Chapter 5: A Small Gesture

The house was unusually quiet after breakfast.

Most of the family members had gone to work, while the others were busy with household chores. Shreya stood in the kitchen, watching her mother-in-law prepare lunch.

"Amma, please let me help," she said politely.

Her mother-in-law smiled.

"You're a new bride, dear. You should rest."

Shreya shook her head with a smile.

"I've always helped my mother at home. Sitting idle feels strange."

Unable to refuse, her mother-in-law handed her a basket of vegetables.

"Then wash these for me."

ok Amma

Shreya happily got to work.

She hummed softly while washing the vegetables, making the kitchen feel livelier than usual.

Just then, Karthik walked downstairs, carrying a file in his hand.

"I'm leaving for the office," he informed his mother.and glanced at Shreya

"So soon?" she asked.

"I have an important meeting."

His mother nodded before noticing the lunch box on the dining table.

"Karthik, wait! You forgot your lunch."

"I'll eat outside."

"No," she said firmly. "You've skipped homemade food enough. Take it with you."

Before he could respond, she turned to Shreya.

"Dear, can you give this to him?"

Shreya wiped her hands on a towel and picked up the lunch box.

She walked toward the front door where Karthik was putting on his shoes.

"You forgot your lunch."

"I said I'll eat outside."

She held the lunch box out again.

"Amma will be upset."

Karthik looked at the lunch box for a moment before accepting it.

"Thank you."

"It's from Amma," Shreya replied with a gentle smile.

"I know."

For a brief second, their eyes met.

Neither of them spoke.

Finally, Karthik nodded slightly before walking toward his car.

Shreya stood at the doorway until his car disappeared from sight.

His mother noticed everything from inside the house.

A smile spread across her face.

"He's never taken lunch willingly before," she murmured.

Shreya looked confused.

"Really?"

Her mother-in-law laughed.

"Maybe marriage is already changing him."

Shreya smiled politely but didn't say anything.

She knew better than to assume that.

Meanwhile...

Karthik stopped at a traffic signal.

His phone vibrated.

The screen lit up with a familiar name.

Nisha Calling...

He stared at the screen for several seconds.

His thumb hovered over the answer button.

The signal turned green.

Cars behind him began honking.

Taking a deep breath, he answered the call.

"Hello."

"Did you leave for work?" Nisha asked softly.

"Yes."

There was a brief silence.

Then she asked the question he had been expecting.

"How is everything at home?"

Karthik glanced at the lunch box resting on the passenger seat.

For some reason, Shreya's smile flashed across his mind.

"It's... fine."

He didn't realize it.

But for the first time since his marriage, he hadn't thought of his new home as a burden.

He simply called it...

Home.

Nisha said "ok come to office we will talk here "

Karthik replied "Yes i will be there in 10 mins"

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