Epilogue #2
‘Siya, I still remember the night we met. I treasure the memory of your smile, of our first kiss, and how you made me come alive. When you left, you wrote me a note saying how it wasn’t by chance that we met, and it’s true.
I’ve loved you all my life and prayed for a chance to show it to you, and then the universe blessed me with you.
So yes, it wasn’t by chance that we met, because we were meant to be. ’
Her heart clenched with joy and a tear slipped free.
‘Now that you’re mine, I don’t want another day to go by without showing my wife how much I love her in every way I know how to love. So, my jaan, will you marry me?’
She pressed her hand to his cheek. ‘But baby, we’re already married.’
Abhay sniffled, fighting back tears as he said, ‘I know, but I didn’t get to do this properly with a proposal.’
‘You could have just asked me, silly. You didn’t have to do all of this.’
‘I chose to, because after our first kiss on a Ferris wheel like this, I decided I was going to marry you. Now years later, after everything, I want to keep that promise.’
Abhay pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jeans pocket and handed it to her. She opened it and laughed through her tears as she read the words “Will you marry Abhay Bhaiya?” drawn and signed by the kids.
Her heart swelled so fiercely it felt like it might break. She threw her arms around him and shouted, ‘Yes! Yes, always yes!’
Abhay slid the ring onto her finger, and kissed her forehead as they both held each other close. Suddenly, he pulled back and leaned forward against the railing of their seat. ‘She said yes!’
Their friends and the kids cheered below, with an unmistakable mix of triumph and joy. Siya buried her face against his shoulder, laughing and elated, as the wheel gave a creak and began its slow, steady descent. Her cheeks ached from smiling, and it was an ache that she welcomed and savoured.
When they stepped off the ride, she barely had time to steady herself before Meera engulfed her into a fierce hug.
Kashvi was practically hopping in place as she wrapped her arms around both of them.
Abhay was swept into a hug by Raghav. Luv and Swayam slapped him hard on the back, praising him for sealing the deal.
‘Finally got the girl, huh?’ Swayam drawled, tossing an arm around Siya and congratulating her.
‘Must be the beard. I told you it would work someday,’ Luv smirked.
‘Pretty sure it’s because of the way he loves me, but sure, let the beard take the credit,’ Siya said, rubbing at Abhay’s trimmed beard.
‘Whatever gets the ring on the finger,’ Abhay said, flashing her a wink.
‘You didn’t tell us you were going to propose at the top of the Ferris wheel. That’s cheating, bro. You’re raising the standards beyond reach for us,’ Luv quipped.
‘She said yes, so clearly it worked. Take lessons,’ her husband shot back.
Just a few feet behind the group, Dhruv stood beside Vihaan. Leaving the group to bicker among themselves, she went up to the duo.
Vihaan gave her a quick hug and said, ‘Congratulations, Siya.’
‘Thanks, Vihaan, and thank you for organising all of this. This day is so much more special because of everyone here,’ she said, gesturing to the cheerful vibe around them.
‘Please, don’t mention it. It’s our pleasure to be here,’ Vihaan said and nodded at both of them, and then left to attend to the kids.
Alone with her now, Dhruv asked, ‘How are you?’ Though he tried to smile, it didn’t reach his eyes.
That worried her. ‘How about you answer me that first? You’ve been MIA for the last two weeks,’ Siya said, giving him her best elder sibling glare.
He chuckled. ‘That look won’t work on me. I’ve handled your anger for years.’
‘And you’ll always have to take it because I am your elder sister,’ she declared and something caught at the back of her throat when his eyes got misty.
Siya was concerned for him. It was clear by the bags under his eyes that he was taking the truth about his mother really hard. She pressed his shoulder lightly and asked, ‘Are you okay?’
Dhruv nodded, and squeezed her hand back. ‘I’ve been looking into some things…’
‘Need my help?’ she asked, hoping he’d say yes. But he shook his head. ‘I’ve got it. If there is anything, I’ll let you know.’
Would he really? she wondered. Their past was complicated, and she worried if it would become a hurdle to building a better relationship.
She gently caressed his cheek as she said, ‘I know we have a messed up history, but I’m here for you now, and I hope you know that.’
Dhruv smiled, and this time, it did look genuine. ‘I do. And I’m really happy for both of you. I’m glad you found someone who loves and cherishes you.’
‘I’m glad you’re here for this,’ she said.
He gave a little crooked grin. ‘I wouldn’t be anywhere else.’
‘Guys,’ Meera called out for them. ‘C’mon, let’s eat before Swayam and Luv finish every vada pav in the food stall.’
‘Coming!’ Siya yelled back and Dhruv followed her as they joined everyone.
‘We have to hurry. Luv seems to be on a mission to finish everything I love before I get a chance,’ Raghav said, eyeing the jalebi counter.
