The Raghuvanshi mansion loomed grand and silent, its expansive hallways echoing with the soft footsteps of servants bustling about in preparation for the evening. Tonight marked the twelfth wedding anniversary of Rudransh and Aarohi, but the atmosphere felt more somber than celebratory. Twelve years of marriage had passed like shadows over the walls of this mansion, marked more by formality than genuine love. Rudransh had barely acknowledged this day for as long as Aarohi could remember, yet she held onto a quiet hope, as she did every year, even if it was just for the chance to sit together and share a moment.
In the quiet of their bedroom, Aarohi sat alone, surrounded by the elegance of the spacious room. The décor was refined—plush fabrics and rich colors—but the space felt cold and distant. Her gaze lingered on the untouched anniversary card she had placed on his nightstand that morning. It was simple yet heartfelt, adorned with delicate floral designs that reminded her of spring. Inside, she had penned words that came from the depths of her heart, expressing her longing for a deeper connection, her desire for Rudransh to truly see her after all these years. She had hoped it would resonate with him, that perhaps this year he would understand her yearning. But there it lay, untouched, just like her hopes.
The door creaked open, and Rudransh stepped inside, still dressed in his sharply tailored suit, embodying the powerful CEO he was known to be. His expression was distant, and he barely glanced her way. With the precision of a man fulfilling a duty, he removed his jacket and hung it meticulously. Aarohi’s heart fluttered, a mix of hope and resignation twisting within her.
“Happy anniversary,” she whispered, her voice soft, almost a plea.
Rudransh turned to her, offering a curt nod. “Yes, of course,” he replied flatly, as if acknowledging a mere business transaction. “I have a meeting early tomorrow. I’ll need to rest.”
Aarohi felt a familiar ache settle in her chest. She masked it with a small, forced smile, trying to keep the disappointment at bay. “Of course,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
He moved toward the bathroom, leaving her to grapple with the silence that had stretched between them over the years. She held back tears, determined not to break. She had learned to accept this, yet part of her yearned for the day he would see her as more than just a figure in his life. Her thoughts drifted to the three boys sleeping down the hall, the only bright spots in her otherwise muted existence. They had become her world, her solace, and she often wondered if they sensed the void, if they noticed how little their parents truly communicated.
As she watched the city lights flicker from the window, Aarohi’s thoughts wandered back to the time when Rudransh’s family had chosen her. They had seen something in her that she had yet to discover—a kindness, a resilience. But she couldn’t help but question if those qualities mattered to Rudransh at all. Their life together felt like a careful routine, meticulously avoiding any closeness, any moment that might require him to look at her with anything beyond indifference.
Her reverie was broken by the buzz of her phone. A message from her doctor reminded her of her next appointment, and a pang of dread coursed through her. The recent headaches and persistent fatigue were signals she could no longer ignore, but she hadn’t told Rudransh. Vulnerability had no place in a relationship that felt so fragile.
In that stillness, she made a decision. No longer would she chase after fleeting moments of connection. She would focus on herself, her health, and her children. For twelve years, she had given her all, trying to bring warmth to a man who had built walls around his heart. But tonight, as she sat alone, she recognized that she couldn’t spend the rest of her life hoping for a love that might never materialize.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Rudransh stood staring at his own reflection, wrestling with the weight of Aarohi’s words—“Happy anniversary”—that echoed in his mind. He brushed it off, convincing himself that a successful marriage didn’t require affection or intimacy; it needed stability. Yet her quiet disappointment began to gnaw at him, and for the first time, he felt unease creeping into his otherwise controlled world.
After freshening up, he emerged from the bathroom and caught sight of Aarohi, now lying on her side of the bed. He began to scan the room as if searching for something when his eyes fell upon the nightstand. Drawn to it, he walked over and picked up the card she had left. As he read the words she had written, he felt a surge of emotions he had long suppressed. “Happy anniversary, Ruh,” he whispered to himself, gazing at her sleeping face, softened by the gentle light spilling in from the window, knowing she wouldn’t hear him.
He carefully placed the card inside the drawer and noticed a small, elegantly wrapped gift box nestled beside it. Intrigued, he unwrapped the gift with silent anticipation. What he revealed was a stunning silver chain, delicate yet sturdy, that held a diamond pendant, shimmering with an elegance that took his breath away. The pendant was a graceful teardrop shape, intricately designed with delicate filigree work that caught the light in a mesmerizing way. It sparkled like the stars against the velvet night sky, radiating a beauty that seemed to mirror the love Aarohi had always shown him.
A small smile broke across Rudransh's face as he admired the pendant. It was a gift that spoke of her thoughtfulness, her desire to share beauty in their lives, even when the connection between them felt tenuous. As he held it, memories flooded back—of all the gifts she had lovingly given him over the years. He recalled the handwritten cards filled with warmth, each one radiating the affection he had so often overlooked. He secretly cherished those tokens in his office, but guilt and regret gnawed at him for not being able to show her his emotions, for letting his insecurities dictate his actions.
Twelve years had passed, and now he found himself at a crossroads, unsure of how to express the feelings that had long been buried. The fear that she might leave him if he finally opened up loomed large in his mind. What if she questioned him, asking why he hadn’t felt this way sooner?
The room fell silent again, the only sound the soft hum of the city beyond. Rudransh continued to hold the pendant, feeling its weight in his palm, pulsing with emotions he had kept locked away for far too long. He placed it back on the nightstand, treating it like something fragile—just like the love he had buried deep within himself.
Glancing back at Aarohi’s sleeping form, so serene and peaceful, he felt a mix of admiration and regret wash over him. Why had he taken her kindness for granted? Why hadn’t he recognized how fortunate he was to have her by his side? In that stillness, a realization struck him—she had remained by his side out of love and unwavering patience, and he had been too blind to see it.
With the bedside lamp casting a warm glow in the room, Rudransh made a silent promise to himself. He would try to make a change, no matter how small. He would finally offer her a piece of himself she had never seen. He couldn’t undo the twelve years spent in this strained companionship, but he could take the first steps to bridge the gap that had grown between them.
In the darkness, as he whispered softly to himself, “Maybe it’s not too late,” a flicker of hope ignited within him. Perhaps tonight could mark the beginning of a new chapter, a chance to rediscover the love that had once brought them together. As he settled into bed, he felt a quiet determination swell inside him, a readiness to embrace the vulnerability he had long avoided.
As he lay down beside her, he watched her peaceful, sleeping face and felt a deep longing to bridge the gap between them. He wished he could tell her how much he loved and appreciated her, but the words remained unspoken. “Maybe next year,” he thought, echoing her own silent hope. “Maybe next year will be different.”
