Chapter 35 — I Am Sorry, Ritu

Arnav finished his cigarette and stood quietly for a moment.

He looked toward Rishi's room.

He knew Ritika would be there.

He walked toward the room and opened the door slowly.

Rishi was sleeping peacefully.

Arnav's eyes moved toward the balcony.

Ritika was sitting there alone, crying silently.

Arnav walked toward her.

She didn't notice him until he came closer.

Without saying anything, Arnav gently lifted her into his arms.

Ritika looked at him in surprise.

Arnav: Don't speak anything.

She remained silent.

Arnav: And if you wake up Rishi, I will not be good, Ritu.

The moment she heard him call her Ritu, she went completely quiet.

He carried her back into their room.

Arnav gently made her sit on the bed.

Arnav: Prepare two cups of coffee.

Ritika looked at him.

Arnav: There is a mini stove and fridge.

Ritika quietly got up.

She went toward the small kitchen area and opened the fridge.

She noticed Maggie and some other food items kept there.

She prepared two cups of coffee.

When she returned, she handed one cup to Arnav.

He took it.

Arnav: Drink one more.

Ritika looked at him but didn't argue.

She drank the coffee.

After finishing it, she stood up and started walking toward Rishi's room.

Arnav: Ritu.

She stopped.

Arnav: Sleep here.

Ritika: No.

Arnav looked at her.

Arnav: Sleep beside your husband.

Ritika: I want to sleep beside Rishi.

Arnav stood up.

He walked toward her, gently pulled her closer and made her sit on his lap.

Ritika became still.

Arnav looked at her.

Arnav: I know I hurt you.

Ritika looked away.

Arnav: I'm sorry for telling you those words, Ritu.

His voice was quieter now.

Arnav: And I'm sorry for what Safeena Khala said to you.

Ritika's eyes filled again.

Arnav: I'm still trying to understand all of this.

He paused.

Arnav: But I know I should not have accused you.

Ritika remained silent.

Arnav: When you said you wanted to stay at the Singh house, I should have understood why.

He looked directly at her.

Arnav: Instead, I assumed things.

His voice became heavy with regret.

Arnav: I thought you wanted to stay away from me. I thought you wanted to separate me from my family.

He shook his head.

Arnav: That was wrong of me.

Ritika finally looked at him.

Arnav: Tomorrow, the three of us are going to the Singh mansion, Ritu.

He gently held her hand.

Arnav: You, me and Rishi.

Ritika's tears rolled down her cheeks.

Ritika: I'm sorry too.

Arnav looked at her.

Ritika: I'm sorry for slapping you.

Her voice broke.

Ritika: But it hurt me very badly when Aunty said those things.

She wiped her tears.

Ritika: And when you accused me...

Her voice became weaker.

Ritika: I thought maybe we made a mistake by marrying each other.

Arnav remained completely silent.

Ritika: Maybe your Khala was right.

She looked down.

Ritika: Maybe you deserve someone without baggage.

Her voice trembled.

Ritika: Someone without a past.

She swallowed hard.

Ritika: Someone whose life is clean and simple.

Ritika: You deserve someone like that, Arnav.

Arnav simply looked at her.

He didn't interrupt.

He didn't tell her she was wrong.

He just watched as she covered her face with both hands and cried.

For the first time, he understood that her pain wasn't only about tonight.

It was the fear that she would never be enough for him.

And Arnav had no words yet.

So he simply remained there, holding her while she cried.