A Breakup & Patchup Love Story - By Yegeshweriy Arumugam

Written By: Yegeshweriy Arumugam

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the realm of creative storytelling, Yegeshweriy Arumugam, writing as MADESH, presents "A Breakup & Patchup Love Story." This short story is a poignant exploration of love, misunderstandings, and the journey towards reconciliation. As part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, Yegeshweriy invites readers into the lives of Shruthi and Eshwar, weaving a narrative that resonates with themes of familial bonds and personal growth.

About the Work

Yegeshweriy Arumugam's narrative unfolds with a deeply emotional and relatable exploration of youthful romance. The story captures the complexities of relationships, highlighting the impact of misunderstandings and the power of forgiveness. Through vivid imagery and engaging dialogue, the tale delves into the heart of love, portraying its challenges and the profound joy of a renewed connection. The literary style is both heartfelt and introspective, drawing readers into the characters' emotional journeys.

MADESH

Original Submission by Yegeshweriy Arumugam

MADESH

MADESH

~A Breakup & Patchup Love Story~

A Romantic Feel By,

YEGESHWERIY ARUMUGAM SERVAI

@

a-gesh servai

A message popped up in the family WhatsApp group, announcing some wonderful news. Shruthi, one of the family members, had been offered a place to pursue her degree in the medical field at the prestigious Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Kelantan campus. As the group buzzed with congratulatory messages for her, another exciting update followed Eshwar, another family member, shared that he too had received an offer to pursue a degree in Entrepreneurship at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK). The entire family was overjoyed, it was double the celebration! Even though Shruthi and Eshwar received offers from different universities, both institutions were located in Kelantan. This brought a sense of relief and happiness to the family, knowing that the cousins would be in the same state and could look out for each other when needed. The WhatsApp group was soon flooded with warm wishes, words of encouragement, and heartfelt advice for both of them. Since the two cousins were staying in different towns, they coordinated their journey to Kelantan together via the group, planning to travel as a pair on registration day. On registration day, both families arrived in Kelantan together, just as they had planned earlier in the WhatsApp group. Shruthi and Eshwar successfully completed their registration formalities and officially enrolled in their respective universities. Each of them was allocated a hostel by their institution. Fortunately, both universities are located just a few minutes apart, making it easier for the cousins to visit and check in on each other regularly. After helping them settle into their new surroundings, the families bid farewell with heavy hearts. Although parting was emotional, there was comfort in knowing that Shruthi and Eshwar would have each other’s support in this new journey. Some teary-eyed goodbyes took place, marking a touching moment for everyone involved. The bond between the two cousins has always been strong since childhood, so the idea of looking out for one another came naturally. It was a reassuring thought for the entire family. This marked the beginning of a new and significant chapter in their lives. Both cousins were filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness as they stepped into this next phase, ready to embrace the challenges and experiences that awaited them.

As days passed, both Shruthi and Eshwar slowly adapted to their new environment and bonded with their respective roommates. Despite settling into different universities and hostels, they stayed in touch through regular phone calls. Shruthi’s hostel room could only accommodate two people, but that didn’t stop her from making more friends on the same floor. She formed a lively group with Diya, Yamuna, Mona, Yahsotha, Sathya, and her roommate Madhushree, whom she grew particularly close to. The two roommates shared nearly everything with each other, and their bond deepened quickly. Madhu often mentioned that Shruthi looked familiar from the moment they met, and Shruthi admitted to feeling the same. It’s possible they crossed paths in Madhu’s hometown, Penang, where Shruthi often spent holidays at her grandmother’s house. Though the girls came from different departments and attended different classes, they made it a point to gather almost every night. Their first night together turned into a fun ice-breaking session where everyone introduced themselves and shared stories about their families. Shruthi talked fondly about her cousins and how her family, despite living in different towns, remained very close. She also mentioned how open-minded and social her entire family was, which intrigued the rest of the group. Some light-hearted teasing began when a few girls shared that they had elder brothers. For instance, Yamuna, who has two older brothers, suddenly found herself being playfully called "ANNI" by Diya and Yahsotha. The fun escalated when the girls jokingly asked Shruthi for Eshwar’s contact number after she mentioned him, though it was all in good humor and nothing serious.

As the conversation continued, the topic of relationships came up, and most of the girls shared that they were committed, including Shruthi. Only three girls were single Yamuna, who was waiting for a reply from her crush, Madhu, who had recently gone through a breakup and wasn’t ready for a new relationship, and Yahso, who was single since birth. Shruthi opened up about her boyfriend, Gautham, who is currently pursuing his medical degree abroad. Their love story began in childhood, they’d studied together from kindergarten through high school. Eventually, their friendship blossomed into a relationship. Since they knew each other’s backgrounds well, they rarely had misunderstandings. However, like many boyfriends, Gautham could be a little possessive, especially when it came to Shruthi spending time with Eshwar. Though she assured him their bond was purely familial, Gautham still advised her to keep some distance, given that both were now in the same state. Perhaps as a result, or simply due to growing up, Shruthi and Eshwar were no longer as close as they once were and had naturally begun maintaining a respectful distance. When it was Madhu’s turn to speak about her love life, emotions ran high. She didn't mention her ex’s name but revealed he had cheated on her. Despite everything, she admitted she still loved him deeply and wished the breakup was just a bad dream so they could reunite. Her heartbreak was palpable, and the group gently shifted to a different topic to avoid upsetting her further. From then on, the seven girls bonded deeply and became inseparable. Almost every night turned into a fun-filled gathering. They’d shop online on Lazada, binge-watch movies, gossip, follow makeup tutorials and try out new looks on each other. They never missed out on trending challenges whether it was dubsmash, the ice bucket challenge, mannequin challenge, laughter challenge, or anything viral at the moment. Sometimes, they danced their hearts out in the rooms, told horror stories that left them too scared to sleep alone, leading all seven to squeeze into one room despite the heat. Group study sessions were a common sight for shared subjects, though the only thing they truly missed was cooking. Hostel rules prohibited it, so they survived on instant food but that didn’t stop them from watching cooking videos and exchanging recipes. And of course, no activity was complete without a selfie. They documented every silly moment and flooded their WhatsApp group with pictures and videos, turning even the simplest memories into endless laughter. Ironically, while they rarely went out, the fun they had in their rooms and corridors was more than enough to make their university life unforgettable.

Yugeshwar, or more familiarly known as Eshwar among his cousins, managed to bond quickly with his new roommates. Their room, which houses five students, was enough to form a tight-knit group. They often moved around the university together, attending mostly the same classes with only a few differences in their course schedules. His roommates Sharan, Kaushik, Darshan, and Tavaseelan each brought a unique personality to the group. Sharan, a year older than Yugesh, was like an elder brother to him. They shared similar physical features, which often confused their batchmates. Their relationship was so close that Sharan would fondly call Yugesh "Thambikara" (little brother), while Yugesh responded with "Dey Anna" (hey elder brother). Sharan was a known flirt, charming nearly every girl he met. Since Yugesh was attached to him, he sometimes joined in on Sharan's escapades or helped him impress girls. Kaushik, the studious and soft-spoken one, often kept to himself, glued to his phone while video-calling his girlfriend from his hometown. Despite his reserved nature, Kaushik was very much part of the group and earned the title of "room chef" for making the best instant food and drinks. The heart of the fun, however, came from the mischievous duo Darshan and Tavaseelan. Darshan, always on the lookout for a girlfriend, often ended up rejected. Tava, the humor king of the room, would turn every situation into a joke. His comedic timing and sarcasm were unmatched. While Darshan sought Sharan's advice on wooing girls, Tava convinced him that staying single meant unlimited fun and the two became the room’s “partners in crime.” A few months into university life, Yugesh brought his car from home, which gave the boys more freedom to roam around during their free time. They often went live on social media during their drives, singing and trolling each other. One iconic moment was when they sang “Thaiya Thaiya” live after a hilarious banter session. Tava, a terrible singer, was introduced to the SMULE karaoke app by Darshan. He enthusiastically tortured the others daily with his singing so much so that the rest of the gang eventually got hooked on the app too. They even tried a group performance of “Minsara Kanna” from the movie Padayappa. While the beginning of the song was surprisingly pleasant, the ending turned into a disaster thanks to their lack of knowledge in Carnatic music. Still, they laughed it off, it was all in good fun, and it created unforgettable memories. In true hostel-boy fashion, their adventures didn’t stop there. Once, they even got into a minor gang fight with another group that had messed with them. On another occasion, they jumped over the hostel fence after midnight just to go out, since the main gate would be locked at 12 a.m.

It was a typical carefree Saturday when Yugesh and his gang decided to hang out at Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB) Beach. The boys were having their usual round of banter and laughter when Sharan suddenly spotted a group of beautiful ladies nearby. Excited, he nudged the others and pointed them out. As expected, the boys turned their attention toward the group, admiring from afar. But something was different this time. While the rest of the gang was clearly amused and thrilled, a sudden shift of emotion appeared on Yugesh’s face. Quietly, he removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes that were brimming with tears. Before the others could fully grasp what was happening, Yugesh had already started walking away, his coolers accidentally slipping from his hand and left forgotten on the sand. The group noticed his strange behavior and quickly ran after him as he made his way to the car with uncharacteristic urgency. Without saying a word, Yugesh got into the car and drove off from PCB Beach, leaving a stunned silence hanging in the air. Inside the car, the usual chatter was replaced by stillness. The boys exchanged concerned glances, not daring to break the heavy silence except for Sharan. As the elder brother figure and the only one brave enough, he gently asked, “Dei… Ennachu, da?” After a long pause, Yugesh finally opened up. With a trembling voice and eyes staring blankly ahead, he confessed, “One of the girls in that group… she was my ex-girlfriend. I didn’t expect to see her again. The moment I saw her, all our memories came rushing back, the good ones, the painful ones... everything.” The car fell silent again, this time in understanding. Trying to lighten the mood, Tava did what he did best, he broke into one of his notoriously bad singing performances, intentionally butchering a romantic song to make everyone laugh. As always, his partner-in-crime Darshan joined in, adding exaggerated dance moves to the mix. Their antics slowly brought smiles back to the group, even if just for a moment. Yugesh chuckled faintly, but the weight of the past still lingered in his eyes. Though he tried to appear normal, the memories had clearly left a deep mark on him that day.

