2. Echoes of an Empty Heart

Author's POV

The next morning, Ishika woke up to the sound of her alarm. Groggily, she reached out to silence it and glanced at the time. She turned to the other side of the bed, her hand instinctively reaching out, only to find the sheets cold and untouched. A wave of sadness crashed over her, tightening her chest as her fingers brushed against the empty space beside her. Her brow furrowed, and for a moment, she just stared at the emptiness, a hollow ache spreading within her. Swallowing hard, she finally pulled herself from the bed, the silence of the room pressing in around her. Each step through her morning routine felt heavier than the last, her mind clouded with the absence of his husband.

By the time she reached the kitchen, the weight of the loneliness was nearly unbearable, her thoughts circling back to the bed, the emptiness that mirrored the hollow in her heart. She began preparing breakfast, but even the familiar rhythm of her hands couldn't shake the quiet ache that lingered.

After preparing breakfast, she hesitated, and walked toward Sahil's study. A flicker of hope stirred in her chest, her hand gently pushed the door. The soft creak echoed through the silence, and her heart sank when she saw it was empty.

The air felt heavy, the stillness suffocating, as if the room itself mourned his absence. She stood there for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the desk where his things kept neatly.

She sighed, the sound barely escaping her lips before she turned away. Back in the kitchen, she sat down with her breakfast, though the food felt tasteless. She forced a few bites, each one harder than the last.

As the minutes dragged on, her phone rang, breaking the silence. It was Aditi (her best friend).

"Hey!" Aditi's voice chimed on the other end, warm and eager. "How was the surprise dinner party with Sahil last night? I can't wait to hear all about it!"

For a moment, Ishika's throat tightened, the words refusing to form. Her fingers gripped the phone tightly.

"It..." she began, her voice trembling. "It didn't go as planned."

Aditi's excitement dimmed, replaced by concern. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked around the empty room.

"I don't know," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"He didn't come home, Aditi... Not for dinner, not for the cake... not for me." She let out a shaky breath, trying to keep her emotions steady, but the weight of disappointment hung heavy in her chest.

"It was his birthday, and he didn't even bother. I waited, God, I waited for hours. I had everything set up-the candles, the dinner-just hoping he'd walk through the door, But he didn't."

Her voice broke, the sadness creeping in, replacing the anger she'd held onto. "I don't even know what hurts more-that he didn't show up when I waited for him, or the fact that he doesn't care about me."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she swallowed them back, determined to keep some composure, though her heart felt like it was shattering. "I...I just-I feel invisible, like I'm disappearing in this marriage, Aditi. And I don't know how to stop it."

On the other end of the line, Aditi's voice came softly, filled with concern and care. "Ishika, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how that must feel. But listen to me, okay?"

Her tone was gentle but firm, the voice of someone who had been there through thick and thin. "You're not invisible, and you don't deserve to feel this way. You matter-so much. You've always been the heart of everything. If he can't see that it doesn't mean you're any less valuable."

Ishika let out a sigh, the weight of her emotions catching up with her, but Aditi continued, her words a lifeline. "Sometimes people drift, but that doesn't mean it's the end. Maybe he's dealing with things he doesn't know how to talk about. I know it doesn't excuse him not being there yesterday night, but maybe this is a sign that you two need to have a real conversation. About everything. You don't deserve to be left in the dark, Ishi."

Ishika swallowed hard, the ache in her throat growing, but Aditi's voice soothed the sting.

"I know it's hard. But don't give up on this without trying. You love him, maybe he's lost in his own mess, but that doesn't mean you're alone in this. You're strong. And no matter what, I'm always here, okay."

Tears slipped down Ishika's cheeks, but this time, it wasn't just sadness-it was relief.

"Thank you, Aditi," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I needed to hear that."

"I'm always here for you, Ishi," Aditi replied softly. "Call me if you feel like talking to someone, okay?"

"Hmm," Ishika managed to hummed, feeling a small sense of comfort settle in. "Bye Adi."

"Bye, Ishi.Take care of yourself."

The call ended, leaving Ishika alone in the quietness of the house, but the warmth of Aditi's words lingered, giving her strength to face whatever came next.

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End of the chapter.

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