Still Fall For You 💕

Chapter -6: **Bonding**

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over Maplewood, Aria sat on her bed, the chaos of the day replaying in her mind like a film on loop. The laughter she shared with Ahaan at school echoed in her ears, but it was the intense gaze of Akshat that lingered in her thoughts, igniting a whirlwind of emotions within her. She sighed, pulling her knees to her chest, contemplating the complexities of her feelings.

The next morning, Aria awoke to the aroma of her mother's signature breakfast-Aloo Pratha with chilled curd. As she stumbled into the kitchen, still half asleep, she found her mother humming a song .

As her mother(Sakshi) saw her she said "Good morning, beta" with a smile on her face.

"Good morniggg Mummaaa" Aria replied. Her mother, now busy with another task, had started humming a different tune. Aria walked away and sat at the dining table, waiting for breakfast. Soon, her mother arrived with a plate in hand-the warm aroma of freshly made aloo paratha wafted through the living room. As her mother served the food, Aria looked at her and asked with a smile, "Lagta hai aaj aap bahut khush hai! Is there something special?"

"Did you forget? I told you yesterday that Advika is coming today," Sakshi said, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, right! It completely slipped my mind," Aria replied, her face lighting up. "I'm so excited! But when is she coming?"

Just as she asked, the doorbell rang.
"Go check who it is. It might be your sister," Sakshi said with a teasing smile.

Aria jumped up from her chair, almost tripping over the dining mat in excitement. She rushed to the door and opened it in one swift motion.

There she was-Advika. Dressed in a pastel kurta and jeans, her hair tied in a loose braid, holding a duffel bag and grinning ear to ear.

"Surprise!" Advika said, throwing her arms open.

Aria squealed and hugged her tightly. "You're here! Finally! You took forever!"

Advika laughed, pulling back. "Blame the traffic, not me. And you didn't even call me in the morning."

"I forgot," Aria admitted sheepishly. "But I'm so glad you're here!"

Sakshi walked in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. "Look at you two, already creating noise in the first five seconds."

Advika hugged her mother and said "Mummy yaar I missed you so much and of course your tasty tasty food ".

Sakshi smiled and patted her head. "Come in, today I made Your favourite aloo parathas are ready."

Advika's eyes lit up. "Maa, you're the best!"

Aria laughed, grabbing her hand. "Let's eat first-then you can tell me everything."

The three of them sat at the dining table, plates full of steaming aloo parathas, a bowl of curd, and a little dish of mango pickle in the middle. Aria sat quietly at first, her eyes fixed on Advika, as if making sure she was really here.

Advika tore a piece of paratha, dipped it in curd dramatically, and took a big bite. "Mmm... uff, maa! I swear, this tastes better than any fancy food I had on the trip."

Sakshi chuckled, sipping her tea. "I knew you'd say that. Nothing beats home food after a long journey."

"Trip kaisi thi?" Aria asked softly, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Advika sat up straighter, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Oh my God, Aru-it was amazing! Trekking in Manali, camping under the stars, dancing around bonfires... I even tried paragliding!"

Aria's eyes widened. "Seriously? Weren't you scared?"

"Scared?" Advika laughed, flicking a strand of hair over her shoulder. "I screamed the whole way down, but it was glorious!"

Aria smiled, admiring her sister's fearless energy. They were so different-Advika was sunshine in motion, always loud, always glowing. Aria, on the other hand, liked observing before jumping in. But still, there was no one she admired more.

Sakshi got up to refill their plates. "You should take Aria on your next trip. She needs some adventure too."

Advika winked at Aria. "Deal! But only if she promises not to pack a thousand books (recipe books, dark romance,etc..) in her bag like last time."

Aria rolled her eyes but smiled. "I like being prepared."

"You like being dramatic," Advika teased.

They burst into laughter-soft, familiar, warm. The kind that filled the gaps time couldn't.

For a moment, everything felt whole again.

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Later, the two sisters sat cross-legged on Aria's bed, the room filled with the soft hum of the ceiling fan. A half-unpacked suitcase lay in the corner, Advika's colourful shawl draped over a chair like it had always belonged there.

"So," Advika said, nudging Aria's arm, "tell me everything. How's the new school? How was your first day? Did you make any new friends?"

Aria smiled faintly, playing with the edge of her bedsheet. "It's... okay, I guess.

Aria leaned back against the headboard, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Actually... I did make a new friend."

Advika's eyes lit up instantly. "Oho! Kya baat hai. Tell me more!"

"His name is Ahaan," Aria began, a little hesitant at first. "He's... funny. Annoying, actually. He teases me a lot-but not in a mean way. It's like... friendly teasing. We sit together."

Advika raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Sounds like someone's getting too comfortable."

Aria rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "We just... get along. It's easy with him. He makes the school feel less scary."

But then, mid-sentence, another face flashed across her mind-Akshat.

That one moment when their eyes met, the way his voice had lingered in her thoughts longer than it should have.

She paused. A strange warmth crept up her neck and settled on her cheeks.

Advika noticed it instantly.

"Oh-ho-ho! Wait a second-that blush is not for Ahaan," she said, leaning forward dramatically. "Kya chal raha hai, madam? Is there someone else?"

Aria looked away, biting her lower lip. "It's nothing."

"Nothing? Your cheeks are literally pink," Advika said, laughing. "Who is he? Spill it!"

Aria grabbed a pillow and hid her face. "I'm not telling you."

But the twinkle in her eyes said enough.

Advika grinned wide. "Bas, I've decided. I need to meet this mysterious 'nothing.'"

Would you like the next scene to show Aria telling more about Akshat, or maybe a flashback of how they first met?

Aria threw a cushion at her. "Shut up."

Advika caught it mid-air. "Rude. I come back from a life-threatening trek, and this is how you treat me?"

They both laughed, the easy kind that only sisters could share-the kind that didn't need explanations, just presence.
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