Later that evening, as Yugesh sat quietly lost in thought his mind replaying memories of his ex-girlfriend, his phone rang. It was his cousin, Shruthi. "Machan, I’m nearby your campus. Let’s have dinner? Secret Recipe. 8 sharp." Glad for the distraction, Yugesh agreed. Secret Recipe, located just opposite his campus, was a familiar place. He arrived on time but found no sign of Shruthi. He took a seat and called her. “Just a few more minutes,” she said. As he waited, something unusual happened. The soft restaurant background music transitioned into a mashup “Kandukondain Kandukondain / I Am Sorry - Vidya Vox Mashup.” Yugesh's ears perked up, his face lighting up slightly. “A Tamil song… here, in Kelantan?” He looked around, surprised, and turned toward the waitress. She smiled warmly and said, “We are 1 Malaysia.” Moments later, a slice of his all-time favourite Chocolate Indulgence Cake was served alongside a cup of coffee. “Your friend ordered this for you,” the waitress informed him politely. As he began enjoying the treat, a waitress approached with a large mystery gift box and handed it to him. Confused, he opened it a bunch of balloons rose up with the word “SORRY” written across them. Yugesh was stunned. He turned toward the counter where the group of waitresses stood. Just then, as the mashup reached the chorus “Kandukondain Kandukondain,” they began a countdown and pointed to the far side of the restaurant. There she was. Madhu. His ex-girlfriend, the girl who had haunted his thoughts all day stood in front of him, mimicking the song’s emotions. Yugesh stood up in disbelief. Madhu slowly walked toward him, shuffling a series of handwritten cue cards with phrases like: “I’m Sorry”“Will You Forgive Me?”“I Realized My Mistake”“Can We Let MADESH Live Again?” The final card echoed the song’s lyrics “En kann parthathethu, en kai seruma?” Madhu reached for his hands with teary eyes. But filled with unresolved pain, Yugesh harshly pulled away and stormed toward the exit just as the lyrics shifted to “Kai seramaley, kanneer serumoo” poetically syncing with the scene. Before he could leave, Shruthi stopped him at the door. “Just one minute,” she pleaded. “Don’t say anything… just look at her.” Reluctantly, Yugesh turned. And for a moment… he was frozen. Madhu’s eyes locked with his. That familiar warmth. That unspoken pain. That lingering love. Unconsciously, a soft smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Madhu saw it. And she knew. With a fragile smile, she softly sang “Kandukondain… Kandukondain…” declaring that she too had realized it. That love still lived between them. Yugesh quickly masked his emotions, turning cold. “Don’t interfere, Shuru,” he snapped. “You don’t know the full story.” Shuru protested, “She’s not wrong, da. Every girl gets possessive when they love someone.” But Yugesh was still bitter. “She gossiped about us. About you and me. She didn’t trust me!” The argument escalated. Madhu stepped in quietly and asked, “Can I just have a few minutes to explain?” Yugesh shook his head. “Just listen. That’s all I ask.” Still, he refused. Madhu took a deep breath, stepped closer, and gently placed her head on his chest. He froze. In a trembling voice, she whispered, “Konjum aaluvuven… poruthukko.” As she explained her side of the story, Madhu noticed something, Yugesh was still wearing the chain with the locket “MADESH.” The name that blended Madhu and Yugesh. The symbol of their love. Tears filled her eyes. She had made her case. With one final glance, she turned around and walked away. Shruthi followed her, glancing back at Yugesh, who stood there in stunned silence. Before leaving, one of the waitresses handed Yugesh the gift box once more. This time, he didn’t resist. He accepted it… quietly. He had no words left. Just the echoes of the song… and the memories of MADESH.

On the other hand, Madhu was trying to reach someone over the phone while Yugesh came out with the gift box in his hands. He asked Shuru how they were going to get back to their hostel, and Shuru replied that they had arranged for the PREBET service from their senior earlier but were still trying to get in touch with them. Without thinking much, Yugesh offered to drop them back at their hostel since he was totally free, and the girls accepted. Later, they went to Yugesh’s car. He placed the gift box in the back seat while Shuru settled in the front seat and Madhu sat in the back seat behind the driver. The car started moving once everyone was settled. Shuru and Yugesh engaged in some fun chit-chat, while Madhu remained silent, watching Yugesh’s movements through the rearview mirror. By the way, Shuru also described how they had planned for dinner. At PCB beach, not only did Yugesh see Madhu, but Madhu also saw him and informed Shuru, who was shopping at the stall, that Yugesh had run away when he saw her. Madhu, unaware that Yugesh was Shuru’s cousin Eshwar, pointed to his car and told Shuru that her ex had run away because he couldn’t face her. However, Shuru, recognizing Yugesh’s car, mentioned that it was her cousin Eshwar’s car. She then asked Madhu for her ex's name to verify which friend of Eshwar was Madhu's ex. Unexpectedly, both Yugesh and Eshwar turned out to be the same person, which led Madhu to ask Shuru if there was any other cousin of Yugesh who was close to him. Shuru clarified that only she was close to him. Madhu, realizing the misunderstanding, exhaled deeply and said, “SO SHRUTHI, YOU WERE THE PROBLEM BETWEEN US.” This was why both of them had felt that they looked familiar to one another. Shruthi then realized that it was a misunderstanding about the bond between Shuru and Yugesh, which Madhu also admitted. They decided to settle things by going on a date because Madhu had realized her mistake after hearing the true story from Shuru. Moreover, Shuru also mentioned how they had become so close and how they often discussed Yugesh.

A few minutes later, Yugesh noticed that Madhu was still watching him through the rearview mirror, and he began to control his excitement while talking to Shuru. He kept glancing at the rearview mirror to see if Madhu was still watching. Madhu, however, never stopped watching him with a smile. She was admiring every movement of Yugesh after such a long time, as he was trying to avoid her. They reached their campus in a few minutes since it wasn’t far from Yugesh’s campus. The two of them got out of the car, and Yugesh lowered the mirror on his opposite seat. Shuru waved at him and said, “BYE, ESWAR,” while Madhu walked away silently. Yugesh, curious as to why Madhu hadn’t waved at him, eagerly watched her. Suddenly, Madhu turned around while walking and said to Yugesh, “NAAN PANNETHU TAPPU NU ENNEKU TERIYUM! NEE ENNA EVELO LOVE PANNENU ENNAKU TERIYUM! NAAN INNUMO UNNATHA LOVE PANDRENUM UNNAKU TERIYUM! SO YOSICHU PAARU!!!” in the Alai Payuthey Madhavan tone and ran away joyfully, which made Yugesh smile uncontrollably. Yugesh couldn’t stop thinking about Madhu while driving how she had apologized, how she explained herself, and how she hugged him earlier, smiling the whole time. Madhu, too, had the same feelings. Meanwhile, Yugesh walked back to his hostel room, still carrying the gift box with a smile of excitement and embarrassment. The other guys were surprised and kept questioning Yugesh about whether his cousin Shuru had proposed to him. They were shocked when Yugesh revealed the truth that Madhu was Shuru’s roommate, and she had realized her mistake after listening to Shuru. Sharan questioned him about his decision. At this point, Yugesh became speechless for a few minutes and said that he was puzzled whether to accept her back or not because of the past. To help him find a solution, Kaushik asked him to reveal his flashback, supported by Darshan. On the other hand, Tava was inspecting the huge mystery gift box and asking Darshan how to make it by hand, which irritated Darshan. Their conversation made the others laugh. After everything settled down, Yugesh began to reveal his past relationship with Madhu from his Form Six days.

Actually, Yugesh, Lugain, and Shridar were best friends since secondary school. The three of them got the opportunity to pursue their Form Six (pre-university) studies together in the Business Department. One day, while they were discussing the upcoming registration day, Shridar mentioned that his primary school friend would also be joining the same school but in the Science Department. Over time, both Yugesh and Lugain started getting irritated as Shridar kept bringing up the same girl in almost every conversation. Finally, Yugesh jokingly warned Shridar that he would get beaten up if the girl he kept praising turned out to be unimpressive, Lugain supported this playful threat with a laugh. On the first day of Form Six, all three boys felt a mix of nervousness and excitement as they stepped into this new phase of life. The school’s main hall was packed with students enrolling for both the Science and Business streams. The space was divided into two sections, and students were seated separately based on their departments. Several registration counters were open for each stream, and students were called row by row. When it was Yugesh’s turn to register, he walked up to the counter. A teacher handed him a stack of forms, and he started filling them out. Suddenly, he felt his concentration break. A light breeze brushed against him almost like nature was giving a signal. He instinctively looked up and saw a stunning girl walking toward the Science Department’s registration counter, gracefully making her way through the crowd. Unconsciously, a soft smile appeared on Yugesh’s lips. He was completely captivated by her elegance in her school uniform. It was as if time had slowed down. He only snapped back to reality when the teacher asked whether he had finished filling out the forms. Yugesh, usually known for his flirtatious nature, felt something very different this time. He didn’t want to flirt or joke, something about her made him want to be genuine. After completing the registration, he walked away feeling unusually heavy-hearted. This girl had left a strange, powerful impression on him. Meanwhile, Lugain and Shridar had already completed their registration and were waiting for Yugesh. Seeing him distracted and repeatedly looking back into the crowd, they stopped him and asked what was going on. After a moment, Yugesh shared what he had just experienced. Unfortunately, the girl had already disappeared into the crowd, and despite Yugesh's efforts to spot her again, she was nowhere to be found. Sensing his disappointment, Lugain comforted him and said, “If it’s meant to be, you’ll meet her again soon. After all, you’re going to be studying in the same school.” Shridar, as usual, interrupted the moment by bringing up his primary school friend again, much to the annoyance of the other two.

