Author's POV~

The evening had finally settled in, casting the world in deep shades of blue and black. Kriti sat alone in her room, the quietness pressing in on her from all sides. She felt a hollowness inside as she missed Aayansh deeply, and as the darkness wrapped around the house, an unspoken voice reminded her of how empty the space around her had become.

She glanced at the clock, hoping, wishing, that any moment now he would walk through the door. But the minutes stretched on, and the silence remained. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she rose from her bed and made her way to the garden. She stepped outside, her eyes scanning the familiar paths, searching for any trace of him. The cool evening air whispered through the trees, but there was no sign of Aayansh.

Disappointment gripped her tightly as she walked back inside.
She slumped onto the couch, sinking into its cushions, but comfort was far from her reach. Her thoughts were consumed by Aayansh– where he was, what he was doing, why he hadn't come home yet. She missed him so much, and yet she knew she had no choice but to wait.

Just as she was beginning to lose herself in her thoughts, a sharp pang of hunger hit her. It was an unwelcome reminder of how long she’d gone without eating. With a soft groan, Kriti got up and headed to the kitchen.