Chapter -19

"Now, Pillu, you sit here," Aarushi said, placing her soft toy on the bed. After tidying up her room a bit, she headed downstairs.

As she made her way to the kitchen to help prepare dinner, everyone smiled and greeted her. She joined in the cooking, and after a few minutes, the delicious aroma of food filled the air. When she checked the clock in the living room, she realized it was already time for dinner, and Abhimanyu still wasn’t home.

"He should be home by now; it’s already time for dinner," she mumbled to herself as she walked toward the kitchen.

“Can you go and call everyone for dinner?” she asked a maid named Madi. Nodding her head, Madi went to gather everyone.

Everyone took their seats at the dining table for dinner. Aarushi glanced around, hesitating to ask about Abhimanyu. She couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at her about his absence. "Um... where is he? When will he return?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Badi Ma smiled warmly and said, "He'll be late tonight, dear. You know him and his work. Don't worry."

Aarushi nodded, but a knot of worry tightened in her stomach. "How late?" she inquired.

"Very late," Badi Ma repeated with a dismissive wave. "He's always like this, buried in his work. Don't stress about him; just have dinner, beta."

For Aarushi, the situation felt different. In her home, everyone used to have dinner together, discussing their day and waiting for each other to share a family meal. To her, eating together created a sense of warmth. She wanted to wait for Abhimanyu; she didn’t want him to have dinner alone. She knew how it felt to eat alone when she lived in Delhi for a while. She missed those family dinners, where they enjoyed cozy times together after a hectic day.

She hesitated for a moment and said, "I will have my dinner later with him."

Bade Papa chuckled at this and said, "Don't worry about him, beta. He'll eat whenever he gets home. You don't have to wait for him; you should eat. We've all gotten used to it; he is always like this."

Vivaan chimed in, "Yeah, Bhai doesn't mind. He's quite self-sufficient, bhabhi. He doesn't need anyone waiting for him."

Aarushi felt a pang of unease. "But... doesn't he get lonely eating alone?"

Vivaan shrugged and added, "Bhai is enough for himself. I don't think he feels lonely; he never says anything. And bhabhi, how can you think that bhai feels lonely? He's not like a normal person. He doesn't crave company at the dinner table."

Aarushi's heart sank. She knew Abhimanyu was a man of few words and a bit reserved, but she never imagined anyone would think he was indifferent to companionship. He was human, after all. Didn’t he deserve the warmth of a shared meal and the comfort of family around him?

She felt anger towards him, but it didn’t settle well with her. How could everyone think he had no emotions? She understood that he was a bit cold with everyone, but still, everyone needs care and love. He would never say anything, but as a family, they should try to understand his emotions without him having to express them.

"He doesn't like people waiting for him," Badi Ma explained, her voice tinged with resignation. "He prefers his own space, beta. You will also get used to it. You don't have to wait for him; he can take care of himself. He is a little different. He doesn't crave these things; we have been with him for years; we know him. You should have your meals on time. Come, let’s have dinner."

Aarushi felt a strange mix of sadness and anger. She understood that Abhimanyu was a workaholic, but she also believed he craved connection deep down. He might not express it openly, but she had felt his vulnerability and his yearning for closeness simmering beneath his reserved exterior.

"He's always been like this. I don't want to sound rude, but Beta he is capable of everything. He always maintains distance," Bade Papa said. "Independent and self-reliant. He doesn't need this kind of fuss."

Aarushi felt a tear prick her eye. They weren’t trying to be unkind; they were simply stating a truth they had accepted long ago. However, listening to them filled her with profound sadness for Abhimanyu. She felt that everyone overlooked his needs; no one was trying to see what lay beneath his cold facade. Everyone was trying to dismiss his quiet yearnings as insignificant.

She remembered her own family—the boisterous laughter that filled their dinner table and lively conversations that flowed freely. Every meal had been a celebration, a time for connection and sharing. She missed those evenings and the warmth of her family surrounding her.

"I'll eat later," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"No need, Aarushi beta," Badi Ma insisted. "You'll get hungry. Eat with us. Don’t wait for him."

Aarushi knew she shouldn’t argue, but the image of Abhimanyu eating alone, surrounded by silence, filled her with deep melancholy. He was not indifferent to companionship; he was simply starved for it, and no one seemed to notice.

As she ate, the cheerful chatter of her in-laws filled the room, but Aarushi remained lost in her thoughts. She felt a strange sense of disconnect, torn between her desire to wait for Abhimanyu and the warmth of the family dinner. She wants to break down the walls he built around himself, despite her feelings of resentment towards him.