The school conducted daily assemblies to keep students informed about the latest updates. The very next day, after the morning assembly, the junior sixth formers were asked to gather at the main hall for orientation. Shridar insisted that his friends accompany him to the entrance of the hall so he could meet his primary school friend. What came as a pleasant surprise to Yugesh was that Shridar’s friend turned out to be the very girl he had admired the day before. Yugesh stood frozen, stunned by her beauty as Shridar chatted casually with her and her group of friends. After a few minutes of friendly conversation, the girls made their way into the hall. That’s when Yugesh, still dazed, asked in disbelief, “Yaaruda indha thevathei?” To which Shridar innocently replied, “Ithuthanda en friend, Madhushree Jeeva.” Lugain, picking up on Yugesh’s tone, asked, “Is she the girl you were talking about yesterday?” Yugesh nodded with a bright smile, confirming it. Shridar was confused for a few seconds before Lugain filled him in. With a smirk, Lugain added, “Didn’t expect someone as pretty as her to be your friend, Shri.” On the other hand, Madhushree (Madhu) was equally taken aback the moment she saw Yugesh. But instead of showing it, she tried to stay composed, whispering to her friend Malini, “Paiyan semma handsome-ah irukan… but parka konjam thimiru pudicha mathiri irukan le?” Malini giggled and replied, “Biasalah.” Later on, Yugesh asked Shridar to formally introduce him to Madhu. At the same time, Lugain cheekily requested an intro to Madhu’s friends too. With no better option and a bit of surrender, Shridar agreed. During recess, the boys scanned the canteen curiously, looking for the girls. They spotted Madhu, Malini, and a few others enjoying their meal near the edge of the canteen. Malini noticed the boys heading their way and quickly nudged Madhu, who instantly grew nervous. “Yen teriyale... but konjam nervous-ah iruku andha paiyane parthaley,” Madhu admitted softly when Malini asked what was wrong. As the boys approached, the girls tried to appear calm. Shridar broke the ice with a loud and playful, “Oik! Enna savadikiranunge, unge intro kettu!” But he was cut off by Yugesh, who stepped forward and introduced himself directly to Madhu, “Hi, I’m Eshwar… Yugeshwar. You can call me Yugesh.” He extended his hand, but to his surprise, Madhu greeted him with a graceful, “Vanakkam.” Taken aback but impressed, Yugesh chuckled and replied, “Beautiful Tamil culture! Okay, Vanakkam. From today onwards, I’m going to greet you with Vanakkam only.” Madhu smiled shyly and responded, “I’m Madhushree Jeeva. This is my friend, Malini.” The warm introduction continued with Lugain and Madhu’s other friends, including a cheerful girl named Sangeetha. From there, the sparks had clearly started to fly, though no one dared to admit it just yet.

As orientation week went on, the bond between the group grew stronger. The more time they spent together, the closer they became. Yugesh and Madhu, in particular, found themselves constantly drawn to each other. Madhu was increasingly charmed by Yugesh’s playful and mischievous behavior. She began to notice the little things about him like his smile, his expressions, his teasing remarks and admired him quietly from a distance. Unbeknownst to her, Yugesh was doing the same, often getting lost in her smile and elegance. Throughout orientation, they kept subtly checking on each other, exchanging glances that spoke louder than words. One of the highlights of the week was the interaction session between Tamil seniors and juniors, a fun and energetic ice-breaking moment filled with laughter and talent. When it came time for the juniors to showcase their abilities, Yugesh’s name was the first to be called, thanks to the loud cheers from the crowd. With confidence and charm, he stepped onto the stage and sang his favorite number: “Ennavale adi ennavaley...”. His voice, emotional and soulful, left the entire hall mesmerized especially Madhu. The way he sang, his eyes subtly locking with hers during certain lines, made her heart flutter. It felt like the lyrics were meant just for her. Though he never said it out loud, the message was clear that he had lost his heart to someone, and she knew exactly who that someone was. Later, when it was Madhu’s turn to present, she shared a self-written love poem. Her words were beautiful, sincere, and delicately layered with meaning. While she didn’t mention names, anyone paying close attention could feel the quiet confession hidden between her lines and Yugesh did. Meanwhile, the seniors decided to have a little fun by ragging the boys. In true “Nanban” movie version, they made them say, “Thalaiva, you are great!” Though it started as playful humiliation, it became an inside joke that bonded them. Even after orientation ended, the boys would greet the seniors with that same line, bringing laughter every time. Their cheerfulness and boldness impressed many including Madhu. Eventually, orientation came to an end, and regular classes began. For Yugesh and Madhu, it was bittersweet. Though they wouldn’t get to spend as much time together, they found little ways to stay connected through glances during the morning assembly, chats during recess, and casual hangouts at their "port" beside the canteen. Yugesh made it a point to greet Madhu with a warm “Vanakkam” every time he saw her even online. She loved that about him. Whether in person or on Facebook, his playful Tamil greetings never failed to make her smile. As the days passed, their connection deepened. What started as admiration slowly turned into a sweet infatuation, although neither of them dared to label it yet. In their Business Studies class, the boys were tasked with running a small in-class business. Their team decided to sell sweets and candies. Madhu, ever clever, saw this as the perfect excuse to visit Yugesh’s class located a floor above hers. She volunteered to help her classmates buy sweets, always bringing Malini along for cover. The first time she visited, she found Yugesh sleeping on his chair, hugging his bag like a child, while his friends chatted away. The next day, it was the same scene Yugesh asleep again, this time face-down on his desk. Madhu and Malini couldn’t help but giggle, teasing his friends about his routine. When Yugesh finally stirred and lazily waved at them before turning back to sleep, everyone burst into laughter. That small, sleepy wave became one of the cutest memories etched in Madhu’s heart.

A few months later, it was just like any other morning when Madhu arrived at their usual gathering spot near the canteen. Everyone from the group was there, chatting cheerfully except Yugesh. Curious, Madhu asked about his absence, and Lugain informed her that Yugesh was on medical leave due to high fever. As the bell rang, they all rushed to the assembly. During the assembly, Madhu couldn’t help but feel a strange emptiness. She missed Yugesh’s quirky expressions, mischievous grins, and the way he always managed to lighten the mood with his jokes and Tamil movie references. Recess felt dull and lifeless without him. Usually, he was the one who turned even the most boring conversations into entertaining ones. She also found herself losing interest in the usual routine. She even refused to go buy sweets and candies for her class, something she had looked forward to since Yugesh wouldn’t be there in his classroom. After school, she lingered near the bike parking lot, unconsciously waiting for a glimpse of him, but he wasn’t there. Two more days passed, and Yugesh was still absent. Madhu found it increasingly difficult to attend school without him. She constantly asked Shri or Lugain for updates about his condition and checked his Facebook profile daily, hoping he’d be online. But he hadn’t been active at all, which worried her even more. Unable to wait any longer, Madhu finally asked Shri for Yugesh’s phone number. Initially, she intended to just send him a message but her concern overwhelmed her, and she ended up calling him instead. When Yugesh answered, she was momentarily speechless. Without introducing herself, she nervously asked about his health. But to her surprise, Yugesh immediately responded with warmth “Hey Madhu, nothing to worry. I’m alright, chumma fever than.” Madhu was shocked. She asked how he knew it was her. Laughing softly, Yugesh replied “I recognized your voice lah. After all, we’ve been hanging out almost every day.” Their conversation continued comfortably, and Madhu, without hesitation, confessed how much she missed his presence at school and wished for his quick recovery. Yugesh was touched. However, he mentioned that his medical leave was extended until the weekend, which disappointed her. The next morning, to her absolute surprise and joy, Yugesh showed up at the school assembly. Overwhelmed, Madhu immediately asked, “Aik! Sir, sikirama school vanthutingge? You said your medical leave was until the weekend! How come you're here today?” With a smirk, Yugesh replied: “Hmm, yeah… medical leave weekend varaikum tha. But someone seemed to be missing me a lot... Athan sikkiram vanthuthen avungele parkelam nu. Can’t leave her hanging, right? Yen pudikeleya?”. Those unexpected yet sweet words left Madhu stunned and her heart full. It was the moment she realized she was truly falling for him. She later confided in Malini about her feelings. Malini, always the bold one, encouraged her to confess if her feelings were genuine. But for Madhu, it wasn’t that easy. She hesitated, conflicted between her growing love and the fear of rejection. As a girl, she felt embarrassed to make the first move and was afraid of how the boys might perceive her if she confessed her feelings openly.

It was just like any other day. Yugesh, Shri, and Lugain were chit-chatting in their class as all the teachers had gone for an emergency meeting. Madhu and Malini came over to Yugesh’s class to buy sweets, as they usually did. They then joined the boys for some light-hearted banter, it was rare to see Yugesh awake when there was no teacher in class. While chatting, Madhu casually revealed that she had fallen for one of their classmates, while subtly glancing at a group of Tamil boys in the corner. Yugesh began guessing who the lucky guy could be, while Shri, observing Madhu’s expressions and mannerisms, got a strong hunch. He took her outside the class to confirm his suspicion, while Lugain playfully grilled Malini about the mystery boy. After some cross-questioning, Madhu finally admitted to Shri that the boy she liked was none other than Yugesh himself. The bell rang, and she returned to her class. When Shri came back, Yugesh bombarded him with questions about the guy Madhu liked. Shri began giving subtle hints until Yugesh finally realized he was the one Madhu had fallen for. Shocked, he remained silent for a few minutes. The boys then had a deeper conversation, where Yugesh confessed he had feelings for Madhu too ever since the first time he saw her. Lugain advised him to seriously consider the proposal, reminding him that girls rarely make the first move. Later that evening, Yugesh messaged Madhu on Facebook, asking her what made her fall for this guy, considering they had only known each other for a few months. Without directly naming him, he wanted to hear her answer. Before responding, Madhu asked if Shri had told him who the guy was. When Yugesh said yes, she opened up, saying she admired his naughtiness, childishness, and at times, his manly demeanor. She felt safe, secure, and happy around him and of course, found him stunningly attractive. The conversation carried on casually after that. The next morning, Yugesh was alone at their hangout spot, doing some unfinished homework while Lugain and Shri had gone to the canteen for breakfast. Out of nowhere, Madhu whispered, “I LOVE YOU,” to Yugesh and ran away smiling. He was left shocked and speechless. Later, he discussed the proposal with Lugain and Shri, who both urged him to handle the situation wisely and not hurt her feelings. Shri even vouched for Madhu, saying she had never been in love before, despite receiving many proposals making Yugesh feel like the luckiest guy. After that, Yugesh couldn’t stop thinking about her. Later in the day, as Yugesh was walking down the stairs and Madhu was coming up, they crossed paths. He stopped her and asked, half-jokingly, “So, avelotha? You just propose and run away? En answer kekevenama?” Madhu suddenly looked anxious, worried she had made a mistake. But then Yugesh smiled and softly said, “I LOVE YOU TOO,” before walking away. Tears welled up in Madhu’s eyes, tears of pure joy. During recess, Yugesh took out his wallet to give Shri and Lugain money to buy food. Suddenly, Madhu playfully bumped his shoulder with hers and walked away smiling. Yugesh looked at her, confused for a second, then grinned, handed his wallet to his friends, and ran after her. The two walked together around the school compound, lost in their world. Meanwhile, Malini joined Shri and Lugain at their usual spot. Shri teased her, saying, “Ungeleyum kalethi vithuthanungela? Love panne start pannithale friend-eh kalathi vidrethey ithungeleku polapa poche poonge.” Lugain added, “Vaange, join the club.” To which Malini replied with a smirk, “Vere vazhi.”

