Healing The Void (The Roys #2) ✓

Chapter 16 - Between You & Me

3rd October

The weather was gloomy since morning. Both outside and inside the Isha mansion. Today was Maha Navami, the last day of Devi Aradhana (worshipping). So, it was special than all the other days. Although, all days of Durga Puja were equally important, Navami was extra special. Because, after this day, Devi would return to her husband's place, to Kailash and everyone would be waiting for a whole year to meet her again.

After last night's argument, Gyan retired to his room and no one saw him since then, which meant, he didn't even come down to have breakfast or lunch. Although Dona took his food to his room, he didn't let her in and rejected any kind of unsolicited intrusion.

Astonishingly, Ritu successfully avoided paying attention to this whole scenario. When she learned at the breakfast table that Gyan wasn't going to join, she simply let the matter go and concentrated on her food instead.

Shreya was surprised to see how surface-level Roy siblings were. Although, she hadn't yet met Mr. and Mrs. Roy, she had developed a basic impression of their personalities. Probably, they were as rigid as their children. If it was her family, she couldn't even think of going hungry for more than 3-4 hours. They'd just force the food down her throat – by hook or by crook.

More to that, Ritu informed during the breakfast, she and her friends had planned for a whole day pandal-hopping and she would spend the night at one of her friend's place. Her friend was throwing a party for no reason.

When Shreya heard so, she raised her brows slightly taken aback and fed Dev a mouthful of his porridge. She honestly confessed, "I've never heard such thing."

As a response, Ritu laughed it off. "No one can understand Sophie. Myself included. She's just... special." Ritu blushed while talking about her friend, which was again something in the eye. Cause, as far as Shreya had seen and observed Ritu since the first day, she could clearly say, it looked rather animated and against her natural personality.

So, Ritu left after breakfast.

And Abhimanyu. Although he didn't join them in the morning, he did come at the table during lunchtime. So, it was only him, Dev and Shreya herself. Undoubtedly, it was awkward. The silence that came after Dona served him food and left, was deafening. Shreya still didn't know how to behave around him, because she didn't want him to get the wrong impression of her which she was afraid she had already made after what happened last night.

So, she just avoided looking at his way and focused on feeding Dev. Although, the boy was learning very well how to eat, he was still a slow eater. So, Shreya took this opportunity to avoid attracting Abhimanyu's attention. Or was she just over-thinking too much? Because obviously, she did not possess any importance of that sort.

Much to her surprise, it was Abhimanyu himself who broke the silence at one point.

"I hope last night's interaction didn't give you any kind of a wrong idea about my family."

Shreya visibly startled by his sudden choice of words he uttered coming straight to the point. She jumped back and turned towards Abhimanyu slightly and stuttered, "Uh- no. No-no. It's fine. It's alright."

Abhimanyu paused the spoon midway, lifted his eyelashes and looked at her way through his spectacles. Their eyes met for a quick second until she blinked and looked down getting flustered.

Abhimanyu explained nonetheless. "Good. Cause it wasn't a real representation of my family. Truthfully, I'm slightly disappointed that you haven't meet my parents till now. But that's okay. If it doesn't interrupt your work, then you're good."

Uhm! She didn't know how to respond to that. She nodded uncertainly and made several failed attempts to look at him.

Abhimanyu said again, "I've planned a short trip to Kaushani. If possible, I'd like to take Dev with me." He didn't finish and resumed eating.