chapter 5
Chapter 5 — A Seat That Was Empty
Another dinner.
Another silence.
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This time—
he was supposed to come.
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He had said it himself.
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“I’ll try.”
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Such a small promise.
Barely even one.
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But Kavya had remembered it anyway.
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The table was set.
Perfectly.
Like always.
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Two plates.
Two glasses.
Two seats.
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Time passed.
Slowly.
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The food cooled.
Quietly.
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Kavya didn’t touch hers.
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She waited.
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Not because she expected him to come.
But because—
he had said he might.
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At 10:17 PM—
her phone rang.
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Aarav.
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Kavya answered immediately.
“Hello.”
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“I won’t make it.”
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No apology.
No explanation.
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Just a statement.
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“I understand.”
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A pause.
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Then the call ended.
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Kavya stared at her phone for a moment.
Then placed it down.
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She picked up her plate.
Walked to the kitchen.
And threw the untouched food away.
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Not angrily.
Not emotionally.
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Just… quietly.
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Like it didn’t matter.
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Because maybe—
it didn’t anymore.
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