Kriyaansh OS Compilations

The Empty Plate

The aroma of cumin and coriander, the comforting scent of simmering spices, hung heavy in the air. A tantalizing symphony of smells, a culinary testament to Kriya's skilled hands, wafted through the apartment. Yet, the table remained untouched, a stark contrast to the vibrant array of dishes laid out. The silence, punctuated only by the ticking of the clock, was a stark reminder of the empty chair beside her.

Kriya stared at the plate of steaming rice and vegetable curry, a lump forming in her throat. This was the fifth time. Five consecutive family dinners Rey had missed, swallowed by the insatiable maw of his work commitments. The initial disappointment had transformed into a festering rage, a simmering frustration that threatened to boil over.

'He's never going to change,' she muttered, her voice hoarse with a suppressed sob.

She had spent the entire evening fielding questions from her relatives about baby plans, their eyes twinkling with a mixture of curiosity and veiled judgment. 'When are you two going to give us a little one?' they'd asked, their voices laced with a hint of urgency. Each time, she'd deflected, explaining that Rey was tied up with a 'big project,' a predictable response that had become their ritual. But the truth was, she was weary of carrying the weight of their expectations alone.

The phone buzzed, a message from Rey: 'So sorry, honey. Stuck in a meeting. Be home soon. Love you.'

Kriya read the message, a wave of bitterness washing over her. 'Soon' meant anything from an hour to three, depending on the 'urgency' of the meeting. His apologies, while sincere, were starting to sound hollow, worn thin by repetition.

She picked up a fork, the metal cool against her skin, and slowly pushed the rice around her plate. How long had it been since they'd shared a meal together, a proper one, without the pressure of family dinners or the looming shadow of deadlines?

It had been a while.

The apartment, usually filled with the vibrant sounds of their shared life, now felt eerily quiet. Even the dance posters on the wall, a testament to their shared passion, seemed to taunt her with the memory of their last performance together, a joyful whirl of movement and music that had been abruptly cut short by Rey's frantic phone call.

The phone buzzed again. A second message from Rey: 'Did you eat anything? I'm famished.'

Kriya clenched her jaw.

'Of course, I didn't eat. You weren't here,' she typed back, the words stinging her own eyes.

His reply was almost immediate: 'Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. Really. The meeting went on forever. I'll be there in 20 minutes. I'm starving! What's for dinner?'

Kriya read the message, the rage building within her. She knew he was genuinely apologetic, but his obliviousness was maddening. He didn't seem to understand the weight of his absence, the burden she carried in his absence, the quiet resentment that was slowly eating away at their once-vibrant relationship.

'I'm going to bed,' she typed, her fingers trembling slightly. 'There's food on the table. You can heat it up.'

She switched off her phone, the screen going dark, mirroring the dark cloud that had settled over her heart.

The sound of the door opening pulled her out of her thoughts. She peeked through the gap in the curtains, watching as Rey entered, his hair slightly disheveled, face etched with fatigue. He carried a takeaway bag, a guilty offering.

He walked into the living room, his face lighting up as he saw her. 'Honey, you're still awake. I'm so sorry, I got stuck-'

Kriya steeled herself, her voice cold and sharp. 'What's in the bag? Another pizza?'