[shailu4ever]

She answered quickly.


Ravi stepped aside, half-listening without meaning to.

“Yeah, just finishing up here,” she said. “He’s back... No, he said he’ll wait for dinner… I know. I told him that.”

She smiled lightly, her fingers playing with the edge of the kitchen towel.

“Mmhmm. Okay… Haan, take your time. We’ll wait.”

She ended the call and looked at Ravi.

“Amit says we should eat without him.”

“I figured,” Ravi said.

She gave a small smile. “You don’t listen well.”

He shrugged. “Depends on who’s giving orders.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, curious. “And you think Amit gives you orders?”

“I think he gives you orders,” Ravi said softly. “And you tried passing them to me.”

She laughed, but lightly. “It’s not orders. He just worries I’ll be too polite with guests.”

Ravi raised his brow. “Am I still a guest?”

Her smile paused

Just for a heartbeat. 

Then she turned to the stove. “Technically? No.”

She stirred something, then added gently, “But it’s still your first full day here. How was work?”

He leaned against the fridge, hands in his pockets. “Eventful. New desk. Too many passwords. Too many smiles.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Fake smiles or polite ones?”




- o -


.

[shailu4ever]

“Both. But mostly fake.”


“You’ll learn to smile back without meaning it. That’s how this city works.”

He laughed softly. “You say that like you’ve given up.”

She set the spoon down and turned toward him, 

Her elbows resting lightly on the kitchen counter behind her. “No. I just accepted that Mumbai doesn’t ask who you are, it tells you who to be.”

Ravi looked at her, and for a moment, it wasn’t about the dinner or the flat or even Amit.

It was about the way she stood, framed in that light. 

The way her skin seemed almost lit from within. 

That elegant fairness that never felt showy

Just… impossible to ignore.


“Do you miss anywhere?” he asked quietly.

She didn’t answer right away. “Sometimes,” she said. “But not always. I’ve lived enough places to know… the house isn’t what you remember later. It’s the time. The silence. The scent. The company.”

Ravi looked at her longer than he meant to.

The silence stretched between them.

She didn’t break it.

________________________________________


At 9:25 PM, the lock clicked. 

Amit entered with his usual rushed energy, laptop bag in one hand, keys in the other.

“Heyyy,” he grinned. “Did you two wait again?”

Priya looked over. “What do you think?”

Amit rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Priya. I told you not to make him wait.”

“She didn’t make me,” Ravi said, standing. “I chose to.”

“Good,” Amit said, 

Disappearing into the washroom. “But tomorrow, no drama. You two eat early. She won’t eat without someone, and I’ll always be late. Now she has company.”


Priya said nothing. 

Just turned to Ravi and handed him a plate.



- o -


.

[shailu4ever]

Dinner with Amit and Priya


Amit chatted between bites, about a tough client, a last-minute reschedule

And something random about stock markets Ravi barely followed.

But all Ravi noticed was how Priya moved around the table, effortlessly serving, refilling, cleaning as she went, like it was second nature.

She didn’t talk much now.

But Ravi could feel her presence in every pause.

At one point, she asked again, softly, “Did you eat lunch today?”

Ravi smiled at his plate. “Barely.”

She gave a small nod, as if that confirmed something she’d already guessed.

________________________________________

After dinner, Amit took a call in the balcony.

Priya started clearing the table.

Ravi stood up and helped her carry the plates.

“You’ll get used to things,” she said, rinsing a spoon.

“In this house?”

“In this city,” she replied.

Then added with a side glance, “But maybe here too.”

He didn’t reply.

Just let the warm water run over his hands.

________________________________________

That night, Ravi lay on his back, eyes open to the ceiling fan above him.

He tried to think about the office.

The new passwords.

The travel time.


But instead…

He remembered her voice.

The way she leaned on the kitchen counter.

The way she said “Technically? No.”

And that silence—the one she didn’t break.


The silence that said more than anything else.




-- oOo --



.

[shailu4ever]

Thursday Morning: Work from Home day: Proximity


Ravi woke to the low hum of the ceiling fan and faint clinks of steel from the kitchen.

It was nearly 8:15 AM.

