As she bent to touch his feet, Vikrant held her by the arms.
"Ishita hume pasand nahi ki aap humare pair chooen. Aap humari ardhangini hi nahi, humari Zimadari bhi hai… Aur main nahi chahta ki aap kabhi kisi ke samne jhuke, chahe vo main khud hi kyon na hu."
(“Ishita, I don’t like that you touch my feet. You are not just my wife, but also my responsibility… And I don’t want you to ever bow before anyone, no matter who they are, even if it’s me myself.”)
Saraswati ji murmured softly, “Par beta, ye…”
("But son, this...")
Vikrant interrupted her firmly, his eyes steady and unwavering. “Ma, aap hi ne sikhaya hai na, ki ladkiya Devi ka roop hoti hain.”
(“Mom, you yourself taught me that girls are like goddesses.”)
Saraswati ji fell silent, a mixture of pride and sadness washing over her. Pride, because she had raised a son who remembered her teachings; sadness, because he had chosen his own path over hers.
The quiet lingered, thick and tense, until the sudden ringing of Vikrant’s phone shattered the stillness, echoing sharply through the room.
Vikrant picked up the phone and walked outside the 🏠 house, while a servant carried his coat and bag for him.
Yashvardhan placed the bowl on the table, blessed her, and then left for work as well.
After a few hours ~
Everyone was busy with their work, but Ishita had nothing to do. She was getting 🥱 bored. She sat on the edge of the bed, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, her eyes wandering around the room.
She stared at the empty space around her, tapping her fingers lightly on the bed, wishing for something to occupy her time.
“Kya karo… bahot boor ho rahi hu. Kuch karne ke liye bhi nahi hai yaha.”
(“What should I do… I’m so bored. There’s nothing to do here.”)
She thought 💭.
Her gaze fell on some papers scattered across the table. Curiosity sparked in her eyes. She got up and walked over, picking them up carefully.
To her surprise, the sheets were filled with intricate watch designs. Her eyes widened, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She traced one of the sketches with her finger, completely absorbed in the delicate patterns.
“Hmmm.. 🤔 toh mere papa ji ki watches ke company hai. Designs to aache hai per aur aacha ho sakte hai.”
(“Hmmm... so my father-in-law owns a watch company. The designs are good, but they could be even better.”)
Beneath the designs, she noticed some fine, plain, 🤍 white sheets. She carried them to the sofa and, with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes, poured all her creativity onto the blank pages.
She sketched heart-shaped watches and a few butterfly 🦋 designs as well. In total, she created four watches, each one brand new and beautiful in its own way.
With nothing else to do, she shifted her focus to jewelry, sketching delicate necklaces with stunning pendants and letting her imagination run freely across the pages.
After 2 hours ~
“Ah… I am so 😩 tired now. At least I can take a good nap 😪. After getting this tired, a nap is just OG!!”
She got up, stretched, and headed straight to her bed, where she slept peacefully for hours like Sleeping Beauty.
At 5 p.m. ~
I woke up, my sleep completely satisfied. I walked to the bathroom and splashed my face with cold running water, instantly refreshing.
Then I went downstairs to see what was happening. I moved slowly towards the kitchen. The servants were busy preparing food. After that, I went into the hall to look for my mother-in-law, but she wasn’t there.
She looked sad after Vikrant ji talked to her like that. Well, to be honest, he had presented his opinion politely… I don’t know why my mother-in-law is upset.
At the end, defeated in my little quest to find her, I sat on the sofa to relax for a while. Soon, my mother-in-law came in from outside. I looked at her, feeling a little pleased to see her.
Saraswati ji gave a pleasing smile and sat down on the sofa beside me and asked a servant to make tea ☕ for both of us.
I typed on my phone, “Can I prepare tea for us, Ma?”
Thankfully, her answer was affirmative. I really wanted her to taste my tea and tried my best to please her in my own way. After all, she is my mother now.
After 15 mins ~
The tea ☕ was ready. I carried it carefully and placed it on the table.
