𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘

I | home

Shravani

I

I froze for a moment, unsure if I was dreaming. My heart raced, skipping a beat. The sound of the knock echoed through the quiet house. He was home.

I jumped up, almost tripping over my own feet as I rushed to the door. My hands trembled as I reached for the doorknob, a mixture of excitement and nerves making my breath come in shallow bursts. I had been waiting for this moment for so long.

When I opened the door, there he was. Keshav. Standing there in his army uniform, looking tired but relieved. His dark eyes met mine, softening as he took me in.

"Shravani," he said, his voice low and weary.

"Keshav," I whispered back, my voice barely audible. I couldn't stop smiling, but it felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest.

He stepped inside, and the familiar scent of him filled the air - a mix of fresh rain and the faint trace of his uniform. My gaze flickered to the CCTV camera above the door. He noticed it, his eyes narrowing slightly before they met mine again.

"I thought I asked you to keep the CCTV on," he said softly, his tone stern but not unkind. His gaze searched mine, waiting for an explanation.

I bit my lip, feeling like a child caught red-handed. "I... I turned it off," I admitted quietly. "I just didn't like the thought of being watched all the time."

He studied me for a moment, his eyes softening. "It's for your safety," he said, calm but firm, the concern evident in his tone. "I just want you to be safe."

I nodded quickly, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I'll turn it back on," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn't want to argue; I understood why it mattered, even if it made me feel a little trapped.

His smile returned, warm and reassuring, easing the tension. "It's alright," he said, dropping his bag by the door. "I know you don't like it, but it's important."

I stood there for a moment, still in shock. He was home. I could hardly believe it.

"Are you hungry?" I asked after a moment, my voice steadier now that the initial wave of emotion was subsiding. He must have been starving after his journey.

"Yeah," he replied, unbuttoning his uniform as he headed toward the bathroom. "I could eat."

I watched him disappear into the bathroom, the soft click of the door closing behind him making the silence feel heavier. What should I make? My mind raced. What do army officers eat after six months away? What did he want?

I opened the fridge, staring blankly at the half-used milk, forgotten eggs, and leftovers. Nothing seemed right. Nothing felt good enough.

I chewed my lip, pacing between the kitchen and dining room, completely lost. Should I make something comforting? Or just something quick?

The sound of the bathroom door opening pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced up, and my breath caught. Keshav stepped out in a plain white shirt and grey sweatpants, his hair still damp from the shower. The towel he was drying it with hung loosely over his shoulder. Even in something so casual, he looked... perfect.

I quickly turned back to the stove, my cheeks warming. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd cooked a proper meal, let alone one that would impress him.

He walked into the kitchen, glancing around before noticing the lack of food. "You didn't make anything?" he asked, an amused smile tugging at his lips.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I... I didn't know what to make," I admitted quietly. "I didn't want to mess it up."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's okay."

I watched as he opened the pantry, pulled out a packet of Maggi noodles, and began cooking. My heart sank a little. I felt like I'd failed somehow, letting him do everything.

"I'm sorry I didn't cook for you," I murmured, staring at the counter and feeling small.

He glanced over at me, his expression soft. "It's fine," he said with a reassuring smile. "We'll have Maggi. It's good."

I couldn't help but smile back. It was comforting, even if I felt a little silly.

I watched him cook, the sound of the noodles bubbling on the stove filling the quiet kitchen. For the first time in months, everything felt... right. Not perfect, but real.

We sat down to eat in silence. I picked up the spoon and blew gently on the noodles, trying to cool them down. The steam curled into the air.

Maggi had always been my comfort food, and I couldn't help but smile a little as I twirled the noodles around my spoon.

Keshav glanced at me, his lips curving into a small smile. "Still too hot?" he asked.

I nodded quickly, blowing again, my cheeks heating-not just from the steam. "You could say that," I mumbled, focusing on the bowl like it was the most important thing in the world.

He chuckled softly and went back to eating. We ate in comfortable silence. It wasn't awkward; it was... easy.

"Is it too soon to say I missed you?" he asked, his voice low and vulnerable, just above a whisper.

My heart skipped a beat. I looked up at him, feeling the same weight in my chest, the same longing. "No," I said softly. "I missed you too."

For a moment, we didn't say anything else. We just let the words hang in the air. There was something about the way he looked at me that made everything feel like it was falling into place. Just us.

Together again.