Threads of Tradition: Tales Of Indian Arranged Marriages

4.

The atmosphere in the Malhotra household had settled into a routine, but it was far from a peaceful one. Ahaan had been consumed by a high-stakes project for his architecture firm, one that required everything he had—hours of meetings, late nights at the office, and an endless stream of revisions. The project, a state-of-the-art commercial complex in the heart of Delhi, had already faced several delays, and the client’s growing impatience only added to Ahaan’s stress.

His office had become his sanctuary, a place where he could lose himself in floor plans and blueprints, but the mounting pressure had begun to wear him down. Ahaan’s usually calm demeanour was now tinged with frustration, and his once-perfect work-life balance was slipping through his fingers. Late nights became the norm, with Ahaan returning home well past midnight, too exhausted to even make small talk with Kaira.

Kaira, too, had her own challenges at work. She had recently taken on a case involving a young girl who had been displaced from her family, and the complexity of the situation weighed heavily on her. The girl had been through traumatic experiences, and Kaira was working tirelessly to ensure she found a safe, supportive environment. But the emotional toll was heavy, and despite her best efforts, she found it difficult to leave the work stress behind when she returned home.

One evening, after a particularly gruelling day at work, Kaira entered the house to find Ahaan sitting in the living room, staring at his laptop screen, his expression one of deep frustration. He hadn’t even noticed her come in.

“Is everything okay?” she asked tentatively, standing in the doorway. It wasn’t her usual habit to ask, but something about the tension in his face made her speak up.

Ahaan glanced up, surprised by her question. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “Just work stuff. It’s been a mess lately.”

Kaira hesitated for a moment, then quietly stepped into the room. She wasn’t used to offering comfort to Ahaan—not because she didn’t want to, but because he had always kept such a firm distance. Still, something about the way he looked tonight, so exhausted and overwhelmed, tugged at her. Without thinking too much, she went into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water and a plate of food.

“You’ve been working so late these days. You should eat something,” she said softly, placing the plate in front of him.

Ahaan looked at the food, then back at her. For a moment, he seemed taken aback. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it was the first time she had done something for him like this without any pretence or expectation. He hadn’t even realized how hungry he was until the sight of the food reminded him that he hadn’t eaten all day.

“Thanks,” he muttered, picking up the fork.

Kaira sat down on the couch across from him, watching quietly as he ate. The silence between them felt different now—not the usual cold, distant silence, but something more comfortable, even if just slightly. It was a small shift, but Kaira could feel it, and she wondered if Ahaan did too.

For the next few days, life continued as usual, but the tension between them seemed to have eased ever so slightly. They still didn’t talk much, but there were moments—like when Kaira would bring Ahaan a cup of coffee late at night as he worked, or when Ahaan would ask her how her day had been in a way that felt more genuine than just small talk.

It wasn’t much, but it was something.

One night, a week after the quiet shift had begun, Kaira was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner. She heard the faint sound of footsteps behind her and turned to see Ahaan standing in the doorway. He looked tired, but there was a softness in his expression that she hadn’t seen before.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Kaira asked, wiping her hands on a towel.

Ahaan shrugged. “Too much on my mind.”

For a moment, they just stood there, the silence stretching between them. Then, surprising herself, Kaira spoke again. “Do you… want to talk about it?”

Ahaan hesitated. Talking about his feelings had never been his strong suit. He had spent years building up walls around himself, walls that had kept everyone at a distance, including Kaira. But now, standing in the quiet kitchen with her, something in him shifted.

“I’ve just been stressed,” he said after a long pause. “This project has been a nightmare, and the client is breathing down my neck.”

Kaira nodded, understanding the weight of professional pressure. “It sounds overwhelming.”

Ahaan leaned against the counter, rubbing the back of his neck. “It is. I feel like no matter what I do, it’s never enough. The deadlines keep getting tighter, and there’s always something going wrong.”

Kaira listened, her heart softening as she watched him open up, even if only a little. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” she said gently. “You always do.”

Ahaan looked at her, surprised by the quiet confidence in her voice. He wasn’t used to people reassuring him—at least, not without expecting something in return. But Kaira’s words didn’t feel like empty platitudes. They felt real.

“Thanks,” he said, his voice softer now. “I appreciate that.”

Kaira gave him a small smile, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Ahaan smiled back. It was a brief moment, but it felt like the first crack in the wall between them.

That night, as they sat in the living room, Ahaan brought up something he hadn’t mentioned in a while. “How’s that case you were working on? The one with the girl?”

Kaira blinked, surprised that he remembered. “It’s… complicated,” she admitted. “She’s been through a lot, and I’m doing my best, but sometimes it feels like no matter how much I try, I can’t fix everything.”

Ahaan nodded, understanding that feeling all too well. “I know the feeling.”

They sat there for a while, talking quietly about work, about the stresses that had been weighing them down. The conversations weren’t long or deep, but they were real, and for the first time since their wedding, it felt like they were seeing each other—not just as two people sharing the same space, but as two individuals, each carrying their own burdens.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Kaira stifled a yawn. “I should get some sleep.”

Ahaan nodded, though part of him wished the conversation didn’t have to end. “Goodnight,” he said as she stood to leave.

“Goodnight, Ahaan,” she replied, her voice soft.

As she walked away, Ahaan realized that for the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel quite so alone.