Saraswati ji after tasting my tea and with a smile said, Wah! Bahu, tumhare haath me to jadu hai… per afsos, aisi chai baar-baar nahi peene milegi.
(“Wow! Bahu, there’s magic in your hands… but unfortunately, I won’t get to drink such tea every time.”)
I signed, “Why?”
Saraswati ji replied, "Dekho beta, do reasons hain. Pehla, tumhare pati ko hi pasand nahi hai. Wo mujhe kaam nahi karne dena chahta, toh tumhara karna to mushkil hai. Vaise bhi, jab vo chhota tha, vo bolta tha, Ma, itne naukar hain kaam karne ko, to aapko karne ke kyun zarurat hai?"
(“Look beta, there are two reasons. First, your husband doesn’t like it. He doesn’t want me to work, so you doing it would be difficult. And anyway, when he was little, he used to say, Ma, there are so many servants to do the work, so why do you need to do it by yourself?”)
Then she took another sip and continued,
“Aur dusra ki tum kuch din me Hyderabad chali jaoge.”
("And the 2nd reason is that you will return to Hyderabad in few days.)
I looked at her in surprise and typed on my phone, “Why?”
Saraswati ji replied, “Shayad abhi Vikrant ne nahi bataya hoga, to mai bata deti hu. Vikrant aapne Hyderabad ke companies ke liye kuch zyada hi serious hai. Wo hamare saath bhi isiliye nahi rehta. Mere bahut bolne par usne shadi Delhi me ki hai.”
(“Maybe Vikrant hasn’t told you yet, so I’ll tell you. Vikrant is extremely serious about the companies in Hyderabad. That’s why he doesn’t stay with us all the time. After I insisted a lot, he had the wedding in Delhi, because I wanted his wedding to be in Delhi.”)
We talked for hours and hours about sweet and sour. She told me so much about the family, their work, and everything in between.
Time flew by like raindrops slipping down a windowpane.
At 9 p.m.~
The food was ready. My father-in-law had arrived, but I couldn’t see Vikrant ji anywhere.
Saraswati ji, “Vikrant kaha hai?”
(“Where is Vikrant?”)
Yashvardhan ji, “Wo aaj company me kaam zyada tha, Vikrant ne bola tha wo late aaye ga.”
("He had a lot of work at the company today. Vikrant said he would come late.")
Saraswati ji said slowly to Yashvardhan ji, “Ye ladka bhi na!! Abhi abhi shaadi hui hai aur phir bhi is tarah se kaam kar raha hai.”
(“This boy!! He just got married, and yet he’s behaving like this.”)
After some time, everyone sat down and had their lunch together. I wasn’t very hungry, so I didn’t take my dinner.
Saraswati ji asked, “Ishita beta, you’re not going to eat?”
I shook my head no.
She asked, "why?"
I signed to her that I wasn’t hungry.
Saraswati ji said, “Oh!”
Her eyes softened, and in a caring tone, she continued, “Eat when you are hungry. And if you are waiting for Vikrant, then beta, remember one thing it totally depends on his mood whether he wants to come home or not. I’m not proud to say it, but the truth is, he is a workaholic. 😔”
I nodded, and after finishing their dinner, they went into their room.
I thought about waiting for my husband. I was hungry now, but I decided to wait…
“I’ve waited this long, I can wait a bit more...”
At 2:30 a.m.,
Vikrant’s car finally stopped in front of the house. He stepped out, and it didn’t even seem late for him. There was no trace of tiredness on his face. As always, he looked confident, sharp, and bold.
He came inside, his footsteps breaking the silence of the hall. Then suddenly, his eyes fell on the sofa. Ishita was sleeping there peacefully.
Vikrant muttered, “Itna bada room hai, best bed hai, soft pillows hain… per phir bhi ise sofa pe sona hai.”
(“It’s such a big room, the bed is perfect, the pillows are soft… yet she still prefers to sleep on the sofa.”)
