In House of Bharadwaj,
Lunch break finally arrived.
With a satisfied sigh, Aprajita saved the last document, shut her laptop and stretched her tired arms above her head. The morning had passed so quickly that she hadn't even noticed how hungry she was.
Almost automatically, she reached for the side rack where she always kept her lunch bag.
Her fingers touched...
Nothing.
She frowned and looked down. The rack was empty.
A second later, she lightly smacked her forehead "Oh no..."
Between waking up before sunrise, preparing her *pehli rasoi*, getting ready as a new bride, and leaving with Rakshit instead of riding her scooty...
She had forgotten it completely. Her mother's familiar voice echoed inside her head. "Appu! One day I will not be there to tell if that you forget your lunch box!"
A helpless laugh escaped her. "Ma was right..." Still smiling, she leaned back in her chair before her eyes wandered towards Rakshit's glass cabin.
He hadn't carried a lunch bag either. She remembered it clearly.
He had walked out of the house carrying nothing except his laptop bag. *Maybe someone sends lunch from home...* The thought made her pause.
She could always order food online. But then another question crossed her mind.
*What if lunch is already on its way?*
And then she realised something that surprised even her. She had absolutely no idea what her husband liked to eat. Shaking the thought away, she got up from her chair and walked towards his cabin.
Lost in her own thoughts-and in her growing hunger-she completely forgot the one office rule she had followed for the last five years.
She opened the cabin door without knocking. The sudden movement made Rakshit look up from his laptop. For a brief moment, surprise flickered across his face. Nobody entered his cabin without permission.
Then the soft *clink... clink...* of glass bangles reached his ears. The surprise disappeared almost instantly.
Aprajita stood near the door, completely unaware that she had broken office protocol. "Do you get lunch from home?" she asked without any greeting.
Rakshit leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. "You're in the office, Aprajita."
She blinked. "So?"
"You once told me," he reminded her calmly, "that you only speak when necessary."
She folded her arms and tilted her head. "Does that rule still apply now?"
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then she continued before he could answer. "We forgot our lunch."
She pointed towards him and then herself. "I've seen in movies that CEOs have fresh food brought from home every afternoon."
She sighed dramatically. "So..."
Looking at him expectantly, she asked, "Are we getting one?"
She paused for effect before adding innocently, "...Or at least am I?"
Rakshit looked at her for a long second. Then he quietly shook his head. "No. I never had a habit of getting lunch from home." He closed the file in front of him and added, "I'm not the kind of boss you've seen in television serials."
"Oh..." The disappointment on her face was so genuine that it almost made him smile.
Almost.
She unlocked her phone and opened a food delivery app. "Should I order something then?" she asked, scrolling through the menu. "What would you like?"
"I'll eat later." He had already turned back to his laptop. I usually have lunch three hours from now." Her thumb froze over the screen. She looked up at him in disbelief. "Three hours?"
He nodded without lifting his eyes. "That's when I usually eat."
She stared at him for another moment."You call that lunch?" A frown settled on her face. "That's practically an early dinner." The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Rakshit's fingers paused above the keyboard. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet hers. His expression had changed.
There was no anger.
Only the familiar authority that had made an entire company fear missing deadlines. "Aren't you getting a little too involved in my routine?"
The question was calm.
Professional.
It sounded exactly like something a CEO would say to an employee.
The room fell silent. Aprajita's smile slowly disappeared.
For a brief second, she forgot she was his wife. And remembered exactly who he had always been.
Her boss.
She lowered her eyes and quietly locked her phone. "I'm... sorry."
She didn't defend herself.
She didn't argue.
She simply turned around and walked towards the door.
The soft *clink... clink...* of her bangles echoed once before gradually fading into the corridor.
The cabin fell silent again.
Rakshit remained seated, his eyes fixed on the closed door long after she had left.
After a few moments, he looked back at the laptop screen. The spreadsheet was still open. The numbers were still there. But somehow... None of them made sense anymore.
He leaned back in his chair and slowly closed the laptop. The conversation replayed in his mind.
She hadn't questioned his work.
She hadn't interfered with his decisions.
She had simply asked if he wanted to eat.
A quiet sigh escaped him.
For the first time since their marriage, he wondered if he had answered his employee when he should have answered his wife.
💛
Lunch Break
"Dubey ji...."
The reply came almost immediately."Yes, sir?"
