chapter 11-13
Chapter 11 — A Habit He Didn’t Notice
It was late when Aarav returned.
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The house was quiet.
Expected.
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But something felt… off.
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He stepped inside, loosening his cufflinks, his gaze moving automatically toward the dining table.
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Empty.
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No covered plates.
No faint warmth of food left waiting.
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Nothing.
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A small thing.
Insignificant.
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So why did he stop?
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Aarav frowned slightly, walking into the kitchen.
Clean.
Everything already put away.
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“She ate.”
The thought came easily.
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And yet—
something about it didn’t sit right.
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He pulled out a glass of water instead.
Drank it in silence.
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For the first time—
he realized he didn’t know when she had eaten.
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Or if she had waited.
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And that…
shouldn’t have mattered.
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But it did.
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Chapter 12 — The Name That Stayed
“Rhea is back for good this time.”
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The words came casually.
Over a business lunch.
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Aarav didn’t react immediately.
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“Is that so?”
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His colleague smiled.
“You haven’t met her yet?”
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A pause.
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“I have.”
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Not recently.
But enough.
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“She’s been asking about you.”
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Aarav’s expression didn’t change.
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“Has she?”
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But later that evening—
he still found himself thinking about it.
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Not about Rhea.
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But about something else.
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When he got home—
Kavya wasn’t in the living room.
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Or the balcony.
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Or anywhere he usually found her.
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For a brief second—
something in him tightened.
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Then—
he heard laughter.
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From the study.
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He moved toward it without thinking.
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The door was slightly open.
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Kavya sat inside, leaning back in the chair.
Phone pressed to her ear.
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“…you always say that,” she was saying softly.
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There was a smile in her voice.
Light. Easy.
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Aarav stilled.
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That… wasn’t a tone he had ever heard directed at him.
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He stepped away before she noticed.
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But the sound followed him.
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Long after it should have faded.
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Chapter 13 — Unnecessary Questions
The next morning—
Aarav didn’t leave immediately.
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He stood near the table longer than usual.
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Kavya noticed.
Of course she did.
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But she didn’t ask.
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Didn’t look up.
Didn’t react.
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“Who were you talking to last night?”
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The question came suddenly.
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Kavya paused mid-sip.
Then slowly looked at him.
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“A friend.”
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The same answer.
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Aarav’s jaw tightened slightly.
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“What friend?”
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A beat.
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That question—
was unnecessary.
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They both knew it.
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Kavya tilted her head just slightly.
Not defensive.
Not offended.
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Just… distant.
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“Does it matter?”
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Silence.
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Aarav looked at her.
Longer this time.
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No.
It shouldn’t have.
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So why did it feel like it did?
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“…No.”
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He picked up his keys.
Left.
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But the question stayed with him.
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Far longer than it should have.
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