43. Farewells & Finals

Author's POV

Around 11 o'clock

Ishika sat hunched over the table, her pen moving tirelessly as she checked the answer sheets of her students. The bright lights of the room illuminated the exhaustion on her face, the slight furrow of her brows, the way she occasionally stretched her sore fingers before picking up the pen again.

Sahil stepped out of his study room, rubbing the back of his neck after hours of documents. As he glanced towards the bedroom, his eyes immediately found her-still buried in her work, just as she had been when he left.

A deep frown settled on his face. She hadn't even taken a break.

With measured steps, he walked towards her and asked, "Ishika, are you not going to sleep?"

She didn't look up. "I still have to check these papers and upload the marks on the record sheets," she murmured, her voice laced with exhaustion. "It'll take some more time."

Sahil let out a heavy sigh before settling beside her on the couch. The sudden movement startled her, making her look up at him in confusion.

"What happened?" she asked, blinking at him. "Is the light bothering you? I can move to the living room if it is."

Sahil scoffed, shaking his head. Was that really what she was thinking about? His discomfort? Even when she was the one exhausting herself beyond reason? His gaze lingered on her-her tired eyes, the soft furrow of her brows, the way she rubbed her wrist absentmindedly, probably sore from all the writing.

His heart clenched. How could someone be so selfless?

He hadn't intended to stare, but he found himself lost in her eyes, mesmerized by the quiet sincerity in them.

Ishika, noticing his silence, waved a hand in front of his face. "Sahil?" she called, pulling him out of his daze.

Blinking, he quickly looked away, clearing his throat. "Uh... I was asking if you need my help with this."

She tilted her head and chuckled softly. "And how exactly are you planning to help me?"

Sahil glanced at the papers and, without hesitation, said, "You check the papers, and I'll upload the marks on the sheets."

Ishika raised a brow, amused. "Oh? That sounds fair." She smiled warmly before nodding. "Alright."

And so, they worked side by side, the quiet rustle of papers and the soft tapping of keys filling the room. Every now and then, Sahil would glance at her, watching as she pushed back stray strands of hair, and as she bit her lip in concentration, how her fingers hesitated before writing, exhaustion clearly weighing on her. He had never seen someone so dedicated, so passionate about their work.

Minutes stretched into an hour, but at last, Ishika set her pen down with a relieved sigh. "Finally," she breathed, stretching her stiff arms.

Sahil smirked. "Told you teamwork makes everything easier."

She turned to him, her tired eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Sahil."

Something in his chest tightened at the way she looked at him, the warmth in her voice making his pulse stutter.

He forced himself to look away, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anytime."

But even as he turned his gaze elsewhere, he knew-he would do this a hundred times over if it meant seeing that smile on her face again.

After a while, Sahil walked over to the dresser, picked up the small oil bottle, and returned to her side. Ishika watched him with a puzzled expression, her brows knitting together. Without a word, he poured some oil into his palms, then gently took hold of her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers as he began to massage her fingers and palm with slow, soothing motions.

Ishika's confusion deepened. She stared at him, her voice soft yet filled with curiosity. "What are you doing?"

Without looking up, Sahil murmured, "It'll help you feel better."

Her heart skipped a beat. Something about his quiet care, the way his touch lingered just a little longer than necessary, made her chest tighten. She kept looking at him, unblinking, as if trying to decipher the emotions hidden in his gestures.

Sahil must have felt the weight of her gaze because he finally lifted his eyes to hers. And in that moment, their eyes locked. Unspoken emotions swirled between them, an invisible thread pulling them closer. Neither of them moved, neither of them spoke-just staring, lost in the quiet intensity of the moment.

After what felt like an eternity, Ishika broke the eye contact, lowering her gaze to their joined hands. Sahil exhaled subtly before taking her other hand into his. His voice was low but firm as he said, "I'll leave at five in the morning."

Ishika's head snapped up. "That early?" she asked, surprised.

Sahil nodded. "Yeah."

A soft frown formed on her face. "I'll pack your bag," she said quietly.

Sahil let out a slow sigh. The last time she packed his luggage was three months ago, and it felt like a long time. He wished, more than anything, that she could do it again-because in those small moments, when she carefully folded his clothes and placed everything just right, it felt like someone was waiting for him back home.

He never thought he could miss something as simple as this-a small, ordinary gesture. It wasn't just about the packing; it was about the feeling it gave him-that quiet, unspoken warmth of knowing someone else was there in his life, standing beside him. Because without her, there was no one. No direct family, no one to call his own. Without her, he would be completely alone. But a glance at the time made him hesitate.

He shook his head lightly. "You should go to sleep. I'll pack my bag."

