17-07-2025, 07:59 PM
She looked at him for a beat too long.
“Hmm,” she said with a small smile. “And who’s this?”
“Abhi,” Madhavi answered from her corner, before Abhi could.
“The best company for slow conversations and strong coffee.”
Abhi looked at her.
Madhavi didn’t meet his eyes.
Shruti offered her hand, tilting her head. “Nice to meet you, Abhi.”
He took it. Her fingers were cool, but her touch was confident. Playful.
“I like your kurti,” she said instantly.
“And your eyes. You look like someone who listens more than he talks.”
He smiled. “Only when there’s something worth listening to.”
“Oh,” she said, eyes twinkling. “I think this evening just became worth it.”
Madhavi heard it all.
And she smiled, but not out of jealousy.
She was watching a story begin.
“Right on cue,” she thought.
“I said three minutes. It took her two.”
Shruti settled beside Abhi on the floor cushions, laughing already.
Her anklet clinked as she crossed her legs.
She leaned toward him to reach a card.
Abhi felt the soft brush of her shoulder against his.
Intentional? Maybe. Maybe not.
Madhavi saw that too.
She quietly rose, moved toward the kitchen.
As she walked by, she let her fingers casually graze Abhi’s shoulder, lightly, without words. No one noticed.
But Abhi turned his head slightly.
Their eyes met, just for a moment.
There was no smile on her face.
No mischief. Just calm, rooted warmth.
“You’re still mine in silence,” her look seemed to say.
“But go ahead. Let her spark something new.”
Shruti was already handing Abhi a game card, teasing him about being the silent killer in Mafia.
Vinay was arguing with Sandeep about the rules.
Laughter filled the room.
But for Abhi… and for Madhavi in the kitchen…
Something deeper ran just beneath it.
-- oOo --
“Hmm,” she said with a small smile. “And who’s this?”
“Abhi,” Madhavi answered from her corner, before Abhi could.
“The best company for slow conversations and strong coffee.”
Abhi looked at her.
Madhavi didn’t meet his eyes.
Shruti offered her hand, tilting her head. “Nice to meet you, Abhi.”
He took it. Her fingers were cool, but her touch was confident. Playful.
“I like your kurti,” she said instantly.
“And your eyes. You look like someone who listens more than he talks.”
He smiled. “Only when there’s something worth listening to.”
“Oh,” she said, eyes twinkling. “I think this evening just became worth it.”
Madhavi heard it all.
And she smiled, but not out of jealousy.
She was watching a story begin.
“Right on cue,” she thought.
“I said three minutes. It took her two.”
Shruti settled beside Abhi on the floor cushions, laughing already.
Her anklet clinked as she crossed her legs.
She leaned toward him to reach a card.
Abhi felt the soft brush of her shoulder against his.
Intentional? Maybe. Maybe not.
Madhavi saw that too.
She quietly rose, moved toward the kitchen.
As she walked by, she let her fingers casually graze Abhi’s shoulder, lightly, without words. No one noticed.
But Abhi turned his head slightly.
Their eyes met, just for a moment.
There was no smile on her face.
No mischief. Just calm, rooted warmth.
“You’re still mine in silence,” her look seemed to say.
“But go ahead. Let her spark something new.”
Shruti was already handing Abhi a game card, teasing him about being the silent killer in Mafia.
Vinay was arguing with Sandeep about the rules.
Laughter filled the room.
But for Abhi… and for Madhavi in the kitchen…
Something deeper ran just beneath it.
-- oOo --
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