Between love and life

CHAPTER 4

Advika sat cross-legged on the floor, meticulously folding the last of her clothes as Somya carefully zipped up another bag. The once vibrant room, filled with their laughter and shared secrets, now seemed hauntingly silent. Somya stretched her back, glancing at Advika, who was lost in her task, eyes downcast."Are you sure you've packed everything?" Somya asked, standing up, her voice gentle but filled with concern. "You don't want to forget something and regret it later."Advika gave a small, absentminded nod. "Yeah, I've got everything." She paused, looking around the now-bare apartment. "It's strange, isn't it? Leaving a piece of us behind here."

Somya gave her a soft smile, understanding the weight of those words. They had shared so much here. These walls had heard their laughter, their heart-to-heart conversations, and moments of vulnerability. They had grown together in this space, and with Vaidik and Reyansh. As Somya walked to the door, her fingers grazed the cold metal handle, and her voice was barely a whisper. "We made so many memories here... with them." Her eyes softened as memories flooded her—late-night talks, shared meals, and all the laughter they had shared with the boys.
Advika's heart ached as she looked around for the last time. This apartment had been a cocoon for them—a safe space where they had bonded, laughed, and grown. Now, it was just an empty shell. The sound of the lock clicking into place felt like the final chapter closing, and Somya passed the keys to the landlord with a quiet thank you.

As they got into the car, the city began to blur past the windows, a familiar but distant sight. Advika stared out the window, her gaze locking onto the park where she and Reyansh had shared countless moments. It was their sanctuary, a place where they had shared their dreams, fears, and hopes. And now, those memories felt like a cruel reminder of what had been lost.Somya noticed the sadness creeping back into Advika's eyes..

Without a word, Advika pulled out her phone, fingers hesitating as they hovered over Reyansh's contact. She dialed his number once more, her heart clinging to the hope that maybe, just maybe, this time he would answer. But her hopes were dashed as the familiar automated voice answered:

"The number you're trying to reach is switched off. Please try again later."

Somya watched her carefully. "Adi, maybe you should stop calling him," she said gently.Advika's hands trembled as she closed her phone. "Maybe Vaidik  bhaiya will answer," she said quietly, handing her phone to Somya. There was a desperation in her voice that made Somya's heart ache. Somya dialed Vaidik's number, her own hope rising, but after several rings, the call went to voicemail.Somya sighed, glancing at Advika, who was still staring blankly out the window. She tried again, but once more, there was no answer. "He's not picking up either," Somya whispered, her voice filled with frustration.

Advika didn't say anything for a moment. Then, with a deep breath, she opened her contacts and scrolled down to Reyansh's name. Somya watched in shock as Advika's fingers hovered over the screen before she deleted his number. "Adi..." Somya's voice was soft, almost pleading. "What are you doing?" Advika didn't look up, her voice steady but laced with pain. "Maybe this is what he wanted, di. We waited... so long. We gave him time, but he never responded. No calls, no messages, nothing. What else am I supposed to think?"Somya frowned, trying to find the right words.

"Maybe he's going through something. Maybe there's an explanation."But Advika shook her head. "I was stupid for believing him. For thinking that he cared." Her voice broke, and Somya felt her heart tighten. "Everyone told me—*everyone*—that he wasn't serious, that I was just someone to pass the time with. I defended him... I trusted him."Somya's heart ached as she saw the raw vulnerability in her friend's eyes. She could see the weight of the betrayal, the hurt that Reyansh's silence had left behind.

"Adi, maybe moving on is the best thing for now," Somya said softly, squeezing her hand. "Maybe this was meant to be."Advika's eyes filled with unshed tears. "But Somya... it wasn't just Reyansh. It was Vaidik bhaiya too. 
We had a bond... but now, I don't even know if any of that was real. Was it all a lie?"Somya didn't know what to say. Vaidik's silence hurt her too, more than she wanted to admit. Somewhere along the way, Somya had come to care deeply for Vaidik, in ways she hadn't even fully realized until now. His absence, his failure to even check in, felt like a betrayal as well.   

Somya tightened her grip on Advika's hand, her voice soft but firm. "I don't know, Adi. But I do know this—you're not alone. Whatever happens, we'll get through it together."

Advika gave a small nod, but her heart felt heavy. As the car sped toward the airport, she glanced one last time at the places that had meant so much—the park, the street where they had laughed and walked, the cafes where they had spent hours talking. Every memory now felt bittersweet, tinged with the ache of what was lost. Somya, too, found herself thinking of Vaidik. She had never expected to feel this way, to care this much. But now, she wondered if the bond she thought they had shared was just an illusion, like everything else that seemed to be falling apart around them.For now, they both knew one thing—leaving the city meant leaving behind not just memories, but a part of themselves. And while it hurt, it was the only way to move forward.

but the question remains the same 

Where did Reyansh and Vaidik go?

 Why did they leave everything behind without informing Advika and Somya? 

Why were they so tense, and why aren't they answering their phones? 

Were the bond they forged and the memories they shared merely illusions? Is this the conclusion of all they've known, or the onset of a more enigmatic and novel journey?

TO BE CONTINUED ......