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Chapter-56 Beyond distance!

As we sat in the airport, the weight of the moment settled in. The world seemed to shrink down to just the two of us, even amid the bustle of travellers. Her hand rested in mine, and for a moment, we both pretended that time wasn't slipping away.

We sat together, wrapped in each other’s arms, as we spent the evening talking about the day, trying to cherish these last moments.

Each touch and shared smile became a bittersweet reminder of the distance that would soon come between us.

The overhead announcements sound muffled, as if they belong to another world. My focus was  on the way her eyes held mine, lingering with a softness that made throat tightened.

We talked about different things, the weather, our lives back in Dehradun and Delhi respectively. But there was a silence, the kind that said all the things we both were feeling but couldn't bring ourselves to say out loud.

The silence of getting parted again!

And this time, for more than seven or eight months, because it was my final year in IMA and Reya's final year at MAMC would be starting sometime soon. 

Her flight was called. We stood together, my arms wrapping around her one last time. The embrace was long, silent, and full of unspoken promises—of patience, of waiting, of love. 

I closed my eyes, breathing her in, memorising the warmth of her body against mine, the steady beat of her heart, knowing that soon all I'll have would be the faint echo of this moment.

“I'm tired!” she whispered, pushing her face into my chest.

I caressed her back, holding her a little more tightly. 

“Tired of being separated again!” She completed it.

She lifted her head up, our eyes meeting and melting into one another. “Shaadi karle mujhse!” she whispered, making me chuckle. 

“Has kyu raha hai? Nahi karega kya?” Her voice dropped. 

 My fingers trailing playfully over her cheeks as I spoke, “Vayush Reya se shaadi nahi karega!” 

She stepped away, the smile on her lips faded as she muttered, “What???” surprisingly.

I pulled her to me, leaned forward near her ear and said, “Captain Kashyap, Dr. Sharma se shaadi shaadi karega!” 

Her cheeks turned red with the darkest shade of pink and I pecked them. “Chal chal ab itna emotional bhi mat ho, saath rehta hoon tab to ladti rehti hai mujhse!” I said to lighten up the moment. 

She nodded softly and hugged me again, tightly this time.

As I pulled away, I tried to hold onto my smile, but it trembled. My thumb brushed her cheek, wiping away a tear before it could fully fall. 

"I'll see you soon," I said softly, but the words felt heavier than usual, weighed down by the uncertain span of days and weeks we have to spend without each other. 

I leaned forward, capturing her lips in a small kiss. “Take care of yourself!” She said and I nodded like a small kid. 

“Don't cry much! Save these tears for your vidaai!” I said teasingly, making her chuckle.

She patted my chest and pecked my cheeks before she turned around to leave. 

As I watched her walk away, my hand tingled from where it was held in her. Every step she took toward the gate felt like a tug on my heart, pulling a thread tighter and tighter until she was out of sight.

The airport started feeling colder, emptier, and I sat back down, staring at the terminal doors, counting the minutes until we were once again worlds apart, waiting for the next reunion.

Few months later 

Being in a long-distance relationship with your boyfriend at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, felt like a delicate dance between pride and longing. 

There was a sense of immense respect and admiration for his dedication, for the uncountable hours he spent training to protect the nation, yet the distance between us weighed heavily, making the moments without him feel a bit more stretched, a bit more hollow.

It has been three months today since the day we were back to our routine lifestyle. Days went by in a strange rhythm, dictated not by our desires but by the academy’s schedules—early mornings, late-night messages.

The calls were sometimes no more than a few words but meant everything. I cherished the brief phone calls where his voice, though tired, carried a sense of purpose and resilience.

Whenever my phone buzzed with a message from him, it was like a lifeline—a reminder that no matter the miles, no matter how physically distant, he was still mine, still thinking of me.

In these quiet moments when he was away, I reminded myself that this sacrifice, this patience, was for a future that we'll both share. His strength and duty inspired me to be strong too, knowing that even though he was far away, his love remained close, and one day the distance would simply be a memory.

It has been many days since his voice filled the world around me, and the silence felt heavier with each passing moment. I checked my phone often, scrolling through the last conversation, reading and re-reading his words as if they would  somehow feel more real, more present.

I told myself he was busy, that the rigorous training at IMA kept him occupied from dawn until well into the night. I always knew this would be part of our journey.

It was a strange mixture of pride and loneliness—pride for the man he was becoming, the soldier he was training to be, and loneliness for the boy I fell in love with, whose presence is now more distant than ever.

And then after days of waiting, my phone finally buzzed and for a moment, I thought I was imagining it. But then, I saw his name on the screen, and my heart skipped a beat.

I picked up the call, breathless, my emotions swirling between relief and joy.

“Vayuuu!” I called out. There was a pause, and then I heard his familiar voice—warm, but tinged with exhaustion.

“Sunflower!” I let out a soft breath, feeling the weight lifted just by hearing him.

My grip of my phone tightened, as I sighed. “Kaisa hai? I was so worried about you, you know…” 

A soft chuckle left his mouth and he cut me off. 

“I'm missing you, Reya!” He spoke, his voice dropped. 

“Feels like it's been forever!” I replied as a lone tear escaped my eyes. 

