"The Elevator to Realms" Act 14: The Silence Between Pulses

 Vaibhav

The house was quiet, the kind of silence only early evening brings. Just before street dogs begin barking and the pressure cookers hiss in every household in the colony. A faint hum of the ceiling fan spinning at a very low speed spun above my head as I lay staring at its blades. I was lost.. I just stared at the blades and tried to follow their path. My wrist still throbbed, but the bandages Kriti had carefully wrapped gave me a strange sense of comfort and calmness. I looked at the bandages and let out a sigh. I got up and stared outside my room's window... 

Thinking. Is my life really messed up? Where should I put my focus? The supernatural or focus on my life. My career and studies. Which one? I felt helpless and confused. Which one to figure out first?

..

I gave a look at that drawer. That stone... It was flickering and pulsing just like before, like it was immortal.

I hadn't told anyone. Not even my parents. Damnit. Should I tell them? They deserve to know all of this mess. Not even my cousin Bihaan, and definitely not Pooja. 

And yet, the pain was not the worst part; the silence was. 

My phone lit up.

..

| Kriti: "Resting?..."

I smiled a little, noticing her text. I picked up my phone.

| Vaibhav: "Trying to..."

| Kriti: "Eat something. You looked like a dehydrated ghost, Vaibhav..."

| Vaibhav: "Not hungry."

| Kriti: "This is not an option yaar. And this is definitely not the way. I'll spam you if you don't!"

I chuckled. Some part of me wanted to see a bit more of her caring side. I placed my phone down, reassuring her that I'll eat and take good care of myself. Do not worry. 

..

*Knock knock!*

A knock came on my door.. 

"Vaibhav?" my Mother's voice. Kind, always kind. I wish I could tell her everything that I am going through. She's the only person I trust the most. 

"Come in, Maa!" I called out, pulling the blanket and rolling it to the side of the bed. Making room for her to sit.

She entered with a steel thali. Dal, rice, roti, and a bit of bhindi were placed over it with a graceful amount of ghee over the rotis. 

"Eat, Beta.. I won't hear excuses. I made your favourite Bhindi today. You don't skip meals."

"Maa, I'm not..." I tried to speak up, but she raised a finger.

"I don't care. You haven't smiled properly in days. You have scars and cuts on your face. What reason did you give? You fell off, huh? From where? Tell me the truth, who hit you?" She demanded to know. And told all of this without taking a breath. 

..

Silence. 

I was taken aback and tried to hide my emotions. I stayed silent. 

"Yeah... I fell..", I said softly and turned my gaze down onto the floor.

She sat beside me, tearing and picking up a piece of roti and dipping it in Dal. "At least a few bites?"

I gave in. Ate. Slowly.

"How's the application for colleges?" she asked. 

"Fine. I applied to a few, to be honest, IITE too."

She smiled, "Good. You'll do well. I know you beta", she caressed and combed my hair with her hand.

Then, softer, she said, "Talked to Pooja? Hmm?"

A pause.

I shook my head, "No."

Her voice held a touch of sorrow. "I liked her. She had.. Something gentle in her. It's okay if it didn't work out... but I want to make sure you're okay, got it?"

I nodded yes and looked down at my plate.

"I'm.. figuring things out Maa.. Some things..."

She nodded, placed a hand on my head, "Don't forget, beta. Your world is not just the things that break you. It's also the people who still stand with you. Theek na?"

I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. I was filled with courage by her words... 

I smiled a bit slowly. 

Elsewhere - Pooja's Room

Pooja lay curled on her bed, hugging her pillow tightly. Aarti, sat at the foot, munching on potato chips...

*Crunch!*

She said while her focus was on gulping those chips, "You're too.. silent. These days, Pooja."

Pooja didn't reply. She was busy on Truecaller. Stalking Vaibhav's 'In call status'. 

Aarti poked her foot. 

"I'm talking to you dumbass!"

