The Feeling which Couldnt Explain #2
He let out a long, heavy sigh, shifting the car into gear. I'll call her tomorrow.
With one last look at her window, he drove away into the dark night.
The Next Morning : ??????
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Morning sunlight slowly filtered through the enormous stained glass windows of the Oberoi Mansion.
The dining room was already filled with the quiet, comforting sounds of breakfast porcelain plates clinking gently, silver cutlery brushing against dishes.
Janvi stood beside the grand wooden dining table, personally overseeing everything.
She carefully placed freshly baked pastries, warm scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit onto the plates.
Riddhita was already seated at the table, casually swinging one leg beneath her chair .
Every now and then, she took a distracted bite of her toast without looking away from the screen.
Then...
Footsteps echoed from the grand spiral staircase.
Aarav finally appeared.
His usually perfectly styled dark hair was slightly disheveled. Faint shadows rested beneath his eyes, revealing just how little sleep he had managed to get.
Riddhita immediately looked up.
The moment she saw her brother's exhausted appearance, a mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Ohhh... look who finally decided to grace us with his presence." she teased, resting her chin on her palm.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."Aarav pulled out a chair and sat down heavily, giving her a dry, exhausted look.
"Good morning to you too, mini..monster," he replied, his voice rough with fatigue.
Riddhita's grin widened.
"So..." she began dramatically, leaning across the table.
"How was your ultra special date last night? Did the great Aarav Oberoi finally get swept off his feet?" She asked Aarav.
Aarav's hand stopped halfway to the glass of juice.
Slowly, he lifted his head.His dark eyes settled on his sister.
"Riddhu.. "His warning tone was enough to make most people back down.
Unfortunately, Riddhita wasn't for most people.
She giggled.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"Can't a loving sister ask her dear brother about his love life? I'm just showing genuine family concern." She said.
"Eat your breakfast and mind your own business," Aarav muttered.
He picked up his fork and began eating.
But Riddhita wasn't ready to surrender.
"You're completely avoiding the question!Come on, give me some details. Did you take her to some fancy restaurant? Did she look pretty? Did you..." she protested.
Aarav slowly placed his fork down.
Clink.He looked directly at her.
"Didn't you have a major examination coming up?" Aarav said.
Riddhita froze.
"How's your revision going?"Aarav continued calmly.
Her victorious expression disappeared instantly.
"Oh..Right. Revision. Exams. Studying."She suddenly became extremely interested in her scrambled eggs.
Janvi, who had been silently watching the exchange, couldn't help but shake her head with an amused smile.
"Riddhita, stop bothering your brother first thing in the morning."she said gently as she placed a steaming cup of tea beside Aarav.
"Let the poor boy breathe." She finished.
"Fine. Fine. I won't say anything."Riddhita sighed dramatically.
She picked up her spoon and muttered under her breath,
"Everyone in this house is so serious."
"Much better. Silence suits you."Aarav took a sip of his tea.
Riddhita glared at him.
For the next few minutes, the dining room became quiet again.
Aarav continued eating, but his mind wasn't anywhere near the breakfast table.
His thoughts kept returning to the previous night.
Aditi's sudden change in mood.
The terror that had appeared in her eyes without warning.
The way she had desperately wanted to leave the restaurant.
And most of all...
The silence during the drive home.
Aarav's brows slowly furrowed.
What happened while she was in the washroom?
She had been perfectly fine before that.
Laughing and Teasing him.
Something had happened.Something serious.
But what?
He had replayed those few minutes in his head countless times, yet the missing pieces refused to connect.
"Aarav?"Janvi's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.
He blinked and looked up.
Janvi was standing beside him, studying his face with a mother's concerned eyes.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Mom."Aarav straightened slightly.
"You've barely eaten, and you've been sitting here looking miles away. Did something happen?"Janvi wasn't convinced.
For a moment, Aarav said nothing.
Then he forced a faint smile.
"Nothing serious. I'm just tired. Work has been hectic lately." He said.
Janvi studied him for another moment.But she didn't press him.
Instead, she gently squeezed his shoulder.
"If you're tired, don't push yourself today. Work will always be there, Aarav. Your health won't." She said.
"I know, Mom.I won't."He gave her a small nod.
A moment later, Aarav pushed his chair back.
"I'm actually not going to the office today."
