Sorry for the late update 🥲🥲
It had been a busy and stressful week. But here we are...

Enjoy!

Ps- I took the above picture yesterday when I went for a walk.

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Srishti's pov

The plane touched down at Heathrow with a gentle jolt, bringing me back to reality after what felt like an eternal flight. My eyes were heavy from lack of sleep, my mind still swirling with thoughts of Sahil, the package in my bag, and the bittersweet goodbye that felt unfinished. But as I peered out of the window, London stretched out beneath me—a sprawling city bathed in the pale morning light, its endless rows of buildings both intimidating and inviting.

Stepping off the plane, the cool, crisp air hit me immediately. It was different from the warmth of home—sharper, brisker, as if the city itself was urging me to wake up, to move, to start my new life. Everything felt surreal, like I was watching myself from the outside, walking through the terminal, my suitcase rolling behind me, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervous energy.

As I made my way through customs and collected my bags, I couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation. This was it. I was finally here. London. The city I'd dreamed of for so long. The place where I would begin the next chapter of my life.

After what felt like hours of navigating the chaos of the airport, I finally stepped outside into the bustling streets of London. The sounds of honking cars, chatter in a dozen different languages, and the hum of the city's energy surrounded me. I hailed a taxi and gave the address of my university accommodation, my heart racing as I watched the city rush by through the window. The iconic red buses, the historic buildings with their intricate facades, and the occasional burst of greenery—it all felt like a movie come to life.

The university itself was everything I had imagined—grand, stately, and a little overwhelming. Tall, ancient buildings stretched out in every direction, their gothic architecture lending a sense of gravity to the place. Students milled about, some chatting in groups, others hurrying to classes or cafes, and I felt a rush of nervous excitement. This was my new home.

As the taxi pulled up to the student accommodation, I stepped out, staring up at the modern building that would house me for the next year. It wasn't as grand as the university's main campus, but it was sleek and comfortable-looking, a blend of glass and steel with tall windows that let in plenty of light. I checked in at the front desk, collected my key, and made my way to the elevator, my heart thudding in my chest with every step.

When I reached my floor and unlocked the door to my flat, I was greeted by the smell of fresh paint and the faint sound of music playing from somewhere inside. The flat was small but cozy, with a shared kitchen and living area. I dragged my suitcase into my room, collapsing onto the bed with a sigh of relief. The exhaustion from the flight was beginning to hit me, but the excitement of being in a new place kept me awake.

I had barely settled in when I heard a knock on the door.

"Hey, you must be Srishti!" a cheerful voice called from the hallway.

I opened the door to find a girl standing there, her blonde hair pulled into a messy ponytail, a wide grin on her face. She was holding a cup of coffee in one hand, her other hand waving energetically in greeting.

"I'm Olivia! Your new flatmate!" she said brightly, stepping forward and pulling me into a hug before I had a chance to react. "I saw you come in and figured I'd say hello. I hope you don't mind, I brought you coffee—it's the least I can do to welcome you to our little flat!"

I laughed, taken aback by her warmth but immediately feeling at ease. "Thank you! You really didn't have to, but I appreciate it. I'm Srishti."

"I know!" Olivia said, bouncing on her heels. "I peeked at the list of flatmates the university sent us. I was so excited to meet you! Oh, and don't worry, I'm not this hyper all the time. I just had way too much caffeine today. So... have you had a chance to explore London yet?"

"Not yet," I said, smiling at her enthusiasm. "I just landed a few hours ago, so I'm still trying to get settled in."

"Well, once you're settled, I'll give you the grand tour. I've been here for a week, and I've already found all the best cafes, trust me," Olivia said with a wink. "By the way, I'm studying finance, so I apologize in advance for any late-night number-crunching meltdowns you might witness."

I laughed again, already feeling a connection with her. "That's okay. I'm majoring in trauma and clinical research, so there will probably be a lot of late-night studying on my end too."

"Oh wow, that sounds intense," Olivia said, her eyes widening. "You're going to be, like, saving lives and stuff. No pressure or anything."

I shrugged, feeling a little shy under her admiration. "It's what I've always wanted to do, so... I'm excited. Nervous, but excited."

"Well, we're going to make the best of it," Olivia declared, raising her coffee cup in an imaginary toast. "Here's to new adventures!"

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking and getting to know each other, sharing stories about our lives, our families, and our dreams for the future. Olivia's energy was infectious, and by the time the sun had begun to set, I felt a sense of ease wash over me. I knew I was going to miss home, but with Olivia by my side, I had a feeling that London might just start to feel like home too.