Since then, they began living as lovers. All their conversations and chats turned more romantic than ever before. They would spend most of their time together during school recess or at home through calls and messages. Like any other lovebirds, they even had pet names for each other. Their conversations were usually filled with Yugesh’s constant blabbering full of funny actions and dramatic expressions which Madhu always admired while listening fondly. Both of them never missed a day of school, simply because they wanted to see each other. Weekends felt like a burden to them as they longed to meet. One day, Madhu wrote a heartfelt poem that reflected their relationship “NAAN AAGA NEE, NEEYA AAGA NAAN, INI NAAM AAGA MADESH.” (“Let me become you, and you become me; henceforth, we shall be one—MADESH.”) “MADESH” was a beautiful combination of both their names. From then on, it became the symbol of their love. They even began engraving the name on every gift or accessory they exchanged. To add more spark to their relationship, Madhu would often write and dedicate love poems to Yugesh. Meanwhile, Yugesh an incredible singer would sing their favorite 90s songs just for her. They went a step further and composed a special theme song that told the story of "MADESH." Madhu wrote the lyrics, and Yugesh composed the tune. Sometimes, Yugesh would take Madhu for short bike rides, and occasionally, she’d let him drive her car. They were madly in love. In fact, almost the entire school knew about their relationship. One day, the science department organized a medical campaign at the school hall as part of an assignment. Since juniors were in charge, Madhu and Malini were busily managing their booth. The campaign included health seminars, exhibitions, and more. Every class took turns to visit, including juniors, seniors, and even outsiders. Although Madhu was swamped with work, she instantly noticed Yugesh in the crowd. Excited, she pulled him to her booth and teasingly asked how much he loved her and whether he’d do anything for her. Yugesh, ever innocent, replied sweetly that he would do anything. Seizing the moment, Madhu challenged him to donate blood for her. Yugesh, terrified of needles, protested, “Baby, I’ll do anything for you but not this, please!” Still, Madhu convinced him by explaining the benefits and lovingly pressured him until he finally agreed and donated just for her. Meanwhile, Lugain whispered to Shri, “Ithukutha medical field-la irukira girls-kude sagavasam venam-nu solrathu. Ellam unnale vandhathu, pakki!” Shri replied, “Sagavasam vechikalam, thappu ille… love thaan panna koodathu. Seethanda Yugesh! Vaa, namma apdiye escape ayirulam.” As they tried to sneak away, Malini caught them red-handed and forced them to donate too, alongside Yugesh. While Yugesh was donating, Madhu smiled at him romantically and said, “Dey! I love you da!” Yugesh, in classic style, gave an epic reply: “Hey loose! Pesama poiru. Illena en girl-nu kude parkka matten. Ethachum solliruven, sollithen!” His sarcastic tone made both Madhu and Malini burst out laughing. Afterward, Yugesh looked at Lugain and Shri and thanked them “Nanbenda!” Lugain, annoyed, retorted, “Serupuda!” And Shri added, “Un kadhalukku naange thaan baaliya?” The moment ended with laughter, friendship, and, of course, love.

Madhu had been eagerly waiting for Valentine’s Day, it was her first one with Yugesh. From the 1st of February itself, she kept bringing it up excitedly. She had even bought her very first Valentine’s gift, a branded shirt for Yugesh. But to her dismay, Yugesh didn’t seem nearly as excited. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, the boy who used to talk to her for hours ended their call before 10 p.m., saying he was tired and needed rest. Throughout the week, he had been ignoring her, blaming his presentations for the silence. Madhu was upset but still called him sharp at midnight to wish him. He didn’t answer. She sent a long, heartfelt message but woke up the next morning to no reply. Still hopeful, Madhu went to school looking forward to meeting Yugesh and giving him her gift. At their usual meeting spot, only Lugain, Sri, and Malini were around. They said Yugesh would arrive soon. When he did, at 7:15 a.m., Madhu immediately handed him the gift she had carefully chosen. But Yugesh didn’t even say thank you. As the assembly bell rang, he quickly urged everyone to head in, leaving Madhu disappointed and hurt. After assembly, the boys seemed to disappear. Furious, Madhu vented to Malini during class. She grew even angrier when Yugesh didn’t come to the canteen during recess their usual time together. Her mood was completely ruined. Seeing Madhu’s sadness, Malini invited her for dinner to help lift her spirits. Madhu agreed, hoping to distract herself. At the restaurant in a nearby mall, as they were browsing the menu, the waiter approached and to Madhu’s shock, it was Yugesh, wearing the shirt she had gifted him. From the side, Lugain and Shri were giggling. Malini then revealed that the entire week had been part of Yugesh’s elaborate plan to surprise her with a special Valentine’s dinner. The plan was hatched a week ago with help from the boys and even Malini. The week-long silence and strange behavior had all been staged. Tears welled up in Madhu’s eyes. She felt guilty for doubting him. As Yugesh explained everything with a soft smile, Madhu hugged him, their very first hug while their friends cheered in delight. Yugesh teased, saying the only way she’d hug him like this was if he pulled off such a plan. Embarrassed, she gently pushed him away, wiping her tears. He then handed her a bouquet of roses and chocolates, but Madhu, pretending to still be mad, walked away with playful expressions. Yugesh, now in full romantic mode, walked backward, teasing her by pulling the bouquet away each time she got closer. After a sweet game of give-and-take, he finally handed it to her with a warm hug on her shoulder. Both looked into each other’s eyes and said those magical words: “I LOVE YOU.” Their friends cheered once more, capturing the magical moment. After dinner, the group wandered around the mall. Madhu, distracted, slipped on the escalator, but just like in a movie, Yugesh caught her in time. The boys howled, “DEY! MACHA, PUBLIC! PUBLIC! ROMANCE LAM VENAM!” Laughing, Madhu and Yugesh continued walking hand-in-hand a day that began with confusion but ended in love.

As the ancient proverb goes, “Love changes people,” and Yugesh was the perfect example of that. The once-notorious flirt transformed into a deeply committed and sincere boyfriend ever since he got into a relationship with Madhu. Even after new junior girls enrolled in Lower Six something that would have previously caught Yugesh’s playful attention, he didn’t seem to notice or care. This change genuinely surprised his closest friends, Shri and Lugain, who had known Yugesh for years and were well-aware of his old habits. To satisfy their curiosity, they even tried teasing and instigating him about the presence of junior girls, but Yugesh didn’t take the bait. His eyes, words, and actions remained loyal to Madhu, which impressed the boys immensely. They were proud to see their friend grow into someone more mature and genuine. Shri eventually shared this with Madhu, expressing how proud he was and thanking her for bringing such a positive change in Yugesh. He told her that not only was Yugesh serious about her, but that she was lucky to have someone who truly cherished her. Madhu was touched by Shri’s heartfelt words. It made her feel even more fortunate to be with Yugesh, someone who had changed so much just for her. From that moment on, Madhu became even more loving and supportive, and the bond between them grew stronger. They continued their journey not just as a couple, but as two people truly in love, cherishing every moment together more than ever before.

Like any other day, Yugesh and Madhu spent their break time walking around the school compound while the rest of their friends were at the canteen. Suddenly, with a mischievous grin, Yugesh teased, “Inniku rombe azhaga iruke, Madhu...oh maybe Malini kuda illathe naaley-o?” Madhu immediately turned into an angry bird, glaring at him for the sarcastic remark. But as always, Yugesh had his own romantic way of calming her down. A few sweet words, a cheeky smile, and gentle persuasion were all it took to melt her anger. In no time, the angry bird became a love bird again. Yugesh then explained the reason behind his teasing. He was trying to open up about Lugain’s feelings for Malini, feelings that had started from day one of orientation. To his surprise, Madhu revealed that Malini had once confessed to having a crush on one of Yugesh’s friends, although she had never disclosed who it was. Curious and excited, they both agreed that it was time Lugain took a step forward. But Lugain, being his usual hesitant self, was nervous about any confrontation. So he decided to only approach Malini when the whole gang was present, just to feel safe. The very next day during break, after being hyped up by his friends (especially Shri), Lugain nervously began the conversation with Malini, stammering through his words. But what happened next shocked everyone especially Shri. Malini shyly admitted that she did have feelings... but not for Lugain. It was Shri she had admired all along. For a few seconds, silence hit the group like a wave. Shri quickly made his stance clear, he respected Malini and valued her as a friend, just like Madhu, but he didn’t share those feelings. A moment of awkward tension filled the air, and confusion stirred among the group. Seeing this, Lugain came forward honestly. He admitted it was merely a crush, a passing feeling based on first impressions. He had hoped it might grow into something real, but only if Malini felt the same. Since she didn’t, he was okay with letting go and promised to remain a good friend. Malini too confessed that her admiration for Shri was just that admiration. Nothing deep, and certainly nothing to ruin their friendship over. With clarity and maturity, the triangle settled peacefully. The three of them apologized for the confusion and agreed to go back to how things were just friends. To smooth things over and restore the vibe, the gang decided to hang out over the weekend. They planned a beach picnic at Batu Feringghi, the perfect escape to bring the fun back. The girls prepared homemade snacks, while the boys came armed with barbecue ingredients. First up banana boat rides! The thrill was too real. Madhu clung tightly to Yugesh, both terrified and excited. The boat jerked at a turn and splash! the two of them were tossed into the sea, laughing hysterically. They tried every water game they could, letting go of all the school stress. Then came the parachute ride. Madhu was hesitant as she was scared of heights. But Yugesh, ever the sweet-talker, convinced her to go up with him. As they soared into the sky, Madhu screamed out of fear while Yugesh, ever the joker, pulled out his selfie stick to record her reactions. Then, in the middle of the air, Yugesh shouted, “MADHU!!! I LOVE YOU, DI!!!” Madhu, half in trauma, half in disbelief, screamed back, “POODA PORUKKI!!! ROMANCE PANRA NERAMA ITHU?! ENNAI ERAKI VIDHU, NAAN ENGA VEETUKU POOREEN!!” Once they landed, Yugesh gleefully showed her the video and, of course, shared it with the whole gang. Madhu, still shaken from the ride, didn’t even remember what she had said. That video became the highlight of the day, and her reaction was a running joke that kept the group laughing for hours. The picnic turned out to be one of the best memories for the gang. It wasn’t just a fun escape, it helped Malini, Lugain, and Shri rebuild their friendship without any awkwardness. And for Madhu and Yugesh, it was another unforgettable chapter in their love story.