Siya hung back as everyone jogged to the nearby stall. Abhay sat a few feet away, helping a little boy make a sandcastle. Once it was complete, he laughed as the boy jumped on it to make it crumble. She smiled seeing the joy shine in his eyes.
‘You okay, Di?’ Kashvi asked, looping her arm with hers.
‘Yeah, just watching them,’ Siya answered.
She bumped her shoulder. ‘You’re allowed to join in, you know.’
‘I know, but I guess I’m still getting used to feeling happy,’ Siya confessed.
‘But you do deserve it,’ Kashvi insisted.
Siya laughed and patted her hand. ‘Look at you. You’re growing up.’
Kashvi gave a bow and the sisters giggled.
Luv looked just as happy as the kids as he yelled from the icicle stall, ‘Siya! They’ve got kala khatta! What are you waiting for?’
***
A little girl named Jiya tugged at Kashvi’s hand and asked, ‘Didi, can you help me?’
Kashvi gestured for Siya to carry on. Turning to the kid, Kashvi crouched until she was at her level, her sandals sinking slightly into the sand. ‘Of course, sweetheart. Tell me.’
‘I want to buy something for me but I don’t know what to choose,’ Jiya said with a pout, pointing at the nearby jewellery cart.
‘Okay, come on,’ Kashvi said, and holding her by the hand, they walked up to the jewellery stall.
As she tilted the trays to show her the bracelet and pendant collections, she asked, ‘What do you like?’
‘I like shiny things!’ Jiya smiled, and her adorable dimple popped out.
Kashvi could relate to that, so she found a bracelet with rainbow coloured stones and showed it to Jiya. ‘What about this?’
‘Yes! Yes!,’ Jiya clapped her hands and nodded eagerly.
Kashvi put it around Jiya’s wrist and locked the clasp. The smile that broke out onto the little girl’s face melted her heart in an instant.
When Jiya opened her small sling bag and looked for money, Kashvi stopped her. ‘Sweetheart, these are all gifts for you kids. Don’t worry about this, just enjoy.’
Her grin split wide and bright, and Jiya placed a kiss on her cheek. Kashvi laughed, watching her bolt off across the sand to her friends and show her new treasure.
‘I think I need to step up my game to make you laugh like that,’ came from behind Kashvi and she turned around.
Swayam stood there, barefoot, with a layer of wet sand clinging to his blue tee. His hair was ruffled and his sharp, bright gaze was fixed on her.
‘I didn’t know you have game,’ Kashvi said, dusting sand from her jeans as she stood.
Swayam grinned. ‘You wound me. Anyway, did you find something for the girl?’
Kashvi nodded. ‘A bracelet.’
‘Good,’ he said, stepping forward until the gap between them vanished. ‘I found something for my girl too.’
Kashvi swatted at his arm, making him let out an oomph. She tried to narrow her eyes at him, but couldn’t help the smile. He looked like trouble and temptation rolled into one.
He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth pouch, offering it to her.
Kashvi hesitated, then took it and slid the drawstring open. Nestled inside lay a chandbali jhumkas made with pearls and amethyst studded in floral structure. The rays caught the gems, making them glint in her hand.
She looked up at him. ‘You bought these for me?’
‘As much as I like them, I don’t think I can pull off wearing these, so yeah, I’m giving them to you,’ he tilted his head, teasing her. ‘Do you like them?’
Kashvi said. ‘They’re beautiful, but why would you do this?’
‘Because I wanted to,’ he simply said.
‘Thank you,’ she said, unable to find a better response.
‘Don’t, because I plan to take back in kind,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘It seems only fair that I give you something to hold on to when I plan to steal your heart,’ Swayam said, brushing a stray curl from her face before his fingers slid to the ruby heart dangling from a chain around her neck.
‘Why are you so obsessed with the idea of stealing my pendant?’ she asked, tilting her head.
‘Because I have my heart set on it,’ he whispered darkly, and her toes curled in the sand. ‘Besides, I’ll have plenty of chances to steal your pendant at home, since we are living together now.’
Kashvi warned. ‘Don’t even think about it.’
‘I’ve already thought about a lot of things.’ The heat in his gaze made her breath hitch.
‘In your dreams,’ she said, and immediately turned around, running down the stretch of the beach.
Swayam lunged after her, laughing and chasing her.
Her melodious giggle floated toward him as Kashvi called out over her shoulder. ‘You’ll never catch me!’
‘Keep saying that and I just might do it,’ Swayam shouted back, running behind her.
They ran far enough that the wheel looked smaller in the background. Kashvi was about to stop—because she knew he wouldn’t give up—when a sudden tide swept over her feet and she stumbled towards a rock.