Falling Softly

ARRIVAL

Kavya's POV 

I woke up to the voice of Aaryan, talking with his parents on the phone. "Haa, Papa. When you get to the bus stop just give me a call, okay?" he said, nodding. "Haa, okay, bye."

He placed his phone down and got out of bed. "Good morning," he said while heading out of the bedroom.

A smile flashed over my sleepy face as I stretched. Ahh, it felt really good. "Good morning," I said in a sleepy voice.

I woke up and went to the kitchen, and my shoulders slumped when I saw the mess. My brows furrowed, and my smile turned into horror. I regretted not cleaning up last night. The fact that Aaryan's parents were coming made it even more important. What would they think of me when they saw this messy kitchen?

I heard the bathroom door click open. Aaryan went straight to the bedroom to pick up a call. "Okay! Yes, I am coming," he said and ended the call as he walked out of the bedroom. "Kavya, I am going to the bus stand to pick up Mummy and Papa, okay?"

What! Why are you going alone? Shouldn't I be going with you to welcome them? They will probably think I have an ego and that I'm unhappy about their visit. As I had this mental dialogue, Aaryan was already gone. Anyway, I had this mess to clear. I looked at the kitchen while resting my hand on my waist.

For a quick moment, I jumped onto the sofa and lay down, swinging my legs up and down. I reached out to our Bluetooth speaker and put on an energetic song to help me get through the chores. The sound echoed in the house, making me want to dance, but I controlled myself and went to the kitchen to start cleaning.

After sorting out the kitchen, I cleaned the living room and went on to get ready. I wore a full-sleeve kurti and leggings, without any jewelry. I didn't want that much weight on myself. I stood in front of the mirror, put on a bindi, and smiled at myself. I checked my appearance by turning around. Then, I came back to the living room and sat on the sofa, waiting for them to arrive.

I switched off the speaker and anxiety kicked in. My stomach felt heavy, and I was clearly nervous about meeting them. I placed my hands on my head and looked down. My legs were closed in a passive sitting position, and I realized I hadn't cooked anything for breakfast. What are they going to eat? I stood up, looking around for my phone.

Should I order something? No, they might think I avoid cooking and let Aaryan eat outside food often. Oh my god, oh my god, what should I do? I tapped my phone a couple of times in my palm. My mind wandered for ideas, but it was too late to cook now.

They should have waited a few weeks so we could settle in before coming. This just adds extra duties and mental fatigue. As I had these inner dialogues, the doorbell rang, and I was devastated. I took a deep breath and walked towards the door.

I opened the door, and there they were. Their eyes lit up when they saw me. I touched their feet and welcomed them inside. After guiding them to the sofa, I went to the kitchen to fetch two glasses of water for them. They sat on the sofa, and Aaryan followed me to the kitchen.

While I placed two glasses on a tray, Aaryan placed a bag on the counter. My eyes quickly looked at it, then met Aaryan's. He looked confused. "I brought samosas. Papa really likes them," he said.

Those words were comforting and slowed my racing heart. "Couldn't you have told me earlier?" I almost shouted. I took a few deep breaths and went outside to hand water to his parents.

I served the samosas after some time. We ate, and I spoke very few words, mostly just responding and smiling. After we finished eating, I picked up the plates and placed them in the sink. While I cleaned them, I wanted to talk to Aaryan. He sat beside his parents. How should I call him? Should I call him Aaryan? I don't think they will approve of calling my husband by his name. I tried looking at him, poking him with my eyes to get his attention.

"Pssst," I made a quiet sound, but it was heard by everyone, and all three of them looked at me. I felt so embarrassed for the first time in my life. I gave an awkward laugh and nodded my head to him to come over. He came quickly. "What happened?" I could feel the concern in his voice.

"You weren't listening. I was trying to call you here for so long," I said. He just stood there, blank.

"Anyways, what should I make for lunch?" I whispered to him.

"Make anything," he said casually.

"What are you saying? Tell me something that they like," I continued, washing the dishes.

"Let me think," he said, looking at the ceiling.

"Yaar, make anything," he responded after thinking for some time. I made a pouty face, stared at him, and shook my head.

"Arey beta, let me help you," I heard my mother-in-law say from behind as she entered the kitchen.

"No, no, it's fine. You must be tired. You should get some rest," I said, not wanting them to do any chores on the first day.

As I said this, Aaryan escaped, and I rolled my eyes.

My mother-in-law smiled and insisted, "I can help. We can cook together."

Seeing her kindness, my anxiety eased a bit. "Okay, let's cook together," I said, feeling a bit relieved.

We decided to make a simple yet delicious lunch: dal, sabzi, and rice. As we cooked together, I realized how supportive and understanding his parents were. They weren't here to judge me; they genuinely wanted to help.

By the time lunch was ready, I felt more at ease. We all sat down to eat, and the atmosphere was warm and friendly. Aaryan's parents shared stories from their past, and we all laughed together.

After lunch, as we sat in the living room, I looked at Aaryan and his parents, feeling grateful for their support. The initial bitterness and anxiety I felt were slowly being replaced by a sense of belonging and comfort.

Aaryan's mother looked at me and said, "Kavya, you did a great job today. Thank you for making us feel so welcome."

I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and relief. "Thank you. I'm glad you're here."

As the evening went on, I realized that the support from Aaryan's parents was not only helping me but also bringing us closer as a family. The challenges of the day had turned into opportunities for connection and understanding.

By the end of the day, I felt a sense of contentment and hope. The initial tension had given way to a growing bond between us all. I knew there would be more challenges ahead, but with the support of my family, I felt ready to face them together.

Thank you for reading, add star it encourages me.