It was a quiet Sunday evening, and the soft golden glow from the setting sun bathed the apartment in a warm, gentle light. The sound of soft, classic Kannada music filled the small kitchen where Lakshmi was busy chopping onions, humming along to the legendary Rajkumar song "Jeeva Veene Seri" playing on her Spotify. Cooking had always been therapeutic for her, a way to lose herself in the rhythm of slicing and stirring, with the melodies of old songs carrying her thoughts away.
Meanwhile, Shruti lay sprawled on the couch in the living room, flipping lazily through her phone, occasionally glancing at her friend bustling about in the kitchen. It was moments like these that made her feel like she had a slice of home in this shared apartment with Lakshmi. They'd known each other since the third grade, their friendship woven from years of memories, laughter, and support through each other's highs and lows.
Suddenly, Shruti heard a loud clatter and sighed, rolling her eyes. She knew exactly what that sound meant.
"Lakshmi, stop it! I'm tired of cleaning up your mess," she called, only half-joking.
Lakshmi peeked out from the kitchen, holding up an onion peel with an innocent grin. "Oh, please, dear Shru, it was only an onion peel. I'll make your favorite egg masala curry if you clean it for me!"
Shruti narrowed her eyes, feigning reluctance but unable to resist Lakshmi's pleading look. "Fine. But this better be the best egg masala curry of my life."
Lakshmi smiled in triumph, tossing the peel into the trash. She turned back to her cooking, stirring the curry with care, letting the warm spices fill the air. The scent of cumin, coriander, and garlic wafted through the apartment, making Shruti's stomach growl.
While she waited, Lakshmi continued to hum to herself, lost in the music. She loved these quiet evenings, cooking while listening to her favorite classic songs. It brought her a sense of peace that was rare these days.
But then, a thought broke her concentration. She turned to Shruti, looking around the kitchen in confusion. "Where's the... oh no. Shru, I think we're out of eggs!"
Shruti sighed dramatically, grabbing her bag and fishing out some cash. "Oh my god, Lakshmi. What else would you like?" she asked with a teasing smile.
Lakshmi laughed, waving her off. "No, no, just eggs. And make that five!"
Shruti shook her head, chuckling as she headed out the door. "Fine, fine, five eggs it is. But hurry up with that curry—I'm starving!"
As Shruti stepped out, a gust of cool evening air greeted her, and she found herself smiling. Despite everything she'd been through in the past few months, having Lakshmi around kept her grounded. Lakshmi had been her rock during the recent heartbreak with her ex, helping her laugh and dance away her sadness, even on the roughest days.
Soon enough, Shruti was back with the eggs, holding the bag up triumphantly. "Eggs are here! Take them quick, or I'm gonna pass out from hunger."
"Yes, yes, I'm on it!" Lakshmi replied, setting the eggs into the pan with a dramatic flourish. The aroma of the egg masala curry was beginning to fill the apartment, rich and warm, making them both salivate.
They finally sat down to eat, savoring the perfectly spiced curry with soft chapatis. The flavors were everything Shruti had hoped for—comforting, full of warmth, and, just as Lakshmi had promised, the best egg masala curry she'd ever tasted.
As they cleaned up, Shruti broke the peaceful silence. "Lakshmi... can I ask you something?"
Lakshmi paused, her expression softening. But she shook her head lightly, a small, almost sad smile on her lips. "Yes, but not about my solitude, Shru."
