" Wow ," I say, holding my heart dramatically, "My first words from you in two days, and that's what I get? Not even a 'hello' or 'your cat is cute'? Brutal."
Honestly, i was scared that she won't like her but luckily that's not the case here .
Kanaka chirps in agreement. Honestly, whose side is she on?
Another pause. Then she adds, quietly:
"…She is cute."
And just like that — boom. A spark. Small. Silly. But enough.
My lips twitch.
"Well, I've been told I have excellent taste in both cats and... mysterious, emotionally unavailable women who steal my blanket and never make eye contact."
No answer this time — but I swear I saw the tiniest smile tug at the corner of her lips before she turned away again.
Victory. Small. Golden.
I sit down quietly beside the bed, back against the wall, Kanaka guarding her like a tiny furry dragon.
"I'll just stay here a while," I say softly, mostly to myself.
And I do.
---
" What is your name ? " she asked quite prettily while searching her name tag.
"Her name is Kanaka , I call her kanu . And she doesn't like name tags." I said .
She glanced at me .
" Kanu ~ ..." she said in her sweetest tone and the furry kitten lunges in her arms .
Even I would do that too if she called my name like that.
" Kanaka loves you ." I said glancing both of them .
This Golden eyed freeloader already gets princess treatment with my royalty . ( jealous but proud of himself )
The cat blinks slowly like a goddess granting an audience.
Did she read my mind ?!
-----
After a few moments of adoration, i got up for a shower.
While I was in the shower I heard her trying to have a conversation with kanu.
" So he named you Kanaka, huh ? "
Ahh cuz of the Golden pearls in your pretty eyes.
She chuckles , it does totally fit you right .
A pause .
" Kanaka . Swarna ."
Both means " Gold ".
No wonder you too get along well.
She just said my name.
God , please help me before I go crazy.
I step out and like a cool guy , I asked ," Are you talking to cat about me ? "
She didn't answer.
Again I sit and lean against the wall continuing adoring them .
I sit down like it's casual. Like I haven't just lost my mind in the shower hearing her say my name for the first time. Like my heart didn't just do a freaking cartwheel.
Kanaka is now lazily sprawled across her lap, belly up, soaking in every bit of the attention She is giving her. I swear that cat was never this affectionate with me. Traitor.
She gently rubs behind Kanu's ears, the kind of soft touch you give something precious.
She's smiling—barely, but it's there. That half-curve that makes her eyes shimmer.
" Kaha , Are you okay ?" I ask, careful. Gentle. Like the words might break if I speak too loud.
She looks up at me.
And just like that, the shimmer in her eyes tips over. Her gaze wavers, her lashes wet, and the tears begin to fall silently—like they've been waiting too long to be acknowledged.
God.
I get up gently and grab the nearest soft thing—her blanket—wrapping it around her shoulders like armor. She's cold. I can feel it radiating from her skin, from her silence.
She doesn't say anything. Just sits there, wrapped in that blanket like she's trying to disappear into it.
So I sit in front of her, lean in, and slowly—carefully—pull her into a hug.
At first, she's stiff. Then she leans in.
Then she clutches me—arms wrapping around me tight, like I'm a lifeboat and she's sinking. Her breath is hitched and ragged against my shirt. She's crying like she's been holding it in for days. Maybe longer.
I don't say a word. Just tighten my arms around her, press my hand to the back of her head, and let her cry it all out.
And when her body gets heavy, when her sobs turn into uneven breathing, she stays there—nestled into my chest like a kid who ran too long and finally found home.
I adjust slightly, sit my back against the backrest of my bed and ease her into my lap. She doesn't move, doesn't resist.
Kanaka has curled up beside us again, her tail flicking softly.
After crying for a time just like that ,She falls asleep and like that—blanket draped around her, head on my chest, arms loosely wrapped around me.
And I sit there, unmoving, staring at the girl in my arms like she's both a puzzle and an answer.
My heart's loud. But for once, I don't try to shush it.
I hold her . Don't let her feel less. She is too precious to me .