Chapter 17 — A Letter From Arnav

After dinner, Ritika went to her room with the shagun Arnav had brought for her.

Rishi followed her happily, carrying the package Arnav had given him.

Ritika placed the beautifully wrapped gifts on the bed and slowly began opening them.

The first thing she noticed was a beautiful cream-coloured saree.

She gently touched the fabric.

It was soft and elegant, with delicate detailing along the border.

A smile appeared on her face.

Ritika: It's beautiful.

She then opened the other packages.

There was a red saree, followed by a green one and then a beautiful purple saree.

Beside them were matching bangles and a delicate pair of payal.

Ritika looked at everything quietly.

Ritika: He chose all these himself...

She gently ran her fingers over the sarees again.

She noticed a folded piece of paper tucked among the gifts.

Curiously, she picked it up and opened it.

It was a handwritten letter.

Ritika began reading.

"Ritika,

I don't know your favourite colour, so I just picked a few. Cream is the colour I liked the most, so I chose that one first. I also picked red, green and purple. Whichever you like, wear it.

The bangles and payal are also for you.

I hope you like them.

Yours,
Arnav."

Ritika read the letter twice.

A soft smile appeared on her face.

She looked at the cream saree again and gently touched the fabric.

Ritika: You don't even know my favourite colour...

She smiled to herself.

Ritika: Yet you tried.

Suddenly, Rishi's excited voice interrupted her thoughts.

Rishi: Mumma! Look!

Ritika turned around.

Rishi was holding up the traditional outfit Arnav had bought for him.

Rishi: Baba brought me a dress!

Ritika's expression immediately softened.

Ritika: It's beautiful, Rishi.

Rishi smiled proudly.

Rishi: Baba chose it for me.

Ritika nodded.

Ritika: Yes, he did.

Rishi hugged the outfit happily.

Ritika looked at her sarees once again—the cream, red, green and purple.

She had expected Arnav to be formal and distant.

She hadn't expected him to think about something as small as choosing her saree.

Her fingers gently touched the letter again.

For the first time, Ritika felt a small warmth in her heart.

Perhaps Arnav was not someone who expressed himself through words.

Perhaps he expressed himself through little things instead.