Everything was going well in their love life until the miserable misunderstanding changed everything. It was the school holidays, and though Yugesh and Madhu missed each other dearly, they still stayed connected through daily phone calls and messages. As always, Yugesh’s aunty, who had settled in a different city after her marriage, came to spend the holidays at her mother’s house with her family. All the siblings would gather, making Yugesh’s granny’s house come alive with joy and chaos. It was tradition. And with cousins young and old who were wildly fun, sociable, and open-minded, it was always an unforgettable time. Among them was Shruthi Yugesh’s closest cousin and partner-in-crime since childhood. Being of the same age, they were inseparable growing up. Their bond was more like that of siblings or best friends. For them, calling each other “darling” was just a harmless, affectionate nickname, an inside joke that had lasted years. Even the elders in the family never saw it as inappropriate because they knew the context and understood the depth of their platonic bond. But Madhu didn’t. She wasn’t part of this world. She had never met Shruthi, nor was she familiar with the dynamics of Yugesh’s lively, progressive family. So when she came across a Facebook photo posted by Yugesh’s uncle with a cheeky caption that read, “Inthe couples tholle thange mudile pa” it pierced her heart. The comments below only deepened the wound. Yugesh and Shruthi had playfully replied to each other, using their usual “darling” lingo, sounding to an outsider like Madhu exactly like a couple in love. Madhu’s heart sank. Her thoughts spiralled. Why were they so close? Why was his family okay with this? Were they engaged in some family arrangement she didn’t know about? Was she the outsider all along? Jealousy and fear consumed her. Possessiveness turned into suspicion. She confronted Yugesh through calls and long emotional messages. No matter how much Yugesh explained insisting that this was a childhood habit, a family dynamic Madhu simply didn’t understand but she couldn’t accept it. Her mind painted images of betrayal. She began to feel like she was the secret, and Shruthi was the one openly loved and accepted. The holidays that were supposed to be filled with joy became a nightmare for Madhu. Overthinking, overfeeling, and overwhelmed, she was drowning in insecurity, and their love began to show its cracks.

Yugesh walked into school that morning with excitement bubbling inside him. The holidays were over, and he couldn’t wait to see the girl who made his heart race. But that joy was short-lived. As soon as he approached Madhu, he was met not with a smile, but with a long, cold face. Her eyes didn’t light up. Her heart wasn’t where his was. During recess, they finally sat down to talk hoping to clear the air. But instead of healing, the conversation slowly twisted into another painful argument. Madhu wasn’t ready to accept any of Yugesh’s explanations. Her mind was already set. And what made it worse, what pushed Yugesh to the edge was when Madhu began to insult Shruthi. She called Shruthi names. She questioned her character. Yugesh, already under immense emotional pressure, snapped. In a moment of rage, he slapped Madhu. Regret hit him instantly, but the damage was done. Madhu ran off in tears, her heart shattered. Yugesh stood there, guilt crashing over him like waves in a storm. He tried to reach out, to explain, to say he didn’t mean to hurt her. But Madhu wanted none of it. That day marked a shift. Madhu began avoiding Yugesh completely. She came late to school, left early, and no longer visited his class for sweets or hung out with their group at the port during recess. Even after their close friend Malini tried advising her, Madhu still felt betrayed. She couldn’t look Yugesh in the eye. Every time he came close, she shut him out even locking herself in her car to avoid him. Yugesh, on the other hand, was heartbroken. Lost. The guilt of the slap. The feeling of losing her. The helplessness of not being able to explain himself. The week dragged on like a nightmare, with no sign of hope. Their friends tried to mediate but it didn’t help. Finally, Madhu sent word through them. “I want to break up.” The words shattered Yugesh’s world. He wasn't ready. Not like this. Eventually, he decided one last try. He waited by her car after school while his friends lingered at the bike parking. She’d have to come there. She had to face him one last time. As expected, Madhu and Malini appeared. But the moment she saw Yugesh waiting, Madhu froze and tried to walk the other way. Malini looked between them, unsure of what to do. Yugesh didn’t let her go this time. He gently grabbed her hand and made her face him. Tears were already pooling in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Madhu. I’m sorry for slapping you. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just couldn’t take it when you spoke that way about Shruthi... she’s innocent. Please, believe me.” Madhu refused to meet his eyes. “You cheated on me. You made a fool out of me. You lied.” “I used to flirt, yes. But that was before you. Since you came into my life, it’s only ever been you. I love you, Madhu. I swear, you’re the first and last girl I’ve ever truly loved.” But Madhu didn’t budge. Her pain was too raw. Her trust, broken. “I don’t believe you anymore. You cheated. And you hurt me.” Yugesh’s heart cracked. Her words kept slicing deeper. Frustrated, helpless, and pushed to the edge, Yugesh asked in a broken voice “Ivelo solliyum nee innum enna nambele le? Ithuthan nee enna purinjikitha madhu? Avelo tha namme love ah?”.Madhu’s response was silence and then the same bitter words “You cheated on me. You cheater.” That was the final blow. The word cheater echoed in his ears, drowning every memory, every promise. Anger and heartbreak collided. “Stop It, Madhu! Enough Is Enough!” Yugesh snapped. “Vittha overa poore? Unnaku breakup thane venum? Ippo solren, iini nee enbathu nee mattum than, naan enbathu naan mattum than! No more 'Madesh'. That name is dead to me. GET LOST!” He stormed away, wiping his tears, leaving Madhu sobbing on the ground, unable to stand as the weight of his words hit her. From that day on, they stopped crossing paths. They avoided each other, as if love had never existed between them. Till the last day of school... silence remained their only language.

A few months later, they sat for their STPM examinations. Three months after the exams, the results were released, Yugesh and the other two boys passed with flying colors. They also heard through Malini that Madhu had done exceptionally well too. However, Yugesh didn’t show any reaction upon hearing the news. After finishing school, Yugesh never heard anything about Madhu again. He slowly tried to forget her, but it was hard. The pain and memories lingered until he enrolled at university. There, surrounded by his naughty group of friends, he almost recovered. He didn’t think about Madhu at all until he saw her again today at PCB beach. After hearing Yugesh’s flashback, the boys were a bit confused about what advice to give. They had only heard his version of the story and didn’t know the full picture. Still, they encouraged Yugesh to handle things wisely and reminded him that his actions now could impact his future. Sharan added that decisions made in anger don’t end well, and told him to take his time before deciding anything. It was the kind of advice only a true brother could give. Meanwhile, Kaushik and Darshan suggested that Yugesh talk to friends from his hometown, people who had seen the full story unfold and could give better insight. A few minutes later, Tava, trying to lighten the mood, teased that the whole story felt like watching a love movie especially the Valentine’s Day scene which got everyone to smile and laugh, easing the tension. In the middle of this, Yugesh made a conference call with his best friends, Lugain and Shri, to tell them about unexpectedly seeing Madhu again and to seek their thoughts. As always, they reminded him to think carefully. They suggested that perhaps he could start by reconnecting with Madhu as a friend, take things slow, rebuild trust. In their view, the breakup wasn’t fully Madhu’s fault, nor Yugesh’s. Misunderstandings and emotions had played their part. All the advice left Yugesh deep in thought that night. Memories stirred, questions resurfaced, and he realized he was standing at a crossroad again.

The next day, Yugesh received a good morning message from Madhu via WhatsApp. She had sent it around 7:30 a.m. before leaving for her morning class, but Yugesh only saw it around 11:30 a.m. when he finally woke up, he had evening classes that day. He replied shortly after, and that’s how their conversation began. Even before Yugesh could ask, Madhu admitted that she had gotten his number from Shuru. From that day on, sending good morning and good night messages became a routine between them. Gradually, they started chatting more frequently even when there wasn’t a specific reason. They spent nearly two weeks just texting back and forth all day, building comfort and familiarity. One particular day, Yugesh and Sharan skipped their 10 a.m. class. Yugesh had overslept, and Sharan was still unwell from the past two days. The other boys had morning classes from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., so they weren’t around to wake Yugesh either. When Madhu found out, she saw it as the perfect excuse to call Yugesh. She offered to wake him up for his morning sessions to help him avoid unnecessary absences. Though hesitant at first, Yugesh eventually agreed, persuaded by Madhu’s concern. From then on, their communication deepened. What started as regular texting soon turned into long phone calls. They began to share everything from small daily updates to deeper feelings either through messages or calls. It was just another day in the boys’ room. Tava had just come back from his shower and noticed that everyone was busy: Yugesh was on the phone with Madhu, Sharan was chatting with his Facebook girlfriends, Kaushik was video calling his girlfriend, and Darshan was lost in his own world with headphones on. Trying to get everyone’s attention, Tava failed miserably. Feeling left out, he began talking to Siri on his iPad, asking random, silly questions. His antics eventually drew the others’ attention, and soon the room was filled with laughter. Even Madhu, still on the phone with Yugesh, couldn’t help but laugh. Madhu quickly grew fond of Tava’s spontaneous humor. She often repeated his jokes when talking to Yugesh and sometimes even joked around with Shuru like pretending to talk to Siri or singing in the Smule singing app. For nearly a month, Madhu and Yugesh spent most of their time talking, either by text or call. But with USM’s Cultural Night approaching, Madhu became busy writing a script for a stage play. Eventually, due to a lack of available actors, she was asked to play the main role herself. Still, she always found time to talk to Yugesh at least once a day, even during rehearsals. Yugesh, on the other hand, was eagerly looking forward to the event not just to see Madhu perform her own script, but also to support Shuru’s singing performance. Madhu had booked five tickets from her allocation, and the boys only needed to pay and collect them at the counter on the event day. Both she and Yugesh were looking forward to finally meeting each other in person, in a proper setting, after weeks of constant virtual communication. What surprised Yugesh the most was how concerned he was about what to wear that night. He found himself wanting to make a good impression unintentionally, yet undeniably. After some thought, he finally settled on a crisp white shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of formal shoes.

