Vrinda’s mother was discharged after a few days, and Vrinda could hardly contain her excitement. They had found a college online that seemed promising, but it was far from home in a new city. The transition felt daunting yet exhilarating. Isha and Vaidehi had joined her in this adventure, and together they decided to rent an apartment. Their college life unfolded like a dream. Isha and Vrinda both opted for Science, while Vaidehi chose Commerce. The three friends forged a bond that felt unbreakable, meeting daily to study and unwind, and returning home on weekends to catch up with their families.

Meanwhile, Akshat, Anish, and Shriyan were experiencing a similar journey. They had also rented an apartment nearby, mirroring the girls’ situation. Shriyan and Anish pursued their passion for Science, while Akshat chose the Arts. Each of them was navigating the challenges of college life while maintaining close ties with their families.

Today marked the day for all of them to visit home.

At Vrinda’s Home:

As Vrinda stepped into her home, the familiar scents of spices and home-cooked meals wafted through the air, flooding her with nostalgia. “Mummy!” she called out, her voice echoing in the hallway.

“Beta, tum aa gayi!” Sharvari, her mother, exclaimed, her face lighting up as she rushed over to embrace her daughter. It felt like ages since they had last hugged.

“Papa kaha hai?” Vrinda asked, glancing around, her eyes searching for her father.

“Pehle mujhse toh mil le, thik se! 1 mahina ho gaya, abhi dekh rahi hoon tujhe... Aayi nahi ke papa ke baare mein pooch rahi hai?” Sharvari replied, mock pouting but unable to hide her joy.

“Are, mummy, aap toh naraz ho gayi! Accha, batao, aap kaise ho? Tabiyat thik hai na? Aur medicines time par leti ho na?” Vrinda’s concern spilled over, a protective instinct igniting within her.

“Haan beta, mujhe kya hoga,” Sharvari smiled, but the shadow in her eyes was hard to miss.

“Mummy, aap bhi na...” Vrinda murmured, sensing the unspoken worry hanging between them.

“Aap mujhse kuch chhupa rahe ho na?” she probed, her heart racing with a mix of suspicion and anxiety.

“Nahi beta...” Sharvari insisted, but her voice lacked conviction.

“Vrinda…” Sharad, her father, interrupted as he entered, surprised to see his daughter home early.

“Kaisi ho, beta? Tumhare liye samose lane gaya tha, tumhe pasand hai na, isliye...” Sharad beamed, his eyes twinkling with affection.

“Aur tum toh shaam ko aane wali thi na?” he added, raising an eyebrow with curiosity.

“Haan, papa, par college ka project submit ho gaya, toh socha jaldi aa kar aap logon ke saath time spend karu,” Vrinda explained, a smile breaking on her face as she thought of her family.

“Baitho, main tumhare liye samose le kar aata hu,” Sharad said, heading towards the kitchen with a spring in his step.

As the aroma of freshly fried samosas filled the air, Sharvari couldn’t help but ask, “Aur Vaidehi aur Isha kaise hain? Kaisi chal rahi hai tum teeno ki padhai?”

“Mummy, sab badhiya hai. Bas Vaidu ki stream alag hai toh zyada baatein nahi hoti. Isha aur main saath rahte hain; matlab agar woh clg ya lecture nahi hai toh,” Vrinda replied, her mouth full of samosa.

“Beta, padhai karti ho na? Man toh lag raha hai na waha?” Sharad asked, a hint of concern evident in his tone.

“Haan, papa. College bahut accha hai, professors bhi supportive hain, toh koi pareshani nahi hai,” Vrinda reassured him, grateful for the opportunity she had.

“Thik hai beta, mujhe office ke kaam se bahar jana hai, toh main thodi der mein aata hu,” Sharad said before heading out the door.

“Jii, papa,” Vrinda responded, a mix of pride and affection swelling in her chest.

As she settled into the familiar couch, Sharvari turned her gaze back to Vrinda, her expression softening. “Ab batao, tum thik ho na?” she pressed, her motherly instinct kicking in.

“Haan, mummy, main bilkul thik hoon. Aap chinta mat karo,” Vrinda said, her voice steady, though her heart felt heavy with unspoken words.

They spent hours chatting, sharing sweet and funny moments, reminiscing about old family traditions, and catching up on everything that had happened while they were apart. Laughter filled the room, a balm for the distance and time they had endured.

“Mummy, aapke reports aane wale the na? Kya hua unka? Iss month main hi aane wale the, dikhao na,” Vrinda suddenly remembered, her brow furrowing in concern.

“Beta, woh... yeh... reports nahi aaye abhi tak…” Sharvari said, her voice faltering, a flicker of nervousness crossing her features.

