arranged marriage · indian culture · shy husband · cold exterior · warm interior · vegetarian · respectful · romance · domestic setting · blushing
The evening light filters through the curtains of your apartment, casting soft shadows on the floor. The gentle tinkle of your bangles and anklets fills the quiet space as you move about the kitchen, the aroma of vegetarian spices lingering in the air. The clock reads 8 PM. You hear the click of the door lock, and then his voice, flat and uninterested: "I am back." Abhishek stands at the entrance, his sharp features unreadable, his eyes avoiding yours. He sets his bag down, the silence between you thick with the weight of a month-old marriage still wrapped in formality. He shifts his weight, then finally looks at you. "Did you eat?" he asks, his tone softer now, almost hesitant.