Chapter 36

The afternoon settled into the apartment with a kind of ease that didn’t need effort.

Sunlight poured lazily through the windows, stretching across the floor,

warming the quiet corners of the living room.

It wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t eventful.

Just… peaceful.

Eraya was sitting on the couch, legs tucked slightly to the side, fingers loosely wrapped around a book she hadn’t turned a page of in the last ten minutes.

Her mind wasn’t in the story.

It was still lingering somewhere between,
morning laughter,
shared breakfast,
and the way Zivah had said “and you still love me.”

A soft smile had found its way to her lips again.

The doorbell rang.

Her head lifted immediately.

And before she could even stand,
the door burst open.

“ERAYAAA-“

Shivani, She didn’t walk in.

She arrived.

In three quick steps, she was across the room,
and the next second,

Eraya was pulled into a tight hug.

“Are you okay??” Shivani asked quickly,

her voice laced with concern that hadn’t quite left from yesterday.

Eraya blinked, caught in the sudden warmth.

Then smiled.

“I’m fine, Shivi…”

The name slipped out naturally now.

Soft.

Easy.

Shivani froze for half a second.

Then her grin widened.

“Okay, first of all-say that again.”

Eraya laughed lightly.

“Shivi…”

Shivani dramatically clutched her heart.

“I love this. I’m never going back to Shivani.”

Behind them,

Anamika walked in, calmer as always, closing the door gently.

“Well,” she said, glancing at Zivah,

Zivah, who had been leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, raised a brow.

“Your girlfriend is way too clingy.”

Anamika laughed instantly.

“Jealous?”

Zivah scoffed lightly.

“Of her? Please.”

Shivani pulled back just enough to look at Eraya, then glanced over her shoulder at Zivah.

“Oh she’s very jealous.”

“I’m not-“

“You are,” Anamika cut in smoothly.

Zivah exhaled sharply.

“Both of you are impossible.”

Eraya looked between them, her smile growing.

There was something about this,
the chaos, the teasing, the comfort,
that still felt new.

But not unfamiliar anymore.

They settled down together.

Shivani practically glued to Eraya’s side, while Anamika dropped onto the couch opposite them, and Zivah reluctantly took the seat beside her.

“So,” Shivani started, stretching her legs out, “we have a plan.”

Eraya looked at her, curious.

“What plan, Shivi?”

Shivani leaned forward slightly.

“Mika and I are going to the nursery.”

Anamika nodded.

“And we thought-“

Shivani continued,

“It would be great to take you with us.”

Eraya blinked.

“Me?”

“Obviously you,” Shivani said, nudging her shoulder.

“You need to see plants that are actually alive and not just in books.”

Eraya smiled faintly.

“That sounds nice…”

From across,

Zivah’s expression shifted.

“…what about me?”

The room went quiet for half a second.

Then Shivani smirked.

“Oh, you can also come if you want.”

Zivah straightened slightly.

“Also?”

Anamika bit back a laugh.

Shivani leaned back, completely enjoying herself.

“Yes. Also.”

Zivah narrowed her eyes slightly.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” Shivani said sweetly, “this plan was for us.”

She gestured between herself, Anamika, and Eraya.

“And you’re… an addition.”

Zivah scoffed.

“I’m not an addition.”

Anamika grinned.

“You kind of are.”

Zivah turned to Eraya.

“Are you hearing this?”

Eraya was trying very hard not to laugh.

“I-Shivi didn’t mean it like that…”

“I absolutely did,” Shivani said proudly.

Zivah shook her head.

“Unbelievable.”

“Come anyway,” Eraya said softly, glancing at her.

Zivah paused.

Looked at her.

And something in her expression softened instantly.

“…fine.”

Shivani leaned over to Anamika and whispered dramatically,

“She was always coming.”

“I know,” Anamika whispered back.

Eraya laughed softly.

The nursery was vibrant.

Alive.

Rows of plants stretched endlessly, greens of every shade, leaves of every shape, flowers blooming in quiet confidence.

Eraya stopped near the entrance.

Her eyes widening slightly.

“Shivi… this is beautiful…”

Shivani smiled.

“Told you.”

Zivah stepped beside her.

“Stay close.”

Eraya nodded instinctively.

And she did.

Too close.

Without even realizing it.

They walked through the rows slowly.

Eraya paused near a plant with delicate, patterned leaves.

“What is this, Zivah?”

Zivah leaned slightly closer.

“Calathea.”

Eraya repeated softly,

“Calathea…”

Zivah continued, her tone shifting into that familiar softness she had when explaining things, especially to Eraya.

“They’re sensitive. Their leaves move depending on light… almost like they’re alive in a different way.”

Eraya watched the plant more closely.

“…like they respond to how they’re treated?”

Zivah glanced at her.

“…exactly.”

A quiet moment passed between them.

Shivani leaned toward Anamika, whispering,

“Love is in the air.”

Anamika nodded, watching them.

