Epilogue
“Vir, wait for me!”
He slowed down, his feet automatically responding to the sound of her voice. He stopped, waiting for her to catch up. As always, the sight of her lit something up inside him, something gooey and warm and sweet.
She was beautiful but it wasn’t the perfect symmetry of her face that got his attention, it was the way she smiled when she saw him. Every time her eyes met his, the biggest, brightest smile spread across her face, making him feel ten feet tall. She was always so happy to see him. She was the only one who’d ever been that happy to see him.
“Were you trying to leave me behind, Virat Jha?” she demanded, her eyes sparkling with good humour. Always in a good mood, always laughing, always seeing the good in the world.
Always seeing the good in him, even when there was none.
“I wouldn’t dare,” he said, smiling slightly. It was impossible not to smile around her. “It’s not like I could ever leave you behind.”
“Damn right,” she said, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. “You can’t escape me Vir. You’re stuck with me forever and no matter what happens, you can never, never, never leave me behind.”
He never, never, never, wanted to. It was an inescapable truth of his existence. Where she went, so did he.
Virat stared out at the night, endless darkness that mirrored his soul. Where she went, so did he…well, that hadn’t been true, had it?
Seventeen years ago, he’d left her lying in a hospital bed, broken beyond redemption, and walked away. He’d never looked back. Not once.
His hand clenched on the balcony railing as he looked up at the star strewn night. Most of the time, pollution made it impossible to see the stars but tonight, it was like the heavens were mocking him with their glory.
“Can you spot Orion, the hunter’s belt?”
She lay on her back on the school lawn, her hair spread out behind her like a sea of lustrous brown. She stared up at the night sky, a dreamy expression on her face.
If they were caught outside their dorms after curfew, they were both looking at suspension. Neither of them cared too much. Every stolen second with the other was worth risking everything.
“Vir.” She dug her bony elbow into his ribs making him wince theatrically. “Orion?”
“I don’t know,” he groaned. “I don’t care.”
“Why don’t you care?” she asked, mock outrage on her face. “The stars are endlessly fascinating. I could spend all my free time watching them. They’re beautiful. You should care about them.”
“Okay.”
Okay?” She laughed. “Just like that? Just because I said so?”
“I would do anything you asked of me.” Virat turned his head to look at her, his eyes catching the sparkling, warm brown of hers. “You just have to say so.”
“Anything?” she asked, her white teeth biting her lower lip gently.
“Anything.”
“Would you bring me a star from the sky then?”
“For you,” he whispered, his heart in his eyes. “I would try.”
They stared at each other, a million unspoken promises hovering in the air.
And then she smiled, cupping his cheek gently, the gesture feeling like a stroke against his full, aching heart. “One day, we’ll reach for the stars together.”
“Are you going to be an astronaut then? When you get out of here? Are you going to study the stars?”
“No,” she smiled, looking at him over her shoulder. “I’m not going to study the stars, silly. I’m going to be a star.” She looked up again, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “One day, I’m going to be the brightest star in the Universe. The whole world will know my name. And I,” she turned, meeting his eyes. “Will always know only one. Yours.”
Virat drew in a shuddering breath, shoving the memory out of his brain. He reached for the beer bottle on the table by his side. He took a sip of the bitter brew, trying to wash out the even more bitter taste in his mouth.
He’d spent more than a decade running from the memories, running from her, running from himself and yet, he’d never outrun any of it. And now, he was right back where he’d started.
He couldn’t avoid this anymore. After what the Dusty Devils had pulled with Mayukhi, he knew he needed to warn her. This war was out in the open now. The masks were off and no one was safe anymore. He needed to let her know what was happening. He needed her to be prepared for the shitstorm that was coming because he knew that, like last time, she was going to be the eye of the storm.
He exhaled hard, pulling out his phone and going to his favourites list. There, right on top, was her name. He’d had her number for what felt like forever but never once had he used it.
Until tonight. Before he could talk himself out of it, he tapped on the contact, dialling her number. It rang for what felt like eternity. He was about to give up and disconnect when he heard a click. His heart stopped.
“Hello?” Her husky voice shattered the gilded cage he’d built around his most precious memories, setting them free in a chaotic, tumultuous rush.
And his heart , so cold and still for so long, started beating again.
Virat took a deep breath and then he said, “Celi, it’s me.”