"Tooti hui dil ke saath bhi, vo hamesha muskurati rahi, jaise dard uske liye sirf ek kahani ho."
"Even with a broken heart, she kept smiling, as if the pain was just a story for her."
After one year
Kahani and Dhir celebrated their one-year anniversary with much joy, surrounded by family and friends. The first few months of their marriage had been nothing short of a dream. Kahani enjoyed her role as wife, and she and Dhir shared a comfortable bond filled with love and laughter. However, as time passed, subtle hints began to emerge from Dhir's parents, particularly his mother, regarding starting a family. At first, Kahani took these comments lightly, smiling and brushing them off, but over the months, the remarks became more frequent and pressing.
The pressure mounted quickly. It wasn't just about casual conversations anymore; Dhir's parents began openly asking Kahani about when they could expect grandchildren. Kahani, who wasn't mentally or emotionally ready to become a mother, started feeling suffocated under the weight of their expectations.
Feeling overwhelmed, Kahani turned to Dhir, hoping he would understand her concerns and support her decision to wait. She explained to him that she wasn't prepared for motherhood and that she needed time to adjust to the idea. But to her shock and disappointment, Dhir wasn't as supportive as she had hoped. Instead, he gently yet firmly echoed his family's sentiments, telling Kahani that having a child was simply part of marriage, that couldn't be delayed forever.
Despite her repeated attempts to explain her emotional turmoil, Dhir dismissed her concerns, reassuring her that she would adjust once they had a baby.
As the days passed, Kahani found herself torn between fulfilling the wishes of her in-laws and husband or standing firm on her own needs and desires. She felt trapped in a cycle of guilt, where not only her in-laws but also Dhir began subtly pressuring her, making her feel like she was failing in her duties as a wife.
The emotional burden became heavier when her mother-in-law started involving herself more actively, trying to convince Kahani that motherhood would complete her life and marriage. Every family gathering, every conversation began revolving around the topic of having a child, leaving Kahani with no space to breathe.
Kahani soon realized she was being forced into a corner, and the pressure was beginning to affect her mental health. She started feeling anxious and emotionally drained, knowing that no one in her household understood her reluctance to rush into motherhood. Even Dhir, who she once considered her greatest support, seemed to be slipping away, unable to see her perspective.
■
It's past midnight, Kahani sat on edge of the bed, lost in her thoughts. The glow of the bedside lamp casted a soft light across the room, but its warmth does nothing to ease the chill settling over her heart. Dhir hasn't returned from office yet, and worse, he hasn't answered any of her calls or replied to her messages.
Kahani tried to focus on something else, she picked up a book, scrolled through her phone but nothing distracted her from the growing sense of unease. She felt the weight of their recent conversations, the distance that's slowly been creeping into their marriage. It's not just about the baby anymore. There's something deeper, something she can't quite put into words, but it lingered like a shadow between them.
Her mind raced with questions: Why hasn't he called? Is he avoiding me?
She sent him another message, a simple, "Where are you?" but it, too, went unanswered. The silence on the other end felt heavy than ever before.
