Marriage preparations #5
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Not toward her.
Never toward her.
Toward whatever...
Whoever...
Had put that emptiness into her eyes.
Toward the person responsible for making someone so gentle cry in silence.
A muscle twitched in his jaw.
His eyes darkened.
If tears had an owner...
If pain had a face...
He would have buried it without hesitation.
He wasn't a violent man by nature.
But for those tears...
He could become one.
He exhaled slowly, forcing the storm inside him back into its cage.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.
Almost afraid that speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile evening around them.
"...The sky looks beautiful today."
She didn't answer.
Only the swing continued its slow rhythm.
Creak...
Creak...
Creak...
Another tear escaped her eyes.
Aditya closed his own for a brief second.
It took every ounce of self-control not to walk over and wipe it away.
Instead...
He remained exactly where he was.
Respecting the invisible boundary she had unknowingly drawn between them.
Because some people loved by holding on.
Aditya...
Loved by knowing when not to reach out.
Even if it meant watching the woman he cared for cry from only a few steps away.
And somehow...
That helplessness hurt far more than any wound he had ever suffered.
The silence lingered between them.
The evening breeze continued to sway the white curtains, carrying with it the scent of rain.
Aditya looked at the untouched bowl of soup once again.
His brows knitted together.
A flicker of frustration crossed his face.
Not because she had disobeyed him...
But because she hadn't taken care of herself.
He inhaled deeply before speaking.
This time...
His voice carried the familiar strictness everyone feared.
"Why haven't you finished your soup?"
She remained still.
His tone became firmer.
"How many times have I told you?"
"If food is served..."
"You finish it."
"If medicine is given..."
"You take it."
The words echoed softly across the balcony.
She slowly lowered her head even further.
Like a child being scolded.
After several seconds...
She timidly lifted her eyes.
Only for a brief moment.
Her gaze met his.
Dark eyes.
Sharp features.
A composed face hiding countless emotions.
The instant their eyes met...
She immediately looked down again.
Almost as though looking at him for too long wasn't allowed.
She gave the tiniest nod.
Almost lost beneath the wind.
With trembling fingers...
She slowly reached for the bowl.
Both hands shook so badly that the spoon rattled softly against the porcelain.
Aditya noticed immediately.
He stepped forward.
Only one step.
"Wait."
"The soup is cold."
"I'll get it warmed."
He reached out.
Not toward her.
Toward the bowl.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Making sure she could see every movement.
He didn't want to startle her.
His fingertips were only inches away from the bowl
When she suddenly stiffened.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her pupils widened.
The movement...
Someone reaching toward her...
It happened too quickly for her frightened mind to separate the bowl from herself.
Instinct took over.
Her hands jerked back.
Pulling the bowl protectively toward herself.
But in her panic...
Her trembling grip slipped.
The porcelain bowl tilted.
For one horrifying second...
Everything slowed.
The soup slid over the edge.
Then
Crash.
The bowl struck the floor, shattering into dozens of white fragments.
Warm soup splashed across her white frock.
The pale fabric clung instantly to her lap.
A few drops landed on her trembling hands.
She froze.
Completely.
Her eyes widened in terror.
Not because of the soup.
Not because of the broken bowl.
Because of what she thought would come next.
Her entire body began to shake violently.
A visible shiver travelled down her spine.
Her breathing grew shallow.
Fast.
Uneven.
Her fingers instinctively clenched the soaked fabric of her dress.
Her shoulders curled inward.
Making herself smaller.
As though trying to disappear.
She wasn't looking at the broken bowl.
She wasn't looking at the spilled soup.
She wasn't even looking at Aditya.
Her frightened eyes remained fixed on the floor.
Waiting.
Waiting to be shouted at.
Waiting for anger.
Waiting for punishment.
Waiting...
For something she had learned to expect long ago.
Aditya stood rooted to the spot.
His outstretched hand slowly fell back to his side.
He hadn't expected that.
Not the spilled soup.
Not the broken bowl.
Not...
This fear.
His gaze shifted from the shattered porcelain...
To her trembling hands...
To the way her entire body was shaking uncontrollably.
She wasn't afraid of breaking the bowl.
She was afraid...
Of him.
That realization hit him harder than any bullet ever could.
For a long moment...
He simply stood there.
Silent.
His jaw clenched.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Taking one long, controlled breath.
When he opened them again...
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