Hamesha, forever

chapter- 40

The days had settled into a quiet rhythm. The echoes of past confrontations faded, replaced by a more peaceful, if still somewhat tense, atmosphere. I threw myself into my studies, determined to make the most of the opportunity to continue my education. Ayaan was preparing for his mains, which were only a few months away. His focus was unyielding, spending long hours at home studying, while Dev and I attended college during the day.

Every afternoon, I returned home, a sense of accomplishment mixed with anticipation as I made my way up to our room. Today was no different. I pushed open the door and found Ayaan sitting on the bed, a math problem book open in front of him, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Hey, you,” I greeted, smiling at him.

He looked up, a small smile breaking through his focused expression. “Hey, how was college?”

“Good,” I replied, setting my bag down. “Let me get cleaned up.”

I headed to the washroom, washing away the day’s grime and changing into comfortable clothes. Freshened up, I felt a renewed sense of energy. I went downstairs to find Mama in the kitchen, already busy with dinner preparations.

“Can I help, Mama?” I asked, tying my hair back.

Mama looked up from the stove, a warm smile on her face. “Of course, beta. Can you chop the vegetables?”

As we worked side by side, we slipped into an easy conversation. The tension from the confrontation with my father and Ayaan’s outburst had eased somewhat, and we were all trying to move forward.

“Mama, I’m so glad things have calmed down,” I said, chopping carrots into neat pieces.

She nodded, her eyes softening. “Yes, Maya. We just need to support each other and stay strong.”

Dinner preparations continued smoothly, and soon enough, the delicious aroma filled the house. Mama handed me a bowl. “Go call Ayaan down for dinner.”

I went back upstairs, opening the door to find Ayaan in the same position, still deeply engrossed in his studies.

“I can’t believe you’ve been sitting here studying this whole time,” I teased, laughing as I entered the room.

Ayaan rolled his eyes at me. “There’s a lot to cover. I need to stay focused.”

“Aren’t you going to do any football practice?” I asked, genuinely curious. Ayaan was always so active, and it was strange to see him sitting still for so long.

He shook his head. “Not right now. I have too much studying to do.”

“Come on, Ayaan, you need to take a break. Dinner’s ready,” I urged.

But he shook his head again, his eyes never leaving his book. “I’ll eat later.”

I tried persuading him a few more times, but he remained stubborn. Finally, I gave up and went downstairs to have dinner with Mama. After a quiet meal and a brief chat, I prepared a plate of food and headed back to our room.

I handed the plate to Ayaan. “Here, eat something.”

He barely glanced up. “I’m too busy.”

Rolling my eyes, I tore off a piece of roti, dipped it in curry, and brought it to his lips. “You have to eat, Ayaan.”

He groaned but opened his mouth, taking a reluctant bite. “I really don’t want to eat,” he mumbled through a mouthful.

I ignored his complaints and continued feeding him, smiling as he begrudgingly chewed and swallowed. The simple act of feeding him felt intimate, a quiet moment of care amidst the stress and chaos.