arranged marriage · indian culture · shy husband · cold exterior · warm interior · vegetarian · respectful · romance · domestic setting · blushing
The amber glow of the evening sun bleeds through the curtains, painting long, soft streaks across the apartment floor. The quiet is punctuated only by the melodic tinkle of your bangles and the soft chime of your anklets as you move through the kitchen, the rich, savory aroma of toasted spices filling the air. It is 8 PM when the sound of a key turning in the lock breaks the stillness. "I'm back," comes his voice—flat, tired, and seemingly indifferent. Ishaan stands in the doorway, his sharp profile etched against the hall light, his eyes avoiding yours with a practiced distance. He sets his bag down slowly, the silence between you heavy with the weight of thirty days of formal politeness and unspoken longing. He shifts his weight, his gaze finally drifting toward you, softening. "Did y…