Mahesh Sir looked at me and gestured for me to come inside. I quickly ran in and sat beside my friend Pavni. Mahesh Sir then began his lecture, and everyone was attentively taking notes. At the end of the class, he assigned us some work. In a loud and clear voice, Mahesh Sir announced, "Class, as you already know, but just as a reminder, be prepared for the mock test this Saturday."

The whole class chorused, "Thank you, Sir," as he exited the room. Pavni tugged at my hand and said, "I'm hungry. Let's eat something." I nodded in agreement, feeling the hunger pangs myself. Together, Pavni, Chaitali, and I made our way down to a nearby street stall. We placed our orders, and soon enough, we were each handed our dishes—Masala Dosa, Upma Dosa, and Bonda. We eagerly dug in, savouring the delicious flavours.

As we ate, Chaitali suddenly remarked, "Dolly, what's with the blush? Did something happen?"

I was taken aback, "What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to play it cool. But Chaitali was persistent. She pointed behind me and gently loosened my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders. Pavni looked at us with an amused expression, her imagination clearly running wild. I snapped my fingers in front of her eyes to bring her back to reality.

Pavni rubbed her hands together in excitement, "Tell me all the details!" she demanded eagerly.

Chaitali facepalmed herself and then pulled Pavni’s left ear. "You never show this much excitement in class," she chided.

Pavni, adopting a childish tone, replied, "Come on, you two married people never tell me anything."

I couldn't help but laugh at their antics. Realizing they wouldn’t let it go, I took a deep breath and decided to share a bit. "Well, Ashwin and I had a special moment last night. It’s just new and wonderful, and I guess I’m still a bit overwhelmed by it."

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Both Chaitali and Pavni’s eyes widened with curiosity and delight. Chaitali smiled warmly, "That’s so sweet, Dolly. We’re happy for you."

Pavni, still eager, asked, "So, what exactly happened? Give us the juicy details!"

I blushed even more but felt a wave of comfort in sharing with my friends. We continued our meal, interspersed with laughter and heartfelt conversations, reminding me how lucky I was to have such supportive friends.

I feigned annoyance and replied, "Darling, when you get married or find yourself in a relationship, then I'll share everything with you." Just then, a voice interrupted from behind, "Oh, you three goddesses, aren't you going to attend the next class?" We turned to see Suresh, pointing to his watch. We hurriedly gathered our things and rushed to the next class.

In the evening, after we all said our goodbyes, I took the metro and then switched to a cab to reach home. When I entered our flat, I could hear Ashwin moving around in the kitchen. I went straight to the washroom to freshen up, and by the time I emerged, Ashwin was waiting on the sofa with two cups of tea. This had become our daily routine: Ashwin always making tea or coffee for me when I got back home.

With a warm smile, Ashwin said, "Dolly, I spoke to the building watchmen, and they said they would let us know if a maid is available during our preferred times. I also posted in the building's WhatsApp group."

I replied, "Thank you. What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Ashwin grinned, "I picked up some baby potatoes on the way home and already started boiling them. How about Aloo Dum and Jeera rice?"

Resting my head on his shoulder, I teased, "Are you trying to win the 'Best Husband' award?"

Ashwin chuckled, "Maybe. I just want to make sure you're comfortable and happy."

Feeling the warmth of his affection, I smiled and said, "You’re doing a great job. Thank you for being so thoughtful."

We enjoyed our tea together, chatting about our day. As we moved to the kitchen to start preparing dinner, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for Ashwin’s constant support and care. His efforts to make our home a comfortable and loving space made all the difference in the world to me.

Together, we prepared the Aloo Dum and Jeera rice. The kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of spices and simmering food. As we cooked, we laughed and shared stories, the bond between us growing stronger with each passing moment.

By the time dinner was ready, we were both hungry and eager to enjoy the meal we had prepared together. We sat down at the table, and as we ate, I couldn’t help but reflect on how lucky I was to have Ashwin in my life. His kindness and dedication were truly special, and I knew that together, we could face anything that came our way.