Dawn of Spring

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Vivaan slipped into the living room again after his inner monologue, his movements casual. The sight that greeted him felt like a recurring déjà vu: Ahana and Advik, still talking and smiling as if they shared some inside joke only they could understand. The sound of their laughter was light, almost melodic, but to Vivaan, it grated against something raw inside him.

What could possibly be so funny?

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his expression a mask of indifference. If only Gia were awake, she could have rescued him from this absurd charade. At least with her, there were no unspoken dynamics to navigate, no confusing undertones, but Gia was fast asleep, blissfully unaware of his current predicament.

"Figures," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. 

His best friend had conveniently abandoned him, all for a girl - a girl whose company, much to his annoyance, Vivaan had begun to find... tolerable. No, not tolerable. Enjoyable, even. 

That fact alone irked him to no end.

Who was she to crawl into his carefully crafted world of detached indifference and make herself at home?

He straightened up, pushing himself away from the doorframe. They didn't even notice his presence, and honestly, that suited him just fine. Let them have their little moment. He wasn't going to stand there and play the awkward third wheel. No, Vivaan Sahini didn't linger where he wasn't needed.

He spun on his heel and strode away, heading for the one place that always managed to quiet his thoughts: the front porch.

A cool breeze greeted him as he stepped outside, and for the first time that evening, he allowed himself a small, genuine sigh of relief. The garden stretched before him with rows of red roses and white lilies swaying gently in the wind.

It was breathtaking, he supposed. He knew the gardener spent hours tending to it, though the real mastermind was his father. Gardening was his father's passion, a quiet escape from the structured chaos his mother imposed on their household. For all her rigid rules, her insistence on punctuality, discipline, and tireless effort. This garden was a rare indulgence, a soft spot in an otherwise hard exterior.

Vivaan lowered himself onto the porch steps, stretching his legs out in front of him. He wasn't thinking about Ahana or Advik anymore, or so he told himself. His focus was on the flowers.

He let out another sigh, this one softer, and ran a hand through his hair. There, he thought. This was better. Quiet. Peaceful. No confusing laughter, no uninvited feelings clawing their way to the surface.

Ahana stood there watching him curiously.

It was the start of spring. The wind had picked up since the morning, and she could feel its touch against her gentle skin, mussing her tresses into a chaotic mess. She pulled at her shirt to properly tuck it in before going outside. Her heart gave a heavy pull when she saw him standing there.

He looked so lonely.

"Vivaan?"

At the sound of his name, he spun around. His face was a complex mix of pain and discomfort. He managed to school his features into something more neutral, but the melancholy swinging in his eyes remained.

"You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

The answer was final, leaving no room for debate, doubt, or further inquiry.

Ahana bit her lips. She decided to go for something light and easy. "Okaay! Mind if I sit?"

"Yes"

"Pardon me," she stopped in her tracks. Her bended knees halted abruptly at his answer.