Chapter 6 LEGOS AND LISTS
ADITYA
Sunday mornings used to be predictable.
For years my Sundays had followed the same quiet rhythm—wake up late, make coffee, read something that had nothing to do with work, maybe wander through a bookstore or spend a few lazy hours at the press sorting manuscripts I pretended I wasn’t excited about.
Solitude had never bothered me.
In fact, I used to think I preferred it.
But now, sitting cross-legged on the living room floor with a pile of brightly colored Lego pieces scattered between me and a seven-year-old who takes construction projects far more seriously than any architect I’ve ever met (I've met none), I realize something uncomfortable.
My Sundays have changed. And I don’t hate it. Neel leans forward, squinting at the instruction booklet like it contains the secrets of the universe.
“You’re doing it wrong,” he says firmly.
I pause with a tiny red piece in my hand. “I followed the instructions.”
“You skipped step four.”
I glance down at the booklet. “I did not.”
He flips the page toward me and taps the diagram with his finger. “This one.”
I stare at it for a moment.
Then sigh. “…Okay, maybe I skipped step four.”
Neel folds his arms. “This is why you must listen to me.”
“You’re seven.”
“Yes. And yet I am clearly the expert.” I huff out a quiet laugh and take apart the section I just built.
It’s been a week since I moved into this house.
Seven days. Seven mornings waking up to the faint sounds of the shop downstairs opening. Seven dinners at the small table in the kitchen. Seven nights lying on one side of the bed while Divya lies on the other, both of us pretending that the situation isn’t strange.
And somewhere in the middle of those days, the unfamiliar has quietly turned into something comfortable. Today is Sunday and somewhere in the back of my mind I had been looking forward to it.
Not for any particular reason. Just… time. Time to sit with Divya without rushing off to work. Time to talk. Time to understand her a little better.
But apparently fate—or Divya herself—had other plans. She left early this morning to pick up raw materials for the shop. Which means I’ve been promoted to babysitting duty.
Neel snaps another Lego piece into place with satisfaction.
“There.” He leans back and studies our half-built spaceship. “Better.” I glance toward the door without thinking wondering when she will be back.
I look back at him. “So,” I say casually, picking up another piece, “does your sister always work on Sundays?”
Neel shrugs. “Sometimes.”
He’s busy connecting two blue blocks. “She says customers like Sundays.”
“That sounds like something she would say.”
“She likes working,” he adds matter-of-factly. I glance at him.
“Does she?”
“Yes.” He pushes the structure toward me so I can attach the next piece. “She says work means we can stay in our house.”
Something tightens quietly in my chest. I nod slowly.
“That makes sense.” For a moment the only sound between us is the soft click of plastic pieces snapping together.
Then I try again.
“What does she do when she’s not working?”
Neel squints suspiciously. “Why?”
I try to sound casual.
“I’m curious.”
“About my sister?”
“Yes.” He studies me for a long moment like a tiny detective evaluating a suspect.
Then he shrugs. “She likes reading.”
My eyebrows lift slightly. “That I know.”
He narrows his eyes at me, "How?"
"I met her at a bookstore." I smile and he hums in approval.
“She reads at night,” he says quietly.
“What kind of books?”
Neel thinks for a second. “The ones where people are sad but then not sad.”
I blink. “That’s… a surprisingly accurate description of half of literature.”
He beams proudly. “She also likes watching rain.”
“Watching rain?”
“Yes.”
He snaps another piece into place. “Sometimes she sits near the window and just looks outside.”
I picture it immediately. Divya by the window. Quiet. Thoughtful. I realize I want to see that someday. Maybe make her a cup of tea and sit with her.
Neel glances up suddenly. “Why do you want to know so much?”
I hesitate.
Then answer honestly.
“Because I want to know her better.”
He considers that. Then nods slowly. "Good. You should, she's your wife, you should know her the best."
I chuckle, a warmth spreading in my chest. “Thank you for the approval.”
