28 | fourteen days trip
"Two weeks apart. Four stubborn people. Countless calls, random snaps, and a whole lot of missing each other." ?
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By the time they left the amusement park, everyone was tired. Avyukt tossed the car keys toward krish.
"You drive."
"Fine," krish said dramatically and got into the driver's seat.
Ruhi immediately claimed the front seat before anyone else could. "Best seat secured."
Meanwhile, the back seat was occupied by Avyukt, Avantika, and Siya.
Or more accurately...
Avyukt and Avantika were sitting together while Siya was unfortunately stuck beside them.
The moment the car started moving, Krish looked back from the front seat.
Then at Siya.
Then at Avyukt.
Then at Siya again.
His expression screamed "a terrible injustice has happened today."
Siya deliberately looked out of the window.
Ignoring him.
Krish made an even sadder face.
No reaction.
He held a hand over his heart dramatically.
Still no reaction.
Ruhi noticed through the mirror and immediately started laughing. "Why do you look like someone stole your property?"
"Because someone did."
"Who?"
Krish pointed toward the back seat.
"My seat."
Siya rolled her eyes. "It was never your seat."
"It was in my dreams."
"Keep it there."
The entire car burst out laughing.
Meanwhile, Avyukt couldn't care less about Krish's suffering. Avantika was half asleep after the rides, and he had quietly pulled her closer so her head rested comfortably against his shoulder.
Every few minutes, he'd look down to check if she was comfortable.
Krish watched this.
Then looked at Siya.
Then looked at Avyukt again.
"Bhaiya gets love. I get trauma."
This time even Siya couldn't stop herself from laughing.
And that evening, Krish felt that maybe the amusement park wasn't a complete loss after all.
Avantika had barely taken two bites before deciding she was full.
"I'm done."
Avyukt didn't even look up from his plate. "No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"One more bite."
"No."
"Open your mouth."
"Avyukt-"
"Avantika."
It wasn't even a warning.
Just her name. Yet somehow she knew resistance was useless.
With an annoyed expression, she opened her mouth. Avyukt immediately fed her another bite.
Ruhi watched the entire thing.
"Bhabhi, are you his wife or his adopted child?"
"I'm asking myself the same question," Avantika muttered.
Meanwhile... On the other side of the table. Siya quietly reached for the water jug. Before she could grab it, Krish had already poured water into her glass.
A few minutes later she looked toward the salad. The bowl was suddenly in front of her.
Then she searched for the napkins. Krish silently handed one over.
Siya paused. "I didn't even ask."
Krish shrugged. "You looked like you needed it."
"Mind reader?" Ruhi teased.
"Future planning."
Siya immediately looked away to hide her smile.
Across the table, Avyukt noticed everything.
He glanced at Krish.
Then at Siya.
Then at Krish again.
"You're not subtle."
Krish proudly smiled. "I learned from the best."
After long time that evening, Avyukt had no comeback. And everyone at the table started laughing.
---------
The next morning, the atmosphere inside the Vardhan villa was unusually gloomy.
Not because of any problem. But because Avyukt had a two-week business trip.
A whole two week. And Avyukt was already regretting every life decision that had led him to this moment.
The previous night, he had personally called Avantika's father.
"Uncle, her exams are going on anyway. Let her stay there for a two week. Her mood will improve, and Raghav can make sure she reaches her exams on time."
At least that was the excuse he gave. The truth? He knew he wouldn't be home anyway. And he didn't want Avantika sitting alone in the villa.
Unfortunately, knowing it was the right decision didn't mean he liked it.
Not even a little.
---
Meanwhile, As Siya heard Avantika was going home for a two week, she immediately packed her bags too.
"I need to go anyway. There are some school formalities left."
Everyone agreed.
Except one person.
Krish.
Who was pretending to agree. Very badly. "Great idea."
He looked absolutely miserable while saying it.
Ruhi narrowed her eyes. "You don't look happy."
"I am happy."
"You look like someone canceled your birthday."
"Coincidence."
Across the room, siya was trying not to smile. Because unlike krish, he knew exactly why.
Every few minutes krish's eyes automatically moved toward Siya. Then he would remember she was leaving.
And his expression would get worse.
---
Meanwhile... Avyukt was standing near the luggage. Watching Avantika pack.
"Two week."
"Hmm."
"Fourteen days."
"I can count."
"Just checking."
Avantika tried not to smile.
