Chapter 37-Gangas Garden
Vikram took her beyond the eastern courtyard.
Vinaya realized where they were going before he spoke.
Her steps slowed.
White flowers appeared first.
Not jasmine.
Lotus ponds.
Small flowering shrubs.
Blue bells.
Things Ganga might have liked if she had lived long enough to choose.
Vinaya stopped.
A stone arch marked the entrance.
No grand inscription.
Only one name.
Vinaya could not breathe.
Vikram stood several steps behind her.
"I changed the jasmine."
She looked at him.
He remembered.
I don't know if I like jasmine anymore.
The flowers were gone.
Something inside her cracked.
"You did this?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"After you came home."
She walked slowly into the garden.
There was a small bench beneath a tree.
A carved stone elephant rested near the pond.
Blue.
One ear deliberately chipped.
Vinaya covered her mouth.
Vikram's voice broke behind her.
"I remembered the toy."
Tears came instantly.
"Why?"
"I wanted there to be somewhere she belonged here."
Vinaya turned.
Vikram's eyes were wet.
"I sent her away from this palace."
His voice shook.
"I cannot undo that."
"No."
He nodded.
"I know."
Vinaya looked toward the elephant.
"I hated you."
Vikram flinched.
"After she died."
She swallowed.
"I hated you so much."
"You should have."
"I wanted you to hurt."
"I did."
"No."
Her voice rose.
"I wanted you to hurt like I hurt."
He said nothing.
Vinaya's composure collapsed.
"I wanted you to know what it felt like to hold her while she burned with fever."
Vikram's face crumpled.
"I wanted you to hear her crying."
Tears streamed down her face.
"I wanted you to understand what it was like when she stopped."
"Vinaya."
"And then I hated myself for wanting that."
She covered her face.
Vikram moved toward her.
Stopped.
He did not touch her.
Not without permission.
That mattered.
Vinaya lowered her hands.
He stood close enough to reach.
Far enough to leave.
"I miss her."
The words were small.
Vikram broke.
"So do I."
Vinaya cried harder.
For the first time, he did not apologize.
Did not explain.
Did not try to fix the impossible.
He simply stood with her.
Then Vinaya took one step.
And another.
Until her forehead rested against his chest.
Vikram went completely still.
His hands remained at his sides.
"Vikram."
"Yes?"
"You can hold me."
His breath shook.
Then his arms came around her.
Carefully.
As though she were something precious.
Vinaya clutched his tunic.
And in Ganga's garden, husband and wife finally grieved their daughter together.