07

“What’s with her?”

“Bhabhi, she’s been so grumpy lately. I just don’t get her. She wants to talk every hour, video call twice a day, and reply the moment she texts,” Yuvaan said, a rare frown on his face.

“Isn’t that what you both do daily?” Varahi asked, squinting.

“Used to, Bhabhi. Sometimes it’s hard to believe how Bhai manages everything alone. It’s exhausting. I’m so tired when I get home, I can’t find time to talk to her,” Yuvaan said, sharing his frustration.

“Hmm, talk to her, Yuvi. Tell her what you told me. Proper communication is all it needs,” Varahi advised, thinking of her own husband.

“Bhabhi, we haven’t talked since last week, and it feels like ages,” Yuvaan said. Varahi chuckled.

“You’re so in love, Yuvi,” she teased, admiring his devotion to his girlfriend.

Yuvaan smiled shyly. “I am,” he said, getting up. “I’ll let you know once I sort things out with her.” Varahi nodded, smiling softly as she poured water into a pan for evening tea.

“Bhabhi, Bhabhi!” Yuvaan came running, phone in hand, side-hugging her. “Thank you so much for being the elder sister I always wanted but never had.”

Varahi patted his cheek. “Chalo, before you get all sentimental and thank me again, I’m going,” she chuckled. Yuvaan left the kitchen, dialing Kiara.

“Mummy ji, everyone will be here by 10. Trisha messaged me,” Varahi said, sitting on the couch in the TV room.

“So late? They said they’d be here by 8,” Ragini replied, looking over her glasses from her magazine.

“Hmm, they went to the mall with Chachi’s sister.”

“Time ni dekhna hota inhe. Thand dekho kitni hori hai,” Ragini said. (They don’t keep track of time. Look how cold it is.)

Varahi sat with the ladies, chatting about food, places, relatives, clothes, and the upcoming party.

Varahi sat on their bed, checking her phone. She opened WhatsApp, looking at the message she sent Avyaan three hours ago, still unread.

28 November 2023

AS: Okay

Today

YOU: Did you reach? How was the flight? Had food?

She sighed, noting his last seen was from the morning. About to dial his number, her phone rang with AS’s caller ID. She picked up immediately.

Varahi closed her eyes, realizing her haste, while Avyaan smiled. “Hello,” he said, still smiling.

“Hmm, I was about to call you,” Varahi said, hoping he’d buy it.

“Of course, I assumed,” he teased. Varahi hit a pillow, embarrassed but hiding it, smiling.

“Had dinner?” they asked in unison. Varahi smiled.

“Yes.”

“I’m just about to take the first bite.”

“Oh, eat first, we can talk later,” she said, hearing his spoon clink.

“No, just talk. I got back 20 minutes ago from the site,” Avyaan said, not wanting to hang up.

“What are you eating?”

“Ordered the main course—stuffed naan, butter naan, dal makhani, paneer tikka gravy,” he said. Varahi chuckled.

“You got the typical dinner menu.”

“Hmm, we had snacks at the site, so we just ordered this,” he said, eating.

“Where is he?”

“Getting mineral water bottles.”

“Hm. What did you have for dinner?”

“Dal-chawal and fried aloo.”

“Yuvi?”

“He went out with Kia. They fought.”

“Hm, that’s why he’s been down. Did Chachu reach home?”

“Not yet,” Varahi said, fiddling with the pillow cover.

“How was your meeting?”

“It’s tomorrow. Today we just visited the site.”

“Oh, why did you call?”

“Huh? Am I not allowed to call my wife?”

“No, I mean, the reason.”

“Because I wanted to talk to you. Why would you say that, Varahi?”

“Oh, I just—” Varahi closed her eyes, searching for words.

“Yeah, just?” Avyaan prompted softly.

“I thought you had work or something. By the way, do yo—”

“Your voice makes me feel at ease. I needed to talk to you,” he whispered. Varahi froze, her fingers stopping on the pillow cover, gripping the phone tighter.

Your voice. Ease.

“Uh?” She couldn’t say more, stunned by his rare words. Her heart raced, lips curling into a smile. She’d heard compliments about her voice, but his words hit differently.

“Hmm,” Avyaan hummed, waiting.

“You’ll come the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Hmm, probably tomorrow midnight.”

“How’s your day?”

“Hectic.”

“Sleep after dinner, don’t work.”

“Okay, Mam,” he said, chuckling with her.

“Who’s there?”

“Arsh, with the water bottles.”

“Boss, meeting at 10 sharp, then the interior designer,” Arsh’s voice came through.

“Okay, go sleep. We need to wake early,” Avyaan replied.

“Yeah, good night,” Varahi heard faintly.

“Hmm, so.”

“Dinner finished?”

“Hmm, I’ll change now.”

“Avyaan, sleep. You sound tired,” she said. He smiled, humming.

“I am, but we can talk.”

“We can talk later. Sleep now.”

“Hmm, okay. Good night.”

“Good night, take care.”

“You too,” he said before the call ended.

A smile lingered on Varahi’s face. His voice soothed her, just as hers did for him. Though he often seemed distant, her love for him was unexplainable. She admired his bond with his family, his endless love for them.

Sighing, she set the phone on the nightstand, slipped on her slippers, and walked through the wardrobe to the bathroom.