He had been repeating the same thing since morning.
"You'll be busy anyway."
"That's not the point."
"Then what's the point?"
Avyukt looked at her for a moment.
"The point is that my wife is leaving."
And time, Avantika didn't have a comeback.
A small smile appeared on her face.
And unfortunately for him... That smile only made Avyukt want to cancel the trip even more.
Across the room, krish was suffering for exactly the same reason.
The Vardhan men were having a very difficult morning.
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*********
It had barely been thirty minutes since they had left. Avyukt was on his way to the airport.
Avantika and Siya were halfway to their parents' house. The journey was peaceful until Avantika's phone started ringing.
Avyukt Calling...
At the exact same moment, another call appeared.
Krish Calling...
Avantika blinked. "What are the chances?"
Without thinking much, she accepted both calls and merged them into a conference call.
Then put it on speaker.
---
"Bachha, did you eat anything?" Avyukt asked immediately.
Before Avantika could answer-
"Bhabhi!" Krish's voice appeared.
A dangerous silence followed.
"Why are you calling my wife?" Avyukt asked flatly.
Krish completely ignored him. "Bhabhi, make sure Siya comes back after two weeks, okay?"
"Krish..." Avantika laughed.
"I'm serious."
"I'm right here," Avyukt reminded him.
"And I'm ignoring you."
Avantika burst out laughing. Even Siya looked amused.
Then Krish continued. "Also, Siya can have a phone now, right? She's already an adult."
Siya immediately looked up.
Avantika tried not to smile. "That depends on her parents."
"If nobody buys her one, I'll buy it."
The car suddenly became very quiet.
Because unlike Krish... Siya could hear every single word. And Krish had absolutely no idea.
---
A few seconds later, Avyukt spoke. Very calmly. Which was somehow more dangerous.
"Fine."
Krish smiled. "See? Bhaiya agrees with me."
"Not really."
"Then?"
"Buy her a phone."
"I will."
"Without using your parents' money."
Krish's smile slowly disappeared. "Okay..."
"And buy one whose price matches exactly how important Siya is to you."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Avantika immediately covered her mouth. Trying not to laugh. Siya looked down at her lap.
Her ears had turned slightly pink.
And Krish... Krish finally realized something.
"Wait..."
"What?" Avantika asked innocently.
"Is Siya listening?"
No answer. Just Siya trying very hard not to smile.
Krish closed his eyes.
"Bhabhi."
"Yes?"
"Please disconnect the call."
Avantika laughed. "Too late."
And from the airport lounge, even Avyukt was smiling.
Because for once... Someone else was suffering more than him.
Miles apart, yet somehow all four of them were thinking about each other.
---
( everyone suffering?? )
?AVYUKT?
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Sitting in his hotel room after a long meeting, Avyukt unlocked his phone.
His fingers automatically opened Avantika's photo.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at it.
Then sighed. "TWO weeks is too long."
A moment later, he sent her another random snap. This time it was just his coffee.
---
?AVANTIKA?
*************
Back at her parents' house, Avantika was walking toward her room. The soft sound of her payal echoed through the hallway.
Chhan... chhan...
She stopped. For some reason, it reminded her of Avyukt.
The way he always noticed her before seeing her.
The way he could identify her just from the sound of her bangles.
A small smile appeared on her face before she continued walking.
---
☆KRISH☆
*********
Krish was sitting alone in the living room.
Laptop open.
Work untouched.
Every few minutes he looked toward the kitchen.
Then the stairs.
Then the kitchen again.
It felt strangely quiet.
Like any second Siya would appear and ask-
"Krish, tea?"
But nobody came. He sighed dramatically and returned to his laptop.
For exactly thirty seconds.
Then looked toward the kitchen again.
---
☆SIYA☆
********
Meanwhile, Siya was making tea alone.
Everything was perfectly organized.
Which was exactly the problem.
Because last time someone had insisted on helping. And somehow managed to spill milk, sugar, and tea leaves within five minutes.
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it. "How does anyone make that much mess?"
Yet the kitchen felt unusually empty without him.
---
◇RUHI◇
********
And then there was Ruhi.
Lying upside down on her bed. Scrolling through social media.
Bored.
Very bored.
Painfully bored.
"Everybody has someone to miss."
She stared at the ceiling. Then grabbed a pillow. "This house is boring."
To her own surprise, Ruhi missed the chaos.
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