Flashback ЁЯУ╕ to that day at "Hope Home"
It was one of those days in college that stayed etched in Radhi’s memory — She had been eager, almost desperate, to teach the children there. The sparkle in their eyes, the little hands grasping hers, the way they laughed at her stories — it called to something inside her that she had longed to share. And when Bells pleaded with her mother on her behalf, her mother had finally relented and allowed her to go.
But then came the misfortune — one of the children had chickenpox, and she caught it too. The moment she showed symptoms, she was isolated, locked away in a room to prevent the spread.
Yet, even in that loneliness, her phone would light up.
"How are you feeling now? Did you eat? Don’t touch the marks, promise me. You’ll be fine — just rest."
Two days later, her birthday came. What should have been a day of joy passed in silence, marked only by the walls around her. No celebration, no gathering, no candles or cake — just the ache of absence.
Her heart skipped a beat as she read the message on her phone:
"Can you ask your sister to pick the bag I kept on the stairs?"
Radhi blinked, a small smile tugging at her lips. She quickly called her sister.
“Hey… can you get a bag from the stairs for me?” she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.
Her sister appeared a few minutes later, holding a small, slightly worn bag. “This one?” she asked, handing it over.
Inside had been the oversized card, filled with scribbles from the children she longed to teach, their tiny hands spelling out “get well soon.” And hidden among their drawings was a quiet line — one that had made her heart ache and bloom all at once: It was from the home incharge..
“May your life be full of happiness — and may you always feel as loved as you make others feel. Thankyou for making the day memorable for the children — from sponsoring the cake-cutting to lunch and dinner. They had the happiest birthday, even if you couldn’t be there. Thankyou Ma"
Her eyes stung. Even in her absence, he had found a way to make her presence felt — not just to her, but to a hundred little hearts who had laughed and celebrated in her name.
Radhi: Sometimes I feel guilty.
Him: Why?
Radhi: Because you do too much for me. More than I deserve.
Him: Radhi… you don’t get it.
Radhi: What?
Him (teasing, casual): “Don’t make me look all cringy… it’s nothing. The only thing is, I didn’t bump into your dad — otherwise, I would’ve said a hello.”
Radhi: God, you're impossible!!!
Him: Don’t spend today worrying about a future I’m already fighting for.
Radhi: I… don’t really understand.
Him (gentle, warm): That’s okay. Your only job right now is to get better… everything else, I’ll handle...
The past faded, and she was back in her room, staring at the message she’d just typed, the words she had been afraid to say all night:
Dec 12th.. 7 a.m.. Present day...
“I think… I already…”
Her thumb hovered, her breath shallow. Then she pressed send.
The reply came almost instantly.
“I know.”
No hesitation. No question mark. Just two words — firm and certain — as though he had been waiting to speak them aloud for years.
She took a breath and typed again, her fingers trembling.
“No, I dont have words to describe how I feel about you.”
His reply came within seconds.
“Then, what’s stopping you?”
Her eyes glistened. She typed, each word a wound and a wall.
“I’ll ruin this. I’ll ruin you.”
"This won't end well, she typed, my family has a hundred people i need to get approval from, and not one will.. You make it sound so simple… but it’s not. You deserve a happy ending, and I’ll only bring storms.”
He paused, then continued, his words wrapping around her like a quiet promise.
“I see that fear in you, Radhi — the same one I saw in my mother after every surgery she survived. The fear of losing someone she loves. It doesn’t push me away. You pull me closer.”
She dint respond....
“I know it’s a hard decision Radhi.. Don’t rush.. You need not reciprocate how I feel.. Have a good day!!"
For the next few days, they didn’t talk. Not a word, not a message. The space between them felt heavier than any conversation could have been.
That day...
Radhi entered the lift, calm and focused, only to find him already inside. His effortless presence, casual posture, and subtle magnetism drew her in, making her chest flutter. As the mirrored walls reflected them, every small detail — his smile, his stance — seemed amplified. She tried to steady herself, telling herself it was nothing, yet couldn’t ignore the undeniable pull of simply sharing the space with him.
Unexpectedly, it happened to be just the two of them inside. Her class was on the second floor, yet her fingers trembled as she accidentally pressed the fourth.
