Part- 375:

  She chose not to push him to talk. Instead, Farzana prepared spiced rid tender chi. fort food often spoke louder than words. Especially when James was too defeated to say anything at all. She pced the dish beside him without a word. Presence was soft and unassuming. James gnced up catg her warm smile. He noticed the gentle kindness in her eyes. "Thanks Mom," he muttered. A faint smile breaking through his gloom. Familiar aromas stirred something within him. He began to eat. Fvors slowly lifted his spirits. "This is amazing, as always. You could probably win a gold medal in cooking."

  “Only if judges like extra spice” she came with a wink. “They might possibly throw me out for being too spicy!”

  James got lost in his reveries as he chewed. Then, his sister, Lily ehe room. She was a stark trast to their mother. Cool and collected. Had a sharp tohat could carve through any tension. Her face was framed by her dark hair. She carried herself with fidence. She was often mistaken for being indifferent. However, there was a hidden kindness under her icy exterior. It was a hard cept for James to grasp.

  Lily took a seat. She was across from him. Her arms were crossed. A skeptical look was on her face. "You’re really going to sit there and sulk?” she asked. Her tone was more probing than harsh.

  James met her gaze. He felt familiar prick of irritation. "I’m not sulking,” he replied. He pushed a piece of chi around his pte. “I’m just… processing. It’s called self-refle not sulking."

  “Self-refle? Right. You look more like wallowing in your own pity party,” she shot back. Her lips quirked in the slightest hint of a smile. “I hope you at least got snacks for it."

  “Lily you wouldn’t knoity party if it hit you in the face,” he retorted. He tried to keep the mood light. “I’ll invite you ime."

  “Only if there’s cake,” she replied. Her tone was mog. Yet, there was hint of genuine . “You’ve trained forever for this. You ’t let one loss define you.”

  Her words stung. But James could see the faint glimmer of . It was beh her cold demeanor. It was as if she was trying to bance her bluntness with a hint of care. This mix was fusing. It left him both frustrated and appreciative. “I know that, Lily,” he said. He tried to keep his voice steady. “It just hurts right now.”

  “Fine,” she said. Her expression softened a touch. “But moping around won’t help. You o get baat as soon as you . Unless of course you pn to take up career as professional couch potato."

  James chuckled. “I’ve been training for months. I don’t think couch potato Olympics are in my future.”

  Farzana interjected. Tension was risiween children. "Lily he ime. Everyone copes differently," she said. Her voice was steady. It was warm. This grouhem both.

  James appreciated mother’s defehere was a wave of gratitude. It washed over him. "Yes, I get that I o move on," he said. He tried to articute the emotions inside. "But today I just want to feel it."