Kayalvizhi's pov:

Today is the day.

My final semester exam.

And of course, the universe had to save the worst for last - Indirect Taxation.

Just saying the name makes my soul leave my body.

I woke up early, thanks to a nightmare where I forgot the GST slab rates and my question paper had only one question: "Why did you even take M.Com?"

When I stepped out of the room, bleary-eyed and half-sentient, the smell of filter coffee led me to the kitchen.

And there he was.

Ezhil.

In a simple white shirt, stirring coffee like he had no plans to ruin my life today.

"Good morning, Kayal ma," he said with that maddeningly cheerful voice. "Today's the big one, huh?"

"Biggest villain of them all," I muttered.

He handed me the coffee. "Come. Sit. Breakfast is ready."

I blinked. "You cooked?"

He smirked. "Well, you've been burning the dosas while looking into your important topics yesterday. The least I could do was make pongal without burning the stove."

As I ate (and yes, it was delicious), he quietly packed my bag.

Yes. Packed. My. Bag.

Like I was a 5-year-old going for her first unit test.

"Water bottle," he murmured, slipping it into the side pocket. "Extra pen, hall ticket, admit card... oh, calculator — you'll need that."

(note: Guyysss ,I don't know whether they carry calculator or not,but as a eng student i am used to carrying calci to all my exams though i never use it🥲)

He zipped it up and handed it to me like it was a bag of bricks. "All set. You can do it."

I stared at him.

"You even packed my calculator," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Are you planning to add this to your PhD thesis? 'How to raise a 23-year-old student-wife'?"

He chuckled and patted my head. "Shh. You'll thank me when you open your bag and find a toffee inside."

"There's a toffee?"

"Check after the exam. Lucky charm."

I groaned and slung the bag over my shoulder.

And just when I reached the door, he called out, "Kayal ma..."

I turned.

"You'll ace it."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

He smiled proudly. "Of course."

"No way," I snapped back. "You set the question paper!"

He gave me a mock-innocent look. "Maybe I was feeling kind when I drafted it."

"Liar. You're the kind who'll write a question like, 'Explain the five heads of income tax along with their 17 subsections and case laws.'"

He tried not to laugh. "Kayal, it's not that bad."

"Not that bad? Even our lecturer  said 'This year, the questions are deep'. And that's your version of kind?"

He gave me a dramatic sigh. "You hurt me, madam."

"You better pray I don't cry in the exam hall. If I do, I'll make you cry with more kaaram added kaara kulambu."

He grinned. "That's pure evil ideal but Deal."

Just before I stepped out, he reached for my hand briefly.

"Kayal..."

I turned.

He didn't say anything for a second.

Then, softly, "You're going to do amazing. I believe in you."

That.

That right there like more than toffees or notes or practice papers , that was what I needed.

I gave a small smile. "Let's see if the belief survives till the result day."

As I walked toward college, bag heavier with his kindness and heart lighter with his words, I knew one thing for sure ,

No matter how today goes...

I already felt like I'd won something.

Ezhil's pov:

I came home a bit late today.

Had to submit my PhD thesis. The final formatting, binding, signatures from the research coordinator , it took longer than expected. I didn't have to stand in queues like students do, but between waiting for approvals and final documentation, the whole process stretched on.

Still, the thought that kept me going was this — she'd be home.

And she was.

Kayal was sitting at the table with her notes, a highlighter tucked between her fingers and her hair loosely braided over one shoulder. She looked up the moment I walked in, and her face lit up.

There it was again , that soft smile she didn't even realize she wore. The one that somehow made coming home feel like arriving.

"I was waiting for you," she said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I smiled. "I know."

After I refreshed, she handed me tea — extra sugar, as usual. Sweet enough to distract me from the fatigue clinging to my bones.

"Ezhil," she began, curling her fingers around her own cup. "Today's exam went really well."

I turned to her, surprised but glad. "That's great, Kayal. I told you, you always underestimate yourself."

She gave a sheepish smile and sipped her tea. Then, after a pause, she added, "Appa called. He asked if I could come home for a few days."

I set my cup down gently. "Oh... okay."

She looked at me, waiting.

I nodded. "You should go. It'll do you good and you've been working so hard these past weeks. You deserve a little break."

She was quiet.

"I can't come now," I continued, rubbing the back of my neck. "There's still a pile of answer scripts to correct, and the end-semester reports too. You know how that old sir is ,half of his class corrections somehow land on my desk."

She chuckled softly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You'll feel bored here anyway," I added. "Go spend time with Amma, relax a little... and take a couple of your CA books too. Revise a bit when you can. I'll join you once I'm done with all this."

She nodded slowly.

"When?" she asked, almost too softly.

"Hm?"

"When will you come?"

I thought for a moment. "Maybe three weeks? Hopefully less, if I finish fast."

"Three weeks..." she repeated, her voice trailing.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why? Is someone going to miss me?"

She looked away, mumbling, "No. I'll be happy."

But her eyes said something else.

She picked up her cup again, hiding half her face behind it, pretending to focus on the half-cold tea.

I kept watching her.

The way her voice dipped. The way her smile faltered just a little.

And I thought like when did this happen?

When did she start waiting for me like this?

When did I start noticing the quiet sadness she didn't speak out loud?

And why did her leaving for a few days suddenly make the house feel... emptier?

I didn't say anything. Not yet.

But I reached out and gently patted her cheek.

"Go, Kayal. Spend time with our family. I'll manage here."

She didn't reply immediately. Just leaned into my palm slightly, like the smallest part of her didn't want to move away.

And neither did I.

I stepped a little closer, lowered my voice, and softly said, "Take care of yourself. And don't forget to eat on time."

Then, without really thinking, I leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

She froze.

And a second later, her cheeks turned red — a full, blooming, unmistakable blush.

She quickly looked down, fiddling with her teacup like it had become the most fascinating object in the room.

I smiled to myself.

Yes. I was going to miss her too.

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