Chapter 45
As they drove to the Baskin airport, the familiar sights of her hometown cast in the final streaks of evening sunlight greeted Manisha—each street corner, each shop, a part of her history.
Her father glanced over at her with a subtle smile.
But the ride passed in silence, the kind of silence that felt heavy with unspoken thoughts.
They passed the familiar grocery store that she’d rush to after school to grab her Diet Coke fix, and the park where she and Deena had spent countless afternoons sprawled out on the grass, swapping secrets, overanalyzing text messages, and planning their dream vacations.
A wave of nostalgia hit her and she felt a deep urge to stay, to linger—just a little longer.
This place that had once felt stifling now seemed to pull at her heart, the memories of her past mixing with the present in ways she hadn’t expected.
And then, there was Rohit. His presence had been bleeding into her thoughts more than she’d like to admit.
She hadn’t expected it to be this way, especially after everything that had happened.
She’d insisted—no, convinced herself—that things with him were beyond repair.
That his hidden truths, their misunderstandings, and the strange mess they’d created made any future together impossible.
She had been firm in her denial, focused on moving forward and leaving behind the complications of love.
But now, as she found herself standing on the edge of the familiar world she’d once tried so hard to escape, the walls she’d carefully built around her heart were starting to crumble.
She thought of the heart-to-hearts she’d had with Deena, her mom and dad, and even her grandmother.
Each conversation had peeled away a layer of her defence, each one helping her see things differently.
Her grandmother’s words about love being the greatest source of wealth, her mother’s vulnerability about missing the closeness of her children, and Deena’s insistence that she be honest with herself—they had all made her reflect on what love really was.
It wasn’t about perfection or always having the right answers; it was about understanding, compromise, and yes, sometimes a little bit of pain.
Maybe she’d been too focused on the past, too unwilling to face her own mistakes.
She had spent so much time blaming Rohit for everything, but wasn’t she equally to blame for never having the courage to admit what or who she really wanted?
Manisha closed her eyes for a brief moment.
She thought about how often he’d been there for her, how he’d made her laugh, how he’d genuinely listened when she shared her worries and hopes.
The fireworks when he slid her loose strap across her bare shoulder.
And now, she realized how much she missed him—not just the version of him she’d built up in her head, but the real, imperfect Rohit who had never really stopped caring about her.
Had she been wrong about everything? Could they fix this? Her mind raced. She couldn’t deny that, deep down, she still wanted to be with him. The thought of her future, the one she’d envisioned without him, suddenly felt incomplete.
“You should go in case the security line is long,” Manisha’s dad said, pulling her from her thoughts. “But I have no doubt that you will return soon. Always remember that we are incredibly proud of you, beta,” he reminded her.
Manisha felt a lump in her throat. “I know, Dad. And I want you to know how grateful I am for everything. This visit has been…quite overwhelming for me, and I’ve learned a great deal from you these past few weeks. I feel so lucky to have a dad as awesome as you.”
“A dad as sick as me, right?” Her father chuckled, his eyes twinkling with pride. “And a dad that keeps his daughter fed, no less,” he teased, earning a playful eye roll from Manisha.
“Thank you for that, too,” she said, her voice filled with affection.
As they hugged goodbye at the departures gate, her father offered her some Patel advice.
“I know my daughter’s heart is filled with love for someone, and she’ll know when it’s time to open it up to him again. There’s no hurry.”
Manisha’s eyes misted over, touched by her father’s understanding.
“Thanks, Dad, and same goes for you. When you’re ready to open your heart back up to…” she trailed off, not wanting to bring up the painful subject of her grandmother, “to anyone, you should.”
They exchanged a knowing look, and her dad said, “Us Patels, we are stubborn, aren’t we?”
“We sure are,” Manisha said, dismayed at just how right he was.
“But maybe one day we won’t be.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “Maybe. I love you, Dad. Thank you.”
As she went through the security checkpoint and then toward her gate, she dwelled on how lucky she was for the unwavering love her family had always shown her.
