The Weight of Silence

Evening Time,

Everyone was gathered in the hall except for Adrijay and Adhik. Adrijay was in his office, and Adhik was in his room doing his homework.

Just then, Sarika brought the evening snacks for everyone and placed them on the table in the hall. Seeing the snacks, Yamini Ji wrinkled her nose and said, "Did you even make something proper? Or did you mix something in anger?"

Hearing her words, Sarika’s eyes welled up with tears, but she composed herself, lowered her gaze, and softly replied, "No… I didn’t mix anything…."

Yamini Ji shook her head, picked up a bowl of poha, and started eating. As Sarika turned to leave, Vishakha stopped her and said, "Bhabhi, where’s my coffee? You know I can’t function in the evening without my coffee…."

Sitting beside Vishakha, Devansh didn’t like the way she spoke, but he remained silent. Since theirs was a love marriage, he knew Vishakha too well—if he said anything, she would make a big issue out of it, and he didn’t like unnecessary arguments. So, he quietly sipped his tea.

But how could Tanishk stay silent? He immediately spoke up, "Chachi, if you want coffee, go get it yourself. My mumma is not your servant!"

Hearing this, Vishakha glared at him, gritting her teeth. "You… stay in your place, kid. You don’t need to speak between elders, got it?"

Tanishk pouted and said, "But my mumma is too innocent. She never says anything, so you make her do all your work. I will tell Papa about this, just wait and watch!"

Vishakha glared at him angrily and said, "Go ahead, tell your Papa! I’d like to see what he does!"

Watching them argue, Sarika intervened, "Please, both of you, calm down. And Devrani Ji, don’t worry. I’ll bring your coffee right away. And, Tanu, what have I taught you? You should not interrupt elders, nor speak to them like this. Now, apologize to Chachi."

Tanishk frowned and stubbornly said, "No! I won’t say sorry to her because she was wrong." Saying this, he placed his glass of milk on the table and ran to his room.

Sarika watched him leave, shook her head, and turned to Vishakha. "I apologize on Tanu’s behalf, Devrani Ji. He won’t speak to you like this again."

Before Vishakha could respond, Yamini Ji taunted, "If you had raised him properly, you wouldn’t have to apologize today. Neither are you a good daughter-in-law nor a good mother. I wonder if you’re even a good wife… Only my Adri knows how he’s tolerating you."

Her words pierced Sarika’s heart like a dagger, filling her with an aching pain. Ignoring it, she quietly walked to the kitchen to prepare Vishakha’s coffee.

After giving Vishakha her coffee, Sarika took snacks and milk for the children and went to their room.

Inside, Tanishk sat cross-armed, pouting, while Adhik sat beside him, trying to figure out why he was upset.

Seeing him sulking, Sarika smiled slightly, placed the tray on the table, and casually asked, "Hmm… who will have these snacks and hot chocolate milk? Umm… 🤔 Since someone is angry with me, I guess Adhu will eat it all."

Then, turning to Adhik, she said, "Adhu, come here, dear. I made this especially for you."

Hearing this, Tanishk side-eyed her while Sarika signaled Adhik. Understanding her gesture, Adhik grinned and walked over to her. "Of course, Mumma! And I love chocolate milk too!"

As he reached for the glass, Sarika playfully stopped him. "Wait, let me feed you. My Adhu is so understanding and always listens to me. That’s why I love him the most."

She then fed Adhik with her hands.

Tanishk, standing at a distance, didn’t like what he was seeing. In his mind, his mom loved him the most, but now she was showering all her love on his brother. He didn't like it at all! Forgetting his anger, he ran up to Sarika, pouted, and said, "Mumma, feed me too!"

Sarika looked at him teasingly. "But someone was angry with me a moment ago…?"

Tanishk pouted even more. "Yes, I was! But now I’m not, Mumma. Now, feed me!"

Sarika smiled, kissed his forehead, and said, "अरे मेरे भोले भंडारी!! (Oh my innocent Shiv Bhakt!) Why do you get angry so much? Even Lord Shiva wouldn’t have been this furious in his childhood!"

Hearing this, Adhik burst into laughter. Tanishk, annoyed, glared at him and complained, "Mumma, look! Bhaiya is making fun of me!"

Sarika pretended to scold Adhik, "Adhu, that’s not nice. Tanu is younger than you. You should take care of him, not tease him. Very bad!"

