Between love and life

CHAPTER 3

Advika sat in the living room, her thoughts drifting once again to the events of last night, lost in the silence. Somya's voice calling her name from the kitchen finally snapped her out of the haze, and she sighed softly as she made her way toward the aroma of fresh coffee and breakfast. Somya had already set the table with care, placing Advika's favorite breakfast-a simple yet comforting meal vermicelli with butter and a steaming cup of coffee-right in front of her. Advika smiled weakly, her eyes showing gratitude for Somya's constant support. "Thank you, Di," she whispered, pulling the plate closer. She picked up the spoon, stirring the food on her plate absentmindedly, though she didn't feel hungry at all. Her mind was still clouded by unanswered questions, and her heart was heavy with disappointment. Somya noticed immediately. She sat down across from Advika, watching her stir the spoon without taking a bite. With her usual warmth, Somya tried to change the atmosphere, hoping to lighten her friend's mood.

"So, have you packed your things yet?" Somya asked, a playful note in her voice, hoping to distract Advika. "You know we're leaving tomorrow, right? I don't want you to be scrambling at the last minute. "Advika shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, I haven't packed yet. I... I didn't feel like it. "Somya frowned a little, her heart aching for her friend. She understood how hard it was for Advika to focus on anything after last night. Without missing a beat, Somya leaned in, her voice soft but firm. "Well, you'll have breakfast first, and then we can pack together," Somya said, picking up a spoonful of food. She held it out toward Advika, who looked up at her in surprise. "Come on, Adi. You need to eat something. You can't survive on just coffee and thoughts," Somya teased gently, coaxing a small smile from Advika. Advika sighed, but she couldn't refuse Somya's kindness. She leaned forward and took the spoonful, feeling a flicker of warmth in her chest. As she slowly chewed, she felt a little lighter, if only for a moment. At least Somya was there-her rock, her constant support through this confusing storm of emotions. "Thanks, Di," Advika murmured, picking up her spoon again and taking a few more bites on her own. Somya smiled, relief flickering in her eyes as she watched her friend slowly regain a bit of strength.

Somya leaned back in her chair, deciding to check her phone while Advika continued eating. But as she scrolled through her notifications, a frown crept onto her face. There were no messages or missed calls from Vaidik. That was strange. Usually, Vaidik would have checked in by now, especially after everything that had happened. The silence on his end was unsettling. Somya tried to brush off her unease, but it lingered. She quickly dialed Vaidik's number, holding her phone to her ear as she waited for him to pick up. The call rang and rang, but no answer. She frowned, her fingers tapping nervously on the table. She called again, hoping he was just busy, but once again, the call went unanswered. Somya's worry deepened, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger rising within her-anger at Reyansh for hurting Advika, and now, worry for Vaidik's silence. She glanced at Advika, who was still focused on her breakfast, lost in her thoughts. Somya didn't want to alarm her just yet, so she kept quiet for now, though her mind raced with possibilities.

Where were Reyansh and Vaidik? Why hadn't they called back?

Her heart twisted in her chest as she thought about how badly Advika had been hurt last night. No explanation, no message, nothing. And now, Vaidik was silent too. Somya forced herself to stay calm, deciding that she would deal with this later. For now, she needed to focus on Advika. But the worry gnawed at her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

last night

The moment the plane touched down at Bangalore airport, the tension in the air was palpable. Reyansh and Vaidik moved with purpose, their expressions locked in a tight grip of urgency as they rushed through the private terminal. Neither of them had spoken much during the flight. Silence had filled the space between them, a heavy cloud they both shared but dared not voice. As they hurried toward the exit, their eyes were fixed straight ahead, their pace quickening with each step. The last flight had been a stroke of luck, but now, time felt like sand slipping through their fingers. Every second felt precious-and terrifying.

