The next day,
morning sunlight seeped through the curtains, but the Desai household remained shrouded in gloom. Mrs. Desaiâs muffled sobs could be heard from her room, echoing through the silent halls. Vasu had buried himself in work, barely speaking to anyone. Urmi had taken it upon herself to stay strong for the family, offering quiet support to Siya, who had withdrawn into herself.
Raghav sat at the dining table, absentmindedly stirring his coffee. His thoughts were far away, oscillating between his unresolved anger and the bouquet he had arranged to be delivered to Siya. The florist had promised it would reach her on the given date. He didnât know how she would react, but part of him hoped it would bridge the growing distance between them.
Siya entered the room quietly, her presence almost ghost-like. Her eyes, swollen from sleepless nights, lingered on Raghav. It was clear she wanted to talk, to explain herself, but Raghav kept his gaze fixed on his coffee.
âRaghavâ¦â her voice was soft, tentative.
He didnât look up. âI have nothing to say right now.â
Siya flinched, and her lips pressed into a thin line. She didnât push further, but the silence between them spoke volumes. She turned and walked away, leaving Raghav with the pang of guilt he was trying so hard to ignore.
Later that morning, Raghavâs phone buzzed with a message from his college dean:
âCongratulations, Mr. Desai! You have been awarded the Student of the Year title. The ceremony is at 4 PM next. Please confirm your attendance.â
For a moment, Raghav stared at the message, unsure how to feel. He should have been ecstaticâthis was the culmination of years of hard work. Yet, in the current state of things, the achievement felt hollow.
He walked to the living room where Urmi and Siya were sitting. âIâve been awarded Student of the Year,â he announced flatly.
Urmiâs face lit up with pride, but Siyaâs expression remained unreadable. âThatâs wonderful news, Raghav,â Urmi said warmly. âYou deserve it.â
Raghav nodded but didnât respond further. He had hoped for some reaction from Siya, but she stayed silent, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her saree.
By the time afternoon rolled around, Raghav had made up his mind to attend the ceremony alone. He didnât want to burden anyone with the pretense of celebration when the atmosphere at home was so heavy. He dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy blazer, his mind elsewhere as he glanced at himself in the mirror.
On his way out, he noticed a small pile of bags near the staircase. His brows furrowed. Someone was leaving? He shook his head, brushing the thought aside. With everything going on, it wasnât unusual for someone to take a brief escape. Perhaps it was Vasu planning a work trip, or Bhabhi taking Mom to visit relatives for some emotional respite.
He stepped outside and climbed into his car, starting the engine with a low growl. It felt strange to leave things unresolved between them, but he convinced himself that he needed more time to sort through his emotions.
As he pulled out of the driveway, he glanced back at the house through the rearview mirror. A strange sensation settled in his chest, a mix of unease and longing. His mind drifted to Siya, her quiet presence over the past few days, and the moments they had shared since their marriage began.
At first, their union had been nothing more than a contractâa deal they had reluctantly agreed to. Yet somewhere along the line, things had changed. He had changed.
Raghav leaned back in his seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. What happens after the deal ends? The question lingered in his mind, heavy with uncertainty. He had always told himself that they would part ways, go back to their own lives, but now the thought of losing Siya felt unbearable.
He thought of her resilience, her quiet strength, and the way she had supported Urmi despite everything falling apart around them. He thought of her smile, the rare moments when her guard was down, and the way she had begun to occupy every corner of his thoughts.
âI want to fix this,â he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the hum of the engine.
He didnât just want to fix their current situationâhe wanted to rebuild everything. Their marriage may have started as a deal, but it didnât have to stay that way. He wanted more for them, for her. He wanted to be the kind of husband Siya deserved, to give her the life she had been deprived of for so long.
âIâll change everything,â he vowed quietly. âFor us.â
He sat there for a few more moments, his thoughts racing. The award ceremony suddenly felt trivial in comparison to the storm brewing inside him. He needed to fix things with Siya, to make sure she understood what she meant to him.
His mind darted toward the house again. Those bags⦠His breath hitched as a sinking realization hit him. What if those were Siyaâs bags? What if sheâs leaving?
âNo,â he whispered, shaking his head. âShe wouldnât leave. Not without saying anything.â
But the fear gnawed at him, growing stronger with every passing second.
When Raghav reached the front door of the auditorium, he paused for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He didnât go inside. Instead, he leaned against the wall, trying to steady his thoughts.
If Siya really was planning to leave, he needed to stop her. Not just because of the deal, but because he couldnât imagine life without her anymore. The idea of coming home to an empty house, of not seeing her every day, felt like a knife twisting in his chest.
Their marriage may have been born out of compulsion, but it had grown into something moreâat least for him. And now, he realized he couldnât let her walk away without telling her how he truly felt.
âShe needs to know,â he murmured to himself.
But first, he needed to gather the courage to face her, to let go of his anger and pride. He wasnât ready yet, but he knew he was running out of time.
Taking a deep breath, Raghav turned back, his determination renewed. Whatever happened next, he wouldnât let Siya go without a fight.