"तेरी नाराज़गी की चुप्पी ने दिल को घायल कर दिया,

हमने तो सुलझाने की चाहत की, पर तुझे भी दिल से चाहा।

तू नाराज़ हो, पर ये दिल हर पल तुझे याद करता है,

तेरे बिना हर खुशी अधूरी सी लगती है, बस यही सच्चाई है।

इसी नाराज़गी को समझो, दिल की गहराइयों की आवाज़ है।"

◇

Avyansh's POV

As I walked into the house, my mind was a storm of anger and frustration. The disaster at the office had already frayed my nerves, and now, the thought of what could have happened to her and Devika made my blood boil.

I pushed open the door, trying to keep my emotions in check, but it was hard-damn hard.

I saw them as soon as I entered-Avantika, Devika, Choti Mummy, and Dadi-all gathered in the living room.

The shopping bags were scattered on the sofa, an innocent reminder of what was supposed to be a simple shopping trip.

They all turned to look at me as I stepped inside, their expressions shifting from relaxed to concerned in an instant.

I didn't waste any time. My eyes locked onto Devika, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. "Didn't I tell you to take bodyguards with you?"

"Bhai..." Devika whispered, her eyes dropping to the floor.

"No, Bhai nothing!" I snapped, my frustration boiling over. "I told you guys already-there's a problem! Business enemies are everywhere, and they could have done something to you!"

"Avyansh beta..." Dadi started, her voice gentle, trying to soothe me, but I couldn't take it right now.

"Please, Dadi, not now," I interrupted, shaking my head. "I'm already stressed out! I told them to bring bodyguards, but no, why would they listen to me?"

"They're safe now, Avyansh," Mom said, her tone a mix of calm and relief. "Avantika fought with them."

"Wow, Maa, you're feeling proud?" I shot back, the sarcasm dripping from my words. "Me too."

My eyes flicked to Avantika, who was standing there quietly. I could see the remnants of the fight in the slight disarray of her saree, the hint of something fierce still lingering in her eyes.

And yet, the thought of her fighting off those men... It made something inside me twist uncomfortably. I was proud, yes, but also terrified of what could have happened.

"You know what?" I continued, my voice dropping low, my anger giving way to something colder, more fearful. "You should be thanking God that the ones they fought with weren't the ones sent to kill them... There are more guys out there-guys with guns."

"Hey, Krishn!" Dadi exclaimed, her shock clear as she processed my words.

I knew I had gone too far, but the worry gnawed at me, relentless. The image of Avantika-my wife-standing up against those men, defending herself and Devika, was too much to bear. The thought of what could have happened if those men had been armed... I couldn't shake it.

Without waiting for more response, I turned on my heel and stormed off to my room, slamming the door behind me. My heart was pounding, anger and worry swirling together, making it impossible to think straight. I couldn't stand to be around anyone right now-not when all I could think about was how close we had come to something terrible.

I dropped onto the bed, burying my face in my hands. The image of Avantika fighting off those men, the danger she had been in, played over and over in my mind. I should have been there, should have done something to prevent it. But instead, she had been left to fend for herself.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. But the frustration was too much, the worry too overwhelming. How could they not understand how dangerous it was? How could they not see that I just wanted to keep them safe?

The silence in the room was heavy, suffocating. I needed to cool down, to think things through, but all I could feel was the tightness in my chest, the fear that something worse could happen next time.

Avantika's POV

I stood there, my face blank, watching as he stormed off to our room. His words echoed in my ears, sharp and cutting, even though I knew they came from a place of worry. The anger in his voice had been so raw, so intense, that it left me feeling oddly numb.

The living room was eerily quiet now, the only sound being Devika's soft sigh beside me. I glanced at her, but she was looking down at her feet, guilt and concern etched on her face.

I didn't know what to feel. Part of me understood his frustration-he was scared.But another part of me bristled at how he had spoken to us, like we were reckless children who couldn't take care of ourselves.

Dadi cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Beta, he's just worried, that's all. Don't take it to heart."

I nodded slowly, but the knot in my chest tightened. I wasn't angry with him-I knew he had every right to be concerned for his sister.

"Bhabhi..." Devika's voice was soft, hesitant. I turned to her, and she looked up at me with wide, apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Stop," I cut her off gently, placing a hand on her arm. "It's not your fault. None of this is."

She nodded, but I could see the worry still lingering in her eyes. I gave her a small smile, hoping to reassure her, even though I wasn't sure if I was convinced myself.

