend lost hers."
"Brown wallet?" one of the guards replied, his eyes lighting up. "Yes, someone found it near the spice stall. They gave it to us."
He reached into a drawer and pulled out Priya's wallet.
"Oh my god!" Priya exclaimed, her face breaking into a wide smile. "You found it! Thank you so much!"
She checked her wallet, counting her cash and ensuring her cards were still there. "Everything's here! I was so scared. This market is so crowded."
Arjun chuckled, shaking his head. "See? I told you we'd find it. Now, can we please go to Curlies? The sun is setting, and you don’t want to miss that perfect picture."
"Yes, yes, let's go!" Priya replied, her eyes sparkling with renewed enthusiasm. "But first, can we get some of that bebinca from that sweet stall I saw? I'm starving!"
"Fine," Arjun said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But then we're heading straight to the beach. No more detours."
They walked towards the sweet stall, the sounds of the market fading as they made their way towards the beach, the promise of a breathtaking sunset and the sweet taste of bebinca filling the air. As they walked, Priya slipped her arm into Arjuns, and thanked him for always being there. They walked into the sunset, the best of friends.
WILLIAMSJI MAVELI