Reva shut the door of her flat behind her, letting out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. she didn't want to stay at her parents' place where her brother would boss her around. She felt bad though, she wanted to cry. She wanted to stay the week with her family, but she couldn't because of him.

She stood still for a moment, looking around the living room. It was small, cozy, but hers. The clutter on the coffee table, the pile of books she had been meaning to read, the soft throw blanket she always draped over the back of the couch—it was all so familiar, comforting.

Without another thought, she walked to the balcony, sliding the door open with a smooth motion. The cool evening air rushed in, refreshing and calming. She leaned against the railing, her eyes wandering over the street below. 

The trees were alive with the gentle breeze, their leaves fluttering softly like they were whispering secrets to each other. A few birds flitted across the sky, some landing on the power lines above, their tiny silhouettes striking against the dimming sky. 

She smiled to herself. Sparrows are so cute and fluffy, she thought, a fleeting moment of peace washing over her.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her phone and dialed Bhavna's number.

"Hey, it's me," Reva said softly when she picked up, her voice barely above a whisper as she gazed at the fading light. 

"Can you and Kira come over? It's been a day." She paused, her gaze drifting to the horizon. "No rush, really. Take your time, I'll be here. Just... whenever you're free."

She waited for a moment before ending the call, the weight of the conversation not quite sinking in. It was a simple thing—inviting her friends over—but it felt like the start of something, like she was finally taking a step toward something better, something more her own.

With the call done, Revathi went inside. She moved through the apartment, unpacking her bags, putting things back in their place, and pushing the day's chaos to the corners of her mind. 

Her clothes were neatly folded and tucked into the closet, her toiletries set by the bathroom sink.

She then glanced at her phone when a random notification from Twitter popped up, but she swiped it away. Her eyes caught the sight of her wallpaper. shubman himself. 

god i wish he actually knew how much he helps me get through the day

A few hours later, Reva sat cross-legged on her couch, a steaming mug of tea cradled in her hands. Bhavna and Kira had arrived not long after, each with their own unique presence that had brought a sense of warmth and lightness into the apartment.

The living room was now alive with chatter and laughter, the soft hum of familiar voices filling the space that had felt so empty just hours before. Bhavna was telling some exaggerated story about her project, her hands gesturing animatedly as Kira nodded along, amused.

Reva smiled faintly, her eyes fixed on her friends, but her thoughts still lingered in the distance, in that space where her brother's voice echoed, or where her family's expectations weighed her down. 

Yet, for now, they felt further away. It was a relief.

Kira, sensing the quieter mood in Reva, nudged her gently with her elbow. "You good?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with care.

Reva hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, just... tired."

Bhavna, sensing the shift, stopped her story mid-sentence and turned to Reva. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about him," she teased, though her eyes were full of concern.

Reva stiffened for a moment, then sighed. "It's not that. It's just... everything." She set her tea down on the coffee table, her hands now empty, restless. 

"I feel like I can never be enough, you know? It's like no matter how hard I try, I'm never living up to their expectations."

Kira, who had been quiet up until that point, spoke up, her voice gentle but firm. "You are enough, Reva. You always have been."

Bhavna nodded in agreement. "Yeah, seriously. Your brother's got his own issues. Don't let him drag you down."

Reva managed a small smile. "I know. It's just hard when you're around them, and everything feels like it's on you to fix. They don't get it. They don't see how... how much I need to be on my own sometimes."

Bhavna shifted closer, crossing her legs as she sat next to Reva. "You don't need to explain yourself to anyone. You're allowed to set boundaries. And you're allowed to be here, with us, whenever you need to be."

The weight in Reva's chest seemed to lighten, just a little, as her friends' words wrapped around her like a protective blanket. She looked up at them, her eyes softening. "Thanks," she whispered, the simple word feeling heavier than it should.

Kira raised an eyebrow and nudged Reva's arm. "Hey, you know, maybe you should just scroll through your saved stash of Shubman's pictures or videos!"

Reva blinked, the distraction pulling her back into the present. Her mind quickly shifted gears, and she fumbled for her phone, unlocking it. 

The familiar photo of Shubman Gill greeted her from the screen, and despite the heaviness that had clouded her thoughts moments before, a quiet smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Maybe he does help," she muttered, her voice just loud enough for her friends to hear.

Bhavna smirked. "I swear, if he had a fan club, you'd be president."

Reva laughed, the sound genuine and free. She leaned back into the couch, finally able to relax, surrounded by the warmth of her friends and the comfort of her own space. 

Despite everything, it felt like a small victory, a step toward reclaiming something she hadn't realized she'd been missing for a while.

And for the first time today, she felt at ease.

revarathnakumar

● ○

liked by mridhulkumar, bhavissoslay, kirareddy and 1320 others

revarathnakumar its a folklore kinda day <3

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mridhulkumar girl you okay?
revarathnakumar mhm

bhaviissoslay how do you click such good pictures
revarathnakumar donno

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SOUP RANTS !

welcome to the second chapter of this book!

this was so me as well, but except for the fact that i don't have my own flat or friends

did we like this chapter?

I'll see you guys soon!

yours truly,
soup 🫶