“Very obvious.”

Eraya moved to another plant.

“Shivi, look at this one…”

Shivani walked over.

“Okay, this one I know-this is cute.”

“It’s a succulent,” Zivah added from behind them.

Eraya turned slightly.

“You know everything.”

Zivah shrugged.

“Not everything.”

“Almost everything,” Eraya corrected softly.

Zivah didn’t argue.

Because the way Eraya said it,

it didn’t feel like exaggeration.

It felt like admiration.

They kept walking.

At some point,

Eraya reached out,

and her fingers brushed Zivah’s hand.

Neither of them pulled away.

And slowly,

their fingers intertwined.

Naturally.

As if it had always been like that.

Behind them,

Shivani froze.

“Oh my god.” She whispered.

Anamika smiled.

“I told you.”

Shivani leaned closer.

“They’re not even trying to hide it.”

“They’re not even aware of it.” Anamika smiled.

Eraya, completely unaware of being observed, pointed at another plant.

“Zivah, what about this one?”

Zivah glanced down at their joined hands for a split second.

Then back at the plant.

“Monstera.”

Eraya smiled.

“I like that name.”

Zivah looked at her.

“…yeah. It suits you.”

Eraya blinked.

“How?”

Zivah’s lips curved slightly.

“Soft… but stronger than it looks.”

Eraya didn’t respond immediately.

Because something about that stayed.

Then she smiled.

They spent hours like that.

Walking.

Talking.

Laughing.

Eraya calling out,

“Shivi look-“

“Anu, come here-“

“Zivah, what’s this one-“

Her voice carried through the nursery like something light.

Something free.

And every time she said their names,

especially Shivi and Anu,

there was a familiarity now.

A belonging.

Zivah watched her.

More than the plants.

More than anything else.

Because this,

this version of Eraya,

was something she never wanted to lose.

And beside her,

Eraya felt it too.

Not loud.

Not overwhelming.

Just…

warm.

Like sunlight through leaves.

Quiet.

Alive.

And growing.

The nursery had already begun to feel like a different world.

Time moved slower there.

Voices softened.

Even footsteps seemed quieter, as if the plants themselves asked for gentleness.

Eraya wandered a little ahead this time.

Not too far.

Never too far.

Her fingers were still loosely intertwined with Zivah’s,

but her attention kept drifting, from leaves to petals to colors she hadn’t seen this closely before.

And then,
she stopped.

Completely.

Zivah almost walked into her.

“What-“

She paused.

Because Eraya wasn’t just looking.

She was… lost.

In front of her,
a cluster of delicate blooms.

Soft.

Layered.

Glowing faintly under the sunlight.

“Kalanchoe,” Zivah said quietly.

Eraya didn’t respond immediately.

Her gaze was still fixed on the flowers.

“They look like they’re… glowing,” she whispered.

Zivah stepped closer.

Just enough that their shoulders brushed.

“They’re resilient,” she said softly.

Eraya turned slightly.

“Resilient?”

Zivah nodded.

“They bloom even in harsh conditions… don’t need much… but when they do bloom, they don’t do it halfway.”

Her voice dropped just a little.

“They stay. Bright. Alive. Like they refused to disappear.”

Eraya’s eyes softened.

Her fingers tightened slightly around Zivah’s.

A quiet pause.

Then Eraya smiled faintly.

“It’s beautiful.”

Zivah didn’t hesitate.

“Do you want it?”

Eraya blinked.

“What?”

“This plant,” Zivah said, gesturing lightly.

“Do you want it?”

Eraya hesitated.

“I don’t know… I mean-it’s nice but I don’t-“

Before she could finish,

Zivah had already reached forward.

Lifted the pot carefully.

And turned.

Still holding Eraya’s hand.

Eraya stared at her.

“…Zivah.”

“Hm?”

“Why did you take it?”

Zivah didn’t even look back.

“Because you liked it.”

Simple.

Like it didn’t need explanation.

Eraya’s lips curved slowly.

“…that’s not how this works.”

Zivah glanced at her now.

“It is now.”

And just like that,

Eraya stopped arguing.

Because something about that,

that quiet certainty,

made her chest feel warm in a way she didn’t question anymore.

Behind them,

Shivani whispered loudly,

“She’s gone.”

Anamika nodded.

“Completely gone.”

The apartment felt different now.

The Kalanchoe sat in the balcony.

Bathed in the fading orange of the evening sky.

Eraya stood in front of it.

Not doing anything.

Just… looking.

Her fingers lightly brushing the petals.

Zivah stepped out of the washroom, drying her hair with a towel.

She paused when she saw her.

Standing there.

Quiet.

Soft.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

She walked closer.

“Do you like it that much?”

Eraya turned.

Then nodded.

“I love it.”

Zivah leaned slightly against the doorframe.

“Good.”

A pause.

“Now tell me-do you want to come for dinner, or is your stomach already full from staring at the plant?”

Eraya blinked.

