Western love stories are declarative (“I love you”). Oriya romantic love is subtle, almost silent. The male lead might express his devotion by fixing the thatched roof of the heroine’s hut during a storm without saying a word. The thia —a silent, stoic acceptance—is often more powerful than a thousand love letters.

The true shift towards romantic prose began in the early 20th century, during the "Sabuja Yuga" (The Green Age) and the "Pragati Yuga" (The Progressive Age). This period marked the arrival of the novel format in Odia literature. Writers began to explore the human psyche, moving away from mythological themes to focus on the individual and their desires.