Of course, I’ve felt them before. But never have I let themseep out.And now I find myself almost incapable of blocking them.
“Do you want something to eat?” His voice is shy—almost tentative. But I’m simply staring at the chip on the coffee table.
Memories swamp me. The day this chip came about.
And suddenly—I’mback there.
??????
“No, no, no—wait!” I giggled, nearly breathless, as Advik attempted to lift the tabletop out of its box like it was a bag of bricks.
We were building the damn thing together. Or trying to. The amount of parts were more than a damn motorcycle.
He was determined, though—his brow furrowed in concentration, sleeves rolled up, hair a disheveled halo of stress. That determination lasted right up until he tripped on the throw pillow Itoldhim not to throw on the floor.
“Shit!” he cursed as he stumbled forward, instinctively bracing the tabletop against the floor—corner-first.
A loudthunk. And just like that, his brand-new table had a lovely, permanent dent.
“Look what you did!” I gasped, somewhere between scandalized and trying not to laugh.
He stood frozen, holding the tabletop like it was a fallen soldier. “I... fuck, baby. I’m sorry.”
I blinked. Was he apologizing... tome?
“It’syourtable, stupid,” I reminded him, stepping closer.
He looked like a kid who’d broken a toy.
I laughed, soft, and cupped his cheeks in both hands. He smiled sheepishly.
“Should we say it came like this?” he mumbled.
I mock-glared at him. “I told you the tabletop was thelastthing we were supposed to assemble.”
He gave me his boyish smile. “I swear, I’ll nevernotfollow your instructions again.”
I kissed his nose. “Good. Now repeat after me...”
He sat cross-legged in front of me, palms resting on my thighs.
“I, Advik Sharma...”
“I, Advik Sharma...” he echoed, grinning.
“Will always—always—listen to Greesha Das.”
He leaned forward, lips ghosting over mine as he whispered the next part. “Will always—always—listen to Mrs. Advik Sharma...”
I rolled my eyes as he continued. “Unless I’m stupid enough to make stupid mistakes because I’m stupid.”
I burst out laughing, and before I could even recover, I found myself on the floor, my back to the carpet, with him smiling down at me.
“Punish me, baby,” he whispered, right before kissing me like it was the only way for him to breathe.
??????
I blink away the memory. My gaze still locked on that tiny chip in the wood. It feels like a relic now. Proof of us—when we were happy, messy,unfinished.
