Kalaba Kadhala | Part 1

Chapter 14

Italics- Translation

The hum of the city formed a familiar backdrop as Anushka leaned against the cool metal railing of her balcony, her thoughts tangled like the glowing tendrils of dusk. Her heart was heavy, and her mind replayed the events of the night like an unending reel.

Earlier, hidden behind a weathered wall, she had witnessed what she dreaded the most: Prabhas, entangled in another violent confrontation with his enemies. She had always known about his turbulent life as a gangster, but seeing him in the throes of rage, his fists flying and his voice echoing with determination, had shattered the illusion she kept spinning in her mind, again. The way he moved, confident and fierce, seemed both powerful and profoundly tragic. She felt an overwhelming urge to rush to him, to pull him away from that chaos, yet fear chained her feet to the ground.

As the last rays of the sun disappeared, Anushka felt the chill of reality seep in. She turned away from the breathtaking view and leaned against the cool concrete, closing her eyes. Tears threatened to spill, but she brushed them away angrily. "I can't do this anymore," she whispered to herself.

"Sweety...!" His voice suddenly pierced through her thoughts, deep and emphatic, as he stepped through her door. The tension in his posture told her he had just come from a fight. His shirt was ruffled, bloodied on the hem—a harsh reminder of what he was capable of, and how deeply entrenched he was in this violent world.

She turned, forcing a smile, but the warmth never reached her eyes. "You're hurt," she murmured, worry lacing her words as she stepped towards him, examining the fresh bruise blossoming on his cheek.

"It's nothing," he dismissed, brushing off her concern with a wave of his hand. But Anushka could see the darkness that clung to him, a darkness she knew she couldn't embrace any longer.

"Prabhas..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she feared the very words would shatter everything between them.

He took a step forward, his gaze piercing and filled with a mixture of affection and confusion. "What is it? Talk to me."

Tears threatened to spill as she searched his face, the face she loved but was now so afraid of. "I—I can't do this anymore. I can't be a part of this, Prabhas."

His expression hardened, confusion replacing warmth. "What are you saying? Are you giving upon me?"

"It's not that simple! I love you, but I can't lose myself in your world. I can't watch you fight, can't live in fear of what's going to happen next. It's tearing me apart."

He stepped back, shock written across his face. "Anushka," he said, his voice low and steady, "I would never let anything happen to you. You mean everything to me."

"And yet, every day, I feel that I'm losing myself in this. You fight for a living, and every time I hear about another brawl, I feel like a part of me dies inside," she replied, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. "I need to go away from all of this."

"Go away? Where?" he questioned, frustration simmering beneath his calm facade. "You think running away will solve anything? You know I can't change who I am!"

"I'm not asking you to change!" she cried, her voice rising. "I'm asking you to understand. I can't be the reason you're distracted when you're out there. You already have enough to deal with and I don't want to live being another weight on your shoulders."

"Sweety, please..." His eyes softened, desperation creeping into his tone.

A silence hung heavy between them, punctuated only by the distant hum of city life. Prabhas stepped closer, his voice dropping to a tender whisper. "You can't just walk away."