Abhinav gently envelops Aaradhya from behind, his arms sliding over her, while his chin finds a resting place on her shoulder.

"What time do you leave tomorrow?”
“8AM,” Aaradhya answered softly, turning her face a little until her cheeks are brushing against him.

“I will see you off,hmm?” he murmurs slowly.

“But you have a morning meet tomorrow,” Aaradhya whispered. She held the arms he has wrapped around her.

Abhi says nothing in return, he just tilts his face and kissed her neck. “Precious” he whispers after a few seconds of silence, his soft lips brushes against her neck and his warm breath tickled her.

“Hmm?” Aaradhya turned her head a little towards him.

“I’ll miss you. I already do,” he murmured pressing his forehead on her shoulder.

Aaradhya turned towards him then cupped his face and lightly touched Abhi's lips and coaxed, "I'll be back soon, hmm..", which earned a tight hug from Abhi.

Abhi felt that if Aaradhya continued like this, he would really be addicted.

Abhi: "Call me if you have anything."

Aadhya: "Okay."

Abhi: "You can call me for anything."

Aadhya nodded: "Okay."

Abhi thought for a while and then added: "You can call me anytime."

Aadhya smiled and nodded: "Okay."

After a while, Abhi said again: "Well, at least one phone call a day and three texts. I'll wait for you."

Aadhya nodded: "Okay."

Aaradhya almost couldn't help but laugh.

"You are still laughing, won't you miss me?" Abhi sulked.

Aaradhya ruffled his hair and said " I'll miss you as well and I want to look at you at every waking moment. When I can't see you, I'll constantly be thinking about you," her voice was soft.

It was the middle of the night, so it was quiet and there were no other sounds nearby. There was only sounds of cicadas and a slight breeze of wind blowing to accompany the pair.

Aadhya woke up early in the morning, filled with excitement and anticipation. Today was the day she had been eagerly waiting for—her adventure trip with her besties. They had meticulously planned their vacation, exploring thrilling activities, picturesque destinations, and challenging adventures.

With their backpacks ready, Aaradhya, Keerthi, Ramya, and Swetha embarked on an exhilarating adventure-packed vacation that would become the journey of a lifetime. Their excitement was palpable as they set out on a road trip across the country, armed with a map and a playlist of upbeat tunes.

Their first stop was a dense forest. The air was crisp, and the fragrance of the trees invigorated their senses. They ventured into the wilderness, guided by a local expert. The forest was teeming with life, with colorful birds chirping and monkeys swinging from tree branches. They marveled at the beauty of nature as they trekked deeper into the forest, navigating through narrow paths and crossing small streams.

Ramya planned to go for a challenging hike, as they climbed steep trails and navigated through dense forests, their laughter echoed, and they exchanged stories. Ramya, who was an experienced hiker, shared tips to keep the group motivated. Keerthi's enthusiasm was infectious, as she cheered them on during the toughest sections.

After an exhilarating hike, they reached a roaring waterfall. The cascading water crashed against the rocks, creating a mesmerizing sight. Aaradhya and gang couldn't resist the temptation to take a dip in the crystal-clear pool at the base of the waterfall. They laughed and splashed around, feeling refreshed by the cool water. It was an unforgettable moment of pure joy.

Daily Aaradhya would have calls and chats with Abhinav and shares their adventure pics and stories.

In the next leg of their trip, they explored new cities, immersing themselves in local cultures and trying out delicious regional cuisines. The conversations shifted from their own cultures to the diverse ones they were encountering. Aaradhya's curiosity led them to hidden gems and quirky landmarks, while Swetha's sense of direction ensured they never got lost.

As they drove through the winding roads, Swetha turned to Aaradhya who's looking out the window in daze after a call with Abhinav and asked, "Are you missing your professor?"

Aaradhya sighed playfully, "Of course I do, unlike you singles."

Keerthi, Ramya and Swetha: "Aww... Let's eliminate this traitor from the group."

Aaradhya laughed at their dramatic antics.

