Observing her audition, he says, "There is something eerily familiar about you. Have we met?"
She confusely replies, "I don't believe so. Are you sure?"
He responds, "It is like a forgotten memory trying to resurface."
She says with curiosity, "Mayb...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Madhav...." Radhika whispered.
Madhav turned fully toward her.
And the moment his eyes met hers---he understood. There was something behind her lashes, she was trying to hide, something she was struggling to hold inside.
Her eyes...those eyes he had memorized without trying...looked like they wanted to speak but couldn't.
"Radhika..." he whispered, voice low, searching her face.
She opened her mouth to say something-- but before even a single word could escape, Madhav stepped forward and pulled her into a warm, tight hug, not rushed, not confused, just steady and reassuring. His arms wrapped around her like he had been waiting to hold her for days.
Her breath caught.
Only Radhika knew how close she was to breaking apart right there, her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt from behind, gripping it tightly--as if that could stop her heart from falling apart.
She pressed her forehead against his shoulder, eyes shutting painfully tight.
Every inch of her screamed to tell him everything--to break--to confess--to cry until she had no tears left.
But the warmth of his hug, the peace of it, the safety of it...stole the words from her lips. She couldn't speak, couldn't ruin this moment by telling him a truth that would tear both of them apart.
Madhav gently rubbed her back, whispering soft and close to her ear,
"Whatever it is... you can tell me." "I am right here."
Her throat tightened so much it hurt.
"I... Madhav..." she managed, voice trembling.
He hugged her closer.
"You don't have to pretend with me," he said softly. "You think I can't see when something is hurting you?"
She inhaled shakily, her voice barely a breath---"I just... I needed this hug."
Madhav smiled faintly against her hair, his voice melting into her,
"Then take it. Take as long as you want. I am not going anywhere."
Her heart cracked.
Because he didn't know....he didn't know everything was about to change.
And that she might go somewhere.
The thought nearly made her sob but she swallowed it down, hiding her face deeper into his chest.
They stood like that---two hearts beating painfully close, two worlds on the edge of shattering, two souls not ready to lose each other. But the moment broke when loud footsteps approached.
