Just Another Night
Aryan (ML)
Balcony’s cold tonight.
Aryan (ML)
Kinda feels nice though.
inner voice
More honest than anything else in your life right now.
Aryan (ML)
Music’s the only thing that gets it.
Aryan (ML)
No yelling. No lectures. No disappointment.
inner voice
You sure about that? You’ve got dinner in 5.
You know what’s waiting downstairs.
Aryan (ML)
I know.
But just five more minutes of peace.
One last song. One sip of water.
[He sips from the glass in his hand. It’s cool, refreshing, but does nothing for the heaviness in his chest.]
Aryan (ML)
Why does it feel like I’m stuck?
Like the world’s moving forward and I’m just… here.
inner voice
Because you are.
You’re not top of the class.
You’re not anyone’s “star kid.”
You’re not even bad enough to worry about.
Aryan (ML)
Just average.
That word haunts me.
[A notification pops up — “Dinner’s ready.”]
Aryan (ML)
Right. Here we go again.
meera (ML Mother)
Finally!
Do you even hear me when I call you?
Always those earphones in your ears.
What are you listening to anyway? Useless noise?
Aryan (ML)
(It’s music.)
(Silently sits down.)
meera (ML Mother)
And how long do you plan to keep wasting your time like this?
You don’t study enough.
You don’t participate in anything.
Just sit there like a rock. What even is your plan?
Aryan (ML)
(I don’t have a speech ready.)
(I’m just tired.)
(Silent again. Eating slowly.)
meera (ML Mother)
Look at Sharma ji’s son.
Already preparing for IIT.
Always studying, focused.
And look at you. No goals, no discipline.
Aryan (ML)
(You compare me to him every single day.)
(But he’s not me. I’m not him.)
(Still, no use saying it.)
meera (ML Mother)
You used to be so sharp in school.
What happened to you, Aryan?
You’ve become dull. Cold. Like you just don’t care.
Aryan (ML)
(Maybe I learned to stop hoping.)
(Maybe I gave up after the fifth time you called me a failure.)
[He finishes his food. Drinks the last sip of water. Washes his plate. Walks back upstairs.]
Aryan (ML)
Bathroom mirror never lies.
You can fake a smile for the world.
But here?
You see everything.
[He looks at himself. Bags under his eyes. Tired stare. Expressionless.]
Aryan (ML)
I thought I didn’t care anymore.
I thought I got used to it.
Guess not.
inner voice
You held it in again. Like always.
Like you were supposed to.
Aryan (ML)
One tear.
Then another.
Why does it still hurt?
inner voice
Because words stay.
Even when you pretend they don’t.
[He splashes cold water on his face. Holds the edge of the sink tightly.]
Aryan (ML)
Why does it feel like I’m carrying the weight of expectations I never asked for?
Why is everything I do… not enough?
inner voice
Because you were never taught that being "average" could be okay.
Aryan (ML)
They see me as lazy.
I’m not.
I try. Just… not like them. Not like what they want.
inner voice
But no one asks what you want.
No one sees how hard it is to even get out of bed some days.
Aryan (ML)
I smile when they need me to.
I nod when they complain.
I stay silent. Always.
inner voice
Silence doesn’t mean strength.
Sometimes, it means survival.
[He walks to his bed. Pulls the blanket over himself. Music still softly playing.]
Aryan (ML)
It’s 8:30.
Another day survived.
Tomorrow’s just going to be the same.
inner voice
Unless you break the cycle.
Aryan (ML)
I want to.
But I don’t know how.
I’m tired.
inner voice
Then rest.
Not every battle has to be won today.
Aryan (ML)
Will they ever understand?
inner voice
Maybe not.
But one day you will.
You’ll see you were never a failure.
Aryan (ML)
That day feels far away.
inner voice
Yeah. But you're still here.
And that’s something.
[A tear escapes again. Quiet. No sobbing. Just a single drop sliding across the cheek.]
Aryan (ML)
Maybe one day…
I won’t need to cry into my pillow.
Maybe I’ll be enough. For them. For me.
inner voice
You already are.
They just haven’t seen it yet.
inner voice
Goodnight, warrior.
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