AUTHOR 'S POV~
The clinking of steel utensils echoed softly through the spacious dining hall.
The smell of freshly roasted parathas mixed with ghee floated in the air, wrapping the house in a warm, homely comfort.
Morning in the house was never silent.
Footsteps descended from the staircase.
Dhruv.
Dressed in a crisp white kurta, sleeves folded till his forearms, his hair slightly messy as if he had just run his fingers through it. His presence alone shifted the air of the room.
Lalita ji, who was serving breakfast at the table, immediately noticed him.
Without even looking toward the kitchen, her voice rose—sharp but habitual— “Rupa! Sunn… thode aur parathe sekh de. Dhruv aa gaya hai.”
From the kitchen came the quick response—“Ji, kaki!”
Dhruv pulled the chair back calmly and sat down. No unnecessary words. No morning greetings. Just quiet authority.
He served himself some sabzi, his movements neat and precise.
Lalita ji, on the other hand, was carefully preparing a separate plate. For Sudha.
She turned toward Chhavi, who was chewing her breakfast innocently. “Chhavi beta… jaa bhabhi ko nashta de aa.”
Chhavi immediately nodded, wiping her fingers and getting up.
But before she could take the plate—
Rishabh spoke, his tone curious.
“Maa… bhabhi aaj humare saath nashta nahi karengi kya?”
There was a brief pause.
Lalita ji’s expression softened just slightly.
“Haan beta… uski tabiyat thodi theek nahi hai. Toh usse aaram ki zarurat hai.”
Sudha had already told her mother-in-law about her periods earlier in the morning. And Lalita ji, despite her strict exterior, understood such matters quietly.
Dhruv’s hand stopped mid-air.
His jaw tightened slightly.
He didn’t look up immediately, but something had changed in his expression.
He finally raised his eyes. “Rehne de, gudiya…” His voice was calm… but firmer this time. “Tu baith aaram se nashta kar..”
Then he stood up, taking the plate from Lalita ji’s hands himself. “Main Sudha ko nashta kara dunga.”
The room went silent for a second.
Rishabh looked surprised.
Chhavi blinked.
Even Lalita ji observed him quietly.
There was no embarrassment in his tone. No hesitation. Just pure responsibility. And something deeper.Something protective.
He didn’t wait for approval. He simply turned and walked toward the staircase, holding the plate carefully—almost as if it was something fragile.
Upstairs, in their room— Dhurv stepped into his room quietly.
Sudha was standing near the bed, a pair of scissors in her hand. A piece of cloth lay spread out on the mattress. She was carefully cutting it when she suddenly sensed his presence.
Her hands froze.
The moment she saw Dhurv at the door, she quickly folded the cloth and hid it behind her back, her movements rushed and nervous.
Dhurv raised an eyebrow, placing the plate he was holding on the table.
“Sudha tu yeh kya kar rahi hai?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried authority.
Sudha avoided his gaze. Her heart started racing. She felt like a child caught doing something wrong. Words refused to come out.
He took a step closer. “Kya hua? kapda kyun kaat rahi thi?”
She swallowed nervously. Her fingers tightened around the cloth behind her back.
“Ji… woh… main…” she stammered, trying to think of something quickly. “Haan… mujhe safai ke liye kapde ki zarurat thi. Dekhiye na kitni dhool jam gayi hai. Bas isliye kaat rahi thi.”
Her voice sounded small, almost embarrassed.
Dhurv nodded slowly, but his eyes searched her face. He wasn’t convinced. He knew she was hiding something. Still, he didn’t push further.
Instead, he gently took her wrist. His touch wasn’t harsh — it was firm but warm.
“Tu woh sab chhod,” he said softly and guided her to the sofa beside him. “Rupa kar legi woh sab kaam. Tu aaja baith nashta kar le.”
She sat down quietly, still clutching the folded cloth behind her back like it held a secret.
“Dekh teri pasand ke payaaz ke parathe bhi bane hai aaj,” he said.
Before she could react, he broke a morsel and held it near her lips.
Sudha looked at him, surprised. “Main kha lungi ji, aap—”
He shot her a warning glare — not angry, but protective. The kind that said don’t argue with me.
