Epilogue: The Only Chance

A few days later, Akki came home crying and reported that Peeplika mam was leaving. He ran to his room, leaving behind her fourteen-year-old Aru looking at her darkly.

"She gave this for you." It was an earring, her earring that she had once lost at Peeplika's house all those years ago. Astha's hands trembled as she touched it.

"You love her?" Aru asked, her voice emotionless. Astha stared at her daughter in shock.

"We heard you both, after Akki's birthday party,"

"I am sorry," was the first thing she could think of saying. Sorry for being a fu*k up, sorry for being a bad mother, sorry for separating you from your father, sorry for falling for another woman.

"Why?" Aru asked. "You shouldn't let her go. Papa didn't deserve you, she does. She is beautiful, kind, warm, honest - everything you deserve," Aru kissed her hair, leaving Astha in shock. She looked at Aru's retreating figure as the realization dawned on her. She knew that Aru was right and she now knew what she had to do

"Where are you off to?" Astha asked as she ran to Peepli, who was loading a suitcase in her car's trunk.

"San Francisco. I have a workshop to attend,"

"Can I come with you?"

"No, we have spoken about it..."

"They know, Aru and Akki know, they heard us. They went to my mother and got the whole story out of her. They know." 

It had been two days since Akki had come home crying about his favorite teacher leaving.

"I could take a leave, drop them off at Hemant's." 

Astha stopped speaking when suddenly Peeplika's mouth crashed into hers, her tongue stroking her lower lip. She kissed her back with a smile on her lips and tears in her eyes.

"I'll have to fight my son for your attention now," she laughed as she broke the kiss.

"I'll take his mother; he is too young for my taste," Peeplika laughed as she placed her head against hers.

"I love you,"

"And I, you."

"Please don't go about drawing all the French girls."

Peeplika broke away, with a question in her eyes.

"Titanic," Astha replied sheepishly, making her bark out in laughter.

"There is only one French girl I want to draw." She captured her lips again.

If Peeplika missed her flight because she got busy making love with her girl, she didn't complain. If Astha had left her kids alone at her place to fend for themselves because she was busy making love with her girl, she didn't worry.

They'd be alright; they would all be.

Beta read by: LizzieBennett