With that, I turned and made my way to our room, each step feeling heavier than the last. As I reached the door, I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.

After placing the bags on the bed, I moved to change out of my saree. The fabric felt heavy against my skin, a reminder of the exhausting day. As I reached for a more comfortable outfit, the bathroom door creaked open, and our eyes met.

We didn't exchange a word. The silence between us was thick, weighed down by everything unsaid. I hesitated, my fingers brushing against the shirt I'd bought for him earlier. I hadn't planned to buy it, but when I saw it, something compelled me to pick it up. Maybe it was the color, or maybe... no, I didn't want to dwell on it.

Without looking at him, I slid the shirt across the bed, pushing it toward him. A small, almost insignificant gesture, but it felt like so much more.

He didn't acknowledge it. Instead, he walked past me as if I wasn't even there, heading straight to the couch. He opened his laptop, his focus entirely on the screen. A moment later, he dialed a number. "I need coffee," he said bluntly, then hung up.

The indifference stung, but I swallowed it down. What did I expect? A thank you? A smile? This was just a marriage of convenience, after all.

I began putting the clothes away in the wardrobe. As I smoothed it out and hung it up, a bitter thought crossed my mind. Why would I care for him? I shouldn't have bought the shirt in the first place. This is just a forced marriage, nothing else.

But as much as I tried to convince myself, a part of me still lingered on that small, foolish hope that things could be different. That maybe, just maybe, he might have appreciated the gesture.

I sighed and closed the wardrobe, pushing those thoughts aside. There was no point in dwelling on what couldn't be changed.

Timeskip

Dinner was a quiet affair. The table was set, and everyone took their places, but the atmosphere was heavy with tension. Avyansh sat across from me, his expression unreadable as he focused on his plate.

I busied myself with serving the food, trying to ignore the awkward silence. Everyone seemed to notice the distance between us, but no one said anything. Even Devika, who was usually chatty, kept her head down, stealing glances at me from time to time.

I picked at my food, my appetite gone. The events of the day replayed in my mind-how close I'd come to danger, how furious Avyansh had been when he found out, and now this cold, uncomfortable silence between us.

"Avantika, beta, you're not eating," Choti Mummy's voice broke through my thoughts, filled with concern.

I forced a small smile. "I'm not that hungry, Choti Mummy. Just a little tired."

She nodded, but I could see the worry in her eyes. I quickly looked away, not wanting to draw any more attention to myself.

Across the table, his phone buzzed, and he picked it up, glancing at the screen. His face remained impassive as he responded to the message, then set the phone down beside his plate.

I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he still angry? Or was this just how things were going to be between us from now on-cold, distant, and unfeeling?

I pushed my plate away, the food untouched. Maybe this was what our life together would be like-two strangers living under the same roof, going through the motions without ever truly connecting.

I changed into a comfortable oversized kurti, the soft fabric soothing against my skin after the long day. Settling onto the bed, I glanced at the clock-it was getting late, and he still wasn't back.

After dinner, he had left abruptly. Papa had asked him where he was going, and all he said was he was meeting Shashwat. I didn't even know who Shashwat was until Dev told me that he was Avyansh's best friend.

The silence in the room felt heavier now that he was gone. I sat there, hugging my knees to my chest, staring at the empty space on the couch. It felt strange, this solitude.

I glanced at the shirt I had bought for him, still lying on the bed where I had left it. It seemed like such a small gesture now, overshadowed by everything that had happened.

Why did I even bother? I asked myself. It was clear that our relationship was built on duty and expectation, not on understanding or affection.

The minutes ticked by slowly. The house was quiet, the only sounds being the distant hum of the air conditioning and the occasional creak of the house settling.

I found myself lost in thought, replaying the events of the day, and the cold distance that seemed to grow between us with each passing hour.

He was out there, presumably with his friend, while I was here, alone. The disparity felt more pronounced now. I had hoped for a moment of connection, a shared understanding after everything that had happened, but it seemed that was too much to ask for.

As I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The day's events, combined with the strain of this strained relationship, left me feeling emotionally drained. I closed my eyes, trying to find solace in sleep, but the unease lingered.

Would things ever get better? Would we ever truly understand each other? I sighed, pushing those thoughts aside as I tried to focus on finding some rest. For now, all I could do was wait and hope for a change.

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains as I woke up, stretching out on the bed. My first glance landed on the couch, and my heart sank a little when I found it empty. Had Avyansh already left? I wondered, though part of me hoped he hadn't. I shook off the thought, trying to focus on getting ready for the day.

