[ (n.) A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past. ]

It was 4:30 am when Rishita woke up to her incessantly loud alarm, yawning in annoyance, she was about to go back to sleep after shutting the alarm off when she remembered that she was going to Hyderabad with the Pandya's today, getting out of bed in a flash, she rushed around to get ready, mentally thanking her mother for forcing her to pack her stuff last night. A good 15 minutes later she came out all ready for the travel day, dressed comfortably in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. She looked around her room trying to think of anything that she might have forgotten when she was packing, realising that she left her charger she quickly grabbed it and stuffed it into her suitcase. She then heaved the suitcase downstairs where her parents and aunt were up waiting for her.

Her father saw her struggling with the suitcase and helped her out, while she joined her mom and aunt for a hot cup of chai there was still a bit of time for Shiva and Raavi to pick her up, she sat down with her mom and aunt and she reassured them once again that she would be safe with the Pandya's on this trip.assuring them of the trip, her mother in particular was very anxious about her trip because she was going to go away for 3 weeks almost and this would be the first time she was going on her own and that too with her future in-laws. Although she herself was nervous about the trip, Rishita felt like this trip was the best chance for her to be with the family in a domestic setting, since she would be spending almost a month with them she felt that it was the best way to get to each of them better. Especially Shiva and Raavi.

Soon enough Dev was at the door, all dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt much like herself, speaking to her parents and bidding them pleasantries and goodbyes, he escorted her to the car while grabbing her suitcase for her, soon enough they were all settled in the car, with Shiva up front driving and Raavi in a passenger seat she was dozing off with her head against the window and her legs on Shiva's lap, while he subconsciously massaged her feet that were on his lap with his free hand. Dev and her settled peacefully in the middle seat, while Krish was dozing of at the back of the car and Dhara Bhabi and Gaumbi were coming in a different car. She engaged in some conversation with Dev, but soon enough she found herself falling asleep to his soothing voice.

She woke up to gentle taps against her cheek, they had finally reached the Keshod airport, which was awfully empty early in the morning, with barely any people. She lugged herself out of the car along with a grumbling Krish and a unnaturally cheerful Dev, while Shiva and Raavi were behind them, in her half asleep state she noticed Shiva talking to the man who was going to take the cars back to Somnath, while Raavi was leaning heavily on him, still half asleep and very out of it, Shiva had his arm around her waist, anchoring him to her so that she did not trip and fall flat on her face, soon enough they caught up with Shiva quite literally supporting all of Raavi and helping her walk straight.

The check in and security check was a breeze and they were soon waiting in the lounge area there was still a good 45 minutes for them to board the flight, so they had taken to waiting and having a quick breakfast of the sandwiches and coffee at the nearby café. Sipping on her coffee, Rishita noticed Shiva and Raavi, while Shiva was having his breakfast Raavi was fast asleep, her head resting on his shoulder and her arms wound around him tightly, while Shiva had an arm around her, cradling him to her.

She was brought out of her thoughts when Krish and Dev cleared their throats next to her. Smiling sheepishly at being caught Rishita shifted her attention back to her coffee and sandwich, studiously ignoring the brothers who were now smiling at her slyly. Cursing silently she hoped she didn't get caught staring again.

Soon enough they boarded the flight and were waiting for take off, when Rishita couldn't stop herself from looking at Shiva and Raavi who were on the right side 2 seater aisle next to them, while Rishita, Dev and Krish were seated on the 3 seater aisle and Dhara and Gautam had occupied the left side 2 seater aisle. Rishita was seated in-between Dev and Krish. She snuck another peek at Shiva and Raavi, Shiva was looking into his phone while Raavi had her head on his shoulder and both her arms wrapped around one of his, their hands wound together. Raavi looked like she was speaking a mile a minute and even though it looked as if Shiva was barely paying any attention to her, upon a closer glance he was listening to each and everything Raavi was saying with rapt attention. Dev again caught her looking at them and looked at her with a smile, she smiled back embarrassed and looked away when she heard Dev.

"Rishita, inn dono ko dekhke inke relationship ke barre mein soch rahi thi kya?"

Nodding sheepishly she said.

"Maina na bohot saare couples ko dekhe par inn dono ki tarha kisiko nahi dekha, bohot unique but made for each other Jodi lagti hai dono ki."

Suddenly they were interrupted by Krish.

"Jitne unique dikhte hai, usse zyaada unique toh inki love story ki shuruat thi Rishita Bhabhi, Kyun Dev?"

Rishita turned to look at Dev who was nodding with a big smile on his face. Simultaneously both the brothers spoke.

