The next day, Zeema's morning began like every other day.
She woke at five.
Exercised.
Showered.
Prepared breakfast.
Before leaving, she filled Ginger's food bowl to the brim, then stood watching him eat with shameless dedication.
"...Uncivilized," she murmured.
Ginger ignored her.
A few minutes later, she ordered an automatic feeder online.
If the cat intended to stay, then systems would be put in place.
By the time she left for college, Ginger had already claimed the sofa like inherited property.
The Uber ride was quiet.
Traffic moved in waves through the city while Zeema watched Chennai pass by through the window.
Vendors opening stalls.
Students rushing late.
Office workers carrying unfinished sleep on their faces.
Normal.
Predictable.
When she entered the classroom, the usual noise was there—
but something felt different.
Shalini was already seated near the window.
Silent.
Looking outside listlessly.
No bright greeting.
No unnecessary commentary.
No dramatic complaints.
Just quiet.
Zeema slowed slightly.
Something was wrong.
She did not ask.
Instead, she walked to the desk and placed a bottle of freshly made watermelon juice in front of Shalini.
Then gently poked her once on the shoulder.
No words.
Shalini blinked and turned.
Her eyes landed on the bottle.
Then on Zeema.
For a second, she looked confused.
Then something softened.
"You bought this for me?"
Zeema sat down calmly beside her.
"You looked dehydrated."
Shalini stared.
"That is absolutely not what this is about."
Zeema opened her bag.
"Then drink quietly."
For the first time that morning, Shalini smiled.
Small.
Real.
And that was enough.
The first period began.
Programming in C.
The lecturer started with basic syntax, variables, and functions while half the class tried to look interested and the other half failed.
Keyboards clicked.
Pens moved.
Fans hummed overhead.
Nothing unusual.
But Zeema noticed something else.
Shalini was still too quiet.
For someone like her, the silence was unnatural.
No side comments.
No exaggerated reactions.
No whispered complaints about coding.
Just a distant stillness.
Zeema looked at the board for a moment.
Then at Shalini.
Then back at the board.
She thought for a while.
Finally, she tore a small piece of paper from the edge of her notebook.
Wrote something.
Folded it once.
Then slid it across the desk toward Shalini without looking at her.
Shalini glanced down curiously and opened it beneath the table.
Inside was Zeema's phone number.
And below it:
I am not an emotional person, but for financial matters, health issues, or other practical problems, you can contact me.
Shalini stared at the note for three full seconds.
Then slowly turned toward Zeema.
Zeema was still facing the board as if nothing had happened.
Expression calm.
Posture straight.
As though handing people emergency support contracts during C programming class was normal behavior.
Shalini looked back at the paper.
Then suddenly laughed.
A small, choked laugh she had clearly been holding in all morning.
The lecturer glanced at her.
"Anything funny?"
Shalini shook her head quickly.
"No, sir."
She folded the note carefully and placed it inside her notebook like something valuable.
Then she leaned closer to Zeema and whispered:
"You are the weirdest sweet person I've ever met."
Zeema kept writing.
"Incorrect."
But the corner of her mouth moved slightly.
During the morning break, the corridor buzzed with voices as students stepped out of class.
Shalini stood up quietly.
"Come," she said.
Zeema followed without asking.
They walked side by side toward the girls' restroom, the noise of the corridor fading behind them.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"I'm in a... kind of awkward situation," Shalini said, her voice lower than usual.
Zeema glanced at her once but didn't interrupt.
"Once I get out of it, I might need your help."
They reached the restroom door.
Shalini paused there for a second, as though deciding whether to say more.
Then she looked at Zeema again.
Not dramatic.
Not overly emotional.
Just honest.
Zeema's expression didn't change.
"Whatever," she said calmly.
Shalini blinked.
Then huffed out a quiet laugh.
"I knew you'd say that."
Zeema leaned lightly against the wall.
"If it's practical, I'll assist."
No hesitation.
No curiosity.
Just a statement.
Shalini studied her for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Yeah... it is."
A small pause.
"And Zeema?"
Zeema looked at her.
"...Thanks."
Zeema didn't reply.
But she didn't walk away either.
That evening, Zeema decided Ginger required fresh air.
Ginger, however, behaved as though fresh air should be delivered indoors.
Still, she carried him downstairs.
The moment she stepped into the community area, people began looking at her strangely.
Some openly.
Some discreetly.
A woman walking a Pomeranian slowed down.
Two aunties near a bench paused mid-conversation.
Even the security guard gave her a long, confused glance.
Zeema simply nodded at him as usual and kept walking.
She did not care.
Nor did she notice the group of children near the playground staring at her with wide eyes.
More specifically—
at Ginger.
The orange cat in her arms.
A small boy pointed dramatically.
"Mani!"
Another child gasped.
"She caught him!"
A third looked personally offended.
Zeema continued toward the park, completely unaware she had apparently kidnapped a local celebrity.
Once she reached the grassy area, she set Ginger down.
He landed with dignity.
Then immediately began inspecting the surroundings like an officer on duty.
Sniffing bushes.
Walking along benches.
Pausing at trees.
Marking territory with shameless confidence.
Zeema watched with narrowed eyes.
"How does one train arrogance out of a cat?" she murmured.
Ginger ignored her completely.
On the other side of the playground, Adhi came running at full speed.
"Arjun anna!" he shouted.
Arjun barely looked up from the Uno No Mercy cards spread across the bench. He sat with his friends, surrounded by younger children offering terrible advice and unnecessary commentary.
"What?" Arjun asked, placing down a card.
"I found Mani!"
That got his attention.
Arjun looked up immediately.
