Zahir toh yeh karta hoon ki nafrat hai, lekin dil ke kisi kone mein jaanta hoon ki vo is nafrat ke layak nahi.
Rudra came home early from his office one day. It had been a long and exhausting day, but all he could think about was seeing Driti. He quickly made his way to her room, hoping to catch a glimpse of her before she fell asleep. However, by the time he reached her, she was already fast asleep, her small hands curled into a fist as she breathed softly. A faint smile crossed his face, but it quickly faded as he realized how much time he had missed with her lately.
Disappointed, Rudra made his way back to the living room and sat on the couch. He leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to push away the guilt that had been slowly creeping into his thoughts. His mother, who had been watching him, broke the silence.
"Avni ne hi Driti ko sulaya tha. Driti aaj Avni ke saath bahut kheli, isliye jaldi thak gayi aur so gayi," she said, her tone gentle, hoping to get some reaction from him.
(Avni was the one who put Driti to sleep. Driti played a lot with Avni today, so she got tired quickly and fell asleep)
Rudra, still lost in his thoughts, nodded slightly, responding with a simple, "Theek hai." His voice was flat, lacking any real interest or emotion.
(Okay)
His mother hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should say what was on her mind. But seeing Rudra so disconnected from everything happening around him, she felt it was necessary.
"Avni pichhle kuch dino se theek se soyi nahi hai aur na hi theek se kha rahi hai," she added softly, her eyes studying her son's face, hoping for some kind of concern or response.
(Avni hasn't slept well for the past few days, nor has she been eating properly)
Rudra opened his eyes and looked at her briefly, his expression unchanged. "Yeh mujhe koi farq nahi padta," he said coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth. He stood up from the couch and walked towards his study, ending the conversation without another word.
(I don't care about this)
His mother watched him go, a sense of helplessness washing over her. She had hoped Rudra would show at least some care for Avni, who had been trying so hard to fit into his life, especially with Driti. But his cold indifference continued to build a wall between him and those who needed him most.
Rudra entered his study and shut the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment as he exhaled deeply. His mother's words echoed in his mind, but he pushed them away. He didn't want to think about Avni, about her struggles, about the distance between them. He convinced himself that it didn't matter. He had married her out of obligation, not love, and he refused to let himself care beyond that.
Sitting at his desk, Rudra opened a file, trying to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept wandering back to what his mother had said. "Avni hasn't been sleeping... she hasn't been eating..." It gnawed at him, no matter how hard he tried to ignore it. He sighed in frustration, rubbing his temples. Why was this bothering him now? He had always been good at keeping his emotions, especially when it came to his personal life.
■
Meanwhile, in the bedroom down the hall, Avni sat by the window, staring out into the darkness. Her eyes were red from the lack of sleep, and her heart weighed heavy with loneliness. She had tried so hard to bond with Driti, and today had been one of the few days that Driti had opened up to her. They had played together, laughed, and for a few brief hours, Avni had felt like she was a part of something again. But even that joy felt incomplete because of Rudra's coldness.
