Authors pov
College days flowed by in a steady rhythm, blurring together into a predictable routine. Mornings began with the rush to college, followed by long hours of lectures, whispered conversations with friends, and stolen moments of laughter. Evenings were marked by the familiar silence shared with Aditya on the way back home—a silence that was neither comfortable nor unbearable, but just… there. Rashi often found herself wishing the walk home was less monotonous, but Aditya’s cold and disinterested demeanor left little room for conversation.
But life at college wasn’t all bad. Rashi had settled into a comfortable circle of friends. Between classes, they would sit under the large peepal tree near the canteen, sharing snacks and talking about everything from the latest college gossip to their collective fear of the upcoming mid-exams. The stress of the exams had already begun to creep in, and the usual “one-night batting” (all-night study sessions) had commenced in full force. Rashi, too, had resigned herself to sleepless nights of cramming formulas and theories, hoping to survive the dreaded midterms with decent scores.
In the middle of this chaos, an unexpected situation arose at home. One evening, after Rashi and Aditya returned from college, they found Sulochana and her husband sitting on the sofa, an air of seriousness about them. Rashi's eyes darted toward Aditya, who didn’t seem particularly interested in whatever was about to be said.
Sulochana was the first to speak. “Aditya… Chinnu…” she began, her voice calm yet hesitant. “We’ve been invited to a wedding. It's your uncle's son’s wedding in Hyderabad, and your father and I have to attend.”
Rashi’s brow furrowed in confusion. A wedding? Now?
“But Rashi has her exams,” Sulochana continued, glancing toward Rashi with a concerned expression. “We thought about taking her with us, but it’s not possible because of her schedule.”
“So, what’s the plan, Amma?” Aditya asked, his tone carrying a hint of disinterest.
“We’ve decided to leave you both here,” Sulochana replied. “Aditya, you’ll need to stay home and look after Rashi for a couple of days.”
At this, Aditya’s gaze sharpened. His brows drew together as he leaned forward slightly. “Amma, why don’t you just send Daddy alone?” His tone turned sharp. “Why do you have to go too?”
Sulochana’s face fell at the remark. Hurt flickered in her eyes, though she tried to mask it. Rashi noticed immediately and felt a stab of irritation toward Aditya’s careless words.
Rashi, unable to stay quiet any longer, spoke up. “Attayya, meeru vellandi. Mavayya kooda velali. Me abbaye em choosukovalisina pani em ledhu. Nenu jagrathaga vunta. Naku cooking kooda vacchu kabatti no worry,” ("Aunty, you and Uncle should go. Your son doesn’t have to take care of anything. I’ll handle everything carefully. I know how to cook too, so no need to worry.") she said, her tone firm yet gentle.
Sulochana’s eyes brightened at Rashi’s words. A soft smile spread across her face, but Aditya’s face darkened. Without a word, he stood up and walked toward his room.
Rashi’s gaze followed him as he disappeared down the hall. Frustration stirred within her. How could he be so indifferent? Why couldn’t he see how much his words hurt his mother?
Rashi stood and followed him to his room. Without bothering to knock, she pushed open the door.
“Oi, Aditya! Aagu oka nimisham,” ("Oi, Aditya! Wait a minute.") she called out.
Aditya didn’t stop; he picked up a book from his desk and began flipping through it as if she wasn’t even there.
“Aditya!” Rashi stepped closer, her hands curling into fists at her sides. “Why did you say that to your mother? Do you even realize how much you hurt her?”