Abhimanyu trudged into the house, the weight of a long day settling heavily on his shoulders. He was tired, both physically and mentally. Ignoring the maid's inquiry about dinner, he ordered  her to set it on the dining table and disappeared into his room.

As he entered inside he noticed the absence of Aarushi immediately. He frowned in confusion and  pulled out his phone and dialed her number. "Where are you, Jaan?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of tiredness.

"In Navya's room," she replied, her voice a cheerful lilt. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

He cut the call and decided to grab a quick bite before she returned. He went downstairs after freshening up and spotted the packet of brownies he had picked up for her on his way home, a small gesture to brighten her day. He knew it was her favorite one so he thought to buy them to brighten her mood.

Leaving the packet on the kitchen counter, he sat down at the dining table. He glanced around the dining area and started having his dinner .He ate mechanically, his mind preoccupied with the day's events. He felt a strange sense of emptiness, a hollowness that had crept into his life from childhood.

After a few minutes, Aarushi moved toward her room. She was walking through corridors when she glanced down at the dining area and her heart sank. Abhimanyu sat alone, his posture rigid , eating without enthusiasm. A wave of sadness washed over her. He looked so....lonely.

A pang of guilt, unexpected and sharp, pierced through her. She never  considered his feelings at all . Everyone in the family had been caught up in their own world,  their own drama, oblivious to the impact their absence might have on him.

" I will wait for him . It's not like I have any type of attachment to him. As a human I felt bad watching him eating dinner alone..yeah...as a human, nothing else" She mumbled , convincing her inner self that she is doing this for humanity  , she still didn't like him. Their marriage was different, a forced relation, but the sight of him eating alone, that distant look in his eyes, stirred something within her.

A strange protectiveness, a desire to make things…better.She remembered the gift she had bought for him, a set of cufflinks and a tie. She quickly went to her room and took out his gift from her closet. " Should I give him face to face or should i place them somewhere" She thought to herself looking around. " No, no, I should placed them somewhere, but where...... ah yes, couch," she said and quickly hid the gift box inside the folded blanket .

She sighed and sat down on bed, scrolling through her social media. After few minutes Abhimanyu entered in the room and a genuine smile lit up his face after getting a glance of her . "You're are here " he said softly, his voice filled with relief.

Aarushi looked in his direction listening him but, her eyes widened when she saw the brownie packet in his hand. Abhimanyu stepped forward and she quickly sat straight and exclaimed "Oh my God!" her eyes shining with excitement. "Black bean brownies? But…but those are so expensive! And they're only made on request.

Black bean brownies were a rare indulgence for her, a decadent treat she savored occasionally. They were unlike any other brownie she had tasted, the subtle sweetness of the beans perfectly complementing the rich chocolate. The texture was unique, fudgy yet surprisingly light.

"It's simple," Abhimanyu said, and placed a brownie packet in front of her. "Whatever my baby wants, she gets."

Aarushi glared at him, trying to suppress a smile. "Okay, okay," she conceded, opening the packet . "But I want to leave you too what about that."

Abhimanyu's smile faltered as he felt a pang in his chest . He again said "Let me rephrase that for you ,Whatever my baby wants, she gets…other than leaving me."

He felt a pang of longing inside him. He wanted to hold her, to tell her how much her presence meant to him, but stopped himself looking at her happy face.

Aarushi took a bite of the brownie, her eyes fluttering closed as she savored the flavor. "Oh my God," she moaned softly, "these are amazing."

Abhimanyu gulped watching her, mesmerized by the way her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled and moaned. She will also moan   when I will be insi––He cursed himself in his mind and shouted don't you dare to go there. Don't think anything like this.

Aarushi snapped his fingers in front of him when she noticed him mumbling something to himself . "Where are you lost " she asked with mouth full of brownie. "Nothing I was thinking about some work....yeah work " He replied to her smiling cheekily.

Aarushi shrugged and asked, " Do you want some? " Abhimanyu shook his head and replied," No, it's ok , I don't like sweets that much." Aarushi can't believe him..how can someone don't like sweets. She always craved something sweet in every two days . "Seriously, you don't like them " She exclaimed giving me unbelievable look. He shook her head at her question.

"Ab to pakka khani padegi , idhar aao... Aaa karo" she said gesturing him to come towards her. Abhimanyu took a step forward, bending at her level, and opened his mouth to eat them. He took one bite from her hand  and slowly chewed it. They are tasty because she fed him.

"Kaise hai ,mast haina . Maine pahle hi bola tha " Aarushi said , not letting him speak anything. Abhimanyu chuckled at her and said " yes they are good."