"Love story sunni hai?"

Rishita immediately nodded and tried not look over excited, but she could not help it. Dev soon launched into the good old days of their childhood, while Rishita listened with rapt attention.

"Raavi, Shiva, main aur Krish saath mein bade hue the, toh Bachpan se hum bohot close they, par Raavi hum sab se zyaada close Shiva se thi aur Shiva bhi Raavi ko apna closest friend mantha tha, Although mere aur Krish ke saath uska relationship siblings ke jaisa tha, Shiva aur Raavi ki dosti waise nahi thi, unn dono ka bachpan se sabse alag relationship tha, woh dono jab bhi saath hote the apni hi duniya mein mast magan hote the" Dev was interrupted by Krish.

"Woh dono toh abhi bhi apni hi alag duniya main khoye hue hote hai, zyaada kuch badla nai, buss dono ka na size basal gaya"

Dev and Rishita looked at Krish amused and they all unanimously agreed while looking at Shiva and Raavi, who were talking in hushed whispers. Dev once again continued the story.

"Phir hum saab ki schooling chaalu hogayi, aur Shiva aur Raavi thoda zyaada close hogaye, woh dono toh Hamesha saath mein paaye jaathe the, Raavi aur Shiva ko tho alag karna practically impossible hogaya tha, aur most days ko toh Raavi hamesha humare ghar me hoti thi, kahi baar toh raat ko vahi sojathi thi, uss point be dono best friends hogaye, ekk dusre ke bin unka dinn katha hi nahi tha. Par Maami ne Maama ke zariye humareliye boot saare problems create kiye, aur ekdum se jaise sab kuch badal gaya, hum toh baache the aur acche dost rahe, par Papa ke maut se sabse zyaada impacted Shiva tha, usse time pe Raavi aur Shiva ke beech mai problems shuru hogaye, Shiva bohot badal gaya, use Raavi ko khud se door karliya, mana ki hum bacche the aur hume duniyadari ke barre mein zyaada kuch nahi patha tha, Shiva waisa nahi tha, aur usne Raavi ko hurt karna chaalu kardiya. Usse darana, aur gande gande pranks karna toh maano jaisi uski aadat hogayi. Humari life puri badal gayi par humara Raavi ke saath rishta nahi badla, sirf Shiva badal gaya, jaise taise zindagi jurzi, aur Shiva aur Raavi bhi thode sehem gaye, waqt ne apna kamal kar dikhaya, and things were getting better, slowly but then Gaumbi ki Shaadi hui, Dhara Bhabi se, par tumko to pata hi tha, unki shaadi honi thi Anita se, par unhone last minute back out karliya, uss dinn se leke humare 9th standard takh Raavi aur Shiva maano jaise kabhi best friends nahi the, sirf aur sirf dushman. Unhone unki dushmani bhi shiddat se nibhaya, Dushmani thi, paar dekha jaaye toh pyaar tabh bhi tha. Sirf gham aur gusse ke peeche chipa hua. Shiva ki puri life Raavi ke ird gird hi ghumi thi, jaise thaise hum bade hue, Raavi thodi thodi badalne lagi, 9th standard mein jo Raavi ko humne dekhatha, usse hum sab ki duniya maano palat gayi, tabh takh humari families bhi settle hogaye aur hum life mein aage bad gaye, Par Raavi? Uss time hum sab affected the, par hum sab ke paas koi na koi tha, Shiva ke paas Dhara Bhabi the, but Raavi , Uske paas koi nahi, woh maano jaise ekdum se badal gayi. Iss sab mein, ekk cheez kabhi nahi badli, Shiva aur Raavi ke beech main jo gussa aur hurt tha, woh mano jaise time ke saath badtha hi gaya, aur Phir ekk din achanak se Raavi badal gayi. She changed, she stopped fighting back, she started avoiding Shiva like the plague, even of she spoke to us, her visits to the Pandya house declined. The girl who used to be there everyday barely came by once a week, and when she came by she stayed for an hour at the most. She changed and her change brought back our Shiva, but it was not easy to bring back Raavi, Shiva ki Raavi maano jaise kho gayi. Usse chere pe Muskaan tha, par usme jaan nahi thi. Ekk din mujse aur Krish se nahi raha gaya and we went to her, to try and figure out what was going on, and the way she broke down is still fresh in our minds."

Dev slowly stopped speaking, a melancholic look appeared on his face, while Krish looked the same, Rishita noticed how their faces just looked downcast and upset, she figured what Dev was about to say was not something pleasant. She patiently waited for them to open up, placing her hands on each of theirs to support them. She waited for Dev to continue.