Rakshit kept his eyes on the closed cabin door as he spoke. "Order lunch for Mrs. Bharadwaj."
There was a brief silence from the other end. "Sir..."
"Hm?"
"What should I order for ma'am?"Rakshit frowned.
Only then did he realise something embarrassingly simple. He had absolutely no idea what Aprajita liked to eat.
He rubbed his forehead with two fingers before answering, "The same thing I usually have."
He paused briefly. "Make it two. And send one to her immediately."
"Right away, sir."
Rakshit disconnected the call before Dubey ji could ask anything else.
For some reason that felt easier than admitting he didn't know his own wife's favourite food.
---
Meanwhile, Aprajita walked towards the break room with her hands folded across her chest, still replaying the conversation in Rakshit's cabin.
"I only asked out of courtesy," she muttered under her breath. She pushed open the door with her shoulder. "And he starts showing attitude."
Reshmi was already sitting at their usual table, happily opening her lunch box. Looking up, she grinned the moment she saw Aprajita. "There you are!"
Aprajita dropped into the chair opposite her with an exaggerated sigh. "Can we share lunch today?"
Reshmi blinked in surprise. "You?" she asked dramatically. "Sharing my lunch?"
"I forgot mine." Aprajita rested her chin on the table and looked at the lunch box with longing. "And I'm too hungry to wait for delivery."
Reshmi laughed before sliding the lunch box towards her. "I never thought I'd live to see this day."
"What day?"
"The CEO's wife stealing my homemade aloo parathas."
Aprajita rolled her eyes. "I'm still the same Appu." And smiled before adding, "I've only upgraded my surname."
Both of them burst into laughter.
Aprajita had just reached for the first paratha when hurried footsteps echoed outside.
A moment later, Dubey ji rushed into the break room, slightly out of breath, carrying an elegant black-and-gold paper bag.
"M-Ma'am..."
Aprajita looked up immediately. "Dubey ji?"
He bent slightly, trying to catch his breath as he placed the bag carefully on the table. "Your... lunch."
Without thinking twice, Aprajita picked up her water bottle and handed it to him. "First breathe."
Dubey accepted it gratefully and took a few quick sips. "Thank you, ma'am."
Reshmi, meanwhile, was already leaning halfway across the table. "What is it?"
Straightening his tie, Dubey ji smiled proudly. "Sir ordered it for you."
Aprajita looked at the bag in surprise. "He did?"
Dubey nodded enthusiastically."Sir specifically asked for it."
With that, he excused himself and hurried back towards the executive floor.
The moment he disappeared from sight, both women leaned towards the paper bag like curious children.
"Open it!" Reshmi urged.
"I'm opening it." Aprajita carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Both of them stared inside.
Silence.
Neatly arranged slices of watermelon, kiwi and apple.
A box of steamed vegetables.
Boiled black chana.
A small container of hummus.
A handful of almonds.
Not a grain of rice.
Not a single drop of oil.
Not even a papad.
Aprajita blinked twice. "...What is this?"
Reshmi looked inside again before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "What happened?" Reshmi asked between laughs.
Aprajita lifted the container of boiled chana as though it were evidence in a crime. "Did he order lunch..." She looked at her friend in horror."...or punishment?"
Reshmi laughed so hard she nearly dropped her spoon. "You should've told your husband you hate healthy food."
Aprajita pushed the luxurious lunch box towards her without hesitation."Then you eat it."
In the same movement, she pulled Reshmi's lunch box towards herself. "I'll happily survive on your aloo parathas."
Without wasting another second, she tore off a large piece of paratha, dipped it into the pickle and stuffed it into her mouth. "Mmm..." She closed her eyes dramatically. "This..." She pointed at the paratha with complete satisfaction. "...is happiness."
Reshmi shook her head, still laughing."You know..." She picked up the fork kept beside the healthy meal."I've always wondered what rich people eat." She stabbed a lonely piece of broccoli."Today is my lucky day."
Aprajita pointed her paratha towards her like a warning. "Don't complain later."
Reshmi confidently popped the broccoli into her mouth.
She chewed once.
Then twice.
Slowly, the smile disappeared from her face.
She looked at Aprajita with complete seriousness. "...Your husband needs help."
Aprajita burst into laughter so suddenly that she nearly choked on her food. "Finally!" She pointed at Reshmi dramatically."Someone understands me."