“Mummy, kuch hua hai kya? Mujhe aap thik nahi lag rahe hai. Aap bata do na, mujhe chinta ho rahi hai,” Vrinda said, the anxiety bubbling to the surface as she felt the tension in the room.

“Mummy, please bata do... mujhe darr lag raha hai,” she pleaded, her heart racing.

“Nahi beta, sach keh rahi hu... ab bas hua, tum aaram kar lo. Thak gayi hogi,” Sharvari said, attempting to change the topic, but the heaviness lingered.

Vrinda reluctantly accepted her mother’s words and made her way to her room to rest. However, the worry about her mother gnawed at her insides, preventing her from drifting off to sleep. Her mind raced with questions and fears, spinning like a top.

Just then, her phone rang, the screen lighting up with Anish’s name. A wave of warmth washed over her, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts.

“Hey!” she said, her voice brightening as she answered the call.

“Hey, Senorita! How’s it going?” Anish’s voice came through, lively and infectious.

They chatted for a while, their laughter filling the air. As the conversation flowed, Vrinda felt her exhaustion catching up with her. Before she knew it, she was dozing off, her head leaning against her pillow. Anish, noticing her drifting, admired her sleeping form, a soft smile playing on his lips.

After some time, Vrinda stirred awake, groggy but embarrassed. “Sorry, woh... main kab so gayi pata hi nahi chala,” she said, rubbing her eyes.

“Are, Senorita, sote huye bhi koi itni khubsurat kaise lag sakta hai? Mera toh dil aa gaya fir se tum pe,” Anish said dramatically, making her blush.

“Tum bhi na… Main baad mein call karti hu,” Vrinda said, her cheeks warm as she quickly ended the call, flustered.

“Byee... Love you,” Anish said, his voice fading as she cut the call, her heart fluttering.

Feeling refreshed after the brief conversation, Vrinda made her way downstairs, curious about her mother’s progress in the kitchen. As she stepped into the living room, she found Sharvari preparing dinner, her back turned as she stirred a pot.

“Uth gayi tum... Neend puri ho gayi na?” Sharvari asked, surprised by the sudden hug from her daughter.

“Haan, mummy,” Vrinda replied, holding her mother tightly, feeling the warmth and love radiating from her.

“Kya hua beta?” Sharvari asked, sensing a shift in her daughter’s demeanor.

“Kuch nahi, mummy. Maine aapko bahut miss kiya. Aapko papa ko, iss ghar ko, meri room ko,” Vrinda confessed, her voice thick with emotion as she pulled back to look into her mother’s eyes.

“Are, yeh achanak se kya ho gaya? Kuch mahino ki hi baat hai. Dekhna, kaise chale jayenge, pata bhi nahi chalega tumhe. Aur jab man kare, ghar aa jana, hum yahi hain na,” Sharvari reassured her, a soothing hand resting on Vrinda’s shoulder.

“Haan, mummy. Chalo, ab aapko help kar deti hu,” Vrinda said, picking up a knife and starting to chop vegetables, determined to be present and supportive.

As they worked side by side, laughter filled the kitchen. They reminisced about family dinners, shared stories of their days apart, and planned future gatherings. The bond between them felt as strong as ever.

Once dinner was prepared and the table was set, Vrinda settled into the living room, eager to connect with her friends. She initiated a conference call with Vaidehi and Isha, excited to catch up.

“Hey, you two!” she greeted cheerfully as their faces appeared on the screen.

“Vrinda! Kaise ho?” Isha asked, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.

“Sab badhiya! Aaj ghar aayi ho, toh kya kya khaya?” Vaidehi teased, making Vrinda laugh.

As they chatted, sharing updates about

 their studies and personal lives, Vrinda felt a sense of belonging wash over her. But then, something caught her eye—a piece of paper lying under the table. Curiosity piqued, she leaned down to pick it up.

As she unfolded it, her heart sank, leaving her speechless. The words on the paper felt like a punch to the gut, transforming the warm atmosphere into a cold void. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she clutched the paper tightly, feeling as if her worst fears were becoming a reality.

“What’s wrong, Vrinda?” Isha asked, noticing her sudden shift in demeanor.

Vrinda tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. She looked at the paper again, disbelief washing over her. It felt like a nightmare unfolding, the weight of uncertainty crashing down on her.

“Vrinda?” Vaidehi pressed, concern lacing her tone.

Gathering her thoughts, Vrinda finally managed to whisper, “I... I need to talk to you guys later.” With that, she ended the call, her heart racing, and the sobs began to escape her lips.