Chapter 14

Over the past few days, I had noticed a subtle shift in Veeranshu's behavior. He wasn't overtly affectionate or expressive, but in his quiet, deliberate way, he had become more attentive toward me.

It was in the little things—the way he paused to ask how my day went, the way he ensured I wasn't left waiting for him at dinner, and the unspoken care in the way he seemed to notice even the smallest details about me , like I said to him in passing that I like roses and the next day I saw rose plants being planted all over the garden , in all colour and sizes .

One morning, as I sat down for breakfast, I noticed something peculiar. My plate had been arranged with an assortment of fruits, a small bowl of nuts, and a colorful salad.

I glanced over at Veeranshu's plate, which consisted of toast, eggs, and a cup of black coffee. The contrast between our meals struck me, and as I reached for the orange slices, I noticed the staff exchanging glances with Veeranshu.

They weren't subtle. Veeranshu gave them a quick look—a silent message that I couldn't decipher—and then focused back on his coffee.

Something clicked in my mind. He had asked the staff to prepare my meals differently. The fruits, salads, and nuts weren't coincidental. They were part of his quiet way of ensuring I ate better.

I looked at him as he sipped his coffee, his brows furrowed in thought. "You should stop drinking that," I said suddenly.

He raised an eyebrow. "Drinking what?"

"Coffee. It's not good for you, and you drink too much of it," I replied.

His lips curved into a faint smile. "What should I drink instead?"

"Juice," I said, pointing to the fresh juice on the table.

To my surprise, he didn't argue. He set the coffee aside and poured himself a glass of juice without hesitation.

then he pointed towards my tea cup and said ''you also drink tea I don't stop you''

''that's because I only have two cups a day and you on the other hand drink three cup in an hour and now don't argue with me or else I will give you karele ka juice'' I threatened him and he just laughed

''okay madam as you wish , I can't go against you''  all of the staff was looking at us wide eyed thinking how their multi billion dollar boss is accepting to his wife's absurd request

It may be a small moment for him but for him to accept my wishes with heart and not with just obligation of being a husband  made me smile.

That night at dinner, I decided it was time to make an effort. Veeranshu had been trying in his own way, and I realized that if I wanted this marriage to work, I needed to meet him halfway.

As we ate, I cleared my throat, gathering my thoughts. "So, the annual function is coming up at school."

He looked up from his plate, his attention focused entirely on me. "What's the theme?"

"We're doing a play this year," I said. "It's an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice. I'm in charge of directing it."

His lips twitched in what I assumed was approval. "Sounds challenging."

"It is," I admitted. "But it's also exciting. The students are so creative. It's amazing to see their ideas come to life."

He nodded, his gaze steady. "Do you enjoy it?"

"Directing the play?" I asked.

"No," he said, "teaching."

His question caught me off guard, but I nodded. "I do. It's not what I initially planned for my life, but it's fulfilling in ways I didn't expect."

He didn't say anything, but the way he listened—really listened—made me feel heard.

After dinner, Veeranshu surprised me by suggesting we watch a movie. "Do you like mysteries?" he asked.

"I love them," I replied.

We settled on a classic mystery film and made our way to the home theater. As I sat down, Veeranshu disappeared briefly and returned with a tray of snacks.

I looked at the plain crackers and bland chips and couldn't help but laugh. "This is what you call snacks?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with them?"

I grinned and stood, heading to the pantry. "Let me show you what real snacks look like."

Pulling open a cabinet, I revealed my stash: packets of Lay's in every flavor, Kurkure, Hide & Seek biscuits, Jim Jam cookies, and more.

When I turned back to Veeranshu, his expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You've been hiding this here the whole time?"

I shrugged, trying not to laugh. "You call it hiding; I call it being prepared."

His lips curved into a genuine smile, and for the first time, I saw a glimpse of something lighter in him. "You're full of surprises, Tara."

I grabbed a packet of butter popcorn from the pantry and started preparing it. Soon, the aroma filled the room, mingling with our laughter as we unpacked my snacks and arranged them on the table.

As the film started, I felt a warmth I hadn't experienced in a long time. It wasn't just the coziness of the home theater or the comfort of my snacks. It was the ease of being with Veeranshu—of sharing something simple and ordinary.

But as the movie unfolded, I realized Veeranshu wasn't the best companion for watching mysteries.

"Wait, why is she going there alone?" he asked midway through a suspenseful scene.

"Just watch," I said, trying to stifle a laugh.

"But it doesn't make sense," he continued, his brows furrowing. "She clearly knows something is wrong."

"Veer, that's the whole point. Suspense," I said, shaking my head.

By the end of the movie, I had answered more of his questions than I cared to count. But instead of feeling annoyed, I found myself laughing at his curiosity.

As we cleared up the snacks, I noticed three empty coffee mugs sitting on a side table. My earlier observation at breakfast came to mind, and I couldn't help but comment.

"Three mugs of coffee?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you ever stop working?"

He gave a sheepish shrug. "It keeps me going."

"Well, you're switching to turmeric milk tonight," I said, heading to the kitchen before he could protest.

He followed me, leaning against the counter as I prepared the milk. "You're bossy, you know that?"

I smiled, pouring the milk into a cup. "Someone has to keep you in check."

When I handed him the cup, he took it without complaint, sipping cautiously. "It's... tolerable," he said, earning a laugh from me.

As the night wore on, I realized something had shifted between us. It wasn't a dramatic change, but it was significant in its own way.

For the first time, I felt like we weren't just two strangers sharing a house. We were starting to share a life.

And in that moment, surrounded by snacks and laughter, I felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this could work.

A/N PLEASE VOTE GUYS AND COMMENT