He stepped closer, mesmerized by her face, and stood there for a while. Then he gently pushed aside the strands of hair covering her. One of her hands rested on her stomach, the index finger of the other hand lightly touching her lips.
Vikrant said with a sigh, “Chalo ab is choti bachi ko bed pe sulane ke bari.”
(“Alright, time to put this little one to bed.”)
"Pehle office ka kaam… phir is choti bachi ko dekhna padega ab. Jagane ka bhi man nahi kar raha."
(“First, the office work… then I have to take care of this little one. I really don’t feel like waking her up right now.”)
He thought as he bent down to pick her up in his arms. Ishita opened her eyes slowly, just as he lifted her. She woke up from the gentle jerk of being picked up.
Everything remained still for a moment. They just looked into each other’s 👀 eyes, the silence heavy and charged.
Ishita’s gaze dropped to the floor, and her small hands instinctively held onto his neck. Vikrant understood the unspoken sign. Without a word, he set her down on the floor.
Vikrant taunted, “Upar jagah kam pad rahi thi ke sofa pe sone ki naubat aa gayi?”
(“Was the bed not enough, so you had to end up sleeping on the sofa?”)
Ishita stood still, saying nothing. She glanced at him once, then quickly looked down again.
Vikrant pressed, “Kuch pooch raha hu… muh me zuban nahi hai kya??”
(“I’m asking you something… no words in your mouth?”)
Ishita didn’t respond. Just then, a gurgling sound came from her stomach. She instinctively held it and looked down, a shy smile creeping onto her lips as she looked down.
Vikrant’s gaze sharpened, “Tumne khana khaya?”
(“Did you eat?”)
Ishita shook her head in 'no'.
Vikrant said coldly, “There’s no need for you to wait for me. You should eat, or you’ll fall sick.”
Then a memory struck him - A promise he hadn’t kept.
“Did you visit the doctor?”
Ishita shook her head in ‘no’.
“Sorry… it slipped my mind. You seem to be fine now.”
Ishita thought, "Bhulakad kahin ke! Ek to mujhe zor se bhook lagi hai, aur ab ye pooch rahe hai ki kya main thik hu."
(Such a forgetful man! First, he’s starving me on purpose, and now he’s asking if I’m okay.)
“Waise laga nahi tha, ye sorry bhi bolte honge.”
(“Didn’t expect him to say sorry too.”)
She nodded to his sorry. Then Vikrant walked towards his room to freshen up.
Ishita went to heat up the food.
As he entered the room, he noticed a towel and a nightdress neatly laid out on the bed. A small, subtle smile appeared on his face.
He shrugged off his coat, then his shirt, leaving only his pants on. His toned upper body was bare, muscles flexing slightly as he moved. As he changed, his eyes caught some papers lying on the table.
"Oh! I forgot to put the papers at their place."
He thought and moved toward the table. As he went closer he saw some new designs that wasn't in the morning.
Curiosity pulled him closer, and he picked them up, letting his gaze flick over the contents.
“Hmm… weren’t these here this morning. Only two sketches then… and now six?” he thought, a small, almost appreciative smile tugging at his lips.
“Well… the designs are good. Very good… my little artist,” he mused silently, the words only for himself. 💭
While he was glancing at the papers, Ishita entered the room with a filled jar of water. But the moment she saw him undressed, she froze… then quietly slipped back out.
Vikrant noticed her playful hesitation and couldn’t help but smile. He placed the papers back on the table and walked toward the washroom.
"Seems like I have to hurry as I have a new little companion with me now." He thought 💭.
Ishita waited outside for a couple of seconds, taking deep breaths to calm herself. Slowly, she stepped back in, placed the jar on the table as quietly as possible, and slipped out again, her heart racing from the brief, forbidden encounter.
After fifteen minutes, Vikrant came downstairs. He saw Ishita dozing off on the dining table, exhausted. He walked slowly toward her and pulled the chair, the shrill sound instantly waking her up.
