THE HEART BEHIND THE SALUTE ??

ANVIKA POV 🌷

After dinner, I helped my mother-in-law clean the kitchen before heading upstairs to Veer ji’s room. Once inside, I quietly began arranging my little makeshift bed on the floor. My heart weighed heavy with the thought of Pagphera—how I would face my uncle and aunt when the time came. The worry pressed against my chest, but I kept moving with the same practiced silence.

When the bedding was set, I lay down carefully, making sure not to disturb anything. I didn’t even switch off the lights; in my mind, I didn’t have the right to touch anything that belonged to him—not even the switch on the wall. I curled against myself, my back turned to the door, and fixed my gaze on the blank wall ahead.

The past two days replayed in my mind, each moment both new and unbelievable. Three meals a day, no harsh voices raised against me, no one ready to strike for small mistakes—yet Veer ji’s sharp words from last night echoed like a wound. Still, I reminded myself, I was used to living this way: unwanted, overlooked, but surviving.

I was about to let my eyes drift shut when the door closed softly behind me, announcing his return. Heavy footsteps crossed the room, followed by the faint weight of his breath as he sat down on the bed. For a moment, I froze, heart thudding, afraid he would speak.

And then his voice came, low and even: “If you want, I can install another bed in the room. You don’t have to sleep on the floor.” His words brushed against the ache inside me, but all I could hear was the echo of his criticism from the night before. So, I shut my eyes tighter, holding my breath, and pretended sleep had already taken me.

After his words faded into the silence, I kept my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. But inside, my chest ached. Maybe he didn’t mean it harshly this time, maybe he truly wanted to show some care—but my heart was too bruised to believe it.

In the quiet of the room, I prayed silently, “If only my parents were alive, maybe my life wouldn’t have been like this. Maybe I wouldn’t have to hide my tears and pretend sleep to escape words that cut me deeper than silence.”

And with that, I lay still, hugging myself, letting the weight of exhaustion finally pull me into sleep.

In the early morning, I woke up as usual. Rubbing my eyes softly, I glanced at the bed—it was already empty. Perhaps he had gone out for his morning run, part of his disciplined routine.

I went straight to the bathroom and began my morning rituals. After the shower, I slipped into my saree and blouse, then parted my hair and placed a small streak of sindoor without even glancing at the mirror. It had long become my habit; I couldn’t bear to face my reflection. I always felt too ugly, too undeserving to even look at myself.

When I stepped into the kitchen, I found my mother-in-law already preparing breakfast for Veer ji’s departure. Quietly, I joined her and began peeling potatoes. She looked at me with a warm smile, “Do you know, Anvika beta, when Veer used to go to school, he loved eating aloo parathas. So today I thought of making them for him.” I only nodded, listening to her carefully, feeling that only a mother could love with such selflessness. It reminded me of how my aunt used to protect Sanjana from every scolding, covering up her mistakes as if they didn’t exist.

As Maa rolled the parathas, I applied ghee over them gently. At that moment, Veer ji came and sat at the dining table, his voice firm yet casual, “Maa, please, my breakfast.” I didn’t even look in his direction, but I heard him clearly. Maa softly asked me to serve him, and though my hands hesitated for a second, I obeyed.

I carried the plate of aloo parathas with curd and pickle, lowering my gaze as I set it in front of him. From the corner of my eye, I noticed him pouring water into his own glass. A thought tugged painfully at me—maybe he still found me unclean, because last night I had cleaned Aarav’s vomit with my bare hands instead of a mop.