Chapter 48
Growing Affections and Distances
March 16th, 1706.
The runes had disappeared by morning, just like Horatia said they would. Maithili sat up, staring into the mirror, and touched her cheeks. It didn’t hurt anymore.
What were they?, she thought. And would they come back?
She felt a hard object just underneath her, sandwiched between the mattress. Carefully stepping out, she lifted it up and took out the spell book. It looked nothing like the books she had read in the library. It had mosaics of spiraling patterns and markings. The glyphs were impossible to interpret. As her hands fared over the cover, it glowed and shook, unaccustomed to its new wielder. She dropped it and backed away slowly, frightened.
Yamini came back just then, and closed the door behind her. Maithili burst into tears, and ran into her arms.
“Maa....what’s happening to me?” She sobbed into the silken cloth.
“I will explain everything later tonight, my dear. Patience.”
She had her sit down, an assortment of fruits in hand. Maithili already felt better, unable to remember the last time they spent this much time together, even if it was a little.
Piya grimaced, and hated knowing this was all likely for show.
She picked up the spellbook, still lying face down on the floor, and pushed it back under the mattress.
“That book.....it was glowing when I touched it.”
There was only a nod, and diversion of attention with more fruit. Maithili was left alone, once again and for a while longer, to wallow in her own confusions and new identity. She doubled checked her face after Yamini left, put on a wavering smile, and began to get dressed.
Everything else looked normal outside. She exhaled and looked around for Mandu. She tugged on the clothes of a passerby servant.
“Where’s didi?”, she asked.
“She is at the barracks, princess.”
She nodded, letting him go by. It was business as usual for the rest of the palace. Except for her. She felt out of place from it. A shard of glass that didn’t fit with the rest. Wandering in the company of her own thoughts, she ran into Indranuj next, who smiled and caressed her hair. She found some semblance of a real smile then.
Piya too felt relieved.
“Maithili, are you feeling better?”
She assumed that sharing this topic was forbidden beyond her and her mother.
“Your mother told me you weren’t feeling well.”
She shook her head.
“I’m okay now, baba....”
“Is that so? Alright.” He smiled and touched her shoulder. “Don’t worry about your lessons for today. Rest is important.”
She nodded and waved as he and a few soldiers exited the palace.
Piya turned about, looking at every face in sight. There was someone missing, who she thought would be there by now.
“Where is he?”
“Ayushmaan?”
She nodded.
“A simple entry would be too boring for him.”
The king, along with an entourage of soldiers, looked to be in preparation for a leisurely hunting trip. Horatia guided Piya in his party’s direction, while Maithili went off on her own to find Mandu.
“She’ll be okay, right?”
“For now, yes. I wonder if your sympathy will hold later on?”
Piya sighed. If anything, this trip was giving her an idea of how the three must’ve felt after everything fell apart. It was like feeling a kinship with certain characters in a novel, only to have the story change them in irredeemable ways. Conflicting emotions.
Things I can never forgive her for, Abhay had told her.
“What did she do.....?” She murmured to herself. It was all she could ask.
Horatia pretended to not hear and kept moving. As they drew closer towards the forest, Piya could see Ayushmaan hiding between the trees, dragging a edged dagger across his arms and back. It wasn’t some illusion; he was actively injuring himself. Blood spattered onto the rocks near his feet.
“And he’s so young....”
“For your time, yes. In the 18th century, people were often married off at this age.”
As the party entered the area, he staggered and threw himself onto the dirt roads, exaggerating his pain and exhaustion. He had a story already cooking in his mind, his identity of an abused b*stard child, who finally mustered the courage to run away from home, outrunning pursuers his family had hired for coin. If they needed more convincing, he could also enslave their minds, though he hoped he wouldn’t have to use his powers to begin with.
One of the guards pointed, bringing the caravan to a halt. Unaware of any intelligence hinting at an attack from foreign adversaries, they waited for long enough to make sure this wasn’t a trap. Hands left the hilts of swords at that moment.
“Your highness, he doesn’t look to be a threat....”
“Of course not.”
Indranuj jumped off his horse and approached Ayushmaan, leaving his sword behind to appear non threatening himself. He helped him up, finding splotches of blood stained on the cloth of the backside and arms. His eyes were wide with relief and fear, body shaking.
“Please save me.....king....”
He fell to his knees, hugging Indranuj’s ankles, and blubbering between heaving of breaths.