The sun had begun to stretch across the sheer curtains of his bedroom window, painting soft, shifting shapes onto the wall.

The first real workday from home in this new city.

He didn’t have to rush anywhere.

No commute. No chaos. Just quiet.

Outside his door, the flat felt still, but not empty.

He stepped out, barefoot, stretching his arms as he moved toward the kitchen.

And there she was.

Priya Didi.


Wearing a pale grey t-shirt and dark blue leggings, she stood by the gas stove, stirring something in a small saucepan.

Her hair was tied up in a high bun today, with just a wisp falling near her temple.

The morning light touched her cheek, her neck, the gentle slope of her collarbone.

She looked up, mid-stir.

“Oh, you’re up,” she said, warm as ever.

“Yeah,” Ravi replied

She smiled. “I was just making coffee.”

She reached for another tumbler without asking.


That small gesture, the quiet inclusion, felt more personal than words.





- o -



.

[shailu4ever]

As she poured the hot filter coffee into the steel cup

Ravi leaned slightly against the kitchen wall, watching her.


“You don’t seem like someone who sleeps this late,” she said, handing him the tumbler.

“I usually don’t,” he replied, smiling, taking it from her.

Their fingers touched, just briefly. Soft and tender.   

They stood there, sipping side by side.

Her shoulder just inches from his.

The flat was still.

No news playing.

No traffic.

Just two cups of coffee and the occasional breeze slipping through the balcony mesh door.

“You’re working from home today?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “My manager told me I could do two or three days from home, depending on workload. Today seemed perfect.”

She turned to face him slightly. “That’s nice. Let me know if you want something for lunch. I was thinking of making lemon rice and aloo fry.”

His stomach answered before he could. “That sounds… way too good for a weekday.”

She laughed softly, her eyes crinkling. “It’s nothing, really.”

But he kept watching her.

That laugh.

That effortless rhythm in the way she moved.

The way she wiped her hands on a towel tucked at her waist.

It was all so casual, so ordinary.

And yet, it wrapped itself around him.

A few seconds passed in a silence that didn’t need filling.

“I’ll be in the room then,” he said eventually.

She nodded. “If you need anything… you know.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice softer. “I’ll just… be around.”

He walked back toward the guest bedroom, coffee warming his fingers, his mind already distracted, not by work, but by the way she stood, the smell of her jasmine shampoo, the softness of her voice echoing faintly behind him.


The day had only begun.




- o -




.

[shailu4ever]

Scene 4 – Thursday, Midday: Lemon Rice & Laughter


1:22 PM

The clock on Ravi’s laptop read 1:22 PM, but his mind had already wandered three open tabs away from work.

Somewhere between a project timeline and a debugging error, the smell hit him.

Lemon. Curry leaves. Roasted peanuts. Something was sizzling in ghee.

And it was impossible to ignore.

He stretched, pushed his chair back, and stepped out of the room.

The moment he turned toward the kitchen

He found her, Priya Didi, mid-motion

Setting down two plates on the small dining table by the balcony.

She looked different again.

The same clothes as morning,

But her hair now tied in a low braid, loose strands framing her fair cheeks.

Her eyes flicked up as he entered.

"Perfect timing," she smiled. "Just finished."

"Lemon rice?" he asked, pretending he hadn’t been counting seconds.

"And aloo fry, as promised," she said,

Walking back into the kitchen. "I made it the way I like, crisp on the outside, soft inside. Hope that’s okay."

"Sounds like a dream," he said

Pulling a chair. "This is officially my first home-cooked meal in Mumbai."

She returned with a small bowl of curd, placed it on the table with a casual grace, and sat across from him.

"Be honest though," she said, spooning some rice onto his plate, "How bad was the coffee this morning?"

He blinked. "What? It was perfect!"

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "I added a little too much decoction. I could tell."


"Okay, now I know you’re dangerous," he said,



- o -



.

[shailu4ever]

Grinning. "First you make great coffee, now amazing lemon rice… You’re setting the bar way too high."


She laughed, not politely, but fully this time.

Her head tilted slightly,

And for a second, her face lit up in a way he hadn’t seen before.

It was such a simple expression, and yet he felt it.

