Chapter 27

The call hadn’t ended.

It had only softened.

Eraya still held the phone,

her fingers relaxed now, her shoulders no longer carrying that old, invisible weight.

Parvati was watching her, not just listening anymore,

but observing the quiet changes that words alone couldn’t explain.

“…and you’re smiling more,” Parvati said gently,

almost as if she were stating something sacred.

Eraya lowered her gaze slightly.

“…am I?”

“…you are.”

A small pause.

“…and not the polite smile… the real one.”

Eraya didn’t reply.

But her lips curved anyway.

And just then,

the front door clicked open.

“Eraya!”

Zivah’s voice entered before she did,

bright, unfiltered, almost bouncing off the walls.

“I brought something for you-“

She stepped inside, holding a small paper bag up like it was some grand treasure.

“…donuts,” she finished, her voice filled with a childish kind of excitement.

But then,

she paused.

Her eyes landed on Eraya.

Phone in hand.

“Oh.”

A small frown appeared.

Not dramatic.

Just… immediate.

“…you’re on call.”

Eraya turned slightly.

“…Zivah-“

Before she could say anything else,

Zivah had already set the bag down on the table with a soft thump.

“…sorry.”

She muttered, almost under her breath.

But curiosity got the better of her.

She leaned slightly,

peeking from behind Eraya’s shoulder.

And then,

her entire expression lit up.

“PARVATI DI?!”

Parvati blinked.

And then smiled instantly.

“Zivah!”

Zivah straightened up immediately,

brushing her hair back unconsciously like a child caught off guard.

“How are you?!” she asked, her tone suddenly respectful but still warm.

“I’m good,” Parvati replied, eyes softening again.

“…how are you?”

Zivah crossed her arms lightly.

“…I’m fine-but I have complaints.”

Parvati raised an eyebrow.

“…complaints?”

“Yes.”

Zivah nodded seriously.

“…why didn’t you call me for so many days?”

Eraya blinked.

“…you wanted her to call you?”

Zivah shot her a look.

“…of course.”

Parvati laughed softly.

“…I didn’t know you’d miss me that much.”

“…I don’t miss people,” Zivah said immediately.

Then paused.

“…but I do expect updates.”

Eraya let out a small laugh.

Parvati’s eyes flickered between the two.

Noticing everything.

“…does she trouble you a lot?” Parvati asked suddenly, her tone turning teasing.

Zivah tilted her head.

Then slowly,

looked at Eraya.

“…hmm.”

Eraya’s eyes widened slightly.

“…what?”

Zivah pretended to think deeply.

“…well… she doesn’t talk much… she doesn’t argue… she listens quietly…”

A pause.

“…it’s very difficult to deal with.”

Parvati burst out laughing.

Eraya stared at her.

“…that’s not trouble.”

“…it is,” Zivah nodded.

“…I have to do all the talking.”

“…you already do that anyway,” Eraya said softly.

Zivah froze for a second.

Then narrowed her eyes slightly.

“…okay… that was unnecessary.”

Parvati laughed harder.

“See?” she teased.

“…she’s already answering you.”

Zivah crossed her arms.

“…I created this problem myself.”

Eraya smiled.

A real one.

Uncontrolled.

Zivah noticed.

Immediately.

But she didn’t say anything.

Didn’t interrupt it.

She just… looked.

And for a second,

she forgot the rest of the conversation.

Until another voice joined.

“Who is this chaos happening with?”

Vishnu appeared beside Parvati on the screen.

“Vishnu bhaiya!” Zivah straightened slightly.

“Arre Zivah!” he smiled warmly.

“…how are you?”

“I’m good,” she nodded.

“…how are things there?”

“Better now,” he said, glancing at Parvati.

“…we were worried.”

Zivah’s expression softened slightly.

“…you don’t have to be anymore.”

It wasn’t a bold statement.

But it carried something steady.

Vishnu noticed that.

“…college kaisa chal raha hai?” he asked.

