THE RAJHANS SISTERS

THE BIG DATE

Early the next morning, Aniket knocked gently on Nitya's door. The soft thud echoed through the silent hallway. Inside, Nitya was cleaning her shelf, her movements slow and mechanical. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying, the kajal smudged around her wide eyes, making it evident that she had spent the night in tears.

Aniket stood in the doorway, his face a mask of guilt and regret. He stepped inside cautiously, as if afraid to intrude further into her sorrow.

"Um...about last night, I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice tinged with remorse. He walked up to her, gently taking the items from her hands and placing them on the bed. He reached out, his hands trembling slightly, and held Nitya by her shoulders.

"I'm really sorry for what happened... I feel so ashamed. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I am truly sorry, Nitya," he continued, his voice breaking. He placed a hand on her cheek, his touch gentle and warm. Nitya's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions—pain, longing, and a hint of hope.

She nodded, acknowledging his apology, and in that moment, Aniket pulled her into a hug. Nitya couldn't hold back her tears any longer. They fell silently, soaking into Aniket's shirt. He held her tightly, whispering into her ear, "I promise, I will never shout at you like that again."

He wiped her tears with his thumb, his touch tender and soothing. "Sorry," he murmured once more, his eyes searching hers for forgiveness.

Nitya looked up at him, her expression softening. "How many times will you say sorry? I have already forgiven you," she said, her voice a whisper. Aniket looked at her in surprise, a glimmer of hope lighting up his face. She smiled, a small, tentative smile, but it was enough to lift the weight off his heart.

Aniket felt blessed when he saw her smiling even after his worst behavior. He realized he had been a jerk all along. Placing his hand on her cheek, he smiled and looked into her eyes. "Nitya, I don't want to see you shed any more tears today, okay?"

Nitya nodded, her eyes glistening with hope. Aniket continued, "You are not going to the office today, Nitya."

"Why?" she asked innocently, tilting her head slightly.

"Because..." He gently guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Today we are going out. Let's do this: first, we'll go to a movie. You like watching movies, don't you?"

Nitya nodded, her lips curling into a small smile.

"Then it's settled. I'll come home around 3 PM, we'll go to a movie, and then we'll go out for dinner, hmm?" Aniket's plan surprised her. He had never been romantic to her since they got married, and today he had made a perfect romantic plan. She simply nodded her head, feeling a flutter of excitement.

Aniket smiled and pressed his lips to her forehead. "Should I go now? I have an important meeting today, so I need to go to the office. Otherwise, I wouldn't," he said. A wide smile appeared on her face, and she nodded again, more enthusiastically this time.

Aniket turned to leave. Overjoyed, Nitya jumped in excitement, her foot catching a small showpiece and sending it clattering to the floor. Aniket turned back, concern flashing across his face. She quickly tried to control her expressions, waving her hands dismissively.

"It's nothing... You should go... I just hit my foot," she said, holding back her smile and laughter. Aniket chuckled, shaking his head at her antics.

"Alright, take care," he said affectionately before stepping out of the room.

As the door closed behind him, Nitya let out a small, joyful squeal, unable to contain her happiness. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of hope and excitement. She quickly cleaned up the broken pieces and began to plan her day, eagerly anticipating the afternoon.