“I'm sorry, Sunflower! Things have been..intense here!” He replied.

“I understand! It's just..I started worrying about you!” 

He sighed, his breath clearly audible even through the phone, “It’s just been nonstop—drills, training, hardly any time to myself. But I’ve been thinking about you. Every single day.”

My heart fluttered at his words, there was a kind of reassurance in his voice, “I kept telling myself that. Just that I'm missing you…being here.” My voice started cracking.

“I know, and I miss it too. More than you know. It gets lonely, even when I’m surrounded by people.” I could hear the strain in his voice, and for a moment, I wished I could reach through the phone, touch him and hold him in my arms.

“I wish I was there! Even for a little while?” 

“We’ll get through this, Sunflower! I know it feels like forever, but every day we’re apart, it just makes me want to be with you more.” His words soothed the longing. I closed my eyes, imagining him standing near me.

“Just promise me, whenever you can, let me know you’re okay. Even if it’s just a quick text.” I demanded and heard him chuckling from the other end. 

“I promise. I’ll do better. And when this is all over, I’m going to run back to you!” 

There was a comfortable silence that followed, where neither of us spoke, just being there, connected through the distance, was enough for us.

“I need to go, Sunflower...but I’ll call again as soon as I can.” His voice was laced with pain.

My heart sank at his words, but I understand.

“Just...take care of yourself, okay? And don’t push too hard. I’ll be here, waiting for you always!” I replied trying to suppress my pain through my voice. 

“I'll! You too please stay safe! I love you Sunflower!” He said lovingly.

“I love you always, Captain Kashyap!” 

And then, the line went silent. I sat there, the phone still in my hand, a mix of emotions swirling—relief, sadness, love. But mostly, hope.

Even across miles, his words lingered like a comforting embrace, making the wait just a little bit easier.

And so, I always wait. Not just for his call, but for the day when the distance will be less, when the silences won’t feel so vast, and when the love between us could be felt in something more than messages or brief conversations.

And until then, I hold on to the faith that love, no matter how quiet or far away, still exists in the spaces between the words, in the very act of waiting.

Few days later,

As I held the schedule for the passing out parade (POP) in my hands, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was the moment I’ve worked so hard for, and I wanted my Sunflower to be there with me, but I hesitated. 

I knew her exams were coming up, and I didn’t want to add more pressure on her. I knew how important her studies were, and with that I found myself caught between wanting her there and not wanting to burden her.

Her final year would be starting in a couple of months and then her internship period. I closed my eyes as I leaned against the headboard, confusion and hesitation surrounding my senses.

My eyes opened at the sound of my phone ringing, and my heart fluttered at the sight of her name flashing on the screen.

“Heyy Sunflower!” I chirped in excitement.

“What's up Vayu! You seem way too happy today?” She asked.

“Yeah! I was waiting for your call.” I replied. I could feel her lips curling into a smile.

We gossiped about everyone when finally I said, "So... the passing out parade is just a couple of months away now."

She paused, her voice warm and cheerful when she replied, “Oh my God! Are you serious Kashyap? I’m so excited for you. It’s going to be amazing seeing you up there.”

I smiled, but there was still a part of me that felt uncertain. “Yeah, it’s going to be a big day. And…mm I really want you to be there with me.”

There was a softness in my tone that made her pause. She sensed the unspoken part of the conversation, and replied, “I want to be there too, more than anything. But... you’re worried about my exams, aren’t you?”

I sighed, not surprised that she sensed it. She has always been able to read me so well.

“Yeah, I don’t want to take you away from your studies. You’ve got so much going on, and I don’t want to make things harder for you.” I replied scratching the bridge of my nose. 

“C'mon Vayu! You really think I'll miss such an important day in your life? But I know why you’re worried. My exams are important, but so is this. We’ll figure it out.” Her voice was soft and filled with understanding.

“I just don’t want to add more stress for you. I know how hard you’ve been working for your exams. I’d love for you to be there, but I don't want to distract…” and before I could complete she cut me off.

“Distract? Me? By you?” Her voice raised.

“I’ll make it work. I’ve been with you through this whole journey, and I want to be there when you reach the finish line.” Hearing her said that filled me with gratitude. She has always been so supportive.

“I just don’t want to make it harder for you.” I said in a low voice. 

“We’ve handled everything else together, right? We’ll handle this too. This is your moment, and I’m so proud of you. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” 

With her words, my worries eased. I realised how lucky I am to have her by my side, willing to be there for one of the most important days of my life, no matter the challenges.

“And don’t worry, I’ll be there, cheering the loudest. You’ll spot me easily!” She chuckled. 

“I’ll probably be looking for you the whole time. Just knowing you’ll be there makes everything better.” I replied smiling like an idiot.

“Well, I’ll be the one smiling the biggest, waiting to hug you after.” She sounded excited.

“Deal. And after this, we’ll celebrate properly—just you and me.”

As I hung up the phone, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly lucky. Through everything, whether it's tough times or exciting moments—she has always been there for me, supporting me in every step of the way. 

Knowing she’ll be there for such an important day made me realise just how blessed I am to have her in my life. She believes in me and my dreams as much as I do, and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.


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