A GENTLE TURN

THE NEXT DAY....

The morning started like usual. Radika fixed her braid as Rudra picked up his bag. The silence between them wasn't cold anymore — just quiet and calm.

They stepped out together and walked toward the car.

The sky looked heavier than usual, as if the clouds had secrets to spill. A breeze swept past them, cool and damp.

Radika looked up and smiled softly. "Feels like it might rain."

Rudra didn't respond, just nodded and got into the car.

They drove for a while, and Radika relaxed, staring out the window. But after a few turns, her eyes narrowed.

"These roads…" she mumbled.

Something about them felt familiar ..... too familiar.

She turned to him, confused. "Sir… where are we going?"

Rudra kept his eyes on the road. "Your house."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What?" she said, more sharply now.

"You haven't seen your parents and didn't talk to them," he said plainly. "They deserve at least that."

As they turned the final corner, her childhood home came into view. The gate. The old tree. The walls that held too many memories.

Radika immediately turned away. "I'm not ready to meet them. Please, Rudra sir."

He parked but didn't switch off the engine. "We'll just say hi and leave. You don't have to talk long. One minute."

She shook her head, voice low. "Sir, I understand you. I really do. But… not today. Please."

Rudra didn't argue. He didn't push. "Okay."

As if the sky was responding to her tension, soft rain began to fall, hitting the windshield in tiny dots.

"I'll drop you at the college then," he said, turning the car gently.

"What about you, sir?" she asked, watching the rain outside.

"I took leave," he replied, eyes still on the road.

Radika raised her eyebrow. "So, you can't go to college, and you can't go home either — because aunty will definitely questions you.''

Rudra gave a small sigh. "Probably."

She smiled slightly. "Then how about a tea, sir? It fits the weather perfectly."

He glanced at her. "I don't drink tea. I like coffee."

"Just try it once. You might like it," she said, already pointing ahead. "Stop there!"

Rudra followed her gaze and slowed down near a tiny roadside tea stall under a tin shade. The soft steam from boiling water and fresh ginger chai filled the air.

Radika quickly got down, bought two hot glasses of tea, and returned with a grin.

They sat side by side on an old wooden bench. The cool breeze brushed their skin, and the rain tapped a light rhythm against the shed.

She handed him one glass and asked, "Is it good, sir?"

He took a sip, surprised by the warmth. "Yeah… nice."

They sat quietly on the wooden bench, sipping their tea as the rain whispered around them. The moment felt oddly peaceful — like the world had slowed down just for them.

Radika suddenly turned to him with a mischievous smile. "How about we play a game?"

Rudra gave her a warning look. "Radika, please don't start any stupid things."

She pouted dramatically. "It's not stupid, sir. It's a normal, grown-up game. It's called 'If You Could'."

He raised an eyebrow. "That sounds suspicious."

She giggled. "Relax! I'll just ask questions like 'If you could do this… what would you do?' And you have to answer honestly. Simple."

Rudra took another sip of tea, then sighed. "Fine. Ask your question."

Radika smiled, sipping her tea. "If you could do anything other than teaching, what would it be?"

Rudra leaned back, thinking for a moment. "I never thought about it, Radika."

She smirked. "Liar. Everyone thinks about that at least once."

He shook his head with a small smile. "Now you can ask me, sir."

Rudra raised an eyebrow and replied, "Alright. If you could skip college forever, what would you do instead?"

Radhika laughed instantly. "Chill at home. Eat, sleep, watch TV… repeat."

He looked at her, unamused. "Ambitious."

"Obviously," she said with a mock bow. "Now my turn…"

She paused, then asked, voice playful but a little more serious:

"If you could marry again, what would you do?"

His expression changed slightly. The amusement faded from his face. His voice was firm.

"Radika… marriage isn't a game. I wouldn't marry again. One marriage is enough for my life."

She blinked, a little caught off-guard. "Okay, sir…"

There was a small pause. Then she cleared her throat.

"Now your turn."

Rudra glanced at her, then asked slowly, "If you could change one thing about your past… what would it be?"

Radika gave him a knowing look. "Sir, I know what you're expecting me to say."

He frowned. "What do you mean, Radika?"

"You want me to say this marriage… right?"

"No, Radika—" he began, his voice trying to defend.

She quickly cut him off with a smile. "I'm just kidding, sir."

Rudra sighed.

Radika leaned in with a grin and game goes on but she didn't answer that question.

"If you could read my mind right now, what would you find?"

Rudra gave her a calm look. "Probably… chaos."

She rolled her eyes, smiling. "Wow. Rude."

Their laughter faded gently as silence settled in again. The rain kept falling, the sky soft and gray.

After a moment, Radhika's voice turned quiet.

"Sir… can I ask you something?"

He looked at her. "You've already asked ten things today."

She didn't smile this time. "This one's serious."

Rudra waited.

"Can we be friends?" she asked, eyes focused on the rain. "I mean… properly. No awkwardness, no deal-talk… just friends."

He didn't answer immediately. The rain filled the quiet around them.

Then finally, he turned to her, extended his hand, and said—

"Okay… friends."

Radhika looked at his hand, smiled softly, and placed hers in his.

A simple handshake.

But for both of them, it felt like something more.