Arjun felt broken. But Divya took the phone from her mom. “Amma, avar en thambi illa. Childhood friend. Naan dhaan avar mela love panninen first. But timid-ah irundhen. Ippo avar sonnaru — naan support pannuven.”

“Illa akka… apdi illa. Naan unna romance panna nenaikiren. Not as a sister.”

Silence. The coffee went cold. Divya stood up, pacing. “Arjun, idhu sariyaana love illa. Nee confuse aagirukka.”

They laugh. They fight. They love.

She whispered, “Ipo nee enakku thambi illa… Arjun dhaan.”

“Illa akka. Nee mattum enakku akka nu per vechukko. Manasula nee dhaan first girl.”

For the first time, Divya didn’t correct him when he didn’t call her akka .

Arjun took a deep breath. “Akka… unna naan romba nenaichiten. Daily. Night la sleep varadhu.”

Arjun held her hand. “Oru try kudu akka. Date ku va. Illana naan ivalo dhaan. Un munnadi mattum thozhiya irundhu kaatika maaten.” They went to a small café in Pondy Bazaar. Arjun ordered her favourite — mushroom pasta and blue lemonade . Divya smiled. “Nee ippadi ellam nyabagam vechirukka?”