"Where?"
Adhi pointed dramatically toward the park.
"A scary-looking akka is carrying him."
The group fell silent.
One friend coughed.
"Scary-looking?"
Adhi nodded seriously.
"Very scary face," he said, rubbing his arms. "I got goosebumps."
Another friend burst out laughing.
"That does sound dangerous."
Arjun was already standing.
"Where exactly?"
"She took him there," Adhi said, still pointing. "But Mani didn't scream much."
"That traitor," Arjun muttered.
He handed his cards to a friend.
"Don't ruin my game."
"You're losing anyway," one of them said.
"Watch your mouth."
Then he started walking quickly toward the park.
The children and his friends immediately tried to follow.
Arjun turned around.
"Stay back."
They froze.
"At least ten meters," he said. "Don't crowd her and scare the girl."
A chorus of disappointed groans followed.
Still—
They obeyed.
Mostly.
Near the park path, Zeema stood with her hands folded, watching Ginger inspect a flowerbed like real estate.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
"Excuse me..."
She turned.
And forgot every thought she had.
It was him.
The same person from the park.
The same person from the lift.
The same person her mind had unnecessarily remembered.
For one brief moment, everything in her head went completely blank.
She simply stared.
Arjun slowed slightly.
Up close, she looked even calmer than before.
Sharp eyes.
Unreadable face.
Beautiful in a way that felt dangerous.
He cleared his throat.
"That's the community cat."
Silence.
Zeema continued staring at him.
Not coldly.
Not warmly.
Just... staring.
Behind him, ten meters away, a crowd of children watched like this was live television.
One of Arjun's friends whispered loudly,
"He's dead."
Arjun ignored them.
Zeema finally blinked.
Then looked down at Ginger.
Ginger had walked over and sat beside her leg.
Choosing sides.
Her gaze returned to Arjun.
"...Interesting."
Then, after a pause, her lips curved slightly.
"His actions say otherwise."
The smile was faint.
Her eyes softer.
A change so subtle even she did not notice it.
Arjun glanced at Mani.
"He's friendly with everyone," he said.
Mani calmly meowed at him.
"Of course you are."
Arjun placed his hands on his hips and looked at the cat with betrayal.
"Mani, you have to come with me."
He pointed accusingly.
"Your wife gave birth early this morning."
Zeema slowly looked down at Ginger. Then back at Arjun . Then back at Ginger again.
"What exactly have I involved myself in?",she thought to herself.
Arjun sighed dramatically.
"Yes," he said, noticing her expression. "This traitor abandoned his family."
Behind him, one of the kids gasped.
"Shameless!"
Another nodded solemnly.
"Very bad husband."
Arjun crouched down and scratched Mani under the chin while continuing his complaint.
"You can't just disappear when your wife and children need you."
Mani purred shamelessly.
"No remorse," Arjun muttered.
Zeema watched them quietly.
Then her gaze shifted to him.
Under the fading evening light, his reddish-brown hair caught warm tones of bronze and mahogany. His skin held a honeyed glow from the sun. His eyes were gentle, bright with easy warmth even while scolding a cat for fatherhood failures.
A small smile rested on his face.
There was something effortless about him.
Like sunlight after rain.
Refreshing.
Warm.
Dangerously easy to look at.
For one strange moment, he did not seem entirely real.
Mani suddenly trotted back to Arjun and rubbed against his leg.
"See?" Arjun said, looking up at her. "Loyalty returned."
Zeema met his eyes.
"No," she said calmly. "Temporary confusion."
The children burst into laughter.
Arjun stared at her for a second—then laughed too.
The sound was easy, unguarded, brighter than she expected.
Something unfamiliar moved once inside Zeema's chest.
Annoying.
She straightened immediately.
"Take your criminal," she said.
Arjun lifted Mani into his arms.
"Yes, ma'am."
Then he paused.
"I'm Arjun, by the way."
Zeema looked at him for a beat too long.
"Unnecessary information."
He grinned.
"Still useful."
He turned and began walking back toward the others, Mani draped across his shoulder like royalty.
Halfway there, he glanced back once.
Zeema was still standing where he had left her.
Composed.
Still.
Watching.
She looked away first.
When she finally walked back to the building after 2 hours waiting for ginger, her pace was unchanged.
Only one thing was different.
For reasons she refused to examine, the evening no longer felt ordinary.
She reached her apartment, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
Ginger walked past her without gratitude and leapt onto the sofa.
"Disloyal," she informed him.
He began grooming himself.
Zeema placed her keys on the table and stood still for a moment.
Then, with visible irritation, she touched her own pulse at her wrist.
Normal.
A pause.
Then she checked again.
Still normal.
"Ridiculous," she muttered.
From the sofa, Ginger blinked at her like a witness who intended to say nothing.
Zeema drew the curtains sharply, switched off the brighter lights, and went to prepare dinner.
She was entirely composed.
Completely unaffected.
And she burned the onions.
Much later that night, after dinner had been salvaged and her dignity had not, Zeema sat at her desk with a textbook open in front of her.
She had been reading the same paragraph for eleven minutes.
Nothing had entered her brain.
Outside, somewhere in the corridor, laughter echoed faintly.
Male laughter.
She closed the book.
Annoying.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Shalini.
Are you free tomorrow? Might need that practical assistance package.
Zeema stared at the screen.
Then typed back:
Specify problem.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Then another message:
Also... random question. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Zeema's expression went blank.
She locked the phone and placed it face down on the table.
Absolutely not.
From the sofa, Ginger made a sound that resembled disbelief.
Zeema narrowed her eyes at him.
"Mind your own business."