As the evening wore on, I finally unpacked my things and settled into my new room. The view from my window wasn't spectacular—just a row of buildings across the street—but it was mine, and that was enough. I sat down on the bed, my thoughts drifting back to the small package from Sahil still tucked away in my bag. I hadn't opened it yet, unsure of what I might find inside.

Taking a deep breath, I reached for the package, unwrapping it carefully. Inside was a small journal, the cover simple and unadorned, and a note tucked inside the first page. My heart raced as I unfolded the paper, Sahil's familiar handwriting staring back at me.

"Srish,

I know you have big dreams, and I believe in you more than you'll ever know. This journal is for all your new adventures. Fill it with everything you experience, everything you feel, and everything you can't say out loud. And when you're ready, I'll be here, waiting to hear all about it.

Sahil"

A lump formed in my throat as I read the note, a mixture of emotions bubbling up inside me. Sahil had always known me better than I knew myself, and this gift was a reminder of that.

I ran my fingers over the journal's cover, feeling the weight of the unspoken words between us, and the distance that now stretched between our worlds. But for now, I set it aside, knowing that there would be plenty of time to fill its pages.

***

In india

Sahil stared at the picture on his phone, his thumb hovering over Srishti's contact. It was a photo from the day before at the café, her smile radiant as she held up the small painting he'd bought her. There was a brightness in her eyes, a sense of excitement for what lay ahead, and it tugged at something deep within him. His chest tightened as he let the phone drop onto the bed beside him, his mind replaying the final moments at the airport.

The hug had lingered longer than it should have, a silent plea that neither of them had voiced. He had held her, feeling the weight of everything unsaid between them. He'd wanted to say it then, to tell her how he really felt, but the words had stuck in his throat, buried beneath years of friendship and the fear of ruining everything.

Now, she was gone. On a plane to London, off to start a new life without him.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, feeling the familiar sting of regret. He'd lost his chance again. The small package he'd given her at the airport—it wasn't enough. It was a gesture, sure, but it wasn't the truth. The truth was that he had fallen for her a long time ago, and now, with the distance between them growing by the minute, he wondered if he'd ever get the courage to say it.

Sahil glanced at his phone once more, the urge to message her bubbling up inside him. But what would he even say? That he missed her already? That he wished he had told her the truth before she left?

No. He couldn't do that to her. Not now, when she was on the verge of something so big. She deserved to start this new chapter without any added complications, without him clouding her mind with his confused emotions. So, he swallowed the regret, just like he always did, and pushed it down deep inside.

Back in London

Srishti's pov

I stood by the window, watching the city of London settle into twilight. The faint glow of streetlights flickered on, casting long shadows over the narrow streets, and I felt a strange mix of excitement and unease swirl inside me. My new life was officially beginning, and while Olivia's infectious energy had distracted me earlier, now that I was alone, reality began to sink in.

The journal from Sahil lay open on the bed beside me, the weight of his words heavy on my mind. I knew I should call home, let everyone know I had arrived safely. I'd promised my mum, after all. But as I stared at my phone, the messages still unread, I found myself hesitating.

Finally, after a deep breath, I dialed the familiar number.

It rang twice before my mum picked up, her voice immediately filled with warmth and relief.

"Srishti! Beta, are you okay? Did you land safely? We've all been waiting to hear from you!"

I smiled at the sound of her voice, a wave of homesickness crashing over me. "Yes, Mumma, I'm here. Just got settled into my room."

"Thank God!" she said, her voice shaky with emotion. "We've been so worried. Papa's been pacing around the house, and Avi—well, you know how he is. But I knew you'd be fine. How's the place? Is everything alright?"

"It's nice," I replied, glancing around the small room. "It's different from home, but I think I'll get used to it. I met my flatmate, Olivia. She's studying finance, and she's already planning to show me around the city."

"That's good, beta. I'm glad you're not alone. It makes me feel better knowing you have someone there with you."

A brief silence fell between us, and I could almost hear the unspoken words hanging in the air—the sadness in her voice, the worry that all mothers have when their children fly away to a place they can't easily reach.

"I miss you already," I admitted softly, biting my lip as I felt the lump in my throat form again. "It feels so far away here."

"We miss you too, sweetheart," Mumma replied gently. "But we know this is where you're meant to be. You've worked so hard for this, and you're going to do amazing things."

Her words were a balm, soothing the anxiety that had been building since I'd landed. I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, comforted by the thought that no matter how far away I was, home was still there, waiting for me.

"How's Papa? And Avi?" I asked, needing to hear about the little things to ground myself.

"Papa's his usual self, pretending he's not emotional but asking me every five minutes if you've called. Avi... well, you know him. He's fine, but he did leave the house this morning without his wallet, so I had to drive to his office to give it to him."

