16-07-2025, 04:13 PM
They all sat down.
Priya and Neetu at one end of the L-shaped sofa, Amit and Vamsi on the other.
Sirisha sat cross-legged on the carpet
Pretending to scroll her phone but constantly sneaking glances at Ravi.
Ravi lowered himself into a chair, positioned perfectly to see both Priya and Sirisha in profile.
But it was Priya who caught his eye again.
She was laughing now, freely, completely
Her fingers brushing her ear as she adjusted an earring that didn’t need adjusting.
And when she looked at him, just for a heartbeat, it was different.
Not like earlier that week.
There was something gentler behind those eyes now, permission.
Just enough for his heart to stir again.
Beside him, Vamsi tilted his head slightly, not obviously
Just watching Priya as she reached for her cup, the curve of her wrist, the smooth line of her neck as she turned toward Neetu.
There was no guilt in the look, only a quiet craving. Admiration, maybe. A question without words.
“So Ravi,” Vamsi said,
Passing Ravi a cup of chai. “You look like a guy who’s survived some chaos. Mumbai treating you okay?”
Ravi smiled. “Mostly. Except for the auto drivers and my boss’s obsession with 9:30 AM meetings.”
Everyone chuckled.
“Ayy, I told you!” Sirisha added brightly. “My professor also loves 8 AM classes. Like, we are not factory workers, okay?”
“Exactly,” Ravi said, turning to her. “Do they think we don’t sleep or what?”
Sirisha grinned. “Well, I don’t.”
Neetu gave her a playful slap on the arm. “You don’t sleep because you're busy watching reels.”
“Or maybe,” Vamsi added, “she’s secretly writing poetry for Ravi Bhayya.”
That made everyone laugh again, including Priya, though something about the way she looked at Sirisha this time… wasn’t entirely light.
Amit, freshly bathed and now fully part of the moment, finally leaned back and sighed. “Neetu, this ghee smell is killing me. Dinner, please!”
“Ten minutes!” she called from the kitchen. “Priya, come help me na.”
Priya got up, but not before throwing one last look at Ravi.
Just a glance. Enough to leave him craving another.
And when she disappeared into the kitchen, Ravi looked down at his cup.
It was half full. But he felt completely intoxicated.
Priya and Neetu at one end of the L-shaped sofa, Amit and Vamsi on the other.
Sirisha sat cross-legged on the carpet
Pretending to scroll her phone but constantly sneaking glances at Ravi.
Ravi lowered himself into a chair, positioned perfectly to see both Priya and Sirisha in profile.
But it was Priya who caught his eye again.
She was laughing now, freely, completely
Her fingers brushing her ear as she adjusted an earring that didn’t need adjusting.
And when she looked at him, just for a heartbeat, it was different.
Not like earlier that week.
There was something gentler behind those eyes now, permission.
Just enough for his heart to stir again.
Beside him, Vamsi tilted his head slightly, not obviously
Just watching Priya as she reached for her cup, the curve of her wrist, the smooth line of her neck as she turned toward Neetu.
There was no guilt in the look, only a quiet craving. Admiration, maybe. A question without words.
“So Ravi,” Vamsi said,
Passing Ravi a cup of chai. “You look like a guy who’s survived some chaos. Mumbai treating you okay?”
Ravi smiled. “Mostly. Except for the auto drivers and my boss’s obsession with 9:30 AM meetings.”
Everyone chuckled.
“Ayy, I told you!” Sirisha added brightly. “My professor also loves 8 AM classes. Like, we are not factory workers, okay?”
“Exactly,” Ravi said, turning to her. “Do they think we don’t sleep or what?”
Sirisha grinned. “Well, I don’t.”
Neetu gave her a playful slap on the arm. “You don’t sleep because you're busy watching reels.”
“Or maybe,” Vamsi added, “she’s secretly writing poetry for Ravi Bhayya.”
That made everyone laugh again, including Priya, though something about the way she looked at Sirisha this time… wasn’t entirely light.
Amit, freshly bathed and now fully part of the moment, finally leaned back and sighed. “Neetu, this ghee smell is killing me. Dinner, please!”
“Ten minutes!” she called from the kitchen. “Priya, come help me na.”
Priya got up, but not before throwing one last look at Ravi.
Just a glance. Enough to leave him craving another.
And when she disappeared into the kitchen, Ravi looked down at his cup.
It was half full. But he felt completely intoxicated.
-- oOo --
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