AD=AR

CHAPTER - 4

The wedding is planned after 3 months. In the meantime, the two families immersed themselves in the upcoming celebrations. Plans of shopping, venue booking, and decisions on arrangements are being made.

Aditi receives a message from Armaan.

"Hey Aditi, I was thinking we could go out for dinner. Meet me at my office, and we can head out from there."

She reaches his office and waits for him. As Aditi waits in the reception area, Aryan notices her. He approaches her with a friendly smile, "Hey Aditi, what brings you here?"

"Armaan and I were supposed to have a dinner date, but it seems he's running late. He messaged that it would take another 30 minutes."

"Well, since you have some time to spare, how about we grab a coffee and catch up? It's been a while since we talked."

"Sure, why not? A coffee sounds perfect right now."

They head to the coffee area and settle into a cozy corner. As they sip their coffee, their conversation takes them back to their school days.

Aryan: "It's been ages since we last caught up. How have you been, Aditi?"

Aditi: "I've been good, Aryan. Life has been quite busy with work and wedding preparations. How about you?"

Aryan: "Busy as well, but you know how it is. By the way, do you remember the time we had that school project together?"

Aditi: (laughs) "How could I forget? We spent more time arguing about ideas than actually working on the project."

Aryan: Those were the days. I always admired your determination, even if it meant a few spirited debates.

Aditi: (smiles) "Well, it's good to know I made an impression. What about you? How was your journey from school to now?"

Aryan: "It's been quite the adventure. Work, life, and a few unexpected turns. But I can't complain. And now, finding out you're getting married to my brother. Life has a way of surprising us, doesn't it?"

Aditi: (nodding) "It truly does. Life's twists and turns lead us to unexpected places. I never imagined our paths would cross like this."

The coffee date, born out of an unexpected delay, fosters a renewed connection between Aditi and Aryan. As Aditi receives a message from Armaan indicating that he is ready, she excuses herself from the coffee conversation with Aryan.

Aryan, with a slight hint of disappointment lingering, watches as Aditi heads towards the reception area. Inwardly, he muses, "Life has a funny way of intertwining our past with the present. Aditi was a significant part of my school days, and now she's becoming a part of Armaan's life. I should be happy for them."

Aditi and Armaan enjoy their dinner date, the atmosphere is relaxed, and they engage in light-hearted conversation. Armaan, sensing the need to apologize for his delayed arrival, says, "Aditi, I'm really sorry for being late. Work has been quite demanding lately."

"Armaan, I completely understand. Work is important for us, and I'm here to support you."

Midway through dinner, Armaan excuses himself, mentioning he needs to use the restroom. However, as minutes pass, Aditi starts to feel a tad concerned. Deciding to check on him, she stands up and goes in search of Armaan. To her surprise, she finds Armaan engaged in a conversation with a woman. As she approaches them, Armaan notices her and quickly composes himself.

Aditi curiously asks, "Armaan, what are you doing here? Who is she?"

Armaan introduces the girl as Priya Sehgal, his sister Avantika's friend. Aditi extends a friendly greeting, "Hi, Priya. Nice to meet you. By the way, why didn't you attend the engagement party?"

Priya says "Oh, I'm sorry I missed it. I've been out of town. Congratulations to both of you, though." She excuses herself, leaving Aditi with a slight sense of curiosity. As Priya departs, Aditi catches a subtle change in Armaan's demeanour. She brushes off any concerns, attributing it to a normal catch-up.

In the days following the dinner date, Aditi continues to notice a lack of responsiveness from Armaan. Despite their busy schedules in their respective business endeavours, she makes a conscious effort to bridge the gap and improve their connection. However, she can't help but feel a growing distance between them, a contrast to the warmth they had shared earlier. She becomes more perceptive, trying to identify the source of the change. Is it work-related stress, family matters, or something else entirely?

Despite her efforts, Armaan's responses remain elusive.

She receives an invitation to the Roy family's weekend brunch and when she arrives and scans the room, she doesn't spot Armaan. Instead, she notices Aryan, who approaches her with a friendly smile. Despite the absence of Armaan, she manages to immerse herself in the lively ambiance, gradually easing into the gathering with Aryan's company. As the brunch progresses, Aditi finds herself enjoying the conversations, delicious food, and the warmth of the Roy family; although a lingering curiosity about Armaan's absence remains in the back of her mind.

Sharmila and Sakshi, the daughters-in-law duo of the Roy family decide on a day of shopping with Aditi. To make the outing more convenient, they enlist Aryan as their chauffeur for the day. The trio embarks on a shopping adventure, exploring various stores and indulging in the delight of retail therapy.

Aryan waits patiently but feels a bit bored by the shopping endeavour. He glances around, observing the array of stores, and his mind starts to drift. Aditi notices Aryan's expression and they both find a comfortable spot to chat while Sharmila and Sakshi continue their shopping spree.

"Honestly, Aditi, I never understood the fascination with shopping. This seems like an endless journey through stores."

"I can understand; it's not everyone's cup of tea. But sometimes, it's nice to indulge in a bit of retail therapy. Keeps things interesting."

"I don't know how you do it. I'd be pulling my hair out by now."

"Well, I've had my fair share of shopping adventures. It's all about finding the joy in the little things, I suppose."

The casual banter between Aditi and Aryan adds a light-hearted touch to the shopping day.

As the evening approaches, Sharmila asks Aryan to drop Aditi back home. He starts the drive. The atmosphere in the car, however, feels different. Aditi, usually cheerful, seems lost in her thoughts.

"Aditi, is everything okay? You seem a bit quiet. Is there something on your mind?"

Aditi, hesitating at first, opens up, "Well, Aryan, it's just that I've noticed a change in Armaan recently. He's been distant, elusive, and it's been bothering me."

"If something is bothering you, Aditi, you can share it. Maybe I can help."

She reveals about Armaan's recent behaviour. Aryan listens attentively, his mind racing as he thinks about the observations, he himself made about Armaan's frequent absences and elusive behaviour. Today, Armaan claimed to have plans with college friends, but Aryan couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Assuring Aditi, Aryan says, "Aditi, I'll talk to Armaan. He might be caught up in work, but it's important to address your concerns. You deserve clarity and reassurance."

As they continue the drive, Aryan contemplates the best way to approach Armaan and how to encourage him to communicate openly with Aditi.

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To be continued...

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Take care, Bye.

NK.

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