Yugesh and his gang arrived at the USM main hall where the much-anticipated Cultural Night was taking place. After registering and collecting their food packets, the boys headed to the selfie booth at the entrance to capture the moment. Soon after, the organizers guided them to their seats, which were fortunately in the front row making them feel like VIPs. Amid the buzz, Madhu called Yugesh to confirm his arrival and was thrilled to hear that he had secured a front-row seat perfect for watching her stage performance. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the show, although they couldn’t dance to the music like the energetic back-row students. Still, they reassured themselves, saying they were just being “decent and matured,” trying to impress the USM girls. An hour into the event, hunger struck, and they decided to open the food packets. Sadly, the meals were a let-down and didn’t live up to the ticket price. As usual, Tava and Darshan unleashed their sarcasm, mocking the food loudly, much to everyone’s amusement except Kaushik, who nervously tried to hush them, fearing a scene with USM students. Meanwhile, Yugesh was eagerly waiting for Madhu’s performance, while Sharan was busy eyeing and flirting with the girls around. During the event, Shuru also gave a beautiful singing performance that caught Darshan’s attention. Curious and slightly smitten, he asked Yugesh for her number, only to be cheekily told that she was already committed to a medical student named Gautham. Tava seized the moment to roast Darshan, teasing that they were both destined to remain single forever. Then came the most anticipated part of the night, Madhu’s stage appearance. She delivered a stellar and emotionally gripping performance, truly bringing her self-written script to life. Dressed gorgeously in her costume and makeup, she captivated everyone in the hall, especially Yugesh. However, her romantic scenes with the male lead sparked a pang of jealousy in Yugesh, making him feel slightly possessive, though he kept his emotions hidden. To keep the crowd entertained between acts, the organizers hosted games like a lucky draw and a light spotlight challenge. Unexpectedly, the spotlight landed on Yugesh. Despite his hesitation, he had to go on stage. Embarrassed but cheered on loudly by his friends and fellow students, he introduced himself as a UMK student, prompting a roar of support from his campus mates. Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the mic, it was none other than Shuru, along with Varman, a friend of Yugesh. They temporarily took over the hosting duties, teasing Yugesh in front of the crowd. Shuru jokingly asked how her cousin could be so "handsome and hot," triggering even more cheering and laughter. Next, they gave him personal challenges. Knowing his talent, Shuru asked Yugesh to sing his favorite song. He delivered a soulful rendition of “Ennavale” specifically the line “Gopurame Nee Kural Kuduthal” which moved the audience. Both hosts praised his heartfelt performance, and Varman asked why the song meant so much to him. Blushing slightly, Yugesh admitted it held memories of someone very special. With a mischievous grin, Shuru hinted that she knew exactly who that person was. For the final task, Varman requested Yugesh to dance with him to the “Chal Maar” song. As the beat dropped, both Varman and Yugesh danced joyfully, soon joined by Shuru. The crowd cheered them on in a burst of energy and camaraderie. As the stage play reached its emotional climax, so did the night. The event came to a close, leaving everyone especially Yugesh and Madhu with unforgettable memories.

Before leaving the hall, the boys once again took selfies, but this time with their USM friends like Varman, Shuru, and many others, especially the girls who were attracted to the boys. The boys were having fun and were excited to get to know the USM girls, particularly the flirty Sharan. As usual, Tava was up to his naughty behavior, and Darshan got the chance to snap a selfie with Shuru, while Kaushik was too shy to face the girls. Soon, Madhu came to find Yugesh amidst the crowd, avoiding people who were trying to take selfies with her. However, Yugesh, who wasn’t initially interested in taking selfies with girls, suddenly became more active once he saw Madhu coming towards him, intending to make her jealous. Meanwhile, Madhu had been invited by her friends to take a selfie with the boys, but she declined, saying she wanted to have a few words with Yugesh. Yugesh, seeing an opportunity, purposely let Madhu wait as he decided to take selfies first, knowing it might be his only chance. His intention was clearly to make Madhu jealous. Unexpectedly, Madhu, without caring about the crowd, grabbed Yugesh and dragged him out of the hall after waiting for a while. This surprised everyone, especially the girls, who began to question the other boys whether they knew each other beforehand. Sharan replied that they had already broken up and were in the process of patching things up. He also admitted he was still single and ready to mingle. Madhu then started the conversation by asking Yugesh why he was behaving the way he was. She explained that she had come to see him and take a selfie together, even abandoning the work behind the stage. She also mentioned that she had avoided everyone else from taking selfies with her because she was worried it would be too late to meet him. Yugesh, full of anger, scolded Madhu, saying she had started everything first by acting so intimately with her opponent character. He accused her of using cheap tricks to attract and influence him. He went on, not giving her a chance to speak, as he continued angrily. This left Madhu puzzled, unsure of what to do next or how to convince him. Without hesitation, she hugged Yugesh to silence him so she could explain herself. As expected, Yugesh became speechless once she hugged him. Madhu then convinced him, saying, "Un Heartbeat Ennaku Kekuthu. Athule Madhu.. Madhu Nu Solluthu. Nee Ippo Sande Pothethule En Mele Evelo Possesive Ah Irukenu Teriyuthu. Naan Un Madhu Tha, Breakup Analum Patchup Analum Unaku Mattumtha. It's Just A Stage Drama But Still, I Have Never Crossed My Limits, And If You Feel It So, I’m Really Sorry, Yugi." The others were stunned by this turn of events and began gossiping among themselves. Those words convinced Yugesh, and he apologized for overreacting. He told Madhu to continue with her work and take selfies with the others she had avoided earlier. He also added that it was getting late, and he wanted to take a selfie and head back to his campus as his friends were waiting. However, Madhu gave him a strange look when he mentioned taking another selfie, so he clarified that he wanted to take selfies with the boys only, which made Madhu giggle. As soon as Yugesh started to walk away, Madhu grabbed his hand from behind, causing him to turn around and question her. With a naughty look, Madhu replied, "En ishtham, uneku enna kastham?" Yugesh, shyly, said, "Ellarom parkurange," which led Madhu to tease him, asking, "Oh ho, appo ivelo neram katthi pudichu nikkumbothu yaarum parkeleyo?" At a loss for words, Yugesh, now fully embarrassed, asked her, "Unnaku Enna Perechenei Ippo?" to which Madhu replied, “I LOVE YOU,” romantically. Yugesh, once again shy, said, “Naan Kelamburen, Nee Poi Un Veleye Paaru. Good Night And Take Care.” He then walked away with a happy smile, while Madhu admired him from behind.

The boys reached their hostel at 2 a.m. after having dinner outside, as the food provided at the hostel was unsatisfactory. The main gate was still open, as the students who attended the Cultural Night had managed to get an excuse letter for being late from the faculty. Once Yugesh locked the car, he received a call from Madhu. She asked if he had fallen asleep, but Yugesh replied that they had just reached the hostel after eating, as they were hungry. Madhu then asked Yugesh if she could meet him now, as she was feeling like meeting him. Without wasting time, Yugesh started the car and informed his friends using hand signals that he would be back in the morning. However, he still pretended that he couldn’t make it because he was so sleepy when Madhu tried to convince him to meet her. In the middle of the conversation, he also confirmed Madhu’s accurate location, which was the same hall, before hanging up the call. A few minutes later, while Madhu was talking to Shuru and some other friends at the entrance of the hall, she received a call from Yugesh. He asked her to turn around so she could see his car coming. Madhu, who was feeling a little disappointed earlier, was amazed. They both left the place by car after chatting with Shuru for a few minutes. On the way out of the campus, Yugesh asked Madhu where she wanted to go at 2 a.m. She answered “Unkude Varetha Iruntha Ennaku Sudagadu Ah Iranthalum Okay” Yugesh then gave an epic reply, “Thaniya Verepoonuma Atha Nee Irukiya!! Naan Lam Patte Pagale Kude Angelam Poogemathen Ithule Night Vere?”.A sarcastic conversation then took place between them, and they finally decided to go to PCB beach, as they didn’t have any other choice. The sky was drizzling when they reached PCB beach, which led them to sit in the car and discuss their past while listening to their favorite 90’s songs. Madhu asked Yugesh if he was still angry, and he replied that he wasn’t, not knowing why he had acted that way earlier. Madhu clarified that she had been asking about the past. Yugesh, with a little disappointment, said that she was questioning things that had happened a long time ago and that there was nothing left to discuss. A sad Madhu said that she had already explained herself in detail and didn’t understand why he wasn’t convinced yet. He replied that she had caused him unforgettable pain, and it would take time to heal. She reminded him that he had behaved rudely when she had acted a little closer to her acting partner during the earlier event, even though he knew it was just a stage play. He expected her to take it lightly, when she saw his picture with Shuru hugging on Facebook, a person she didn’t even know, she couldn’t take it as a joke. She added that no girl would find it fun, and neither would he if it were the other way around. After a moment of silence, Yugesh said that she could at least listen to his explanation before speaking. Madhu repeated the same question: had he given her any chance to explain a few hours ago? This made him go silent again. The song “KANNAMOCHI YEENNADA” was playing in the background, and as the lyrics “EN MANAM UNNAKENA VILAYATHU BOMMAIYA” played, Madhu said that the lyric really suited her situation with Yugesh. However, Yugesh arrogantly said that it would be more fitting for him, because if Madhu proposed or broke up with him, he would have to accept. But if she asked him to patch things up, he would have to agree as well. Once again, Madhu asked him what his decision was regarding “MADESH,” and Yugesh replied, “The chapter of MADESH is over in my life.” Unexpectedly, Madhu pulled Yugesh’s collar to bring him closer and asked about the locket he was wearing, which had “MADESH” written on it. She demanded an explanation as to why he still had the name “MADESH” on his locket, bracelet, and even his ring when he claimed that there was no longer any “MADESH” in his life. This left him speechless. She then said, “Innum Evelo Naal Thanda Nadipe?” while pushing him away.