(How is college going?)

Zivah leaned casually against the table.

“…manageable.”

“…manageable?” he raised an eyebrow.

“…that doesn’t sound like you.”

“…because I’m not the one struggling,” she shrugged.

“…Anu is embarrassing herself enough for all of us.”

From the phone,

Parvati laughed.

“…what did she do now?”

“Oh, where do I start-“

Zivah began, already slipping into storytelling mode.

“…first she confidently answered a question that wasn’t even asked to her-“

Eraya stood beside her.

Quiet.

Listening.

But her attention wasn’t on the story.

It was on Zivah.

The way her hands moved while talking.

The way her voice shifted between sarcasm and amusement.

The way she didn’t hold back.

She looks… alive.

The thought came softly.

Uninvited.

Parvati noticed.

Vishnu noticed.

The way Eraya’s gaze didn’t leave Zivah.

Not out of curiosity.

Not out of confusion.

But… something deeper.

Something that didn’t need words.

“…and then she tried to fix it and made it worse,”

Zivah finished.

Parvati shook her head.

“…poor Anu.”

“She deserves it,” Zivah smirked.

The conversation continued.

Light.

Easy.

Until finally,

it slowed.

“…okay, we’ll let you both eat your donuts,”

Parvati said gently.

“Wait-“

Zivah immediately picked up the bag.

“…she hasn’t tried them yet.”

Eraya looked at her.

“…you bought it for me?”

“…obviously,” Zivah said.

“…who else?”

Parvati smiled quietly at that.

“…take care of her,” she said softly.

Zivah didn’t hesitate.

“…I will.”

And then,

the call ended.

The screen went dark.

The room fell quiet again.

But not empty.

Back in the village,

Vishnu leaned back slightly.

“…she’s in love.”

Parvati didn’t look surprised.

“…she is.”

A pause.

“…and this time…”

She whispered softly.

“…she’s with the right person.”

Her eyes glistened again.

But this time,

not with fear.

“…after everything she’s gone through…”

She looked at Vishnu.

“…Bhagwan finally gave her something gentle.”

And somewhere,

in a small apartment,

Eraya stood beside Zivah.

Holding a donut.

Smiling.

And not realizing yet,

how deeply she had already fallen.

The call had ended,

but its warmth lingered in the room like a quiet echo.

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.

Eraya still held the phone loosely in her hand,

her expression softer than usual, like something inside her had settled after a long time.

Zivah, on the other hand, had already moved.

Because patience… was not her strongest trait.

“Okay.”

She clapped her hands lightly once, breaking the silence.

“…important matter.”

Eraya blinked.

“…what?”

Zivah picked up the paper bag dramatically and placed it on the table between them.

“…donuts.”

She announced, as if revealing something life-changing.

Eraya looked at the bag.

Then at her.

“…you’re very serious about this.”

“I am,” Zivah nodded firmly.

“…because last time you liked the burger, so now we are expanding your food experiences.”

“…expanding?” Eraya repeated softly.

“Yes,” Zivah leaned forward, already opening the box.

“…this is a journey.”

Eraya smiled at that.

Zivah carefully took one donut out and held it toward her.

“…try.”

There was a small hesitation.

Not fear,

just… unfamiliarity.

Zivah noticed.

Her tone softened immediately.

“…you don’t have to eat the whole thing.”

A pause.

“…just a bite.”

Eraya nodded slowly.

Took the donut.

Her fingers brushed lightly against Zivah’s again,

and neither of them pulled away immediately.

Then,

she took a bite.

A pause.

Zivah leaned forward instantly.

“…how is it?”

Eraya chewed slowly.

Her brows lifting just slightly.

“…it’s…”

She paused.

Zivah’s eyes widened.

“…it’s what?”

“…really good.”

Zivah leaned back dramatically.
“
…of course it is.”

“…you sound like you made it.”

“…I chose it,” Zivah corrected.

“…that counts.”

Eraya smiled faintly.

