The Past 2
1014 Words
Sravani had plans.
Not loud ones.
Not rebellious ones.
Just… her own.
After engineering, she wanted to pursue M.Tech.
Not because someone told her to but because, for once, she wanted to choose something for herself.
But life didn’t ask.
It decided.
“Rishta aaya hai.”
(A marriage proposal has come for you)
Her grandmother’s voice carried authority, not suggestion.
Sravani stood still, her fingers tightening slightly around the book she was holding.
“Ladka bahut accha hai… naam hai Vidyut Singh Rathore.”
(The boy is very good his name is Vidyut Singh Rathore)
The name itself felt heavy.
Important.
Untouchable.
Within days, everything was finalized.
No long discussions.
No emotional conversations.
No space to refuse.
And Sravani?
She didn’t resist.
Not because she couldn’t.
But because somewhere deep inside, she had already accepted something long ago
“Mere decisions kabhi mere hote hi nahi"
(My decisions are never meant to be mine)
The wedding was grand.
Lavish.
Perfect.
Flawless to the world.
And then she saw him.
For the first time.
Vidyut Singh Rathore.
Tall.
Dominating.
A presence that didn’t enter a room it claimed it.
His body was built like power itself—broad shoulders, sharp frame, an almost unreal perfection.
His face… sculpted.
Sharp jawline.
Defined features.
And those eyes
Grey.
Cold.
Empty.
Beautiful… but unreachable.
He didn’t smile.
Not once.
For a moment—just a moment—
Sravani felt something unfamiliar.
Expectation.
“Shaayad… shaadi ke baad sab theek ho jaata hai…”
She was wrong.
The room was decorated perfectly.
Flowers.
Lights.
Soft silence.
Sravani sat on the bed, her hands resting quietly in her lap.
Not nervous.
Not excited.
Just… waiting.
The door opened.
Vidyut walked in.
No hesitation.
No pause.
He removed his watch, placed it on the table, and loosened his collar slightly.
Didn’t look at her.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Finally.
“Tum so sakti ho.”
(You can sleep)
His voice was deep. Flat. Controlled.
Sravani blinked.
“…ji?”
He didn’t turn.
“I have work. Don’t wait.”
That was it.
No introduction.
No acknowledgment.
No beginning.
Something inside her shifted.
Very slightly.
“Main…” she hesitated, then softly asked,
“…kuch chahiye aapko?”
(Do you want anything)
He paused.
Just for a second.
Then—
“No.”
And he left.
The door closed.
And just like that—
their marriage… ended before it even began.
Days passed.
Then weeks.
Sravani learned quickly.
He doesn’t talk unless necessary
He doesn’t explain
He doesn’t ask
But he notices everything.
Except her.
One evening—
She placed dinner on the table.
Carefully. Quietly.
Vidyut sat down, already on a call.
“…deal finalize karo. Delay nahi chahiye.”
(Finalize the deal today there should be no delays)
His tone was sharp.
Dominating.
She stood there for a moment.
Waiting.
He didn’t look up.
After the call ended, he began eating.
Sravani gathered courage.
Just a little.
“Aap… thak gaye honge…”
(You seem to be very tired)
No response.
“…aaj meeting zyada samay thi?”
(Did meeting take too much time)
He finally looked at her.
Not with anger.
Not with warmth.
Just… a look.
“Tumhe report chahiye meri?”
(Do you want my report)
Her fingers tightened slightly.
“Nahi… main bas—”
(No, i just...)
“Then don’t ask.”
Silence.
She nodded.
“Ji.”
(Ha)
And stepped back.
That night, she sat alone.
Not crying.
Not angry.
Just… thinking.
“Shaayad woh aise hi hain…”
“Shaayad waqt ke saath badlenge…”
“Shaayad mujhe hi samajhna hoga…”
(Maybe he is like that
Maybe he will change over time
Maybe i should understand more)
Expectation didn’t die.
It adjusted.
Days later—
Rain poured outside.
The house felt quieter than usual.
Sravani stood near the balcony, watching droplets fall.
For a moment, she allowed herself to feel something soft.
Something light.
Behind her—
footsteps.
Vidyut.
She turned slightly.
“Aap… chai lenge?”
(Shall I bring a cup of tea?)
He walked past her.
“Black coffee.”
She nodded quickly.
“Abhi laati hoon.”
(I will bring it)
Minutes later—
she placed the cup in front of him.
He took a sip.
Paused.
“Sugar?”
She froze.
“…nahi dala.”
(I didn't add)
He looked at her.
“Next time, don’t assume.”
Something cracked.
Very softly.
“Ji.”
(Ok)
One night—
she made a mistake.
“Hum… baat kar sakte hain?”
(Can we talk?)
Vidyut didn’t look up from his laptop.
“Kis baare mein?”
(About What ?)
“…humare baare mein.”
(About us)
That got his attention.
He closed the laptop slowly.
Looked at her.
Directly.
“Humare?”
(About Us)
She swallowed.
“Haan… matlab… shaadi…”
(Yes about our marriage)
A pause.
Cold. Heavy.
“Problem kya hai?”
(What is the problem)
Her lips parted.
Closed.
Opened again.
“Kuch nahi…”
(Nothing)
“Then don’t create one.”
Silence filled the room.
She nodded.
“Ji.”
(Ok)
That was the last time she tried.
Days turned into months.
Sravani changed.
Not visibly.
But completely.
She stopped:
Asking
Waiting
Trying
Her voice became softer.
Her presence… lighter.
And her expectations?
Gone.
One evening:
she sat alone in her room.
Hands slightly trembling.
Not from fear.
But from something deeper.
Overflow.
She opened a drawer took out a strip of tablets looked at it for a long time.
“Bas… thoda sa control chahiye…”
(I should control it for sometime)
She swallowed one.
Water followed.
Silence returned.
Inside her—
everything slowed.
Calm.
Empty.
Safe.
That night—
Vidyut came home late she served dinner like always he ate no conversation but this time there was something different.
Sravani didn’t look at him even once
and Vidyut for the first time paused
just for a second as if noticing something is missing.
But he said nothing and she felt nothing.
The beginning had ended and the silence had finally won.
---🦋
- Writer
