Maithili was unpacking her bags and setting up her almirah. They have to stay in this apartment for 6 months. And she liked her things organised. Complete opposite of how Raghav keeps his place. Messy and unorganised.

She smiled sadly knowing his habit and she used to fuss about his habit of leaving his wet towel anywhere around the room. He would then kiss her face repeatedly until she melted and would then grin at his accomplishment. 

She closed the bag which was now empty and moved to the other one. She unzipped the bag and stopped seeing an album kept at the very top.

She knew that album. It was a compilation of their memories from college till the first year of their marriage. Till everything was good. And then, they started drifting apart.

Maithili sat cross legged on the floor and opened the album. The first photo was from their fresher party.

She kept turning the pages and tears pooled in her eyes seeing their happy memories. Her brain flooded with all the moments they were together. Where did they go so wrong? How did they drift apart so much? How could they let something come between them?

She heard the door open and quickly turned her face, wiping her tears.

“We don't have any grocery right now. I was ordering dinner. What will you-Maithili are you okay?”

Raghav asked entering the room and sitting before her. He looked concerned seeing her eyes filled with tears. Their relationship might be on the verge of collapsing but he loved her still.

“I-I'm okay. Something got into my eye. I'm fine. Kuch bhi order krlo. You know what I eat and what I don't.”

She whispered but he still looked at her concerned. His gaze then fell on the album she was trying to hide and his expression turned sad. 

He wanted to say something. Ask her why she was creating distance between them. But words got stuck in his throat and he just nodded and left the room.

Raghav still remembered how their arguments started. 

He was too busy with his work due to a project he was working hard for. He was adamant to get the project under his name that he started neglecting her and his health too.

When he started coming home late and skipping meals, Maithili got concerned and asked him one night.

“Raghav…sab thik hai na? You're not paying attention to anything besides your work since the past three months. Na apni health pr dhyan dete ho, na ghar pr aur na mujh pr.”

She complained playfully with a pout trying to make the atmosphere light. But Raghav was too much into his work to notice.

“Can we do this later Maithili? I'm busy right now.”

“No we cannot. Take a break na Raghav. Kitna time ho gaya hum koi holiday toh kya kuch ghanto ke liye kahi nhi gye. Let's go out somewhere. Just two hours. Dinner krke wapas aa jaayenge and you can work all you want then. I feel like it's been ages since we last talked properly.”

She said with a smile at the prospect of having dinner with him after such a long time.

"I have to finish this presentation, Maithili. Not everyone has the luxury to take a break whenever they want."

Maithili’s smile fell upon hearing his words. The jibe in his tone was clear. Was he trying to say that her job was too easy and he was the one who did all the hard work when it came to his job?

His words and behaviour angered her and she got up with a stern look.

"You think my job is easy? Sirf tum hi saara kaam nhi krte Raghav. Baaki logo ki bhi jobs hai aur utni hi exhausting hai. Lekin phir bhi sab apna work-life balance maintain kr rhe hai. I think you should learn that too.”

He was so ignorant at that time that he felt his ego bruise when she said those words and stayed in the living room the whole night. The first night when they slept apart from each other.

And now that he thought about it, he was at fault. He should have apologized but he did not. He still hadn't. Maybe he should start with correcting this mistake if he wanted to save his marriage.

Maithili came out of her room and saw Raghav sitting in the living room wearing a simple tshirt and jeans. She frowned seeing him all dressed up.

“Did you order?”

He looked up at her and smiled softly.

“I didn't. Mai soch raha tha ki order kr hi rhe hai toh isse better kahi chalte hai. Dinner bhi ho jaayega aur ek outing bhi.”

There was a time when she was dying to go out with him even if just for dinner. 

“I think we should just order in. I'm not in a mood to go anywhere.”

She mumbled and started going back to her room but he held her wrist softly and said.

“I'm trying to correct my mistakes Maithili. Please!”

She felt tears pool into her eyes, her throat felt heavy at his pleading tone. She nodded and went to change her clothes. 

And that's how they found themselves sitting in their favorite restaurant, somewhere they hung out even before their marriage.

They ordered their food and Maithili looked around. The place brought a lot of memories. Also the place where he proposed her to be his girlfriend.

It had been so long since they have come here. She couldn't even remember the last time they visited the place.

“This place hasn't changed a bit."

Raghav started and Maithili smiled, still looking around, lost in the memories of the past.

"Yeah, it brings back memories."

She said softly and Raghav felt his smile drop before he turned serious. He held her hand making her look at him.

“I'm sorry about all the times I've neglected you and made fun of your work because I was so busy with mine. You were right. Kaam tumhara bhi aasan nhi tha. You were able to manage it much better than me. I'm sorry Mithu.”

He whispered softly and she looked away while closing her eyes.