It was Monday, and everyone was back to college and their regular schedule. Their externals were approaching, so all were busy.
Ahalya, Adithi, Amrutha, and Vrinda were sitting on a bench, attending class.
It was break time.
Adithi was unusually happy, smiling for no apparent reason.
Ahalya: Why are you smiling like that? Did something happen?
Adithi: Nothing, dude... I just remembered a joke.
Ahalya: Are you committed to someone?
Adithi: Committed? No, bro... If I was, I would've told you guys, right?
Ahalya: Don't lie to me.
Ahalya grabbed Adithi's shoulder and turned her toward her.
Ahalya: Look into my eyes and tell the truth!
Adithi: I... I... (her voice trembled) I don't understand what you're saying!
Ahalya: Tell me before I stop being nice to you... (tears welled up in her eyes)
Adithi was confused and turned to Amrutha.
Adithi: Amrutha, what is she talking about?
Amrutha: Adithi... Ahalya saw you with Agastya... and...
Adithi: And what??
Amrutha: She saw you both hugging.
Adithi: So what if I hugged him?
Adithi turned to Ahalya, visibly upset.
Adithi: What's wrong with hugging him?
(Silence)
Adithi: Do you have feelings for him?
(Ahalya looked at Vrinda without answering)
Adithi: If you don't, then why are you questioning me? Whether I hug him or not is none of your business.
Ahalya: (after a pause, looking at Adithi) I like spending time with him. I genuinely care for him. And when I'm with him... I don't think about anything else.
The three of them looked at her in shock, mouths wide open.
Ahalya suddenly covered her mouth with her hands and rushed out.
Amrutha and Vrinda followed her, but Adithi sat frozen in shock.
Adithi (in her mind): I didn't know this plan would work this fast...
Meanwhile, Agastya was roaming the corridor, looking for Adithi.
Agastya (to himself): Where is she? She said she had a plan, but now she's hiding from me. If I catch her, I won't spare her.
Suddenly, Ahalya appeared in front of him.
Ahalya: Hi... (smiling)
Agastya (shocked): Hi!
She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the campus park, where they sat on a bench.
Ahalya: I know everything about yesterday.
Agastya: Yesterday??
Ahalya: But Adithi is hiding something from me. You know, right?
Agastya: I... I...
Agastya (in his mind): I don't know if I should say this or not.
Ahalya: I'm asking you—do you know or not?
Agastya: I know... I know! (he shouted)
He explained everything that happened the previous day—how her seniors behaved and the scene at the park.
Agastya: That's all that happened. In the end, she thanked me... and hugged me.
Ahalya's eyes filled with tears.
She suddenly ran toward Adithi.
When she reached her, she hugged her tightly and cried.
Ahalya: How could you keep all this to yourself? Why didn't you say anything to us? Aren't we your friends? We could've helped you!
Adithi stayed silent but hugged her back and consoled her.
Ahalya: From now on, say what's on your mind. Don't keep it inside.
Adithi: Okay, don't worry. Agastya and Siddh helped me come out of it... I'm okay now. (she smiled)
Both were fine and smiling—until a voice called from a distance.
Voice: Where were you when she was trying to call you?
They turned in that direction—it was Agastya.
Adithi ran to him and said:
Adithi: Agastya, why are you bringing this up again? Please leave it... I beg you... (crying)
Agastya: Don't stop me. I have to say this. She called you multiple times, and now you're saying, "Do say what you want to say?" How could you even say that?
Adithi (screamed): Agastya!!
She pulled him away from the scene.
Ahalya turned to Siddh.
Ahalya: What call? I don't know anything about it.
Siddh: Ahalya... when her senior caused trouble, she tried calling you many times. You didn't answer. And the one time you did, when she was about to say she was scared, you said: "Adithi, I'm at a function. Can I call you later?"
Siddh: You should've at least asked, "What happened?"
Ahalya: I was at my grandpa's funeral that day...
Siddh: Still, she didn't get angry with you... because we were there.
If we hadn't been there, can you even imagine what would've happened?
I don't even want to think about it... it's terrifying.
Siddh: She even made us promise not to tell anyone. But Agastya couldn't stay silent.
Siddh: Even now, you didn't ask how she felt. You only asked why she didn't inform you. Do you know what she went through?
Adithi (screamed): Siddh...
She ran over and pulled Siddh away too.
Ahalya felt terrible. That night, she kept crying and thinking about Siddh's words. She imagined Adithi's situation and was terrified by it.
Next morning
Ahalya went to Adithi's house. She walked into her room while she was still sleeping. Slowly, she removed the blanket and gently tried to wake her up.
Finally, Adithi opened her eyes and saw Ahalya.
Adithi (shocked): Ahalya?! (she quickly sat up)
Ahalya: Calm down...
Adithi: Had breakfast?
Ahalya: No...
Adithi: Come, let's have breakfast.
Ahalya: Wait, wait Adithi... I have to say sorry.
Adithi: What?
Ahalya (tears in her eyes): I'm really sorry, bro. I didn't know what you were going through. Please forgive me, Adithi. I'm truly sorry. (she started crying)
Adithi: It's okay... I felt bad at the time, but I'm fine now. Don't apologize. It wasn't your fault—it was just a bad time.
Adithi hugged Ahalya, and both cried for a while.
After some time, they felt better and went to have breakfast together.