Chapter 11 - Never say goodbye
Sakshi flipped one page after the other, her eyes staring blankly at the words imprinted on the white pages. They seemed blurred; none of them seemed to make any sense. Since when had she been so distracted from a novel? It was New Year's Eve and all she could think about was that tomorrow he would leave. She wouldn't see him again until she graduated and went back home. A whole year. Distance scared her.
She looked up as she heard a knock upon her door. Aisha stood at the door holding two cups of steaming hot chocolate. "Need a comfort drink?"
"And a friend." Sakshi smiled and reached out for the cup. Everything felt better instantly as she felt the warmth of the cup spreading through her fingers and the smell of chocolate filling up her lungs.
Aisha settled down on her bed and said, "Have you thought about this?"
"Only a million times."
"And?"
Sakshi sipped the hot chocolate, feeling its comfort spread through her body like the warm winter sunshine. "And what?"
"He is going away tomorrow. And you are in love with each other."
"I know."
"Doesn't it scare you?"
Sakshi smiled bleakly, nursing her hot chocolate absently and said, "A little bit."
Aisha looked up hesitatingly and asked, "Can he not stay back for a year?"
"This is life, Aisha. Not fiction. Be practical. He has a job back in Mumbai. I wouldn't even dream of asking him to stay back for me."
Aisha nodded and said, "Yeah. You are right. The world comes in between."
"It's only the world. Love is stronger, don't you think? It has the power to defeat everything. Even time and distance."
***
"You really will be going then?" Sameer asked.
"I don't think she would want me to stay even though it is what we both want more than anything else in the world." Arjun stood near his desk and twirled the little yellow daisy that he always kept in the vase.
"You obviously wouldn't ask her to come along with you."
"Why would I do that?"
Sameer shrugged and said, "Yeah. You won't."
Arjun smiled ever so faintly and said, "It is ok. She will be fine. I will be fine. We will be fine. It's only a year."
And he believed it. It was only a year. Time couldn't do anything. Because in his heart he knew, they would be together one day. Until then, they had a bag of memories to cherish.
***
The night had fallen and the city lights were twinkling in the dark. It was even busier than usual, it being the night of New Year's Eve. He stood near the steps of a river cruise boat that was to take them on a cruise along the river Thames until midnight.
"May I?" Arjun offered her his hand.
She stood at the edge of the pier, clad in the familiar red coat and jeans; a yellow floral scarf draped across her neck. Her loose hair flew in the cold breeze that was blowing across the river and she kept tucking it behind her ear. The cherry red lip gloss glistened on her lips as she smiled and slipped her hand into his.
The boat bobbed gently as she stepped on board and looked around her. They stood on the top deck of the boat which was illuminated by the soft glow of the colourful fairy lights that were draped across the boat fence. A white piano stood at one end, glowing hauntingly in the yellow glow of a halogen spotlight that shone upon it. The faint melody of a violin drifted towards them from the lower deck. She could spot a few people conversing with each other near the boat fence.
She raised her eyebrows at him and asked, "Are you usually this romantic or is this another of your attempts to impress me?"
He smiled in response. "It's the last day of the year. I am in London. And..." He edged closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I am with you."
She poked him in the chest and said, "Flirting isn't going to work."
"Really?" He grinned and moved his face closer to hers.
"Don't you dare!"
"What?" He whispered and moved his lips closer to hers.
He smiled as he felt her breath quicken and he kissed her forehead instead. "I am a decent guy."
She laughed and replied in a teasing voice, "Of course you are!"
***
The piano's soft melodious tune blended in with the gentle lapping of river waves against the walls of the boat as it cruised along the river. She rested her head on his shoulder as the city drifted by at a slow, steady pace; the lights glimmered in the darkness, stark, bright and alive. There was a hint of moisture that lingered in the cold night air, as if it would rain.
"Will you miss London?" She asked.
"No."
"No?" She looked up to see his grinning face.
He touched her nose gently and said, "No, silly. For me, London was you. It is you. And I already have you with me."
"Only until tomorrow."
He held her hand and gently brushed his fingers over her knuckles. "No. Forever. You do want to talk about these sad things don't you?" His smiled teasingly.
She smiled and said, "Ok, I won't anymore. But you still didn't answer my question."
"I kind of did." He touched her palm to his chest and smiled. "I am going to use that cheesy line on you. You belong here. In my heart."
She laughed and brought her ear closer to his beating heart. "I can almost hear myself in there."
