Fragile Hearts

C h a p t e r - 12

After Siddharth quietly said, "Na school discontinue panidalamnu iruken," he bent his head, not saying another word.

Riya sat there in stunned silence, her heart heavy with concern. She didn't want to let everyone know what was going on, especially with the group still chatting and laughing around them.

Without saying anything, she reached for her lunch box, opened it, and subtly moved closer to Siddharth. She nudged his arm gently, asking him to take the food.

Sid shook his head, signaling he didn’t want to eat and moved the box back to Riya. But Riya wasn’t about to give up that easily. She again moved it towards him.

Meanwhile, Arun, who had been paying more attention than it seemed, noticed them and the odd silence between Siddharth and Riya. His curiosity piqued, he came over and sat across from them. He leaned forward, his eyebrows raised in confusion.

Arun: "Heyyy pasangala enna achu? En rendu perum amaidhiya irukinga."

Riya looked up at Arun and, without saying anything, mouthed, "I’ll tell you later." Arun glanced between the two, clearly not convinced, but decided not to press more.

Instead, he turned his attention to Siddharth, who still sat with his head down, refusing to touch the food.

Riya: "Just, Make him eat." She whispered slowly to Arun.

Arun, ever the troublemaker, stood up abruptly, grabbed the lunch box from Riya's hand, and plopped it down in front of Sid.

Arun: "Deii, en ipdi iruka? Edhuku rendu perum sapadu kuda sanda pottutu irukinga."

Siddharth: "Illa ennaku pasikkala. Ennaku venam.."

Arun: "Ohh, apdiya! Ipo neeya olunga sapdalana, aprm na unna sapda vekkura mari ayirum." he declared with a mischievous grin.

Siddharth rolled his eyes, half-amused but mostly uninterested.

Siddharth: "Vidu da, Arun. Naandhan venamnu solrenla."

Riya: "Sidd, Please konjamachu sapdu."

Siddharth: "Illa Riya venam."

But Arun wasn’t one to back down easily. He picked up a spoonful of food and shoved it toward Siddharth's mouth.

Arun: "Illa, ipo nee sapdura unnaku vera choice eh illa. Mooditu vaaya open pannu."

Siddharth: "Moodanuma? Illa open pannanuma?" He asked with a blank expression making Riya and Arun huff in unison.

Arun: "Un comedy ku aprm ah sirikalam. Now come on, Sid. Open your mouth like good boy!!"

Siddharth gave him an annoyed expression, shaking his head.

Siddharth: "I am not a kid, Arun. Nee enna vidu."

Arun: "You’re acting like one, bro. Ipo nee sapdalana, un kaiya kaala pudika sollitu, aprm ooti vitruven pathuko."

Siddharth sighed deeply knowing Arun's adamant nature, but seeing his goofy face, he couldn’t help but crack a small smile.

Reluctantly, he opened his mouth and took the bite, to which Arun responded with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Arun: "Yebba! Idhuka Ivlo porattam, chinna kolandhaiya kuda saamalichiralam pola, unna saamalika mudiyala."

Riya: "Adhu ennamo crct dhan." She said rolling her eyes and glaring Sid.

Arun: "Vidu Ree, na ipove palagikuren. Epdiyo Nammaku future la use agum." He said giving her wink.

Riya gave him disgusting look.