Bound by Desire 18+

2. Party??

Vedanti pov:)

When I married Shivya and entered this family, I had no idea how lonely it would feel. My grandmother and his dadi (grandmother) were best friends, so our marriage was arranged long before we even had a say in it. 

From day one, dadi has been my constant support, always encouraging me to keep trying in my relationship with Shivya.

This morning, like every morning, I greeted her warmly as I entered the dining room with breakfast—freshly made aloo parathas for the three of us: me, dadi, and Shivya.

My mother-in-law and sisters-in-law were already seated at the table, eating the breakfast prepared by the cook. 

They barely acknowledged my presence, just like every other day. In the beginning, I found it odd that they didn't speak to me—or even to Shivya—but now, I've grown used to the silence.

"Good morning, dadi," I said with a smile, placing the hot parathas on the table.

"Good morning, beta," dadi replied, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the breakfast. "These look delicious!"

I smiled, feeling a bit of warmth in the otherwise cold atmosphere. Dadi was the only one who made me feel like I belonged here. 

My mother-in-law and sisters-in-law continued to eat in silence, not sparing me a glance. I've tried to be a good daughter-in-law, really I have. I've made efforts to talk to them, to engage in conversations, but they ignore me as if I don't exist.

The silence in this house has been suffocating for the last three months. The only time I feel alive is when Shivya is around. Maybe that's why I can't stay quiet for a minute when he's home.

Dadi had once told me, "It's his story to tell you." when I asked her about the family's behaviour. I didn't have the patience to wait for Shivya to open up about it, but she insisted I give him time.

As I set the table and sat down to eat, lost in my thoughts, Shivya entered the room, his phone pressed to his ear. He was busy as usual, speaking in hushed tones, but his presence still brought a sense of calm over me.

 He noticed me sitting quietly and, without a word, pulled out a chair for me, signaling that I should join him.

"kahan kho gai ho?(Where are you lost?)" he asked, still focused on his phone conversation.

I snapped out of my thoughts and murmured, "Nothing... Just nothing."

" Come and eat," he said, a hint of gentleness in his voice as he gestured towards the food.

Murmuring a soft "Thank you," I sat down and took a bite of the paratha. The delicious taste melted on my tongue, momentarily making me forget all my worries. I couldn't help but let out a small moan of bliss as I savored the flavor, completely absorbed in the moment.

Shivya glanced at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he watched my reaction to the food. Despite the tension and the unspoken words between us, there were these fleeting moments of connection that made my heart flutter. But just as quickly as they came, they vanished, leaving me longing for more.

As I chewed thoughtfully, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more beneath the surface—something Shivya wasn't telling me, something that might explain the coldness in this house, the distance between us. I glanced at him, wondering if today might be the day he finally opened up.

But before I could say anything, he leaned closer and whispered, "tumhari ankhon men kuch hai,(There's something in your eyes, Vedanti)." His tone was soft, almost teasing, but there was an underlying intensity that made my heart skip a beat.