08-11-2024, 03:35 AM
Morning at Home
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of the elegant Pune home, casting a golden hue across the spacious living room. The home was pristine and beautiful.
Riya sat at the dining table, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup. At 18, she was the picture of innocence and youthful beauty—fair-skinned, with long black hair that fell in waves down her back and large, expressive eyes that sparkled with the curiosity of a girl on the cusp of womanhood. Riya was dressed in a simple yet elegant yellow salwar kameez and had an aura of quiet grace. Her mind wandered back to her studies, but a faint tension pulled at her as she waited for her father to arrive.
Her mother, Anjali, moved around the kitchen, her bangles clinking softly as she arranged the breakfast. Anjali was a homemaker who had devoted herself entirely to her family. Her beauty had not faded with time; her elegance grew each year. Anjali wore a light blue sari tied neatly at the waist, revealing her slender figure.
As Anjali placed the last dish on the table, she turned to her daughter, offering a gentle smile. “Riya, beta, did you sleep well? You’ve been studying so hard lately,” she asked softly, her voice filled with motherly concern.
Riya nodded, offering a faint smile in return. “Yes, Maa, I slept well. Just a bit tired from all the exams coming up.”
Anjali gave her a knowing look, brushing a stray lock of hair from Riya’s face. “You’ll do fine, don’t worry. Just focus on your studies. Everything else can wait.”
Before Riya could respond, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. Her father, Arvind, entered the room with the authority. He was a tall man, well-built, with sharp features and an expression that rarely softened. His presence commanded respect, and in his crisp, well-tailored suit, he looked like the successful businessman he was.
He approached the table with a purposeful stride, his eyes briefly scanning the breakfast spread before settling on Riya. “Good morning,” he said in a deep, measured tone as he took his seat at the head of the table. His greeting was brief, almost perfunctory, as he focused on his daughter. “Riya, how are you preparing for the exams?”
Riya straightened up slightly, her fingers tightening around the edge of her cup. She always felt nervous around her father, who had high expectations for her future. “They’re going well, Papa. I’ve been studying hard,” she replied, her voice soft but steady.
Mr. Arvind nodded, his gaze lingering on her momentarily longer as if assessing her answer. “Good. You must focus on your studies. There’s no room for distraction now. You know how important these exams are for your future.”
“Yes, Papa,” Riya said quickly, lowering her eyes out of respect. She had always followed the rules to keep herself out of trouble.
Sensing the subtle tension between father and daughter, Anjali spoke up gently. “Would you like some more tea, dear?” she asked her husband, pouring him a cup before he could respond.
Mr. Arvind accepted the tea with a brief nod, but his mind remained focused on his daughter. “Riya, you’ve been doing well, but you must remember—your education will set the foundation for your future. Stay away from unnecessary distractions, especially now.”
Riya nodded again. “I understand, Papa,” she replied quietly, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in her chest.
As they continued with breakfast, Mr. Arvind spoke again, his tone softer but authoritative. “Riya, remember what I’ve always said—your education will be your strength. Do you understand?”
Riya nodded, though she felt a slight tremor inside her. She understood her father’s expectations, but the burden of living up to them weighed heavily on her shoulders. “Yes, Papa,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Anjali placed a gentle hand on Riya’s, offering silent comfort. “She’s been doing very well,” she said to her husband, her tone calm but firm. “Let her breathe a little.”
Mr. Arvind looked at Anjali briefly, his stern expression softening slightly. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Yes, you’re right,” he conceded, glancing at Riya again. “I know you’re working hard, beta. Just keep at it.”
Riya offered a small smile, feeling a bit of the pressure ease. “Thank you, Papa,” she said quietly, grateful for her mother’s subtle intervention.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, with Anjali discussing the day’s plans and Mr. Arvind occasionally commenting on work. Riya remained quiet for the most part, relieved that the focus had moved away from her for now.
As breakfast ended, Mr. Arvind stood up, preparing to leave for work. “Anjali, I’ll be late tonight. We have a meeting at the office,” he said.
“Of course,” Anjali replied, giving him a nod.
He left the room. Anjali turned to her daughter, her expression soft and concerned. “Don’t worry too much, beta. You’re doing fine,” she said gently, brushing Riya’s hair.
Riya looked at her mother, her heart heavy with unspoken words. “I know, Maa. It’s just… sometimes it feels like too much.”
Anjali nodded, her gaze filled with understanding. “I know. But you’re stronger than you think.”
Riya felt a tiny flicker of hope with her mother’s comforting words. The pressure was always there, but so was her mother’s quiet support.
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of the elegant Pune home, casting a golden hue across the spacious living room. The home was pristine and beautiful.
