away...

Chapter 5: Pulling Away

Ashaas's heart was racing as she waited for Neel to pick her up from school. They had been dating for a few months now, and everything seemed perfect. Neel was charming, handsome, and loving, and Ashaas couldn't imagine her life without him.

But as she waited for him to arrive, Ashaas couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Neel had been acting strange lately, distant and preoccupied. He would cancel their plans at the last minute, or not respond to her texts for hours.

Ashaas tried to brush it off, telling herself that Neel was just busy with school and work. But deep down, she knew that something was wrong.

When Neel finally arrived, Ashaas's heart skipped a beat. He looked handsome as ever, but his eyes seemed distant, his smile forced.

"Hey," he said, as he pulled her into a hug. "Sorry I'm late. I got held up at work."

Ashaas smiled, trying to play it cool. "It's okay," she said. "I know you're busy."

But as they drove to the park, Ashaas couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Neel seemed distant, preoccupied, and Ashaas couldn't shake off the feeling that he was pulling away from her.

As they walked through the park, Ashaas tried to make conversation, but Neel seemed uninterested. He would respond to her questions with monosyllables, his eyes gazing off into the distance.

Ashaas felt a pang of sadness as she realized that Neel was pulling away from her. She didn't know what she had done wrong, or what was going on in his life, but she knew that she had to talk to him about it.

"Neel," she said, as they sat down on a bench. "What's going on? You seem really distant lately, and it's making me feel really anxious."

Neel sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm sorry, Ashaas," he said. "I've just been really stressed out lately. School and work have been really overwhelming, and I don't know how to handle it all."

Ashaas's heart went out to him as she saw the tension in his body, the worry in his eyes. She knew that he was struggling, and she wanted to help him.

"Let me help you," she said, taking his hand in hers. "We can study together, or I can help you with your work. Whatever you need, I'm here for you."

Neel looked at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Ashaas," he said. "Just knowing that you're here for me makes me feel better."

Ashaas smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that Neel was going through a tough time, but she also knew that their love was strong enough to overcome anything.

As they sat there, holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, Ashaas knew that she was willing to do whatever it took to help Neel through this difficult time. She was willing to be patient, to be understanding, and to be supportive.

But as they walked back to the car, Ashaas couldn't shake off the feeling that Neel was still pulling away from her. She knew that he was struggling, but she also knew that their love was strong enough to overcome anything.