Fragile Hearts

C h a p t e r - 46

The morning light was just beginning to filter through the curtains when Riya stirred from her sleep.

As she rubbed her eyes, she became aware of the sounds echoing from downstairs—voices, hurried footsteps, and the clatter of bags being packed.

Her family was already busy getting ready for their trip to the native town for the wedding.

A trip she wasn’t particularly thrilled about. She preferred being here, close to everything that made her days brighter. Close to him.

Riya: "Adhukulla vidinjuruchaa..." She sat up groaning loudly.

Still drowsy, she instinctively reached for her phone, a habit as natural as breathing.

Riya: "Whattt!!!" She blinked at her phone, realizing there were several notifications.

Sid❤️? Not one or two, but a whole string of them. Sid never messaged this early, she thought as her heart did a little flip.

And that also voice messages? That’s new. Curious, she clicked play on the first one, and his sleepy, grumpy voice filled her ear.

(The messages are in italics)

Sid❤️ - "Riya…" he murmured.

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his husky morning voice, thick with sleep and almost whispering into her ear.

"Unmaiyave poriya dii? For the whole week?"

His voice held a faint whine, like a little kid who’d been told he couldn’t have his favorite treat. She could almost picture him there, messy hair and all, with that lost-puppy look in his eyes.

She smiled, but with a roll of her eyes. She clicked play on the next message.

Sid❤️ - "Can’t you, like, not go?" he asked, voice dropping dramatically.

She smiled instantly, feeling a flutter in her stomach. It was rare to hear this side of him.

Riya: "Ipdilam panna epdi da Unmela kovama irukardhu...?" She murmured to herself and played the messages.

Usually, Siddharth hid his vulnerable feelings behind walls of rudeness and stubbornness. But here he was, his voice raw, unfiltered, reaching out to her in a way that felt both intimate and tender.

This was one of the things she loved about him—how he would break down those walls, if only for her.

She played the next one.

Sid❤️ - "Unga amma kitta sollen hmm... Odambu seri illa varamudilanu, illana… just say you’re super busy, right? Anything!" There was a pause, then a softer, "I just don’t want you to go."

A warmth spread through her chest as she pictured him pouting in his room, probably half-awake, recording all these messages just for her. She decided to listen to all of them before replying.

The next voice note was even poutier.

Sid❤️ - "So… Nee enna ingaiye thaniya vittutu pogaporiya?" He sighed, drawing out the words.

"Apo kandippa nee enna marandhuruva return varumbodhu!! Na vera unna neraiya hurt panniten. Kandippa nee enna marandhuruva, anga ellarum unna paasama pathupanga vera!!"

She stifled a laugh, her heart warming with each word.

Riya: "Namma sirika kudadhu!! Riya control..."

Trying to keep her “mad” front, she typed back a single heart emoji, hoping it was just enough to acknowledge him without making it obvious she was grinning like a fool.