16 – An Older Sister Knows — Scene 1 – Early Morning 6:20 AM.
The society was still quiet.
Dhruv was already outside.
Not because he had changed his habits…
He simply wanted to avoid walking to school with everyone.
He wore his white school shirt with the sleeves unevenly folded, his tie hanging loose around his neck, and his blazer stuffed carelessly into his bag.
His messy black hair looked untouched.
He adjusted the cricket kit on his shoulder.
“Morning, Di.” Urvi looked at him from the balcony.
“So early?” “Practice.” “You hate mornings.” “…Today I don’t.” She narrowed her eyes.
“…Liar.” Dhruv smiled awkwardly before walking away.
Urvi watched him disappear down the road.
“…Something’s definitely wrong.” — Scene 2 – Operation Consultation Twenty minutes later…
Deep and Alya rang Dhruv’s doorbell.
Urvi opened the door wearing a simple cream-colored sweater and black trousers.
Her long black hair was tied into a loose bun, and reading glasses rested on her nose.
Deep smiled nervously.
“Good morning, Urvi Didi.” She crossed her arms.
“You two need something.” “…Yes.” Five minutes later…
The three sat around the dining table.
Deep finally spoke.
“Dhruv is acting weird.” Urvi raised an eyebrow.
“We noticed.” “He leaves early.” “He practices extra.” “He barely talks.” “And…” Deep hesitated.
“…He keeps avoiding Mitsuri.” Urvi became quiet.
“…Avoiding?” Alya nodded.
“It isn’t rude.” “It isn’t angry.” “He just…
keeps creating distance.” Urvi rested her chin on her fingers.
“…Tell me everything.” — Scene 3 – The Truth Deep explained everything.
The Literature Club.
Kabir.
The library.
The Riverfront.
The extra training.
The early mornings.
When he finished…
Urvi smiled.
A small…
Knowing smile.
Deep blinked.
“…That’s your reaction?” She looked at him.
“How old are you?” “Sixteen.” “And Dhruv?” “Sixteen.” Urvi nodded.
“…Sounds about right.” Deep looked completely confused.
“…Explain.” Urvi leaned back.
“You think he’s avoiding Mitsuri.” “He isn’t.” “He is.” “No.” “He’s avoiding…” She pointed toward Dhruv’s empty chair.
“…Himself.” — Scene 4 – Urvi’s Guess Alya listened carefully.
Urvi continued.
“When Dhruv gets emotionally confused…” “He never talks.” “He trains.” “When he’s frustrated…” “He runs.” “When he’s angry…” “He practices longer.” “When he’s disappointed…” “He studies harder.” Deep slowly remembered.
“…After he came second in the monthly exam…” “He practiced cricket every evening.” Urvi nodded.
“Exactly.” “He turns emotions into effort.” She smiled softly.
“It’s his way of escaping.” — Scene 5 – Classroom Meanwhile…
XI-A.
The English teacher announced, “You’ll be making presentations in pairs.” Students immediately began discussing partners.
Before Mitsuri could ask…
Kabir walked over.
“Partner again?” She smiled.
“If you don’t mind.” “Not at all.” Dhruv quietly took out his notebook.
Rohan looked at him.
“You don’t have a partner.” “I’ll ask someone.” He looked around.
“…Harsh.” Harsh looked surprised.
“Me?” “Yeah.” “Sure.” Mitsuri looked toward Dhruv.
For a moment…
She looked as though she wanted to say something.
But she didn’t.
— Scene 6 – Cricket Nets Practice.
Aditya threw another ball.
Dhruv smashed it.
“Again.” Another.
Six.
Again.
Yash laughed.
“You’re impossible today.” Aditya walked over.
“Enough.” Dhruv looked confused.
“We’re not done.” “We are.” “You’ve practiced for three straight hours.” “I can continue.” Aditya shook his head.
“No.” “You don’t become stronger by running away.” Dhruv froze.
“…” Those words stayed with him.
— Scene 7 – Advice Evening.
Deep and Alya returned to Sunrise Residency.
Urvi was watering the plants outside.
Deep asked, “So…” “What should we do?” Urvi smiled.
“Nothing.” “…Nothing?” “The more you push him…” “The further he’ll run.” Alya nodded slowly.
“So we wait.” Urvi looked toward House No.
11.
“And make sure Mitsuri doesn’t think it’s her fault.” Deep scratched his head.
“…Girls are complicated.” Urvi laughed.
“No.” “Boys are.” — Scene 8 – Journal Night.
Mitsuri opened her journal.
> June 28 Dhruv has been acting differently these past few days.
He still smiles.
He still helps everyone.
But…
He doesn’t spend time with me anymore.
I keep wondering if I accidentally said something wrong.
I hope I didn’t.
I miss our conversations during the walk to school.
She stopped writing.
“…” Then quietly closed the journal.
— Scene 9 – The Balcony Across the society…
Dhruv finished another fifty push-ups.
His breathing was heavy.
He stepped onto the balcony.
Across from him…
Mitsuri was also standing outside.
She noticed him.
She smiled gently.
This time…
Dhruv didn’t go inside.
He smiled back.
Raised his hand in a small wave.
She waved too.
Neither spoke.
Neither crossed the distance between them.
But for the first time in days…
Neither of them looked away first.