It was finally the day of their flight to London, and the anticipation buzzed in the air as Akaay, Agastya, and Aadhya boarded the plane. Aadhya settled into her seat by the window with Akaay beside her, chatting about the upcoming trip. Agastya found himself a row behind them, glancing out the window before noticing a pretty girl seated next to him.

Akaay leaned back and, with a mischievous grin, turned to Agastya. "Hey, Aggu, why don't we swap seats? You can sit next to Aadhya and I'll keep this seat here. You know, since you're always so focused on her."

Agastya's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Aadhya, but he kept his expression neutral. He wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of Akaay's joke, especially since being near Aadhya made him both excited and nervous. Still, there was no way he could refuse without making it awkward.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine, switch," he muttered reluctantly, standing up and moving to take Akaay's spot.

Akaay grinned, more than happy with his little victory. He immediately settled into Agastya's seat, flashing a charming smile at the girl next to him.

Agastya, meanwhile, tried to relax beside Aadhya, but the proximity made him acutely aware of her presence. He glanced her way for a second, noticing how peacefully she had settled into her seat, headphones in, scrolling through her playlist.

"Everything okay?" Aadhya asked, sensing his movement without taking her eyes off her screen.

"Yeah, just Akaay being Akaay," Agastya replied with a slight smirk, trying to hide the fact that his mind was all over the place.

Aadhya simply nodded, turning back to her phone, not realizing how Agastya's nerves were simmering beneath the surface.

As the flight progressed, Akaay kept throwing teasing glances at Agastya over the seat, making subtle gestures as if to say, Now's your chance. Agastya ignored him, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, unsure of what to say to Aadhya. The silence between them was peaceful yet tense, a far cry from their usual friendly banter.

After a while, Aadhya dozed off, her head resting lightly against the window. Agastya stole a glance, the soft light of the plane casting a gentle glow on her face. His heart ached with how close she was, yet still so far from him emotionally.

He let out a silent sigh, his thoughts wandering as he stared out into the sky. This trip was supposed to be exciting, but all he could feel was the weight of unsaid words and unshared feelings.

Hours later, when they landed in London, the excitement of the city ahead started to overshadow the awkwardness of the flight. As they stepped off the plane, Akaay, who was still buzzing with energy, nudged Agastya. "You're going to thank me for that seat swap someday," he teased.

Agastya rolled his eyes. "Sure, Akaay. Sure."

They collected their bags and made their way through the bustling airport, the energy of London seeping into their group.

As they waited for a taxi, Aadhya finally turned to Agastya, her expression relaxed. "Thanks for being so patient on the flight. I know it's been a bit awkward," she admitted with a shy smile.

Agastya felt a flicker of hope at her words, but he didn't want to read too much into it. "No worries," he replied, keeping his tone casual.

Just as they were about to leave for their hotel, Aadhya's phone buzzed, and she glanced at it briefly before her face hardened. Agastya caught a glimpse of the message from Sidharth, and he could tell something was off.

Aadhya quickly shoved the phone back into her pocket, her mood visibly shifting.

Agastya hesitated, wanting to ask her about it, but decided against it. Instead, he caught her gaze and gave her a small, comforting nod, as if to say, I'm here if you need me—a gesture that didn't go unnoticed.

They piled into the taxi, the London streets sprawling out in front of them, as the tension lingered just beneath the surface. This trip might be exactly what they needed to figure everything out—or it could complicate things even more.

Aadhya's phone buzzed again, the screen lighting up with another message from Sidharth. Her heart raced as she stared at it, knowing it was time to face the inevitable. She stepped away from Akaay and Agastya, her fingers trembling as she dialed Sidharth's number.

"Hey," she started, her voice steady but laced with tension.

"What's wrong now, Aadhya? You're barely here, always busy, always avoiding me," Sidharth snapped on the other end of the line, his frustration bubbling over.

Aadhya closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Sidharth, it's not just about being busy. We haven't been on the same page for a while, and I... I can't keep doing this."

There was a brief silence before Sidharth scoffed. "Oh, I get it. You're bored of me now? Is that it? Or is it that guy, Agastya? You've been spending a lot of time with him, haven't you?"

Aadhya's jaw clenched. "This has nothing to do with Agastya! You're not listening, Sidharth. This isn't working anymore. I can't handle the constant arguments, the lack of understanding—"

"So, what are you saying?" His voice had grown colder now, more distant.

"I'm saying it's over, Sidharth," she said quietly, the weight of the words hitting her like a wave.

For a moment, there was only silence on the other end of the line before Sidharth muttered something under his breath and hung up, leaving Aadhya standing alone with the crushing finality of the breakup.

Her chest felt tight as the reality sank in. She had known this was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. She wiped at her eyes, but the tears wouldn't stop. Without thinking, she found herself walking down the hall toward Akaay and Agastya's room, needing someone—anyone—to talk to.

When she pushed open the door, she found Agastya sitting on the bed, a book in hand, completely unaware of the emotional storm that was about to hit him. He looked up from the page, surprised to see her.

