29 | missing each other
"A week apart was enough to make them realize that home was never the villa... it was the people waiting inside it." ?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
The weeks somehow passed.
Slowly. Painfully. And for some people... dramatically.
---
?AVYUKT?
***********
Every morning started with a snap. Every night ended with a video call.
Yet somehow it wasn't enough. He missed hearing Avantika's payal in the villa.
Missed her random arguments.
Missed forcing her to study.
Missed having her beside him.
Even the board members noticed that Mr. Vardhan had started finishing meetings unusually fast.
Because, for once in years, Avyukt genuinely wanted to go home.
---
?AVANTIKA?
*************
At her parents' house, everyone was happy to have her back.
Her mother kept feeding her.
Her father kept asking about exams.
Her brother, Raghav, kept annoying her. And somehow, every little thing reminded her of Avyukt.
Whenever her bangles made noise, she remembered how he could recognize her without even looking. Whenever she studied, she remembered his endless questions.
Even her mother noticed. "You smile at your books more than before."
Avantika immediately denied it.
Which only made her mother smile.
---
☆KRISH☆
**********
According to Krish... He was suffering the most.
Tea tasted different.
The living room felt empty.
The villa felt empty.
Every time someone entered a room, he automatically looked up expecting to see Siya.
Every time it wasn't her.
And every single time he became disappointed.
---
☆SIYA☆
********
Siya wasn't much better.
Every time she made tea, she remembered how Krish had "helped" and almost destroyed the kitchen.
Every time she sat in the living room, she remembered his nonstop talking.
The worst part? Raghav had figured everything out. So every few hours he'd randomly walk past her and say-
"Siya ji..."
She'd immediately turn around. Only to find Raghav laughing.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Raghav!"
"You looked so hopeful."
At one point he spent an entire afternoon calling her "Siya ji" just to irritate her.
By the end of the day she was ready to throw a pillow at him.
---
◇RUHI◇
*******
Ruhi had reached her limit.
The villa was too quiet.
No Krish.
No Siya.
No Avantika.
No Avyukt.
There was nobody to tease.
Nobody to annoy.
Nobody to create drama with.
"This house is boring."
She complained at least ten times every day.
---
? AVANTIKA PARENTS ?
**********************
Avantika's parents were happy to have both daughters home. But they could clearly see the difference.
Whenever Avyukt called, Avantika's father quietly left the room. And her mother suddenly became very interested in whatever work she had elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Siya's mother had already noticed Krish's name appearing in conversations far more often than necessary.
She simply chose not to comment. Yet.
---
Finally... The weeks ended.
And suddenly everyone became energetic again.
---
The moment Avyukt's flight landed, he called. "Bachha, ready?"
"Already packed."
And both were smiling for the same reason.
They were finally going home.
---
A little later, Krish called Avantika.
"Bhabhi, don't forget to bring Siya back."
The moment Siya heard that, she immediately spoke. "I'm not coming."
Krish sat upright. "What?"
"I have classes."
"Okay."
"And exam preparation."
"Okay."
"So I'm staying here."
"Not okay."
Avantika burst out laughing.
"Why?"
"Because I'll take her to classes."
"What?"
"I'll drop her. I'll pick her up. Problem solved."
"I also have to study," Siya argued.
"Then I'll teach you."
Avantika laughed even harder. "Krish, she's a biology student."
Without missing a beat, Krish replied-
"Then I'll teach biology too."
"You don't even know biology."
"Details."
Siya covered her face. Raghav nearly fell off the couch laughing.
What Krish didn't know...Was that Avyukt had already spoken to Siya's mother days ago. Permission had already been granted.
But both Avyukt and Avantika were enjoying this far too much to tell him.
---
Meanwhile... Back at the villa.
Ruhi had been standing near the gate for almost twenty minutes.
Walking left.
Walking right.
Checking the road.
Looking at the time.
Checking the road again.
The security guards were beginning to worry.
Then finally- A familiar car appeared at the end of the driveway.
Ruhi's eyes lit up instantly.
"They're here!"
Inside another car, Avyukt was already smiling because Avantika was finally beside him again. And in a different corner, Krish was counting minutes until Siya arrived.
After an entire week's apart... The villa was finally about to become loud, chaotic, and impossible to manage again.
Exactly the way everyone secretly liked it.
??????????????
The moment the car entered the villa gates, Ruhi practically sprinted outside.
"Finally!"
The car stopped.
The door opened.
And out stepped Avyukt and Avantika.
Ruhi immediately hugged Avantika.
"Bhabhi!"
Avantika laughed and hugged her back.
Avyukt greeted his parents while Avantika took their blessings.
Everyone was smiling.
Everyone except one person.
Krish.
Because his entire attention was still fixed on the car.
Waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
Nothing.
No Siya.
Not even a glimpse.
His smile slowly disappeared.
Avyukt and Avantika walked over to him.
Krish looked behind them hopefully.
"Where is she?"
Avantika bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
Avyukt calmly replied- "She didn't come."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Krish blinked. "What?"
"She had classes." Avantika nodded seriously.
"And exams." Avyukt added.
Krish stared at both of them. His face fell instantly. "Oh."
That was it.
Just... "Oh."
Even Ruhi felt a little bad for him.
A little.
Everyone slowly started walking inside.
Krish remained standing near the gate.
Looking at the now silent car.
His shoulders slightly slumped. His entire week's excitement vanished in less than ten seconds.
Then- "Krish."
He looked up. Avyukt had stopped near the entrance and turned around.
"Yes?"
"Why are you still standing there?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Avyukt nodded thoughtfully. Then pointed toward the car. "Interesting."
"What?"
"Because the person you're waiting for is sleeping in the back seat."
For a second, Krish froze. Then his head snapped toward the car.
"WHAT?"
Ruhi burst out laughing. Avantika finally gave up and laughed too.
And there, curled up against the window in the last row, completely asleep after the long journey...
Was Siya.
Krish looked at Avyukt.
Then at the car.
Then back at Avyukt.
"Bhaiya..."
"Hmm?"
"You're a terrible person."
Avyukt smiled. "I know."
And for the first time that day, Krish looked happy again as he practically ran toward the car.
-----
Krish carefully woke Siya up. "Siya... we're home."
Half asleep, she blinked at him. "Hmm..."
The moment she sat up, Krish started talking.
Fast.
Very fast.
"Also, I've decided. I'll drop you to classes, pick you up, help you study, take you to your exams, remind you about your schedule, and we'll buy your phone soon."
Siya stared at him.
Ruhi stared at him.
Even Avyukt paused.
"You decided all that in ten seconds?" Ruhi asked.
"Actually, all week."
Siya blinked again. "Krish..."
"And don't worry about biology."
"You don't know biology."
"I'll learn biology."
"In one day?"
"How hard can it be?"
Avyukt immediately replied- "Very."
Everyone laughed.
Siya shook her head.
"You don't even know the difference between mitosis and meiosis."
Krish confidently answered-
"One of them is... biology."
Silence.
Then Ruhi nearly fell over laughing.
Even Siya couldn't stop smiling.
And Krish?
Krish still looked proud of his answer while everyone else was trying not to laugh.
His mother shook her head. "Beta, first learn biology yourself before teaching someone else."
His father chuckled. "Forget biology, I'm more impressed that you've already planned her classes, exams, transportation, and phone before she even agreed."
Ruhi immediately added, "At this rate, he'll prepare a five-year plan too."
Even Avyukt's father laughed. "Krish, are you applying for a husband position or a personal assistant position?"
The entire room burst into laughter while Krish looked offended and Siya suddenly found the floor very interesting.