Just A Friend?

Chapter Twenty

Sweety sat by the window, her phone pressed against her ear as she spoke softly, trying to keep her voice steady. The late morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her, but it did little to ease the tension that tightened her chest.

"I'm fine, how about you?" she asked, her tone gentle, almost soothing.

"I'm good, sweetheart, but it's not the same without you here," the voice on the other end replied, deep and tender. There was a hint of something more, something that lingered in the spaces between the words—longing, maybe, or a quiet desperation. "When are you coming back? I miss you so much,"

Sweety's heart clenched. She knew this conversation was inevitable, yet it didn't make it any easier. "Two or three months, I think," she said carefully, trying to sound optimistic, though she knew it wouldn't help.

"Two or three months?" The voice on the other end sharpened, tinged with disbelief and disappointment. "That's far too long. It was supposed to happen this month, remember? But you asked me to postpone, so I did it for you. Now you're telling me it's going to be even longer?"

There was a pause, thick and heavy with emotion. Sweety closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as if trying to draw strength from the very air around her. "I know it's a lot to ask," she began softly, "but please, try to understand. I just need to finish everything here, and then I'll be back in Hyderabad. Once I'm there, we can do everything according to plan, just as you wish."

There was silence on the other end, but Sweety could almost hear the wheels turning in the person's mind. "You better not delay, even by a single day," the voice finally said, low and with care. "If you do, I'll come there myself and take you back. You know I will."

"I won't delay," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with a weariness she couldn't fully hide. "I promise. Now, I need to get ready for the shoot. Please take care of Amma while I'm gone."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll take care of everything here," the voice softened, the stern edge fading into something warmer, more affectionate. "Just take care of yourself. Love you. Bye."

"Bye," she whispered as the call ended, the phone slipping from her hand onto the windowsill.

Sweety closed her eyes, her shoulders sagging as she leaned back against the window frame. She stayed like that for a few moments, letting the quiet of the room wash over her, the distant sounds of the city outside barely registering in her mind. When she finally opened her eyes, they were glistening with unshed tears, a single droplet escaping and trailing down her cheek before she quickly brushed it away.

With a deep breath, she stood up and moved closer to the window, looking out at the world beyond. The bustling city felt distant, almost like a different world compared to the storm brewing inside her. She knew something was waiting for her back in Hyderabad, something she couldn't avoid forever, no matter how much she wished she could. The thought made her chest tighten again, but she forced herself to stand tall, to not let the emotions overtake her.

For now, all she could do was focus on the day ahead and push everything else aside.

_______^-^_______

That afternoon, the sun poured through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the living room where Prabhas and Rakesh were sprawled on the couch. The TV blared with the familiar opening of Avengers: Infinity War, and despite being grown men, the sight of the Marvel logo instantly transported them back to their childhood days of superhero fantasies and epic debates.

"Are you serious? Iron Man would totally wipe the floor with Cap!" Prabhas exclaimed, his voice filled with a playful, over-the-top conviction.

Rakesh, ever the challenger, shot back with equal fervor. "Please! Cap's got the heart, the strategy, and let's not forget, he's wielding a freaking shield made of vibranium. Iron Man's just got a fancy suit that's more prone to glitches than my old laptop!"