UNSPOKEN BONDS

9. The Dinner

© archanaj1308 2026. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

The following days after the emotional moment, didn't slow down for either of them. They simply learned how to exist inside the pace. At Hibiki, Amritha fell into a clean rhythm again. Early edits, quiet coordination with Erica, quick syncs with Sakina. Her desk stayed half-covered in drafts for Japan, color-coded notes spreading into neat stacks that somehow still looked controlled.

Between work bursts, her phone stayed face-down-except when it didn't.

Sam: Lunch? Don't skip.

Ammu: After the meeting

Sam: You say that like I believe you'll eat later.

Ammu: I will.

Sam: I'll check.

Ammu: You won't.

Sam: I already did.

She didn't reply to that one immediately. But she did eat. And somehow, that became their new normal-small interruptions in otherwise packed days, like punctuation in a sentence neither of them was rushing to finish.

At the same time, Samarth moved through his own schedule like a quiet machine. Meetings. Investment reviews. Project approvals. His phone kept lighting up too.

Chinmay: You alive or buried under spreadsheets?

Arjun: If you disappear again, I'm calling search and rescue.

Sam: Both incorrect. Working.

Chinmay: Translation: he's ignoring food and emotions again.

Sam: False. I had coffee.

Arjun: That's not food.

Sam: Debatable.

Chinmay: Join us for lunch in half an hour. Don't even try to refuse. Appa, Jai uncle and Dharmesh uncle are coming too so no chance to escape.

Sam: Fine!

He smiled at the screen once, then set it aside. Not detached. Just focused. And still... always replying.

Later that afternoon, Erica caught Ammu off guard near the pantry. "You've been smiling at your phone too much," Erica observed, leaning against the counter.

Ammu didn't look up. "I haven't."

"You have."

"I haven't."

Erica narrowed her eyes. "Is it Japan?"

Ammu paused just slightly. "Partly."

Erica hummed like she didn't believe that was the whole truth. Then she glanced at Ammu's screen lighting up again. A single message preview. She didn't push further-but her expression changed into something softer.

"Good," Erica said finally. "Whatever it is, it looks... lighter."

Ammu didn't respond immediately.

Then quietly, "It's not lighter."

A beat.

"It's just... steady."

And Erica, for once, let it go.