Without another word, he placed the morsel into her mouth.
Her eyes softened. She felt a strange warmth spread through her chest. No one had ever insisted on taking care of her like this. She wasn’t used to someone making her their responsibility so naturally.
Dhurv made another morsel and brought it toward her again.
“Jab main ghar par nahi rahunga,” he said calmly, “toh yeh nahi ki kaam karne lag jaye tu.. Chup chaap aaram karna. Samjhi?”
There was no dominance in his tone — only concern disguised as authority.
Sudha looked down, blinking away the sudden sting in her eyes.
He didn’t question her excuse anymore. He didn’t demand the truth. Because for him, right now, what mattered more than the cloth…
was her.
Night had wrapped the house in silence.
Sudha lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was dim, only the faint yellow light from the lamp glowing softly beside her.
All day she hadn’t done a single thing. Not because she didn’t want to… But because it was his strict order.
A small smile curved her lips at the memory.
Her fingers slowly reached for her mangalsutra, gently holding it as if it grounded her. The cool beads brushed against her skin.
Her thoughts drifted… back to her childhood.
Her mother was never fully healthy. There were days when she would cook in the kitchen even while holding her stomach in pain. Sudha remembered watching her from the doorway, wanting to help but too young to understand.
And her father… He never noticed.
Or maybe he noticed… but never cared
enough.
Sudha swallowed.
Dhurv wasn’t like that.
He had never raised his voice at her. Never made her feel small. Never ignored her pain. She didn’t fear him. She didn’t hesitate before speaking. She never wondered “What will he say? Will he be angry?”
Because she knew.
He loved her.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But deeply.
He always did things before she could even ask
.
Her eyes shifted to the clock.
11:00 PM.
Her brows knitted slightly. He never came this late. The whole house was asleep. The silence suddenly felt heavier.
She stood up and started pacing slowly in the room. One hand still holding her mangalsutra, the other wrapped around herself as if protecting her own anxious heart.
“Ab tak aaye kyun nahi…” she whispered to herself.
Just then—
The door clicked open.
She turned instantly.
He was there.
The moment he closed the door, Sudha rushed toward him without thinking and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
“Itni der kyun ho gayi aaj?” Her voice carried worry more than complaint.
Dhurv immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He gently kissed the top of her hair and smiled softly.
“Shehar gaya tha… tere liye kuch zaruri samaan lene.” he replied.
She leaned back slightly, confusion written all over her face. “Mere liye? Magar maine toh kuch mangwaya hi nahi tha…”
He brushed it off casually. “Yeh sab chhod. Pehle kuch khila de. Bahot bhook lagi hai.”
She quickly stepped back from the hug, a little embarrassed at how tightly she had held him.
“Haan chaliye… waise bhi aaj aap dopahar mein bhi khana khane nahi aaye.”
She took the bag from his hand and placed it carefully on the bed. “Main khana lagati hoon. Aap aaiye.”
Dhurv shook his head lightly. “Tu yahi baith. Main muh haath dho kar aata hoon. Phir saath mein chalte hain.”
Sudha nodded. “Haan, jaldi kijiye. Mujhe bhi bhook lagi hai.”
He smiled while taking off his kurta.
“Tujhe mera intezar karne ki kya zaroorat thi? Iss waqt tujhe apna aur zyada dhyaan rakhna chahiye.”
She walked closer, gently taking his kurta from his hand and hanging it neatly on the wall hanger.
Her fingers brushed his for a second.
She looked up at him with quiet certainty.
“Main kyun rakhu apna khayal…” she said softly, almost teasing. “Aap hain na mera khayal rakhne ke liye.”
For a moment, he just looked at her. There was no arrogance in her words.
Only trust.
Dhurv’s expression softened. He picked up his towel, his eyes still lingering on her for a second longer than usual.
“Pagli,” he muttered affectionately and walked toward the washroom.
Sudha watched him go, her heart calm now.
Because no matter how late he came…
He always came back to her.
After freshening up, Dhurv and Sudha walked to the dining area together.
The house was quiet, wrapped in the softness of night. He pulled the chair for her.
