The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting soft golden light across the living room as the last remnants of the marriage celebration slowly faded. The once vibrant decorations of banana leaves and flowers were now being rolled up and removed by the men of the family, signalling the end of the festivities. Some guests had already left at the crack of dawn, while a few close relatives lingered, exchanging pleasantries over breakfast. The house, once full of energy and joy, now had a quieter, more reflective atmosphere.

Tamizh woke up late, her body aching from exhaustion after the whirlwind of the marriage. She stretched lazily, feeling the comfort of her bed cocooning her, but finally dragged herself out and took a long, refreshing bath. When she came downstairs, still drying her hair, she found the breakfast spread laid out on the dining table.

She couldn't resist teasing Meera and Ram, who were sitting on the porch, sipping coffee and enjoying the early morning calm.

"Looks like someone had a good night!" Tamizh smirked, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Meera blushed instantly, while Ram awkwardly cleared his throat. "Can't you ever stop teasing?" Meera muttered, but there was no irritation in her tone, just amusement.

"I'm your sister. It's my duty," Tamizh said playfully before leaning over to give Meera a side hug. She then turned to Ram, "And you, take care of my sister, or else..."

Ram smiled, playing along. "Or else?"

"Or else, I'll make sure she haunts you down," Tamizh winked before heading to the kitchen to greet her mother.

In the kitchen, her mother was busy preparing a fresh batch of hot dosa. The smell of ghee and spices filled the air, making Tamizh's stomach growl.

"Good morning, Amma," Tamizh greeted, taking a cup of coffee from the pot and sitting on the counter. "Where's Appa?"

Her mother looked up from the stove and smiled. "He went to check on the fields. You know him. Can't stay still for long. He'll be back in half an hour."

Tamizh nodded, savoring her coffee as she slowly made her way through the house, greeting the remaining relatives and friends who were scattered around, chatting lazily after breakfast.

But in the back of her mind, she was trying to spot someone—Prabhu.

Oddly, he was nowhere to be seen and a strange feeling of unease began to settle in her chest.

She wandered upstairs to check his room, only to find it empty. His bags were gone, the bed neatly made as though no one had slept in it. Confused, she furrowed her brow, wondering where he could have gone overnight.

As she came back down and settled on the couch in the living room, Ram and Meera were sitting nearby, discussing their upcoming shifting to Bangalore. They had only two days before their flight and the conversation was filled with excitement about their new life together.

Tamizh, still distracted, casually asked, "Ram Mama, did your side of the relatives leave already?"

Ram nodded. "Yeah, they left early this morning for the bus back to the city."

Trying to sound nonchalant, Tamizh continued, "What about your friends? They're not around either."

Ram glanced up, giving her an easy smile. "Oh, actually, Prabhu got an emergency call from his office last night. He had to leave around midnight. His friends and some of my friends left with him too since their leave was over."

The moment Ram said those words, a sudden weight seemed to settle in Tamizh's heart.

Prabhu had left?

In the middle of the night?

Without saying a bye?

She blinked, trying to process it, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar sense of loss.

"Oh... okay," she managed to say, her voice coming out smaller than she intended. She forced a smile, but it felt hollow.

Rising to her feet, she excused herself quietly and made her way back to her room. Once she was alone, she sat down heavily on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing in particular.

The realisation of Prabhu's sudden departure gnawed at her. All the teasing, the playful banter, the stolen glances... had it meant nothing to him?

Had it all just been a game? Something to pass the time during the marriage?

A deep disappointment welled up inside her. How could he leave without even saying abye? Not a word, not a text, nothing.

Tamizh hugged her knees to her chest, feeling an emptiness she hadn't anticipated. It felt like it had all been a silly game to him.

A game that left her feeling hollow and uncertain.

Maybe she had been foolish to think anything more of it.

__

The week following the marriage passed in a blur of emotion. Meera and Ram had left for Bangalore after a brief stay in Coimbatore at her In laws ' home. Though the newlyweds were off to start their new life, the void they left behind was palpable in the house.

Meera's parents struggled to adjust to the absence of their elder daughter and Tamizh, in her own way, tried to ease the transition. She kept her parents occupied, cracking jokes at the dining table, helping with chores and organizing small outings to keep their spirits lifted. But despite all her efforts, the emptiness lingered.

Tamizh missed Meera deeply. She often found herself lost in thought, recalling the emotional farewell when her sister had left with her in-laws. The tears her parents shed, the final tight hug before Meera stepped into her new life—it had all left Tamizh feeling weak and vulnerable.

For the first time, it hit her that she could no longer see her sister whenever she wanted. No more late-night chats, no more shared secrets under the covers. The absence was a strange and heavy feeling.

But now, another chapter was beginning for her as well. It was time for her to head back to Chennai, to rejoin her college for her MA in Literature. The marriage had been a temporary pause, but life had to move forward. She had already made arrangements for her hostel before she came back to the village for the marriage, so all that was left was to pack her things and leave.

As Tamizh folded the last of her clothes and zipped up her suitcase, her mother hovered nearby, offering all the motherly advice she could. "Be safe, kanna. Eat well, focus on your studies and don't stay up too late."

Her father added, "Keep us updated often and don't hesitate to come home if you ever need anything. You know where we are."

Tamizh smiled, touched by their concern. She hugged them tightly before stepping onto the bus. "You both take care of yourselves too, okay? I'll be back soon."

With one last wave, she climbed onto the bus, her heart heavy but filled with determination. The bus rumbled to life and soon she was on her way to Chennai, watching the familiar landscape slowly morph into the hustle and bustle of the city.

After a few hours, the bus pulled into the chennai terminal. Tamizh gathered her things, feeling a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. As she stepped off the bus, she took a deep breath, taking in the familiar sounds of the city. Just as she was about to flag down an auto, a sleek grey Honda car pulled up right in front of her.

The car window rolled down, revealing Prabhu's smiling face.

"Hi," he greeted her with a wide, enthusiastic grin.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone a mix of irritation and anger.

Prabhu chuckled softly. "What, no hello for me? I thought my girlfriend, oops sorry ..... My ex-girlfriend would be happy to see me."