24 Small Moments #3
As Niyati's hand reached into the main compartment of her bag, her fingers brushed against something soft and unfamiliar tucked beneath her folders.
Frowning slightly, she reached deeper and pulled out a small, unbranded paper bag. She was certain she hadn't bought anything at Janpath, nor had she put anything new inside her tote during the drive home. He must have quietly slipped it in while she and Diya were busy taking photos at India Gate.
Stepping quietly toward her desk, Niyati carefully unfolded the top of the paper bag beneath the soft glow of her small desk lamp. Inside rested a dark blue velvet jewellery box along with a neatly folded slip of paper. Her heart gave a sudden, sharp flutter against her ribs.
With quiet, trembling fingers, she lifted the lid of the velvet box first.
Resting on the dark cushion were the delicate silver leaf earrings-the exact pair with the single suspended pearls that she had quietly put back at the market.
Niyati's breath caught in her throat. She stared at them in absolute disbelief before carefully unfolding the slip of paper tucked beside the box.
Written in Ansh's clean, familiar handwriting were just a few simple lines:
I saw the way you looked at them. You shouldn't have to walk away from things that were clearly meant for you.
Goodnight, Niyati.
A soft, overwhelming warmth surged through Niyati's chest.
She instinctively glanced over at her roommate, who remained sound asleep, completely unaware of the quiet magic unfolding in the room.
Biting her lower lip to suppress a radiant, helpless smile, Niyati carefully slid the note back into the paper bag, holding the velvet box close to her heart.
She hadn't uttered a single word to him about liking them. She hadn't asked for anything, nor had she looked at the display tray for more than a fleeting minute. Yet somehow, without making a scene or seeking any gratitude, he had simply noticed.
Some people remembered your favorite color. Some remembered your birthday. Ansh... Ansh remembered the quiet things you silently walked away from. And holding this soft, beautiful secret in the quiet solitude of her room made the gesture feel infinitely more precious.
Moving quietly toward the small mirror mounted above her dresser, she unclipped her plain studs and carefully put on the new earrings.
They felt weightless. As she turned her head side to side, the tiny pearl beneath each leaf caught the warm lamp light, glowing softly against her neck. They fit her perfectly-as if they had been crafted just for her.
A slow, radiant smile spread across her face.
Unlocking her phone, she opened the camera app, tilted her head slightly so the silver leaf caught the light just right, and took a quick, effortless picture.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she opened her chat with Ansh, attached the photo, and typed out a short message.
Niyati: I found your secret delivery... Thank you, Ansh. I absolutely love them.
She hit send. Her thumb hovered over the screen for a second, her cheeks burning at the little red heart she had impetuously added to the end, before she quickly placed the phone face-down on her desk, her heart doing nervous backflips in her chest.
Across the city, in his quiet apartment, Ansh was sprawled lazily across his sofa. Exhausted from the long day of driving and walking, he was mindless scrolling through short video reels on his phone, the soft light of the screen illuminating his relaxed face.
Suddenly, a notification banner popped up at the top of his screen.
Niyati: I found your secret delivery...
Ansh froze. The lazy haze of fatigue instantly vanished. Swiping away the video app, he tapped open the notification without a second's hesitation.
The image loaded instantly.
Ansh's breath hitched in his throat.
There she was-her hair swept back over one shoulder, a soft, shy smile gracing her lips, and the delicate silver leaves hanging elegantly from her ears. The light highlighted the gentle contour of her jaw, making her look breathtakingly beautiful in the quiet solitude of her room.
His eyes lingered on the photo for a long, unbroken moment. He zoomed in slightly on her bright eyes, a tender, helpless smile slowly spreading across his face. The exhaustion of the entire week completely melted away, replaced by a deep, quiet warmth that filled his entire chest.
His thumb gently traced over her face on the screen, his dark eyes brimming with an unspoken, fierce affection.
Seeing her wear them, knowing that he had brought that radiant smile to her face, felt far more rewarding than anything else in the world.
He stared at her message-and the tiny red heart at the end of it-for several long seconds before his thumbs began to dance across the screen.
Ansh: I knew they were meant for you. You look beautiful, Niyati. Goodnight.
He locked his phone and rested it over his chest, closing his eyes with a soft, lingering smile-the memory of her picture glowing vividly behind his eyes.