Instead of taking separate plates, Dhurv casually served both of them in one.
“Ek plate kaafi hai,” he said with a small smirk.
Sudha looked at him, pretending to scold. “Aap bhi na…”
But she didn’t protest.
They sat close, shoulders touching. He tore a piece of roti and held it near her lips. She didn't hesitate for a second, instantly accepted it.
Soon they were laughing over small, silly things — how she got bored from the morning, how he couldn’t find his file because it was right in front of him. The sound of their laughter filled the room like warmth.
Dinner felt less like food and more like a moment stitched together with comfort.
When they entered their room, Dhurv quietly locked the door behind them.
Sudha went to sit on the bed and opened the bag he had brought earlier. Her fingers paused when she saw a small packet inside. She slowly took it out.
Pads.
A packet of maxi.
And two nighties — one deep blue, one soft baby pink.
And a dark-shaded panty folded neatly.
Her cheeks warmed instantly.
She looked up at him. Dhurv was sitting opposite her, resting on his elbows, watching her reaction carefully — not teasing, just observing.
“Ji… yeh sab lene gye the aap?” she asked softly.
He replied casually, “Haa, kyu kya hua? kal maine dekha tu kitni pareshan thi.”
Sudha frowned slightly. “Magar mujhe iski zarurat nahi thi… aur maine pehle kabhi isse istemal bhi nahi kiya…” She lifted the pad packet a little, almost unsure.
Dhruv looked at her calmly. There was no irritation in his eyes, only concern. “Laga le. Kam se kam raat mein chain se so toh payegi… aur chalne mein bhi koi dikkat nahi hogi.”
Sudha lowered her gaze, cheeks turning slightly pink. “Mujhe toh lagana istemaal karna nahi aata…”
Dhurv’s expression changed — not shocked, not judgmental. Just understanding.
“Achha ruk, main dekhta hoon,” he said gently.
He took the packet from her hands and began reading the instructions carefully, his brows slightly furrowed in concentration.
Sudha couldn’t help but stare at him. He was actually reading it seriously.
She unfolded the blue nighty and held it against herself. “Yeh mujhe nahi lagta mera naap ka hai…”
Without looking up, he said, “Pehn kar dekh le ek baar. Agar sahi nahi hoga toh badal dunga.”
She smiled faintly. “Haan… ek bar pehan kar, Dekh he leti hoon.”
She was about to go when he called from behind, “Sunn… yeh toh le ja saath mein.”
He handed her one pad.
She froze, looking at it like it was something mysterious. “Lekin… main iska kya karungi? Mujhe isse istemal karna nahi aata…”
Dhurv’s teasing expression softened completely. He understood. Without making her feel awkward, he nodded.
He picked up the black panty, looked at the packet again, and carefully followed the instructions. He peeled the strip, fixed the pad neatly, pressed it properly, making sure it was secure.
Then he handed it back to her. “Yeh le. Ho gaya.”
Sudha’s lips curved into a shy smile. Her eyes held gratitude — and something deeper. She didn’t know how to say thank you for something so small yet so thoughtful.
Then suddenly, mischief sparkled in her eyes.
“Ab lagaya kar diya hai toh… pehna bhi dijiye,” she said softly.
Dhurv blinked once. Twice.
A slow grin spread across his face.
He stood up and walked toward her, slow deliberate step
s echoing in the quiet room.
“Uske liye bathroom jaane ki kya zaroorat hai?” he murmured. “Aaja… main yahi laga deta hoon.”
He gently pulled her closer.
Sudha’s heart skipped. Her cheeks turned crimson. She was enjoying this playful banter but shyness wrapped around her like a veil.
“Dhtt… hataiye!” she said, pushing him lightly.
She ran toward the bathroom, holding the clothes close to her chest.
From behind, Dhurv laughed softly. “Arey! Kitna kaam akeli karegi Sudha rani? Kuch mujhe bhi karne diya kar!”
He shook his head, smiling to himself.
Not because of the teasing.
But because she trusted him enough to be shy… and still stay.
And in that small room, under the dim yellow light, love wasn’t loud. It wasn’t dramatic
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