I really loved these lines while reading Jugari Cross by Poornachandra Tejaswi. In that moment, the whole atmosphere of the story suddenly shifts. Even in a suspense thriller, the author brings out something deeper about relationships and true companionship.
The scene is very intense. Suresh and Gowri jump off a train into a dark tunnel. And begin walking towards an unknown exit. It is so dark inside the tunnel that they cannot even see each other’s faces. They walk holding hands, assuming it is just the two of them. But they don’t speak a word, afraid that someone might hear them and attack them again. Even in that intense situation and silent walk, the author had something to teach us.
The lines are like this:
ಕೈ ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದುಕೊಂಡು ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ, ಮೌನವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಅವರಿಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ಏನೋ ಒಂದು ತರದ ಏಕಾಂಗಿತನ ಭಾದಿಸತೊಡಗಿತ್ತು. ಮಾತು ಕಥೆಯ ಸಂವಾದವಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಮೈಗೆ ಮೈ ತಾಗಿದ್ದರು ಅದು ಸಜೀವ ಸಾನಿಧ್ಯವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ.
Even though they were walking hand in hand, the silence between them made both of them feel a strange loneliness. Without conversation or sharing words, even physical closeness does not feel like a true, living companionship.
I may not know the exact meaning the author intended here. But as I read it, this is what I felt. Just being physically close is not enough. Without conversation, without sharing thoughts and feelings, even togetherness can feel empty. Real connection is not just about being beside someone, but about being emotionally present too.
In just a few lines, Tejaswi shifts from tension to tenderness in a relationship. And leaves behind a powerful thought. These felt like beautiful lines to me, something everyone can read and understand in their own way.
If you’d like to read the complete review and my detailed thoughts on the book, you can read my full review of Jugari Cross.