If there was one thing Piya was impressed by, it was his acting skills. Even she would have been fooled.
“Don’t worry. You are safe with us.”
A snake was getting an open invitation to the palace. It was one of Indranuj’s weaknesses, often placed blind trust towards those who ruled over. They cleared space on one of the carts and turned back, making haste. Many looked past as Ayushmaan was led carefully to the servant quarters, towards a clean bed and a visit from the royal physician. Soon was he bandaged up and left to rest.
“Can’t he heal himself?” Piya asked.
“Sure. But that would then make it more tedious to keep up an act. He needs time to gain everyone’s trust.”
Piya was astounded by the lengths one could go to deceive. And if he was still around, lurking in her time, his objectives weren’t yet complete.
Or he was selfish enough to want more.
The training grounds happened to be near to the servant quarters. She saw Mandu looking curiously in their direction, pulling off the worn breastplate and adjusting her hair.
He saw her face through the low window, and a obsessive pining ached his body. He had never seen a lady quite like her. It was an instant attraction.
So beautiful....
Piya felt chills, reminded of how Jeh used to stare at her. Just like that. But at least he was gone now. Ayushmaan was still alive.
Mandu could feel someone staring at her, and it raised the hairs on the back of her neck. It was easy to feel uncomfortable even when not fully able to see. She brushed it off, and found Maithili looking for her. She too knew that she wasn’t feeling well last night, and let her rest without any disturbances on her part.
“Are you feeling better?” She touched her cheek.
She smiled and nodded. “Are Siddharth and Abhayendra coming today?”
“In the afternoon.”
They shared a hug, as tight as comfort would allow. Piya smiled watching the two sisters.
Where did that love go?
Piya wandered inside the palace, finding Indranuj filling in both his queens on their temporary guest. They went to check on him together.
Ayushmaan was awake, and had his eyes dead locked in Yamini as she walked into the room last. And Yamini, she knew one of her own kind by just looking. Her eyes began darting about, making sure Maithili wasn’t even remotely around.
If he stays for long, I won’t be able to hide her.
“Don’t worry; you’re safe here. Our physician will take care of you.” Revati said.
To her and Indranuj, he looked like an innocent person. To Yamini, a personification of shrewdness. That’s how they all were. That’s how she was. And it all conflicted in the most destructive manners.
“Thank you....thank you so much.”
Yamini faked a smile.
This isn’t good.
She never thought they’d send someone to watch her, after all the efforts they made of cutting ties. She wasn’t prepared, and now that Maithili was in sights, her plans were now in danger of being compromised.
“Is Maithili that powerful?” Piya asked.
“Yes. And imagine what would happen if her power was used to gain more than originally planned.”
They moved to a small pond next, where both girls were sitting on the edges of. They dipped their toes into the cool water.
“Does he treat you well?” Mandu asked, knowing that she often felt better when talking about him.
“Who?”
“Abhayendra.”
Maithili turned several shades of red and lay on her back, splashing with her toes. She nodded quickly, pressing her hands to her cheeks.
“He’s very kind. Even if I don’t say much, he still likes my company.”
She had feelings for him.
“Why don’t you tell him?”
“Tell him what?”
“That you feel something for him?”
“Didi!” She buried her face in her palms, rapidly kicking the water to create background noise.
Mandu burst into laughter, holding her sides.
“Didi stop! It’s embarrassing....”
She turned over and buried her face under her arms, kicking her heels up and down. A smile was already returning to her lips.
Piya had seen, how much they were together. The pairs became more and more obvious, one constantly bickering and teasing the other, and one that basked in the silent company of the other. Abhay did tell her that Maithili was reserved. They didn’t need words, it seemed.
It was evident that the blossoms of love were beginning to sprout. Piya watched with interest, even whilst dealing with the jealousy of her own heart.
He had loved her so much. Was it possible for such a love to be completely erased from one’s heart? Sure, he had given Piya that spot now, but watching him fall for someone else didn’t go by without bothering her.
Once night fell, her skin began to burn and itch. She stared at her reflection in the glass of a hallway window. Before she could understand what to do, Yamini pulled her by the wrist, shielding her face with her veil.
“Don’t lift it.”
Abhay was looking for Maithili, wanting to give her one of his favorite books from home to read. The last place to check was her room, having found her no place else. He knocked on the doors, but she didn’t say anything.