Hearing this, Tanishk stuck out his tongue at Adhik, making him frown. Sarika then lovingly fed both her children.

As she did, Adhik noticed, "Mumma, you haven't eaten yet! Come on, you should eat too."

Hearing this, Tanishk also insisted, and then both of them, with their tiny hands, started feeding their mother.

Sarika looked at them with tearful eyes and thought, I’m ready to live in this hell forever for both of you. Just never leave me… because if you do, I won’t survive. You two are the only reason I live….

After feeding her children, Sarika went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Tanishk soon joined her, saying, "Mumma, I want to talk to you and help you!"

Sarika smiled, made him sit on the counter, gave him a ball of dough to play with, and listened to his chatter while continuing her work.

Once dinner was ready, she sent Tanishk to call everyone. He ran off at full speed, ignoring Sarika’s calls to slow down. Watching him, she shook her head and mumbled, "Where does this child get so much energy from? I wasn’t this energetic at his age…."

Just then, her inner voice teased her, "Liar! Your maa has a thousand stories of your mischief. Tanu is exactly like you!" Sarika made a face at her own thoughts.

Late Night,

Yamini Ji and Adhik sat at the dining table while Sarika served them. As she did, she kept glancing at the clock—it was almost 9:30 PM, and Adrijay hadn’t returned yet. No matter how things were, he was still her husband. She loved him. How could she not worry about him?

More than that, today he hadn’t even called her during the day. Lately, he had started calling every afternoon, which she loved. But after the morning incident, would she have even picked up his call? Probably not….

She was lost in thoughts when Tanishk tugged her hand. "Mumma, feed me!"

Snapping out of it, she sat beside him and started feeding him.

After putting the kids to bed, she cleaned up and sat in the hall, waiting for Adrijay.

Meanwhile, Adrijay deliberately stayed late at the office. He didn’t have the courage to face Sarika. Eventually, he closed his files, grabbed his bag, locked his cabin, and left.

At 11:30 PM, he finally reached home. Taking a deep breath, he rang the doorbell.

Sarika, who had been waiting in the hall, immediately got up and opened the door.

As soon as he saw her, Adrijay froze. His eyes welled up slightly. He stood there, staring at her, but he couldn’t meet her eyes. The brightness that once lit up her face was gone. Instead, there was only dullness, sadness, and emptiness.

Seeing her like this, his heart ached, but he couldn’t say a word. Quietly, he walked inside.

Sarika longed to hug him and pour out all her pain, but she knew she had no place in his life. So, suppressing her emotions, she softly asked, "Would you like to eat?"

Her question stunned Adrijay. Even after everything, she was still taking care of him. Guilt weighed heavily on him.

Clearing his throat, he could only say, "Hmm…" and leaves.

Only then does Sarika lift her gaze to watch him walk away. She wipes the corners of her eyes and quietly heads to the kitchen.

A while later, Adrijay comes downstairs, freshened up. He pulls out a chair and sits down. Sarika places his plate in front of him and begins serving food. Then, in a soft voice, she says, "If you need anything, let me know." Saying this, she turns and walks back into the kitchen.

Adrijay watches her leave for a moment before taking a deep breath, as if preparing himself for something. He then calls out to her. Hearing his voice, Sarika immediately hurries back to him.

Without looking at her, Adrijay keeps his eyes fixed on his plate and asks in a low voice, "Have you eaten?"

Sarika looks at him with teary eyes but then lowers her head and softly replies, "Yes..."

Still not looking at her, Adrijay says in the same quiet tone, "Get your plate too."

Sarika looks at him in surprise. This time, Adrijay speaks with a hint of firmness, "I said, get your plate too, Sarika."

Hearing his words, Sarika silently takes her plate and sits down—two chairs away from him. Adrijay doesn't like this, but he remains quiet. After what he had done, he knew this behavior from Sarika was expected. In fact, he had assumed she wouldn't even speak to him. Yet, she had asked if he needed anything, and now she was sitting at the same table, having dinner with him. For now, even this felt like a big thing. With this thought, Adrijay starts eating.

Sarika is about to start her meal too when suddenly, her phone starts ringing.

Who could be calling this late at night? This thought crosses both their minds as their eyes shift towards Sarika’s small button phone, lying on the sofa in the hall, ringing loudly.

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Sorry for being late guys!!

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