Chapter 15
499 Words
Arohi stepped into a dark, quiet home. She frowned, reaching for the light switch when—
*Click.*
The lights suddenly flickered on, revealing Ishaan standing in the middle of the living room with a wide grin.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Ishaan?!"
Before she could process, he took a step closer, stuffing his hands into his pockets with a smirk. "Surprised?"
Arohi blinked. "What—How—Weren’t you supposed to come back in four days?"
"I finished my work early," he said simply. "Took the first flight back. Couldn’t stay away any longer."
Arohi’s heart did an odd little flip, but she quickly ignored it. Instead, she narrowed her eyes playfully. "Did you break any laws to get back this fast?"
Ishaan chuckled. "Nope, just worked my ass off."
Before she could respond, the aroma of freshly cooked food hit her. She turned toward the dining table and gasped. "You cooked?"
Ishaan leaned against the couch, arms crossed. "I figured my welcome-home surprise wouldn’t be complete without your favorite meal."
Arohi’s lips parted in disbelief before a slow smile formed. "You really missed me, huh?"
Ishaan scoffed, walking past her toward the table. "Don't let it get to your head, child. Now, sit. Eat."
They sat across from each other, eating and talking like no time had passed.
At one point, Arohi’s eyes landed on his wrist. The silver bracelet she had gifted him gleamed under the dining lights.
Her fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of her glass as she said, "The bracelet looks good on you."
Ishaan glanced at it, then back at her, his smirk softening. "Yeah? Been wearing it every day."
Something warm settled in her chest, but she quickly looked down at her plate. "Good."
They continued eating, the atmosphere between them feeling lighter—easier.
After dinner, Ishaan stretched lazily. "Let’s go for a drive."
Arohi raised a brow. "Where?"
"For ice cream."
She smiled. "You really missed home."
He winked. "Maybe."
The cool night air brushed against their skin as Ishaan drove through the quiet streets, the radio playing softly in the background. Arohi took a spoonful of her ice cream, humming in satisfaction.
"So," Ishaan glanced at her. "How’s work been?"
Arohi leaned back in her seat, looking out the window. "Busy but good. I actually started preparing for my first lecture."
Ishaan grinned. "Nervous?"
"A little," she admitted. "But excited too."
"You’ll do great," he said confidently.
She smiled at his unwavering belief in her. "And you? How was Texas?"
"Exhausting," he said with a sigh. "But the project turned out well. Still, nothing beats home."
Arohi took another bite of her ice cream, hiding her smile.
It was strange. The past few weeks had made her realize something—being apart from Ishaan felt… odd. Like something was missing.
And now that he was back, everything just felt right again.
She wouldn’t admit it out loud just yet, but maybe—just maybe—she had missed him too.
- Writer
