You Feel Like Home

Chapter 21: Setting Our New World Together

~Arushi~

Ansh was back from the gym in an hour, on point. And till then I was of course done with my shower and everything. He had to take a shower and I had already preheated the water. I thought to make something for breakfast by then but he stopped me saying it was too late to have some heavy breakfast so we should go for some snacks only. Truly, it was too late and if we had something heavy, we'll lose our appetite for lunch as well.

So going with that thought, we had some cookies and coffee then decided to have an early lunch. Unlike yesterday, I beat him in the debate today and we had a proper lunch with enough food items. In between the time of breakfast and lunch, we both worked to settle our basic necessary things at first. Mainly he had done it already yesterday but helped me with mine, whichever he could do.

So now after lunch, we had settled almost everything around the quarter giving it a nice homely feeling. Though I thought to add some decoratives as it looked too plain from our house or even his room, I was skeptical if he'll like it or it was allowed in the academy rulebook.

I was checking the rations in the kitchen to make sure we had enough dry items for the month and raw items for the week. I didn't know if it was the right way to stack up the grocery items but Ginni had told me during my Pehli Rasoi that Mom used to buy things like that. She used to make a list of every item, apart from vegetables, that'll be needed around the month to but then at once. So maybe I'll just follow it.

Also I talked to Mom, for like one and a half hours, giving her details of all that has happened here till now and asking some home management lessons as well. Ansh talked for a while but then he, too, left two of us to complete our gossip. I wonder if he felt sidelined in our convo, I should probably apologize to him for that.

“Hey, what are you doing?”, Ansh asked, coming to the kitchen which grabbed my attention. “Oh, I was checking the rations to make sure we have enough things for the month or if we need to buy something”, I asserted and he nodded understanding my point. “You wanted to say something?”, I asked

“I just wanted to ask if you wanna go out, I mean look around Kashmir or something. You've only two days left for your joining so you'll get busy after that again”, he said and for a moment, I felt like he wasn't asking for going out, rather he wanted to go out to spend time with me. But I shook the thought off, it wouldn't be possible, I'm practically always around him. But the offer wasn't bad and I wouldn't deny that maybe I felt him thinking that because I was feeling it. We both will join our duties which meant more of the work and less of the time for being together.

“Can we umm… go to the market… instead? I guess some decoratives will… will look good here and we could get some monthly items as well”, I hesitantly suggested but he agreed instantly. “Sounds fine to me. So we leave in half an hour?”, he asked and started to leave when I nodded.

I, too, turned back to complete the list when he spoke up again, “And…” I turned back to look at him and he did the same. “This is your house, you wanna change something or decorate it, it's up to you, be free to voice it out. Try not to fumble the next time”, he implored and I nodded with a small smile. “I'll try that”

He gave an appreciative nod then went to get ready. I completed the list and followed him soon after.

Getting ready, we both were in the parking lot of the academy. I first thought maybe we'll take some local vehicle ride but I was surprised when he uncovered a black SUV in the parking lot. He unlocked it with the keys which meant it was his but I didn't see it in Mumbai. “This is yours?”, I asked but instantly regretted my dumbness. He had the keys so of course it's his.