ℂ𝕆ℂ𝕂𝕋𝔸𝕀𝕃𝕊 𝕎𝕀𝕋ℍ ℂ𝕌ℙ𝕀𝔻

𝟮𝟴

𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙥𝙩
>>>>–––– 💘 ––––<<<<

Mithra's frown deepened as she realized Shakthi hadn't come down for breakfast, and it was far too late for him to still be at home. His absence was unusual. Deciding to check on him, she headed upstairs. She reached his door, she tried knocking but there were no answer, hence she turned the handle. When she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Shakthi still soundly asleep, cocooned under the covers. The room was quiet except for his steady breathing. 

Mithra's frown softened as she approached the bed, pulling back the blanket to reveal Shakthi sprawled on his stomach. His hair was a tousled mess, and his cheeks were adorably squished against the pillow. 

Shaking her head in amusement, she cleared her throat loudly, hoping the sound would be enough to stir him. 

Shakthi?

He didn't budge an inch, even when Mithra gently tapped his shoulder, only mumbling something incoherent before sinking deeper into sleep. She smiled affectionately, sitting on the edge of the bed as she watched him. How cute he looked, she thought, his usual energetic self replaced by a rare calmness. For a moment, she just admired the peacefulness on his face.

She noticed a stray hair that had fallen across his face and, with her forefinger, gently brushed it back. Abruptly, Shakthi's eyes flew open, causing Mithra to gasp in surprise. In a swift motion, he sat up, and before Mithra could pull away in shock, his arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, keeping her in place. Her heart raced, but his sleepy eyes blinked at her, still half-dazed from waking up.

Mithra could feel the steady thump of Shakthi's heartbeat, almost in sync with the rapid blinking of her own eyelids as she processed what had just happened. Her surprise slowly gave way to an odd sense of calm, as if the closeness between them, though unexpected, wasn't entirely unwelcome. Shakthi's arms stayed around her waist, his heartbeat rhythmic and grounding amidst the quiet of the room. Mithra's breath hitched slightly, but she didn't pull away, her mind too scattered to make sense of the moment.

Shakthi

403 continued staring at her unaware of how lost he was in her eyes, Mithra hesitantly raised her hand and pushed against his chest,

Shakthi

403 quickly snapped out of his reverie, his eyes darting away as he slowly removed his hands from Mithra's waist. She too shifted, sitting up properly, both of them avoiding each other's gaze as the tension in the air grew more palpable. 403 felt especially awkward, not fully understanding the strange emotions swirling within him. Clearing his throat, he awkwardly broke the silence, desperate to ease the moment.

Yennachu?

( What happened?)

He asked her,

Adhu nee innum yelundhirikalae, adhan yelapalamnu vandhen. Office'ku late achula?

( You hadn't woke up yet, so I came to wake you up. You're late for your office)

403 rolled his head and mockingly said,

Late ah lam onnu agala

( No, I'm not late)

Mithra frowned at him, she looked at the clock and told him,

Illa Shakthi, romba late achu

( No Shakthi, it is already too late)

Aiyo Mihtra, naan dhan inniki office polaye, aprom yepdhi na late?

( But I'm not even going today, then how am I late?)