In his chest. Like something warm pulling him forward.

"Well, you’re the guest," she said. "Can’t serve boring food on your second day here."

"Second day and you’ve already spoiled me. This is dangerous," he said, taking the first bite.

His eyes widened. "Oh my god. This is exactly how lemon rice is supposed to taste."

"Right?" she said with mock pride. "I don’t make it often, but when I do…"

"You go full temple prasadam level."

She laughed again, shaking her head. "You’re just hungry."

"I am. But also, I’m impressed."

She watched him eat with that soft, half-smile again.

And he watched her between bites.

The way she picked her food, how her bangles slid lightly down her wrist when she moved her hand,

The slight dimple that appeared when she chewed on the inside of her cheek, like she was thinking, but keeping it to herself.

"So," she asked, wiping her fingers delicately with a tissue, "what kind of work do you actually do? You never explained properly last night."

"Ah," he leaned back, playful, "I could tell you, Priya Didi, but then I’d have to bore you with campaign data and client tantrums."

"Try me," she said, leaning in slightly, her expression curious now.




- o -



.

[shailu4ever]

"Okay," he smiled. 

"I work in product design at an advertising company. 
Mostly digital stuff, ads, app interfaces, brand campaigns. 
I try to make things look good and get people to click on them."



She blinked. "So, you design ads?"

"Kind of. 
More like I design the experience around them
how people interact, where they land, what catches their eye. 
It's like psychology meets visuals."


"Hmm," she nodded thoughtfully. "That actually sounds really interesting. 
I always thought advertising was just about shouting louder than the next brand."

Ravi chuckled. "Well, yeah, there’s definitely some shouting. 
But there’s also a lot of thinking behind the scenes,
target audiences, emotional hooks, colors that make people feel things. 
It's weirdly... manipulative in a beautiful way."


"Wow," she said, folding her hands on the table. "You make it sound almost poetic."

"Thank you, Priya Didi," he said with a grin. "I’ll put that on my resume ‘poet of product design.’"

She laughed softly. Then, almost shyly, she added, "You know, I used to be a little obsessed with the advertising world."

"You? Really?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Back in college, I was part of a modeling club. 
We did small fashion shoots and ad skits
those campus-level campaigns for local brands, you know? 
I even auditioned for a print ad once. Didn't get it though."

Ravi sat up straighter, eyebrows raised. "Wait, seriously? You were into modeling?"

"For a little while," she admitted

Almost brushing it off. "Nothing professional. 
It was more about the excitement, the creativity, the lights and cameras. 
But then… life happened."


"Well, now I know why you have that super calm screen presence. 
Even your coffee pouring feels choreographed," he said, smiling.


She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. That was anxiety, not elegance."



- o -


.

[shailu4ever]

"I'm serious, Priya Didi."


"You’ve got that natural vibe. You’d honestly fit right in on one of our sets."

She tilted her head. "You guys shoot with models?"

"All the time," Ravi said. "For product campaigns, social media reels, client promos. We work with freelance models, actors, even influencers. I may sit in on shoots in he future, just to make sure the design and brand guidelines are followed."

"Wow," she said, surprised. "I had no idea you were so... involved in the creative side."

"Advertising companies are messy like that," he said with a grin. "I have to wear a lot of hats. Sometimes I have to edit layouts, sometimes I’m may have to choose between two lipstick shades for a beauty brand.  That is my job.  Hope I do it right."


She laughed. "You choose lipstick shades?"

"With terrifying precision," Ravi said proudly. "I once spent three hours deciding between coral rose and dusty mauve. It was war."

Priya Didi shook her head, amused. "That’s hilarious. And kind of amazing. I would’ve never guessed."

He shrugged. "It’s fun, honestly. You get to work with a lot of people, hear weird client requests, see behind the scenes. Models are great too, super professional, most of them.
It’s not as glamorous as it looks, though. Very early call times. Lots of waiting around.
I am still understanding all that"

There was a pause. She looked at him differently now, like someone she was genuinely getting to know.

"I think I would’ve loved that world," she said, her voice softer now. "Maybe in another version of life."