Radhi’s mind spun nervously. God… why now? Why here? Just after everything… and in this tiny lift… of all places. Keep calm, act normal… but why does it feel like the air itself is conspiring against me? Her heart thudded, palms warm, every instinct telling her to escape, yet she couldn’t..
The lift moved up, quiet except for the soft hum of machinery. The air felt heavy, charged. Her chest tightened, her lips dry. She closed her eyes, trying to steady herself — she knew that if their eyes met, control would shatter.
“Hey…” he murmured, low and teasing.
“Huh…” she replied, startled.
He said softly, smiling, “I think you pressed fourth by mistake.”
She groaned, flustered, “God…”
He leaned slightly closer, still smiling. “What happened? Let me press two for you.” His hand brushed hers as he reached over.
In that brief contact, he caught her eyes. She immediately shut them tight, her breath quickening. The warmth of his gaze lingered even as she tried to regain composure. He paused, unable to resist — just looking at her, memorizing every feature, quietly admiring her.
The lift chimed at the second floor. Radhi stepped out, heart pounding, trying to calm herself. He followed, still smiling, as if the tension between them had turned into something electric. Neither of them spoke, but the unspoken pull left a trail of heat in its wake.
Later, a message lit up her screen:
Him: “So… about that little adventure in the lift ЁЯШП You pressed fourth on purpose, didn’t you?”
Radhi: "It was a mistake!”
Him: “Uh-huh… sure ЁЯШМ"
Radhi: “Stop teasing… you make me nervous…”
Him: “ Ya, ok.. Listen, I'm going to Rajasthan tomorrow for the National Level Tennis Finals..”
Pause..
This wasn’t the moment — not when he was about to play the most important match of his life. She couldn’t break his heart now. Not when she was the reason it might lose balance. So she stayed quiet, pretending everything was normal, even as her chest tightened with everything left unsaid.
Him (reassuring): “I’ll be back soon.. So… what do you want when I return?”
Radhi (hesitant, holding the thought with a little fear): “I… I might have one wish. But I’m not sure I should say.”
Him (raising an eyebrow, teasing, wink emoji): “Ohhh… hmm, okay, I’m ready.. ”
Radhi (quickly, teasing back): “Hello hello.. it’s not what you think! Corrupted!!”
Him (grinning through text): “Haha… I like that mysterious side. But seriously, tell me. I am curious”
Radhi (hesitant, holding the thought close): “I’ll tell you… when you’re back, if you win."
Him (grinning): “Aah.. That's a checkmate! Deal. And remember… when I win, your wish gets granted.”
Radhi (soft smile, fingers lingering on the phone): “Hmm”
Him (warm, gentle): "Dont miss me"
Radhi: "Why will I?"
He never expected anything from her—but in his silence, he was ready to be everything she could ever expect, to give every piece of himself to her. She, on the other hand, never wanted gifts, never longed for grand gestures. Just that one thing… a simple wish she was hesitant to ask for....
The next day, the stadium buzzed with energy. His opponent was tough, every point a challenge, but every swing, every serve, carried a hidden determination—an unspoken promise. The crowd watched in awe, thinking how incredible his stamina and focus were, assuming he was simply practicing his game. Little did they know, every powerful smash, every perfect serve, every strategic move was for a little heart waiting far across the borders—her heart, quietly holding a wish he was determined to fulfill.
Point by point, set by set, he dominated—not with arrogance, but with a quiet fire. And when the final point was won, the stadium erupted—but all he could think of was racing back to her, to fulfill that wish, to see the sparkle in her eyes when she finally said it aloud.
Him (texting after the match, breathless, heart racing, he sent a picture of him with the trophy): "It’s done. I won. Now… your wish.”
Radhi (smiling, shy, her heart pounding): “…I… I’ll tell you when you get back.”
Him (grinning through the phone, soft but teasing): “Ah… playing hard, huh? Fine. I’m counting down”
He came running with the shield near the college temple. She was standing there in the morning after her prayers, shy and quiet.
He held up the shield, a symbol of his determination and desire to win in life. They exchanged a smile—teary, proud, wordless. He wanted to hug her tight, spin her around, but all that emotion was packed into that single, shared smile. Then he handed her a small bag.
Inside was a white Rajasthani kurta with delicate mirror work—beautiful, vibrant, unmistakably made for her. Her eyes lit up. She loved it.
Later, she texted:
Radhi (softly, teasing): “Hmm… congrats, officer. Thank you for your gift.”
