It was late morning when the moving truck finally stopped in front of their new house. The house was small, two-storied, with warm cream-colored walls and brown wooden frames that gave it a calm and humble appearance. The air still carried traces of morning dew, and the soft chirping of birds from nearby trees welcomed the day with a sense of peace.
Adi stood motionless for a moment in front of the gate, his eyes shining as he took in the sight of their new home. Maya stood beside him, holding a folder filled with floor plans and a checklist of their belongings. Their eyes met briefly, filled with a mix of excitement, anxiety and quiet joy.
"So this is it our new headquarters." Adi muttered dramatically, stroking his chin as if he had just conquered a new world.
Maya let out a soft laugh. "Headquarters? I think I'd prefer calling it a 'home,' General."
Adi smiled and reached for Maya's hand, squeezing it gently. "Alright then our home."
They opened the gate and stepped inside. The glossy white ceramic tiles welcomed their first steps. In the living room, sunlight streamed through a large window, casting a warm glow across the walls. But the peaceful ambiance was quickly disrupted by the towering stacks of cardboard boxes that filled most of the space.
"It's like a cardboard labyrinth," Maya said, raising her eyebrows as she glanced at the list taped to the door:
1. Living Room
2. Kitchen
3. Master Bedroom
4. Guest Room
5. Storage Room
"Where should we start?" she asked, overwhelmed by the sheer number of boxes.
"Just drop them here for now. We'll organize later." Adi said as he widened the door to the living room and carried in a large box labeled "Plates & Glasses."
Maya followed behind him, hesitating. "I'm worried the plates might break." she murmured.
Adi smiled and carefully opened the box. Inside, the bone china plates had been individually wrapped in layers of old newspaper. "Don't worry. I wrapped them one by one. I learned my lesson. Remember how we argued last time over a cracked glass?"
Maya chuckled. "I remember. But that experience made you more careful and surprisingly better at packing."
They began working together, unpacking the boxes one by one and setting the contents aside on temporary shelves. After organizing three boxes in the living room, they moved on to the kitchen.
The kitchen was small, with a single sink positioned beneath a small window that looked out to the backyard. A foldable wooden table and a two-burner stove still packed in a box stood in the center.
"Should we set up the stove first or the table?" Maya asked as she opened a box filled with cutlery and dishes.
"Stove first. We don't want to starve before we can even cook." Adi replied, opening the box that held the stove.
After about fifteen minutes of lifting and arranging, they realized something unfortunate the table was too small. The stove barely fit, its edge dangerously close to falling off.
"Maya, look at this! The stove looks like it's about to jump off the table if we even turn it on!" Adi said with a laugh, trying to steady it.
Maya burst into laughter too, then quickly took out her phone and added a note to her shopping app. "We need a bigger table. This is far from safe."
Once the kitchen was set up as best they could manage, they headed to the master bedroom. Inside, there was only a thin foldable mattress and a small plywood wardrobe they had bought from a budget furniture store.
The cream-colored walls were still bare no pictures, no decorations, no memories yet.
Maya gently touched the cold surface of the wall. "Should we hang our wedding photo here?" she asked softly.
Adi turned and smiled. "That's a great idea. It'll be a daily reminder of why we chose this life together."
As afternoon turned into evening, the sky deepened in color and the sounds of insects began humming outside. After organizing the essential items, even if only temporarily, Adi turned on a small bedside lamp. Its yellowish light spread softly across the room, bringing a touch of warmth despite the bare surroundings.
Maya sat on the edge of the mattress, spreading out their thin blanket with a long sigh. "This house… it's not perfect. But it already feels like it's ours."
Adi joined her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "This mess is just the beginning. One day we'll repaint the walls, build new shelves, plant vines on the balcony…"
Maya turned to him, smiling. "I'm already imagining that balcony full of flowers. We'll have coffee out there every morning you reading a book, and me watering the plants."
Adi nodded with certainty. "Every morning, filled with laughter and dreams."
They sat in silence for a while, letting the calm of the evening surround them. Outside, a gentle breeze carried the scent of earth and wood from the small garden they had yet to plant. Inside, though still cluttered and incomplete, the house began to feel like a home.
"I'm glad we finally moved here." Maya whispered.
"Me too. I feel like… this is the right place to start over. To build everything from the ground up with you."
Maya squeezed his hand. "This house might be small, but if we fill it with our stories with our struggles and our love it will become a castle."
Adi nodded. "And that castle will have a kitchen where we can cook instant noodles without fearing the stove will fall."
Maya laughed heartily. "And a balcony full of flowers we forget to water because we oversleep!"
That night, amid the chaos of boxes and the flickering shadows of dreams not yet realized, they shared a cup of warm tea on the floor. No table, no couch. Just the two of them, sitting side by side, surrounded by hopes and a fresh beginning.
In that small house, warmth began to grow not from fancy furniture or perfect paint, but from two hearts choosing to face the mess together, to build days filled with love, and to create happiness in the simplest form: togetherness.