21-07-2025, 06:19 PM
Wednesday Night – An Empty Flat, A Warm Invitation
The clock on the wall blinked 7:56 PM.
The soft ticking seemed louder than it should’ve been.
Ravi sat alone on the couch in 205, dinner untouched.
A small steel plate of sabzi, dal, and a rolled chapati,
Cooked the previous night by Priya before they left, was placed neatly on the table.
But he hadn’t lifted a finger.
The flat felt cold. Sterile. Almost too quiet.
He had always admired Priya Didi's graceful silences—but this kind of silence was unbearable.
He leaned back, closed his eyes for a moment.
Then, his phone buzzed.
Vamsi Bhaiyya – 7:58 PM
“Ravi… we were just talking about you. Come have dinner with us tonight, ra. Don’t eat alone yaar. Neetu’s already making extra.”
“Btw she insisted I invite you ”
Ravi’s lips twitched into a faint smile.
Just then, another message popped up.
Neetu Bhabhi – 7:59 PM
“Don’t even try to say no. I made lemon rice and your favorite brinjal fry. Come down. NOW.”
He stared at both messages for a moment… then looked at the untouched food in front of him.
“Alright,” he whispered. “Maybe this place is too quiet.”
He walked into his room,
Changed into a soft t-shirt and track pants, ran his fingers through his hair, and stepped out.
The hallway echoed differently tonight.
- o -
The clock on the wall blinked 7:56 PM.
The soft ticking seemed louder than it should’ve been.
Ravi sat alone on the couch in 205, dinner untouched.
A small steel plate of sabzi, dal, and a rolled chapati,
Cooked the previous night by Priya before they left, was placed neatly on the table.
But he hadn’t lifted a finger.
The flat felt cold. Sterile. Almost too quiet.
He had always admired Priya Didi's graceful silences—but this kind of silence was unbearable.
He leaned back, closed his eyes for a moment.
Then, his phone buzzed.
Vamsi Bhaiyya – 7:58 PM
“Ravi… we were just talking about you. Come have dinner with us tonight, ra. Don’t eat alone yaar. Neetu’s already making extra.”
“Btw she insisted I invite you ”
Ravi’s lips twitched into a faint smile.
Just then, another message popped up.
Neetu Bhabhi – 7:59 PM
“Don’t even try to say no. I made lemon rice and your favorite brinjal fry. Come down. NOW.”
He stared at both messages for a moment… then looked at the untouched food in front of him.
“Alright,” he whispered. “Maybe this place is too quiet.”
He walked into his room,
Changed into a soft t-shirt and track pants, ran his fingers through his hair, and stepped out.
The hallway echoed differently tonight.
- o -
.