Short Stories collection

Shadow Of silence (2)

Chapter:2

The Hollow Feelings

Ruhi sat on the window ledge of her bedroom, looking out at the dusky sky as the evening settled over the house. The streets below were bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, and the occasional car would drive by, its headlights momentarily piercing the dark. But in her room, everything was still. Too still.

The house around her felt like a prison, every corner echoing with reminders of the things she wasn't. She had never been able to escape this suffocating feeling—the constant sense that she was trapped in a world that didn't care to notice her, a world that didn't see her as important.

As she gazed out of the window, Ruhi couldn't shake the thought that had been gnawing at her for days now: She didn't belong here.

She heard her mother's voice downstairs—soft but firm, speaking to Priya about something, probably planning the next big family gathering, or another one of Priya's perfect life milestones. Ruhi could almost picture the conversation: Priya, radiant as always, offering her opinions with the assurance of someone who had every corner of her life mapped out. And her mother, quietly agreeing, listening intently, as always.

Ruhi's fingers tightened on the windowsill. She had never been like Priya.

Priya had always been perfect in every way—an achiever, a go-getter, someone who had clear goals and knew how to navigate every situation. Ruhi, on the other hand, had always been an afterthought. She had never been bold enough to push her way into the spotlight, nor did she have anything remarkable about her to draw attention. Her academic records were average, her appearance nothing special, and her social skills? Nonexistent.

It wasn't just the cousins or the extended family who saw her as unremarkable—it was her own family too.

Ruhi's recalled that day of 3months back when her engagement was fixed, faint sound of her mother's voice calling her from the kitchen.

"Ruhi, come here for a second."

With a soft sigh, Ruhi pushed herself off the window ledge and made her way downstairs, her footsteps slow and heavy. She already knew what this would be about.

Her mother was standing by the counter, holding a few shopping bags in one hand, and a concerned look in her eyes.

"I wanted to talk to you."Her mother's voice was soft, but there was an underlying tension. "You need to make more of an effort, beta. You're not getting any younger, and you need to think about what you want out of life. You can't just keep drifting along."

Ruhi winced, the familiar sting of her mother's words hitting her like an arrow. She nodded quietly, unsure of how to respond. Her mother continued, oblivious to the way her words cut deeper than she intended.

"Look at Priya. She's got everything figured out. She's moving forward, working towards a career, planning her future."Her mother paused for a beat, then added, "You... you haven't even picked something to focus on. You're just wasting time, Ruhi."

The words were like a weight pressing on her chest, suffocating her. She was nothing like Priya. She had never been able to be the confident, goal-oriented person her mother wanted her to be. But what hurt more was the unspoken comparison between her and Priya, the constant insinuation that she wasn't enough.

Ruhi's eyes fell to the floor, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to spill. "I'm not wasting time, Mom." Her voice was small, even to her own ears. "I'm just... not sure what I want to do yet."

Her mother sighed and shook her head, the disappointment clear on her face. "You need to figure it out. Time doesn't wait for anyone. you know I never regretted having second child but I wish I had someone like Priya"