It was about time. Pooja scrolled further down and found out about Kriti's status too. 'In Call'. At the same time...

Pooja turned her face away. Eyes glassy...

"It's not about ignoring him. It's about... not being seen anymore."

Aarti blinked. "What?!"

Pooja sat up, suddenly angry. Not at Aarti, but at herself. "He used to talk to me about everything. Even stupid stuff. Strange... stuff.. even. And now? Nothing. Nothing at all! He sends snaps to that girl. That.. Kriti! I know it!"

"Ohh.." Aarti said knowingly. "It's about her, huh?"

Pooja's jaw clenched. "No! Maybe.. Look. I don't know, okay?"

Aarti rolled her eyes. "You cannot expect people to stay frozen in your memory. Buried deeply. People move on... Time doesn't care Di..."

"I cared... I just.. I just needed some time for myself. What's the issue in that?", Pooja whispered. Hiding her face away from Aarti and wiping her nose and eyes instantly.

"And that's your mistake. Look Di, I am younger than you... You're family. I care for you a lot. But you never said the things you have said. And now, you're doing nothing but punishing yourself. Look at yourself Di...", she said softly. 

Pooja looked up. The fire in her eyes had returned. Quiet. Dangerous. Like, all of her tears had made her stronger and firm.

"No." she said, voice cold. "I'm not gonna punish myself anymore..."

She picked up her phone. 

And..

Tapped into a secure group chat. Aarti looked at her and tried to peek into the screen...

She couldn't see the group chat's name or anything, but she saw what she wrote...

"Need your update. ASAP."

Later That Night — Back at Vaibhav’s Home

The lights in the house dimmed to night mode. His father came in, wearing his kurta and a shawl over his shoulder.

“Still awake?”

Vaibhav looked up from his notebook.

“Yeah. Was just going over a few formulas.”

His father sat at the edge of the bed. “You know, you don’t have to kill yourself over these books. You’re good. But you also need rest.”

“I’m okay, Papa.”

“You remind me of myself,” his father smiled. “I also had that same fire in my eyes. But remember—burning too hot leaves nothing behind but ash.”

Vaibhav smirked. “You’re being poetic now.”

His father ruffled his hair. “Just old. Not poetic.”

He stood to leave. “We’re proud of you, beta. Don’t forget that.”

As the door clicked shut, Vaibhav exhaled, the room dark and warm. His world was still full of people who loved him. But they had no idea what he was carrying.

Or who he was becoming.

Meanwhile — Kriti

Kriti sat on her balcony, sipping on ginger tea. She scrolled back to their chat.

..

| Vaibhav: "Not hungry."

| Kriti: "This is not an option yaar. And this is definitely not the way. I'll spam you if you don't!"

..

She stared at the message for a long moment. Then switched apps. Instagram.

Vaibhav had posted a story.

A sunset. A half-visible scar on the back of his hand, holding a cup of tea. And a caption:

“Some things heal slower than others.”

Her heart thudded.

She wasn’t imagining it. That moment between them — that kiss — it meant something. But the look in his eyes today... It was as if he was walking around with a weight she couldn’t name.

“Are you hiding from me, Vaibhav?” she whispered to no one.

Her mom knocked.

“Kriti beta, lights off now. Tomorrow’s the first day of your online coaching classes again.”

“OKAY, Ma!”

..

She sent one final message.

Kriti: "Hey. Take care, okay? And you need to sleep well... If you need someone, I'll be here."

Vaibhav: "Good Night, Kriti. Yes, I know... *blueheart emoji* "

..

Kriti smiled and stared at that tiny blue heart emoji he just sent. And jumped onto her bed, hugging her pillow instantly...

...

...

...

...

Pooja stared at an old picture of her and Vaibhav— when they went together on their first date. 

Blurry, mid-laughter.

She zoomed in on his eyes.

There had been a time they only ever looked at her like that.

And now...

Now they looked at someone else.

...

...

***