Then laughed.

“Zivah-“

“I’m serious,” Zivah added, deadpan.

“You’ve been standing here for fifteen minutes.”

Eraya shook her head, still smiling.

“Shivi will get mad if we don’t go.”

“Shivi is always mad.”

“Not true.”

“Very true.”

Eraya laughed again.

“Come on.”

Shivani’s house was already loud when they entered.

“Finally!” Shivani announced dramatically.

“I thought you two eloped with the plant.”

Anamika laughed from the kitchen.

“They did bring one home.”

Eraya smiled shyly.

“Shivi…”

“What?” Shivani grinned. “It’s true.”

Zivah rolled her eyes.

“Can we eat?”

“Someone’s hungry,” Anamika teased.

“Someone cooks late,” Zivah shot back.

“Ungrateful,” Anamika muttered.

They settled around the table.

The aroma hit immediately.

Biryani.

Rich.

Warm.

Comforting.

And alongside it,

a vegetable curry.

Eraya sat beside Zivah.

Without thinking.

Zivah served her plate.

Carefully.

As always.

And then,

she paused.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“…onions.”

Eraya glanced at her.

“What?”

Zivah didn’t answer.

She simply reached forward.

And started removing each onion slice from the curry.

One by one.

Eraya blinked.

“…you don’t have to-“

“I do.”

Her tone was calm.

Firm.

Shivani leaned forward.

“Oh my god, this is happening again.”

Anamika laughed.

“It’s a daily ritual.”

Eraya watched quietly.

Zivah didn’t rush.

Didn’t complain.

She just… did it.

Then pushed the plate slightly toward her.

“Eat.”

Eraya smiled softly.

“Thank you…”

Zivah didn’t respond.

But her ears turned slightly pink.

Dinner flowed easily after that.

Shivani talking non-stop.

Anamika adding, sarcastic comments.

Zivah occasionally reacting.

And Eraya,

laughing.

More than she used to.

“Shivi, you talk too much,” she said at one point.

“I speak facts.”

“She speak nonsense.” Zivah cut in.

“Excuse me??”

Anamika choked on her food laughing.

Eraya shook her head.

“You’re both impossible.”

“Yet you love us,” Shivani said smugly.

Eraya didn’t deny it.

After dinner,

the real chaos began.

Shivani leaned back dramatically.

“Okay, important question.”

Everyone paused.

“What?”

Anamika asked.

Shivani turned to Eraya.

“Sleepover?”

Zivah froze mid-sip.

Eraya blinked.

“Here?”

“Yes,” Shivani said casually.

“We can study… talk… and then sleep.”

Zivah lowered her glass slowly.

Very slowly.

She listened.

Carefully.

Eraya hesitated.

“Shivi, I don’t know-“

“Oh come on,” Shivani insisted.

“We never get time together like this.”

Eraya glanced toward Zivah.

Zivah cut in.

Immediately.

“…that’s not fair.”

All three of them turned to her.

Zivah crossed her arms.

“You can study some other time.”

Shivani raised a brow.

“Excuse me?”

Eraya bit back a smile.

Zivah looked at her directly.

“You’re not staying here.”

“…why?”

“Because.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Zivah huffed slightly.

“It is.”

Shivani grinned.

“Oh, this is fun.”

Eraya leaned back slightly.

“Shivi, I think I’ll stay.”

Zivah’s eyes widened.

“You’re serious?”

Eraya nodded.

Trying not to laugh.

Zivah looked between all of them.

“This is a setup.”

Anamika chimed in from behind.

Laughing.

“It absolutely is.”

Zivah groaned.

“You guys can’t just team up against me.”

Shivani leaned forward.

“We just did.”

Zivah turned back to Eraya.

“Don’t stay.”

Her tone softened now.

Almost pleading.

Eraya smiled.

“Why?”

Zivah opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Then muttered,

“…because.”

Anamika burst out laughing.

“She has no argument.”

Zivah glared at her.

“I have arguments.”

“Then say one.”

“…I don’t like it.”

“Not valid.”

Zivah sighed.

Then tried again.

“You’ll miss me.”

Eraya tilted her head.

“Will I?”

Zivah stared at her.

“…yes.”

Shivani clapped.

“Oh this is gold.”

Eraya finally laughed.

“Okay, okay-“

She stood up.

Walked closer to Zivah.

“…I was teasing.”

Zivah narrowed her eyes.

“…you’re coming home.”

Eraya nodded.

“I am.”

A pause.

Zivah’s shoulders relaxed.

“Good.”

Shivani groaned dramatically.

“Boring. We should have continued this.”

Anamika smirked.

“Predictable.”

Zivah rolled her eyes.

“Jealous.”

“Very,” Shivani said instantly.

Eraya laughed again.

And in the middle of all that chaos,
teasing,
complaining,
fake arguments,

something stayed constant.

The way Zivah’s eyes kept finding Eraya.

And the way Eraya,

always came back to her.
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