The Weight of Expectations

Riya sighed, staring at the pile of dishes in the sink. The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window, mocking her lethargy. She had promised herself she would start the day early, but her limbs felt heavy, and her mind wandered to the novel she had been reading last night.

"Riya!" Vikram's voice thundered from the hallway, causing her to jump. He appeared in the doorway, his jaw tight. "The dishes aren't done. The bed isn't made. And I need my shirt ironed for the meeting."

"I'll do it now," she mumbled, reaching for a sponge.

"Now? It's eight o'clock. You've been awake for two hours. What do you do all day?" His eyes bore into her, sharp and unforgiving.

Riya bit her lip. She wanted to say that she had been tired, that the baby kept her up last night, but Vikram didn't tolerate excuses. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix anything. You need to be responsible. This is your home too." He turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing her failure.

She clenched the sponge, tears pricking her eyes. Why couldn't she just get things done? Why did everything feel so hard?

Later that afternoon, her brother Arjun visited. He found her sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV. "Hey, didi. You look exhausted."

"I'm fine," she said, not meeting his eyes.

Arjun sat beside her, his voice gentle. "Vikram called. He said you've been slacking off. He's worried."

"Worried? He's angry."

"He cares, Riya. But he doesn't know how to show it without being strict. Remember how he took care of you when you were sick last month? He stayed up all night."

Riya nodded slowly. That was true. Vikram's strictness came from a place of concern, but it felt so heavy.

"Maybe you need to talk to him, tell him what you're going through," Arjun suggested.

"He doesn't listen. He just lectures."

"Then let me talk to him. Man to man."

That evening, Vikram returned home, his face still stern. Arjun intercepted him in the study. "Bhai, can we talk?"

Vikram sighed. "About Riya?"

"Yes. She's not lazy, Vikram. She's struggling. The baby, the household, your expectations. She's drowning."

"She needs to push herself. I can't do everything for her."

"But you can support her. Instead of scolding, ask what she needs. Be patient."

Vikram was silent for a long moment. Then he walked into the living room where Riya sat. He knelt in front of her, taking her hands. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be harsh. I just want us to be a team."

Riya's tears spilled over. "I want that too."

"Let's start over. Tomorrow, we'll make a schedule together. And if you need help, just ask."

She nodded, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a glimmer of hope.