He opens his mouth to reply—and the front door opens.
Both of our heads turn instantly. Divya steps inside a moment later carrying two heavy bags.
Her hair has slipped loose from its clip and falls across her shoulders in messy waves. There’s a faint crease between her brows and her shoulders slump slightly as she kicks the door shut behind her.
She looks tired. Not dramatically exhausted. Just… worn down. Like the day took a little more from her than it should have.
Something inside me reacts immediately. An instinct I don’t fully understand yet. The sudden, overwhelming urge to take those bags out of her hands and tell her she doesn’t have to carry everything alone anymore.
She notices us on the floor and pauses. Her eyes move from the Lego pieces to Neel to me.
“What exactly is happening here?”
Neel grins. “We are building a spaceship.”
She drops the bags beside the sofa and sinks down onto the floor beside us with a tired sigh. “Important work.”
“Very important,” Neel agrees.
She nudges my knee lightly. “And how is my brother treating you?”
“He’s a demanding supervisor.” Neel gasps.
“I am very professional.”
Divya laughs softly. The sound is quieter than usual, but it still warms something inside me.
She reaches over and picks up a Lego piece. “This goes here,” she says, snapping it into place.
Neel stares. “How did you know that?”
“I have experience.”
“You never build with me.”
“That’s because you fire me every time.”
“That was one time.”
“Three.”
“Technicalities.”
I watch them bicker back and forth. Something about the scene settles quietly in my chest. The familiarity between them. The way Divya automatically pushes Neel’s hair away from his face. The way Neel leans against her shoulder without even noticing.
It feels… right. Then Neel suddenly stands up. Both of us look up. He clears his throat dramatically. “I have a very important mission for you two.”
Divya and I exchange a look.
He runs off toward his room.
"Do I need to be worried?” I ask.
“With him? Always.” she chuckles, making me laugh.
A moment later Neel comes running back holding a small notebook. He flips through several pages with intense focus before tearing one out carefully. Then he hands it to me.
“My friends and I discussed this situation.” Divya frowns beside me. Neel continues in a very serious voice. “They said you are being weird.”
Divya sucks in a breath. “Weird?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because married people go on dates.” Divya chokes and I pat her back while trying not to laugh.
Divya’s mouth opens. Then closes. Then opens again. I look down at the paper he handed me. His handwriting is… ambitious. Large uneven letters covering the page in crooked lines.
I read it out loud.
“Ice cream date.”
Neel nods proudly. “Very important.”
“Chocolate cake date,” I continue.
He raises a finger. “You must bring some for me.”
Divya lets out a strangled noise beside me. “Picnic.”
“Sunset watching.” I glance up.
“Amusement park date.”
Neel nods again. “I will go with you to check for that one.” His eyes twinkle at the mention of amusment park and I smile.
Divya jumps to her feet. “Neel!” He looks at her calmly.
“Yes?”
“This is what you do in school?”
“It is very important research.”
She looks completely stunned. Her mouth opens and closes like she’s trying to form words but none of them are cooperating.
I press my lips together to stop myself from laughing. “Yes Divya,” I say solemnly as I stand up, “this seems very important.”
She glares at me. “You are encouraging him.”
“We must take his concerns seriously.” I lean slightly closer.
“After all, poor Neel needs proof.” Her eyes widen.
I lower my voice just enough that only she can hear. “Relax.”
I lean closer. “It’s just some dates.”
Her breath catches slightly. “It’s not like you’ll fall in love with me.”
Our eyes meet. “You won’t, right?”
She stares at me for a long second. Her breathing quickens slightly. “No,” she blurts. “Of course not.”
"We'll do it." I announce, not taking my eyes off her as they widen comically.
Neel claps his hands happily. “Excellent!”
Divya throws her hands in the air. “Both of you have lost your minds.”
Then she storms toward the kitchen. Leaving Neel and me standing there.
I look down at this little hurricane and thank him internally for this list because for some reason it makes me so giddy and I look forward to it.