The silence from the dining table followed them like a shadow into the living room. Four cups of coffee sat untouched on the table. Chaitra sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the floor. Indu stood by the bookshelf, arms folded, brows pulled in, chewing the inside of her cheek.
Anirudh sat on the armrest beside Chaitra, glancing between the two women with concern. Arjun paced slowly, then stopped and leaned against the wall.
He had enough.
“Okay, this is getting ridiculous,” Arjun said, voice firm but calm. “You both used to be best friends. What happened that was so bad you can’t even look at each other?”
Neither of them answered. Arjun looked straight at Indu.
“Indu?”
Indu didn’t meet his gaze. Her voice came out soft, flat.
“It’s not that simple.”
“Then make it simple,” Arjun snapped. “Because I’ve seen shootouts with less tension than this room right now.”
Anirudh gave a small nod, eyes on Chaitra now.
“You both clearly meant a lot to each other. I know how Chaitra speaks when she’s angry — she doesn’t waste her breath unless someone meant something. So... what really happened?”
Chaitra looked away, jaw clenched. Indu’s fingers tightened around her arms. Still nothing.
Arjun sighed and stepped forward.
“I’m not asking for drama, okay? Just honesty. We’re all under the same roof now. If something this deep is eating both of you, it’s better to bring it out than carry it around like this.”
Indu finally broke the silence. She says, “Nuvve ga, Chaitra, naa gurinchi chetha ga matladindhi. Malli endhuk show chesthunav?”
Chaitra’s eyes flash with anger. She says, “Musko show chesedhi nuvvu! Nuvvu spread chesavu school lo naak Varun ante ishtam ani. Teachers entha bad view lo chusaro nannu neek em telsu?”
Indu’s eyes widen in disbelief. She says, “TF? Nen eppud cheppanu? Evariki cheppa? Nen cheppale. Nuvve ga Rekha degara naa gurinchi chetha ga matladindhi.”
Chaitra’s voice turns sharp, challenging. She says, “Nen endhuk nee gurinchi chetha ga matladtha, Indu?”
Indu’s voice is bitter but steady. She says, “Nen endhuk spread chestha mari dhoola naak em ana?”
The room falls silent. Arjun and Anirudh exchange a glance, the name ‘Rekha’ echoing in their minds, their faces tightening with concern.
Sorry for the small chapter
Hope you like the chapter. Please feel free to let me know what you think about it...
BẠN ĐANG ĐỌC
BETWEEN STRINGS AND SHADOWS
Hành độngArjun, a hot-headed cop, and Anirudh, a calm and methodical officer, are two strangers unknowingly investigating the same case. When a series of teenage girls start disappearing under mysterious circumstances, they follow separate leads, unaware of...
