I Found You

15.

The stillness enveloped the hall like a comforting shroud, interrupted solely by the gentle chirping of birds, their melodies echoing through the quietude. The clock's hands inched towards 7:30 in the morning.

With no one in sight, Adhira made her way into the kitchen to make morning tea for everyone, gracefully tying her long hair into a ponytail.

Once she set the pan on the stove to bring the water to a boil, she couldn't resist the temptation to open the kitchen window, inviting the refreshing breeze inside.

Winter was her absolute favorite time of year, when she could indulge in a steaming cup of coffee and nestle comfortably on the couch, wrapped snugly in a soft blanket, engrossed in a captivating read.

She enjoys solitude or the company of a selected few, which encompasses her family and her only best friend Aditi. This inclination is the cause of her frequent misjudgment as egoistic, uninteresting,
dull and what not.

Contrary to this perception, she is remarkably talkative, humorous, childlike, and carefree side when in the presence of hose she feels at ease with.

After straining the tea into cups, she proceeded to the dining hall and placed the tray on the table. "Veer," she called out when she noticed him passing by the hall.

Veer was dressed in a navy blue uniform, with a bag hung on his right shoulder. Confused by the sudden call, he abruptly halted in his tracks and turned his head in Adhira's direction.

"Breakfast?" Adhira asked, taking a few steps towards him. His eyes softened for a moment before he adjusted the sling of the bag on his shoulder.

"I am getting late, thank you." He said, about to move when once again, her voice stopped him.

"Tea is ready. I'll make a sandwich quickly,"he shook his head. He was about to open his mouth to respond, but before he could, she cut him off.

"At least have some milk or cookies." She tried to persuade him again to at least have something before leaving for school on an empty stomach.

"Thankyou but I don't do breakfast." He responded, cutting her off before she could utter a word.

Without further delay, he disappeared from her view, striding out of the house through the main door.

Both the brothers are the same, always in a hurry to cut short the conversation.

Listening to the resonant thuds echoing on the stairs, she pivoted her head, only to see her husband descending the staircase in formal attire, engrossed in his phone.

Unfazed by her presence, Vikram dialed a number, putting the phone to his ear. As the footsteps drew nearer, she broke the silence, "Breakfast?" capturing his attention.

He was about to shake his head in no, but then he noticed the tea cups arranged on the tray behind her on the dining table. Tea was something he could never say no to.

And disrespect the efforts his wife had put into preparing tea for everyone, while the other members indulged in extra minutes of sleep, curled up in their beds on a cold morning.

"Get your ass in the office by 9:00 sharp, we have a meeting to attend." Was all he commanded before hanging up. Adhira raised her eyelashes at him, it was the first time she had heard him use inappropriate language.

But the main concern was whom he was talking to in this way. How could he address his employees like that? She thought.

He followed her to the dining table, took a seat, and asked her to do the same. His eyes raking on his wife, his gaze particularly fixated on her lips. The dark shade painted on her lips enhanced the beauty of the mole just below her lower lip even more.