Shadows Of The Stumps

You Are My Home

The city air was heavy with late evening humidity when Athiya's car pulled into the familiar lane. Eva was fast asleep in her car seat, her tiny fists curled, her cheeks puffed with baby dreams. Athiya reached over to adjust the blanket around her daughter while Meera sat still beside her, hands knotted together, staring blankly out the window.

Her chest was tight. Every turn toward Bangalore, every inch closer to Rahul, felt like walking into a battlefield with no weapon in hand.

The house was lit from within. Athiya unlocked the door softly, carrying Eva, while Meera followed hesitantly, her duffel bag slung over her shoulder. The moment she stepped inside, the familiar smell of sandalwood and home-cooked food rushed at her. For a second, she almost let herself believe it was all normal again.

Then she saw Rahul.

He was sitting at the dining table, laptop open, his posture straight, his jaw tight. When Athiya entered, his eyes softened briefly-first for Eva, then for his wife-but when they landed on Meera, something shuttered.

Her heart clenched.

"Rahul," Athiya said quietly, putting Eva into the crib in the corner, "she's here."

"I know," Rahul replied, not looking away from the screen. His voice was calm, even polite, but it wasn't him. Not the brother who would've smacked her head lightly, pulled her into a hug, scolded her for scaring him.

Meera shifted uncomfortably, waiting for something-anything. Relief. Anger. A sarcastic jab. But there was only silence, and the clack of keys as he typed.Athiya came back, brushing her hand lightly against Meera's back. "Sit. Eat. You must be starving."

Meera obeyed, sliding into the chair across from Rahul. He didn't glance up, didn't ask about her journey. She wanted to reach out, to break the silence, but her throat wouldn't open. Instead, she sat quietly, her eyes dropping to her untouched plate, while Athiya moved around setting things on the table.

It was unbearable-the distance between them when he was right there.

She blinked furiously, trying to keep her vision clear, but her chest ached. She had imagined Rahul shouting, scolding, maybe even ignoring her for a day-but not this coldness.

This polite distance was worse than anger.Athiya, catching the tension, said lightly, "Eva will be happy waking up to both her dad and bua in the morning."

Rahul finally shut his laptop and stood. He gave Athiya a small smile, kissed Eva's forehead, and then-without so much as a word to Meera-walked into his room. The click of the door echoed in the silence he left behind.

Meera stared after him, her food untouched, her eyes burning.

Athiya reached over and squeezed her hand. "Give him time, Meeru. He's relieved-you know that-but he wants you to fight for it this time."

Meera swallowed hard, nodding, though her insides felt hollow. She sat frozen for another few seconds, her spoon clutched loosely in her hand. The food blurred in front of her eyes until she couldn't tell what it was anymore. Her throat felt like it had closed. With a quiet scrape of the chair against the floor, she stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"I'll just... sleep," she mumbled, barely audible, and without waiting for Athiya's reply, she slipped away toward the guest room.

The faint sound of the door closing behind her left the dining room unbearably still. Athiya stood for a moment, her hands braced on the back of Meera's chair, then let out a long, weary sigh. She glanced at the plate Meera had abandoned-still full, barely touched.

When Athiya turned, Rahul was standing in the doorway of their room, arms crossed. His expression was impassive, but his eyes flicked once, briefly, toward the untouched food.