Chapter 4
488 Words
One evening, Aarohi missed the comfort of home-cooked meals. She had never been a great cook, but YoooTube was a great teacher.
She started small, testing different dishes, adjusting flavors, and practicing every night. Eventually, she got better.
Ishaan returned home one day to find the house filled with the warm aroma of freshly cooked food. It had been a long time since he had come home to something like this. He went to his room straight.
Arohi noticed his return and she walked towards his room. She left a breath she was holding and knocked his door. Ishaan opened door and saw Arohi standing outside his room with a ladle.
She spoke in a low voice “ Would you like to join for dinner?” Ishaan was so happy that she invited him. He nodded and said “ I’ll join you in a minute” She smiled and him and went to set the table with foods she prepared.
That night, they ate in silence.
But this silence was different.
It was comfortable, warm, and filled with an unspoken understanding.
Night after night, the routine continued. She cooked, he came home, they ate together—sometimes in silence, sometimes with a few casual exchanges. It wasn’t much, but it was something.
Work was going well for both of them. Ishaan landed a big project—his first real success in a long time. Aarohi was enjoying her job, her new friendships, and the small but steady changes in her home life.
Then one night, she went to Nina’s birthday party.
She wasn’t a drinker. But out of curiosity, she took a sip. One sip became two. Then three. And by the end of the night, she was officially drunk for the first time in her life.
Nina drove her home and knocked on the door. Ishaan opened it, surprised to see Aarohi leaning against Nina, giggling at nothing.
“It was my birthday party,” Nina explained, a knowing smile on her face. “She never drinks, so she got pretty drunk. See you at work tomorrow.”
Ishaan looked at his wife—her normally reserved face now softened, her lips slightly parted in sleep. Nina placed her at the living room sofa.
She looked… adorable.
He sighed and bent down, carefully lifting her into his arms. She was light, her head resting against his shoulder as he carried her to her room. Gently, he placed her on the bed and pulled the duvet over her.
For a moment, he just stood there, watching her.
She looked peaceful, nothing like the hesitant girl who had once been afraid to speak to him.
A small smile played at his lips. Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
Then, before he could overthink it, he turned off the lights and left the room.
Something had changed.
And he wasn’t sure he minded.
- Writer
