Fragile Hearts

C h a p t e r - 26

I kindly request you all to Read the note at the end....

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Riya stood on the terrace, her arms resting on the cold railing, staring up at the stars that dotted the night sky.

The soft breeze caressed her face, but it did little to calm the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in her mind. The events of the day replayed in her head-the football game, the argument, and the complicated feelings she had been trying to avoid.

She had always thought she was past these emotions, especially after the rejection from Raghav. It felt safer to avoid getting too close to anyone, to keep her heart guarded. But somehow, without even realizing it, she had grown closer to Sid, and it scared her more than she cared to admit.

The sound of the gate opening echoed faintly from behind, but she didn't turn to see who it was. Her thoughts were too tangled, her heart too conflicted. She was just a 17-year-old girl, after all. How was she supposed to understand or control her feelings when they kept shifting between confusion, anger, and something else-something she wasn't ready to name?

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the soft sound of footsteps behind her until a throat clearing pulled her back to the present.

Riya blinked, her grip tightening on the railing for a second. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she turned her head. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Sid standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, they stood there, the air between them thick with tension. Riya blinked, unsure if he was really there or if her mind was playing tricks on her. But no-he was there, in the flesh, and the intensity in his gaze was unmistakable.

Without a word, she turned back toward the sky, her heart racing. Why was he here? What did he want? And more importantly-what did she want?

Siddharth: "Riya..." his voice soft yet firm.

Riya closed her eyes, gripping the railing as if it could anchor her in place, keeping her from confronting whatever was about to unfold. After a moment, she asked quietly,

Riya: "Unnaku ipo enna venum, Sid?"

He took a step closer, his presence calming yet unsettling at the same time.

Siddharth: "Look at me," he requested gently.

Riya: "I can't," She murmured, her voice barely audible.

Sid sighed, but his tone remained gentle.

Siddharth: "Seri okayy nee enna pakka venam." he conceded. "Unnoda kaiya neetu!"

Confused, Riya hesitated but eventually turned toward him, masking her emotions as best as she could. Sid's eyes softened when he saw her guarded expression. Slowly, he reached out and placed something cool and solid into her hands.

Riya looked down to find the trophy gleaming in the dim light, and for a moment, her heart fluttered. The weight of it, both literal and symbolic, pressed into her palms. She could almost feel the collective effort that had gone into winning it-the teamwork, the blood, sweat, and tears. And she could imagine Sid's moment of triumph, knowing how hard he had worked for this, despite his injury.

Sid gently tugged her hands so she would hold the trophy more securely.

Riya: "Congratulations," she whispered, her voice low.

Sid's eyes flickered with something deep, something meaningful.

Siddharth: "Thank you," he said, his voice warm. "But this win... idhu ennaku mattum sondhamaanadhu illa namma motha team odadhu. They worked hard, pushed through every obstacle. Every single one of them played their hearts out."