ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 72

Nishtha

My guards are breaking. Big time.
Ever since we got to the penthouse, my mind has been a mess.

It was currently 1am and I couldn't sleep. I had entered my room again and it was exactly how I kept it. My sindoor was there, my mangalsutra was kept there. It was exactly how I left it.
Did he even stay in the house after I went? Even if he did, why would he use your room Nishtha?
Right.

I had changed into shorts and a loose top, with my hair in a messy bun, as I worked on the project. Then, I started to feel hungry so I went to the kitchen. When hungry, only Maggi helps!

I walked downstairs, not wanting to wake him. Reaching the kitchen, I quickly switched on the stove and got my Maggi out. I was scrolling on my phone when I heard a voice behind me. "I see your late night snacking habit isn't gone."

I turned to see Yuvaan leaning by the door. He looked so good! His track pants and thin tshirt, and his messy hair and sleepy voice.
"I didn't mean to wake you." I said.
"It's okay. I wasn't sleepy." He looked at me.
I gazed at him, before saying, "Do you want to eat Maggi?"
He smiled and nodded, "I'd love to."

I increased the packet to add one more and I saw him come closer to me and bend down and get another utensil. Then, I watched him add water into it.

"I...I'll make it for you. I'm making Maggi, I can just add it into this." I said.
He chuckled, "I'm not making Maggi."
"Then?"
"What's the best combination with Maggi?" He said and I gave him a small smile.
"Chai." We said in unison.
He chuckled, "Exactly senorita." He kissed my palm and continued to make chai.

Once it was made, I took the bowls of Maggi out and he brought the chai. Before I could leave the kitchen, he stopped me, "Nishu wait!"
"What?" I turned and asked.
"The weather is nice. We'll eat in the balcony, come." He said and took a tray out.

I placed the bowls in the tray and he placed the chai cups in it as well and we walked towards the rooms. Then, we stood in front of them.
"Whose room?" He asked me.
"Umm, anyone." I said, confused.
He looked at me, "Open my door." I nodded and opened it and we walked inside.

His room had a grey aesthetic. I love it. I noticed a library in the corner of it and my eyes wouldn't leave from there.
"Nishu?" He said, bringing me out, "Come." I left it and sat in the balcony, with him on the chair next to me.

We took our bowls and cups and started to eat the maggi. He took a bite, then spoke, "You're the only one who can convince me that soupy Maggi is better."
I looked at him, then chuckled a little, "That's not yours, that's mine." I said and passed him the other bowl, "I know you don't like soupy Maggi."
"Oh." He said and smiled, "I didn't mind." I looked at him, pressing my lips and raising my eyebrows, he sighed and chuckled, "Ok fine, you're right. I didn't want soupy."
I chuckled and he gave me his bowl.

I took it and had a sip. Perfect.

He looked at me and smile, "What?" I asked, confused by his reaction.
"Kuch nahi." He said, and continued eating.

I ate in silence until I realized what just happened, I ate from the same fork as him.
Oh.

I looked at him eating his maggi quietly, with his chai. He wasn't talking and somehow I didn't like that. I wanted him to talk.
"Why are you sitting in silence?" I asked.
"What?" He said, "Oh, I thought..."
"What?"
"I thought you'd want me to sit quietly." I looked at him.
I also thought I'd want the same.
"No, talk." I said, hoping he does.

He chuckled, then spoke, "What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know." I said.
"You know this is new territory for me, I'm not the yapper, you are." He said.
"I'm not a yapper!" I argued, "Kuch bhi."
"Acha!" He chuckled, "what about the time we were going to Pune and you almost got us thrown out of the bus because of your talking?"
I looked at him, embarrassed, "That's not my fault. The uncle is too quiet. It's a public bus, everyone's allowed to talk as much."
"That's what all yappers say." He teased.
I glared at him, "I should have made your maggi soupy."
"Oh really? I'd have made your chai extra sweet then!" He said casually.
"You shouldn't dare." I said.
"Oh I very much would." We looked at each other, then laughed slightly.

After 5 minutes of silence, Yuvaan suddenly spoke, "Do you miss the US?"
I looked at him, then gave a small smile, "I don't know. Sometimes I do."
"You went to Chicago recently, didn't you miss it?"
"I did, but I don't know if I missed the university life or the city itself, but.... I did miss it."
"Would you ever move back there?"
"Move back? No. I can't."
"Why not?"
"Well, I have a job here."
"That's not an issue. IBM, I know, has an office in Chicago."
"Yeah but it's not just the job. I have my friends here, I have my family here. I have Aai Baba, Maa Papa, plus you're here to—"
I stopped mid sentence.

Did I just count him in my family?

"I... I meant..." I tried to cover up but he was just smiling, so I gave in, "you are here too." I said, looking down.
"You know that I'd come with you wherever you want to go, you don't have to stop yourself."
"You're going to be the CEO of YUVA soon, you can't work remotely. Akal laga." I said.
He chuckled, "Well, you got a point."

I sat embarrassed for a good 5 mins before I tried to ease the mood, "the weather is good."
He hummed, "Yeah surprisingly."
"Surprisingly?"
"Yeah, for the last 2 years, October hasn't gotten too much rain."
"Shouldn't the rain stop now?"
"It should, but it hasn't. It usually stops in November now."
"Acha." I said and took a sip of the chai, "Wow, it's good."
He smirked, "Why thank you ma'am!"
"Did you add lemongrass to this?"
"I did, glad you noticed. Finally someone did!"
"What do you mean?" I chuckled.
"I always used to add it and Mom Dad never noticed it, you're the only one who did."
"Honored." I said smiling.

We sat in silence for the rest of the meal, it was comfortable silence. - which is something that used to be so nice. So cozy.
I liked it.

"Well, I guess we should sleep. It's 3am."
"Yeah." I nodded, "it's late" We got up and went to the kitchen to clean everything.

I was cleaning when he added, "C...Can we.."
"Why are you hesitating?" I said while washing the dishes.
"I was going to ask, can we do this again?" He said and I looked at him. He was looking down.

That's cute.

I cleaned the dishes and then we headed up to our rooms. We reached our doors when I stopped him, "Yuvaan?"
"Yeah?" He said.
"We can do this again." I gave him a small smile.
He smiled at me, "Thank you."
He was about to in his room when I called him again, "Yuvaan."
"Yes cherí." He said, leaning on the door.

"I don't hate you." I smiled at him.

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