"You still could, Priya Didi," he said gently.
"You're not eighty. Honestly, if you ever want to try something small,
like a digital shoot or something
we know a couple of folks who’d love someone with your look. 
Very real. Very grounded."

She smiled, touched but also slightly embarrassed. "You’re sweet. But these days, I’m more into feeding people lemon rice than chasing cameras."

"Hey," he said, pointing his spoon at her, "you say that like it’s a downgrade. Honestly, this lemon rice deserves a commercial of its own."

She chuckled. "Yeah? You’ll write the script?"


"Of course. Scene one: a steaming plate, fresh curry leaves sizzling. Voiceover: 'One bite, and you’ll question every life choice that led you away from South Indian food.'"


She burst out laughing, her hand covering her mouth. "Stop, you’ll make me choke!"

"Just saying, Priya Didi," he said between bites, "you and this food, both are severely underrated."

She gave him a look, half grateful, half amused. "I don’t know what you’re trying to sell with all this flattery."

"Just being honest, Didi," he said with a wink.

They fell into an easy silence after that.

Somewhere between the shared laughter and the gentle teasing, something settled between them. 

Not heavy, not dramatic. Just warm.


A kind of beginning neither of them had expected.




- o -


.

[shailu4ever]

"Sounds cool," she said. "Amit told me you were always smart with computers."

Ravi raised an eyebrow. "He told you that?"

She nodded. "He said you were a fast learner. Quiet but sharp. That you used to fix his laptop for fun."

Ravi chuckled. "He makes me sound like some tech monk."

"He also said you were funny."

"Ah. That I’ll accept."

They shared a small pause, comfortable now, warm like late morning sunlight. 

And then, out of nowhere, she said:

"I was a little nervous about you coming to stay."

He looked up, surprised. "Why?"

She shrugged, reaching for the curd. "Just… the house felt like our space. Quiet. Predictable. I didn’t know how it’d feel having someone else here."

"And now?"

She glanced at him, met his eyes fully. Her voice lowered just a bit. "Now it feels... less quiet. In a good way."


He held that gaze for a second too long. 

Not because he meant to, but because it felt like a doorway had opened.

She looked away first.

She had just picked up their plates when Ravi spoke again, leaning slightly against the dining table.

“Didi… you’ve been married recently, right? I mean, it’s just been a few months?”

She turned halfway toward him, the plates in her hand, a trace of surprise in her eyes,

Not at the question, but at how gently it was asked.

“Five months,” she nodded. “December wedding. Just before New Year’s.”

“Ah,” Ravi said. “I think I saw a few pictures on Amit’s Instagram. Beach wedding?”

She smiled. “Yeah. Kerala. Very small, just family. It was more his family than mine, actually.”


“You’re not from Mumbai?”




- o -



.

[shailu4ever]

“No,” she said


Walking the plates over to the sink.

“I’m from Vizag. Born and brought up. Moved here after marriage. Amit’s work is based here mostly.”


“And you?” she added, glancing over her shoulder. “First time living in Mumbai?”

“Yep,” Ravi nodded. “First time. I’ve visited during college trips, but never stayed. It’s a little loud, honestly.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“I already like this flat, though,” he said. “Peaceful. And you’ve made it… warm.”

She blinked, caught for a moment, not by the compliment, but the way he said it. Not flirtatious. Just… sincere.

He recovered. “I mean… you know. Feels like a real home.”

Her smile returned, softer now. “That’s good to hear, Amit said you might take time adjusting.”

He laughed. “Typical of him. Always making me sound like a delicate plant.”

She turned off the stove and came back to the table with a bottle of water and sat down again, casually.

“I used to be like that,” she admitted. “I was a wreck the first week here. New flat. New husband. New city. Everything changed at once.”

Ravi tilted his head. “But you seem… totally settled.”

She gave a dry little smile. “Looks are deceiving.”

He watched her, letting the words hang.

There was a depth in her voice, not sadness exactly, but a kind of awareness.

She wasn’t playing helpless. 

She wasn’t acting strong. 

She just… was.




- o -



.

[shailu4ever]

“You miss Vizag?” he asked.

“Sometimes,” she said.

 “I miss the stillness there. 
The beach, The temple bells in the morning.
The smells. My mother shouting at me for waking up late.”

