‘Who was the girl? Why don’t you think it was an accident?’

‘I don’t remember her name. As for the incident, I think there might have been more to the story. Parth was a very cautious boy and he didn’t seem like the sort to drink and lose control at all. But who knows? Maybe it really was a freak accident. That’s what we all ultimately accepted anyway,’ Sister Stella said, her eyes moistening.

Radhika had heard almost all of this from Madhav’s mother but there had been no mention of a girl. There was only one person who could help her make sense of this increasingly confounding story. She bid goodbye to Sister Stella and thanked her for everything, kissing her wrinkled palms.

Radhika walked back to her cottage. The trees stood like silent observers of the mountains, rivers and clouds. Or perhaps they looked like mourners at an invisible funeral. The dark sky was dotted with silver stars.

Radhika realized it was time to call Madhav and put the last pieces of the puzzle in place. Only he could complete this story.

She lit a lamp in her cottage and browsed through her old notebook. She came across a piece she had written a long time ago.

There is a place at the end of the sky, where the earth kisses the moon, and that’s where, someday, I will bring you back.

When you have walked enough, and hurt enough, there I will help you find your peace.

You’ll realize it’s everywhere and nowhere, and always within you, if only you take the leap and fly to the edge of the horizon. In that somewhere, I will bring you back.

She smiled as these words of love gave her courage and called Madhav. His phone rang for an agonizingly long time.

‘Radhika! Where are you?’ Madhav asked.

‘Madhav,’ she replied, trying to brace herself.

‘I asked you something. Where are you?’

‘I am in Nainital,’ she said. There was a deafening silence for a few seconds.

‘I am in Nainital, Madhav,’ she repeated.

‘Why? Why did you . . . you didn’t tell me,’ he whispered, sounding fearful.

‘Did you tell me that you were going to resign?’ she countered.

‘But you always wanted me to resign.’

‘And now, I also want you to tell me the truth,’ she said, her resolve enveloping each word and vibrating through to him. ‘You will have to come here if you love me, Madhav. Otherwise you will never see me again.’

Madhav was reeling. He couldn’t say no, he couldn’t bear to lose her. But his mouth couldn’t form any words.

‘We will never be together if you don’t meet me in Nainital,’ she threatened him, hating giving him an ultimatum, but knowing it was the only way.

‘Okay, Radhika. I’ll come to Nainital.’

15

Madhav left for Nainital despite his mother’s protests. Worried about her son, Mrs Mehra called up Radhika who assured her that this trip to Nainital was crucial.