He lay on his bed that night, the fan spinning slowly above him, shadows stretching across the ceiling. But sleep didn’t come. Raghav’s words kept circling in his head:
“Tomorrow… big day.”
“A place where we can fix this… together.”
What did he mean?
Was it some job lead?
A training center?
Something else?
The uncertainty gnawed at him.
Meanwhile, in the hall, his mother finished folding clothes. She stopped for a moment, looking toward his closed door with worry etched on her face.
“God… give him some peace,” she whispered before heading to her room.
The night passed slowly.
Morning
He woke up early, surprisingly. His body still ached from yesterday’s long walk, but his mind was sharper today—alert, almost tense.
He walked to the kitchen. His mother was already there, pouring tea.
“Up so soon?” she asked.
He nodded, avoiding her eyes.
“You didn’t sleep properly,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
He smiled weakly. “I’m fine, Amma.”
She didn’t believe it, but she let it go. “Drink this. Raghav is coming, I suppose?”
He froze for a second. “How did you—?”
“He told me last night when he left,” she replied, setting the cup in front of him.
“Said he has some plan for you today. I hope he doesn’t drag you into anything stressful.”
He sipped the tea. His stomach tightened again.
Sudden Knock
Around 9:15 AM, the gate clanged. He looked out the window—Raghav was already there, dressed casually but looking unusually serious.
“Come fast!” Raghav shouted from below.
His mother came to the door. “Where are you taking him?”
“Just somewhere,” Raghav replied quickly. “Don’t worry, Aunty. I’ll bring him back.”
But there was a sharpness in his tone. A hidden urgency.
His mother didn’t like it. Her eyes narrowed a little.
“Be careful,” she told her son quietly.
He nodded.
He stepped out with Raghav, the sling bag hanging loosely on his shoulder again.
Walking with Raghav
They walked towards the main road. Raghav kept a fast pace, almost too fast, and didn’t speak for a few minutes.
Finally, he asked, “Where are we going?”
Raghav glanced at him. “A place where people change their lives. A place that might change yours too.”
He frowned. “What place?”
Raghav took a deep breath.
“A counselling center,” Raghav said finally. “Professional help. I’ve watched you struggle for months… withdrawing… losing confidence. Yesterday you walked home in that heat because you didn’t even ask for help. You keep everything inside. You’re fighting something alone… something dark.”
He stopped walking and looked straight into Raghav’s eyes.
Raghav continued, his voice softer:
“I know you won’t ask for help. So I brought it to you.”
Silence stretched between them.
He felt exposed.
Seen.
Almost embarrassed.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” he asked quietly.
“Because you would’ve refused,” Raghav answered. “Now you can’t.”
He wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. Because… Raghav was right.
The evil within—the thoughts, the fear, the crushing self-doubt—had been eating him slowly. And yesterday, during that long walk under the punishing sun, he had felt it almost break him.
He swallowed hard.
“Is this really necessary?” he whispered.
Raghav placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Necessary? Brother… it’s overdue.”
For the first time in months, he didn’t hide behind excuses. He just nodded.
They continued walking—towards a place he didn’t want to go, but desperately needed.
He didn’t know what waited inside the center.
He didn’t know if it would help.
But for the first time… he wasn’t walking alone