They went through a few more.

Zivah insisting she try different flavors,

Eraya quietly complying.

“…which one did you like the most?”

Zivah asked, watching her closely.

Eraya looked at the box.

Really looked.

Not rushed.

Not careless.

Her finger slowly moved,

then stopped.

“…this one.”

“Mango?” Zivah asked.

Eraya nodded.

“…it tastes… lighter.”

Zivah didn’t say anything.

But in her mind,

she noted it instantly.

Mango.

Dinner was simple.

Easy.

Quiet.

Not because there was nothing to say,

but because silence between them had started feeling… comfortable.

After they finished,

Zivah moved into the kitchen again.

Familiar rhythm.

Cutting.

Mixing.

Pouring.

Apple mint.

She carried the glass into the room like she always did.

Eraya looked up.

And this time,

she didn’t just take it.

She smiled first.

“…you made it again.”

Zivah tilted her head.

“…I told you I’m not stopping.”

Eraya took the glass.

Drank slowly.

“…I like it.”

She said quietly.

“…good.”

Zivah sat beside her.

“…you’ll have to keep liking it.”

Eraya let out a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

Later,

they lay down.

Not distant.

Not stiff.

Just… beside each other.

The room dim.

The world outside quiet.

Zivah turned slightly on her side.

Looking at Eraya.

“…I have a complaint.”

Eraya glanced at her.

“…again?”

“…yes.”

“…what did I do this time?”

Zivah narrowed her eyes slightly.

“…today… you called Shivani ‘Shivi’.”

“…hmm.”

“…and Anamika ‘Anu’.”

Eraya nodded.

“…yes.”

Zivah folded her arms.

“…and what about me?”

A pause.

Eraya blinked.

“…what about you?”

“…where is my nickname?”

There was a second of silence.

And then,

Eraya smiled.

Not softly.

Not faintly.

Fully.

“…you’re serious?”

“…completely.”

Zivah nodded.

“…this is discrimination.”

Eraya turned slightly toward her.

Eyes glinting now,

something playful finally surfacing.

“…hmm.”

She pretended to think.

Zivah waited.

Patient for exactly two seconds.

“…well?”

“…I could call you… ‘Zee.'”

Zivah made a face instantly.

“…no.”

“…why Anu and shivi calls you that too?”

“…that sounds like a cartoon character which they have already made me.”

Eraya laughed.

A real one.

“…okay… what about… ‘Vah’?”

“…that sounds like I’m an exclamation.”

Eraya laughed harder.

Zivah stared at her.

Trying to stay serious.

Failing.

“…this is not funny.”

“…it is.”

“…you are taking advantage of me.”

“…how?”

“…because I want a nickname.”

“…you sound like a child.”

“…I am not a child.”

“…you are asking for a nickname.”

“…because it means something!”

Zivah defended.

Eraya paused.

“…what does it mean?”

Zivah hesitated for a second.

Then,

more quietly,

“…it means we have…something special.”

Eraya leaned back slightly.

A small smile returning.

“…I’ll give you a nickname.”

Zivah’s eyes lit up immediately.

“…really?”

“…when the time is right.”

“…what does that mean?”

“…it means you have to wait.”

“…I don’t like waiting.”

“…you’ll have to.”

“…this is unfair.”

Eraya laughed again.

And Zivah,

just looked at her.

Because that sound,

that laugh,

It settled somewhere deep inside her.

This…

She thought quietly.

This is my favorite sound.

Not music.

Not silence.

Just… her.

“…fine,” Zivah muttered finally, pretending to be annoyed.

“…I’ll wait.”

“…good.”

“…but it better be good.”

“…it will be.”

A pause.

“…I promise.”

Zivah nodded.

Satisfied now.

She turned slightly.

Closed her eyes.

And for once,

her mind wasn’t restless.

Beside her,

Eraya lay quietly.

The room filled with something soft.

Something unspoken.

And slowly,

they both fell asleep.
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