10-07-2025, 12:05 PM
The Evening Turns
Ravi waited until she was halfway through her tea.
She still hadn’t looked up at him.
His hand cupped the warm ceramic mug. He wasn’t drinking anymore.
Just holding it for comfort.
Like the heat could somehow thaw the strange cold between them.
He tried once.
“Didi…”
She didn’t respond.
He paused. Licked his lips. Voice low.
“I… I’m sorry.”
Nothing.
Not a flicker in her eyes.
Not even a twitch in the fingers holding her own cup.
She didn’t react. Didn’t sigh. Didn’t nod.
Just continued sipping her tea like the steam was more important than the man across the table.
That silence hurt more than any harsh word could have.
He wanted to apologize again, maybe explain, but just then, the front door creaked.
Amit’s voice came through, cheerful and casual. “Heyyy! Look who got off early!”
Ravi straightened in his chair.
- o -
Ravi waited until she was halfway through her tea.
She still hadn’t looked up at him.
His hand cupped the warm ceramic mug. He wasn’t drinking anymore.
Just holding it for comfort.
Like the heat could somehow thaw the strange cold between them.
He tried once.
“Didi…”
She didn’t respond.
He paused. Licked his lips. Voice low.
“I… I’m sorry.”
Nothing.
Not a flicker in her eyes.
Not even a twitch in the fingers holding her own cup.
She didn’t react. Didn’t sigh. Didn’t nod.
Just continued sipping her tea like the steam was more important than the man across the table.
That silence hurt more than any harsh word could have.
He wanted to apologize again, maybe explain, but just then, the front door creaked.
Amit’s voice came through, cheerful and casual. “Heyyy! Look who got off early!”
Ravi straightened in his chair.
- o -
.