Lunch was simple.
Nothing elaborate.
Just something warm, homemade, and quiet.
---
They sat across from each other.
Plates in front.
Words… not so much.
---
"Salt is okay?" Darini asked, without looking up.
"Yeah," Arjun replied.
A small nod.
Then silence again.
---
It wasn't uncomfortable.
But it wasn't easy either.
---
They were still figuring out how to be… this.
---
After finishing, Darini stood up, collecting the plates.
"I'll just get something," she said, picking up her wallet.
---
A few minutes later, she was back.
A small bag in her hand.
---
"Got drinks," she said casually, placing it on the table.
---
Arjun looked at it, then at her.
There was something oddly normal about the way she said it.
Like this wasn't new for her.
---
But again—
He didn't question.
---
The afternoon felt slow.
Heavy, almost.
The rain hadn't stopped completely—it lingered, soft and continuous, like background noise.
---
Arjun sat on the bed for a while.
Then leaned back.
Then—
Without realizing—
He closed his eyes.
---
Sleep came easily.
---
Darini walked in after finishing up in the kitchen.
She paused.
---
He was asleep.
---
For a second, she just stood there.
Looking at him.
---
No reaction.
No expression.
---
Then quietly—
She sat down on the carpet.
---
Not waking him.
Not disturbing him.
---
She leaned against the side of the bed, pulling her knees slightly closer, her voice soft as she started speaking—
Not loudly.
Not to wake him.
But not completely silent either.
---
"College is hectic these days…"
A small pause.
"Assignments, submissions… same routine."
---
She didn't know if he was listening.
Didn't care.
---
She just spoke.
About her daily life.
About small things.
About nothing important.
---
Like she was used to talking… without expecting a response.
---
After a while, her voice faded.
The room fell quiet again.
---
She reached up, took a pillow from the bed—
Gently.
Carefully, so he wouldn't wake up.
---
And then—
She lay down on the floor.
---
Facing the opposite side.
---
No hesitation.
No second thought.
---
Just… distance.
---
Arjun wasn't fully asleep.
Not anymore.
---
He had woken up somewhere in between her voice.
He didn't move.
Didn't interrupt.
---
But he saw everything.
Felt everything.
---
He didn't understand it.
Why she chose the floor.
Why she didn't sit beside him.
Why she kept that space between them.
---
He smiled faintly.
Confused.
Amused.
A little… thoughtful.
---
His eyes stayed on her.
Watching her still figure out this new version of "them."
---
He didn't say anything.
Didn't stop her.
---
He just waited.
---
For her to turn.
To speak.
To do something that made sense.
---
But she didn't.
---
She stayed there.
Quiet.
Distant.
Comfortable in a way that didn't need explanation.
---
And Arjun—
Lying on the bed, watching her from above—
realized something strange.
---
They had come so far.
From strangers… to something more.
---
And yet—
They still didn't know
how to exist in the same space.
To be continued...