She made her way to the airport lounge, her feet unconsciously bringing her to the panoramic windows overlooking Baskin as her thoughts circled back to her decision to leave.
Was it the right one? Maybe it was the cowardly way out, but it also felt like the only option to get out of the mess she’d made.
She could stay, try to work things out with Rohit…
Except, could she really go back and make things right after all the hurt they’d caused each other?
No, she couldn’t bear all the falsehood.
A shooting star streaked across the darkness that loomed over the planes lined up at their gates outside. Manisha had one wish, and even Meena Auntie, with all her magical powers, couldn’t grant it.
She replayed the events of that night at the Emporium.
The memory of Rohit’s face, twisted in pain and confusion, haunted her.
She had seen the damage in his eyes, the pain that was surely mirrored in her own.
Was it possible to come back from that? They had spent so much time together these past few weeks.
They’d shared intimate conversations about their hopes, dreams, and insecurities. Even more so as Sunil and Isha.
And then there was the kiss. The passionate, electrifying kiss that had left her breathless and wanting more. It had felt so good, so right, as if they had been meant to be together all along. But had he felt that same deep, earth-shattering connection? Did any of it even matter?
Questions swirled around her as she watched one plane after another take off and disappear out of sight.
She had spent so long running, running from him, running from herself, and she couldn’t do it anymore. She needed to face the consequences of her actions, own her faults, and take the first step toward fixing what she had also broken.
With a sense of quiet determination, she made a promise to herself. I’ll do better. I’ll be better. No more running. No more hidden truths.
She would go to London as planned, quickly sort through her affairs there, then come right back home to Baskin at the earliest opportunity.
But Rohit…he deserved so much better than to be ignored by her for any longer. She had already hurt him once by hiding the truth; now, it was time to be upfront and give them both a chance to start fresh. No more running, no more games.
She reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed. The message to Rohit wasn’t long, but it was heartfelt. It wasn’t an apology, not yet, but it was the first step toward healing.
I want to talk to you. I’ve been running from this, but I don’t want to run anymore.
Her hands trembled as she typed the message to him. As she hit send, a weight lifted off her shoulders. She didn’t know what would happen next, but she felt like she was finally on the right path in all aspects of her life.
When the announcer called out her flight number, Manisha boarded the plane and walked down the aisle to the middle of the aircraft. The red-eye flight was relatively empty, with only a few dozen people scattered throughout the cabin. She found her seat and settled in, grateful for the quiet.
As the plane taxied down the runway and ascended into the sky, Manisha reflected on her email, wondering if Rohit would have replied by the time she landed in London. She hoped he would. But her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the charming flight attendant.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said with a smile, “we have some extra space up front in our premium section. Would you like a complimentary upgrade?”
Manisha lit up at the thought of indulging in a few glasses of champagne while she wallowed. After all, she had several hours to kill before she could get any Wi-Fi and check if Rohit had replied to her message.
“Yes, please!” she exclaimed.
“After you.” He motioned for her to lead the way to the front of the plane.
Manisha opened the curtains to the premium area, where the seats were empty except for a man at the front listening to music. Really loud music. The champagne couldn’t come fast enough, Manisha thought.
As she sat down, she could swear she smelled the familiar scent of bergamot—but that had to be her imagination.
She leaned back in her seat and gasped. The plane’s ceiling was lit like a dazzling night sky, with hundreds of tiny stars twinkling and shimmering in a surreal display.
The sight left Manisha breathless, transporting her back to Rohit’s theatre, and ultimately to her first date with Sunil that never was.
What is going on?
“Manisha.”
Manisha’s heart skipped as she heard her name.
She turned in disbelief. Could it be?
Sure enough, it was Rohit’s voice, unmistakable and comforting. From the front seat, he stood up, switched off the music, and walked toward her with a confident smile.
“Rohit…What are you doing here?” she asked breathily. Her eyes flitted across his face, taking in his every feature over and over again, as though trying to ensure that he was really here. Finally, they stopped to meet his steady gaze.