Part 1:
The Beginning of Silence
Hannah lived in a city with her family, far from the village that still connected her to her roots. In another city, Ajay lived his life—different place, same origin. Their mothers were sisters, which made them cousins, tied by family even before they truly knew each other.
Ajay was two years older than Hannah.
From the outside, his life looked perfect. He came from a wealthy family, yet he had a strange habit—he would still ask others for money, as if something in him always needed more.
Their first real meeting happened during a vacation in the village, at a time when both of them were still too young to understand people, emotions, or even themselves.
Hannah was not like other girls. She didn't talk to boys—not in school, not anywhere. She believed boys were trouble, so she stayed away from them. Naturally, Ajay was no exception. She spoke to him only when necessary, mostly because their families expected it.
But Hannah had one thing she was deeply protective about—her nana.
The day Ajay said something careless about him, something disrespectful, Hannah didn't think twice. Her hand reacted before her mind did.
She slapped him.
The moment passed quickly, but the feeling didn't. Regret settled in her heart almost immediately. Ajay, hurt and upset, went straight to his mother. Yet, like many things in families, the matter faded without much consequence.
Still, something had shifted.
The next time they met, things were… different.
Ajay behaved casually, as if nothing had changed. At one moment, he came close and kissed Hannah in a way that felt normal to him, almost like a playful gesture.
Her mother was there and noticed it. She reacted lightly, saying with a small laugh that she didn't like such things. To her, it didn't seem like a big deal—just something childish.
But for Hannah, it felt a little strange. She didn't say anything. Instead, she quietly went and washed her face, unsure of how to react or what she was supposed to feel.
And once again, she chose silence.
Ajay, on the other hand, had a playful nature. He acted the same way with other girls too, even with Hannah's younger sister. For him, it may have meant little. For Hannah, it stayed somewhere unspoken.
Part 2: Games, Gatherings, and Unspoken Moments
Time moved forward, and with it came another gathering—the barpan ceremony of Ajay.
The house was filled with noise, laughter, and relatives. In the middle of it all, Ajay's cousin sister pulled Hannah aside to play.
It started as a simple game.
A marriage game.
She dressed Hannah as a bride and dressed herself the same way, smiling as if it were all just fun. "We'll both be brides," she said, "and Ajay will be the groom."
Hannah found it strange. For a moment, she questioned it—but then she let it go. It was just a game… or at least, that's what she told herself.
The rituals began. Knots were tied—first between Ajay and Hannah, and then, oddly, between the cousin and Hannah as well. They even took seven rounds, imitating something far more serious than they understood.
And just like that, the game ended.
Laughter returned. Everything went back to normal.
As if nothing had happened.
Later, Ajay offered Hannah a chocolate.
She refused.
Instead of taking it, she went to her mother and asked if she should. Her mother smiled casually and told her it wasn't a big deal.
But when Hannah returned, Ajay had already eaten it.
Moments like these passed quietly, leaving behind small, unspoken feelings.