The two friends dissolved into another fit of laughter, one eating buttery aloo parathas while the other reluctantly stared at steamed broccoli.
Upstairs, completely unaware of the chaos his thoughtful gesture had caused, Rakshit calmly continued reviewing financial reports.
He genuinely believed he had ordered the perfect lunch.
It never once occurred to him that the woman who considered spicy roadside pani puri a complete meal would treat boiled vegetables as a personal betrayal.
💛
The workday finally came to an end.
One by one, employees shut down their computers, gathered their belongings and began leaving the office. The floor, which had been buzzing with conversations all day, slowly grew quieter
Aprajita leaned back in her chair and gently rubbed the back of her neck. The exhaustion she had been ignoring since morning was finally catching up to her
The wedding
The endless rituals
The emotional *vidhai.
Sleeping on the sofa
Waking up before sunrise to prepare her *pehli rasoi.
And then spending the entire day at work
It had all become too much
All she wanted now was a hot shower, comfortable clothes and a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. She instinctively looked towards Rakshit's glass cabin. He was still inside
A foreign client sat across from him while several files and presentation charts covered the conference table. Rakshit stood near the screen, explaining something with complete focus, his attention fixed entirely on the meeting
He hadn't even looked outside once. Aprajita checked the time on her phone
Almost seven
She smiled to herself. *This meeting isn't ending anytime soon.
Unlocking her phone, she quickly typed a message. **I'm leaving home. Your meeting looks like it'll take a while. Don't worry about me.*
She pressed, Send. A single grey tick appeared. She wasn't surprised
His phone was probably on silent, just like it always was during meetings
Shaking her head with a faint smile, she picked up her handbag, switched off her desk lamp and quietly walked out of the office
--
The evening breeze felt cool against her face as she stepped outside the building
The company driver, who had been waiting beside the black BMW, immediately noticed her and hurried forward. "Ma'am," he said respectfully, opening the rear door. "Please.
Aprajita smiled apologetically and shook her head. "No, it's okay.
The driver looked confused
"Sir is still in a meeting," she explained, glancing towards the office building. "I don't know how long it'll take.
He nodded. "Yes, ma'am.
She smiled politely. "If I take the car, how will he come home if the meeting finishes early?
The driver opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. She had a point
After a brief silence, Aprajita took out her phone and opened a cab-booking app. "I'll book a cab," she said casually. "It'll be easier." Within a minute, the booking was confirmed
The driver still looked uncertain, but finally gave a respectful nod. "Alright, ma'am.
A few moments later, the cab pulled up outside the entrance. Aprajita picked up her handbag and smiled warmly at the driver. "Please let him know I left.
"I will, ma'am.
She thanked him before getting into the cab
As the vehicle pulled away from the office, she leaned her head against the window and watched the city lights blur past
For the first time since the wedding, she stopped thinking about contracts
Stopped thinking about responsibilities
Stopped thinking about Rakshit.
For the length of the journey home..
She simply allowed herself to be tired.
💛
Nearly forty minutes later, after battling the evening traffic, Aprajita finally reached Bharadwaj Mansion.
She let out a tired sigh as she stepped inside. After a quick shower, she changed into a comfortable cotton kurti and tied her damp hair into a loose bun.
Her stomach growled almost immediately. She had survived the entire afternoon on three aloo parathas.
"I deserve a proper dinner," she mumbled to herself.
Making her way downstairs, she found Aravind already seated at the dining table, reading the newspaper.
The moment he saw her, his face lit up. "Ah... Appu beta!"
She smiled and took the chair beside him.
"Dinner?" He asked warmly.
She nodded eagerly. "Very much."
Within seconds, the servants began serving dinner.
Aprajita's smile slowly disappeared. One bowl after another landed on the table.
Marinated paneer-or was it tofu? She couldn't even tell.Grilled chicken. Steamed broccoli. Zucchini. Boiled carrots. Another bowl of sautéed green vegetables.
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
Finally, she looked at Aravind. "Papa..."
"Hm?"
She pointed at the dishes. "Are these the starters...or the main course?"
Aravind burst into laughter. "This is dinner."
She stared at the food as though it had personally offended her. "You... eat this every night?"
He nodded while cutting a piece of grilled chicken. "Rakshit follows a strict diet. I didn't want the staff preparing separate meals just for me, so I started eating the same." He looked at her curiously. "You don't like it?"
