"The Elevator to Realms" Act 9.5 Unspoken Silences
"The Elevator to Realms" Act 9.5 Unspoken Silences
Pooja
The soft chime of the school bell echoed in the distance as Aarti hurried to get ready. The warmth of the morning sun spilled through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room.
"Pooja di, where's my uniform?" Aarti's voice came from the next room.
"Check the drawer near your bed," Pooja called back, absentmindedly folding clothes.
Aarti quickly got dressed, her small face lit up with excitement. She always loved school, especially on days when her favourite teacher taught. Their mother bustled into the kitchen, packing Aarti’s lunchbox with precision, calling out, "Aarti, your lunch is ready!"
Within minutes, Aarti was out the door, her bright smile the last thing Pooja saw before she left for school. The house fell into a gentle quiet after that, leaving Pooja with her thoughts. She began helping her mom with the household chores, scrubbing the floor, wiping the windows — anything to keep herself busy.
"Pooja, beta," her mother asked as she rinsed the dishes, her voice gentle but probing, "What's going on in your life? You seem so distracted these days."
Pooja hesitated, her fingers tightening around the rag in her hand. She didn't know what to say, or how to explain the hollow feeling that had settled in her chest ever since Vaibhav had stopped responding. “It’s nothing, Maa,” she muttered, turning away, her heart heavy. “Just the exams, I guess.”
Her mother gave her a knowing look but didn’t press further.
The silence of the house was soon interrupted by a phone call. Pooja glanced at the screen — it was Kriti.
“Hey, Pooja. How’s the prep going? Thought we could study together for a while?” Kriti’s voice was cheerful as always, yet Pooja could sense the unspoken concern beneath it.
“Yeah, sure. Come over,” Pooja replied.
A little while later, Kriti arrived at Pooja’s house with a pile of books. They settled down at the dining table, papers strewn about, the faint scent of tea wafting through the air as they began working through formulas and past exam papers. But the weight of Pooja’s emotions hung over them, unspoken but unmistakable.
After an hour or so of silence, Kriti finally spoke up, her voice soft but direct. “Pooja, what’s going on with you and Vaibhav? You’ve been acting distant… Is everything okay?”
Pooja’s eyes flickered with a mixture of sadness and frustration. She didn’t want to talk about it, yet the words slipped out. “He’s not replying to my texts. When he does, it feels like he doesn’t even care. I don’t know what’s wrong, Kriti. It’s like he’s pulling away, and I don’t know why.”
As she spoke, her voice wavered. Her eyes, despite her efforts, grew watery, and before she could stop herself, a tear slid down her cheek.
Kriti reached out, pulling Pooja into a tight hug, whispering, “It’s going to be okay. Don’t worry, Pooja. Vaibhav cares about you. Maybe he’s just going through something.”
Pooja clung to her friend, grateful for her presence, but the knot in her chest didn’t loosen. She wanted to believe Kriti, wanted to think that Vaibhav was just distracted or stressed about exams, but a part of her couldn’t shake the growing fear that something was changing between them.
They continued studying, the conversation lingering in the back of their minds. A while later, Kriti’s expression shifted, as if she had remembered something.
Her thoughts drifted back to a memory. Vaibhav had once helped her when she was struggling with her own toxic relationship, guiding her through a difficult time. She recalled the day clearly.
Kriti had been nervous, constantly looking over her shoulder. She had been avoiding her ex, but the fear of running into him gnawed at her. That’s when Vaibhav stepped in, offering his help with a small Bluetooth com that he handed her.
“It’s a tiny Bluetooth com. You can place it in your ear, and no one will even notice it. I’ll be connected, and we can communicate easily. Just stay calm,” he had said, his voice steady and reassuring.
He had come closer to help her secure the device, and Kriti had found herself holding her breath. He was so close, the smell of his cologne filling her senses. She had never felt that kind of care from anyone before, especially not after the abusive relationship she had endured.
For a moment, she had let her guard down. Her heart had raced, her breathing shallow as she looked at him. He was just being a good friend, she knew that. But she couldn’t help the rush of feelings that surged through her.
“Done,” Vaibhav had said, stepping back. “Just don’t panic. I’ll be here if you need me.”
Kriti blinked, pulling herself back to the present. She felt a pang of guilt, her emotions swirling in confusion. How could she explain this to Pooja? She didn’t even understand it herself. Vaibhav was Pooja’s boyfriend, and yet, she had felt something that day, something she hadn’t wanted to admit.
“I should get going,” Kriti said abruptly, standing up. She could feel the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her, the confusion thick in her chest.
Pooja looked up, surprised. “So soon? We haven’t even gone over the math section yet.”
Kriti forced a smile, avoiding Pooja’s eyes. “Yeah, sorry. I just remembered I have to help my mom with something. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Pooja hesitated but nodded. “Okay. Bye…”
“Bye,” Kriti mumbled as she quickly gathered her things and headed for the door, her heart heavy with guilt and uncertainty. What was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to feel? The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
As she left, Pooja sat back down, feeling the familiar ache in her chest return. Everything felt off — with Vaibhav, with Kriti. And she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was slipping through her fingers, just out of reach.
***
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