The next morning dawned.
At Kaushal Bhavan.
Mr. Alok and Naina sat at the dining table, enjoying their breakfast. With school off for the Sunday, Naina relished Mrs. Aabha's freshly cooked bread pakoras, savoring each bite. "Mom, your cooking is magical! These pakoras are delicious!" she exclaimed.
Mrs. Aabha smiled warmly, "Eat slowly, dear, don't burn your mouth. Where's Ruhani? Still asleep?"
Naina teased, "Let Didi sleep, Mom; it's Sunday, after all."
Just then, Ruhani emerged from her room and headed to the kitchen. She served herself breakfast and began to return to her room when Mrs. Aabha stopped her. "Where are you off to, dear? Join us."
Ruhani usually had meals in her room, not because she disliked family time but because she'd grown fond of solitude.
Mrs. Aabha's invitation was met with a gentle refusal, "Mom, I'll eat in my room."
Mrs. Aabha's tone was loving but firm, "No, today I won't take no for an answer. Come sit with us."
Mr. Alok added, his voice filled with warmth, "Today's a holiday, so let's enjoy some family time together."
Naina chimed in, "Come on, Didi, Mom's made delicious bread pakoras. If you take them to your room, they'll get cold and lose their flavor."
Ruhani joined the others at the dining table, placing her plate down and sitting beside Naina.
Mr. Alok asked Ruhani, concern etched on his face, "Dear, you seem troubled lately. Is everything okay at the office? No work-related stress?"
Ruhani replied softly, her focus on her breakfast, "No, Papa, everything's fine."
Mrs. Aabha's voice followed, laced with maternal concern, "You've been so subdued, dear. Are you feeling well?"
Ruhani's response was brief, "Yes."
Ruhani had been avoiding conversations with her family, not wanting to burden them with her troubles.
She loved them deeply and didn't wish to cause them worry. Yet, sitting together after so long, she felt a sense of belonging she hadn't experienced in ages.
The warmth of her family's presence brought a faint smile to Ruhani's face as she continued her breakfast.
Afternoon
Ruhani sat in her room, laptop open, tackling her office work. She didn't have an overwhelming workload; she could have easily done it at the office. But she sought distraction, keeping herself occupied to quiet her mind.
Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from Aakriti: "Hey, I'm bored at home. Come over and let's catch up like old times – sipping tea and chatting away."
Aakriti and Ruhani shared a passion for conversation, especially with each other. Their families had known each other since childhood, and they were practically sisters.
When they got lost in conversation, they forgot meals, prompting their families to remind them, "Your food is waiting."
But Ruhani had distanced herself, and their meet ups had become scarce.
Ruhani replied to Akriti's message with a gentle decline, "I have work at home, Aakriti."
Aakriti probed, "What kind of work?"
Ruhani responded, "Some office tasks."
Aakriti persisted, "Do it at the office, then. I miss you. Come soon."
Seeing Aakriti's determination, Ruhani relented, "Why don't you come over instead?"
Aakriti's face lit up as she read the message, and she replied with a playful tone, "Okay, I'll be at your place in half an hour. Get the tea brewing!"
Aakriti grinned, sprang out of bed, and began getting ready to visit Ruhani.
She worried about Ruhani, who no longer laughed and joked like before. Ruhani, once the life of the party, had become subdued after the incident. Aakriti made it her mission to bring back Ruhani's sparkle.
Aakriti arrived at Kausal Bhavan in half an hour and rang the doorbell. Naina answered, beaming at the surprise visit. "Aakriti didi, it's been ages! What a pleasant surprise!"
Aakriti smiled, stepping inside. "Let's just say it's a surprise. How've you been? And where's Ruhani?"
Naina took a deep breath and replied, "I'm doing well, Aakriti didi. Ruhani didi is in her room, as usual."
Aakriti proceeded directly to Ruhani's room. Ruhani was still engrossed in her laptop when a knock on the door broke the silence.
Without shutting down her laptop, she got up to answer it. As she opened the door, Aakriti enveloped her in a warm hug, exclaiming, "It's been ages since we last met, friend!"
Ruhani chuckled, "Ages? We met just yesterday!"
Aakriti laughed, "Yes, but it's been ages since I've been to your home."
Just then, Aakriti swiftly shut down Ruhani's laptop and asked, "Where's the tea you promised?"
Mrs. Aabha entered with a tray of steaming cups, and Aakriti greeted her with folded hands, "Namaste Aunty! How are you?"
Mrs. Aabha smiled, "I'm well, dear. How are you? You rarely visit us; don't you remember your aunt anymore?"
Aakriti reassured her, "No, Aunty, it's not that. Office keeps me busy, but Ruhani and I meet outside often."
Mrs. Aabha smiled, gently stroking Aakriti's cheeks. "That's wonderful, dear. Keep meeting and visiting home often."
With a warm nod, she added, "Now, you two catch up and enjoy your tea."
As Mrs. Aabha left the room, Aakriti picked up her tea cup and asked Ruhani, "How's work going at the office?"
Ruhani's response was listless, "It's fine."
Aakriti's tone turned direct, "Have you still not forgotten him?"
Ruhani's hands stilled, and her eyes welled up as she gazed at Aakriti. The air was heavy with unspoken emotions.
*******
What happens next?
Why didn't Ruhani anymore sit with her family?
What was bothering her that she didn't want to disturb them?
What was she trying to divert her mind from?
Who was Aakriti referring to when she asked if Ruhani still hadn't forgotten?
Let me know in the comments and likes below!
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'Chat By Fate' exclusively on Web Novel.
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