TILL INFINITIES END

35. AARUSHI

It was one of those evenings, post-dinner. I was cleaning the table, watching Tia from the corner of my eye as she sat on the swing outside in the balcony. Her posture was stiff, her eyes distant as they stared into the night sky and head rested on the chain of the swing. Something had been off between her and Sam for a while now, and I know it since the day Sam and his parents came because generally she doesn't leave when Sam is about to show up. I wanted to talk to her about it.

I finished up the dishes quickly, my mind racing with thoughts of how to bring it up. Should I just ask her? Or ease into the conversation? I decided on starting the conversation with a light mood and start with something good first. No need to overwhelm her right away.

Stepping outside, I smiled as I sat with her on the swing.

She passed me a smile and again kept her gaze at the sky.

"You know, your principal called today," I started, "She wanted to congratulate you on standing first in school again and asked me to come pick up your medal tomorrow along with the seat confirmation for your 11TH grade."

Tia smiled, a soft, almost tired smile, and nodded. "That's nice," she said quietly.

"We'll have to go to school in the morning for that," I continued, trying to keep things light.

"I'll be ready by 9," she replied. no, this is not tia. academic validation and still sounding so low? definitely not tia.

I paused for a moment, watching her as she avoided her eyes meeting mine. There was a heaviness in her physique, something she wasn't saying. 

Deciding to test my assumption, I asked, "Should Sam come along with us tomorrow? I'm sure he'd love to see you get your medal."

The shift in her expression was almost immediate—a flinch, a tightening of her jaw. She looked  at me briefly, her voice turning mocking. "He must be busy with his preparations to leave..." she said, before she whispered, almost to herself, "...forever."

I felt my heart sink at that moment. The way she said it—there was hurt, pain she was trying to hide. I couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Why did you say that, Tia?" I asked softly, hoping she would open up.

She shrugged, still not looking at me. "Nothing... he's just busy with everything, so let it be."

But I knew better. Tia never said no to the idea of Sam coming along...be it anything. Something was wrong, something more than just him leaving. Her face was a mix of sadness and frustration, so much different from the girl who usually lit up whenever Sam's name was mentioned.

I tried again, gently pushing. "Do you want to help him pack tomorrow? We can drop you off at his place after school."

Her eyes blinked towards the sky, her lips pressing together as if they were holding back something she didn't want to admit. And then, I saw it—a tear forming in the corner of her eye, showing up in the dim light. She quickly looked away, blinking back the tears, but it was too late. 

I could see the pain written all over her face.

My heart broke a little for her as I released a soft sigh. "Did he say something? Is that why you don't want to go and meet him?"

Tia shook her head quickly, but her voice was thin, almost defeated. 

"He said it's fine... He'll pack on his own. He doesn't need me there."

There was something more she wasn't telling me. I could feel it.

I leaned in a little, my voice barely above a whisper. "Tia, are you upset because Sam's leaving?"

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, she didn't answer. She closed her eyes tightly, squeezing them shut as if trying to hold back a flood of emotions. Her hands grew into fists on her lap, and I could see her face tightening. Finally, she gave a small, almost unnoticable nod.

My heart ached for her. I knew this was hard—Sam was her closest friend, maybe even more than that, though she hadn't admitted it to anyone, not even herself. I gently rubbed her back, feeling her tense under my touch.

"I know it hurts," I said softly. "But beta...Sam has to go, no? It's important for him, for his career. This is a good thing for him. We should be happy that he got into such a good college."

A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she wiped it away quickly, as if embarrassed by the emotion. She didn't say anything, just nodded, her eyes still fixed on the sky. I could tell she didn't want to cry, didn't want to let me—or anyone—see just how much this was hurting her.

"Do you want to talk to him?" I ask, offering something that might make her feel better.

After a long moment, she stood up, her steps slow and heavy, like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. "I'm sleepy," she said quietly, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I'm going to bed. Gnnite mumma."

Before I could say anything else, she was already walking away, going into her room. I watched her go, feeling sadness and helplessness. It's tough for her, definitely. 

Now, I knew the reason why she'd been so off lately. It wasn't just about Sam leaving. It was about him going away forever and she thought that helping develop a habit of it would help her maybe. I don't know why I just felt that....maybe she looked at him as more than just a friend? I could be wrong, possibly, but still, this maternal instinct had showed up and it was quite prominent. If he meant to her something more than just a friend....shit, it's going to pain her more than this.