‘He knows, Madhav. He knows how much you miss him,’ she said.

‘I can feel him,’ Madhav whispered fearfully.

‘Madhav, let Parth go. He wants to go,’ she whispered. ‘Let him fly. Do not cage him inside you, Madhav. Let him go. Unless you let him go, forgive yourself and realize that the nightmare is over, you won’t be able to move forward or follow your dreams. You need to let go of all that is dragging you down.’

Madhav went to the edge of the gorge. He looked down into the abyss.

‘Goodbye, Parth. I will miss you. I know nothing will make you happier than if I lived for myself. I remember you once told me, “Follow your dreams and I will be with you.”’

Madhav sighed as he felt the heaviness seep out of him and into the valley below. Radhika hugged him from behind and he turned to kiss her forehead. The bright stars had taken over the sky. As they lay on the grass, Radhika thought, magic happens when you do not give up, even though you want to. The universe will always fall in love with a stubborn heart and will help it find a way.

‘You’ve written poems for everyone, Madhav, but never for me.’ Madhav smiled as Radhika pretended to be offended. He had not written for a while but their love would now be his inspiration. He kissed her nose and the words came to him.

The story has just begun

Love knows no end,

All it knows are beginnings.

This is where our love begins,

From now till eternity.

Love had finally found its way, like it always did. Madhav sat on his knees, looking straight into her eyes, presenting his poem as a ring to Radhika. ‘I don’t know what is right and wrong. What I do know is that I love you and it is the most honest, pure thing I have ever felt in my life. Will you marry me, Radhika?’

Epilogue

10 July 2016

Haldwani

The train halted at Haldwani railway station. We were already at the Kumaon foothills. I was quiet, my eyes moist. The woman had finished her tale. We had not realized that it had been six hours. Gitanjali was sitting in the same position, with a slight smile on her face. Her green eyes gleamed as tears caressed her cheeks. I sighed and looked at the woman who was smiling wistfully.

‘What happened next? Did she say yes? Are they married now?’ Gitanjali asked. There was no end to our curiosity after hearing this incredible tale of love, loss and friendship.

‘Is it a true story?’ The writer in me was dying to know.

‘Friends, we have reached our station,’ the woman said and picked up her bag.

‘But we want to know what happened next. I mean, where are they now? Are they together?’ Gitanjali asked.

‘You’re going to Nainital, right?’ she asked, looking at us.

‘Yes, we are!’ I said.