-27

                                    

                                          
-
AUTHOR'S POV 
Vidhyukta awoke disoriented, her body still heavy with sleep as she adjusted to the morning light filtering in through the curtains. It took her a moment to remember where she was  sprawled on the sofa in their living room between the plush cushions that had most likely conspired against her. A distant clock chimed, signaling the time, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Rudra hadn’t returned from his business trip to the USA, and it had already been a day past the expected arrival.
She stretched and sat up, feeling the familiar ache of worry prickling at the back of her mind. They had been married for just a couple of years, yet lately, there was an unsettling distance drifting between them like an impenetrable fog. 
Unlike the days when Rudra would call her several times, checking in on her and sharing snippets of his day, his communication had dwindled during this trip. He hadn’t been his usual affectionate self during the weeks leading up to the trip either. Was it work? Was it something else? Each unanswered question festered anxiety in her heart.
"I shouldn't miss him this way, i really shouldn't" Vidhyukta said to herself.
Rising from the sofa, Vidhyukta made her way to the bathroom. The hot water of the shower cascaded over her, washing away the remnants of sleep and enveloping her in calm. The steam mirrored her thoughts, swirling and dissipating yet leaving behind an essence of confusion. After a long shower and a thorough cleansing of both her body and mind, she felt slightly more coherent but still heavy-hearted.
Wrapping herself in a towel, she returned to the bedroom. As her eyes roamed the wardrobe, her gaze fell on Rudra’s hoodie, hanging slightly askew among her dresses. 
She hadn’t worn it since he left, but today seemed different; today, she needed it. The moment she pulled it off the hanger, a rush of warmth surged through her. It smelled like him, a comforting mix of his cologne and the lingering scent of fabric softener.
“Why do I miss you so much?” she whispered to the empty room.
Dressing quickly in her jeans and the oversized hoodie, she glanced in the mirror. The ensemble felt familiar, almost like a hug that promised solace. The fabric hugged her figure in a cocoon of warmth, so she lingered for a moment, collecting her thoughts. Today, she promised herself, it would be a good day.
Heading to the kitchen, she prepared a simple breakfast, her hands methodically chopping vegetables as her mind raced with thoughts of Rudra. 
"I think i should drop him a txt" Vidhyukta thought.
-
OTP 
"You there? Are you free right now? When will you be back?" She texted him. She stared at the screen of her phone being zoned out. Until her hand touched the hot pan, and she hissed lightly.
-
As she cooked, a sense of emptiness filled the kitchen. He should have been there, making jokes about her cooking or sipping coffee while reading the news. Instead, the silence pressed heavily against her.
After she finished eating, the chime of the doorbell broke the quiet atmosphere, sending a jolt of hope through her. Could it be Rudra? Maybe he had returned early? Elated, she raced to the door, only to find her best friend, Ipshita, standing outside. Her smile faltered the moment she realized Rudra was still absent.
“hi meri phooljhadiii” Ipshita said, stepping into the warm embrace of their home. Her tone was bright, but Vidhyukta could sense the moment her friend noticed the change in her demeanor.
"Kya hogaya tujhe? Itni shant kyun lag rahi hai?" Ipshita asked as she noticed Vidhyukta's mood being off.
(Tr: what happened to you? Why are you so quite today?)
Vidhyukta forced a smile. “I just… thought it was Rudra.” The admission hung in the air, heavy and charged with emotion.
“vidhu!! Rudra nahi aaya abhi tak?” Ipshita said softly. While Vidhyukta nodded in no. 
(Tr: didn't rudra get back home yet?)
She approached and enveloped Vidhyukta in a warm embrace. “You’ve been on edge since he left. What’s going on?”
Vidhyukta shrugged, her heart aching. “It’s just… he hasn’t called much. He didn’t even come back when he was supposed to. It’s like… like he’s pulling away from me. I don’t know if it’s work or something else. I feel so alone right now.”
“I know it’s hard, but you have to give him some time,” Ipshita said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “Business trips can be really chaotic. Maybe something came up?”
“Yeah, but he’s always been good about keeping me in the loop. This feels different. He hasn’t even sent me a text today. It’s like he’s… almost avoiding me. It’s so frustrating!”
Ipshita reached across the table, grasping Vidhyukta’s hands in hers. “Have you tried talking to him? I mean, really talking to him?”
“I don’t want to seem needy or desperate. What if he tells me he’s too busy? Or worse that he just needs space?” She pulled her hands away as if the thought pained her.
“Vidhyukta,” Ipshita said firmly, “you are neither needy nor desperate for caring about your relationship. If something feels off, you have every right to voice your concerns. Communication is key, you know that.”
Taking a deep breath, Vidhyukta felt the pressure in her chest ease slightly. “I know you’re right. I just don’t want to overreact. What if I’m just being paranoid?”
“It’s okay to want reassurance from the person you love. You’re not just a passing thought in his life; he should treat you like you matter. This isn’t just about you waiting at home; you deserve love and attention, too.”
“I miss him so much, Ipshita. It’s like… I don’t even know who I am when he’s not around.” Vidhyukta’s voice trembled, and she fought back tears.
 Ipshita finally broke the stillness. “Maybe he’s just busy'
“But this feels different,” Vidhyukta said. “Rudra was always so attentive, and now… it’s just this cold distance.”
“Maybe all he needs is a reminder of how much he means to you. Get him a little gift, something thoughtful. It’ll remind him of home.” The spark of excitement returned in Ipshita’s tone. “You know he always loves your surprises.”
Vidhyukta chuckled softly, her mood lifting a little. “What would I even get him?”
Ipshita tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Something that has meaning for both of you. Remember he loves coffee?"
“Yeah, he used to talk about the coffee, always saying it was the best.” Vidhyukta’s eyes lit up with the memory.
“Then how about a custom coffee mug or perhaps that blend they serve there? It’ll keep him connected to you. He’ll appreciate the thought.”
“Not a bad idea.” Vidhyukta was starting to feel a little more hopeful. Besides, it was about doing something, anything, instead of just waiting in despair.
“See? That’s the spirit!” Ipshita exclaimed. “And you should really feel free to talk to him. It doesn’t have to be confrontational. You can frame it as checking in on him.”
Vidhyukta nodded slowly, absorbing her friend’s comforting words. “You’re right. I think I needed this. Thanks for being here.”
“I’m always here for you, Vidhu. Come what may.” Ipshita smiled, the warmth of their friendship enveloping the room like a soft blanket.
As the morning light poured into the kitchen, illuminating their conversation, Vidhyukta felt a sense of calm resolve wash over her. Whatever was going on with Rudra, she would address it. She would reach out, not out of desperation, but from a place of  concern.
_