Riya sat at the dining table, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup. At 18, she was the picture of innocence and youthful beauty—fair-skinned, with long black hair that fell in waves down her back and large, expressive eyes that sparkled with the curiosity of a girl on the cusp of womanhood. Riya was dressed in a simple yet elegant yellow salwar kameez and had an aura of quiet grace. Her mind wandered back to her studies, but a faint tension pulled at her as she waited for her father to arrive.
Her mother, Anjali, moved around the kitchen, her bangles clinking softly as she arranged the breakfast. Anjali was a homemaker who had devoted herself entirely to her family. Her beauty had not faded with time; her elegance grew each year. Anjali wore a light blue sari tied neatly at the waist, revealing her slender figure.
As Anjali placed the last dish on the table, she turned to her daughter, offering a gentle smile. “Riya, beta, did you sleep well? You’ve been studying so hard lately,” she asked softly, her voice filled with motherly concern.
Riya nodded, offering a faint smile in return. “Yes, Maa, I slept well. Just a bit tired from all the exams coming up.”
Anjali gave her a knowing look, brushing a stray lock of hair from Riya’s face. “You’ll do fine, don’t worry. Just focus on your studies. Everything else can wait.”
Before Riya could respond, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. Her father, Arvind, entered the room with the authority. He was a tall man, well-built, with sharp features and an expression that rarely softened. His presence commanded respect, and in his crisp, well-tailored suit, he looked like the successful businessman he was.
He approached the table with a purposeful stride, his eyes briefly scanning the breakfast spread before settling on Riya. “Good morning,” he said in a deep, measured tone as he took his seat at the head of the table. His greeting was brief, almost perfunctory, as he focused on his daughter. “Riya, how are you preparing for the exams?”
Riya straightened up slightly, her fingers tightening around the edge of her cup. She always felt nervous around her father, who had high expectations for her future. “They’re going well, Papa. I’ve been studying hard,” she replied, her voice soft but steady.
Mr. Arvind nodded, his gaze lingering on her momentarily longer as if assessing her answer. “Good. You must focus on your studies. There’s no room for distraction now. You know how important these exams are for your future.”
“Yes, Papa,” Riya said quickly, lowering her eyes out of respect. She had always followed the rules to keep herself out of trouble.
Sensing the subtle tension between father and daughter, Anjali spoke up gently. “Would you like some more tea, dear?” she asked her husband, pouring him a cup before he could respond.
Mr. Arvind accepted the tea with a brief nod, but his mind remained focused on his daughter. “Riya, you’ve been doing well, but you must remember—your education will set the foundation for your future. Stay away from unnecessary distractions, especially now.”
Riya nodded again. “I understand, Papa,” she replied quietly, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in her chest.
As they continued with breakfast, Mr. Arvind spoke again, his tone softer but authoritative. “Riya, remember what I’ve always said—your education will be your strength. Do you understand?”
Riya nodded, though she felt a slight tremor inside her. She understood her father’s expectations, but the burden of living up to them weighed heavily on her shoulders. “Yes, Papa,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Anjali placed a gentle hand on Riya’s, offering silent comfort. “She’s been doing very well,” she said to her husband, her tone calm but firm. “Let her breathe a little.”
Mr. Arvind looked at Anjali briefly, his stern expression softening slightly. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Yes, you’re right,” he conceded, glancing at Riya again. “I know you’re working hard, beta. Just keep at it.”
Riya offered a small smile, feeling a bit of the pressure ease. “Thank you, Papa,” she said quietly, grateful for her mother’s subtle intervention.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, with Anjali discussing the day’s plans and Mr. Arvind occasionally commenting on work. Riya remained quiet for the most part, relieved that the focus had moved away from her for now.
As breakfast ended, Mr. Arvind stood up, preparing to leave for work. “Anjali, I’ll be late tonight. We have a meeting at the office,” he said.
“Of course,” Anjali replied, giving him a nod.
He left the room. Anjali turned to her daughter, her expression soft and concerned. “Don’t worry too much, beta. You’re doing fine,” she said gently, brushing Riya’s hair.
Riya looked at her mother, her heart heavy with unspoken words. “I know, Maa. It’s just… sometimes it feels like too much.”
Anjali nodded, her gaze filled with understanding. “I know. But you’re stronger than you think.”
Riya felt a tiny flicker of hope with her mother’s comforting words. The pressure was always there, but so was her mother’s quiet support.
Deepak Kapoor
Author on amazon
My work: Innocent Beauty Series
Author on amazon
My work: Innocent Beauty Series
- An Innocent Beauty
- An Innocent Beauty Continues Part 2
- An Innocent Beauty Complicated
- Bound by Honor: A Love Beyond Limits