Shubman returned home after a long team meeting to find Aadhya in her room, neatly folding clothes and packing them into a suitcase. He leaned against the doorframe, eyebrows raised.

"Aadu, what's going on? Where are you heading off to?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Without looking up, Aadhya replied, "Papa, did you forget? I told you last week—I have a medical seminar in New York. It's for a whole month."

Shubman's eyes widened in realization. "Ohh, right! That completely slipped my mind." He walked into the room, glancing at her suitcase. "A month is a long time. You sure you'll be okay managing everything there?"

Aadhya looked up at him with a confident smile. "I'll be fine, Papa. It's a great opportunity, and I'll get to learn a lot."

Shubman sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I know, Aadu. It's just... a month feels like forever when you're not around."

"Don't get all sentimental now," Aadhya teased, gently nudging his shoulder. "I'll call you every day. Besides, Agastya will keep you updated about me anyway."

Shubman raised an eyebrow at the mention of Agastya. "Agastya? Why him specifically?"

Aadhya froze for a fraction of a second before quickly recovering. "Well, he's always texting me about cricket stuff. I'm sure he'll ask how things are going."

Shubman smirked knowingly but let it slide. "Fine. Just don't forget to enjoy yourself a little while you're there."

As Aadhya zipped up her suitcase, Shubman added, "And don't forget to send pictures. Your mum and I will miss you."

Aadhya nodded, hugging him briefly. "I'll miss you too, Papa."

As Shubman left the room, Aadhya's phone buzzed with a message from Agastya:

One month without Aadu? Not sure how I'm going to survive.

Smiling to herself, she quickly replied:

Don't worry, Aggu. We'll figure it out.

The next evening, before her flight, Aadhya received a message from Agastya:

Meet me at the café near your hospital? I need to see you before you leave.

Aadhya smiled at her phone, quickly typing back:

Be there in 20 minutes.

Dressed in a casual kurti and jeans, she arrived at the cozy café, where Agastya was already seated by the window, fiddling with a coffee stirrer. His face lit up as soon as he saw her walk in.

"Hey, Aadu," he greeted, standing up and pulling out a chair for her.

"Hi, Aggu," she replied, sitting down. "What's with the sudden coffee date?"

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You're leaving for a whole month. I couldn't let you go without seeing you."

Aadhya's cheeks warmed at his sincerity. "I'm not disappearing forever, you know."

Agastya smirked. "Still, one month feels like an eternity when you're used to seeing someone every day."

The waiter came by, and they quickly ordered—an iced latte for Aadhya and a cappuccino for Agastya. As they waited, Agastya handed her a small gift bag.

"What's this?" Aadhya asked, opening it.

Inside was a sleek leather-bound journal. On the first page, he'd written: "For every moment you want to remember while in New York—A."

Aadhya looked up, her eyes softening. "You're too sweet, Aggu. Thank you."

Agastya shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Well, I figured you'd need something to jot down all those medical breakthroughs you're bound to have."

She laughed, tucking the journal into her bag. "I'll use it, I promise."

As they sipped their coffee, their conversation drifted to lighter topics—her plans for sightseeing during the trip, his upcoming matches, and family antics.

When it was time to leave, Agastya walked her to her car. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Take care of yourself, Aadu. And call me whenever you can."

She smiled, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I will, Aggu. Don't miss me too much."

"Too late for that," he quipped, grinning.

As she drove off, Aadhya glanced in her rearview mirror to see him still standing there, waving. She knew the month ahead would be tough, but her heart felt full knowing she'd have him waiting for her back home.

At his house, Agastya sat on the couch, staring blankly at the cricket match playing on the TV. The usual thrill of watching a game didn't reach him this time. His thoughts were elsewhere, drifting back to the airport and Aadhya's departure.

"Agastya!" Natasa called from the kitchen. "Why are you so quiet? You didn't even finish your lunch."

"I'm just tired, Mom," he replied, forcing a small smile as he looked her way. "Practice was intense today."

Natasa narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced but didn't press further. Instead, she said, "Why don't you rest for a while? You have a big match coming up."

Agastya nodded, pretending to stretch as he got up. "Yeah, maybe I'll do that."

He headed to his room, closing the door behind him. Dropping onto his bed, he pulled out his phone and stared at Aadhya's latest message: Boarding now. Will call once I land.

A soft sigh escaped his lips as he typed a quick reply: Safe travels, Aadu. Don't forget to let me know as soon as you land.

He tossed the phone aside and leaned back, his arms behind his head. The ache of her absence gnawed at him, but he masked it with a small smile as memories of their last coffee date flickered through his mind.

Just then, Akaay barged into the room without knocking, as usual. "What's with the long face, bro? You miss her already?"

Agastya sat up, his smile widening to hide his true feelings. "What are you talking about? I'm fine."

"Yeah, right." Akaay flopped onto the beanbag, grabbing a cricket ball off Agastya's desk and tossing it in the air. "You've been moping since morning. You're so obvious, it's embarrassing."

"Shut up," Agastya muttered, chuckling softly. "I'm just... adjusting, okay? It's weird not having her around."

Akaay smirked. "Man, you're whipped. Don't worry, lover boy. She'll be back before you know it."

Agastya threw a pillow at him, laughing despite himself. "You're such a pain, you know that?"

"Part of my charm," Akaay said with a wink.

As the banter continued, Agastya felt a little lighter. Even though the ache of missing Aadhya lingered, he reminded himself that the distance was temporary. For now, he'd focus on the game and wait for her next message, cherishing every little connection they had.