It felt good to finally be home after a long day. The university, the constant rush, the students... all of it was a blur now that I was back in the space where everything was quieter, where I could breathe again.
But of course, there was no true silence when Kruti was around.
I walked into the living room, tossing my bag aside and rubbing my temples. The headache from the morning still lingered at the back of my head. I didn't want to think about work anymore.
Kruti, however, was sprawled on the couch, legs up in the air, eating something from a bowl and muttering to herself.
I raised an eyebrow as I stopped in my tracks. "What are you doing now?"
She looked up at me, wide-eyed, like a deer caught in headlights. "Oh, nothing," she said, her tone way too innocent to be trusted. "Just trying to figure out if I can balance this bowl on my head while simultaneously watching Netflix."
I stared at her for a long moment, then sighed, running a hand through my hair. "You're ridiculous."
She stuck her tongue out at me, clearly pleased with her antics.
But I wasn't in the mood for her nonsense tonight. I needed to focus on something else.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
Her eyes widened, and she sat up immediately, putting the bowl aside. "Actually, I am."
I nodded. "Good. I'll cook."
I didn't wait for her to respond, though I could hear her murmuring to herself, some sarcastic comment I probably didn't want to know. I went to the kitchen, gathering the ingredients I needed to make dinner: dal, rice, and aloo ki sabzi.
I was exhausted. But I also knew that if I didn't make her something, she'd complain and then try to cook on her ownâwhich was a disaster waiting to happen.
As I chopped vegetables, I could feel her behind me, moving around the kitchen, her voice cutting through the silence. "Dev."
I didn't respond at first, focusing on the task at hand.
She didn't take that as a cue to leave, though. "Dev, you're being all quiet again."
I glanced over my shoulder. "Is that a problem?"
"No," she said, her voice playful. "I just don't know what to do with all the sudden peace."
I rolled my eyes. "You should be grateful for it."
Her laugh rang out, high and musical, like it always did when she found me irritatingâwhich was almost always.
As the food cooked, she moved around, fluffing the pillows on the couch, humming a tune that I couldn't place.
I continued to stir the pot, stirring incessantly, trying to ignore the feeling of her presence around me.
A few minutes later, the food was done.
I called her over to the table, and she walked over with a huge grin on her face.
"You're too good to me." she said, eyeing the food with delight.
I just nodded, taking a seat.
She sat beside me, not across from me as I expected. Her legs, as usual, ended up on my lap, which, for reasons I didn't quite understand, didn't bother me anymore.
I served her the food, holding the spoon steady as I scooped a portion of dal. "Eat."
Her eyes sparkled. "Okay, okay. You don't have to feed me like I'm a baby."
I raised an eyebrow. "I don't hear you complaining."
She smirked, taking a bite, then grinned. "Fine. I'll admit it. You're a really good cook. But don't expect me to say it too often."
I rolled my eyes. "I don't care for praise. And you say that every time you eat."
She ate for a few minutes, her mouth full of food, but still going on about her day, about something random that had happened in class.
I listened, even though I didn't entirely follow her ramblings. Her words were a blur, but the sound of her voiceâthe rhythm of it, the way she made everything sound like an adventureâwas what kept me anchored.
She finally paused, looking at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You're not even listening, are you?"
I raised my hands in defense. "I heard enough. What do you want me to do, memorize every word?"
She grinned widely. "Yes."
I just shook my head, "Impossible," I muttered.
"Come on, Dev, lighten up." She leaned closer, teasing me with a raised eyebrow. "So, are we doing this whole 'feeding me like a princess' thing?"
I stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Fine."
I picked up the spoon, slowly and deliberately, and fed her another bite. "But only because you're making it so difficult."
Her eyes lit up, and she took the bite, her expression exaggerated. "Mmm, it's like you know exactly how to make me happy."
I rolled my eyes again. "Kruti, you're impossible."
She just smiled and leaned against me, her legs still across my lap.
I wasn't sure when things had changedâwhen I'd stopped being irritated by this and started finding comfort in it. But I did.
I wasn't sure when I started liking the way she messed with me. The way she challenged me.
But I did.
She finished her meal first, as always, and moved toward the couch, pulling out a few things from her bag. "Time for your spa session," she announced.
I looked up at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
She grinned, holding up a small nail kit. "I'm doing your nails, and then your skincare."
I groaned. "Kruti, I don't need any of that."
"Too bad," she teased, sitting beside me, opening the nail kit. "You've been stressed out all day. Now, sit back and let me pamper you. You deserve it."
I rolled my eyes but didn't protest. She always did thisâtaking matters into her hands and making everything feel so... peaceful. I didn't have the energy to argue.
As she started working on my nails, I let out a small sigh. "You're not going to let me escape this, are you?"
She just laughed. "Nope."
Her fingers worked deftly, her touch surprisingly gentle as she cleaned my nails, shaping them. "You really do need this, Dev."
I grumbled. "I don't."
She shot me a look. "You're lucky I love you."
I froze for a moment. "What?"
She looked up at me, her face slightly flushed. "What? I didn't say anything."
I stared at her, my mind racing. She was teasing me, but there was something in her eyes, a softness that made my heart skip.
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I didn't know what to say. Not anymore.
She continued, moving on to my skin, rubbing lotion into my face with careful hands. "Relax. You don't need to act so tough all the time."
I wasn't sure how long it had been. But soon, my eyelids feel heavy. My body, too, was tired from the day, from the stress of keeping up with everything.
She noticed immediately. "You're falling asleep, aren't you?"
I didn't reply, closing my eyes.
She smiled and kept working, though I could tell she was trying to stifle a laugh. "You're the worst."
A few minutes passed, and I felt the shift in the air. I heard her soft, rhythmic breathing, and then I felt her weight shift.
I opened my eyes to see her, now lying beside me on the couch, her head resting gently on my chest.
I didn't move.
Instead, I just let the peaceful feeling wash over me.
She had fallen asleep, finally giving in to exhaustion, her breathing steady and soft against my chest.
I carefully reached for the blanket, pulling it over her and tucking her in.
I felt like... I could finally breathe.
With her.