“Princess.....are you there?”
Total silence. He hugged the book to his chest and knocked again. She muffled her tears with the pillow, staring at herself in the mirror in between.
Yamini returned with some concoction in her hands, finding him too close to her room. She walked over.
“I don’t believe you have permission to be here, Abhayendra.” She said coldly. “Run along now.”
His eyes dropped.
“I’m sorry, your highness.” He muttered, running off. There was a bad feeling he couldn’t shake off.
Once she had left, he slipped a note underneath the door frame, along with the book at the door’s edge. All it said, was to let him know if she was okay, and that he brought her book he thought she would like.
She didn’t have to talk if she didn’t want to.
And as such began the passing of notes. It was the only way he could keep her company before he went home. Whatever his father gave him to do, he finished it quickly just so he could squeeze in some time. They even talked through the door, although she never disclosed why she was always brought inside like this, every night.
This continued for the next year, until her 11th birthday. That night, Abhay brought tools to pick the locks, working his way in when no one was around.
Enough was enough.
The lock snapped open. He should’ve asked for permission to come in, but he was far too impatient, and worried.
“Princess—“
She looked at him, horrified. The markings, she was supposed to keep them a secret. Now he knew. And now she’d lose him too. She looked scary to her own sights. Then how on earth would he stay?
Their eyes didn’t leave one another. Hers began to fill with tears.
Abhay was more confused than afraid. He didn’t know what had happened to her, but she didn’t look happy about it either. She broke down in front of him, as he quickly shut the doors.
“You’re——“
She turned away and continued her quiet sob, hiding her face into a pillow.
“Please leave. I don’t want you to see me like this.”
He touched her shoulder.
“Like what?”
Piya now understood what Horatia meant when she’d find the situation familiar. It was just like hers and Abhay’s, except that Abhay took Maithili’s place, and Piya his.
“It’s not safe for you.”
“Why not?”
It was such an innocent question. But she couldn’t answer. She was always warned that those of their world and humans weren’t allowed to be this close. He could get hurt. She could hurt him.
“But she seems to be getting a hang of her powers.....with her restraint, hurting him is near impossible.”
“It’s not her power that can hurt him necessarily, but something out of both their hands.”
“What?”
“Nature. There’s a divide that it likes to keep between both worlds, human and supernatural. Those that cross it aren’t safe from its wrath.”
“Is Nature like you? Something that can manifest in a form like yours?”
She nodded.
“Though we’ve never met directly. I personally wouldn’t want to.”
Piya’s heart ached. She regretted asking.
“Then.....does that mean...we can’t be together either?”
“No. Not at all. Fate has tied you to him. And things dictated by Fate cannot be thwarted by Nature. Even Future and I are subject to its whims.”
Tied to him? In what way?
“To put it simply, Nature is like a picky eater. Imagine a plate filled with many dishes. Everything in it must be kept separate. Should anything accidentally mix, the tantrum begins and the plate is thrown over.”
She took her hand.
“Let’s take a quick detour, to your time. I included some of it just for this moment.”
Piya wasn’t sure of which part, but saw the scene and immediately remembered. Their walk by the stream, when she first tried to confess.
“Although Nature can’t punish you both, it can certainly threaten. What do you mortals call it?”
Piya was fixed on him. Though she was looking at him then, there was a certain fear on his face that missed her eyes then.
“Ah, pettiness.”
Her own dead body, his own bloodlust, and the threatening voice of Nature that sought at nothing more than to deter him. It was evident in how he held himself back, and how grief-stricken he was to see her dead because he dared to love her, a mere human.
If Piya was in her body, her cheeks would be soaked with tears.
“That’s why he lied.......”
Horatia brought her back, to where he was comforting Maithili. She looked just as afraid. And Piya, she was beginning to have a grudge towards Nature.
“If you weren’t bound to each other, you’d have met a similar fate. Just like he did.”
“And Maithili?”
“Oh, her? She’s part of the guilty party.”
——————————————————————
Abhay’s nights at the palace were now spent most with Maithili, sneaking into her room out of her mother’s sight. It would be tough to explain regardless if anyone saw. She often showed him some of the spells she was learning, as he watched in wonder, not the least bit afraid.
A pile of flowers lay wilted next to her as she lifted herself off the ground. He looked at them.
“Do the flowers have to die?”
