CROWNED WITH LOVE : A JOURNEY OF TRADITION AND TEMPTATION

CHAPTER 10 : Shattered

HAPPY READING

Aadhyant was shattered by the news of his father's illness. Exiting his father's chamber, he found solace in the comforting presence of his mother, uncle, and aunt, who stood by to support him. Without uttering a word, he embraced his mother tightly, tears streaming down his face. "We will be okay, Maa," he whispered, planting a kiss on her head before retreating to his room to retrieve the car keys. Determined not to break down in front of others, he silently made his way to the car and started the engine, his emotions swirling within him.

He arrived at the old garden near the city airport, a place reminiscent of cherished memories with his father from his childhood. Watching planes take off and land had always brought him solace. Situated away from the city, the deserted path leading to the garden ensured it remained undisturbed, a sanctuary for Aadhyant. Whenever overwhelmed, he sought refuge here, finding peace in the quietude while gazing at the planes.

Today, however, sadness engulfed him as he headed straight for the weathered bench, unable to contain his tears any longer. Aadhyant wasn't accustomed to sharing his pain with others. He had grown accustomed to bearing his burdens alone, but today's sorrow proved too heavy to bear alone. He reached for his phone, intending to call Vihanna, but hesitated. How could he explain his anguish to her? Frustration mounting, he flung his phone to the ground, inadvertently disconnecting the call before Vihanna could answer.

Vihanna sees Aadhyant's name on the caller ID and picks up the phone, saying "hello... Hello." She notices the call had already disconnected and wonders why he was calling her so late at night. She redials his number, but it's switched off.

After trying multiple times, she decides to call Arjun as she doesn't have anyone else's number. Arjun picks up the call in two rings and worriedly asks, "Vihanna, is everything alright? You're calling so late at night." Vihanna answers him, "Yes, Arjun, I'm completely fine and so sorry to disturb you late at night. Actually, I received Aadhyant's call a few minutes ago, but as I was about to receive it, it got disconnected, and since then, his phone is switched off. Are you with him? Is he alright? Since he called me so late, I was a bit worried." He understands her concern as Aadhyant wasn't the type of person to disturb someone in the middle of the night without a proper reason. He replies, "No, I'm not with him. But I'll make sure he's alright, and I'll inform you as soon as I reach him."

Without further ado, he calls the landline number of Raghuvanshi Mansion. In the living hall, Aadhyant's mother, Gayatri, was sitting on the sofa waiting for her son to return. After hearing the phone ring, she picks up. Arjun asks, "Rani sa, where is Aadhyant? His phone isn't working. Is he not in the palace?" His mother knows her son's secret place, although he always sneaks out without informing her; she always knows exactly where he is. Gayatri tells Arjun everything, from the king's health condition to where to find Aadhyant's best friend.

Without wasting another second, he grabs his keys and leaves with the car to reach him. On reaching the garden, Arjun stands in front of Aadhyant. Aadhyant is shocked to see him there and asks, "What are you doing here? How do you know...?" Arjun doesn't let him finish his sentence and engulfs him in a hug, which Aadhyant really needed.

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