chapter 13

Part 13: The Voice Inside the SilenceMonday morning came with its usual rush — alarms, hurried breakfasts, half-buttoned uniforms, and school bags packed in haste. But for Riya, the day felt oddly calm. Maybe it was the leftover magic from the rain. Or maybe, it was something she didn’t have words for yet.At school, the corridors were bustling. Laughter, footsteps, group chats — everything was as usual. But in Riya’s world, a quiet thread was growing stronger.She passed Dhirav in the hallway.No words.Just eyes.And a smile.That was enough.During the second period, they had a group activity — rearranging the class library shelf. Riya and Dhirav, by some sweet twist of fate, were paired together.They didn’t talk much, just worked in silence — choosing which books to keep where.At one point, their hands reached for the same book.They paused.Looked at each other.It was a poetry book.“The Voice of Silence.”Dhirav raised an eyebrow. “Fitting?”Riya smiled. “Very.”They sat on the floor for a while after arranging the books, pretending to be busy, but their thoughts were elsewhere.“I’ve been thinking,” Dhirav said finally.Riya turned slightly. “About?”He hesitated. “About how some people come into your life, not loudly… not suddenly. Just… like a slow breeze.”She didn’t say anything. Just listened.“And then, before you know it, your thoughts start changing. Your habits shift. Your silence starts having meaning.”Riya’s voice was soft, almost like a whisper. “And the world begins to feel warmer.”Their fingers were inches apart on the floor between them.Then the bell rang.They stood up — slowly — like not wanting to leave that bubble.After school, Riya sat alone near the basketball court steps. The sun was setting. Its light was soft — golden and comforting.Dhirav found her there.Sat beside her quietly.They watched a few students play in the distance.“I like this time of the day,” Riya said. “It’s honest.”He looked at her. “You’re honest too.”She smiled, a little embarrassed. “Sometimes I’m scared of being too honest.”“Don’t be,” he said. “Your truth feels like home.”There was silence again. But this time, it was full.Full of meaning.Full of something rising slowly inside both of them — like a song they were learning to hum together.As the sun dipped lower, Riya turned to him.“There’s something I want to say,” she said.He waited.But she shook her head, laughed a little. “No… not yet. It’s not ready to come out.”He nodded. “Some words take their time. Let them.”Later that night, Riya opened her chat and saw Dhirav’s message.Dhirav (8:54 p.m.):“Sometimes, even when we say nothing… it feels like we said everything.”She replied:Riya:“Maybe that’s what real connection means.”He didn’t respond with words.Just sent a photo of a sky filled with stars.And that was enough.Because that night, as Riya lay in bed staring at her ceiling, she realized:She was no longer searching for signs.She was beginning to feel them.And when feelings become that gentle and deep,You don’t need to speak them —They start living in your silence.