Awkward Heartstrings (HEARTSTRINGS SERIES-1)

Aadya pov

A month had passed since Reyansh left for Ahmedabad, and the house felt different, quieter.  The initial sting of his absence had dulled slightly, replaced by a dull ache, a constant undercurrent of missing him.  We talked every day, video chatted when we could, but it wasn't the same.  It wasn't the feeling of him being here, the simple comfort of his presence.

To fill the void, I had rediscovered my love for baking.  The rhythmic kneading of dough, the sweet aroma of vanilla and cinnamon filling the kitchen, the methodical precision of measuring ingredients – it was all strangely therapeutic.  It was a way to channel my energy, my emotions, into something tangible, something positive.

  Each perfectly frosted cupcake, each warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie, felt like a small victory, a little piece of happiness I could create in his absence.

The kitchen had become my sanctuary.  I experimented with new recipes, tried different techniques, and even started sharing my creations with friends and neighbors.  The positive feedback was encouraging, a little boost of confidence I didn't realize I needed.

Baking wasn't just a hobby anymore; it was a way to cope, a way to connect with a part of myself I had almost forgotten.

One evening, as I was frosting a batch of lemon poppy seed muffins, my phone rang.  It was Reyansh.  "Hey," he said, his voice sounding a little tired.

"Hey," I replied, my hands still moving deftly with the piping bag.  "How's it going?"

"Busy," he said.  "Really busy.  This project is taking up all my time."

"I can imagine," I said.  "I'm just finishing up some muffins."

"Muffins?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You've been baking a lot lately, haven't you?"

"Yeah," I admitted.  "It's… it's been keeping me occupied."

"That's good," he said.  "Keeps your mind off things."

"Yeah," I agreed.  "It does."

We talked for a while longer, about his work, about my baking, about the little things that made up our lives.  It was a comfort to hear his voice, even though I longed for his presence.

  As we said goodbye, I knew that the next two months would pass slowly, but I also knew that I would get through them.  With each batch of cookies, each perfectly risen cake, I was not just baking treats; I was baking hope.  Hope for his return, hope for our future, hope for the day when we would be together again.

The doorbell rang, a welcome interruption to the quiet hum of the kitchen.  I wiped my hands on my apron and went to the door.  It was Rooh, a bright smile lighting up her face.

"Hey! I brought reinforcements," she said, holding up a bag of groceries. "Thought we could have a baking day."

"Rooh! That's so sweet of you," I said, stepping aside to let her in.  "I was just finishing up a batch of brownies."

"Perfect!" she exclaimed, heading straight for the kitchen. "I've been dying to try that new chocolate ganache recipe I saw online."

It had been a while since I'd seen Rooh.  Life had been… quiet, since Reyansh left.  I'd been so focused on my baking, on filling the empty spaces with activity, that I hadn't been very social.  But Rooh, ever the thoughtful friend, had sensed my quietness and decided to do something about it.

"So," she said, pulling out ingredients from the bag, "what are we making today? Besides the brownies, of course."

"I was thinking maybe some sugar cookies," I suggested.  "I have some cute cookie cutters I haven't used yet."