Here After!

27. Time Slips Away

Giri

As I sat in the quiet room, sipping the last of my tea, the house felt unusually still. Mom had already left for her errands, and Anu was fast asleep. The morning seemed to stretch on, each second ticking by, yet I felt no rush. It was one of those rare days where time seemed to slow down, allowing me to savor the quiet moments.

I glanced at the clock, realizing that soon, it would be lunchtime, and the rhythm of the day would shift once more. But for now, the house was calm, and the peace was almost comforting. I thought about the little moments from the night before, how time slipped by without me noticing, how easy it was to get lost in the simple joy of being with her. I wondered if she felt the same, or if I was just overthinking everything.

Eventually, I found myself standing outside on the terrace, watching as the world moved at its own pace. People walked by, cars passed in the distance, and the breeze rustled the leaves. For a while, I just stood there, letting the day unfold, my thoughts wandering in different directions.

I stood there for a while, letting the calmness of the morning wash over me until I heard the soft creak of the door behind me. I turned around to see Anu, wrapped in a light shawl, her eyes still slightly hazy from sleep. She smiled at me, the kind of smile that made everything feel just right like this simple moment was enough.

"Good morning," she said, her voice soft and a little groggy. She came closer, leaning on the railing beside me, her gaze following mine to the street below.

"Morning," I replied, noticing how rested she looked after the long night shift. "Did you sleep well?"

She nodded, her expression peaceful. "Yeah, better than I thought I would. I needed it."

I glanced at the clock. It was already past noon, but neither of us seemed in a hurry to move. The day felt like it was slipping away in the best way possible—without stress, without worry. Just the two of us standing in comfortable silence.

"Mom said she's out running errands and visiting a friend," I mentioned after a while. "She'll be back before you need to leave for work."

Anu nodded absentmindedly, her fingers tracing the patterns on the railing. "I'll get ready in a bit. There's still time."

I knew she wasn't in any rush, and to be honest, I wasn't either. It felt good to be in this quiet moment together, where we didn't have to talk or fill the silence with unnecessary words. It was one of those moments where the presence of someone you love says more than any conversation could.

After a while, she turned to me. "What are you thinking?"

I shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Just that time's slipping away... but it doesn't feel like a bad thing."

She looked at me, her gaze softening, and for a moment, we stood there, lost in the peaceful stillness of the afternoon.

Anu smiled at my words, and we stood there for a little longer, soaking in the quietness. Eventually, she sighed and straightened up, stretching her arms.

"I should probably get ready soon," she said, her voice reluctant, though she didn't make any immediate move to go.

I nodded, watching her with a sense of contentment I couldn't quite explain. Even the small, ordinary moments like this felt important as if we were building something without even trying.

"Take your time," I said casually, but deep down, I wasn't ready for her to leave again. These little moments together were becoming more precious than I ever realized.

Anu glanced at me, sensing my mood, and softly laughed, "Why do I feel like you don't want me to go?"

I grinned, shaking my head. "Because I don't."