the red moon's love

episode:“Old Wounds”

That whole day Tithir didn’t open her room’s door. Her mother called several times, Seema knocked too, but she didn’t respond to anyone.

By late afternoon, she quietly pulled her phone under the pillow and made a video call to Mina.

As Mina’s face appeared on the screen, Tithir spoke softly:

— “Can you talk right now?”

Mina looked worried:

— “Yes, tell me… what happened? You sound like someone murdered you!”

Tithir frowned irritably, then said:

— “These days everyone just goes on about ‘Rudra, Rudra’. As if I don’t even exist! This morning I went to Rudra’s room… the door was shut, but I heard laughter inside. I put my ear to the door—suddenly it opened, and I fell! Everyone saw me! And Seema… she just laughed and laughed… I’ve never felt so humiliated.”

Mina stayed quiet for a moment, then gently said:

— “Oh come on, aren’t you overreacting a little? It sounds like your old childhood jealousy and anger is getting dragged in. They talk about him because they care. If you were in the room, they’d talk about you too.”

Tithir bit her lip:

— “I don’t want anyone’s care! And Rudra… he likes Seema anyway, doesn’t he? So why does everyone have to flaunt it in front of me?”

Mina chuckled:

— “You know, love and jealousy are very close cousins. What you’re calling ‘hatred’… maybe it’s something else. Think about it.”

Tithir said nothing. She just stared quietly at the screen.

The gloomy afternoon passed inside her room—with its dim light and her friend’s face on the phone screen.

Mina teased:

— “Why don’t you just talk to Rudra once? You’ll see, everything will feel fine.”

Tithir scowled:

— “I said no! After that scene, I haven’t spoken to anyone, haven’t even opened the door!”

Mina laughed:

— “Then Rudra must be thinking your temper is still exactly like when you were a kid!”

Tithir’s eyes widened:

— “He can think whatever he wants! I’m not that little Tithir anymore!”

Mina smirked:

— “Right, the grown-up Tithir! Bigger anger, bigger sulks… and a PhD in turning away from people.”

Tithir threw a pillow at the screen:

— “Shut up, or I’ll hang up!”

Mina laughed:

— “Okay fine. But remember—what you don’t say with words, shows up in your eyes. What if Rudra really notices something?”

Tithir hesitated, then said quietly:

— “I don’t even go near him. So how would he see?”

Mina:

— “Alright then, but please cool down. Don’t be so angry with your family.”

Tithir turned her face away:

— “I’m not angry, just… annoyed. Everyone only seems to think about him.”

Mina smiled:

— “He came home after so many years, of course they’re happy. You should smile a little too—it’ll make everyone happy.”

Tithir whispered:

— “I’ll try…”

The call ended. She slowly stood up, glanced at her reflection in the mirror—reddish eyes, pale face.

— “Ugh! I can’t stay looking like this!”

She went straight into the bathroom.

Under the hot shower she stood for a while with her eyes closed, as if letting the water wash away all her anger and hurt.

When she came out, she put on a soft pink kurti with blue jeans. Her hair was still damp, but she lightly combed it and applied a bit of lip balm.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she murmured:

— “No more. Today I’ll try to be normal.”

With a faint smile, she gathered herself and went downstairs. Her footsteps echoed on the staircase.

The hall was unusually quiet—much calmer than the day before.

The large room was neatly arranged: some magazines scattered on the table, a half-empty bottle of water, and sunlight falling across the marble floor through the flower vase in the corner.

On the sofa sat her mother, and beside her Tina, while a couple of servants dusted and arranged cushions.

As soon as Tithir entered, Tina exclaimed:

— “Well, look who finally woke up, Her Majesty!”

Tithir smiled faintly, hiding her irritation. Her mother glanced up and said:

— “Since you’re awake, sit and have a cup of tea. Then do whatever you like.”

Tithir asked:

— “Where is everyone, Ma?”

Her mother replied:

— “Rudra went with your father to the office, there’s some urgent business. And Seema left early for school.”

Tina added:

— “And we stayed back here for you! We thought maybe our princess would finally show us a smile today.”

Tithir’s face softened. She came and sat by the sofa, hugging a cushion.

— “I wasn’t feeling okay… so I didn’t want to talk to anyone.”

Her mother said:

— “Fine, but now that you’re here—eat something, and then stay as you like. Just don’t treat people that way. Everyone was worried for you.”

Tina teased:

— “You know, Tithir, when you dashed into your room this morning, I thought you were being chased by a ghost!”

Tithir glared:

— “Very funny! I got hurt, and you’re laughing?”

Tina:

— “I thought you were practicing for the Olympics. With that speed, gold is guaranteed!”

Tithir (grinning):

— “Hah! And you’ll compete in the Kitchen Olympics—first prize in veggie chopping!”

Tina (mock serious):

— “You don’t understand—cutting vegetables is an art! If you slice your finger, then you’ll see!”

Tithir:

— “Well, what if Rudra comes home and says, ‘Bhabhi, I want some finger chops,’ and you’ll have to show him your missing finger?”

Tina burst out laughing, threw a cushion at her:

— “You i***t!”

Tithir (laughing):

— “i***t or not, I’m still your best friend!”

Tina:

— “True—on one condition. You bring me ice cream this afternoon.”

Tithir:

— “Fine, but only if you protect me from Rudra’s terror!”

Tina looked at her curiously:

— “Why do you have so much of a problem with Rudra, Tithir?”

Tithir sighed deeply, then spoke firmly:

— “When I was ten, he was in ninth grade. Ma always told him, ‘Help her with studies.’ But do you know what he did? He’d sit with a book in front of me, then say, ‘Why are you so dumb? Even a child could understand this!’”

Tina laughed:

— “Oh God! And you’re still angry about that?”

Tithir:

— “It wasn’t just studies… he used to hit me too! Ma, you don’t know, he beat me! I never did anything to deserve it.”

Mother (sternly, raising her voice):

— “And you forgot what you did then? You lied about him once, said he hit you—your uncle scolded him so harshly and punished him!”

Tithir (angrily):

— “Because he tricked me! He said he’d teach me, then humiliated me in front of others. I was just a child—what else could I do?”

Mother (firmly):

— “You were a child, and that’s why everyone believed you. But you abused that trust. The anger you carry isn’t about Rudra—it’s that you never grew out of your childhood jealousy.”

Adjusting her sari’s pallu, she added:

— “You always act as if Rudra made your life miserable. Have you forgotten how many times that poor boy took the blame and punishment for your mistakes?”