A silence stretched between them after that. Neither of them knew what else to say. The weight of unspoken words hung in the air.

After a moment, Sahil stood up, walked over to the dresser, and placed the bottle back in its spot. Then, without another glance, he turned toward the door. As he opened it, he hesitated. He looked back at her, his voice softer now, almost gentle.

"Good night, Ishika."

Ishika met his gaze, something unreadable flickering in her eyes before she gave a small nod. "Good night," she whispered.

Sahil lingered for just a second longer before stepping out, shutting the door behind him with quiet finality. Then, with a heavy heart, he walked toward the study room, leaving behind the echoes of words left unsaid.

***

Next Day,

Around three o'clock, Sahil entered the room to get ready. He glanced at Ishika, who was sleeping peacefully, before heading to the bathroom. After freshening up, he walked into the walk-in closet. As he got dressed, he began searching for his suitcase to start packing.

However, his gaze fell on a corner of the room, where a suitcase sat with a note attached to it. The note read:

"I have packed your bag. Don't overthink it-I just did it to help you, that's all. Have a safe journey."

Reading her words made Sahil's heart flutter.

He looked at the suitcase, a soft smile forming on his lips. It was the same suitcase she had purchased shortly after their marriage. It was off white, a colour he didn't fancy because it got dirty easily. Yet, he had used it for every business trip, including today.

He was looking back at all those moments when she was really considerate about him, but he thought that she was doing all to make him fulfill her uncle's demand. He was really a jerk to behave like this, he was such a idiot to overlook her care about him. Now, he was missing all those moments because those moments unconsciously made him attached to her. He was became so dependent on her back then.

Sahil walked back into the room, his steps slow and hesitant as his eyes fell on Ishika, still peacefully asleep. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated her delicate features, making her look even more ethereal. His heart ached as he sat beside her on the bed, his fingers trembling slightly as he reached out to touch her face.

His thumb brushed over her cheek, the warmth of her skin sending a wave of emotions crashing through him. Regret, longing, love-so much love that it felt overwhelming. His dark eyes, usually guarded, now held nothing but raw vulnerability as he gazed at her, memorizing every detail.

A shaky breath escaped him before he whispered, "I will fix everything after I come back from this trip. I promise, Ishika, I will do everything to win you back." His voice wavered with emotion, but there was unwavering determination in his words. "This time, I won't hide my feelings. I will confess everything to you."

He paused, his gaze shifting to her hand resting beside her. The engagement ring on her finger caught the light, a symbol of the bond they shared, a bond he had almost lost. His chest tightened as he gently took her hand in his, his fingers tracing the ring as if engraving the moment in his soul.

Bringing her hand to his lips, he pressed a lingering kiss against the ring, his silent vow sealed in that touch.

As if she felt something, Ishika stirred in her sleep, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she turned to her side. Sahil froze, watching her closely, afraid to wake her yet yearning for her to open her eyes.

With utmost care, he placed her hand back where it was, tucking it gently against her. Leaning in, he whispered, "Be safe."

And this time, he couldn't resist. He bent down, pressing a tender kiss to her temple, letting his lips linger just a second longer, as if pouring all his unspoken love into that touch.

His eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he pulled away, knowing that this time, he wouldn't run from his feelings. This time, he would fight for her.

Sahil lingered for a moment, his eyes tracing every inch of Ishika's face as she slept, oblivious to the storm raging inside him. He wanted to stay, to wrap her in his arms and never leave, but he knew he had to go. This trip was important, but not as important as what he would do after coming back.

With a heavy heart, he stood up, his movements slow, reluctant. He picked up his suitcase, taking one last glance at her before heading toward the door. His fingers hesitated on the doorknob. A part of him wished she would wake up, call out his name, stop him-tell him that she still cared, that there was still hope.

But she remained still, lost in her dreams.

Sahil sighed, forcing himself to leave. As he stepped into the hallway, he turned back one last time, memorizing the sight of her in the dim light. Wait for me, Ishika. Just this once... wait for me.

With that silent plea in his heart, he walked away.

A Few Hours Later...

The flight was smooth, but Sahil's mind was anything but. He sat by the window, staring at the endless sky, his thoughts consumed by Ishika. The way she used to smile at him, the way her eyes sparkled when she was happy, the way her presence alone made him feel at home. And yet, he had let misunderstandings and his own fears push her away.

Not anymore.

As soon as he returned, he would set everything right. He would tell her the truth, bare his soul, and do whatever it took to make her believe in them again.

.

.

.

.

Ishika woke up from her sleep to an unusual silence. She picked up her phone and checked the time-6 AM. Letting out a deep sigh, she got up and walked to the washroom. The entire mansion felt eerily quiet.