"You're staying home?"Janvi's eyebrows rose.
She smiled faintly.
"Yes. I need some rest. I'll stay in my room for a while."Aarav rubbed his aching temples.
Riddhita glanced up from her phone.
This time, her expression held genuine concern.
"Rest properly.And don't work from your room." Janvi instructed.
"Okay, Mom."Aarav gave her a tired smile.
He turned and walked toward the staircase.
Neither Janvi nor Riddhita saw the troubled expression that crossed his face once his back was turned.
A heavy feeling settled inside his chest.
Something was wrong. But I didn't know what it is ..
Aarav's Room : ??????
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A Few Hours Later....
A movie played on the enormous television mounted against the wall.
Bright colors flickered across the room.
Action scenes came and went.
But Aarav barely noticed any of them.
He sat motionless on the leather sofa, staring at the screen without actually watching it.
His thoughts were somewhere else.
Aditi's frightened expression kept appearing in his mind.
But strangely, another face kept appearing alongside it.
Soft brown eyes. A quiet smile.A shy laugh. A gentle voice calling his name.
Meera.
Aarav frowned.
Why was he thinking about her now?
Eventually, the movie ended.
The screen faded into rolling credits.
Aarav released a long breath and reached for his phone from the glass coffee table.
"Is there someone!!!"His deep voice echoed through the room.
A few moments later, the Rani appeared at the doorway.
"Yes, Young Master?"
"Bring me a strong, hot coffee.No sugar."He paused.
"Of course, sir."Rani nodded.
"Wait."She turned to leave.
Rani stopped.
Aarav stared at the blank television screen for a moment.Then, almost casually, he said,
"Don't make it yourself. Ask Meera to bring it."
"Sir..."Rani hesitated.
"What?"Aarav's brows immediately drew together.
"Meera... isn't here, sir."Rani nervously said .
"She isn't here?"Aarav's expression changed instantly.
"No, sir." She said.
"What do you mean?"He sat upright.
"She isn't in the mansion today."Rani swallowed.
"Then where is she?"Aarav stared at her.
"She went to her village, sir."Rani answered carefully.
"When did she leave?" He asked her .
"Yesterday afternoon." She answered.
"Why?"Aarav's jaw tightened.
Rani lowered her eyes.
"She received an urgent call. Her grandmother became seriously ill, sir. Meera took leave and went home to help take her to the hospital near their village." She answered.
Silence.
Aarav didn't respond.
Yesterday.She had left yesterday.
And she hadn't told him.
Not once.
"Should I prepare the coffee myself, sir?"Rani watched him nervously.
"Yes."Aarav's gaze remained fixed on the dark television screen.
"Just bring it.And close the door."His voice was short.
"Yes, Young Master."Rani quickly bowed and left.
The heavy wooden door closed behind her.
Silence returned.
Aarav remained seated on the sofa.
His hands slowly tightened into fists.
His mind was already overwhelmed by the events of the previous night.
Now something else had been added to the storm.
She left without telling me?A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"She didn't even bother mentioning it..."He shook his head.
Why was he so angry?Meera was a maid in his house.
She had a family.A personal life.
She didn't owe him an explanation every time she left the mansion.
He knew that.He understood that.
And yet...
It still hurts.
More than it should have.
His mind suddenly returned to their last private conversation.
Meera standing before him.Her eyes deliberately avoiding his.Her voice quiet but firm.
"It's better if we keep our boundaries clear, Aarav Sir. You have your life... and I have mine."
Aarav closed his eyes.
The memory stung.
She was doing exactly what she had said.
Keeping her distance.Building boundaries.Creating a life where he had no place.
A strange mixture of irritation and emptiness settled inside his chest.
He leaned his head against the back of the sofa and stared silently at the ceiling.
"Is this what you wanted, Meera?To completely erase me?"His voice was barely above a whisper.
He didn't understand why the thought hurt so much. He had his girlfriend but still.. didn't know why!!
Did he really love Aditi?
No .no ...he can't think that..they are in relationship now . Both are happy..he shouldn't think this.
Aditi's mysterious tears had troubled him.
But Meera's silence...Her absence...
Her decision to leave without telling him...
That somehow hurt in a completely different way. A way Aarav wasn't ready to understand.
The Feeling He Couldn't Explain
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