THE RAJHANS SISTERS

FRAGMENTS OF LOVE

Two days later...

Aniket was getting ready for the office when Nitya knocked on his door. He glanced in her direction as she entered, but his response was devoid of a smile. Nitya smiled as she stepped inside, placing breakfast on the serving table.

"Thank you," he said, turning his attention back to his grooming. He combed his hair while Nitya observed him. "Hmm, the breakfast is getting cold, Aniket," she remarked.

"Hmm," he acknowledged, continuing to don his socks and shoes. Then, he picked up his laptop to attend to some work.

"Aniket, breakfast," she reminded him once more.

Aniket said nothing but simply opened his mouth, indicating for her to feed him. Nitya smiled and began to feed him, stealing glances at him as she did. After he finished, she wiped his lips clean. As she collected the empty plate to leave the room, Aniket surprised her with a question.

"What will you wear today?" he asked. Nitya was taken aback by the question.

"Pardon?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"It's your sister's baby shower...what will you wear?" he repeated. Nitya still didn't reply, still processing his unexpected question. When she didn't respond, Aniket returned his attention to his laptop screen. Nitya realized she hadn't answered him.

"I haven't thought about it yet," she admitted. "Should I show you? Will you help me decide?" she asked. Aniket regarded her with a quizzical look, as if her request were peculiar, but he nodded in agreement.

After a while, Nitya returned to Aniket's office, her arms laden with a selection of sarees. She approached him tentatively, spreading the sarees out for him to see. Aniket glanced at each one with a fleeting interest, his eyes barely registering the intricate designs and vibrant colors.

"This pista green would suit you," he remarked, his tone matter-of-fact.

Nitya's heart fluttered at his attention, even though she had never been particularly fond of that color. She immediately nodded in agreement, her desire to please him outweighing her personal preference.

"Are you really not going to come?" she ventured, her voice laced with hope and a touch of disappointment.

Aniket's expression hardened. "Do you enjoy hearing the same thing from me fifty times, Nitya?" he retorted sharply. Stung by his response, Nitya bit her lip and decided not to press the issue further. She gathered the sarees and quietly left the room, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

As she prepared for Aarushi's baby shower, Nitya carefully draped the pista green saree over herself, her fingers smoothing the fabric as she adorned herself with matching jewelry. The mirror reflected her delicate beauty, but her thoughts were clouded with Aniket's dismissive attitude.

Aniket, meanwhile, happened to pass by her room. He paused at the doorway, his eyes involuntarily drawn to Nitya's reflection in the mirror. She looked stunning in the saree he had chosen, the green fabric accentuating her graceful figure. He watched as she meticulously adjusted her hair and applied her makeup, her movements graceful and deliberate.

Sensing his presence, Nitya turned around, her eyes meeting his in the mirror. For a moment, their gazes locked, a silent exchange of unspoken emotions. But before she could speak, Aniket had already turned and walked away, the moment slipping through her fingers.

Nitya sighed softly, a mixture of sadness and resignation washing over her. She turned back to the mirror, determined to put on a brave face for her sister's special day. Despite Aniket's absence, she resolved to carry herself with dignity and grace, knowing that her presence at the baby shower would mean the world to Aarushi.