Back home, Shan’s cheerful mood disappeared as soon as he walked through the door. His father, Ananda, was sitting in the living room, reading the newspaper, while his stepmother, Sandamali, was making dinner in the kitchen.
Nethma, his younger brother, was playing with his toys in the corner.
“Had a good day?” Sandamali called out,
not looking up from her cooking.
“Yeah, it was fine,”
Shan replied,
his voice lacking the energy he’d shown earlier. He knew she didn’t really care, but at least she didn’t make his life hard like his father did.
Ananda lowered his newspaper and glanced at Shan.
“You’re not wasting time with those useless friends of yours, are you?
You need to focus on your studies, Shan. We didn’t send you to Royal College so you could fool around.”
Shan’s jaw tightened, but he kept his tone light.
“I’m doing fine in school, Appachchi. You don’t have to worry.”
His father’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re almost a man now, Shan. Start acting like one. Stop playing around and think about your future. And don’t get distracted by things… or people who aren’t worth your time.”
Shan knew exactly what his father meant. The unspoken words hung in the air, heavy with disapproval.
He forced a nod and mumbled an excuse about needing to study before going to his room.
Once inside, Shan closed the door behind him and leaned against it, feeling the pressure of the expectations and disappointments that weighed him down. He looked at his desk, messy with books and papers, and felt a surge of anger and sadness.
In the privacy of his room, Shan allowed the mask to slip. He sat on his bed, staring at the photograph of his late mother, Kanthi, that he kept hidden under his pillow.
“Amma,”
he whispered,
his voice breaking,
“I wish you were here. Everything’s so hard without you.”
He closed his eyes, trying to block out the painful memories, but they always came rushing back—the nights he spent crying alone after his mother’s death, the cold distance of his father, the way Sandamali acted like she cared, but never really did. Shan felt like he was drowning in a sea of expectations, and no one even noticed.
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Eternal Echo Of Love
Teen Fiction"Echoes of Our Love" tells the moving story of Shan and Muthuu, whose deep bond faces numerous trials from family opposition and personal challenges. Set in Sri Lanka, their journey from childhood friends to soulmates explores the strength of true l...
