TILL INFINITIES END

61. TIA

I pressed the slices of bread into the grill, the quiet click as it closed reminding me how incomplete everything felt today. I always used to watch all these food videos on the internet and used to think that I'll make all of these for Sam, when our vacations after the boards happen, and feed him the first bite, just the way he always offered me first. But now, when I finally learnt to make something for the first time, he was not here. It pained me to know that even after being such a foodie, he had to eat the hostel food there, which he barely even liked.

Come here, sam, I'll make you all the dishes you want. I'll feed you with my own hands, just come.

My mind was focused on making the sandwiches, the simple task keeping me busy, while Mumma and Manav Uncle's voices came in from the living room.

I could hear their laughter, a familiar sound, but I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying. It was just nice having someone like Manav Uncle around again. I could sense the easy comfort between him and Mumma. She always smiled more when he was here. And when I looked at them, I always felt how lucky they are, to be able to grow with each other since childhood? And I was so happy, that mumma was smiling and laughing, because that's all I wanted, especially after how much I hurt her.

As the bread started to warm in the grill, something in the living room caught my ear, something that I couldn't help but pay attention to.

"So, why have you never gotten married?" she asked and honestly, it was something to think about.

I hadn't really paid attention to their conversation before, but something about that line drew me in. Why hadn't he gotten married? Manav Uncle was always so charming, always so... in control. Any woman would stay happy with him; and that too so effortlessly because of the kind of person he was. Then why did he choose to stay single?

I could hear him laugh, "I'm just too busy with work, and honestly, I've never found the right person. You know how it is."

The grill popped up, my attention drifted towards that, as I just prepared another slide. I don't know how it feels to be older, but at least right now I feel like if I remain unmarried, I wouldn't be able to bear it. For sure.

For a while I couldn't pay attention to the conversation but then something came up which went through my heart.

"Seems like going to USA is coming out to be fruitful in many ways" mumma said.

"Not USA, but in general. I leave most of the things to luck now. And anyway, finding love isn't the only thing that matters. You can get love in many forms—friendship, family, even in your work. Why should it only come from a partner or a lover? It doesn't have to necessarily romantic." his voice came through.

I stood there, suddenly still. His words hit me in a way I didn't expect. I'd always thought love was something you had to find with one person—someone who would make you feel special, who would complete you. For me, that person was Sam. But hearing what Manav Uncle said, my chest tightened, and I felt... confused.

Love doesn't have to come from a partner?

His perspective was so different from mine. I'd been drowning in the pain of loving Sam—one-sided, suffocating love. I thought love had to be romantic, had to be from the person you wanted, from someone who could sweep you off your feet, who could give you those perfect moments you saw in movies. But here was Manav Uncle, talking about love like it was something bigger than that, something that didn't necessarily come from a relationship.

"True, but love can be pretty special, too," she asked, "Don't you ever feel like you're missing something?"

Her question felt valid.