Both of them exclaimed at the same time, “Oh no! Our breakfast!” They stared at the burnt pancakes and overcooked eggs, letting out a small groan. Hiten chuckled softly, “Well… at least some parts are edible.”

Aarya looked a little embarrassed. “I… I got distracted while talking.”

Hiten shook his head with a teasing smile. “It’s okay, the smoke alarm didn’t go off, so that’s something.”

She laughed nervously. “Can you teach me to cook properly? And… also help me with my studies?”

Hiten’s eyes sparkled. “Of course. But only if you promise to make some art inspired by my poetry.”

She tilted her head and nodded. “Deal!”

He glanced at the clock and groaned. “We’re already late for school. Or… wait, maybe we can skip it today and just have fun at home.”

Aarya’s face lit up. “Let’s gooo!”

They spent the day playing indoor games. Ludo, Snake and Ladders, mini tennis with a soft sponge ball, a makeshift home cricket match with a rolled-up newspaper, chess, and even a chaotic game of catch in the living room. They laughed at every misstep—Aarya tripping over the couch cushion, Hiten missing the ball by inches, both of them colliding and falling over each other.

By the afternoon, they collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. Aarya propped herself on her elbows and said, “That was so much fun!”

Hiten smiled, “And it was exhausting too.”

As they lay there, Hiten asked, curious, “So… your interest in art started when?”

Aarya’s eyes softened. “My grandmother taught me everything. She was amazing, but… my parents think I’ve been spoiled because of her love. They say I have to focus on marks before art. I haven’t met her in a long time…” She looked away, lost in thought.

“That’s… both sad and good, I guess,” Hiten said, sighing. “Sad because you miss her… good because you’re so talented.”

Aarya’s cheeks warmed slightly. “Maybe.” Then she hesitated, “And you… poetry? How did that start?”

Hiten leaned back, looking out the window at the gray clouds. “One rainy day in class… I laid my head on the desk and saw the rain outside. A strike of lightning gave me the first line, and I wrote my first poem. Since then… I’ve filled two entire books.”

Aarya’s eyes widened. “Two books? That’s… amazing!”

Hiten laughed softly. “Well… it’s my little world. Helps me escape and… think.”

They talked and shared stories for hours, forgetting about everything else. Slowly, exhaustion took over, and they accidentally fell asleep on the floor, heads resting near each other. Outside, the rain continued, soft and rhythmic, tapping against the windows.

When they woke up, it was six in the evening. The rain had intensified, the earthy smell of wet soil mingling with the faint scent of their earlier breakfast mishaps. Hiten stretched and muttered, “Oh no… it’s already six.”

Aarya blinked, taking in the rain. “Yeah… but the sound is so nice.”

Hiten’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “You must be hungry. How about chai and pakoras?”

She grinned. “Why not?”

In the kitchen, they clumsily worked together, laughing at every small mistake. Steam from the chai curled in the cool evening air, the scent of pakoras frying mixed with the freshness of rain.

Hiten teased, “Do you even know how to turn on the gas?”

Aarya, pretending to be offended, replied, “No! And I don’t even know how to speak properly!”

They both laughed. Hiten prepared the batter for pakoras while Aarya chopped vegetables, their hands brushing sometimes, causing shy smiles. The rhythmic patter of rain on the roof and windows made everything feel cozy, like the world had shrunk to just the two of them.

Once everything was ready, they carried their food to the balcony. Hiten opened the glass doors, and cool drops of rain splashed on their feet as they sat cross-legged, sipping tea and munching pakoras. The aroma of fried snacks, blended with wet earth and rain, made the moment feel magical.

“Wow… we cooked this ourselves,” Aarya said, smiling softly.

Hiten teased, “The magic of our hands.”

She laughed, “Hmm hmm,” her voice was playful.

Hiten gazed at the rain. “The view… the rain… everything feels perfect.”

Aarya smiled at him, then glanced at the clock. “24 hours…”

Hiten tilted his head, curious. “24 hours?”

Aarya nodded, “24 hours ago, we were strangers. Now… it feels like we’ve known each other forever.”

Hiten laughed, teasing, “So you stole my words from last night?”

“They belong to me too,” Aarya said, smiling.

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