Chapter 520: An Unexpected Delay

The taxi gradually merged into the stream of vehicles, and the driver navigated through the afternoon traffic with practiced ease. They passed several storefronts, a crowded bus stop where passengers waited impatiently for transportation, and a row of roadside stalls selling everything from phone accessories and bottled drinks to packaged snacks. At the traffic lights, vendors moved between the stationary vehicles, occasionally approaching drivers and passengers to advertise their goods before the lights changed and the cars began moving again. Sarah watched the familiar activity through the window, occasionally turning her attention back to the shopping bag resting beside her.

Every time she looked at the package, a small burst of excitement returned, bringing a smile to her face. She had spent so much time choosing the watch that she was now eager to see Stan’s reaction when he finally received it. She wondered whether he would recognize the brand immediately or whether he would simply admire the design before discovering how much the watch was worth. Perhaps he would turn the presentation box over in his hands, inspect the watch carefully, and ask her why she had gone to so much trouble to buy him something so expensive. Knowing him, she wouldn’t have been surprised if he questioned her decision, although she hoped he would appreciate the thought behind it.

Another possibility crossed her mind, and her smile grew slightly wider as she imagined Stan putting the watch on immediately after opening the box. She pictured herself reaching for his wrist to help him fasten the strap, eager to see how the midnight-blue dial looked against his skin. Perhaps he would notice her enthusiasm and tease her for being so eager to see him wearing it, forcing her to defend herself while trying unsuccessfully to hide her embarrassment. The thought was amusing enough that she found herself looking forward to the moment even more than before.

Her phone suddenly vibrated, interrupting her train of thought. Sarah picked it up, expecting to find another message from her friend who had asked whether she was available later. Instead, the notification came from a shopping application advertising a discount on luxury accessories. The advertisement displayed several expensive watches alongside a message encouraging customers to take advantage of the limited-time offer, apparently unaware that Sarah had already completed a purchase that morning.

She stared at the screen for a moment before laughing quietly at the timing.

"Too late," she murmured, dismissing the notification.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, apparently curious about what had amused her. "Something funny, madam?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just an advertisement."

"Ah." He shook his head with an amused expression. "These people will advertise anything. You can buy something today, and tomorrow they will tell you it is cheaper somewhere else."

Sarah laughed at his observation, finding it difficult to disagree. "That’s true."

"That is why I don’t like buying things online," the driver continued, keeping his attention on the road. "At least when you enter a shop, you can see what you are paying for. You can examine the goods yourself instead of relying on pictures and hoping that what arrives at your house looks the same."

"Sometimes the shop is worse," Sarah replied, glancing briefly at the shopping bag beside her. "They convince you to buy something more expensive than what you originally wanted."

The driver chuckled at her response, apparently recognizing the experience she was describing. "Then you must be careful. Those salespeople are professionals. Before you know it, you will enter the shop looking for one thing and leave with something twice as expensive."

Sarah glanced at the bag again, remembering how she had initially intended to purchase a less expensive watch before eventually returning to the original model. The saleswoman hadn’t pressured her into making the purchase, but Sarah couldn’t deny that she had spent far more time debating the decision than she had expected.

"Apparently," she replied with a small, knowing smile, settling back into her seat as the taxi continued through the afternoon traffic.

...

For several minutes, Sarah and the driver continued exchanging light remarks about shopping, traffic, and the peculiar talent of salespeople for persuading customers to spend more money than they had originally intended.

Their conversation remained relaxed and unhurried, the sort of casual exchange that sometimes developed between strangers sharing a taxi. Neither expected anything more from the other than a safe journey and a reasonable fare, and with the afternoon passing peacefully around them, there seemed to be little reason to anticipate any trouble.

Eventually, however, the taxi began slowing down. Sarah barely noticed at first because the vehicles ahead had already been moving in short, uneven bursts, advancing a few meters before stopping again. A horn sounded from somewhere behind them, followed by another that continued for several seconds before falling silent. The driver leaned forward slightly, peering through the windshield as he tried to determine what was happening farther ahead.

"What’s happening now?" he muttered.

Several vehicles crawled forward, briefly creating the impression that traffic was clearing, only to come to a halt again. The driver eased off the accelerator and allowed the taxi to roll toward the rear of a dark sedan before applying the brakes. Sarah glanced at the time displayed on her phone, wondering how much longer the journey would take. They weren’t particularly far from her destination, but she had hoped to arrive sooner, especially since she was eager to see Stan and give him the gift she had spent so much time choosing.

"Is there usually traffic around here?" she asked, looking through the window at the stationary vehicles.

"Sometimes," the driver replied with a shrug. "But not like this."

He reached toward the radio and turned down the volume, apparently preferring to concentrate on the road rather than compete with the growing noise outside. A motorcycle squeezed between two cars, its rider raising one hand in an irritated gesture toward a motorist who had left insufficient room for him to pass.