 She smiled faintly. “But mostly I miss… not having to figure everything out alone.”

Ravi didn’t respond immediately. He felt the weight in that pause.

“I know what you mean,” he said eventually.

“Even I thought moving here would feel like… a movie montage. New city, new job, friends, weekends, maybe fall in love…”

Priya gave a soft, amused look.

“…But it’s mostly just me fighting traffic and praying the Wi-Fi holds.”

That earned a small laugh from her. “You’ll be fine, Didi is here to guide you,” she said,

Teasing lightly, the word ‘Didi’ wrapped in irony this time.


“Oh, thank god,” Ravi said with mock relief. “I’ve always wanted a gorgeous mentor who cooks lemon rice and teaches me life lessons.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Careful, Ravi. Your sarcasm is showing.”

“I’m not being sarcastic, Priya Didi,” he grinned. “I’m just expressing deep admiration.”

She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t stop smiling.

“Okay, your turn,” she said. “Why are you single?”

Ravi pretended to gasp. “Direct question!”

“Well?”

He shrugged. “Honestly? Too many moving pieces. Changing cities. College-to-job transition. And maybe…” 

He hesitated. “…maybe I haven’t met someone who just… fit. You know?”

She nodded, not asking further.

He looked at her now, eyes thoughtful.

“And you? I mean, don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem a little young to be married.”


She didn’t seem offended.





.

[shailu4ever]

nicely build up keep going

Hi Hotyyhard

Thank you so much! ?   

Really glad you're enjoying it.

Your support means a lot.  This helps me to continue this.

Would love to hear your thoughts more often.


-- Shailu

[shailu4ever]

“Twenty-five,” she said.


“I wasn’t in a rush.
 But Amit came into my life like a calm wind. 
 Nothing dramatic. 
 Nothing intense. 
 Just… peaceful. Safe. 
 His family liked me. 
 He liked me. It  made sense.”


“You sound very grounded.”

“I try to be,” she said. 
“But some days I just want to be chaotic. 
 Buy a flight ticket. 
 Cut my hair short. 
 Eat dessert before dinner.”


He smiled. “Do it. I fully support dessert-first rebellion.”

She glanced at him again, that same quiet amusement in her eyes.

“You’re more talkative than I expected,” she said.

“You’re more real than I expected, Priya Didi.”

She stilled for a moment. 

Not in discomfort

But something passed between them then, even if neither admitted it.

The kind of quiet where the wind outside suddenly feels louder. 

Where one gaze held too long might become a mistake.

She looked away first, standing with the water bottle.

“Alright. Go back to work before I distract you further.”

“Too late,” he murmured under his breath.

But she heard it.

She turned her head just slightly. 

Her smile was back. 

Small. Knowing. Then gone.

As she walked away, Ravi sat back in the chair, looking at the empty steel plates.

Their first meal together.

Just food. Just talk.



But something had shifted. 

Not loudly. 

Not dangerously.

Just… inward.



-- oOo --



.

[shailu4ever]

Brilliant narration...i loved the way you started this story. Please update soon...its really poetic and asthetically build ?

Hi Raj087

Thank you so much for your kind words! 

I’m really glad the beginning spoke to you. It means a lot to hear that. 

I’m working on the next update and can’t wait to share more with you soon!  I will be posting some updates in a little while before I sleep. 

Please do read the upcoming updates when they’re out, and don’t forget to like and leave your thoughts in the comments. 

Your support truly encourages me to keep writing!


-- Shailu

[shailu4ever]

Thursday Afternoon: Not Just Another Day


The fan spun lazily above him

Its blades slicing through the silence like time itself, measured, steady, indifferent.

Ravi sat hunched over his laptop.

Elbows resting on the desk

Eyes fixed on a slide deck that hadn’t changed in twenty minutes.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard, un-moving.

The document was open. 

The task clear.

But his mind? 

Drifting.


He let out a slow breath

Leaned back in the chair, and glanced toward the half-open window.

The breeze brought in the distant thrum of Mumbai life, honking, footsteps, a barking dog far below.

And beneath it all, somewhere in the apartment, the quiet, occasional sound of steel against granite.

