It was Sunday—the day of their marathon video calls. But today, Bharsha was nowhere to be found.
Arindam sat restlessly, staring at his phone screen every other minute. He sent a few messages: "Everything okay?" No reply. One hour, two hours... as time ticked by, a cold unease began to settle deep within his chest.
Suddenly, while scrolling through social media, a photo stopped his heart. It was Bharsha and Rahul, both beaming at the camera. The caption read: "Congratulations to the cutest couple of the department! "
Arindam's hand trembled, almost dropping the phone. It felt as if the world around him had turned into a vacuum. Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, for Arindam, a bolt of lightning had just struck right where he stood.
The Cry of SilenceHe called her immediately. Once, twice, ten times... no answer. Finally, at 11:30 PM, his screen lit up. Bharsha's voice came through, thin and hollow. "Hello..."
Arindam didn't bother with pleasantries. "The cutest couple?" he asked, his voice like ice.
A heavy silence followed. Then, Bharsha whispered, "So you saw the picture?"
"Yes. Congratulations." The sheer agony hidden behind that one word was something only Arindam could feel.
Bharsha tried to regain her composure. "No! It was just a prank. The department farewell theme was 'Couple Photoshoot'—everyone was having fun, so we just stood there for a shot."
"Fun? It didn't look like fun to me, Bharsha."
"I wanted to tell you..."
"But you didn't." The hurt in Arindam's voice was now undeniable.
A Darker CloudAfter a pause, Bharsha spoke in a low, somber tone. "Arindam, there's something else."
Arindam's body tensed. "Go on."
"My father wants me to finish my Master's here. That means... two more years."
Two years! The eight-hour distance suddenly felt like two light-years away.
"What do you want, Bharsha?" Arindam asked.
Bharsha couldn't answer for a long moment. Then, she whispered, "I... I'm very confused."
That one word—confused—shattered the last of Arindam's patience.
On the Brink of BreakingArindam spoke with a haunting calm. "Tell me the truth, then. Are we still standing on the same ground? Or have our paths drifted apart?"
Bharsha's eyes were already brimming with tears. "I love you, Arindam. But I can't just ignore my dreams either."
"Have I ever been the wall between you and your dreams?"
"No, you haven't."
"Then why does it feel like I'm slowly being blurred out of the frame of your life?"
The Bitter TruthSuddenly, Bharsha confessed, "Rahul proposed to me today."
Arindam's breath hitched.
"I said no. But... everyone at college sees us as a couple."
"Have you ever wondered... what life would be like if I wasn't there?" Arindam's question struck like a dagger to Bharsha's heart.
Bharsha trembled. "No! Never. But sometimes I wonder—are you getting tired of me?"
Arindam took a deep breath. "I'm tired of the distance, Bharsha, not of you."
The Ultimate TestSuddenly, Arindam made a radical decision. "Let's take a test."
"What kind of test?"
"No contact for the next one month. No calls, no messages, not even checking each other's photos on social media."
Bharsha gasped. "What? Why? Are you trying to lose me?"
"No, Bharsha. I want to be sure. I want to see if our love is just a habit of one year, or if we truly need each other to survive."
That night, it rained in both cities. Bharsha agreed through her tears. "Fine. One month. No contact."
"If we are still standing at this same spot in a month, then I'll know that nothing can ever pull us apart."
The call ended.
The Diary of SilenceThe countdown began.
The first day felt like hell.
On the third day, the pillow was soaked in tears.
By the seventh day, a mountain of resentment had built up.
By the fifteenth day, the thought haunted her: Has he forgotten me?
Yet, every night, both of them would walk to their windows. They would pick up their phones, but the call was never made.
Love was about to face its greatest trial—without words, without touch. Only the flickering lamp of waiting remained.