Twister Hearts Chapter 4

College reopened for the new semester, and Pallavi looked unusually quiet, sad and withdrawn at the thought of spending two whole years without Aditya and Deepika around her.

Aditya watched her silently as she packed her bag. Without saying much, he pulled her along for breakfast. She went through everything mechanically and barely spoke to anyone.

Afterward, Aditya started his bike to drop her at college.

“Pavi, I will miss being around you but two years will fly by before you even realize it. Once I settle into a job, I will help you get into the same company. We shall be together again. Please smile… I hate seeing you like this,” he said gently as his heart ached seeing her sad.

Pallavi didn’t respond instead she leaned her head against his back and her tears silently soaked into his shirt. Aditya’s eyes brimmed feeling her tears on his back.

He sighed softly and tried to comfort her as they reached the college. Even as she walked through the gate, she kept turning back and waved at him again and again until she finally disappeared from his sight.

Aditya returned home but the entire day, he felt restless. His mind kept drifting to her, “What if she trips? What if someone troubles her?”  he thought and unable to shake off the worry, he went back in the evening to pick her up.

A smile appeared on both their lips upon seeing each other. Even the few hours felt like they had been away for years. On the way home, he stopped to buy her favorite chaat, just to cheer her up.

This became their routine and soon, Aditya and Deepika’s results were out.

Aditya immediately began searching for a job and within a month, he joined a company as a junior program analyst. The salary wasn’t great, but he was happy to have a start. He was determined to gain experience and move on to a better-paying job in the future.

Deepika, meanwhile, joined a nearby school as a teacher.

Life slowly settled into a new routine.

Aditya missed spending time with both Deepika and Pallavi. Though they still saw each other every morning but it wasn’t the same. He also enrolled in a professional course, leaving him with almost no free time and even Sundays were packed.

Pallavi felt his absence deeply. Many nights, she would quietly cry in the bathroom, hiding her tears from everyone at home. In front of her family, she pretended to be her usual self but in her diary, she poured out everything, how much she missed Aditya, how empty her days felt without him.

Every morning, the moment she saw him, she would run to him and hug him tightly, as if trying to hold onto every second she got.

And Aditya, understanding her in his own way, would bring her favorite chocolates, a small attempts to comfort her and to keep her smiling. He would do anything to see her smile.

Six months passed and one evening Aditya returned home looking both happy and troubled. Deepika and Pallavi were on the terrace and noticing him early, they waved at him. Aditya hurried upstairs and the moment he reached, Pallavi ran to him and hugged him tightly.

Aditya smiled and gently patted her back before looking at Deepika. He reached out, held her hand for a brief moment and softly brushed his fingers against hers and then let go.

” have been selected for a new project… in New Zealand,” he said and both the girls froze.

“I’ll have to leave next month. I’ll be staying there for at least two years. It’s a great opportunity… and with this experience, I’ll have better chances for promotion.” he said and the words sank in slowly.

“Aadhi… two years? What about me and Deepi? We will miss you so much…” Pallavi’s voice trembled and her eyes filled with tears.

Deepika swallowed her emotions and asked softly, “But… it’s only been six months since you joined. How did they choose you?”

Aditya exhaled. “I have been learning constantly. Last month, I worked on a module that impressed my team leader. He said I had potential and recommended me for this project as a junior programmer. I have always wanted a better job and opportunities like this don’t come often. I’ll miss you both… but when I come back, I’ll be in a much better place.” he explained and Deepika nodded, even though her heart felt heavy.

Beside her, Pallavi hiccupped softly, biting her lip to stop herself from crying. Aditya cupped her face and wiped her tears.

“Pavi… you are a strong girl. I’ll miss you a lot. I don’t even have words to explain how much. But don’t you want your best friend to grow in his career?” he said gently. Then, with a playful wink, he added, “Think about the future… I’ll need a good job and salary to take care of my wife.” he said and his eyes flickered toward Deepika.

Deepika’s heart skipped a beat while Pallavi froze and her cheeks turned pink.

” I should tell him… I should confess before he leaves. No… I’ll wait. I’ll tell him when he comes back ” she thought and simply nodded.

“Two years will pass in no time. You will finish college and enjoy your holidays at home,” Aditya teased lightly.

“No, Aadhi, I want to work too… I want to support my husband. I’ll join an academy and start learning programming now. By the time I finish college, I’ll be ready for a good job.” Pallavi said, surprising him.

Aditya looked at her, genuinely impressed and patted her head.

“What about you, Deepi?” he asked, stepping closer to her. For a brief moment, his hand rested over hers on the parapet wall before he pulled away.

