Awkward Heartstrings (HEARTSTRINGS SERIES-1)

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Reyansh pov

The first rays of dawn crept through the curtains, painting the room in a soft, grey light. I woke up with a start, my mind instantly replaying the argument from the night before.

The harsh words, the cold silence, Aadya's hurt expression… it all came flooding back, a wave of regret washing over me.  I turned my head and saw her, still asleep, her back to me.  Even in sleep, her posture seemed tense, her shoulders slightly hunched.

A wave of guilt washed over me.  I’d messed up, big time.  My frustration from work, the overwhelming feeling of being behind, it wasn't an excuse for how I’d spoken to Aadya.  She was worried, she was concerned, and I’d snapped at her, dismissing her feelings as if they were nothing.  I’d been so caught up in my own stress that I’d completely disregarded hers.
I sat up in bed, running a hand through my hair.

The fight had gone way overboard.  Aadya deserved an apology, and she deserved it now.  I glanced at her again.  She was still asleep, but I knew I couldn’t let things fester.  I needed to talk to her, to explain myself, to tell her how sorry I was.  I got out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her, and went to the bathroom to get ready.  I knew I had to face her eventually, and the sooner, the better.  I just hoped she’d be willing to listen.

I finished getting ready, my mind still preoccupied with the conversation I knew I needed to have with Aadya.  I opened the bathroom door quietly, hoping she was still asleep.  I wanted to catch her before she started her day, to apologize and try to make things right.  But as I stepped out into the hallway, I saw that the bed was empty and neatly made.  Aadya was gone.

A pang of disappointment hit me.  I’d hoped to catch her before she left the room, to have a chance to talk to her, to explain myself.  Now, I didn’t know where she was.  Had she gone downstairs to join the family?  Had she gone out for a walk?  The uncertainty made me feel uneasy.  I’d hoped to start the day by clearing the air between us, and now it seemed like I’d missed my chance.  I sighed, a feeling of frustration mixing with the guilt.  I went downstairs, hoping to find her, ready to face whatever she had to say.

I walked downstairs, the aroma of breakfast wafting through the house.  As I reached the dining room, I saw everyone gathered around the table, chatting and laughing.  My parents, my siblings, they were all there.  And then I saw Aadya.  She was sitting at the table, her back slightly towards me, engaged in a conversation with my mother.  She was smiling, laughing even, but as I sat down, she didn't even glance in my direction.

The sight of her, so seemingly unaffected by our fight, stung.  I’d expected… something.  A lingering hurt, perhaps, or even anger.  But she was acting as if I wasn’t even there.  The casualness of it, the way she completely ignored me, felt worse than any angry outburst could have been.  It was like I was invisible, like our argument hadn’t even happened.  Or maybe, it had happened, and she was simply choosing to pretend I didn’t exist.

I sat down at my usual place, a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach.  I tried to join the conversation, to act normal, but it was difficult.  My gaze kept drifting towards Aadya, hoping for some acknowledgment, some sign that she was even aware of my presence.  But she remained engrossed in her conversation, her smile never faltering, her eyes never meeting mine.

The cheerful atmosphere of the breakfast table felt like a mockery, a stark contrast to the tension that was building inside me.  I felt awkward, uncomfortable, like an intruder in my own home.  The silence between Aadya and me was louder than any shouting match could have been.

Breakfast was a strained affair. I tried to make small talk, to engage in the general conversation, but my attention was constantly drawn to Aadya. 

She continued to chat with my family, her smile fixed, her eyes avoiding mine.  It was like I was a ghost, present but unseen, unheard.  The more she ignored me, the more the knot in my stomach tightened. 

I felt a mix of guilt, frustration, and a desperate need to just talk to her, to break through the wall she’d put up between us.

Finally, breakfast was over.  Everyone started to disperse, heading towards their respective activities.  This was my chance.  I stood up and walked over to Aadya, who was helping my mother clear the table.

"Aadya," I said softly, trying to catch her eye.

She paused, a brief flicker of something unreadable crossing her face before she quickly masked it with a neutral expression.  "Yes?" she replied, her voice cool and distant.

"Can we talk for a minute?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded curtly.  "Sure," she said, putting down the plates she was holding.  She walked towards the living room, and I followed her, my hopes cautiously rising.

We reached the living room, and she turned to face me, her arms crossed.  "What is it?" she asked, her tone still cool.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.  "Aadya," I began, "about last night… I’m really sorry.  I was wrong.  I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.  I was stressed, overwhelmed with work, but that’s no excuse.  You were right to be worried, and I should have called you.  I was thoughtless, and I hurt you, and I’m truly sorry."

I waited for her response, my heart in my throat.  But she just looked at me, her expression unreadable.  She didn’t say anything, didn’t offer any sign that she’d even heard me.  The silence stretched on, making me feel more and more uneasy.

“Aadya,” I tried again, my voice pleading.  “Please say something.  I just… I don’t want to fight with you.”

She finally spoke, her voice flat and emotionless.  "There's nothing to say," she said.

"You said what you said.  And I heard it."

"But… can we move past it?" I asked, my hope dwindling.  "Can we just… go back to normal?"
She shrugged, her eyes still avoiding mine.  "I don't know," she said.  "Maybe."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, feeling more lost and confused than ever.  I knew I had a long day ahead of me at work, but all I could think about was Aadya, and the wall I’d somehow built between us.

The drive to work was a blur.  My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, all revolving around Aadya.  Her coldness, her indifference… it bothered me more than I cared to admit.  I knew I'd messed up, and her reaction made it clear that I had a lot of making up to do.  The thought of her being upset, of her feeling ignored and unappreciated, gnawed at me.  I needed to fix this.

I reached the office, and for the first time in a long time, work wasn't my primary focus.

Usually, I'd dive into my tasks with a sense of purpose, eager to tackle the challenges ahead.  But today, my motivation was different.  I wanted to get my work done, and I wanted to get it done fast.  I needed to get home to Aadya.

I threw myself into my work with a renewed sense of urgency.  I plowed through emails, tackled projects, and even managed to resolve a particularly tricky issue that had been plaguing the team for weeks.

  I was efficient, focused, and determined.  I wanted to leave the office as early as possible, to go home and face Aadya, to try and bridge the gap that had formed between us.

On my way out of the office, I made a quick stop at the store.  I knew it was a small gesture, but I hoped it would show Aadya that I was thinking of her.  I picked up her favorite snacks – a bag of Lays chips and a Cadbury Silk chocolate bar. 

They were her guilty pleasures, little treats that always seemed to bring a smile to her face.  I hoped they would help break the ice, a small offering of peace.  I knew it wouldn't solve everything, but it was a start.  It was a way of saying, "I'm sorry," without having to say the words just yet.  I just wanted to get home, to see her, to try and make things right.

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