Aprajita looked at the plate. Then back at him. Then at the plate again.
Finally, she turned towards one of the servants."Bhaiya...Do we have any leftover rice?"
The servant looked apologetic. "No, ma'am."
"Parathas?"
He shook his head. "No, ma'am."
She slowly lowered her forehead onto the dining table. Thud. "I'm starving..."
Aravind laughed so hard.
After a dramatic few seconds, Aprajita lifted her head with complete determination. "From tomorrow..." She pointed at the vegetables accusingly. "...I don't care what Rakshit eats."
Aravind looked at her, amused.
"We..." She placed a hand on her heart dramatically. "...are having proper desi meals."
"Dal."
"Rice."
"Sabzi."
"Rotis."
"And at least one thing with actual masala."
Aravind's smile widened. "I completely agree."
She immediately turned towards the head cook. "From tomorrow, I'll give you the weekly menu."
The cook nodded attentively.
"And please..." She folded her hands dramatically. Prepare lunch for both of us before we leave for the office. I refuse to survive another day on boiled vegetables."
"Yes, ma'am."
Aravind watched the entire conversation with quiet amusement. A smile slowly spread across his face.
This was exactly why he had wanted Aprajita as his daughter-in-law.
She wasn't intimidated by the Bharadwaj name.
She didn't hesitate to speak her mind.
And somehow, within two days of entering the house, she had already started changing it.
Not with grand gestures.
But with little things.
A conversation at the dining table.
Laughter.
And the promise of hot dal, rice and rotis from tomorrow.
For the first time in years...
Aravind looked forward to breakfast.
💛
The meeting finally came to an end a little after ten.
Rakshit closed his laptop with a tired sigh as the foreign clients thanked him before leaving the conference room. After hours of discussions and negotiations, the entire office had fallen unusually quiet.
Only a few lights still glowed across the otherwise empty floor.
He loosened his tie and stretched his shoulders before instinctively looking through the glass partition.
Aprajita's desk. It was empty. For a brief moment, he frowned in confusion.
Then he remembered. She had come to the office with him that morning.
Immediately, he pulled out his phone.
One unread message waited on the screen.
**I'm leaving home. Your meeting looks like it'll take a while. Don't worry about me.**
He checked the timestamp. Almost three hours ago.
His phone had remained silent throughout the meeting. Slipping it back into his pocket, he walked towards the exit without another word.
The company driver noticed him immediately and hurried forward.
"Good evening, sir," he greeted respectfully before reaching for the car door.
Before the driver could open it, Rakshit looked around the parking area. "Where's ma'am?" he asked.
The driver hesitated. "Sir..." he began cautiously. "Ma'am left in a cab."
Rakshit stopped mid-step and turned towards him. "In a cab?"
The driver nodded nervously. "She said your meeting would take time. She didn't want to take the car because you might finish early and need it."
He lowered his gaze. "I tried to explain, sir... but she insisted."
For a few seconds, Rakshit didn't say anything. His jaw tightened slightly as he looked towards the now-empty driveway.
Finally, he let out a slow breath. "Next time," he said calmly, "call me before letting her leave."
"I'm sorry, sir," the driver replied immediately. "It won't happen again."
Rakshit gave a small nod. "Start the car."
"Yes, sir."
---
The BMW rolled out of the company gates and merged into the late-night traffic.
Rakshit leaned back against the seat, resting his head for a moment as the city lights passed outside the window.
His mind wandered back to the morning.
*Do you honestly think I'm worried about your petrol expenses?*
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Then another memory followed almost immediately.
*That's not lunch... that's early dinner.*
He let out a quiet breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
For someone who had spent five years speaking only when necessary, she certainly had a lot to say now.
The cabin of the car fell silent again. After a long moment, the smile slowly disappeared from his face.
No.
He couldn't let himself get used to this.
Aprajita wasn't meant to become a permanent part of his life. She was his wife only because of a contract.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
In exactly two years, the agreement would end.
They would sign the divorce papers. She would return to her life. He would return to his.
That had always been the plan.
Rakshit looked out of the window, repeating those thoughts to himself as though they were facts he couldn't afford to forget.
What he didn't realise was that somewhere between shared car rides, forgotten lunch boxes, the soft sound of glass bangles, and conversations that no longer felt formal, the distance he had carefully maintained for years had already begun to disappear.