“Ye ladki bhi na, kahin bhi so jati hai,” he thought 💭, shaking his head slightly.
(“This girl… she can sleep anywhere”)
“Ek to late aaye hai, upar se is tarah utha rahe hai… sone bhi nahi dete, datya kahin ke!!” Ishita thought 💭, rubbing her eyes and trying to wake up fully, a mix of irritation and sleepy charm crossing her face.
(“First he comes so late, and now he wakes me up like this… won’t even let me sleep, the nerve of him!!”)
As the servant served the food, Vikrant asked, “So… are you feeling better now?”
Ishita nodded silently.
A hint of frustration crept into his voice.
“Ishita… is something wrong with your throat? Or did your auntie and uncle just teach you to shake your head?”
Ishita glanced at him, then reached for her phone, her heart racing. Just as her fingers wrapped around it to type, Vikrant snatched the phone from her hand, his eyes locking onto hers.
Vikrant’s voice sharpened slightly, “I’m asking you something.”
His eyes flickered with a hint of frustration.
Ishita remained still, not responding. Her hands didn’t move to take it.
Sensing he had been a bit harsh, Vikrant placed the phone on the table and avoided her gaze, starting to eat in silence.
Ishita quietly picked up the phone and began typing. After a few seconds, she held it up to show him what she had written.
The words hit him unexpectedly. He choked, unable to swallow his food. Ishita quickly grabbed a glass of water and handed it to him, her heart racing.
“I can’t speak. Don’t you know? I am a mute woman.”
Vikrant drank the water, then stood abruptly. “Ishita, I don’t like jokes.”
Ishita remained frozen, tears welling up in her eyes. She took the phone from him and typed again, her fingers trembling slightly.
“Don’t you know???”
Vikrant shook his head slowly in a ‘no,’ and stood there, staring into her shocked, glistening eyes.
Ishita was 💔 broken. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned and rushed towards her room.
"Ishita..!" Vikrant called, but she didn’t stop. She bolted into her room.
Once inside, the tears wouldn’t stop. Her chest heaved as she ran to the bathroom and locked the door behind her when she heard Vikrant's footsteps.
Vikrant stood outside, still reeling from the truth. His hand knocked lightly on the door, but his voice was deep, commanding, yet pained.
“Ishita… come outside. I want to talk to you.”
The door remained firmly shut.
“Ya to khol do ya to mai ise tod dunga.”
(“Either open the door, or I’ll break it.”)
His voice was still calm but deeper than ever.
Ishita, terrified, came out, unable to lift her face, crying continuously.
Vikrant looked at her and said camly, “Ishita, maine tumhe kuch kaha? Tumhe data? Hmm, batao?”
(“Ishita, did I scold you? Come on, tell me.”)
She just kept crying, uncontrollably.
Vikrant hugged her, “Okay, ro lo pehle… then we’ll talk.”
(“Alright, cry first… then we’ll talk.”)
After a while, she relaxed a little but continued sobbing.
Vikrant gently wiped her tears with his thumb, lifted her into his arms, and sat down on the sofa. Ishita remained in his lap, still crying and sobbing continuously, her body trembling against his.
Vikrant said, “Ishu, stop crying now. Just tell me… does my mother know about it?”
Ishita nodded, still trembling. Disappointment flashed across Vikrant’s face, sharp and heavy.
She took a shaky breath, trying to calm herself, and slowly loosened her grip on Vikrant’s shirt. Bending down, she picked up a pen from the table and scribbled on a piece of paper:
“Please… don’t leave me, Vikrant ji. I don’t want to go home.”
Hands trembling, she handed it to him, tears still streaming down her face.
He was confused to see that at first. Then, he hugged Ishita tightly and took the paper.
Vikrant crushed the paper in his fist, jaw tight, struggling to control the storm of emotions inside him.
“Don’t worry… I will not leave you,” he said, patting her back gently.
He was deeply disappointed. How could his mother hide something so significant from him?
Thanks for reading!
Naina.writz ~
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