The Unsaid

Chapter 20

Stepping into his room, Prithvi found Pallavi standing at the balcony with folded hands, looking out into the open. Yes, they were in rough waters now, but perhaps, whatever happened was for their good. They could start their lives again with no pretentions and pure hearts. She turned around. As expected, he did not see any happiness in seeing him arrive earlier than usual.

"Let's have tea. Mom is calling us down."

"I don't want tea." She turned away.

He held her arm gently and turned her around. "Mom told me that you didn't eat lunch also. Please Pallavi, come down and spend some time with me."

Her chest rose and fell. "Time with you or your family?"

Prithvi hesitated. "Whatever, however you want."

Her cold eyes pierced through him, before she shook her head. "Just leave me alone."

Prithvi's chest tightened. He stood awkwardly for a few seconds before going downstairs.

"What happened Prithvi? Pallavi isn't feeling well or what?" his mother asked.

Prithvi shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what to say. "I will get her Tea upstairs," he said, while grasping a plate. He placed two cups with tea along with a few biscuits and climbed upstairs. From the corner of his eyes, he ignored his father staring at him. He had enough issues to deal with already.

"I got your tea here," he said placing the tray on the small table in the balcony.

Pallavi looked on silently.

He sat down and took his cup. "Now please drink." He sat still, waiting for her to pick her cup.

To his relief, she sat by him, pickup up her cup and took a sip.

He smiled at her, feeling triumphant. She kept looking at the cup grimly.

"How was your day?" He asked gently.

She threw a steely look at him, kept the teacup on the table and cleared her throat. "Perhaps I should answer truthfully, since you have the reputation of always speaking the truth. BAD."

Prithvi bit his lip, and let the sarcasm sink in. "Mine wasn't that great either."

"Great."

His eyes glanced at the watch that said 6 pm. His phone beeped with a message from Gopi.

"Can I take a look at this?" he said glancing at Pallavi and picking up his phone at the same time.

"Prithvi, I was able to get an appointment with the district collector. I am so happy! Finally, I am getting hope that we may realize my grandfather's dream!"

Prithvi was about to text Gopi back when he felt Pallavi's sharp eyes on him. He switched off his phone and smiled at her.

"It was Gopi. We are working together—"

Pallavi stood up with force. "Have you ever taken my permission before reading or answering a message? Or while taking a call? Or while going away for your meetings in the evening? Why ask now?" She folded her hands with her face red. "And also, I don't understand why you even asked me when you didn't even want to wait for the answer!"

Prithvi stood up. "Relax Pallavi. It was just a message."

She took a deep breath. "Look! I don't care what you do. Take however many calls you want to take, be out for however many hours you want to be. I simply don't care! I will bear being in these four walls, this—this prison somehow!" she screamed and smashed the tea cup on the floor.