Deepika took a breath. “I don’t want to work. I want to be a homemaker… take care of my family and support my husband that way. Family and children matter to me. If both parents keep running behind work, what happens to the children?” she said softly.

Both Aditya and Pallavi stared at her in surprise.

“Deepi… looks like you have planned everything already, so… how many kids?” Pallavi said, still stunned.

“Two,” Deepika replied shyly, almost as a whisper and her gaze flickered toward Aditya.

“You are too modest. I want at least four or five kids. The house should be full of noise… children running everywhere ” Pallavi said instantly and she glanced at Aditya from the corner of her eyes.

“You are already chaos, five kids will turn your house into a complete disaster,” he added, laughing as he pinched her nose and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Once the girls seemed a little calmer, Aditya went back home and informed his parents about the opportunity.

With each passing day, Pallavi grew quieter. She went about her routine like a robot, her emotions clearly written on her face. Deepika was just as heartbroken, but she held onto the belief that Aditya was doing this for the future she had always dreamed of with him.

“I will propose to you once you return from New Zealand,” Deepika too decided silently, even as she encouraged him to stay focused on his work.

Finally, the day arrived. Aditya’s parents, along with Deepika and Pallavi’s parents, gathered to wish him and bid him an emotional goodbye. Deepika and Pallavi accompanied him to the airport. Pallavi was barely holding herself together.

Aditya placed his luggage on the trolley and turned to face them.

“Aadhi, wish you all the best. Focus on your work… and please call us whenever you can. I will miss you,” Deepika said softly before hugging him. Aditya hugged her back and gently squeezed her hand.

“I have something important to share with you… but I need this time to build my career before we talk. Take care of yourself,” he whispered and Deepika’s heart fluttered.

“What does he want to tell me? Does he love me too? Is that why he has been showing all those little gestures…?” she wondered, hugging him tighter before stepping back.

“Pavi…” Aditya called and the very next second, Pallavi threw herself into his arms. She broke down completely and her tears soaked his shirt.

“I will miss you, Aadhi… what will I do without you? Please don’t leave me… find a job here, even if the salary is less,” she cried.

Aditya swallowed hard and his own eyes filled with tears as she clung to him.

“Pavi… just two years, and I’ll be back. I’ll try to call you every day or at least three times a week. You promised to focus on your studies, didn’t you? And didn’t you want to become a programmer even before finishing college?” he said, trying to steady his voice.

“You are my brave girl… and you know I hate seeing you cry. Walk carefully, don’t trip. Don’t let anyone bully you. Eat on time… and don’t eat anything that makes you sick. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll come back and screw your ears,” he added.

Pallavi hit his chest weakly. “I will miss you, Aadhi,” she sobbed.

“I will miss you a lot, Pavi… please be safe, for my sake. I can’t be in peace knowing you aren’t taking care of you ” he said and his voice broke. She tightened her hold around him.

Aditya pulled back, but the moment he saw her face, her red eyes, her uncontrollable tears, his heart shattered and he pulled her into another hug.

“Please stop crying, Pavi… I can’t leave seeing you like this. I promise I’ll call you every day. I’ll send you chocolates,” he said, trying to comfort her.

Then he turned to Deepika and wiped his tears.

“Please take care of her. Make sure she eats on time. If she falls sick, call me immediately,” he said and she nodded her head.

He opened his duffle bag and handed a box of chocolates to Pallavi. She opened it, took a piece, and fed it to him, still hiccupping like a child. Aditya gently held her head and kissed her crown, clenching his jaw to hold back his tears.

“I have to go now. I’ll call you once I reach,” he said and Pallavi nodded weakly with a heavy heart.

Aditya waved at them as he walked away, until he finally disappeared beyond the security check.

Pallavi broke down even more and Deepika pulled her into a hug.

“Calm down, Pallavi. He is going towards a bright future. You should be wishing him well… but here you are crying like a baby. He promised to call us. He will be back by the time you finish college. Come… let’s go home. I’ll buy you ice cream.” she said gently but Pallavi shook her head.

“Let’s go home. I won’t eat ice cream until Aadhi comes back. I won’t eat chocolates either. I’ll save all the chocolates he sends me. I’ll only eat sweets the day he returns,” she said, wiping her tears.

Deepika stood stunned at her words. She had always known that Pallavi and Aditya were close, partners in crime but the depth of their bond, the intensity of their emotions at this separation… it shook her.

It was also the first time she had seen Aditya cry. And somewhere deep inside, a small pain crept in, he hadn’t cried like that for her.

She quickly pushed the thought away, telling herself she was overthinking. Silently, she held Pallavi’s hand and led her back home.

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