Written in stars (Discontinued)

Being near you

chapter 9

Everyone was gathered in the sitting room. Advay leaned back against sofa and answered baba's question about the project. He absently fluffed tiny's hairs who was sitting beside him on the sofa quietly staring down at her hands.

He did not know what was the matter but tiny was very quiet since morning. He had managed to stop her from further crying and then ayi and Sheekha had come and ayi had hugged Chandhini telling that Advay had come late at night as a ''surprise'' and since she was sleeping no one woke her. Most probably she is sulking, he guessed.

Arnav looked at silent Chandhini and looked at Advay in question, Advay mouthed ''sulking''. Arnav called Chandhini twice before she realized it and looked up at Arnav away from her hands,''yes, baba.''
Arnav,'' I was thinking lets go outside somewhere to celebrate Advay's return. You decide where we will go.''
Chandhini thought for a moment and then said,''baba, bro is not here and Megha di is coming back tomorrow, so lets celebrate tomorrow night, so everyone can be here.''
Arnav looked at Khushi and both shared a happy look and said, ''That sounds like a good idea.''
Chandhini smiled feeling a bit nervous, Advay's hand was still playing with her hairs and he was so close, his unique scent was making her emotional and all she want to do was put her head on his chest and hold him for a long time but somehow, she couldn't do it, which was weird because if it had been Veer, she would already be doing it with no hesitation whatsoever.
Arnav asked something else from Advay, most probably work related and which was a topic totally uninteresting to her. She waited in misery until finally,it was time for baba to go to his club. He left and Chandhini immediately fired her question at Advay,''So, whats the surprise? where is it? is it in your bag?in your room?..''ramo kaka where did you put Advay's luggage?''
Khushi shook her head and said,''Chandhini, talk a little slowly and what surprise?'',
Advay let her hair go, happy to see her back to normal, and replied,''Everything is in my room. The blue bag is all yours,so you don't need to search through the rest of luggage.''
Chandhini jumped up and said,''Ok, come lets go and open it.'' Advay moved until he was lying on whole sofa and lazily said,''You go and open''.
Chandhini,''Nooo, thats no fun, you should open and then show me everything one by one, come on get up!''
Khushi looked at Advay quietly guessing that he wanted to speak to her alone and then looked at an excited Chandhini knowing she won't leave them alone until she had seen all her gifts and was oblivious to why Advay didn't want to go,''Advay go and show her, then you can rest too, we will speak at night.''
Advay looked at ayi and nodded thinking that it will be better that way.
...

Advay entered his room behind an excited and chattering tiny who went straight to blue bag.
Chandhini,''I can't believe no one woke me up and why did you came a week earlier?, I was so excited that I am going to receive you at the airport, I even had an outfit planned. I hope you are staying here permanently now because I am telling you, I am not letting you go back.''
Chandhini tried to move the blue bag but it won't budge,it was so heavy.
Advay rubbed his ears a little and said,''slow down a bit, my ears are hurting.'' He moved away to dodge a kick aimed at his shin and laughingly replied,''You are still so weak,and wake you up? you can sleep through even a world war. ''
He gently pushed her away and grabbed the bag and put it on carpet where there was enough space and opened it. ''I am settling back here and if I changed my mind, I will take you with me.''
Chandhini's heart beat became fast for a moment at his words but she tried to concentrate on things in the bag. Advay opened the bag and started to give the things to her.
...