Fragile Hearts

C h a p t e r - 25

Priya stood with a sly smile, crossing her arms.

Priya: "Enna Riya madam, enga oduringa... Enna unnoda Siddharth, andha Anjali vandhadhum unna thorathi vittutana....?"

Riya: "What are you talking about, Priya? Apdilam onnum illa. Konja vazhi viduriya na poganum."

Priya stepping closer, her tone biting.

Priya: "Oh, come on. Indha Siddharth eppovume ipdidhan.. Nee avana pathi epdi feel pandranu ennala purinjika mudiyudhu... Unnoda love un kannulaye theridhu..Ana nee avanuku lam set agamatta nu unnaku en puriyala."

Riya looks away, already uncomfortable. Her chest tightens with guilt and confusion. She tries to walk and leave, but Priya blocks her path, forcing her to listen.

Priya: "Nee enna nenaikura Siddharth ah pathi? You’re nothing but a second option. Pathiya... Unna Avan kandukakuda matran... Anjali dhan avanuku ellame nu ipovachu purinjiko..."

Riya opened her mouth to protest, but nothing comes out. Her emotions are swirling—she feels like she’s betraying Anjali just by having confused feelings for Siddharth, even though she’s tried to suppress them.

Riya: "That’s not true…"

Priya: "Ohh apdiya? Nee enna avan lifela Anjali place ah replace panniralam nu nenaikuriya? Do you even realize how pathetic you sound? He’ll never look at you the way he looked at her."

Riya’s heart pounds in her chest. She’s overwhelmed by Priya’s words, her own insecurities bubbling to the surface. She starts to feel trapped, desperate to escape the conversation.

Riya: "I don’t want to hear this, Priya. Ennai vidu na kelambanum."

Priya: "Vidanuma? Ethana vaati sonnen kettiya. You’re trying so hard to be someone you’re not. You’re not Anjali, and you never will be. Siddharth will never choose you, no matter how hard you try."

Riya’s guilt and self-doubt reach a breaking point. Her hands tremble as she tries to hold back her tears. She feels suffocated by the weight of Priya’s words, her own emotions swirling in her head—guilt over Anjali, confusion about Siddharth, and now, a deep sense of inadequacy.

Suddenly, as Priya moves to push further, Riya snaps.

Riya : "I don’t care about being Anjali! I just… I just want to be me! Just leave me for now."

Priya smirks, sensing Riya’s vulnerability, and decides to push even harder.

Priya: "Marandhuradha. You’ll always be second place in his life."

Riya, now completely broken, tries to push past Priya, but Priya shoves her back, keeping her trapped.

Riya: "Unnaku ipo enna venum...Just let me go!"

At that moment, Siddharth and Anjali, who had been talking nearby, hear the commotion and rush over. Anjali’s face hardens when she sees what’s happening, and without hesitation, she drags Siddharth with her.

Anjali: "Enna nadakudhu Inga?"

Both Priya and Riya turn to see Siddharth and Anjali standing there. Priya looks momentarily startled, but quickly regains her composure, flashing a mocking smile at Siddharth who glaring at her.

Priya: "Oh, look who decided to join us. I was just reminding Riya of her place."

Siddharth turned towards Riya and looked at her teary face.

Siddharth: "Riya edhuku azhara ipo, iva enna sonna...."

Riya stood silent looking down at her feet not answering Siddharth.