ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴇᴀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʟʟᴡᴀʏꜱ

.Coming Home༊˚

AUTHOR'S POV:

The sun rose over the mountains, bathing everything in a golden light. Avni woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the soft rustle of leaves. It felt refreshing to wake up in nature, far away from the noise of the city.

After breakfast, Avni and her parents decided to explore the area. They hiked through lush trails, discovering hidden waterfalls and breathtaking viewpoints. Avni took in every moment, capturing images in her mind, wishing she could share them with her friends.

As they trekked deeper into the woods, Avni's thoughts drifted back to Ishan. She wondered how he was coping without her. Was he worried? Did he miss her?

Then the indirect confession struck her mind, and her heart started beating faster. A smile formed on her face. Memories of their laughter, teasing, and unspoken words filled her thoughts, making her realize how much she truly valued his presence in her life.

Avni shook her thoughts and continued trekking with her parents, trying to stay present in the moment. But even the beauty around her couldn't fully distract her from the feelings bubbling inside her.

Meanwhile, at School

Ishan was deep in basketball practice, trying to channel his restless energy into the game. He dribbled the ball with intensity, but his mind kept drifting. The sound of sneakers squeaking against the court and the thud of the basketball echoed around him, but none of it could drown out the worry gnawing at him.

He was so distracted that he didn't notice a ball flying straight toward him. Just in time, Aaron jumped in and stopped it.

"Whoa, Ishan! What's going on with you?" Aaron asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ishan looked at him but stayed silent, lost in thought.

Aaron smirked knowingly. "It's Avni, isn't it? You're thinking about her."

Ishan's expression softened but he still didn't respond.

"Don't worry, man," Aaron said, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "She'll be alright. For now, focus on the match. If you win, she'll probably be happier than you are."

Ishan let out a small smile, appreciating the reassurance. Nodding, he turned his focus back to the game, determined to push through his thoughts and practice hard.

Days Passed

Nights passed into days, and it had been five days, but for both of them, it felt like an eternity. Each of them found ways to fill the time-Avni hiking, taking pictures of the stunning landscapes, and Ishan practicing basketball, pushing himself harder with every drill.

But no matter what they did, both couldn't escape the thoughts of each other. The little things reminded them of their bond.

Both their hearts echoed the same sentiment-an undeniable connection that neither could ignore.

Back in the Mountains

On the fifth day night, Avni and her parents packed their things to return home. The beauty of the mountains was enchanting, but she missed her friends, especially Ishan. It was time to go home, and she felt a mix of excitement and anxiety.

As they packed up their campsite, she thought about how she would face her friends and what she would say to Ishan. Would she be able to convey the depth of her feelings? Would she confess her thoughts, or would she keep them to herself?

"Ready to go, Avy?" her father called out, breaking her chain of thoughts.

"Yeah, just a second!" she replied, stuffing her last few belongings into her backpack.

As they made their way back to the car, Avni's heart raced. She could almost picture Ishan waiting for her, his brows furrowed in concern.

Once they reached the car, her father turned to her. "Are you excited to get back?"

Avni smiled, trying to hide her eagerness. "Yeah, I can't wait to see everyone."

As they drove away from the mountains, Avni felt a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. She was ready to return to her life, ready to embrace her friendships, especially the one with Ishan that had grown deeper in her heart.

Home Again

They reached their home late at night, around midnight. Avni was tired and didn’t want to disturb anyone. So, she decided to inform everyone the next day, face to face, allowing for a proper conversation to clear away any worries.

As she entered her room, she glanced at her phone, which had been switched off for the past five days. She put it on charge without opening it, deciding to focus on her thoughts instead.

Lying in bed, her mind raced with questions about how her friends would react to her return. Would they be relieved? Angry? Would Ishan be waiting to hear from her, or had he moved on in her absence?

The more she thought, the more anxious she felt. The warmth of the mountain memories clashed with the nervousness of facing reality. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she would be there to explain everything in the morning.

With those thoughts swirling in her mind, Avni closed her eyes and drifted into a restless sleep, dreaming of laughter and friendship, unaware of the whirlwind of emotions that awaited her.

The Next Day

The next morning, Avni was woken by a knock on her door. She groggily got up and opened it to find her mother standing there.

"Good morning, Ma," Avni greeted with a yawn.

Her mother smiled, "Very good morning. Hurry up and get ready or you'll be late for school. Breakfast is already on the table."

Avni nodded and quickly got dressed. As she was about to leave her room, she checked her phone and saw multiple missed calls and messages from Ishan and Nidh from the past five days.

"Oh God, they must have been so worried. Nidhi's definitely going to kill me," she whispered to herself, shaking her head with a smile.

Feeling surprisingly light-hearted, Avni headed downstairs, her school bag slung over her shoulder. For the first time in ages, she felt genuinely excited about going to school—excited to see her friends and study.

At the dining table, she greeted her father, "Good morning, Dad."

Her father, putting his newspaper aside, replied, "Good morning, Avy."

Avni smiled back as her mother set the breakfast down.

"Ma, join us," Avni said warmly.

Her mother grabbed her own plate and sat with them.

As they ate, her father said, "I'll drop you off at school today."

Avni smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

Her mother chimed in, "It's been so long since we all sat down for a meal together."

Avni nodded, her heart swelling with warmth. "But now it'll be a daily thing, right?"

Her parents exchanged glances and, with a smile, answered in unison, "Yes!"

After finishing breakfast, Avni grabbed her bag and headed to the car. As her father started the engine, she looked down at her phone, thinking about how she was going to explain everything to Ishan. And Nidhi—she didn't even know about the fight yet.

Her mind buzzed with thoughts as they drove, but for the first time in a long time, it felt like everything was starting to fall into place.