Chapter 14 When Friendship Turned Into Silence

Not every distance begins with anger; some begin with quiet neglect.

 Kayal, her best friend.

They had shared laughter, food, late-night talks, and the comfort of knowing someone always had your back.

But lately, that bond had started to fade without explanation.

It began with small things —

Kayal went out to buy scrubs and didn’t tell her.

Then came the birthday celebration, a few group outings — all without Janani.

She noticed it, but stayed quiet at first, hoping it was unintentional.

But silence has a way of growing heavier.

One day, when another misunderstanding broke out during their internship, Kayal chose to support someone else — not Janani. That moment hurt more than she could admit.

She smiled on the outside, but her heart whispered, “Why didn’t she stand by me this time?”

That night, Janani couldn’t hold it in any longer. She wrote to Kayal — not with anger, but with honesty.

> “I wanted to talk to you about something that’s been on my mind. I’ve noticed some changes in our friendship, especially after we started our internships.

I felt really hurt when you went to buy scrubs and went out for your birthday and other outings — you didn’t even invite me.

During that fight at IP, you supported the other person, not me… and here in OP, you never tried to see things from my side.

If you were in my place, what would you do?

This all made me feel like you don’t value our friendship the same way I do.

If I’ve done anything wrong, please tell me. I never meant to hurt you. I just miss us.”

When she pressed send, her hands trembled — not out of fear, but from the ache of caring too much.

From a psychological view, Janani was going through relational grief — the pain of being emotionally abandoned without closure. It’s not the loud kind of heartbreak; it’s the quiet realization that someone who once understood your silence no longer listens to it.

Still, Janani chose communication over resentment.

That message wasn’t a plea; it was her way of saying — I still believe in clarity, even when people don’t believe in staying