UNSPOKEN BONDS

5. Special

© archanaj1308 2026. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

The flight from the UAE cut through the night like a quiet thought finally finding its way back. At 8:45 PM, the Singapore Airlines plane touched down in Singapore.

And for Amritha Srinivasan, the moment the wheels hit the runway, something inside her settled like her body had been away longer than her mind admitted. Singapore didn't greet her loudly. It never did. It simply waited.

By the time they cleared immigration, collected luggage, and slid into the car, the city had already shifted into its softer night version, less rush, more glow, quieter ambition.
Amritha leaned her head lightly against the window as the familiar skyline passed by in fragments. The roads, the signs, the rhythm of movement it all felt like returning to a language her body already knew how to speak.

10:00 PM. Home. The lights of the Srinivasan residence were warm, steady, unchanged. As if the house had been holding its breath waiting for her footsteps.

Inside, everything was exactly where she had left it. But somehow still felt new again. Her suitcase was barely settled before she slipped into her room, dropped onto the bed, and reached for her phone.
And then-Sam.

The name alone softened something in her expression before she even called. It rang twice. Then connected. His voice came through, calm, familiar, slightly amused already as if he had been expecting her.

"Back in Singapore, are we?"

Amritha smiled into the phone without realizing it. "Obviously. I don't abandon my beloved country." She spoke like the true Singapore patriot she was.

A small laugh from him. "You abandoned it very efficiently for eight days."

"I was on diplomatic mission."

"Oh?"

"To improve your travel recommendations."

"That sounds like misuse of government resources."

Her laughter came easier than she expected.

Light. Fresh. Like something opening up inside her after desert air and long roads.
There was a pause after that. Not empty.
Just... comfortable.

Sam spoke again, quieter now. "It feels different here when you're not around."

That made her still slightly. "What does?"

"Singapore."

A beat. Then he added, almost casually, "Less chaotic."

She narrowed her eyes even though he couldn't see her. "Excuse you, I bring order."

"You bring noise."

"I bring energy."

"You bring chaos dressed as energy."

She gasped dramatically. "I should not have called you first."

"You absolutely should not have."
But neither of them ended the call.

Instead, the silence between them felt strangely full-like something had quietly returned to its place.

Amritha rolled onto her side. "Take leave tomorrow."

That line landed immediately.
Sam blinked. "Come again?"

"You heard me."

"I'm afraid I didn't."