"आंखों की गहराइयों में छुपी हैं कहानियां,
तुम्हें पाकर लगता है मिल गई सब खुशियां।"
◇
As Avantika sat at the dining table, the aromas of freshly prepared food filled the air, but her mind was elsewhere.
She glanced at the empty seat beside her, the one Avyansh usually occupied.
The rest of the family was already gathered, chatting and laughing, but she felt a little out of place, her introverted nature making her hesitant to join in.
"Bhabhi, why do you look so lost?" Dev teased, noticing her silence. "Waiting for someone?"
Avantika felt her cheeks heat up, but she managed a small smile. "No, I'm just..."
"Just waiting for bhaiyya to come home, right?" Devika interjected with a grin, her playful eyes twinkling as she nudged Avantika lightly.
"Oh, don't worry, Avantika," Pakhi added with a warm smile. "He often comes home late. You should eat; he wouldn't want you to wait for him."
The gentle teasing made Avantika feel both embarrassed and touched. They were trying to make her feel comfortable, but she couldn't shake the feeling of awkwardness that came with the attention.
"You know he always came late" Anjali chimed in, chuckling softly. "Always busy, but you can't go hungry waiting for him."
Avantika nodded, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. She knew they were right, but the thought of eating without him made her feel strange, almost as if she was breaking some unwritten rule.
"Come on, bhabhi," Dev said with a wink.
With a small smile, Avantika reached for her plate, the playful banter helping to ease the tension she felt inside.
Despite the warmth of the family around her, she couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty, wondering if she was doing the right thing, if this new life was something she could truly fit into.
After everyone had finished their meal and retired to their rooms, the house gradually grew quiet.
Avantika had barely eaten, only managing a few bites before losing her appetite.
The warmth of the family's company was comforting, but it couldn't chase away the lingering thoughts that weighed heavily on her mind.
Finding solace in the quiet, Avantika made her way to the balcony, seeking the cool night air. The sky was clear, and the moon shone brightly, casting a soft, silvery light over everything.
She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the gentle breeze against her skin, and let out a sigh.
Her eyes drifted from the moon to her hands. She stared at them, her fingers lightly tracing the scars on her wrists, the physical reminders of her past struggles.
In the moonlight, the marks seemed more pronounced, and she felt a familiar wave of insecurity wash over her.
The scars were a testament to the battles she had fought with herself, the moments when everything felt too heavy to bear.
They were a part of her that she could never escape, no matter how hard she tried to hide them.
As she looked at them now, the taunts and whispers she had heard throughout her life echoed in her mind.
"She's too fragile."
"She's damaged."
"She'll never be enough."
