dead girls don't love [dgdl]

chapter 29 \r

ASHNA AVOIDS HER MOTHER as she enters the house, ignoring her presence beside the stairs and walking upstairs, not responding to her father's question, "How was the practical, dear?"

When Ramya walks into the living room, she faces her husband's frowned expression. "What!?" She questions, frustrated in guilt.

"Why would you slap her? She is a little child," He says.

"Child?" Ramya keeps her hands on her hips, and mumbles, glaring, "She will always remain a child to you."

The entire day, Ashna does not leave her house. And everyone in the house realised that the dear daughter of the family was upset. As much as Ramya wanted to coax her daughter, so less she planned to apologise. Well, not directly by saying sorry but this way, "Come eat, Asha!"

When she does not come down after numerous calls, Ramya goes upstairs and knocks on the door. A warning from her mother and Ashna opens the door, against her will.

"I don't want to eat," she finalises, but hunger rumbles in her stomach.

"I have made chhole bhature," Ramya says.

This grabs her attention as she looks up at her mother, but then controlling her food desires, she looks away again.

"Ashnaa," Ramya calls her softly, going to sit on the bed near her. When Ashna looks up, her eyes hold anger, and sadness which she hides.

"I would not have slapped you if you did not talk back, you were yelling," Ramya's eyes widened a little as she informs.

"And what did you do, lock me inside?"

Ramya sighs. "I did not, baby," she caresses her cheek, as she says, "I did not ask you to not go, just asked where you were going, okay okay, I was asking too much," she transforms her words at the surprised glare of Ashna. "I am only worried," Ramya says, holding both of Ashna's hands in hers.

Ashna knows those worries she talked of were wider than her safety but she did not argue or question. She loved her mother, and she knew, as she looked into her eyes, she loved her too. Ramya presses her hands lightly, smiling lovingly at her and Ashna smiles back.

"Atleast I get to eat chola bhatura," Ashna's smile widens and Ramya chuckles.

"I have not made chola bhatura though," Ramya says standing up which fades Ashna's smile.

"But you said,-" Ashna's brow frown and sadness make way on her face.

Smiling, Ramya leaves the room with her final words, "Come down," and she hears mumbles of Ashna, "Huh, said she made chola bhatura, ughh," which widens her smile.

At the dining table, Ashna finds her favourite chola bhatura, and she answers all her father's questions.

~

"What is this?!"

A rustle of papers followed the words of Shekhar, standing in the open kitchen of his house.

The house, even when well furnished, perfectly painted and clean as Ivanya keeps it, may look like a beautiful castle, but its walls come to bite her, and its desolation swallows her.

Ivanya cannot see the confused, surprised and disappointed expression on his face as she makes parathe for her dear husband. But she doesn't miss the edge of his tone.

"Ivanya, I am asking something," Shekhar warns.

Ivanya remains calm, like every time, turning the paratha in the pan to cook the other side. Because she hopes that maybe her calmness could coax and persuade him, who in the past few years of their marriage, has learned to get angry about the smallest of things.