"Have some more " Aarushi said urging him to take one more. Abhimanyu shook her head and said " no I am fine baby . You have them"

"Please " Aarushi said again showing him puppy eyes and it didn't take a minute for Abhimanyu to melt.

" Ok, I will take but give me that one; it's enough for me," He said, gesturing to her half-eaten brownie. " But Its my half eaten one , take a new one "

"Tabhi to mang raha hai " his subconscious mind again mocked him

"Shut up " he shouted in his mind and said to her"No no give me this , it's fine for me"

Aarushi gave him that brownie and started savoring the taste of other brownies . As they ate, a comfortable silence settled between them. It was a quiet companionship.

Abhimanyu glanced at another side of bed and noticed a soft toy. " What's this, " he asked Aarushi, pointing towards a dinosaur soft toy. " Oh...he is my pillu. He is cute na." Aarushi cooed softly hugging her pillu to her chest.

"What, where did he come from suddenly" Abhimanyu said not understanding her . " What do you mean by where did he come from . He has been with me since childhood. He is my cute pillu. He is my favorite soft toy. I never sleep without him, and now I live here, so he will also live here with us, " Aarushi said, smiling a little.

Abhimanyu glared at the soft toy, feeling jealous from him. First of all why she called him cute , from where he is looking cute and second why he sleeps with his wife. He himself didn't even hold her hand till now and this fucking toy is sleeping with his wife.

Abhimanyu cursed pillu in her mind in different languages. He should be the one in her arms not this fucking toy. "Look how he is looking at me. I know he is teasing me. Fucking hell , why he has to come out of nowhere can't I kill him " Abhimanyu said in his mind .

Aarushi noticed Abhimanyu glaring at her pillu . She slapped his arms and asked " Why are glaring at him like that " Abhimanyu cleared his throat and said softly " Bache why do you need this , it's just soft toy . Can't you sleep without him. Give this to me I will place it in closet "

Arushi glared at him and said " No, he will sleep with me here. Don't you dare to do anything with him otherwise I will make you sleep in guest room for rest of your life "

"You can't do this to me because of him. I don't like him , why he has to sleep here. Look, I am sleeping on the couch, na; he should sleep on the couch, too..wait why he will sleep? He is a nonliving thing. Atleast place him on another couch " Abhimanyu complained to her making sulky face.

"No he will sleep on bed and you will sleep on couch. Don't argue with me . Go and sleep there " Aarushi said and laid down hugging her pillu.

"Aaya bada pillu kahi ka. Jis din mujhe mera bed wapis mila usi din isse bahar phek dunga . Meri sautan kahi ka " Abhimanyu mumbled to herself glaring at him. " Did you say something" Aarushi asked giving him bombastic side eyes.

Abhimanyu smiled nervously and said "  No, why would I say something love. Good night" Aarushi nodded her head and wished him back.

Later, as Aarushi drifted off to sleep, Abhimanyu quietly slipped out of bed. He walked towards the couch and unfolded his duvet . He was shocked to see a small gift box there, nestled between her duvet. He noticed a note attached to it: "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have talked about him on our wedding night.I don't want to upset you... No I want to upset you but not in that way, so sorry bad man"

A genuine smile spread across his face. He glances at her sleeping figure controlling himself from running to her and hugging her tightly.

He carefully unwrapped the gift, his fingers tracing the delicate patterns on the cufflinks. A tie, silk and elegant, lay beside them.He felt a surge of warmth, a deep appreciation for this small gesture.

She had thought of him, had actually gone out of her way to select this and buy him a gift. It was a small thing, but it meant the world to him.He felt so good, as he can't explain that feeling, it's his first gift from her.

He gently caressed the cufflinks, vowing to himself that he would never let anything come between them.He will do anything for her , for them and their future.

He went inside his closet and carefully placed the gift in a separate drawer , a small treasure to be cherished.

He returned to the bed, tucking Aarushi in warmly and placing a pillow against the edge to prevent her from falling off. He carefully took that soft toy from her grip and said " What do you think are you doing , remember one day she will also love me and then I will kick you out from this room, idiot" He threw pillu on another couch and leaned down to kiss her forehead a soft, gentle kiss.

As he settled on the couch, a contented sigh escaped his lips looking at her. After few minutes he finally drifted into dreamland.

____________________________________________________________________________

Another long chapter..... I was not feeling sleepy so I thought to write this.

It's already 6:30 am and now I am feeling sleepy 😴 uff...neend ka kya batau jab chahiye tab aati nahi or phir subh itni bhayankar aayengi.....

By the way thank you for every vote and comment.

Love you 💌