Him (playful, persistent): “Now you can’t escape… tell me what you wanted.”
Radhi (finally, shyly): “Alright… maybe just a bike ride...”
It was a simple sentence, but for Radhi, it carried years of caution and guarded heart. She had never been this close to a boy, never spent time alone, never let herself trust someone so completely.
Him (heartwarming): “A bike ride, huh? That’s all?”
Radhi: “Yeah… what did you think?”
Him: “Sure why not?!.”
Radhi (blushing in text): “Ok, will tell you when.."
Him (hesitant, careful): “ Listen, I… I’m not sitting for placements next week.”
Radhi (soft, reassuring): “Oh, is it.. okay...”
Him (relieved, slightly smiling): “Really? You’re not upset?”
Radhi: “No… I just want you to do what feels right.”
Him (softly, tender): “I’ll do it… for you, always. I’m doing GATE instead.... ”
Radhi: “Makes sense… you’ll do well.”
Him (grinning): “Thanks”
It was the study holidays, and Christmas morning arrived with a quiet, gentle light. Radhi’s fingers hovered over her phone to wish him....
Bells appeared at her door, eyes sparkling.
Bells: Come on, Radhi. Today’s a surprise. Trust me.
Still half-asleep, half-excited, Radhi followed her to the car. They arrived at the Hope Home orphanage, the place that had etched itself into Radhi’s heart long ago. And there, in the courtyard, amidst the familiar laughter and excitement of children, stood Santa — tall, warm, laughing softly as he handed gifts to the waiting little hands.
Her breath caught. That stance, that smile… her heart recognized it instantly.
Radhi (whispering to herself): It’s him.
In front of all the children, he came straight to her. Radhi’s heart raced, a mix of surprise and fear making her step back slightly. The kids noticed, giggling at the scene, their laughter bubbling like little bells.
“Ho ho ho… Hello Radhi!” he said, his voice warm and playful beneath the Santa beard
Radhi froze, her breath catching. She whispered, barely audible, “Is… is that you?”
He nodded, eyes soft, reaching out to adjust the little Santa hat on his head. “It is. Just for today… just for you”
Her chest tightened, and without words, she felt her heart swell. She couldn’t tell him — not that day, not when he looked so full of life. How could she be the one to dim that? So she let the moment live, let the music and laughter hide what her heart already knew..
She would always remember that day with the smell, weather and color—the sweet smell of Christmas cake in the air, the sun shining bright and golden, and the color red everywhere, from ribbons to dresses, wrapping the whole moment in festive warmth.
And in that instant, with the children laughing around them, she felt it: every smile, every tiny hand reaching for them, belonged to her.
A week later....
Radhi: “I… I got selected for Microsoft”
Him (excited, teasing): “Yeyyy! I heard you were on the top of their charts ЁЯШГ That’s incredible!!”
Radhi (hesitant, soft): “…Yes. But…”
Him (concerned, gentle): “Why not? That’s amazing news!”
Radhi: “Parents… they won’t allow me to move to another city...”
Him (warm, tender): “Don’t worry, Radhi. The universe always finds a way to work its quiet magic for those who truly deserve it. Today, I wrote and composed a small music piece — strong and beautiful.. I’ll play it for you tomorrow… maybe you’ll hear what words can’t say.”
The next day, after college:
Him: “Where are you?”
Her: In the seminar hall.
Him: “Ok, sorry to keep you waiting. Coming now.”
It was cold, twenty degrees. She rubbed her elbows for warmth. He arrived with his guitar, and she adjusted her dupatta, resisting the urge to watch him unpack his instrument. Ufff… she could hear her heartbeat, loud in her ears.
He said, “Can I play?”
She blinked. “Sorry, what?”
“The new composition I told you about,” he clarified.
“Oh… yes, yes,” she said softly.
Un paatile...
Ninaivellam variyaaga
Pudhu raagam ondrai naan maara
Un kayil isaiyavaen...
Kanave kan munne varuvaai
Alaiyai viralai thoduvaai
Kavidhaiyum ange...
Idhalin mounam pesadho
Idaiveliyum kurayadho
Thayakangal en koodum
Oliye selaadhe
Thudithen
Unakke enayum koduthen
Kavidhaiyum kanden...