After a while, they both sat by the beachside as the drizzle stopped. They admired the moonlight reflecting on the water and the sound of the waves. Madhu began again by asking if Yugesh had ever missed or thought about her when they were no longer in a relationship. Without hesitation, Yugesh said he could only think of or miss her once he had forgotten her, but when she was fresh in his mind, there was no reason to miss her. This made Madhu’s face light up. However, Yugesh also mentioned that he didn’t remember her because of love, as she thought, but because of the hatred and mess she had caused in his life. Furious, Madhu asked, if there was so much hatred, why was he replying to her texts, answering her calls even when he was busy with studies, getting offended when she was too close to other boys, and why did he come to meet her when she called him even after he had reached his hostel, and spend his precious time sitting at the beach with her in the middle of the night? Yugesh struggled to find an answer and finally said that it was because of the friendship they shared. He mentioned that he treated and respected her as a casual friend, and that was why he did all the things she mentioned, which led Madhu to say, “Naange Nambithom, Sir!” They both then giggled over their silly questions and answers. Still giggling, Madhu continued the silly conversation by teasing Yugesh, saying, “Aiya Ku Vaara Vaara Rombethan Koovem Varethu!!! Sir Eh Convince Panenemum Na, Ippolam Hug Pannatha Mudiyuthu, Hmm!!! Unmayana Koovamthana Ille Hug Panenenum Nu Vaare Koovama, Hero???”. Yugesh, with full embarrassment, replied, “I Don’t Know Why I Get Speechless Whenever You Hug Me, Madhu! Evelotha Aathirama Iranthalum Automatic Ah Silent Aayiren Nee Hug Pannethum, Hmm!!!”. This conversation made them both smile. The sarcastic and silly conversation continued until 5 a.m. Madhu requested Yugesh to send her back to her hostel and go back to his hostel since it was the perfect time, as both campuses’ main gates would open at 5:30 a.m. Unexpectedly, Yugesh asked Madhu if she had any classes or important work in the morning. He suggested that if she didn’t, they could wait for another two hours and watch the beautiful sunrise together. However, Madhu said she had already watched the sunrise at the beach with her cousins before, so disappointed Yugesh said that he had never had the chance to enjoy it and that’s why he asked her to accompany him. Upon realizing his intention, Madhu romantically replied, “Naan Already Paturuken But Still Marupidiyum Oru Murai Parkenum Nu Thonuthu, Unn Kude!!! Sernthu Parkalama Yugi!!This made him smile shyly. Next, they went to a nearby stall at the beach to buy ice cream and coconut drinks. They shared the ice cream and drinks while singing their favorite 90’s songs together using the SMULE SING app, which Tava and Darshan often used to improve their terrible singing talents. Madhu then mentioned that if she had to dedicate a song to Yugesh according to their current situation, she would definitely dedicate “Vaaya En Veera” and especially the first line of the song. Yugesh replied that he would dedicate part of the song “Ennavaleye,” specifically the line “Kathal Endral Perum Avasthey Endru.” This made Madhu react with some funny expressions while he giggled. Silly Madhu then talked to Siri, asking when Yugesh would return to normal, when they could be “MADESH” again, and what their future would look like. This led Yugesh to laugh and confirm that Madhu was mentally retarded. This was also an influence of Tava and Darshan, who used to communicate with Siri during their free time, and Tava even used to scold Siri when he was upset to release his stress. Madhu also mentioned that Yugesh used to be talkative before, and she used to admire him for it, but now everything had changed. As she spoke, Yugesh admired her every action and expression while she was talking. Finally, they both watched the beautiful sunrise at the beach as planned, thanking each other for the wonderful day and the memories they created, which they would remember for the rest of their lives. They spent almost five hours together without anyone else, creating unforgettable memories. They left the beach and reached their respective campuses around 8 a.m.

In the evening, the boys started teasing Yugesh for spending a whole night with Madhu once he woke up. Even after Yugesh explained that they were only hanging out at PCB beach to watch the sunrise and that nothing happened, the boys with dirty minds wouldn’t stop trolling him. On the other hand, the atmosphere in Madhu’s room was completely different. Shuru was encouraging Madhu, saying that Yugesh’s actions were a positive sign and that they might reunite very soon. It was just like any other evening, Yugesh was getting ready to go to the gym as usual. Meanwhile, he received a call from Madhu asking him to pick her up from her hostel to hang out. At first, Yugesh declined because he wanted to stick to his gym routine, but eventually, he gave in as Madhu persuaded him. When he arrived, he ran into Varman, and they chatted while waiting for Madhu. As soon as Madhu arrived, she noticed Yugesh wearing his gym attire, just a singlet and track bottoms. Feeling a bit insecure because other girls were admiring Yugesh’s fit body, she asked Shuru to bring her sweater from the room. Varman left after greeting Madhu, who returned wearing her sweater. They both got into the car, and before they drove off, Madhu scolded Yugesh for wearing the singlet that showed off his body. Yugesh chuckled and said, “I’m just a guy, there’s nothing sexy about it!” He explained that he was on his way to the gym when she called and was too lazy to change. Still, Madhu insisted that he cover up, handing him her sweater to wear so that no other girl could admire him. Although he protested, Yugesh finally agreed to wear it, realizing he had no other choice as Madhu was firm about it. However, she asked him not to wear it inside the car since they were alone but to put it on only once they got out. Her message was clear, only she had the right to admire her man. They spent time together roaming around until 10 p.m. before returning to their respective hostels. That night, Madhu held onto the sweater as a remembrance of Yugesh and his scent. The next day, Yugesh called Madhu for the first time since their breakup to ask if she’d like to join him at Kelantan’s biggest night market. He didn’t have anyone else to go with, as he claimed all his friends were busy with classes and meetings. Ironically, all the boys were actually in the room, busy with their own things, and were shocked to hear him lying to Madhu. Without hesitation, Madhu agreed to go, surprised and happy about the unexpected invitation. Yugesh ended the call with a romantic smile, only to realize all his friends had overheard his lie. Trying to play it off, he giggled and said, “Namekule Ithulam Sagajamapa!!!” Still, his humorous friends, Tava and Darshan, continued to tease him, saying love had clearly started to blossom again. Meanwhile, Sharan and Kaushik encouraged Yugesh to consider getting back with Madhu. They pointed out that his actions agreeing to meet her even at midnight, spending hours on the phone, making excuses just to talk to her, showed that he had already forgiven her and moved on from the past. They advised him to think deeply before making any decision. Tava also told him not to take their teasing seriously, and Yugesh confirmed he understood it was all in good fun. As planned, Yugesh took Madhu to the night market. They enjoyed shopping for their favorite snacks and beverages, often tasting each other’s food. It was sweet when Madhu teasingly pulled the spoon back as Yugesh tried to take a bite, only to later feed him herself with a smile. From then on, they started hanging out together almost every day. Although there weren’t many places to visit in Kelantan, they made the most of it by exploring every tourist spot, shopping center, and beach they could find. Sometimes, they’d just go for long drives, like the one to Kuala Krai, two hours from Kota Bharu, or a visit to a Tamil estate in Tanah Merah. They often visited temples on Fridays and Tuesdays alternating weekly between the Sivan Temple in Kota Bharu and the Mariamman Temple in Tumpat, which was about 30 minutes away. They even visited churches, gurdwaras, and Buddhist temples simply because they didn’t know where else to go. When in doubt, they always ended up at PCB beach, their favorite place, as it was where they had first spent time alone together.

Madhu informed Yugesh over the phone, as usual, that she would be leaving for her hometown on Thursday night to attend her cousin’s wedding, which was set for Saturday morning. Curious, Yugesh asked why she wasn’t flying instead of taking the bus. Madhu replied that flight tickets were too expensive as there were no ongoing promotions. That Thursday night, Shuru joined Yugesh to send Madhu off at the Kota Bharu bus station. Shuru asked Madhu to let her know once she reached home safely. Meanwhile, Yugesh was unusually silent. After warm hugs from Shuru and best wishes from Yugesh, Madhu boarded the bus and left. On the way back to her hostel, Shuru asked Yugesh why he seemed upset and moodier than usual. As expected, he tried to brush it off, claiming that everything was fine. But Shuru, who had known him since childhood, insisted that he might be able to lie to anyone but not to her. She told him that she understood every little detail about him and that he was already missing Madhu. Her words left Yugesh speechless. She advised him not to waste his time thinking about the past or seeking revenge, and instead to think wisely and make the right decision for their future. When Yugesh reached his hostel, he called Madhu while climbing the stairs to his room. After confirming her location, he suddenly confessed, for the first time “Madhu, I think I’m missing you right now! I’m worried I’ll miss you even more over the next few days. If possible, please come back soon. No! you have to come back soon, for my sake! Have a safe journey and good night! I’ll be awake, so buzz me once you reach. Take care!” Then he abruptly ended the call without letting her respond. Madhu was shocked and surprised. She kept interrupting during his confession with reactions like: “Wait, What?? Is it really you, Yugi, speaking? Are you kidding me, man? Oh my god! Are you drunk? This is unbelievable, Yugi!! Hey wait, Yugi, don’t hang up!” After that emotional exchange, both of them smiled to themselves, touched by the moment. They stayed connected through calls and WhatsApp messages every day until Madhu returned. This constant communication helped Yugesh deal with missing her. Madhu also never failed to send him photos of herself dressed up for the wedding, including a "mehendi" design on her hand that featured the word “Madesh.” Even in the wedding chaos, she found time to send pictures of gifts, their selfies, and other keepsakes from their relationship, rekindling their love and making Yugesh consider giving their relationship a second chance. Their breakup wasn’t caused by either of them, it was the situation. That time apart had actually taught them more about each other and brought them even closer.