I caught a faint scent of him lingering on my clothes, and I sniffed again, confirming it was his fragrance. I guessed it must have come from sleeping on his bed. I shrugged off the thought, reminding myself it didn't matter.

I quickly freshened up and changed into a white kurti and plazo, feeling a mix of self-consciousness and resolve. The outfit made me feel like I was fully embracing the role of a married woman, and I hoped it would signal my commitment to this new chapter in my life.

As I made my way downstairs, lost in my thoughts, I was startled by a voice behind me.

"Good morning, beta."

I turned around to see Chote Papa standing there, a warm smile on his face. "Good morning, Chote Papa," I responded, hurrying to adjust my dupatta as it slipped off my shoulder.

He chuckled softly, watching me with an amused expression. "You don't have to put that on your head, beta. You're not required to follow so many formalities. You're like our own daughter, so there's no need for such strict adherence."

His words brought a small smile to my face. I felt a bit more at ease, realizing that I didn't have to adhere to rigid customs to be accepted and loved here. The warmth in his tone was comforting, a stark contrast to the uncertainties that had clouded my recent days.

"Thank you, Chote Papa," I said, my voice reflecting a mix of gratitude and relief. His kindness made the weight of my responsibilities seem a little lighter, and I felt a renewed sense of belonging as I continued down the stairs, ready to face the day ahead.

As I bent down to touch Chote Papa's feet, he offered his blessing with a kind smile. "May God bless you with all love," he said warmly.

I looked up at him, my heart swelling with a mixture of gratitude and surprise. "Thank you, Chote Papa," I managed to say, a small smile on my lips.

Just then, Papa's voice broke through the moment. "Kya ho raha hai subah subah? Humare bete ke Chote Papa aur unmein?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.

I glanced at Papa, surprised by the warmth in his voice. It was a stark contrast to the formal interactions I had been accustomed to. The affection and care I was receiving from everyone here were overwhelming, and I could feel my heart swelling with an unfamiliar sense of belonging.

Papa looked at me, his expression softening. "It's good to see you being welcomed so warmly," he said, his voice carrying a hint of pride.

I nodded, feeling a mixture of emotions. I had never experienced this level of care and warmth in my previous homes. The way they were treating me, with such kindness and acceptance, was a new and heartwarming experience.

It was a comforting reminder that I was now part of this family, and their support made the challenges of my new life seem a little less daunting.

As I served breakfast at the dining table, my eyes couldn't help but search for him, hoping he'd appear. But he didn't. I tried to push away the disappointment settling in my chest, focusing instead on serving Dev Ji, who had taken Avyansh Ji's seat beside me, playfully teasing me.

"Dev Ji, ab shaant bhi rahiye," I said, trying to maintain a light tone. But then I noticed Dev Ji's expression change, his teasing grin replaced with a nervous look as his eyes darted behind me.

I turned around and saw him standing there, his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed on Dev. His presence filled the room, making it impossible to ignore.

"Dev?" His voice was deep, a hint of sternness underlying his tone.

"Ji, Bhai?" Dev replied, suddenly all formal.

"Where are you sitting right now?" He asked, his gaze unwavering.

"Wo Bhai, bas-" Dev tried to explain, nervously laughing as he stood up.

"Aap yahi baithiye, Dev Ji," I found myself saying, gesturing for Dev to sit back down.

Dev hesitated, looking between me and him, but before he could respond, Avyansh's gaze shifted to me. His eyes bore into mine, making me question why I had insisted Dev sit there. It wasn't like I had to, but... it just felt right at the moment.

He didn't say anything. He simply stood there, his intense gaze lingering on me for a moment longer, making my heart race. Then he turned away, his voice flat as he said, "Bring my breakfast to my room."

With that, he left the dining area, leaving a tension in the air. A maid quickly scurried off to the kitchen to prepare his breakfast.

"Yeh ladka bhi na," Choti Mummy muttered, shaking her head.

Without thinking, I stood up. "I'm just coming," I said, following the maid into the kitchen. I didn't know what was compelling me to do this, but I wanted to be the one to take his breakfast to him.

Maybe it was because of how I felt last night, or maybe because I just wanted to see him again, to understand why I felt this way.

As I prepared the tray, I couldn't help but wonder if he'd even appreciate it, or if he'd just ignore me like he did this morning. But something inside me pushed me forward, urging me to bring it to him myself.

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