She stopped and nodded, not keen on the action either.
“It’s the only way I can do anything. If I try to use my own energy, it hurts me.”
“But that means you won’t tire, right?”
She nodded, flipping through the pages.
Piya was watching from the corner, leaning her head against the wall. Surprisingly, she didn’t fall through.
“Only he knew, huh?”
“Yes.”
Piya expected the person to be Mandu, but Maithili made sure that no one else beyond Abhay would find out. Yamini was the most watchful of her anyways, knowing that she would obey her orders. On top of that, with the growing separation Ayushmaan was creating between the two sisters, it made sense as to why.
And Maithili kept allowing herself to get manipulated.
Ayushmaan, in the last year, had become a mainstay at the palace. One day while recovering, he entered the court on a whim, and offered his counsel on the prospect of a brewing territorial dispute. He proved to be quite knowledgeable in such affairs, and only added to Indranuj’s trust in him. But he wasn’t interested in all this. As long as Maithili was there, he needed to be there as well.
If she joins us, our kind will become unstoppable.
“Revenge is a dangerous emotion, isn’t it?” Horatia touted.
Pandher was soon at war, and while she didn’t show Piya the fighting, she did make a note to her that Mandu would be absent from the palace, also fighting in it. In fact, she took Piya to the same fort that still stood in Dehradun, the one that nearly plunged her to her death had Abhay not saved her.
I still have to thank you for it.
The walls were bare, and the structure was well-fortified and intact. Piya brushed her fingers past the empty wall that was now painted over.
“No wonder the girl in that mural looked like her. It was her.”
“It was painted after the battle that took place here, as an honor to her hand in the victory. Like a ruling queen would.”
“And Maithili?”
“Maithili wasn’t the best at physical combat. Instead, she found interest in botany and medicine, along with strengthening her magical power. She raised some of the newer parts of the garden you’ve been seeing.”
She did, and it was beautiful.
Indranuj loved both sisters equally, with much praise for either of their talents. But he was obligated to give his heir more attention in preparation for the inevitable, giving Ayushmaan more ammunition to convince Maithili she was being sidelined in favor of her sister.
He revealed himself to her one winter night, as she tended to the horses at the stable. She had been teaching herself to hide the runes, and could hold them back for a couple hours more. It hurt, but the hours away from the locked room was worth the pain.
She didn’t think to talk to him much until the reveal. There was someone who she could share her frustrations with. While Abhay was doing the same already, there was only so much he could understand.
Ayushmaan was just who she needed.
“Why have you come here?”
“To help you, of course. I’m sure keeping all this bottled up wasn’t easy for you. Even your own mother.....she could’ve done more to help.”
She sighed and caressed the mane of her favorite horse, Rajan.
“I feel bad for you sometimes. She forces you to hide and appear weak, while your sister gets to do whatever she wants and take all the glory.”
Her hand stopped.
“What a terrible sister.”
She didn’t think twice and slapped him square across the cheek.
“Don’t ever talk about my didi like that again. Understood?” She hissed through her teeth.
Ayushmaan grumbled, palm to cheek, and watched her storm off, seething in his own humiliation.
Piya cursed him under her breathe and went after Maithili, as the seeds of doubt and division sowed in her mind.
This wasn’t the end. He concocted many lies. At every opportunity, he sought to convince her that she wasn’t important in the house.
He incited her as Mandu began to become more known as the crown princess.
“Don’t you wish you were born first?” He sometimes whispered while passing by. “You could’ve had it all.”
When she began to accompany their father in travels to other kingdoms.
“She doesn’t have time for you now.”
When she could meet Siddharth freely, whenever she wanted.
“Look at her with Siddharth. Don’t you wish you and Abhayendra could meet the same way?”
When Revati always saw to her with love and affection.
“Her mother loves her much more than your own mother loves you. Don’t you wish she was your real mother too?”
Even if Revati treated Maithili just like her own daughter, it wasn’t the same.
“Don’t you wish you had everything Mandakini has?”
She began to take them as he wanted, personally, all affecting her behaviors and mental state. She made more mistakes, lazed around, and began to garner the disappointment that he convinced her she was getting.
Maithili ran off one new moon night, somewhere deep in the forest where no one could find her. She fell to her knees and screamed at the sky, tears of anger and envy streaming down her cheeks.
It’s unfair. It’s all unfair.