Or a faint clink of glass being set aside.

She was still moving out there.

Priya Didi.

Not just beautiful, though she was that, almost painfully so,

But… something else.

Something in her voice, her walk, her eyes.

She had this way of listening like she could see the spaces between your words.

Of laughing like she'd forgotten she was allowed to.

She felt complete, even in silence.


And somehow

That pulled him in more than anything loud or flirtatious ever could.



- o -


.

[shailu4ever]

He thought about lunch again


The way she sat across from him

Hands folding gently over the spoon

Her voice steady, warm, teasing at times

But never too bold.

And that moment, when he’d asked if she missed home

And she’d paused, not with grief, but with a kind of earned quiet.

She had no home to go back to.

She hadn’t said it aloud.

But he had heard it. Felt it.

No parents to call.

And still, she smiled.

That unsettled him more than anything.

She wasn’t sad.

She wasn’t broken.

But there was a silence inside her

The kind that doesn’t beg for pity, just… lives with you.

Like a second heartbeat.


- o -


.

[shailu4ever]

He blinked and sat up straight


Rubbed his face and opened a new tab

Trying to shake the fog.


He clicked open Slack

Typed a reply

Scheduled a quick sync call for next week.


But even now

The ghost of her voice was still in the room.

“Now it feels... less quiet. In a good way.”

That one line. 

So simple. 

So innocent.

And yet, it had replayed itself at least ten times in his head since lunch.

He checked the time. 3:57 PM.

He smiled to himself.

She’d said something about making tea at four.

He didn’t need it.

But he would go.

Not for the tea.

Not for the break.

But for her voice

Her smile

And the chance to hear her say something

Anything

That might linger again.


-- oOo --


.

[shailu4ever]

Thursday, 4:00 PM: The Tea Between Them


Ravi stepped out of his room just as the kettle let out its soft whistle.

He paused at the doorway, smiling.

Right on time.

Priya was already there

Her back to him

Pouring hot water into two mugs.

Her hair was loosely braided now

A few strands falling near her ears.

The afternoon light lit up her profile as she leaned slightly over the counter—her silhouette soft, real, etched in grace.

She turned at the sound of his footsteps.

“4:01,” she said, eyes narrowing playfully. “Cutting it close.”

“I didn’t want to seem too eager,” Ravi grinned

Pulling out a chair at the dining table.

She brought the mugs over—black tea for her

A light milky chai for him.

“Be honest, Didi,” he said

Accepting the cup, “Are you secretly testing me for punctuality?”

She sat down across from him with a quiet smile. 

“Just making sure you’re not all talk. You said you liked tea breaks.”


“And I do. Especially if they come with company like this.”


- o -

.

[shailu4ever]

Her eyes met his, a flicker of amusement dancing in them.



“So, do you do this often?” he asked, taking a careful sip. “Make tea at exactly 4?”

She nodded. “I like the rhythm. Morning coffee, afternoon tea. A little pause before the day drifts into evening.”

“You’re kind of poetic, Priya Didi.”

She chuckled. “Not poetic. Just old-college.”

“No,” Ravi said, watching her closely. “You’re… composed. You live like someone who values the little things.”

She tilted her head slightly, curious now. “And what about you? What do you value?”

He leaned back, thoughtful. “Still figuring that out. I like people who feel… familiar, even if I just met them.”

She smiled softly. “That’s a nice way to put it.”

“You know what’s strange?” he added, 

Turning the mug between his fingers. “This place doesn’t feel new anymore. I’ve been here barely three days, and it already feels like I’ve known it longer.”


“That’s the apartment?”


“No,” he said, meeting her eyes. “It’s you.”


She blinked once. 

Then smiled, lowering her gaze.
“Smooth.”


“Just honest, Priya Didi.”

She laughed, and it reached her eyes. “Amit said you were always charming.”

Ravi smiled. “I hope he also said I was well-behaved.”

“Oh, he did,” she said, mock-serious. “But that remains to be seen.”


They sipped quietly for a while, the conversation dipping into silence and rising again naturally.


“So what did you imagine,” she asked suddenly, “when you thought of Amit’s wife before you met me?”



- o -


.