Laxmi was busy drawing rangoli in front of the house that morning.

She carefully filled each little pattern with rice flour, completely absorbed in making the design neat and beautiful.

Inside the kitchen, milk was heating on the stove.

She had meant to check it.

But one moment of distraction was enough.

The milk boiled over the vessel and spilled across the stove.

By the time Laxmi noticed the smell, part of it had already burned.

She hurried inside.

"Oh no..."

She immediately turned off the stove and began cleaning the mess.

Before she could finish, her mother-in-law entered the kitchen.

She looked at the burnt milk and then at Laxmi.

"Laxmi!"

Laxmi turned around.

"Yes, Aunty?"

"What are you good for? You are completely useless.worthless. I cannot trust you with even one simple thing."

Laxmi lowered her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Aunty. I forgot to check the milk. I was busy making the rangoli."

"Don't give me excuses."

Her mother-in-law pointed toward the stove.

"Look at this mess. Go and clean the kitchen properly."

"Yes, Aunty."

Laxmi immediately began cleaning.

A few minutes later, Raghunath entered the kitchen.

"What happened here, Amma?"

His mother turned toward him.

"Ask your wife. I asked her to make tea, and she deliberately spoiled the milk."

Laxmi looked up in shock.

"No, Raghunath. I didn't do it deliberately. I was making the rangoli and completely forgot about it."

Raghunath looked at the burnt milk.

Then he looked at his mother.

"What did you say?"

His voice had changed.

"You called her worthless?"

His mother frowned.

"She cannot even do a simple task properly, Raghu."

"She's your daughter-in-law, Amma, but she's also a mother. She works from morning until night."

His mother looked offended.

"Then what about me? Am I supposed to tolerate everything?"

Raghunath sighed.

"I'm not saying that. But she made a mistake. That doesn't make her worthless."

His mother turned away angrily.

"You've become blind to everything she does."

Raghunath glanced at Laxmi.

She was standing quietly near the stove.

He could see the hurt on her face.

"Laxmi," he said.

She looked at him.

"Make tea for Amma."

Her eyes fell.

"And apologize to her."

She swallowed.

"Sorry, Aunty."

Her mother-in-law said nothing.

Laxmi turned toward the stove and began preparing the tea.

Raghunath watched her for a moment before leaving.

Later, when the house had become quiet, Laxmi heard him call her from the library.

She hesitated before entering.

Raghunath closed the book he had been reading.

"Come here."

She remained near the door.

"What?"

He looked at her.

"I'm sorry."

She stared at him.

"For what?"

"For what happened this morning."

He stood and walked toward her.

"I cannot make Amma upset, darling. You know how she is."

Laxmi's expression remained hurt.

"You always say that."

He gently reached for her hand.

She didn't pull away, but she didn't hold his hand either.

After a moment, she looked at him.

"Why are you acting differently these days, Raghunath?"

He frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"You act like you care about me."

He remained silent.

Laxmi's eyes filled with tears.

"If this is only an act, don't do it."

Her voice trembled.

"Because if you're pretending just to break me again, you don't have to."

She wiped her cheek.

"You already broke me beyond repair."

Raghunath's expression hardened.

"Laxmi..."

"I'm only living for the children now."

The words came out through her tears.

For several seconds, there was silence.

Then Raghunath's mouth curved into a faint, bitter smile.

"So my being nice to you has become a punishment now?"

Laxmi looked at him through her tears.

"You don't understand."

"No," he replied quietly. "Maybe I don't."

He looked away.

Laxmi turned toward the door.

Behind her, Raghunath remained standing in the library, staring

at the floor.

Her words had hurt him.

But somewhere inside, he knew she hadn't said them without a reason.