A Sew Through Time [Bandbudh And Budbak]

9: Ex-monitor and ex-topper

Someone had organized the kitchen the night before. Inspecting the countertop, Sabina picked up the coffee and fished out a mug from the sink. Cleaning it with tap water hoping it was safe, she dried the inside, filled in hot water, added milk powder and mixed the contents with a bent fork. She took a sip while eyeing the cylindrical glass tube with a stopper containing seeds.

Leaning against the sill, she checked her phone. The muted group chat was glitching with poll wars between the triplets and the twin friends, the duo spamming stickers inbetween.

Gyan walked inside, wearing a faded tshirt, military printed pants, and began fiddling with the containers.

"Kya chahiye?"

"I'm hungry" he felt a tap and turned.

She handed him leftover bhakarwadi.

"Perfect" Gyan crunched on one, shaking the container and tipping the crumbs into his mouth, "You always know what I'm looking for"

"Because you're a picky eater" Sabina chuckled. The biscuit dropped into her coffee.

"I think there's still some there" Gyan looked up.

She set her cup on the table, "Where?"

He pointed at the topmost shelf.

Standing on her tiptoes, Sabina stretched her hand. There was nothing, her hand caught rows of dust. Barely able to stand like that, she put her feet flat on the ground.

"Here"

She took the biscuits from Gyan, "Thanks"

"Again?" He sighed, "I told you not say 'thank you' for every little thing"

"You thank me if I do a favour," she picked one and gave it back, "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because I don't like it"

Sabina caught a whiff of fresh smell carrying the aftermath of scented soap. His shoulders were soaking the back of his loose t shirt; apparently he had taken a bath. The scent of Old spice clung to her nostrils.

"The biscuits doesn't taste good" Gyan mumbled, his teeth on the biscuit and eyes on her.

"Badri and Budh ate up all the cream ones" Sabina grunted, "Especially Badri... He's always pulling my leg and wasting my time! I hate seeing him around..."

"That's just him being him"

"He tires me! He doesn't even take care of his toddler sister and always his chores on me or Karan! And Karan! LHe can't even finish work without my help"

Gyan laughed and said, "You treat Karan like a little brother"

"A troubling one"

"Haha yes!"

Rubbing her nose, Sabina whispered lowly,

"Your hair is nice"

"Ah" he pulled the towel down, "I got to wear my dastar back sometime later"

"Okay"

"What will you do?"

"Huh?" Sabina was taken by surprise, "Um, I, not much really"

He shrugged and began preparing his coffee. The humming microwave overtook the awkward silence before erupting with a ting.

Sabina was silent.

"Still thinking about Reyansh?" Gyan asked, stirring his cup.

"I'm worried about him" she replied, finishing her coffee, "He claimed he had been killed years ago in that school dimension as a child. Yet he remembers his childhood clearly. When I talked to him, I felt like I was talking to a ghost"

Gyan listened attentively.

"How is that even possible?"

"Maybe Reyansh's younger version was trapped with our past versions too" Gyan turned at her, beating the spoon on the rim, "He perished in the altered timeline, but is alive in the original one. That's why you saw him"

"Thank you for telling me"

"No!" Gyan pointed with a sarcastic look, "Too. Much. Formality!"

Sabina laughed.

"That's not the only problem" he added, "There lies the question on how we would send the past versions back and return to ours"

"Yes!"

"We also don't know whether Yuvati is roaming around as we speak"

"Yes..."

"What if she's taking away people from the time slips?"

"Gyan?"

"It's impossible to build another time machine with the resources here and correct the timeline" Gyan did not pause, "Infrared rays...how long would it-"

"Gyan!" Sabina held his face, turned him to her direction and spoke firmly, "Stop overthinking!"

He let go and nodded diligently, grabbed the biscuits and left the kitchen.

Sabina stocked the coffee, filled the water bottles and stacked the dry plates into their respective shelves.

He returned sometime later.

"You forgot something?" Sabina asked without looking up, one hand on the table whilst checking the manufacturing date of cooking oil. She pulled the empty container to refill it.

He placed his hand on hers, locking her fingers.

"Gyan?"

He kissed her cheek.

All Sabina saw fog and his hazy silhouette. Blinking rapidly, she lifted her face.

"Take off my glasses"

"W-why?" She breathed faster.

"It's hard working with them"

She slid a finger behind his frame and pulled it down, placing it on the table.

Gyan touched the ends of her frame, pushed them down with both fingers. Her glasses flew up and he leaned in.

"G-Gyan" Sabina laid down on the kitchen table, "Koi dekhlega!"

His long hairs fell on both her sides, blocking her view of the door and the kitchen.

Leaning in closer, Gyan whispered,

"I love you"