ℂ𝕆ℂ𝕂𝕋𝔸𝕀𝕃𝕊 𝕎𝕀𝕋ℍ ℂ𝕌ℙ𝕀𝔻

𝟯𝟱

𝘋𝘜𝘓𝘓𝘕𝘌𝘚𝘚
>>>>–––– 💘 ––––<<<<

Mithra sat in silence through her classes, barely registering the lectures around her. Her thoughts spun, clouded by Shakthi’s sudden change in behavior—the way he’d grown so quiet, so distant in just a few days. She could barely remember the last time he’d really looked at her, and the more she thought about it, the more it stung. A weight settled on her chest, regret creeping in for confessing her feelings so soon. It felt as though, in speaking her truth, she’d not only lost a friend but also driven him further away.

Every morning, she awoke with a spark of hope, but he was already gone. He came home late each night. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was avoiding her, creating distance at every possible opportunity. Every excuse he gave felt thin, flimsy even, with “work” somehow covering every missed moment between them. But Mithra saw through each one, the emptiness in his words almost as painful as the silence between them.

Mithra felt a gentle pat on her shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see her friend’s concerned gaze, but she quickly brushed it off, forcing a small smile and muttering that it was nothing. She joined them as they made their way to the canteen, falling in step but feeling far removed from the casual chatter around her. The hum of conversations and laughter barely registered as she sat with her friends, her mind still miles away.

Though Mithra was naturally reserved, her silence now carried a heaviness her friends couldn’t ignore. They exchanged glances, quietly aware that something deeper was troubling her, something she wasn’t ready to share. Her usual quietness had shifted, now marked by an absent look and the occasional sigh. They didn’t press her, but the difference was clear.

Anna'va miss panriya?

( Are you missing your brother?)

Mithra nodded, feeling a flicker of truth in her response. She missed her brother's quiet presence, even if they weren’t always talking or interacting directly. He had a way of being there, a subtle comfort that she’d grown used to. Sometimes, she'd catch him checking on her while she slept, or see him drop off something small he thought she’d like. But now, with him gone for a week and Shakthi distanced from her, a hollow ache had taken its place in her heart filled with loneliness.

She’d always thought of herself as someone who didn’t need anyone's company, assuming she was fine on her own. But now, it seemed, she’d mistaken herself. Just like everyone else, she too craved that connection, that reassuring presence nearby. It was a surprising realization, one she hadn't expected to come to. Maybe, she thought, she wasn’t as detached as she'd convinced herself to be.

She slipped away from her friends, finding a quiet spot on a nearby bench to call Avi. She tapped her foot as she waited, the phone ringing a few times before he finally picked up. Hearing his voice made her sigh,

Hello Mithra? Yen nethu night call yedhukala?

( Hello Mithra, why didn't you answer my phone call yesterday?)

Mithra's heart warmed at the sound of her brother's immediate concern. She felt a wave of gratitude, knowing he was always there, even from afar.

Illa Avi, thungiten

( I fell asleep earlier)

Avi paused his packing, sensing something different in her tone. His usual calm demeanor shifted as he focused on the phone, noticing a subtle dullness in her voice. This wasn’t like Mithra, and it struck a chord, making him listen even closer.

Yennachu, yen oru madhiri pesurae?

( What happened why do you sound dull?)