Chapter 35-Not Priya
The problem with memory was that it simplified people.
Vikram had begun to understand that.
Priya had become sunlight in his mind.
All laughter.
Beauty.
Fire.
But real Priya had also been impatient.
She hated waking early.
She stole blankets.
She sulked when she lost games.
She once refused to speak to Vikram for an entire afternoon because he said one of her poems was confusing.
Then she admitted it had been confusing.
That had started another argument.
Vikram smiled at the memory.
For five years, he had polished her into perfection.
Not because she had been perfect.
Because death had made it unbearable to remember anything ordinary about her.
And then there was Vinaya.
Quiet.
Patient.
Observant.
She did not explode when angry.
She became terribly polite.
Priya would have thrown something.
Vinaya weaponized silence.
Priya loved festivals.
Vinaya hated crowded halls.
Priya preferred music.
Vinaya preferred books.
Priya would spend an hour choosing jewelry.
Vinaya regularly forgot to wear any.
They were nothing alike.
And for the first time, Vikram realized that was not a loss.
It was relief.
He found Vinaya in the library.
Again.
"You live here."
She looked up.
"That is a dramatic exaggeration."
"You have been here every afternoon this week."
"I like books."
"So I have discovered."
She closed the volume.
"What do you want?"
Vikram sat across from her.
"To see you."
The words came out before he thought.
Vinaya froze.
So did he.
Silence.
He should explain.
He did not know how.
Vinaya looked away first.
"I see."
That was somehow worse.
"I did not mean—"
"What did you mean?"
He had no answer that would not sound dangerous.
So he told the truth.
"I don't know."
Vinaya looked back at him.
Something vulnerable passed between them.
Then she changed the subject.
Vikram let her.
But the thought followed him.
He had come because he wanted to see her.
Not discuss council.
Not apologize.
Not alleviate guilt.
See her.
That realization should have frightened him.
Instead it followed him through dinner.
Through council.
Through the night.
And the next morning, before he was fully awake, Vikram's first thought was not of Priya.
It was whether Vinaya would be in the garden after breakfast.
He sat upright.
Stared at the wall.
Then understood.
He was looking forward to seeing his wife.