The thought makes me sigh and glance toward the kitchen. The pot is still sitting on the stove, covered carefully so the noodles don’t dry out. I had told myself I was cooking just in case he came home hungry.
That’s what I told myself.
But the truth is a little harder to admit.
I wanted to cook for him. The sound of the front door opening makes me jump up from the sofa before I even realize I’ve moved.
The door shuts quietly a second later.
Aditya steps inside. He looks tired. Not dramatically exhausted, just the kind of tired that comes from a long day of thinking too much. His sleeves are rolled halfway up his arms like always, and his hair looks slightly messier than it did this morning, as if he ran his hand through it too many times during the day.
When he notices me standing in the living room, his expression changes instantly.
His mouth opens slightly in surprise.
“Divya?” I walk toward him, smiling softly. “You’re awake?” he asks, stepping further inside and setting his bag down near the sofa.
His eyes move quickly across my face, scanning like he’s checking for something wrong.
“Is everything okay?” I nod.
“Everything’s fine.”
He studies me for another second before relaxing slightly. “You should be asleep,” he says.
“You texted saying you’d be late.”
“I was.”
His gaze drifts toward the clock and then back to me. “You didn’t have to wait up.”
I tilt my head slightly.
“Did you eat?”
He exhales slowly and rubs the back of his neck. “I had dinner at the office.” My shoulders sink a little. Of course he did. “But,” he adds a moment later, “I’m still hungry.”
I blink.
He glances toward the kitchen. “I was planning to make some maggi.”
I cross my arms and lean against the wall. “No you won’t.”
He stops mid-step and turns to look at me. “Why not?”
I smirk. “Because I have full plans on torturing you with my noodles.”
His eyes widen dramatically. “Don’t tell me you cooked, Divya.”
I laugh. “I did.”
Then I straighten slightly, unable to hide the pride in my voice. “And you know what? Neel gave it a seven out of ten.”
Aditya nods slowly, looking impressed. “That’s a very serious rating.”
“I know.”
“I can’t delay tasting this now.” He drops his bag onto the sofa and marches toward the kitchen like he’s on a mission.