And without either of them noticing, the contract that was supposed to keep their hearts apart had quietly become the reason they spent more time together than ever before.
💛
By the time Rakshit reached Bharadwaj Mansion, it was close to half past ten.
The house had grown quiet, with only a few lights still glowing in the living room. As he stepped inside, he found Aravind sitting comfortably on the sofa, a cup of warm water resting in his hands and the television muted in front of him.
Rakshit loosened his tie as he walked in. "You still awake?"
Aravind looked up and smiled. "I was waiting for you.."
Rakshit raised an eyebrow.
"Appu and I had a great time during dinner ..." Aravind said, taking another sip of water.
A small smile appeared on Rakshit's face before he could stop it. "Hmm!! When did she reach?"
Aravind nodded. "She reached almost two hours ago."
The tightness that had unknowingly settled inside Rakshit eased. "Good," he said quietly.
Aravind watched him for a moment before asking with an amused smile, "You ordered lunch for her today?"
Rakshit looked at him in surprise. "She complained about that?"
Aravind laughed and shook his head. "No. She didn't complain." His smile widened. "But you should've asked her what she likes before ordering."
Rakshit frowned slightly. "I... didn't think she'd be so particular about food."
"Particular?" Aravind chuckled. "That's one way of putting it."
He leaned back comfortably, trying not to laugh. "The poor girl looked at the dinner plate this evening and genuinely asked me whether it was the starter or the main course."
Rakshit couldn't help laughing. "And then?"
"Then," Aravind said dramatically, "Mrs. Bharadwaj announced that from tomorrow this house is officially returning to proper desi food."
He began counting on his fingers."'Dal... rice... fresh rotis... sabzi with actual masala... and food that doesn't look like hospital treatment.'"
Rakshit covered his face for a second, shaking his head. "I should've guessed."
"You should have," Aravind agreed, still smiling. "She's not made for steamed broccoli."
Both of them shared a quiet laugh. For a brief moment, the house felt lighter than it had in months.
Aravind finally stood up and placed the empty glass on the table. "Go freshen up," he said warmly. "I'll ask them to send your dinner upstairs."
Rakshit nodded. "Good night, Dad."
"Good night, beta."
---
Rakshit quietly pushed open the bedroom door.
The room was almost completely dark, with only pale moonlight slipping through the curtains and spreading across the floor.
He reached for the switch and turned on the lights. The sudden brightness disturbed the silence.
His eyes instinctively moved towards the bed. Aprajita was fast asleep.
She had somehow managed to occupy almost the entire bed, lying diagonally beneath the light cotton blanket as though she'd forgotten there was another person who technically shared it.
A tiny frown appeared on her forehead as the light reached her face. "Mmm..."
She mumbled something completely unintelligible before turning away from the brightness and hugging the pillow closer.
Still half-asleep, she pulled the blanket around herself like a child refusing to wake up.
Rakshit stood there quietly, watching her for a moment.
Then, without making another sound, he switched off the main lights again and left only the bedside lamp glowing softly.
The room immediately returned to its peaceful silence. Keeping the laptop bag on sofa, he disappeared into the dressing room.
A few minutes later, he walked back after changing into a comfortable T-shirt and track pants.
He was about to leave for the study when a tiny sound made him stop.
He listened carefully.
There it was again.
Soft.
Gentle.
Perfectly rhythmic.
He slowly turned towards the bed.
Aprajita was softly snoring.
Her face was buried halfway into the pillow, one hand tucked beneath her cheek while a few loose strands of hair had escaped across her forehead.
Rakshit blinked.
Then the corners of his lips lifted on their own.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"So..." he murmured under his breath, "that's why you're always sleepy during meetings."
She didn't react.
If anything, her soft snores became even more regular.
Careful not to wake her, Rakshit picked up his laptop from the sofa and walked towards the study.
Just before stepping out, he looked back one last time.
She hadn't moved at all.
Still sleeping peacefully.
Still completely unaware that someone had been standing there watching her.
He quietly switched off the bedside lamp, leaving only the dim night light glowing near the bed.
Satisfied that the room was dark enough for her to sleep comfortably, he stepped into the study and gently closed the door behind him.
For someone who kept reminding himself that this marriage was nothing more than a contract, Rakshit had unknowingly started doing something he hadn't done for anyone in years.
