Between love and life

CHAPTER 1

Reyansh's heart raced as he sprinted through the terminal, his mind in chaos, yet his body moving on autopilot. He and Vaidik dodged people, the urgent need to catch the last flight propelling them forward with every step. Sweat trickled down the side of his face as he heard the announcement that boarding was nearly complete."This is it," Vaidik muttered breathlessly, his voice strained from the run.Reyansh didn't reply, his thoughts too tangled to form words. They handed over their tickets, rushing onto the plane just as the doors were about to close. It was a last-minute scramble—one they hadn't prepared for—but they made it.

As soon as they settled into their business class seats, the world outside the window seemed to blur, the lights of the airport flashing by as the plane prepared for takeoff. Reyansh stared out, breathing hard, his chest tightening. He sank back into the seat, the hum of the plane's engines filling the silence .And that's when she flashed in his mind:  Advika

Her face appeared before him, her bright eyes full of love, her smile that always made his world feel lighter. He clenched his fists tightly, the reality of where he was sinking in. He wasn't supposed to be here, on this flight. He was supposed to be with her.

Flashback

Advika sat by the window of the car, staring out at the passing streets, her face pale and expressionless. The cafe they had just left felt like a distant memory, though it had been mere minutes. The night air had grown cold, but she hardly noticed.

Beside her, Somya sat quietly, stealing glances at her from time to time, unsure of what to say. The silence between them was heavy, suffocating, and full of unspoken questions. Somya's heart ached for her. She had been so excited for tonight, so full of hope. Reaching her room, Advika moved like a ghost. The moment the door closed behind her, her steps faltered. She could barely breathe as she fumbled with the earrings—the beautiful jhumkas she had worn . Her fingers shook violently as she tore them from her ears, the metal cutting into her skin, blood trickling down her neck. "Adi..." Somya whispered, moving toward her as Advika threw the jewelry onto the floor. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably. "Adi, stop," Somya pleaded, but Advika didn't respond. She tugged harder at her earrings, her breath ragged, and her tears fell uncontrollably. It was too much. Her knees buckled, and Somya caught her just in time, holding her steady as she finally let out a sob—deep, guttural, and filled with the pain she had tried to swallow for hours. "He promised, Di... he promised me," Advika whispered brokenly, her voice cracking with each word. Her entire body shook with the force of her emotions.

 Somya pulled her into a tight embrace, stroking her hair. "I don't know, Adi... I don't know. But I'm here. "Advika clung to Somya as if she were her only anchor in a sea of heartbreak. Her sobs slowly quieted into exhausted breaths, and Somya guided her to the bed, gently easing her down. The moment Advika's head hit the pillow, her body gave up, drained from the weight of disappointment and unanswered questions. Somya sat beside her, holding her hand tightly as her friend cried herself to sleep.

Present:

Reyansh couldn't shake the image of her from his mind. He hadn't messaged her, hadn't called to explain. He knew she would be waiting, staring at her phone, wondering where he was. Guilt washed over him in waves. Beside him, Vaidik was silent, staring straight ahead, his own face etched with worry. Neither of them spoke, and the plane ascended into the dark night sky, carrying them further away from everything they had left behind. The silence in the cabin was deafening, but all Reyansh could hear was her voice in his head. The sound of her laughter, the way she said his name. And all he could think was: 

I broke her heart

to be continued ...