Awkward Heartstrings (HEARTSTRINGS SERIES-1)

Reyansh pov

The morning was a blur.  A strange mix of rushed packing, forced smiles, and the heavy weight of goodbye.  I zipped up my suitcase, the final click echoing in the quiet room.  It was done.  I looked around, a wave of nostalgia washing over me.  This room, this house, this life… it was all about to change.

Aadya stood in the doorway, watching me.  Her eyes… they were filled with so much emotion.  Sadness, definitely, but also something else.  Resilience, maybe?  I gave her a small smile.

"Morning," I said, trying to keep my voice light.

"Morning," she replied, her smile a little strained.  She walked towards me, and my heart clenched.

"Everything's ready," I said, unnecessarily. We both knew it was.

She nodded, her eyes fixed on something just past my shoulder.  It was like she was trying to memorize every detail of the room, of me.
I reached for her, pulled her close.  God, I was going to miss this.  Her warmth, her scent, the way she fit perfectly in my arms.

"I'm going to miss you so much," I whispered, my voice thick.

"I'll miss you too," she said, her voice choked with tears.  I felt her tremble slightly, and I held her tighter.

My parents came in then, their faces a mix of sadness and that parental pride that always made me feel both grateful and guilty.  Mom’s eyes were red. Dad clapped me on the shoulder, a silent message passing between us. 

The goodbyes were quick, efficient.  A hug for Mom, a handshake for Dad.  The kind of goodbyes men give each other when they’re trying not to show too much.

Then it was Aadya’s turn.  I took her hand, held it tight.  I looked at her, really looked at her, trying to burn her image into my brain. 

"I love you, Aadya," I said, the words coming out stronger than I expected.  I meant them with every fiber of my being.

"I love you too, Reyansh," she whispered back, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

I leaned down and kissed her.  It wasn't a quick peck.  It was a long, lingering kiss, a promise, a goodbye, a see-you-soon all rolled into one.  I poured every ounce of my love, my longing, my regret into that kiss.  When I finally pulled away, I knew.  This was it.

The doorbell rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.  Abhi.  Time to go.  I grabbed my suitcase, gave Aadya one last, quick hug.

  "I'll call you as soon as I land," I promised, needing to hear myself say it, needing to make it real.

"I'll be waiting," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.  Her eyes… they were saying so much more than she was.

Abhi walked in, looking a little less cheerful than usual. "Hey man," he said, shaking my hand. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's do this," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. I gave Aadya another quick smile, a silent promise.  "See you soon," I said, already missing her.

"See you," she whispered back.

As we walked out to the car, I noticed Abhi's strange demeanor. He seemed… off.
On the way to the airport, I decided to break the silence.  "So," I said casually, "did you drop Rooh home okay last night?"

Abhi stiffened.  His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and he avoided my gaze. "Uh, yeah, yeah, she got home fine," he stammered, his voice higher than usual.  He cleared his throat. "Just… you know… airport traffic. Always makes me anxious."