"You cannot hear. You have to feel." He wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I can never miss you, because you will always be with me."
"In your heart."
"In my heart." He smiled.
She glanced up briefly and said, "It was cheesy but it worked. Girls like cheesy lines."
He laughed at her response and said, "Maybe I should start reading a few love stories."
"You don't need to."
"Why is that?"
"Because very soon, I will be reading them out to you." She looked up at him and winked.
***
Just ahead, he could make out the lights of the London eye and the Parliament square glittering in the darkness. The banks were already crowded with not an inch of empty space left. Everyone huddled together in the chill of the night; all patiently awaiting the countdown to begin. The boat slowed down as the minute's hand of his watch approached the 12th hour.
She glanced at him, her arm gripping his and her face gleaming with excitement. He stayed quiet, a grin pasted on his face, as the crowd around them got restless.
"Ladies and gentlemen." A loud voice echoed across the river as the final countdown was projected on the walls of the tall building behind the London eye. The crowd erupted into loud cheers and excitement spread around them like wildfire.
The shouts grew louder and louder as the final ten seconds arrived.
She clutched his arm tighter and joined the crowd with the countdown. "Ten".
"Nine." He joined in too.
They shouted at the top of their voices, smiling at the millions of unknown faces around them and their eyes fixed on the countdown projected on the building.
"Seven."
"Six."
"Five."
Louder and louder, until their cheeks started hurting from smiling and grinning so much.
"Four."
She started jumping beside him. "Three."
"Two."
"ONE."
And the fireworks started.
"Happy New Year!" The crowd burst into cheers that was almost drowned out by the loud noise of the firecrackers that lit up the sky overhead. Their voices were barely audible as they shouted at the top of their voices, "Happy New Year!"
The sky above burst into an array of colours and patterns. Fire created several beautiful designs on the sky, patterns of red, blue, yellow, green, silver, golden. There was confetti flying all around as they clung to each other and watched the magnificent display on the sky and the bridges. It lasted for several minutes, and the crowd watched in awe, craning their necks up at the sky.
It was a beautiful night. One that he would remember forever as he stood there by the fence, watching her eyes sparkle even more than before as the colours reflected in her dark eyes. He watched her smile, the way her cherry red lips curved slightly at the corner as her glance shifted towards him. He watched the little strand of hair that played across her face as her gaze remained fixed on him and her fingers slipped into his.
Her voice was barely audible over the fireworks, but even then, he heard it. He knew, he would always remember the look her eyes had held as she uttered those words.
"I want to spend every New Year's Eve with you, stranger. I want every year to start and end with you beside me, your eyes looking into mine."
***
The cathedral bells struck two in the morning when they stood outside the massive off-white stone structure. The roads weren't empty today. It was the New Year after all. Sakshi stood at the bottom of the stone steps that led up to the cathedral door and closed her eyes. A slight breeze blew through the trees and she could hear their faint rustle blending in with the fading sound of the church bells.
When she opened her eyes, she caught him looking at her, his eyes unblinking.
"What?" She blushed.
"Nothing." A smile lit up his face. He slipped his arm through hers and said, "Shall we?"
They stepped together into the church through the huge wooden doors. Their footsteps echoed across the cathedral as they passed the wooden pews placed in neat rows on either side of the passage leading up to the altar. Stepping into the sudden silence after being amongst the lively cheers of the crowds outside felt a little odd. She didn't know why they were here. She just knew that she wanted to spend every single moment of the night with him.
They stalled when they reached the altar. A few people sat on the pews, some sat with their eyes closed and some in a peaceful trance. She kneeled down to pray for the one desire her heart held.
He knew what she was wishing for and he smiled as he watched her quiet figure kneeling by the altar, her hands clasped in front. Without any words or thoughts, he too kneeled down beside her. He closed his eyes and just wished that her prayer be stronger with him by her side.
***
The flame of the candles burning near the altar flickered in the dim yellow light that lit up the cathedral. She stood in front of it, an unburnt candle held in her hand. The flickering candles threw ripples of candlelight across her face as she lit up her candle.
He walked closer to her and reached out for an unburnt candle. She smiled at him as he moved the white wick of his candle closer to her burning one.
They watched the flame on her candle flicker for a while, trying to set fire to the wax-covered wick of his candle. Slowly, the wick caught fire, the flame growing brighter and stronger than before. Their eyes locked for a brief moment as the two burning wicks met and created a single flame that grew brighter by the second. Then, slowly they put them down on the candle stand, one beside the other.
