Threads of Tradition: Tales Of Indian Arranged Marriages

6.

The days following Ahaan’s mother’s recovery passed in a quiet, steady rhythm. Ahaan and Kaira had slipped into a routine—one that, though unspoken, had become comfortable. They were still not close, but the initial awkwardness between them had given way to something softer, something neither of them could fully name.

Kaira had continued to care for Ahaan’s family, even after his mother had returned home. She checked in on his parents regularly, making sure they were comfortable, preparing meals when needed, and generally being the reliable presence they hadn’t known they needed. Ahaan noticed every little thing she did, though he rarely commented on it.

One evening, after another long day at work, Ahaan found himself in the study, surrounded by blueprints and papers, his mind heavy with the weight of an ongoing project that seemed never-ending. He hadn’t noticed how late it had gotten until Kaira knocked on the door.

“You haven’t eaten yet,” she said gently, stepping into the room with a plate of food. “I thought you might be hungry.”

Ahaan glanced up from his desk, surprised. “Oh… thanks. I didn’t realize how late it was.”

She set the plate down on the desk, but instead of leaving, she lingered for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the scattered papers. “It looks like you’ve got a lot going on.”

Ahaan ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “Yeah. It’s a major project. The clients are tough, and the deadlines are tighter than ever.”

Kaira nodded, sitting down on the chair opposite him. “That sounds stressful. You’ve been working long hours lately.”

He gave a short, humourless laugh. “It’s not just the work. There’s… other stuff too.”

She didn’t push, didn’t ask what he meant by “other stuff.” Instead, she just sat there, waiting, her quiet presence almost inviting him to speak if he chose to.

Ahaan stared at the papers for a moment before finally setting his pen down. He looked at Kaira, and something in her expression—so patient, so understanding—made him feel like he could talk to her. Just a little.

“I wasn’t always this… distant,” Ahaan began, his voice low. “I wasn’t always like this.”

Kaira tilted her head slightly, her eyes encouraging him to continue.

“There was someone,” he said after a pause, his gaze drifting to the window. “A long time ago. We were together for a few years, and I thought… I thought she was the one.” His voice grew quieter, tinged with bitterness. “But I was wrong. She left, and it wasn’t just the leaving that hurt. It was the way she did it. Without warning, without explanation. Just… gone.”

Kaira listened, her heart aching for him. She knew what it felt like to have someone you trust break your heart. Her own scars ran deep from her broken engagement, but she didn’t interrupt, didn’t share her story. This moment was about him.

Ahaan continued, his tone more pained now. “After that, I guess I stopped letting people in. It felt easier that way, safer. If I didn’t care, I couldn’t get hurt again. And it worked… for a while. But then this marriage happened, and I—I didn’t know how to be with someone again, not like that.”

His words hung in the air between them, heavy with the weight of his past. Kaira’s eyes softened as she realized just how much pain Ahaan had been carrying all this time. It explained so much—the emotional distance, the reluctance to open up. He had been protecting himself, even if it meant keeping her at arm’s length.

For a moment, Kaira considered reaching out, touching his hand, offering some kind of physical reassurance. But she held back, sensing that Ahaan wasn’t quite ready for that. Instead, she spoke softly, her voice steady and calm.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” she said quietly. “No one deserves to go through something like that.”

Ahaan met her gaze, his eyes searching hers as if trying to gauge her sincerity. He found nothing but understanding there, and it made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time—safe.

“I never told anyone that before,” he admitted, almost as if it surprised him. “Not even my family.”

Kaira smiled a small, gentle smile that seemed to light up the dim room. “Thank you for trusting me with it.”

They sat in silence for a while after that, the weight of Ahaan’s confession settling between them. It wasn’t a grand moment, but it was significant—a step toward something more, something deeper. For the first time since their wedding, Ahaan had opened up, even if just a little, and Kaira had been there to catch the pieces of his broken heart.

As the silence stretched, Kaira stood up, her movements slow and deliberate. “I’ll let you get back to work,” she said softly. “But don’t forget to eat.”

Ahaan nodded, watching as she moved toward the door. Just as she was about to leave, he called out to her.

“Kaira?”

She turned, waiting.

“Thank you,” he said again, his voice quiet but filled with meaning. It wasn’t just about the food or her kindness tonight—it was more than that. For being patient with him, for understanding. For being there.

Kaira smiled once more, and at that moment, something unspoken passed between them—an acknowledgement of the bond that had started to form, fragile but real.

As she left the room, Ahaan leaned back in his chair, his thoughts swirling. The walls he had built around himself weren’t completely down, but for the first time in years, they were starting to crumble.

And maybe, just maybe, that wasn’t such a bad thing.