Kadhayai unnai naan padithen
Eluthai enai naan vadithen
Kadhal oru kavidhai
Kavidhai enge
Kavidhai enge
Kavidhai ingeeeeeee..
She bit her lips to keep them from drying. That was the most romantic thing she had ever experienced. It reached places inside her where words never could. She felt, Not in a thousand years since the world began had anyone expressed love like this.
She wanted to remain composed, to give a subtle answer when he asked how it was.
He asked with a smile, “How is it?” ЁЯШК
She whispered, “Such a soulful composition”
He frowned slightly. “Sorry, what? I couldn’t hear.”
“No, it’s nice. Really… how many days did you take to compose it?”
“Last night,” he replied, grinning.
“What! That’s… lovely,” she murmured, her cheeks warming.
Him(suddenly): “I’ll count to five, and I’m going to kiss you. If you don’t feel the same way, you can walk away immediately.”
Radhi’s heart fluttered. No, this can’t be happening. Don’t blush. Don’t freeze. Say something— anything.
But her body betrayed her stillness.
He inched closer… closer… until she could feel his breath brush against her skin.
One arm distance..
“One… two… three… four… five…” She dint move..
Still the same One arm distance..
Then, he stepped back and smiled, a teasing curve of his lips that made her knees weak.
For a heartbeat, time hung suspended. The air still carried his nearness.
What did I just let happen? Why didn’t I stop him?
Her breath caught—panic and longing colliding—before her feet took over, carrying her away in a rush, as if distance could quiet the storm inside her.
She ran away, cheeks burning, tears threatening to spill, yet her heart pounding with a truth she couldn’t hide. In that fleeting, suspended instant, they both understood: their hearts had quietly, irrevocably exchanged.
Later that day, her phone buzzed. His message wasn’t teasing, not this time. It was practical, caring, full of reminders about her CAT and MAT prep — and in every line, she could feel the same quiet heartbeat they’d shared in the lift earlier. Somehow, even in ordinary life, he made sure her ambition never felt lonely.
“How’s the prep going?”
She typed back, keeping it casual but warm.
“Going… slowly. You know how it is. You?”
Him (playful, teasing): “You know, you’re the chapter I love to think of between my chapters.”
Radhi (whispering, shy): “…you want me to smile now, so my mom will catch me red-handed??!!..”
Him: No mam.. Sorry. Focus..
Exam day broke heavy with nerves. Radhi clutched her notes, yet her mind raced to him — two halls, one dream, a promise to rise together, whatever the result.
Him (leaning over, excited): “Radhi, check yours first… CAT results are out. Don’t keep me waiting.”
Radhi (nervous smile, clicking): “ It says cleared. I made it through CAT.”
Him (grinning wide): “I knew it! Radhi, you’ve done it.”
Radhi (shaking her head, softly): “Forget mine… show me yours. GATE is tougher, I just want to see you clear.”
Him (teasing, holding back): “Why so serious? Shouldn’t you celebrate yourself first?”
Radhi (eyes searching his): “I can’t, not until I know you’re safe through.”
Him (grinning, teasing): “Then go on, check mine.”
Radhi (hesitant, fingers hovering over the screen): “M..Maybe you should… open it yourself?”
Him (shaking his head, gentle but firm): “No, Radhi. I want it to be your eyes that see it first. Click it.”
Radhi (taking a deep breath, heart pounding, finally clicks): “ .... you cleared… top rank!”
Him (grinning, relieved, softly): “See? You are my charm… we did it. Together.”
Radhi (smiling, eyes glistening): “I was nervous… but now it feels real.”
Him (messaging, affectionate): “Good… a little nervousness keeps it exciting ЁЯШМ… now tell me, have you narrowed it down at all?””
Radhi (hesitant, smiling nervously): “I… not yet. I’m still figuring it out… there’s a lot at home to sort first.”
Him (gently, reassuring): "Don’t worry about that. Wherever you choose, I’ll support you. Always.”
Radhi (blushing, heart fluttering): “I know… that’s why I… I feel a little lighter thinking of it.”
Him (gentle, reassuring): “I got admission into IIT here, in hometown itself in round 1… But this… this is yours to chase...”