There they let the candles burn; apart and yet, together.
She looked into his eyes once more and he smiled.
***
Sakshi stood at the entrance to the airport, her fingers playing with the bangles that adorned her arm. Aisha stood by her side, casually chatting to Sameer and Arjun. Sakshi avoided their gazes, lest she couldn't control her tears. She didn't want to appear weak in front of him. She wanted him to leave with a smile on his face. She sighed and played with the handle of his suitcase.
She was suddenly shaken by Aisha who said, "Uh, are you coming inside or not?"
She shook her head in response and said, "No. I'll just stay here."
Aisha's concerning glance bore into her as she continued to avoid her eyes.
She didn't realise when Arjun appeared by her side and raised his eyebrows at her. "What's up bookworm?"
She shook her head again and smiled bleakly. "I'm fine."
"Of course you are." He reached into his bag and pulled out a parcel wrapped in silver wrapping paper.
"What's this?" She asked, curiously.
He smiled and said, "Only to be given if you smile."
She raised her brows at him and threw him a fake smile.
"Nope." He clutched the parcel to his chest.
Aisha and Sameer laughed as they stood beside her. Aisha nudged her and said, "Come on, Sakshi."
She smiled then and held out her hand.
He gently placed the parcel in her hand and said, "You already know what it is."
Her smile deepened and she said, "Of course."
"It's only so that you don't buy any more books while I am away." He winked at her.
Aisha said, "That's a futile hope, but good luck."
"Ok, um, we will go inside." Sameer said as he flashed a secret grin at Aisha. "I'll see you inside, Arjun."
She watched them disappear and then moved her glance to her feet again.
"Are you avoiding my eyes?" He asked.
"Maybe." She shuffled her feet. "I hate goodbyes." She muttered.
He held her by the shoulders, gently, and said, "This isn't a goodbye."
She looked up then, straight into his eyes. "I will miss you."
He pulled her into a hug and kissed her hair. "I will miss you too. But we'll be fine. I will write to you so you have more of my emails and letters to read than any of your cheesy romantic novels."
"Oh, please. You are not that romantic."
"I told you I would read more romance."
She laughed and said, "Of course you will. You'll probably fall asleep on the first page."
"I have read one love story."
"Oh really? Which one?" She looked up into his teasing eyes.
"It's this story about two strangers who meet in bookshops and then fall in love."
"Really. How unusual."
"Yeah, it was rather. I mean, two people destined to be with each other meeting in a bookshop?"
"Who said anything about the destined to be with each other thing?"
He sniggered and said, "Aren't we?"
She rested her head against his chest and said, "Of course we are. Will you really write me letters?"
"Yeah. Like a romantic boyfriend."
She hit him playfully on the chest and they laughed. "I don't want to see you leave. I don't like this being the last time."
He caressed her hair and said, "This isn't the last time. There is no last time." Her eyes locked with his again and he smiled. "There is only now and forever. So, smile."
And she did.
***
She stood by Aisha as they watched Sameer and Arjun entering the security check area. Sameer waved at them one last time before disappearing around the door.
But Arjun stood there, watching them. Watching her.
Then he signalled her to leave.
Her eyes asked why and he replied with a smile.
She didn't know why he wanted to fulfil every wish of hers. Suddenly, she smiled, all her fears of being away from him disappearing into the confines of the airport. She grinned at him and waved.
And she waited until he had disappeared around the corner.
She opened the parcel once she was seated on the train; a heavy and yet, light feeling lingered in her heart. She smiled when she saw the book.
But her smile deepened when she flicked open to the first page and her eyes fell upon the note that was inscribed on it.
Sakshi,
You must know by now how much I love you. Yeah, more than my books. I want you to know that I will be waiting for you. Always. Just on the other side of these airport doors. I know this seems like one of those chapters that go on forever and you just want it to end. You want to know what happens at the end of the book. But you have to wait, because every story is built on its chapters.
Our story doesn't end here. It never will.
Love never ends.
This is not a goodbye. More like, I will see you again. Soon. Just keep turning the pages.
Arjun
************************
Yeah, this was the last chapter! But before you start shoutinggg and throwing jootis at me..let me saay..there will obviously be an epilogue😆
Do leave your comments and likes pretty pleaseee😳
P.S - It feels like New Year's now lol🤪😆
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
38