A Bond Of Intellect

Chapter - 32

Then after their talk, Riti agreed, then before a month of joining her college, they went to see there apartment, and to Riti's surprise it was bigger than last one, "Wow! It's so big..." Then Evan said " yeah, because the previous one was meant for me only but since everything happen at sudden, i  didn't think about changing the apartment".

Riti checking everything, it has a big living room, a big balcony where they can freely sit, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a extra room use for storage, while seeing two bedrooms, Riti got scared and disappointed, " S-so , there is two bedrooms...." She pulls the sentence long to get Evan's intention, but he didn't listen her.

Seeing it she moves closer to him, and said " So, where are we gonna sleep? "
And Evan reply softly, "What's wrong! we have two bedrooms and u are asking where are we gonna sleep," but then seeing the look on Riti's face, he smiles while covering his mouth with his hands,  "Oh, are u worried about which room to choose for urself", he said, " I think u are gonna like the left one, as it have a nice view from window" , but Riti didn't reply anything, her face was like she was gonna break at any moment but then say after little pause, "W-why,... T-there was no need of two rooms", and looks up at him, seeing her face Evan laugh, and cupped her face, "It was just a spare room for incase if someone visits us, " said softly and kiss at her forehead.

Hearing it smile formed on Riti's face and then she asks, half daring "I get to decorate?"

Evan smirked, "One condition__ you don't turn the living room like an history of Asia"

Hearing it Riti got shocked, he looked up at him and gave him a smile which shows her secret got exposed, "Do u read mind, how do u know my taste,"

Then Evan said, " You think u can hide it that easily, like ur phone wallpaper, ur phone case, ur little things, all of them have like some historical paintings, swords, and etc ......."

Then riti smiles mischievously and said, " Okay, we will see that .... "
 
Then finally her first day of college arrived like a whisper, tucked into the crisp morning breeze and the hurried clatter of utensils in the kitchen. Riti stirred under blanket but didn't wake__ not until she feels the scent of Evan in front of her, pulling her halfway into the world.

Evan had woken up early, moved through the kitchen quietly, mechanically, sleeves rolled and jaw tight with focus. The sky was still navy blue when he lit the stove. He scrambled eggs, prepare breakfast with care, toasted bread until it was golden enough ___ not too soft not too burnt.

Then as riti feels that evan has enter the room, she suddenly sit on the bed like the world was ending and see evan and gave him a guilty smile ".. heh.... G-good morning." And Evan raised his one brow, said " Seems like you want to be late on ur first day, only 30 mins.... , in that time get ready and come out for breakfast". Then Riti without delaying got up get ready and come outside, hurriedly take her toast and eat fastily.

Evan see it and said " You've  got time, eat slowly,  and have u packed ur bag? " hearing it Riti look at Evan, and shook head slowly and said as she saw Evan's glare at her, "I-its , my first day, p-please..."  Then Evan got up and didn't scold her and pack her bag.

And after breakfast they get in car, after dropping Riti at college, Evan headed to his own_ a weary journey, 2  hours in going and 2 hours in coming. He reach just in time to catch his first lecture, taught back to back, after his last third class, he left the college.

By evening, Evan's eyes stung, body aching. But at 5:30 sharp, he was waiting near the gate in his car, as Riti came they go home together, but Riti didn't know how much energy it's cost him to reach there.

At home, they sat across textbooks and notes, Riti often frustrated, hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, mumbling through anatomy charts and chemistry cycles. And when the tears came _as they sometimes did from sheer pressure __ he was beside her. Calming her and helping her in every way.  Sometimes repeating formulas like lullabies until her anger melted into quiet focus.

Then at night while Riti studying or sometimes resting her head on the table with a sigh of defeat, Evan stood again back to the kitchen. This time for dinner.

Weeks passed this way. A cycle of care and exhaustion. Of efforts unnoticed _ not because she didn't appreciate it, but because she didn't quite see it.

Until one holiday. The sun rose quietly that day. And so did she. The clock blinked 6:00 Am. She turned to find Evan still asleep, for once undisturbed, breath steady and deep. He was not awake like usual, hadn't prepared breakfast, hadn't even stirred. And that's when it hit her.

He never stopped, not for one day. Guilt swelled in her chest; she sat up carefully slipping out of bed and tiptoeing into the kitchen. She stood there for a full minute, eyes roaming over the things he touched daily without a word _knives in the sink, eggs in the fridge, onions already peeled and kept in container.

She turned on the stove. Burned the toast twice. Cried while cutting veggies. Tried again.

By the time Evan woke, there was steam in the kitchen and spices in the air. A wobbly plate of parathas waited beside lukewarm tea.

He rubbed his eyes." What's going on?"

Riti stood in the doorway, flour on her cheek, trying not to smile too much. "Today you rest, and I will do the work".

Evan blinked at her, a slow grin spreading as he sat down. "This smell dangerous".

" I have tasted them, I-it's not that bad".

His hands went on her cheek wiping the flour from her face, and eat the breakfast, and eat it without any excuse, at the end saying, "Seems like u have got improved".