"Aadhya?" he asked gently, noticing her red-rimmed eyes and trembling frame.

Without a word, Aadhya crossed the room, her emotions boiling over. She dropped onto the bed beside him, her hands covering her face as the sobs escaped her.

"I—I broke up with Sidharth," she choked out, her voice thick with emotion. "It's over. I couldn't... I couldn't take it anymore."

Agastya was completely caught off guard, unsure of how to react. His heart ached seeing her so vulnerable, and he felt a surge of protectiveness rise within him. Aadhya, the strong, independent woman he had admired for so long, was falling apart right in front of him.

Tentatively, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be okay," he said softly, trying to comfort her, though his own nerves were rattled. "You did what was best for you."

But Aadhya didn't stop crying. Instead, she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest as the sobs shook her frame. Agastya froze for a moment, his arms hovering awkwardly in the air, unsure of what to do. Then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she cried against him.

Time seemed to blur as Aadhya's sobs softened, her breathing becoming more even. She was so exhausted that, before she even realized it, she had fallen asleep in Agastya's arms, her head nestled against his chest.

Agastya's heart raced as he stared down at her, completely taken aback by the situation. He had never imagined this—being this close to Aadhya, holding her like this. He could feel the warmth of her breath against his chest, and for a brief moment, everything else melted away. He didn't want to move, didn't want to disturb the peace that had finally settled over her.

Just then, Akaay entered the room, clearly ready to make some noise and pull a prank or two, but the sight in front of him made him freeze in his tracks. He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, and was about to say something when Agastya quickly signaled him to stay quiet, his wide eyes pleading for silence.

Akaay grinned, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. He gestured toward Aadhya with a silent, teasing thumbs-up before mimicking zipping his lips, as if to say, I won't say a word, bro.

Agastya rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. He carefully adjusted his arms around Aadhya, making sure not to wake her, as Akaay quietly slipped out of the room, leaving Agastya alone with the sleeping girl in his arms.

As the night deepened, Agastya sat there, gently holding Aadhya, his mind racing with emotions. He knew that she needed this—needed someone to be there for her, to hold her together when she felt like falling apart. And even though he wished for more, for something deeper between them, he was willing to be whatever she needed right now.

And for tonight, that was enough.

As the soft morning light filtered through the curtains, Aadhya slowly stirred, feeling the warmth of someone beside her. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the brightness, and it took a moment for her to realize where she was.

She blinked, looking down to find Agastya's arms still wrapped protectively around her. Her head was resting against his chest, and he was fast asleep, his face peaceful and relaxed, completely unaware of the world around him.

For a brief moment, Aadhya didn't move. She just lay there, taking in the sight of him. His sharp features were softened by sleep, the usual furrow of his brow smoothed away. The gentle rise and fall of his chest was calming, and his hair fell messily across his forehead, framing his face in a way that made him look... vulnerable, almost boyish.

She couldn't help but smile a little. Agastya, the same boy who was always teasing and joking, looked so different like this—so calm, so quiet. Aadhya had never seen him like this before, so still and at peace. And for the first time in a while, she felt a sense of comfort wash over her, a strange but welcome feeling after the stormy emotions of the previous night.

Her fingers twitched as if she wanted to reach out and brush the hair away from his face, but she stopped herself, biting her lip. She didn't want to wake him. Instead, she allowed herself a moment to simply admire him, the warmth of his presence unexpectedly soothing her in ways she hadn't anticipated.

As she shifted slightly, trying not to disturb him, her gaze lingered on his lips, and she was surprised by how her heart gave a small flutter. This was Agastya, her friend... but something about this moment felt different. Maybe it was the tenderness with which he had held her last night, or the way he had comforted her without saying much at all. She had never considered Agastya in this light before, and it caught her off guard.

Just then, Agastya stirred, his arms tightening around her slightly before he blinked awake, his eyes slowly opening. When he realized where he was, his face flushed with mild embarrassment. He cleared his throat, but before he could say anything, Aadhya smiled up at him, her eyes warm and appreciative.

"Good morning," she whispered, her voice still soft from sleep.

Agastya blinked, his own face softening as he smiled back, though there was a hint of awkwardness in the air. "Morning," he replied, his voice husky with sleep. "Did you... sleep okay?"

Aadhya nodded, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. "Yeah, I did. Thanks for, you know... last night."

Agastya sat up slightly, loosening his hold on her as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's no problem, Aads," he said, his usual playful tone returning but softened by the moment they had just shared. "I didn't mean to fall asleep, though."

Aadhya chuckled, her eyes glancing down before meeting his. "It's okay. It was... nice."

The two of them sat there for a moment, the early morning quiet around them, and something unsaid passed between them. Agastya's heart raced a little, unsure of what Aadhya was thinking, but for now, he was content to sit with her, the distance between them seeming to shrink ever so slightly.

Aadhya's smile lingered as she looked at him, realizing that maybe, just maybe, there was more to Agastya than she had allowed herself to see.