Why did she not get to be as happy as her sister? Why wasn’t she considered good enough for anything?
“Oh no....” Piya whispered, witnessing her breakdown. It was far too late. Even Mandu’s reassurances wouldn’t quell her rage now.
The devil on her shoulder, which now shared Ayushmaan’s voice, whispered in her head.
But you have something she doesn’t, Maithili. Magic. It is your power. She’ll never have it.
Piya wished she could stop this.
“Let the fall begin.” Horatia said.
——————————————————————
May 23rd, 1712.
Her sixteenth birthday marked the day her powers awakened completely. But with it, the distance to her family grew.
She kept to herself, holding onto her relationship with Mandu, believing that their family was at fault instead of Mandu, and only fully expressing herself with Abhay. Ayushmaan was just there as a mentor, who taught her uncommon spells when all were asleep. Things Yamini could never even attempt.
“You’re so powerful, Princess.”
The validation was a poison. A poison that could spread quickly.
One day, while the four of them sparred against each other, her envy grew upon seeing Mandu jump for joy as she singlehandedly beat all three of them. When it was her turn to spar with Abhay, she went so hard that, despite beating him, the tip of the sword struck him and a small cut opened under his eyes.
“No—“ Piya shot her hand out as he touched his fingers to the cut. Thankfully, he was okay. She dropped the sword and frantically apologized.
“It’s alright, princess. It’s only a small cut.”
He could’ve lost his eye. Why can’t you control yourself? Didi would never make such a mistake.
Her gaze fell and she walked off, hiding from everyone else. Abhay followed after, holding a cloth to his cheek.
“I’m really sorry, Abhayendra......” She whispered, wiping tears.
The only thing she had that brought her a special joy was him. She didn’t want to lose it.
He softly smiled and brushed her tears away.
“It’s alright. I’m okay, see?”
He pulled away the cloth, the cut already scabbing over.
“You don’t have to lie. It must hurt.”
“I’m not lying. Promise. Now don’t cry.”
She nodded and pressed her forehead to his chest, hair obscuring her face. He looked around, kissed her head, and hugged her back.
“Abhayendra——“
“No one’s looking. It’s okay.” He lifted her chin. “Now smile.”
She did, and he touched their foreheads together.
At least I’m lucky enough, to have fallen in love with you.
Soon, even his love wouldn’t be enough for her. Even if he gave her so much of it. Theirs was a relationship of little words and more feeling.
Both couples were weaving their love stories, away from public eye. While the younger two confessed earlier in the year, Siddharth too had confessed a few days later, but came back without an answer.
“I....need to think about this.” Mandu had told him, leaving the front gates in a hurry.
He put himself in a work slump, as a distraction.
It was past midnight, but Siddharth was awake, drafting a treaty in his father’s stead. As he finished penning the last few sentences, a white dove with a note attached to its neck perched itself on the windowsill.
Abhay was asleep, and Siddharth was weaving daydreams at night, in love with his best friend, the crown princess of Pandher.
Piya found Abhay’s sleeping position bordering Misha’s, funny enough because of how they didn’t get along. He lay on his stomach, one arm and leg hanging off the side. It looked cute, and Piya couldn’t stop staring.
She wanted to ruffle his hair.
As soon as the dove fluttered its wings on landing, Siddharth was startled out of his dreamland and seat. Abhay stirred and mumbled something incoherent, before falling back asleep.
What is this?
He approached the dove, carefully undoing the note from its string. A single candle burned at the table. He unrolled it and read. Piya peered over his shoulder. Mandu had sent it.
I thought it over. Want to hear my answer?
- Mandakini
The excitement sapped all sleepiness from his eyes. And his smile, it was brighter than the wick of the candle. If this dove had flown by at this time, surely she must be awake. He tucked it in his pocket, starting towards the door. But there was no way he’d go alone, this late at night. He stopped, and looked to a sleeping Abhay.
He won’t mind. What’s helping your elder brother once in a while?
“He’s going now?” Piya blurted out, surprised.
“He’s going now.” Horatia affirmed.
Siddharth carefully walked to Abhay and kneeled, tapping his cheek a couple times. He stirred again and turned to the other side.
“Abhay?” He shook his shoulder.
“Mmm....what....”
“Get up.”
Abhay was a deep sleeper. Siddharth grew impatient, and filled a small jug of water from the clay vessel in their room. Tipping it over his ear, the water drenched his face. He shot up, wide awake and upset, and glared at Siddharth.
