Kalaba Kadhala | Part 1

Chapter 8

Italics - translation

"What happened?" She heard him asking and she hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead.

"I've been thinking a lot about us. About our friendship and how much I enjoy spending time with you. And I've realized that my feelings for you go beyond friendship. I... I think you've become more than a friend to me, Prabhas."

For a moment, there was silence. Prabhas looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. Then, something in his expression changed, and he reached across the table to take her hand. "Anushka, I need to tell you something too," he said softly.

Anushka's heart soared. He felt the same way—she was sure of it. But then she saw the conflict in his eyes, and her excitement dimmed slightly.

"There's something you don't know about me," Prabhas continued, his voice strained. "Something I've been hiding from you because... even I'm not sure about the reason. But you deserve to know the truth before you decide anything about us".

Anushka's mind raced. What could he possibly be hiding? She squeezed his hand, urging him to continue. "What is it, Prabhas? You can tell me anything."

Prabhas took a deep breath, his grip tightening around her hand. "Anushka, I'm not who you think I am. There's a part of me which I have kept hidden from you.... The truth is, I- I'm not a normal businessman."
She continued looking at him with confused face and he understood she need some more explanation. "I'm involved in illegal activities. I'm basically a criminal."

Anushka's breath caught in her throat. She pulled her hand away, staring at him in shock. "What? Prabhas, enna sollre?" (what are you talking?)

He looked down, unable to meet her eyes. "It's true. I've been involved in this life for a long time... That is my identity. And... I cannot go around telling people I'm mafia, that's why I have kept the image of a businessman and all".

Anushka felt as if the ground had shifted beneath her. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, fear, betrayal. She had fallen in love with a man who was a criminal, a man who was part of a world she despised. She hated violence and everything it represented, and now she found herself in love with someone who was deeply entrenched in it.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't believe you were lying to me..."

Prabhas reached out to her again, his eyes filled with desperation. "Anushka, please. I had my reasons to hide the truth from you and I understand if you want me to stay away from you. I understand if you decide not to see me again. But I needed you to know the truth."

Anushka stood up abruptly, needing to put some distance between them. "I need to go," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I need some air."

She turned and walked away, her mind in turmoil. How could she reconcile her feelings for Prabhas with the reality of who he was? She loved him, but she hated the world he was a part of. She needed time to sort through her feelings and decide what to do.

On the way home, Anushka struggled with her emotions. She felt utterly disturbed, and she couldn't concentrate on driving. She thought about Prabhas constantly, her heart aching with the knowledge that he had lied to her. But she also remembered all the moments they had shared, the kindness and love he had shown her and Dhruv. She couldn't deny that her feelings for him were real and deep. She spent the whole night reflecting, weighing her feelings for Prabhas against the harsh reality of his life. She knew that loving him would mean accepting his past and the dangers that came with it. It would mean facing the possibility of losing him to violence or imprisonment. But she also knew that she couldn't just turn off her feelings.