Crush fever

Jeevan's Dilemma

As the morning sun filtered through the curtains, Karan was already in the kitchen, humming softly as he flipped dosas on the pan. The aroma of ghee, roasted chillies, and sambar filled the air, giving the house a comforting warmth.

Jeevan walked in, still drowsy but curious. "Is my sister still asleep?" he asked, rubbing his neck.

Karan smiled without looking up. "She might not have slept well after yesterday's drama."

Jeevan chuckled, leaning against the counter. "Hmm, that might be true. But she still needs to go to the office, right?"

"She will," Karan replied, his tone calm and sure.

"When she might get late?" Jeevan asked, pretending to sound serious.

Karan turned, a playful glint in his eyes. "No worries. I've arranged everything. She just needs to freshen up and eat. I'll drop her on time."

Jeevan let out a laugh. "You've thought of everything, Karan. I couldn't sleep peacefully yesterday, lost in my thoughts."

"I know," Karan said gently. "That's why I asked to postpone your interview. Focus on that and ace it. We'll handle everything else."

Jeevan's face softened, touched by the concern in his friend's voice. "I will. After the interview, I'll get back in sync with you both."

Karan smiled and left the kitchen to wake Dhruthi.

She was fast asleep, hugging her pillow, her hair scattered across her face like silk threads. He paused for a moment, admiring her childlike innocence before calling out softly, "Dhruthi, wake up."

Her voice came out sleepy and muffled. "Five more minutes, please."

"You might get late for office," Karan teased.

"That's fine," she murmured, burying her face in the pillow. "My manager can wait."

Karan laughed quietly. "No, wake up and get ready. Everything's ready. If you don't feel like going, take the day off."

She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes, still lost in half-dreams. When she looked up, she froze. Jeevan was standing by the door, smiling. Memories of the previous night flashed through her mind, tightening her chest.

But Jeevan's expression was warm, almost amused. He was seeing a new side of Karan, and he liked it.

"Come on," he said, breaking the silence. "Karan, I'll drop her today. Don't make me wait too long."

Karan smiled knowingly. He understood Jeevan's intention to talk to Dhruthi alone. "Dhruthi, come down after freshening up," he said softly. "Breakfast is ready. We'll eat together and talk a bit."

Her eyes flickered between Karan's gentle smile and Jeevan's steady gaze. Still trying to process the morning's calm, she nodded and hurried to get ready.

The three soon gathered at the dining table. The scent of dosas and sambar filled the room, mixing with the warmth of morning chatter. Jeevan's eyes scanned the plates and landed on a crispy dosa sprinkled with chillies.

"My sister only eats plain dosa, Karan," he said, his tone teasing.

Karan's eyes gleamed with amusement. "I know. The plain ones are right there. I kept them aside for her. We're the ones who need the spice, right Jeevan?"

He passed the plate to Dhruthi with a small grin. Jeevan blinked in surprise, impressed. "You even know her dosa preference? How long have you two been together?"

Karan's smile turned softer. "Four months. Not very long, but in these months, we've learned a lot about each other. We're not perfect, but together, we can make things perfect." His words carried quiet confidence and a touch of emotion.

Jeevan's teasing expression faded into thoughtful admiration. For the first time, he saw the depth in Karan's eyes.

After breakfast, Jeevan and Dhruthi set out for the office on his bike. The early sunlight painted the streets in gold, and a cool breeze tugged at Dhruthi's hair as she held onto her brother's shoulders.

She had wanted to talk to him since the previous night, but the right moment hadn't come. As the bike slowed near a traffic signal, she finally spoke. "What do you think of Karan, brother?"

He didn't respond immediately. The hum of the engine filled the silence. When the signal turned green, he smiled and said, "I'm happy for you, Dhruthi. I've known Karan since childhood. He's a good man. The bond you share feels genuine. The age gap doesn't matter to me, and our parents wouldn't hesitate to bless your relationship. They'd probably start planning your wedding before you even ask."

A shy smile spread across Dhruthi's face, the wind brushing against her cheeks. "Thanks, bro," she whispered.

He nodded, his voice calm. "Go on now, don't keep your manager waiting."

She laughed. "You sound just like Karan."

He chuckled as she waved and walked into her office. Watching her disappear into the crowd, he turned the bike around, his thoughts already on the upcoming interview.

Across town, Karan rode to his own office, the wind tugging at his hair. But his mind wasn't on work. It lingered on Dhruthi's sleepy smile, on Jeevan's calm voice, and on the strange peace that filled the morning