Silent Hearts

35| Thirty-five

Everything is better with you,
everything has been better since you.

***

Her steady hands arranged the files properly, lean fingers busied in keeping all his pens in one section of the wooden holder while putting the calculator beside it. There were a few blank sheets which she assumed he would be working on later, so she kept them inside the first, pale yellow file. His office desk was never really that unorganized, to begin with, so even with a few adjustments here and there, it always felt new and improved.

Although Tushar had turned his study room into his workplace two months ago, with her help, of course, he never really used it much. Mostly, he preferred to be on his laptop in his bedroom or the drawing room. The study room, with its rich mahogany desk and an old, wooden bookshelf, remained an almost ceremonial space-a testament to his aspirations of a perfect work-life balance.

She understood his habits and whims, and in these small acts of help, she found a quiet contentment, a way to be part of his world, even if he was physically absent in the daytime. The room itself was a sanctuary of sorts, filled with the scent of old books-important ones he still kept ranging from a few of his high-school books and those from his graduation, and a faint hint of sandalwood from the incense sticks he occasionally burned. The large window– a meter away from her, let in the warm light, casting gentle shadows that danced across the polished tiled floor.

The desk, with its neatly stacked files and arranged stationery stood clean on the right side, attached to the wall. The bookshelf, meticulously organized by genre and author, held everything from classic literature to modern business guides, each book waiting to be explored, however, to her those felt quite boring.

She took a moment to admire her handiwork, feeling a sense of pride in the order she brought to the space. It was more than just tidying up; it was creating an environment where Tushar could find focus. Even if he seldom used the room, she hoped that he would appreciate the calm and order it offered.

Against the opposite wall stood a small bed, unassuming yet inviting, and a modest table. Aside from these pieces of minimal furniture, the room was quite small compared to the others in the house. She remembered it being the room where he would seclude himself years ago. As his mother had often told her, Tushar would rarely come out, a recluse in his own home. Her inquiries about him back then were rare and tentative, always met with the same answer.

When he decided to set up a dedicated workspace, she thought it would be better to keep all his work essentials here, away from his bedroom where they would only create chaos. To her surprise and relief, he had readily agreed, understanding the need for a distinct boundary.

It wasn't a chore for her, and most of the time she would help Pauli didi with the cleaning, but when it came to things relating to work, she would arrange them herself. Tushar had never asked her to do so; in fact, he always looked uncomfortable when she did his work, to which she would simply smile.

She could understand him–he was always accustomed to doing his own work, and she realized he did it well. After all, her husband was a very neat and organized man. Each item on his desk seemed to have its designated place, a reflection of his diligence. The way he handled his tasks with precision and grace never failed to impress her.

His ethics were unwavering, and amidst the chaos of the world, he exuded a rare sense of calmness and patience, like a steady anchor in a stormy sea.