Kitchen ke andar hawa abhi bhi garam thi. Saatvik ka pace dheere ho chuka tha, par uske hoth aur body abhi bhi Jiva ke saath chipke hue the. Tabhi khatt ki halki si aawaaz aayi — darwaza ke paas se. Jiva ka dil ekdum se dhadak utha. Uske andar jaise alarm baj gaya ho. Usne aankhen phaad kar dekha aur turant hi ek jhatke se Saatvik ko peeche dhakka de diya.

Saatvik ki aankhon me junoon tha, par Jiva ki shakal pe dar aur guilt. Usne jaldi se dupatta apne seene pe khinch liya aur counter ki taraf bhaagi. Basin me tap on karke haath dhone lagi, jaise bas abhi kheer ke liye doodh hilaa rahi ho. Uski ungliyon ke beech se paani tapak raha tha, aur wo apni saansein rok kar normal banne ki koshish kar rahi thi.