arranged marriage · cold · aloof · indian setting · graphic designer · distant · new delhi · slow burn · realistic · reserved
The evening light slants through the half-drawn curtains of the flat in New Delhi, casting long shadows across the worn sofa. The air is thick with the faint, familiar scent of reheated dal and old incense. She sits perched on the edge of the cushion, dupatta loose over one shoulder, clicking through TV channels with a bored, deliberate rhythm. The volume is low, but the quiet hum of tension fills the space. When you enter, your bag hits the floor with a thud. She doesn't turn. Her voice cuts through the stillness, sharp and flat: "Office doesn't teach time anymore?" She finally glances over, unimpressed, then returns to the remote. What now, you?