The clatter of water and steel echoed softly in the kitchen, the warm yellow light above casting soft shadows across the tiled walls. The faint scent of dish soap mixed with the last traces of dinner. Arjun stood beside Shruti at the sink, sleeves rolled up, hands dripping with suds as he rinsed one plate after another. His hair, a little damp from splashes, clung to his forehead in a way that made Shruti hide a smile. Shruti stood close, drying each plate with a clean towel, stacking them neatly into the rack. Their movements flowed together — no words needed, no instruction given. Like they'd been doing this for years, not just days.
Outside, the night was calm, the occasional honk from a faraway road the only reminder of the world beyond their little haven.
A soft electronic chime broke the quiet — the PlayStation logo glowed on the TV in the living room, casting a soft blue light through the open doorway. Both of them glanced up, their gazes meeting briefly, and then shifting to the screen.
Shruti's lips curved into a gentle smile. "It's like it's waiting for us."
Arjun chuckled under his breath. "Or challenging us."
Even though they wouldn't be playing tonight, the console's hum filled the room like a quiet promise — of future evenings filled with laughter, playful arguments over who cheated, of tangled wires and sleepy eyes fighting to win one more round. Of warmth. Of togetherness.
Arjun handed her the last plate, flicking water playfully at her fingers in the process.
"Hey!" Shruti protested, laughing as she wiped it off with the towel.
He smirked. "Accident."
She gave him a mock glare, but her heart felt light — lighter than it had in weeks.
As they wiped down the counter, Shruti spoke again, her tone thoughtful. "You saw those two today? Kiran and Pragathi?"
Arjun smirked, grabbing another cloth to dry his hands. "Hard to miss."
"I've known Pragathi since we were kids," Shruti said, shaking her head in disbelief. "She's never… I mean, never talked to any guy like that. She's usually all 'ugh, boys are annoying.'"
Arjun leaned against the counter, folding his arms, his smile softening. "Maybe meeting Kiran at the wedding made it easier. That could've broken the ice — even if it was a weird setting for introductions."
Shruti thought back to that day — Kiran's dramatic entrance, the chaos, the tension. "Yeah… maybe that's why. Maybe that's why she didn't think twice about talking to him the way she did today. Like they're old friends or something."
Arjun tilted his head, thoughtful. "You think he's serious?"
Shruti considered, drying her hands slowly. "Kiran's a good guy. Silly and dramatic sometimes, but he's got a good heart. And Pragathi... she's not easy to impress. But the way she was with him today? The way she smiled, the way she kept firing back at his flirting…"
Arjun nodded in agreement. "They looked like they've been doing this forever. Mad couple in the making."
Shruti laughed, leaning her hip against the counter. "Mad couple is right. Can you imagine those two, arguing over ice cream flavors, or racing each other to the bike just to prove who's faster?"
Arjun smirked. "Or challenging each other at our PlayStation and breaking the controllers."
Shruti giggled. "We'll need to hide the spare ones."
For a moment, they both fell quiet again, the warm glow of the kitchen, the soft hum of the console, and the shared understanding between them filling the space.
Shruti glanced sideways at him. "You're okay with this, right? I mean... if something does happen between them?"
Arjun gave her a sideways look, amused. "Shruti, if it means Kiran will stop bothering me for relationship advice and focus on her instead, I'm all for it."
She laughed, the sound light and genuine.
He added, smirking, "Besides, if he messes up, I have you to back me up for the scolding part."
Shruti bumped his shoulder gently. "Poor guy. Already marked for joint lectures."
"Comes with being part of the mad couple club," Arjun said with mock solemnity.
And with that, the two of them stepped away from the sink, the kitchen cleaned, the night still young — and the promise of many more evenings like this resting quietly between them.
To be continued...
[Volume 2 - End]
[Volume 3 - Coming soon]