7:00 AM…
Aniket’s House…
Aniket was sitting at the dining table, absentmindedly nibbling on his breakfast.
Just like every other morning, he was alone—but today, his thoughts were far, far away.
Last night, Saaniya had walked off angrily.
Aditya had dropped Anamika home, and Aniket had come back alone.
Since then, one question after another kept spinning in his head.“Why do I want to understand the silence in her eyes so badly? What was she trying to say without words? Did I… say too much?”
But no matter how much he thought, there were no answers.
Finishing the last bite, he stood up, grabbed his keys, and drove off to work.
On the other side of town…
Aditya was leaving his house too—but with a soft smile on his lips.
Why?
Because today, he was picking up Anamika for work.
Earlier that morning, Saaniya had called him with a special request: "Aditya, I have to leave early for the hospital. Could you please give Anamika a ride today?"
And how could Aditya say no?
Now, standing in front of Anamika’s front door, he took a deep breath… and knocked.
Click.
The door opened—there she was.
Anamika, wrapped in sleepiness, blinking at the morning light.
She hadn’t gotten ready yet.
Seeing this, Aditya blinked in surprise and asked, "Wait… you're not ready?"
Anamika slowly opened her eyes and looked at him… as if frozen in place.
She didn’t move, didn’t speak—just stood there like a statue.
Aditya chuckled and waved his hand in front of her eyes. "Hello~ Earth to Anamika! Don’t feel like working today or what?"
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Shaking her head in disbelief, Anamika whispered, “No… I mean—what are you doing here? But… why?!”
Seeing her innocent confusion, Aditya smiled gently.
Then, like a perfect Disney prince, he bent slightly forward and said, “Today, your humble driver is at your service, my lady! Didn’t Saaniya tell you?”
At the sound of her best friend’s name, Anamika’s eyes widened.
She turned and called out, “Saaniya…? Saaniya!”
But there was no reply.
Aditya stepped in behind her and added, “She must be at the hospital by now. Didn’t she tell you she had an early shift? She called me this morning about it. Didn’t she tell you?”
Anamika ran to Saaniya’s room.
It was empty.
She quickly picked up her phone and dialed—but Saaniya’s number wasn’t connecting.
Then, she opened a drawer, took out a diary, and handed it to Aditya. “Here… this has the hospital’s landline number. Could you please call and check where she is? What she’s doing?”
Aditya took the diary and asked softly, “Hmm? Why? Is something wrong?”
Anamika looked down and muttered, “No… please, just call…”
Aditya nodded and called.
The hospital receptionist picked up.
After a short conversation, Aditya hung up and said, “They said there’s a director's meeting this morning. Saaniya and other doctors had to be there early. They’ll let her know to call you back.”
He handed the diary back.
Anamika took it quietly and whispered, “Okay…”
She seemed distracted. Lost.
Aditya noticed and stepped a little closer.
Gently placing his hand on her forehead, he asked in a teasing tone, “Now tell me… what’s bothering our sweet Miss Mangaka today, hmm?”
The moment his hand touched her forehead,
Anamika’s cheeks turned a soft, blushing pink.
She looked at Aditya—completely frozen again.
Aditya had no idea what kind of magic he had just done.
Anamika lowered her gaze and softly whispered to herself, "Maybe... he doesn’t even realize it…"
Aditya leaned in slightly,
looking into her eyes with a gentle smile and asked, “What’s wrong? You seem a little lost today.”
Anamika took a tiny step back and replied, “No, it’s nothing… it’s just… Saaniya didn’t leave this morning… she was at the hospital all night. She said she’d be back by morning…”
Hearing this, Aditya smiled warmly and said, “Ohh! So you’re worried about your best friend! That’s sweet.It happens. Though honestly, Saaniya was really worried about you yesterday too. Next time, don’t just disappear without telling anyone, okay?”
Anamika, a bit puzzled, said,“But… she told me I should start making my own decisions now.If I have to make my own choices… then should I even be asking her before doing anything?”
Aditya chuckled and gently said, “Silly girl… I said tell her, not ask her! Got it?”
Anamika shook her head innocently.
Seeing that, Aditya smiled again and said, “Alright, let me explain.
Like yesterday, you decided to come meet me — right?
So you should have just called her and told her
that you’re going to meet me. That’s all!”
Anamika blinked and replied,“But… I actually did that! But she said she would come and pick me up instead. And that just made me feel bad… like she didn’t understand my choice. So, I didn’t tell her after that. Even Aniket said it was okay.”
Aditya paused for a moment,
just looking at her — completely taken in by her simplicity.
Then he gently explained again, “No… it’s not what you think. Let me give you another example!
A few days ago, Aniket told me that, like always, he’s planning to celebrate his birthday in Bhutan. So I said, ‘Let’s celebrate here this time!’
But he refused. Why? Because it was his decision.
My idea was just a suggestion — not a command.
That’s the difference between giving a suggestion and making a decision for someone else.
You didn’t tell Saaniya it was your decision — so she made one for you. If you had said it clearly, then her response would’ve just been a suggestion too. Do you understand now?”
Anamika made a cute little pout like a child and said, “Ohhh! Got it now!”
Aditya chuckled and gently placed his hand on her forehead again. “Great! You’re such a good student!”
Anamika looked at him…
Her eyes stayed fixed on Aditya’s soft, loving smile — a moment that felt like it had frozen in time.
For the first time in her life,
someone was teaching her these little but powerful things… and it meant the world to her.
Today… Anamika had taken the first step in learning
what it means to make a decision for yourself.
To express it…
To stand by it…
And to let others know without fear.
Now the question is…
What more will Aditya teach her?
Because there are still so many colors of life
that Anamika has yet to discover… and feel.