Making sure someone else could sleep peacefully.
💛
The warm rays of the morning sun slipped through the curtains and settled gently across Aprajita's face.
She frowned in her sleep and instinctively pulled the blanket closer. After a few more moments, she slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the soft morning light.
For a few seconds, she simply lay there, trying to gather herself.
Then she realised something.
The bed.
She was sleeping on the bed.
She sat up immediately and looked around the room. Her eyes drifted towards the sofa.
The blanket she'd used the previous night was folded neatly over the armrest, exactly the way she'd left it. It hadn't been touched.
A small smile found its way onto her lips.
"So..." she murmured to herself, "...he slept in the study again."
Shaking her head, she pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed. "How does he even function after sleeping so little?" she muttered as she made the bed out of habit. "No wonder he survives on black coffee."
Still smiling to herself, she picked up her clothes and disappeared into the washroom.
---
A little while later, she emerged wearing a simple pastel saree.
She settled down before the dressing table and carefully fastened a pair of silver jhumkas, tilting her head from one side to the other to make sure they sat evenly.
Without giving it much thought, she picked up her phone and tapped her mother's contact.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Good morning, beta," Malti greeted cheerfully.
A smile spread across Aprajita's face."Good morning, Ma..."
The words had barely left her lips before an uncontrollable yawn escaped her.
Malti burst into laughter. "Oh ho!" she teased. "My daughter, who never woke up before eight, is calling me at six-thirty in the morning."
She laughed again. "Marriage has changed your priorities already!"
Aprajita groaned dramatically while adjusting one of her earrings. "Please don't start teasing me this early."
She looked at herself in the mirror and fixed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Malti only laughed harder. "I've been trying to wake you up before seven for twenty-nine years."
She clicked her tongue playfully. "Looks like I should've just gotten you married much earlier."
"Ma!" Aprajita complained, unable to stop herself from laughing. "You're impossible."
"I know," Malti replied proudly.
After the laughter settled, Malti's voice softened. "Did Rakshit wake up?"
Aprajita instinctively shook her head before realising her mother couldn't see her.
"No," she replied.
She glanced towards the closed bedroom door. "He was working till very late."
Malti hummed knowingly. There was a brief silence before she spoke again, her voice carrying a hint of emotion."I miss you, beta."
Aprajita's expression softened immediately.
Looking at her mother's smiling face on the screen, she couldn't help smiling back. "It's only been two days, Ma."
"I know." Malti smiled, though her eyes glistened slightly. "But the house feels strangely quiet without you."
Aprajita looked down at the small box of bindis lying on the dressing table. She opened it carefully, chose a tiny maroon bindi and placed it neatly on her forehead.
"You and Rakshit should come home one evening," Malti suggested with a hopeful smile. "I'll make your favourite dosas."
Aprajita laughed. "You should tell your son-in-law that." and she shrugged playfully. "I can't exactly drag him home."
"I'll speak to him," Malti replied confidently.
"Appu..." Malti spoke.
"Hmm?"
"I know this won't be easy."
Aprajita listened quietly.
"You and Rakshit are very different people," Malti continued. "Relationships aren't built overnight."
She smiled softly. "They're built through conversations. Try to understand him. And make sure he understands you too."
Aprajita smiled helplessly. "He can't tolerate listening to me for more than five minutes, Ma."
Malti sighed affectionately. "All husbands are the same beta."
Then she shook her head with a smile.
"I'm serious."
"So am I," Aprajita replied with a quiet laugh. "He actually asked me yesterday if I was getting too involved in his life."
Malti chuckled. "Give him time. He'll come around."
Realising the time, Malti glanced away from the phone.
"Now finish getting ready," she said. "I'll call you later."
"Okay."
"I love you, beta."
Aprajita's smile softened. "I love you too, Ma."
The call ended.
For a few moments, she continued looking at her own reflection in the mirror, the phone still resting in her hand.
Then she smiled to herself and shook her head. "No one lectures like mothers."
She reached for the stack of glass bangles lying on the dressing table and slowly slipped them onto her wrists.
*Clink... clink...*
The familiar melody filled the quiet dressing room.
Completely unaware,that just beyond the wall, in the study she had mentioned only moments ago, Rakshit Bharadwaj had finally fallen asleep after working through most of the night.
💛
Write a comment ...