I laughed, the image of Avi's sheepish face popping into my mind. "Typical Avi. He would forget his head if it wasn't attached."

Mumma chuckled softly. "He'll miss you, even if he won't admit it."

I hanged up after chatting with mumma and papa for a bit longer.

.
.
.

A few days had passed since Srishti arrived in London, and though her days were filled with excitement and settling into university life, her thoughts would occasionally drift back to Sahil's gift. The journal he had given her, with that sweet note tucked inside the front cover, had been thoughtful, almost too thoughtful. But there was something in Sahil's voice during their last goodbye that she couldn't quite place. It made her wonder if there was something she was missing.

Late one evening, her phone buzzed, lighting up with Sahil's name on the screen. Smiling, she picked it up, the familiarity of his name a comfort amidst all the newness.

"Finally!" came his teasing voice from the other end. "I thought you forgot about me now that you're living the glamorous London life."

"Oh, please," Srishti shot back with a laugh. "I'm barely surviving over here. Today, Olivia got us lost in the city and somehow we ended up at a pub where she made me try... Marmite."

"Marmite? Wow, London's already changing you. You're basically British now."

Srishti groaned, remembering the strong, acquired taste. "Trust me, there's no way I'm becoming a Marmite fan. But London is... something. Different. I still can't believe I'm here."

"Yeah, must be wild," Sahil replied, a trace of wistfulness in his voice. "You're living the dream, Srish."

Srishti smiled, leaning back against her bed. "It's been a whirlwind, that's for sure. But enough about me—how's everything back home? Any scandalous gossip?"

"Just Avi being Avi," Sahil said with a chuckle. "He's still miffed that you're not here to back him up when we argue about movies. He says I'm 'intolerable' without you."

Srishti laughed. "Sounds like I left at the perfect time."

"Hey!" Sahil's voice held a mock-offended tone. "You know I'm a delight."

"Debatable," she teased.

There was a comfortable silence for a moment, both of them soaking in the familiarity of each other's voices. It felt good, almost like she hadn't left at all. Sahil was the one constant in her life, no matter where she was.

"By the way," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "Did you... like the gift?"

Srishti smiled, glancing at the journal on her nightstand. "Of course! It was perfect. I've already written a couple of pages in it—mostly about how insane it is to be here. And your note was really sweet, Sahil. Thanks again for that."

"Just sweet, huh?" His voice sounded... off, like he was fishing for something more, though she couldn't quite figure out what.

"Yeah, it was thoughtful. You know me so well," she said lightly, hoping to ease whatever tension had crept into his tone. "Why? Were you hoping for a different reaction?"

There was a brief pause, and Srishti could almost picture Sahil running a hand through his hair like he always did when he was nervous or unsure.

"Uh, no, no," he said quickly, his voice back to its usual playful tone. "Just wanted to make sure you didn't toss it in the corner and forget about it."

"As if I would do that," she teased. "It's sitting right by my bed. Plus, I'm sure Olivia will convince me to fill it with embarrassing stories in no time."

"Good, because that's a prime spot for all your deep thoughts and life musings," he joked, though something in his tone still lingered—something she couldn't quite place.

Srishti laughed, missing the subtext entirely. "You know, I'm expecting you to send me a new one once I fill this up. You've set the bar high."

Sahil sighed softly on the other end of the line. "Yeah, we'll see."

The conversation drifted after that, returning to their usual playful banter about movies, food, and the chaos that Olivia had already brought into Srishti's life. But every so often, Sahil's voice would dip, and Srishti felt like there was something he wasn't saying, a thought lingering just out of reach.

Finally, after another round of jokes, Sahil cleared his throat. "Well, I should let you get back to your glamorous London life."

"Yeah, I've got a reading list that's already out of control," Srishti admitted, glancing at the stack of books on her desk. "But thanks for calling, Sahil. It's always good to hear your voice."

"Anytime," he replied softly. "You know that."

"Take care of yourself, okay? Don't let Avi drive you crazy."

"We'll see to it. Anyways I'm going back to the states in a couple of days." His voice no longer cheerful.

"Oh are you? I thought you're going to stay for long this time." Srishti could sense the change in his mood, but could figure out the reason.

"I came here for you Srish, and when you're not here what's the point of staying any longer." He admitted experiencing a bubbling feeling of annoyance and loneliness within him.

"Uhm..it's getting late. I should let you go now. Talk soon?" Sahil couldn't hold the brimming emotions anymore and had to cut the call before Srishti figures out that something is wrong.

"Oh okay, talk soon. And Sahil...take care."

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Phew that was long 😮‍💨
Consider this as a little bribe for the delay 😉

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Comment and vote please ❤️