Neeyum Naanum Anbe💫💝

𖧷THREADS OF LOVE𖧷

The night before, Adi had been chatting and laughing with Nithya, breaking the strict family rule that no one should talk during dinner. But today, the atmosphere was completely different. Adi was silent, his face clouded with worry, his usual firm demeanor replaced with a distant, troubled look.

Seema noticed immediately. She glanced at Pavi, who was sitting across from her brother, and they exchanged a knowing look. Seema had predicted this—Adi was lost in thoughts of Tara. As she served him dinner, she gently placed the bowl in front of him, hoping it might bring him some comfort.

But Adi barely touched his food. He pushed the rice around his plate absentmindedly, his mind clearly elsewhere. Every now and then, he would glance at the empty space next to him, where Tara usually sat. That emptiness gnawed at him more than he would ever admit.

Nithya, seated beside Adi, noticed his distant mood. Her carefree smile faltered slightly, but she tried to break the tension. 

Nithya : Adi, you know, my interview went really well today.  

she said, her voice trying to carry the same lightness it had the night before.

Adi shot her a quick, sharp glare, the kind that made Nithya instantly regret speaking. She went silent, her words freezing in her throat. She had been clueless about the shift in Adi's behavior—last night, he had been warm and friendly, but now, it was as if she no longer existed in his world.

Pavi, watching the whole scene unfold, couldn't help but smirk internally. 

Pavi mv : Nalla kulu kulu nu irukae. Konjam kaathirundha innum nalla irundhirkum.

Seema, too, noticed Adi's mood, but she held back any comments. She knew this was a necessary part of the process. Her son needed to feel this longing, this pain, to understand what Tara truly meant to him. Still, as a mother, it hurt to see her son so upset. But she remained composed. This was for the best.

Nithya shifted in her seat, the silence growing unbearable for her. She had always known Adi to be attentive, always the one to make her laugh and feel comfortable. But now, it was as if she didn't exist. She had no idea what had changed, but the coldness in the room was obvious.

Nithya : Adi, is everything alright? 

She asked, her voice quieter this time, as if testing the waters. He didn't look at her. 

Pavi mv : Iva Morachu pathalum summa irukamaatralae. Paravala iva ipdae pesi annan na tension aaki avar iva kita kathuvaru paaka vae supera irukum.

But Seema without knowing to Adi made a signal like keeping her fingers in her lips to keep quiet. Tara too nodded looking at her. Continued to eat in silence. She didn't dare say anything further.

Pavi mv : Cha amma vera avala silent aaki vitanga. thituvanguradhu pochae.....

The dinner carried on in near silence, apart from the clattering of utensils on plates. Adi continued to eat, though barely enough to fill his stomach. His mind was far from the table. He kept thinking about Tara, wondering why she hadn't come back yet, replaying every conversation, every look, every moment they shared.

Was she upset because of Nithya? The thought hit him hard. He hadn't realized it until now, but everything was pointing in that direction. The way she had left this morning without breakfast, without saying much—it all made sense now. Adi's chest tightened with guilt.

Seema and Pavi exchanged glances again, both silently agreeing that Adi needed this. He needed to understand his feelings for Tara, and Nithya's presence—though frustrating—was accelerating that realization.