The sleek black cars were already waiting for them outside the terminal, engines running, headlights piercing the late-night fog that blanketed the city. This was their home-Bangalore, the empire their families had built-but tonight, it felt different. The familiar streets offered no comfort, only a reminder of how far they had yet to go. "Get in," Vaidik muttered as they approached the car, his voice tight, barely more than a whisper. His usual calm was nowhere to be found. Reyansh opened the door and slid in without a word, his mind racing, replaying the fragments of the last phone call they had received. He hadn't fully processed it-he couldn't. There wasn't time for that. But something in Vaidik's eyes, the way his normally composed friend was coming apart at the seams, kept gnawing at him.

As soon as they were in the car, Vaidik's leg started bouncing, a nervous tick Reyansh rarely saw from him. His fingers tapped restlessly on his knee, and his eyes darted around like he was trapped in a whirlwind of thoughts he couldn't control. Reyansh clenched his jaw, his own anxiety building, but he reached over, placing his hand on Vaidik's leg to stop the tapping. "Vaidik, breathe," he said, his voice firm but gentle . Vaidik swallowed hard, looking at Reyansh for a second before nodding slightly. "I'm trying," he whispered, his voice barely audible. The tension was unbearable, and even though Reyansh's heart was pounding in his chest, he forced himself to stay composed-for Vaidik, for both of them. The weight of responsibility pressed on his shoulders like never before. They didn't have the luxury to fall apart right now.

The cars sped through the quiet streets of Bangalore, the usual bustling city now eerily still in the late-night hours. Both men sat in silence, the world outside flashing by in a blur. But all Reyansh could hear was the echo of that phone call, the panic in the voice on the other end, and the dread that had settled deep in his bones. They didn't check their phones. They didn't talk. All that mattered was getting there. When they finally pulled up to the gates, the reality of the situation hit harder. The estate, normally a beacon of power and control, felt foreboding tonight. The urgency in the air was suffocating as the cars screeched to a halt.

Vaidik was out of the car in seconds, moving with a speed that defied his usual calm demeanor. Reyansh followed, their footsteps echoing in unison as they rushed toward the entrance. The front doors swung open, and the manager appeared, his face pale and tense. He moved toward them, arms outstretched as if to block their way. "Wait, wait-you can't go in yet!" the manager blurted out, his voice frantic. But Vaidik was in no mood to be stopped. "Get out of my way!" he snarled, shoving the man aside as if he weighed nothing. Reyansh, close behind, felt the weight in his chest tightening as they approached the closed door at the end of the hallway. His heart was racing, fear clawing at him from every angle. The manager made another weak attempt to intervene, grabbing Reyansh's arm. "Reyansh, please... you're not ready for this. It's-"Reyansh yanked his arm free, barely hearing the man's words, his focus completely on the door that separated them from the truth. With a burst of energy, Vaidik pushed the door open, and the moment they stepped inside, everything changed. The world around them shifted into slow motion.

Vaidik froze, his steps faltering as the reality of the scene before him hit like a freight train. His breath caught in his throat, his legs giving way beneath him. He stumbled backward, shock taking over his features, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what he was seeing. "No..." Vaidik's voice cracked, a single word escaping his lips as his knees buckled. He reached out, as if trying to stop the inevitable from crashing over him, but his hands trembled too much to hold anything steady. Reyansh barely had time to react before Vaidik was falling. Instinctively, he caught his friend, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to keep him from collapsing completely.

But even as he did, the cold wave of shock that washed over him was undeniable. His own eyes widened, breath halting as he took in the scene before them. It felt unreal, like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from. Vaidik's voice trembled, his words barely coherent. "How... how did this happen?" His voice broke, tears forming in his eyes. "We were supposed to be here... We should've been here. "Reyansh gripped Vaidik's shoulder tightly, his own voice strangled. "I don't know," he whispered. His throat felt dry, his chest tight. "I don't know, but we're here now. "The weight of the moment hung over them like a dark cloud, suffocating and relentless. The shock, the pain, the helplessness-it all collided in one devastating blow. And yet, through it all, there was no time for tears, no space for breakdowns. They had to stay standing. They had to figure out what came next. Because even though they were broken, even though the world had shifted in ways they couldn't yet comprehend-there was no turning back.

To be continued...