A few days later…
Radhi (relieved, soft smile): “…After all the fights… finally… admitted in Bangalore, IIM”
Him (playful, affectionate): “See? Told you… you always get what you deserve❤️”
The day finally arrived. They had come to collect their degree certificates.. The sky was pale gold, and the air smelled faintly of dust and morning blooms. Radhi’s hands trembled slightly as she climbed onto the bike behind him from outside the college gate, the engine humming beneath them. She felt her heart racing—not from speed, but from the nearness of him, the warmth radiating from his body.
He glanced back, a soft, teasing smile: “Ready?”
Radhi nodded, unable to speak, her pulse pounding in her ears.
The wind whipped around them, tugging at her hair, brushing her cheeks. But it wasn’t just the ride—every turn of the wheel, every stretch of road, felt like an invisible thread weaving them together. The world around them blurred; there was only the rush of air, the steady rhythm of the bike, and the quiet safety of his presence.
It was the closest they had ever come to each other.
Even in that simple moment, she felt it—the kind of electric stir in her body that no classroom, no party, no careful plan had ever given her. It was a rush only he could induce, a heartbeat she had been warned about, a thrill her parents had cautioned would come with age—but here, it was pure, innocent, hers to feel with him.
And he, always gentle, never rushed, never expected more, let her feel it fully—her pulse, her breath, her little stolen gasps of excitement—as if the world existed only for this ride, only for them.
She remembered every moment with a smell, weather and color—the scent of the morning air mingling with the faint, comforting perfume he always wore, the pale blue of his plain cotton shirt brushing softly against her chest.. She didn’t touch him, and he didn’t touch her. Yet every detail was etched into her senses. She closed her eyes and saved it in her memory, a small, perfect world shared only between them.
Next week...
Radhi hugged her bag tight, staring out the window as the train began to move. Her heart felt heavy.
Him (texting, gentle): “Take care, Ma… I’ll see you soon.”
Radhi (softly, almost to herself): “…Goodbye...”
She looked up at the departing platform, wishing he could walk with her onto the train. Her parents were there, so he couldn’t come.. A pang of sadness tugged at her chest..
And then, at the next stop, she heard it—soft footsteps approaching. Her eyes widened.
Him (playful, whispering as he leaned close): “Miss me already?”
Radhi (surprised, her lips curving into a shy smile): “But how?”
Him (grinning, brushing past the conductor carefully): “Couldn’t let my girl start a new journey without me, could I?”
Her heart raced. She hadn’t expected him to come. The train car suddenly felt smaller, cold, charged with the intimacy of a stolen moment. She didn’t touch him; neither did he. But the closeness, the shared space, the air around him—it made her pulse quicken.
She would always remember that day— The cold night wind swept in through the rattling window, brushing against her skin as the train sped on, the faint scent of his cologne, the soft cotton of his black shirt in the dark which stopped her heartbeat, everything was etched in her memory. He then got down at the next stop...
Radhi closed her eyes, savoring it silently, storing it deep in her heart. This—this was theirs, a quiet, stolen beginning of a thousand memories to come.
She texted..
Radhi: “Thanks… for today. For… coming ”
Him (teasing, affectionate): “Couldn’t resist seeing you, even for a few minutes. If I stayed a little longer I don't know what I would have done”
Radhi (blushing, typing slowly): “Stop it...”
Him (teasing): “I had to fight the urge to pull you closer ”
Radhi (soft laugh, heart fluttering): “ You can’t say things like that ”
Him (teasing, affectionate): “Kidding ЁЯШМ… sleep tight. I just like seeing you puzzled”
Radhi (blushing, smiling softly): “You’re impossible”
Him (playful, warm): “Good… that’s the plan… now dream of me”
As the train moved, Radhi rolled the pink band around her wrist, playing with it absentmindedly. Every twist reminded her of him, and a soft smile tugged at her lips.
Their love stretched itself across time — ten long years. Through studies, through work, through distance both far and near. Never crossing into intimacy, never touched by the world’s gaze, yet alive in every word they shared.
But she hid him from her family, letting them believe he was just a friend. Not because she was ashamed — but because she feared. She feared they would rip him away from her too soon, before she could even protect him.
And then, the storm struck.
On his birthday. Ironically..
Her father discovered. His rage was merciless. He grabbed her phone, his hands rough, his voice trembling with anger. He twisted her hand until a sickening crack broke the silence. Her hand snapped....
It was the same hand that wore his band. The hand that had guarded his promise. Now, broken — as though love itself was being punished....