So, he left.

Her eyes fell on the empty space where the suitcase had been-the one she had packed for him. A strange heaviness settled in her chest. He had gone on business trips before, yet this time, something felt different.

Maybe it was because, over the past month, they had grown a little closer. They had started having breakfast and dinner together. Conversations between them, once distant, had become natural, effortless.

She had gotten used to it. Even though she knew she shouldn't have.

She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling creeping into her heart. It was foolish to expect anything different, yet she couldn't help it. Over the past few weeks, their carefully maintained distance had started to blur. It was subtle-small moments, shared glances, quiet conversations that lingered longer than necessary.

Ishika stepped toward the window, drawing the curtains aside. The city outside was slowly waking up, bathed in the soft glow of dawn. Yet, inside, the mansion felt empty.

Sighing, she placed the phone back on the nightstand and walked toward the wardrobe.

***

One Week Later,

Abhinav's exam started today, and like a royal prince heading into battle, his ever-loyal entourage-Aditi and Ishika-had come along to see him off. They were all sitting in a restaurant near the exam center, but the only one who looked like he was about to take an exam was Ishika.

"Do you have your Admit Card and ID?" Ishika asked, peering at him like a detective about to crack a case.

Abhinav groaned, tilting his head back dramatically. "Di, it's not like this is my first exam! Why are you panicking as if you're the one sitting for it?"

Ishika opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again-like a fish realizing it forgot how to swim. "I-I'm just making sure!" she muttered, looking away, cheeks heating up.

Aditi smirked. "Ishika, you do realize he's the one taking the test, right? Not you?"

Ishika huffed. "Exams stress me out, okay? Even when they're not mine!"

Abhinav sighed, shaking his head. "Next time, I'll bring two admit cards-one for me and one for your anxiety."

Aditi snorted, while Ishika smacked him lightly on the arm. "Just go and ace your exam before I start quizzing you myself!"

Abhinav quickly grabbed his bag and ran off, fearing Ishika's pop quiz more than the actual exam.

As Abhinav dashed off toward the exam center, Ishika crossed her arms and let out a dramatic sigh. "I swear, this boy acts like he doesn't need my concern. One day, he'll forget something important, and then who will be panicking?"

Aditi smirked, taking a sip of her cold coffee. "You. You'll be panicking."

Ishika shot her a glare. "Not the point!"

Aditi chuckled, stirring her straw in the cup. "Admit it, you're worse than a strict mom dropping her kid off at kindergarten."

"Excuse me? I am a responsible elder sister, thank you very much!" Ishika flipped her hair, but her expression faltered when Aditi gave her a knowing look.

"Responsible? You made us all late because you were busy double-checking your own bag instead of Abhinav's."

Ishika gasped. "That was just to make sure I had everything-what if he needed something?"

Aditi raised an eyebrow. "Right, because I'm sure Abhinav desperately needed your extra hair ties and scented hand sanitizer before his exam."

Ishika rolled her eyes. "I was just being prepared!"

Aditi leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "You know, for someone who gets this stressed about exams, it's a miracle you became a teacher."

Ishika blinked. "Excuse me?"

Aditi smirked. "You're sitting here acting like Abhinav's about to walk into war, and yet you willingly chose a profession where exams happen all the time."

Ishika huffed. "That's different. Teaching is organized stress. I prepare, I plan, I know what's coming. This?" She motioned toward the exam center dramatically. "This is chaos! Anything could happen!"

Aditi stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter. "So, you mean to say you can handle grading a hundred papers but can't sit still while your brother takes one exam?"

Ishika crossed her arms. "That's not the point."

Aditi smirked. "No, that is exactly the point."

Ishika groaned, rubbing her temples. "I can't help it, okay? Exams have always made me nervous! When I was a student, I had nightmares about showing up without my admit card. And now, just watching someone else go through it stresses me out."

Aditi shook her head in amusement. "And yet, you expect your students to be calm when you hand out test papers?"

"That's different! They have me to guide them!" Ishika declared proudly.

Aditi snorted. "Yeah, and poor Abhinav has you hovering over him like an overprotective drone."

"I do not hover!" Ishika argued.

Aditi simply pointed toward the exam center. "Then why do you keep glancing at the entrance every two seconds like you're waiting for a bomb to go off?"

Ishika quickly looked away, pretending to focus on her coffee. "I'm just... checking the time!"

"Uh-huh. Sure, Di. Sure."

And thus, the great "Ishika's Exam Anxiety vs. Aditi's Savage Roasting" battle continued, as Abhinav peacefully took his test, unaware of the chaos waiting for him outside.

_______________________________

End of the chapter.

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