Author's POV
A sudden knock on the door broke their bubble.
Siya placed her hands on her hips and smiled. "Dove, you sit. I'll go check who it is."
The girl nodded and moved toward the bed while Siya walked to the door.
When she opened it, a man stood there, holding out a familiar-looking tiffin box. "From Shaurya Sir," he said simply before handing it over.
Siya took it, nodded in thanks, and quickly shut the door, locking it behind her.
With a bright grin, she turned toward the girl. "So, here’s our dinner. Let’s eat!"
The girl made an annoyed face, scrunching her nose.
Siya immediately noticed. "What’s with that face? I know, I know… It’s the same boring food again, right?"
She sighed dramatically, plopping down beside her. "But don’t worry, after a few more days, we’ll eat street food. Just be patient!"
She knew the girl was tired of eating the same hospital-approved meals for eight straight days. And truthfully, Siya was too. But arguing with Shaurya Singh Rathore about food? Not a chance. The man was way too strict about the girl’s diet, and they both knew it.
But then, as Siya opened the tiffin, both their eyes widened in pure shock.
For a moment, they just stared.
Then Siya gasped, grabbing the girl's hand. "Is this real?! Dove, pinch me! Pinch me fast!"
The girl hesitated, blinking in confusion. But then she pinched her. Hard.
"OIII!! Itni zor se bhi nahi, yaar!" Siya yelped, rubbing her arm.
("OIII!! Not so hard, dude!")
But the slight pain was nothing compared to her pure excitement. She looked at the food again, her mouth practically watering. "OMG! Butter chicken, naan, jeera rice, dal makhani... WOW WOW WOW!"
Her eyes sparkled as she turned to the girl. "Mera muh toh abhi se paani aa gaya! Let’s eat—fast!"
("My mouth is already watering! Let’s eat—quickly!")
And just like that, they dive into the food, as if they hadn’t eaten in days. Laughter and satisfied hums filled the room as they enjoyed every bite, savoring the unexpected treat.
By the time they finished, both were leaning back against the bed, hands on their stomachs, completely full.
Siya let out a dramatic sigh. "Sab kuch tasty tha… Bas agar sweet dish bhi mil jaati na, toh maza aa jata!"
("Everything was tasty… If only there had been a sweet dish too, it would've been perfect!")
The girl nodded in agreement, still patting her stomach.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, Siya spotted something—her gaze landed on the tiffin bag.
"Wait… I think we missed one box."
Their eyes lit up with hope, their mouths already watering at the thought. Could it be…?
With bated breath, Siya reached into the bag and pulled out the last container. She opened it—
"OMGGGGGG…!!!" Siya’s voice shot up an octave. She turned to the girl, her face full of giddy excitement.
"Aj kuch aur bhi maang lete, toh woh bhi mil jaata, Dove!"
("If you had asked for something else today, you would’ve gotten that too, Dove!")
Because inside the container was—
KHEER.
A perfect, creamy, sweet dish to complete their already perfect meal.
Just as Siya was about to hand the girl a spoon, she suddenly paused, as if remembering something. Instead, she pulled out a small folded note and held it out.
"This is for you, Dove," she said softly.
The girl blinked, confused. She lifted a finger and pointed to herself as if asking, Me?
Siya nodded. "Yes, you. Read it."
And just like that, the girl hesitantly reached for the letter, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
She slowly unfolded the letter, her fingers trembling slightly as she began to read.
To Lotus,
Don’t be confused—I’m calling you only. Why? I’ll tell you at the end of this letter.
First, let me tell you why I’m writing this. I’m not good at apologizing, but it was my mistake . So, I’m sorry. Sorry for being rude to you. I wasn’t angry at you—I was angry at your words, at the thought that you don’t want to live.
If not for us, then live for yourself. Breathe for yourself. Enjoy the every chance which you get. I won't say to forget and move on, nor we can take your pain. But we will always be there beside ready to listen.
But let me make one thing very clear to you, Lotus. You are my responsibility now, and I will not let any harm come near you. There is no choice in whether you want to live or not… you have to. It’s the only option you have.
I call you Lotus because I know you will bloom—just like a lotus, which rises beautifully even from the murkiest waters. So, please, try to find small joys in the moments you’re living. We are here to protect you, not to scare you.
Last but not least, enjoy your sweet dish.
From,
Mr. Eye Reader
Siya had been watching her the entire time, observing every shift in her expression—confusion, relaxation, annoyance, anger… and finally, something softer.
The girl slowly folded the letter, her fingers lingering over the paper before looking up at Siya.
Siya gave her a small smile but didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to.
They quietly picked up their spoons and began eating the kheer. Each bite was warm, soothing—like a silent reassurance.
When they were done, a peaceful silence settled between them. Until suddenly, Siya gasped, "Ohh! I almost forgot—there’s something else for you!"
She reached out her hand toward the girl. Resting in her palm was a small pink origami lotus.
"Bhai gave this along with the letter," she said gently.
The girl hesitated for a moment before taking it from Siya’s hand. Her fingers traced the delicate folds of the lotus, her expression unreadable.
Meanwhile, Siya grabbed her phone and sent a quick message to Shaurya:
"We had dinner. It was delicious. She liked it too."
On the other side of the city, Shaurya was buried in paperwork when his phone pinged. He glanced at the screen, reading Siya’s message.
He didn’t reply. Instead, he simply hummed in acknowledgment and set his phone aside.
But as he did, his eyes fell on something.
A diary.
His fingers hovered over it for a moment before he picked it up, his thumb brushing over its worn-out cover.
Looking at it, he whispered a name.
"Aisha."
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