Saina began serving the dishes, her movements quick yet careful as she placed the food on the table.
"Bahut acha bana hai, beta," her father-in-law said warmly, savoring a bite of the chole bhature.
"Meine toh pehle hi kaha tha, kyunki khushboo bahut achi aa rahi thi," her mother-in-law chimed in with a smile, nodding in approval.
Saina beamed, her heart swelling with happiness at their kind words. Their praises were music to her ears, and a sense of pride danced in her chest.
Her gaze instinctively shifted to him. He was eating his breakfast quietly, his expression unreadable as always. Her heart waited, hoped for him to say something-anything-but all she got was silence.
Saina's POV:
"Arre beta, tu bhi kuch bol... bechari dekh na kaise tere muh se tareef sunne ke liye khadi hai," Maa teased him, her words cutting through the silence.
My cheeks burned instantly as he looked up at me. His intense gaze met mine, and I quickly glanced away, unable to hold it. Embarrassment prickled my skin, and I focused on the plate in front of me, hoping no one would notice the red blooming on my face.
" Bohut tasty bana hai," his deep voice finally broke the quiet, startling me.
I froze for a moment, his words echoing in my ears. Warmth flooded my cheeks as a shy smile tugged at my lips.
"Thank you," I muttered softly, barely able to meet his eyes, my voice laced with the kind of shyness that only he seemed to draw out of me.
I quickly pack his lunch as he puts on his boots, my hands working swiftly, knowing his habit of rushing out the door.
"Sameer!" I call out, noticing him leaving without his lunchbox.
He stops and glances back, his expression indifferent, as I run toward him with the box in hand.
"Yeh lijiye, aapka lunch box... aap bhool rahe the," I say, holding it out to him.
He takes it reluctantly, his disinterest evident. But I know the moment he opens it and sees his favorite dishes, a small smile will cross his face-though I'll never witness it.
"Bye-" I start to say, lifting my hand for a wave, but he's already walking away, not sparing me another glance.I sadly put my hands down seeing his retreating figure.
"Ek bye toh bol dete... kya takleef hoti?" I whispered, my voice trembling with sadness.
It was 11 p.m., and he still hadn't returned from the office. Maa had mentioned that his workload often kept him late, but this silence-this disregard-was what hurt the most.
I had reheated the dinner I made just for him: chicken curry, plain rice, salad, and parathas. Every tick of the clock made me glance at it more anxiously. Then finally, the doorbell rang.
I exhaled a sigh of relief, hurried to open the door, and saw him walk in, his face etched with exhaustion.
"Aap muh haath dho lijiye, phir main aapko khana serve kar deti hoon," I said softly, closing the door behind him, hoping for even a sliver of warmth in return.
"Main already bahar se kha ke aaya hoon," he replied bluntly, bending to untie his bootlaces.
"Par thoda sa toh le lijiye... maine bahut kuch-" I began, trying to convince him.
"Mera pet already full hai, Saina. Ab zabardasti toh nahi kha nahi sakte, na," he interrupted firmly, without even sparing me a glance.
His words struck like a dagger, sharp and cold. I stepped back, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.
My eyes blurred as I looked at the neatly set dinner table-two plates, his and mine, waiting to be shared. My chest ached at the sight of the reheated food, now rendered meaningless.
Silently, I took a bowl, filled it with some chicken wings and rice, and mixed it thoroughly. I needed to feed someone who would at least appreciate it.
Walking into the backyard, I saw my little friend curled up on the blanket I had laid for him. At the sound of my footsteps, he sprang up, wagging his tail excitedly.
"Yeh le, kha le," I murmured, placing the bowl in front of him. He began eating eagerly, his joy palpable.
"Achha hai na?" I asked, tears pooling in my eyes as he looked up at me briefly, wagging his tail in approval.
"Arre, dheere kha... sab mil jayega," I said softly, placing a bowl of water beside him.
Back inside, I washed my hands and went to retrieve the lunchbox I had packed for him in the morning. Opening it, I found it untouched. The food I had lovingly prepared stared back at me, cold and rejected.
I chuckled bitterly, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Kuch zyada hi umeed kar li na maine, bhagwan ji, hai na?" I whispered to no one in particular, the loneliness in my heart overwhelming.
I dumped the food into the bin, the sound of it hitting the bottom echoing the hollowness I felt inside.
"Mujhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata, kya galti ki ha maine..." my voice wavered as I spoke to myself, my lips trembling under the weight of my unspoken pain.
Next day.
Sameer POV:-
I have seen her. I am damn sure it was her.
I went to a cafe with one of my colleagues to discuss one project and due to this I wasn't able to have my lunch and there I saw Jiya with one boy.
They both were laughing and giggling at something and I couldn't help but feel jealousy bubbling inside me.
That time I was not able to confront her but today I'll surely confront her after my office ends.
And here I am in front of her apartment. I rang her doorbell and but she was not opening it but after sometime she got surprised seeing me there.
"Sameer!" she whispers, clearly shocked to see me standing there. She didn't expect me to come.
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