“Good morning!” He exclaimed in a hushed tone.
He lay back down and pulled the covers over his head.
“Abhay, please.”
“Go bother someone else.”
“I can’t. Only you know the shortcuts to the palace.”
He sat up, threw the covers aside, and waited.
“What is it that can’t wait till morning?” He angrily whispered, keeping watch at the door to make sure their parents didn’t wake up from the noise.
“Look.”
Siddharth held up the letter. He took it and squinted while reading.
“How can you be sure she’s still awake?”
“Lover’s intuition. Let’s go.”
Abhay rolled his eyes.
“No.”
“Please, Abhay. I’ll make it up to you.”
“How?”
“I’ll do anything you ask.”
“Anything?”
He nodded quickly.
“Okay. For one week, any work Baba gives me, you’ll do instead. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“You didn’t even think about it?”
“I don’t need to. Let’s go.”
Abhay knew the paths of the forest well, thanks to his escapades with Maithili. It was much faster than taking the cobblestone path, and led right under the nose of the balcony. They snuck out with only a candle to light their path.
“What on earth are they doing?” Piya said.
Horatia laughed, at the way the two brothers tried to get to her balcony. Siddharth climbed upon Abhay’s shoulders, reaching for the railing.
“Baba is going to beat us if he finds out.”
“Relax. We’ll be back before he wakes up.”
Even Piya had a hard time believing it. Their father woke up really early, as early as the rising sun.
Atop the balcony, Mandu was awake, hugging a pillow in her bed, also daydreaming about the outcomes of the note she sent him. She blushed and hid her face in the fabric.
A pebble landed on the floor and rolled a few centimeters forward, accompanied with hushed bickering.
Who....?
She peeked outside the curtains to see a hand reaching over the balcony. Her eyes narrowed and candles were blown out. The dagger at her side was unsheathed, poised to stop anyone whoever dared barge into her chambers this late at night.
The bickering continued.
Why does that voice sound familiar?
Piya shielded her eyes, convinced that Siddharth would be mistaken for a thief and stabbed in self-defense.
His face popped into view just as she raised the sharp blade. She almost shouted, but his palm pressed itself against her lips. He frantically shook his head.
“You can look now, Piya. He’s fine.”
She peeked through her fingers and sighed in relief.
“Siddharth, you’re...here? At this hour?”
She knew her letter reached his home, but didn’t expect him to drop everything and come now. She set aside the dagger and blushed.
“I couldn’t stop myself. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.”
“Of course you’re both wide awake.” Abhay muttered from below. Mandu looked down in shock.
Abhay shook his head and tapped his foot. He was losing sleep over his brother’s love affairs. He never dragged him to see Maithili at night. Not that he could anyway. They had a secret to hide.
Mandu cupped his cheeks and hugged him tight.
“You didn’t have to come now.”
“Well, I couldn’t sleep, and Abhay was awake too.....”
“No I wasn’t.” He said, loud enough to hear. She giggled. Then they went back to ignoring him.
“Then....your answer?” Siddharth asked.
“Now that you’ve come so far....what do you think it is?” She blushed and looked down at their feet, leaning her head into Siddharth’s chest.
“I want to hear it out loud.”
“You’re so shameless.”
“What’s so shameless about this? It’s not like anyone else is here.”
“Abhayendra is right there. Please....not right now.”
“No.”
He trapped her in his arms.
“Siddharth...!”
“I won’t let you go until I hear it.”
She turned cherry red and sighed.
“Fine.....I....I love you.”
His grin spread to the corners of his lips, and he hugged her back tight.
“I really hope this isn’t a dream....”
She pinched his arm. He bit his tongue. Both hurt.
“There. That should be convincing enough.”
Even Abhay couldn’t hide a smile for long.
The guards were making their rounds, their torches catching Abhay’s eye. They had to leave, now.
“Go. Before you get in trouble, and my parents get me married off to someone else.”
“I’ll die before I let that happen.”
He kissed her on the cheek, whispering an ‘I love you’ into her ear, then leaping down in front of Abhay. They hid in the bushes, as she waved goodbye.
“Are there more moments like these? Something happy?” Piya wondered. This was a heartwarming example.
“There are, just a few more.”
Cricket
Fan Fictions
1.1k