Chapter 35: chapter 35

As the days passed, I noticed a subtle change in Riya's behaviour. She was polite and friendly, but the warmth that had been there before seemed to have fizzled out. Our rare message conversations became superficial, centred mostly around work and casual topics.I tried to initiate deeper conversations, to revive the spark that had once been there, but it felt like hitting a wall. Riya would respond politely but wouldn't delve into the conversation any further. It was as if she had erected an emotional barrier between us, a barrier that I couldn't seem to break through no matter how hard I tried.One evening, as I mustered the courage to bring up the topic with Riya, she gently cut me off."Prakhar," she said, her voice soft but firm, "I think you should focus on your work."I nodded, unable to find the right words to express the whirlwind of emotions inside me. It was clear that something had shifted between us, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on.I confided in Alex one day, trying to make sense of the situation. "Alex, I feel like Riya has become so distant. It's like she's lost all interest in me, in our friendship."Alex looked at me with a sympathetic expression. "I think something shifted after that comedy night. Maybe Riya had different expectations, and when things didn't go as planned, it affected her perception of you.""But I tried, Alex, I did," I said, frustration seeping into my voice. "I wanted to make her laugh, to show her a side of me that she hadn't seen before. But it all backfired."Alex patted my shoulder reassuringly. "Sometimes, things don't work out the way we want them to. But that doesn't mean it's the end. Maybe things will change."As I navigated through the days, trying to focus on my work and push aside the lingering thoughts of what could have been, I couldn't shake off the feeling of regret. Regret for not being able to make Riya laugh, for not being able to bridge the gap that had formed between us. And amidst it all, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to turn back time and rewrite that comedy night. But deep down, I knew that some things were beyond my control, that some wounds were too deep to heal, and some bonds, once broken, could never be mended.Trying to get over this feeling, I messaged her one day."Hey, Riya," I said, trying to sound casual, "How's your day going?"There was no response from Riya. I glanced at my phone now and then, but there were no signs of any news.After a few days, I got a message from Riya. "It's going fine, thanks. Just catching up on some work."I tried to think of something else to say, some way to steer the conversation towards a lighter topic, but the words seemed to escape me. Instead, I settled for a feeble smile before returning to my coffee, the silence between us growing more pronounced by the second.As the days turned into weeks, the distance between us seemed to widen even further. Our once animated group conversations had now become a thing of the past, replaced by awkward silences and forced small talk. It was as if a wall had been erected between us, a barrier that neither of us could break through.I confided in Vedahi one evening, pouring out my frustrations and fears. "Vedahi, it's like Riya doesn't even want to talk to me anymore. It's as if I'm invisible to her. Is she so busy?"Vedahi listened with a sympathetic ear, her eyes reflecting understanding. "Prakhar, I've noticed the change too. Maybe she is genuinely busy. She is an army officer at a high rank. You and I can't fathom the kind of pressure she goes through daily. Try talking to her on a weekend, maybe!""I've tried, Vedahi, but every time I call her, she shuts me down. It's like she doesn't want to talk to me," I replied, frustration seeping into my voice.Vedahi sighed, her gaze thoughtful. "Maybe she's going through something herself, Prakhar. You never know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors."Her words struck a chord within me, reminding me of the layers that often lay hidden beneath the surface. Perhaps there was more to Riya's behaviour than just her apparent indifference. Maybe she was struggling with something, something that she couldn't bring herself to share.Determined to uncover the truth, I decided to approach Riya one last time. I called her on a weekend, thinking she might be less busy then."Riya," I began, my voice gentle yet firm, "I've noticed that things have been a bit different lately. Is everything okay?"Riya took a pause and then answered. "Prakhar, it's not that simple. A lot is going on, and I'm trying to navigate through it all."I nodded, feeling a surge of empathy for her. "I understand. Just know that you can lean on me if you ever need to talk."With that, Riya excused herself and cut the phone.One evening, Riya messaged me. "Prakhar, thanks for calling. I have been a little busy these days, and they will continue to be so. Please don't overthink!" Riya said, her voice soft yet sincere.I returned her smile, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "No worries, Riya. I am glad you responded."But I had a question forming in my mind. Was she busy and avoiding me, or did she not like talking to me at all? Who was this Mr. Animesh, and what was her relation with him?One day, I called Vedahi to check if she knew about Mr. Animesh. She was back in the United States by then.Vedahi told me, "Animesh is her recent friend, but I think they are a good company to each other. He had come to Hyderabad also while Riya was having vacation.""Why didn't you tell me that? I was overthinking about this so much. If I knew she was in a relationship already, I wouldn't have minded!" I tried to explain my emotions to Vedahi."Do you mean, you are falling for her, Prakhar?" Vedahi sounded shocked.Even I was shocked. I didn't know what I was saying."No, no, don't misunderstand me! I think I felt she had a connection! Just that!" I tried to justify myself."You know what, I think you should first decide what Riya's importance is in your life, and then we should talk about this again because your statements are conflicting, and I am getting confused!" Vedahi tried to ease me down."Maybe you are right, thanks, Vedahi. I don't know what's going on, but after that comedy show, Riya has been acting very strange, and I am confused with her behaviour. I don't know if this is due to any emotions or due to my guilt of letting her down!" my voice became heavy."Hey, Prakhar, please take it easy. I will talk to Riya in a few days but do not overthink about that comedy show. It was just an event. I think you should relax and try to forget about that evening." Vedahi tried to soothe me.I was emotionally drained, and after putting down the phone, I didn't know what I was thinking. I think Vedahi was right. I had to decide first what was Riya's importance in my life.~~~~~