Falling Softly

JET-LAGGED

Kavya's POV

He unlocked the door to the apartment and carried the bags inside. The apartment consisted of one bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. It was smaller than what I was used to back home, but I didn't say anything. I understood the difference between living in a tier 3 city versus a tier 1 city. The apartment had basic furniture and necessities like a fridge and TV. Dust had settled everywhere from being closed up for so many days.

I headed to the bathroom, washed my face, and then changed into something comfortable. I put on a purple t-shirt and leggings, tied my hair up in a bun, and removed the few pieces of jewelry I was wearing. When I stepped outside, I realized Aaryan was in the bathroom.

Looking around, I noticed that the place needed a lot of dusting. Housework was something I could manage, but I had very little experience with it since we always had one or two helpers back home. My mom had tried to teach me all the duties a wife should know. I'll admit, I tried my best, but I'm not particularly good at it. Still, I can manage.

I returned to the bedroom and lay down. The day-long journey had been exhausting, and before I knew it, my eyes closed, and I fell into a deep sleep for the first time in days.

After a while, I felt a tap on my shoulder followed by a gentle push. I opened my eyes, drenched in sweat. Aaryan turned on the light, and I squeezed my eyes shut, placing my hand over them and furrowing my brow.

"You didn't even switch on the fan," he mentioned, clicking the switch. Silly me. The cool air instantly lifted my spirits and made me feel lighter. All I wanted was to go back to sleep.

"Let's have dinner," he said, snapping me awake. My eyes widened in realization. How could I have forgotten that I was responsible for making dinner? Panic and nervousness washed over me.

"It won't take long; let me cook something," I started to say, but then I remembered that we needed groceries and other preparations first.

"Don't worry. It's been a long day; I ordered dinner," he said with a smile.

I felt relieved and reassured that he wasn't mad at me. After adjusting my hair and splashing water on my face in the bathroom, I unpacked the parcels and set out two plates. We sat down at the dining table and I served sabji and roti. Despite not being very hungry, I served myself a small portion and began eating.

As soon as I took the first bite, my eyes widened. "Oh, let me heat the sabji," I said, realizing my mistake. I quickly gulped down the bite. How could I forget to heat the food before serving? Silly me. It must have been ordered a while ago; I glanced at the clock—it was already 10 o'clock. I rolled my eyes in disappointment and started to get up.

"No, no, it's fine," he said, stopping me. I looked at him. He had taken off his glasses and changed into a loose t-shirt and shorts. His expression showed he wasn't enjoying the meal. I insisted on heating the food and served him a fresh plate, as well as myself.

"Sorry I dozed off," I said, biting my lip. He just nodded and continued eating. After finishing the meal, I cleaned the dishes and went back to the bedroom, feeling like I was catching up on sleep after several restless nights. Within seconds, I was asleep.

The night passed swiftly, and I woke up to the sun's rays on my face. I reached for my phone by the bed and checked the time—it was already 10 a.m. My eyes widened, and I quickly threw off the blanket. I looked around and realized there was no one beside me. Stepping out of the bedroom, I found the house empty. It felt strange.

I checked the bathroom, but it was also empty. I searched for any note he might have left, but there was nothing. Frustration crept in; why hadn't he informed me before leaving? Yet, I also felt guilty for oversleeping, assuming he must have left for work.

Thank you for reading :)