By Manjeev Vishvkarma
Man: “Do you ever wonder how a simple ‘hmm’ can mean so many things?”
Rhea: “Oh, absolutely. It’s like it holds layers of silence and speech. Sometimes, I think it’s a way of stealing words – when you feel something but can’t find the right words to say it.”
Man: “Exactly. And isn’t it strange how it can both buy time and show a lack of time? A way to stall, or sometimes, to quickly move past something.”
Rhea: “Yes, or maybe even to hide emotions. You know, a soft ‘hmm’ can shield a thousand thoughts. It can cloak curiosity, doubt, even a touch of sadness.”
Man: “Or a way to dismiss things, like brushing them off without confrontation. A subtle, silent nudge to move on.”
Rhea: “Indeed. And there are times when a conversation takes a turn you don’t want. A well-placed ‘hmm’ can hold back those words we don’t wish to say, keeping things civil, saving fragile moments.”
Man: “And then, there are those times when ‘hmm’ is simply a pause on flattering words. Almost as if to say, ‘I’ll respond, but not just yet.’ It lets the words linger in the air a little longer, doesn’t it?”
Rhea: “It does. Perhaps that’s the beauty of ‘hmm’—it’s the language of in-between. Between knowing and unknowing, revealing and concealing, moving and stillness. All in one sound.”
Literary Latitude 