Early Monday morning, Yugesh was sleeping in his car at the Kota Bharu bus station while waiting for Madhu’s return. When she arrived and saw his sleepy face, she offered to drive. Initially, Yugesh refused as he usually did but eventually gave in as Madhu gently insisted. He reclined his seat and slowly dozed off while she chatted away. Yugesh woke up with a start when he saw the PCB beach, and it instantly refreshed him. He jokingly said “Marupidiyum sunrise ah? Eh please, no! En body thangathu!” Madhu burst into laughter. She reassured him they wouldn't be staying that long and that they’d leave once their purpose there was fulfilled. Curious, Yugesh asked what that purpose was. Madhu then took out a tupperware and cutlery from her goodie bag and let him taste some homemade biryani. Yugesh was delighted, the food was absolutely delicious. Before they left, Madhu handed him a plastic bag containing a large tupperware of biryani for his roommates, who had been craving a home-cooked meal. When Yugesh noticed more tupperwares in her bag, she told him those were for his cousin Shuru and her other friends. On the way back to the hostel, Madhu reminded him to return the tupperware, as it belonged to her mother and she would be upset if it was lost. Yugesh asked her to thank her mother for the amazing food. When Madhu asked again if the meal was really that good, Yugesh replied, “It was extraordinary.” Madhu blushed. She then revealed that she was the one who had cooked the meal without letting anyone help her or even touch anything in the kitchen. She had prepared everything with her own hands, just for him, with lots of love, which made it even more special. Yugesh was deeply touched by her excitement and the effort she put in, but like many guys, he tried to cover up his feelings by joking “I was just praising your mom… Actually, apdi onnum perusa ille paaren...” Madhu, who had been thrilled just moments ago, got offended and fell silent, saying she was tired from traveling. When they reached her hostel, Yugesh looked into her upset eyes and confessed: “I was just teasing you. The meal was seriously extraordinary. I mean it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for cooking my favourite meal all by yourself. That really means a lot to me.” The excited girl gave him a tight hug and happily went inside. Later that morning, the boys and Shuru enjoyed the biryani even in their sleepy state and praised Madhu. When Yugesh called her again, one of the boys, Tava, went a step further by blessing her through the phone “May Tava bless you, my child!” Everyone, including Shuru, burst out laughing early that morning.

It’s time for Yugesh to think wisely and make a good decision about his future instead of wasting time and emotions. As he and Madhu were once deeply in love, rekindling the relationship shouldn’t be too difficult. However, what stops Yugesh from expressing his love is his fear, fear of facing another heartbreak, along with lingering anger and resentment. But after seeing Madhu’s behaviour in recent days and realizing that she truly regrets her past mistakes, Yugesh comes to a conclusion that he cannot imagine being with anyone else besides her. His friends and Shuru's advice also influence his decision. For example, Sharan tells him that no other girl would go to such lengths as cooking for him, making time to talk to him even when she's overwhelmed with her own problems. Sharan reminds him not to lose such a person just because of his pride and anger. As an elder brother figure, Sharan says he would be genuinely happy if Yugesh accepted Madhu back for the sake of his own future. Kaushik also reminds Yugesh of how much he missed her when she wasn’t around and tells him it wasn’t entirely Madhu’s fault for what happened in the past. He says dwelling on the past won’t change anything. Meanwhile, Shuru urges Yugesh to think about how happy they used to be together before making any decisions. With all this in mind, Yugesh plans a surprise proposal with the help of his boys. He decides to invite Madhu for dinner. While they're talking, the song “Aaruyire Mannipaya” from the movie Guru will start playing unexpectedly. Yugesh and his friends will then begin a surprise dance performance, with Shuru joining Madhu on the dance floor, pretending to be just another guest. Yugesh will then kneel down, present Madhu with a bouquet of roses, and propose to her. They will also cut a cake that reads “MADESH IS BACK” with the background music playing to mirror Madhu's apology. At their place, the boys rehearse the dance performance, and Shuru helps pick out a dress for Madhu, telling her that they're going to Yugesh’s friend’s 21st birthday party. Although Shuru knows the real plan, she pretends to be unaware in front of Madhu. On the other hand, Sharan picks Yugesh’s outfit, and Yugesh gets ready, nervous but excited. Everything goes according to plan. The boys rent a car to arrive early and fetch Shuru from her campus. That evening, as they arrive at the venue, Madhu becomes suspicious as there's no sign of a birthday party and the setting seems too casual. She repeatedly questions Yugesh, who tries his best to divert the conversation. Backstage, Darshan is heartbroken as he overhears Shuru romantically explaining the plan to Gautham over the phone unaware that Darshan has feelings for her. His best friend Tava tries to cheer him up with silly antics. Meanwhile, Yugesh and Madhu fall into a deep conversation about their past and present. But things take a turn for the worse when Yugesh, as usual, makes a sarcastic remark about their breakup. What he thought was a harmless joke ends up triggering a serious argument. He had assumed Madhu would brush it off like always, but this time, she’s had enough. Despite the boys trying to salvage the situation by playing the song and performing the planned dance, Madhu and Yugesh are too caught up in their fight to notice. Shuru intervenes, trying to explain Yugesh’s proposal plan to Madhu and scolding Yugesh for repeating his sarcastic habits. But it’s too late. Madhu, furious and deeply hurt, walks away. Sharan gives the car keys to Kaushik to send Madhu and Shuru back to their hostel, accompanied by Darshan. Sharan and Tava stay back to comfort the devastated Yugesh, assuring him that things might get better with time. Tava collects the bouquet and the cake while Sharan drives Yugesh’s car back. On the ride home, Yugesh lies on the passenger seat, reflecting on what just happened and fearing what might come next. Meanwhile, Madhu sits in silence, crying her heartbreak so intense that the boys don’t say a word.

The next morning, Yugesh wakes up hoping for Madhu’s usual good morning text, but his phone is silent. No messages. No missed calls. She didn’t even call to wake him for class as she always did. Crushed, Yugesh still doesn’t make the first move as his male ego stopping him. Yet he misses her terribly and keeps checking his phone in anticipation. His friends try to console him and help him realize his fault. Eventually, he begins to regret his actions. Two days pass without any communication. On the third evening, Yugesh suddenly receives a call from Madhu, asking him to pick her up from her campus. When he tells his friends, they cheer him on and wish him luck. Excited and hopeful, Yugesh hurries to her campus, rehearsing his apology in the car. But his excitement turns into confusion when Madhu appears with a luggage bag. Puzzled, he asks her about it, and she coldly tells him to drive to the airport. Shocked, he asks again why she’s leaving. Without meeting his eyes, she insists they’re late and tells him to drive faster. During the ride, Yugesh tries to make things right by apologizing and explaining that he didn’t mean to hurt her. He deliberately drives slowly and takes the longest route, hoping to win her back before they reach the airport. His desperation is obvious that he doesn’t want to lose her. But Madhu continues ignoring him, scrolling through social media and putting on her headphones. This infuriates Yugesh, and he yanks the headphones off her ears, begging her to listen. Madhu, now at her limit, shouts back at him, accusing him of consistently humiliating and insulting her. She asks why he can’t stop being sarcastic and why he keeps reopening old wounds. With tears in her eyes, she confesses that she’s leaving not just the city but the pain, and she never wants to see him again. Yugesh is left speechless, guilt-ridden. At the airport, Madhu gets out of the car and, before leaving, says, “Ippokude uneku puriyile le. You didn’t even apologize properly or show that you truly regret it. You just stayed silent. This silence of yours hurts more than your words.” Wiping away her tears, she walks away. Yugesh drives off in confusion, his heart weighed down by guilt and a sense of deep loss.

A few days later, the Lincoln College Cultural Night was unfolding grandly. The emcee's voice echoed through the hall, announcing a special performance by none other than the Project Director’s friend from another campus in Kelantan, Yugesh. As the lights dimmed, Yugesh emerged from the audience, surprising everyone by singing “Kandukondain Kandukondain.” The crowd turned to look at the stage while he walked confidently, making cute dance movements in sync with the lyrics. The true surprise came when Yugesh, while singing the emotional line “Vennila velicham kinnathai udaithal uyire udaipal ooruthi,” turned toward the backstage and pointed. It was Madhu. She appeared gracefully and walked toward him at the center of the stage. As he reached out his hand, Madhu took it and sang her part “En kann parthathethu, en kai seruma,” captivating the entire audience, students from all three campuses. Together, they continued the duet, their romantic steps stirring the crowd into a frenzy of cheers and admiration. But how did this magical reunion happen? Let’s rewind. After the emotional farewell at the airport, Yugesh had stood frozen. He had seen Madhu walk away in tears after telling him how much his behavior had hurt her. Feeling guilty, unworthy, and overwhelmed, he didn’t stop her. But Madhu's memories refused to leave him such as her voice, her laughter, their moments together in school, and most recently, the heartfelt moments in his car haunted him. Every corner of his vehicle reminded him of her, even the rearview mirror seemed to reflect her image looking at him. Unable to bear it any longer, Yugesh turned around and rushed back to the airport. He searched everywhere, scanning faces with desperation until someone gently grabbed his shoulder. He turned around anxiously, it was Madhu. Yugesh exhaled in relief and immediately hugged her tightly, apologizing for everything. He admitted his mistakes, confessed he couldn’t live without her, and promised never to repeat the same errors again. Despite Madhu assuring him she wasn’t leaving, he held on tightly, saying he wouldn’t let her go ever again. But here comes the twist. It was all Madhu’s plan. After their fight at dinner, Madhu had learned from Shuru that Yugesh had actually planned a surprise reconciliation dinner with the help of his friends. However, Yugesh had accidentally repeated a sarcastic remark related to their previous breakup, humiliating Madhu and ruining the plan. Shuru later told Madhu that Yugesh truly regretted his actions. So Madhu decided to teach him a lesson not out of revenge, but to make him realize the impact of his behavior. For two days, she ignored him, and on the way to the airport, she calmly explained how she felt. But Madhu never planned to leave Kelantan. She hadn’t even bought a ticket. The luggage was empty. She was waiting at the airport, hoping Yugesh would come not just to stop her, but to prove that his ego could bend, that love could triumph over pride. Only after explaining all this, Yugesh let go of the hug, and both of them smiled finally at peace, finally together. They patched things up, rekindled their relationship, and promised not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Alongside their friends from their hometown and Kelantan, they embraced a new chapter. And just like that, "Madesh" was back. In love, in harmony, and in action, all over again.

✨ …THE NEW BEGINNING…✨

A tale of love, lessons, and second chances where ego fades, hearts heal, and promises shine brighter than the past.

✍ Written by

Yegeshweriy Arumugam Servai

@ A-Gesh Servai

a-gesh_servai

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates the art of storytelling and poetry from around the world. This prestigious platform encourages creative expression and literary excellence, offering writers a unique opportunity to share their voices and connect with a global audience. Participants showcase their talents across various categories, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of contemporary literature.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Yegeshweriy Arumugam for sharing "A Breakup & Patchup Love Story" with the Hashtag Kalakar community. This touching narrative, part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, beautifully captures the essence of love's transformative power. Thank you, Yegeshweriy, for inviting us into the world of Shruthi and Eshwar, and for reminding us of the beauty found in second chances.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.