Lunch Time (OS) – By Sara

Hey guys! I can’t thank you all enough for the tremendous love you are giving to my ff I Hate You. I guess today is a special day, so I decided to write this OS. It’s not much, but fairly simple. Hope you all like it.

LUNCH TIME (OS)

All the new staff members were lined up. Twinkle stood amongst them and fixed her hair nervously, waiting for the boss to arrive. Finally, when he came, he assigned them their jobs and the staff went to their cabins. Living alone, as a girl, in Australia was not an easy task. Twinkle missed her hometown in Amritsar. Finally, it was lunch time. Now she could have a few moments to herself. She headed towards the canteen and took out her lunch, parathas; the one thing that kept her connected to India. As Twinkle ripped off a piece and was about to eat it, she noticed a guy staring at her. She had seen him on the line with her. He was one of the new employees. Kunj walked up and sat on the same table as Twinkle. Kunj had bought his lunch from the canteen. He, too, was living alone in Australia. Kunj sat down in front of Twinkle, initially, making her uncomfortable. Without speaking a word, he started unwrapping his sandwich. Twinkle noticed the uninterested look Kunj was giving his sandwich. Without making eye contact, she quietly spoke, “are you Indian?” Kunj looked up at Twinkle. Was she talking to him? It was quite difficult to know when she wasn’t looking at him. Still, he decided to answer.
Kunj- Yes I am. You are also Indian aren’t you?
Without speaking, Twinkle passed Kunj a paratha and with that, she got up and left. Kunj was surprised at Twinkle’s behavior but with one glance at the buttery goodness, he forgot all about it and remembered all the memories from Amritsar. Today was probably one of the best lunches he had in a while. The next day, Kunj again sat with Twinkle. Again, Twinkle left part of her lunch for Kunj. Silently, but surely, the two had grown closer. Not once did they speak. They didn’t need to speak. This was their relationship. A weird one sure, but a relationship indeed. Days passed like this. Their silent but passionate lunch dates, might we call them lunch dates, was just the beginning of a newly found connection.
One day, Kunj waited for Twinkle during lunch, but she did not show up.
Kunj thinks- Where is Twinkle? Did she not come to work today?
Pondering for a while, Kunj comes to a conclusion.
Kunj- Oh shit Kunj! What have you done? You have been eating Twinkle’s lunch for the past few days. Of course she won’t come and sit with you again!
Kunj eats his bland lunch and heads back to work. But the very next day, Kunj sees Twinkle again. He sits with her and grabs a napkin. Scribbling a note on the napkin, Kunj passes it to her. Twinkle gives a funny look to Kunj before reading the note on the napkin: “Sorry”.
Twinkle- Why?
Kunj- Actually, you have been giving me your lunch for the past few days that’s why.
Twinkle faintly smiles. Kunj passes another napkin to Twinkle. She reads it: “If you don’t mind, may I return the favor?”
Twinkle looks over a Kunj who replies, “Coffee?”

TWINKLE’S POV

His cute gesture made me smile. That day, we had coffee with our lunch. It continued like that. Once I has giving him a piece of dhokla. Another day, he had butter chicken on is chin and I wiped it off. The next day, I remember his reaction to the spiciness of the chicken tikka. A laugh escaped my mouth that day. He looked quite adorable with that pout on his face. Then one day, he handed me another napkin. I opened it and read it: “Twinkle, will you let me eat food made by your hand for the rest of my life?”

********

I was brought out of my thought when I heard a racket in the kitchen. I ran to see my husband covered from head to toe in flour. I covered my mouth as I tried to suppress my laughter. “Kunj, what are you doing?” He pouted at me and innocently said, “I was trying to cook.” I shook my head. “Kunj, it’s been two years since we’ve gotten married.” A giggle escaped my mouth as I completed my thought. “It’s ok, I will cook.”
He pulled me towards him as my back rested against his chest. I rested my hands on his arms that snaked its way around my waist. As he rested his chin on my shoulder, he whispered, “this is why I love you. I’ll be waiting at the table for our lunch time.” He left but not before giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek. Lunch time was surely my favorite part of the day.