CHANDANI

Vikram was sleeping soundly beside Chandani, but sleep was far from her eyes. The quiet of the night seemed to amplify the storm brewing in her mind. She stared at the ceiling, lost in thoughts of the past, memories of how everything began, and how she ended up here—in a loveless marriage.

Flashback

It all started with small conversations. Vikram and Chandani began talking regularly after meeting in college. He was charming and always showed care for her, something that made Chandani feel special. She, a middle-class girl with no grand expectations, was mesmerized by his attention.

Then came the turning point. It was Vikram’s birthday. He had invited her to his party, and with excitement and nervousness, she bought him a watch, spending all her saved pocket money. That night, in the midst of the celebration, he kissed her for the first time.

Chandani (thinking): "Tab mujhe laga tha, yeh mera sapna sach ho gaya hai. Pehli baar kiss kiya tha, aur main khushi ke aasman par thi… bina samjhe."(At that moment, I thought my dream had come true. It was the first time I kissed, and I was on cloud nine... without understanding anything.)

She was on cloud nine, believing that this moment sealed their future together. Little did she know that this was just the beginning of a long, painful journey.

Flashback ends.

The heaviness of the memories weighed her down. She hadn't slept at all, and as the early morning light filtered through the window, she realized it was time to get up and start the day. Her in-laws were planning to visit their hometown, which meant she had to prepare both breakfast and lunch together.

With a sigh, she pushed herself out of bed and headed to the kitchen.

---

Conversation in the kitchen:

Chandani was silently chopping vegetables when her mother-in-law entered the kitchen, already in a foul mood.

Mother-in-law (sarcastically): "Arre, Chandani, breakfast aur lunch dono ek saath banane ko bola tha na? Ab tak ready nahi hua? Tumse toh koi kaam thik se hota hi nahi."(Chandani, I asked you to make breakfast and lunch together, didn’t I? Is it not ready yet? You never do anything properly.)

Chandani (softly): "Ji, maa, bas thodi der mein sab ready ho jayega."(Yes, mother-in-law, everything will be ready in a little while)

Her mother-in-law shook her head, unimpressed. Chandani's hands moved mechanically as she continued preparing the meal, her mind still lost in the past.

Mother-in-law (sighing dramatically): "Tumhe koi kaam dhang se karna kab aayega, Chandani? Is ghar mein reh kar bhi kuch seekha nahi tumne."(When will you ever learn to do things properly, Chandani? Even after staying in this house, you haven’t learned anything)

Chandani bit her lip, suppressing the urge to respond. This was her everyday reality. Criticism, taunts, and no sign of appreciation from anyone, least of all from Vikram.

She quickly finished preparing the food and set the table. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law sat down to eat, discussing their upcoming trip to their hometown, while she served them silently.

Father-in-law: "Vikram toh hamesha kaam mein laga rehta hai, chandani. Tumhare sath waqt bitane ka toh usko samay hi nahi milta."(Vikram is always busy with work, Chandani. He never finds time to spend with you)

Chandani forced a small smile, though inside she was feeling empty. Vikram's absence wasn't just physical—it was emotional. Even when he was there, he was never really present for her.

After they left the table, Chandani sat down in the kitchen to eat her own meal, her thoughts still tangled in the web of the past and the hopelessness of her present situation. She thought about how her life had spiraled out of her control, leaving her in a space where love felt like a distant dream.

Her mind flashed back to Vikram's drunken kiss the night before. Despite the brief moment of passion, it was a hollow encounter, a reminder of how he used her without ever truly loving her.

With a deep sigh, Chandani returned to her chores, preparing for another long, silent day.