𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈 𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐈 [𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖨𝗇𝗇𝗈𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖫𝗈𝗏𝖾]

[26]

"Ah, you finally arrived! You took so long," she complained.

"But why are you here? And at this time?" he inquired, puzzled.

"First, sit down properly," she insisted, and he obliged, taking a seat in front of her.

"Now tell me. Yahan kya kar rahi ho?" He asked and Richa produced a lunch box and placed it before him.

"Breakfast for you. No need for unhealthy outside food from now on. I'll bring breakfast for you every day," she declared, surprising and overwhelming Akash. He gazed at her for a moment before responding,

"Richa, I... You... there was no need. I can manage."

"I know you can manage, Akash. But please let me do this for you," she pleaded.

"But what did you tell your mother?" He asked, concerned.

"I told her I want extra lunch for my friend who lives in the hostel," she admitted, avoiding eye contact.

"Richa, tumhe mere liye ye sab karne ki zarurat nahi hai." he insisted.

"Shut up! Chup chap se Khao. Aur mai ye sab tumhare liye nahi apne hone vale boyfriend ke liye kar rahi hun. Taki wo unhealthy kha kha kar mota na ho jaye." she retorted, folding her arms across her chest.

[Shut up! Eat quietly. And I'm not doing all this for you but for my future boyfriend. So that he doesn't become fat by eating unhealthy food.]

"Hone vala boyfriend?" he questioned.

["Future boyfriend?]

"Yeah, well, I'll say yes in the future, and then you'll be my boyfriend, right?" she shrugged, making him chuckle at her logic.

"Now, come on, finish this quickly," she instructed, opening the lunch box to reveal aloo paratha and curd.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, and she nodded.

In this moment, Akash experienced a mix of surprise, gratitude, and amusement. Richa's gesture touched him, and he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart, appreciating the unexpected care and attention from Richa.

As Akash began to eat, his eyes welled up with tears, the simple act of Richa caring for his breakfast touching a chord he hadn't realised was so tender. His own father had never shown such concern for his well-being.

Noticing his tears, Richa quickly shifted her chair closer, gently wiping them away.

"Itna kharab bana hai kya, that you started crying?" she asked, concerned. He managed a smile, shaking his head,

[Does it taste bad?]

"No, it's really good."

"What about the pickle? You haven't tasted it," she remarked, holding it near his mouth. After a moment's hesitation, he relented, tasting it.

"It's good," he admitted, and she returned it to the box.

"Akash," she called softly.

"Hmm?" he responded.

"Can I ask you something?" she inquired.

"You don't need my permission to ask something," he replied, looking at her.

"Where do you have lunch? In the canteen?" she asked.

"No... Shashwat brings it from home since childhood. I resisted initially, but aunty always sent lunch for me," he explained.

"Why did you resist?" Richa's curiosity led her to delve deeper.

"I thought I could manage, but Shashwat insisted. He's like a brother to me," Akash confessed. "His family never made me feel like an outsider. They treated me equally. If I made mistakes, they scolded me; if I did something good, they praised me."