Abhinav was sometimes ridiculously childish with Aaradhya. He went to his meetings with his phone in silent mode and was always afraid Aaradhya would urgently need to find him. So every time before he have a meeting to attend, he would send her a 'Going to the meeting' on WhatsApp, one or two hours later he'd come out to rest and send 'I came out' thirty minutes later, if he have another meeting, he would send 'Going again'.

If Aaradhya still didn't reply to him by the time he came out, he would then send the 'you forgot me' meme.

As they were both not together, they could only video chat at night. This clinginess was not an annoyance; in fact, it was the thing that bound them together.

Love did not have to be declared to the world, but it had to be heard by one's loved one.

Aadhya and gang's spirits soared even higher when they tried water flyboarding at a serene beach. The initial nervousness melted into gales of laughter as they took turns soaring above the water. Swetha's fearless nature shone as she mastered the art of balance, while Keerthi's determination helped her overcome her initial hesitations.

Skydiving was the ultimate test of courage, and the group's pre-jump conversations were filled with nervous excitement.

Keerthi is little afraid of heights, but there is a restless factor hidden in her bones.

For example, she has a certain degree of curiosity and enthusiasm for many high-risk sports, such as skiing, skydiving, bungee jumping, but unfortunately she has not had time to try all of these.

As they put on the protective gear, Aaradhya glanced at Keerthi beside her who was obviously nervous and said. "Let's do it together."

Keerthi nodded with a smile. In fact, before diving into the air her hands were sweating.

When she stepped onto the corridor and looked down, the words Unforgettable immediately appeared in her mind.

Obviously she knew there was no danger, but he was already cold and his hands and feet were soft.

"Why don't you close your eyes and I take you?", proposed Aaradhya.

Keerthi denied, "Isn't that in vain?"

Once in the air, their screams turned to exhilarated cheers as they experienced the rush of freefall. Aaradhya's screams turned to laughter, Swetha couldn't stop shouting in amazement, and Ramya couldn't believe how liberating it felt. Keerthi, typically afraid of heights, felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

As the days went by, Aaradhya found herself thinking more and more about Abhi. She missed his warm hugs, his companionship, and his unwavering support. She wished he was there to share this incredible adventure with her.

Meanwhile, Abhinav was back home missing her just as much. He had been keeping busy with work and spending time with friends, but he couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that came suddenly with Aaradhya's absence as if he had never been alone in those twenty plus years. He found himself constantly checking his phone, hoping for a message or a call from her.

It had been too long since they had seen each other. That night, the two of them coincidentally had nothing to do. Additionally, they both missed each other. Thus, they shared a rather long video chat over the phone.

Abhinav looks haggard with dark marks under his eyes.

"Abhi, aren't you been sleeping well?", Aaradhya questioned worriedly.

"It's just been busier here at the company lately," Abhi denied dismissively.

Abhinav's voice was unfathomably soft and gorgeous when he uttered, "Precious, I miss you," his deep eyes staring straight at Aaradhya's. Within the depths of his eyes seemed to be an endless stream of affection. It was so scalding it felt like it could melt people.

They talked until Abhinav fell asleep. His breathing evened out. Aaradhya softly asked, “Asleep, baby?”

Nobody responded. Aaradhya kissed her phone before hanging up.

That night Aaradhya spent sometime on sending a message to Abhinav before she went to bed.

The next morning Abhinav woke up and found that he had a message from Aaradhya which says, "Abhi, go open that mini program."

The mini program was one Aaradhya had coded herself. Upon launch, the interface displayed the words 'Checkpoint No. 1'. Abhinav tapped in and found that it was a little game where he could move his character around to find the treasure. After managing to clear the task, he received the game's reward.

It was an audio clip. Abhi brought his cell phone to his ear and hit play. Instantly, Aaradhya's warm and captivating voice drifted out: "Baby, I miss you a little, nah a little too much, a little too often, and a whole lot more each day. Love you baby, take care of yourself."

Abhinav had a warm smile on his face and his heart beat went wild.

He repeated the audio clip over and over and over again. Every single time, it was just as sweet.

Argh..Now I miss her even more, he thought.

12/08/2023

♡♡♡♡♡

See you all in the next update 💕

___To be continued 🥀