They gazed at each other, their eyes shining. A generations-long burden lifted off Grey’s exhausted shoulders. He felt beams of hope, like sunlight, warming him, thawing him out again. It was done. It was over. Never again would he have to think about the curse. Never again would he have to live, afraid, in its shadow. He could go anywhere. He could be anything. He wanted to whoop and yell; he wanted to jump in the lake just to feel the shock of ice-cold water. He just wanted to feel.

Jaya took his hand as the wind gusted around them, making the pine trees shake. With her free hand, she pulled out her cell.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s my turn now.” Jaya began to dial.

Jaya

“Appa, it’s me,” Jaya said, her heart pounding. She could feel Grey’s eyes on her. “I have something to tell you. Actually, some things.”

“Is everything okay, Jaya?”

“Yes, everything’s fine. I’ve just had some revelations recently, and I want to share them with you.” She swallowed.

“Okay… hold on a moment. Your mother wants to join us on the call.”

“Jaya?” It was Amma’s concerned voice this time. “What’s going on? Is Isha okay?”

“Yes, she’s fine. Everything’s fine. But I have something to tell you both.” She met Grey’s blue eyes, steady and strong, and suddenly wasn’t as anxious. “I’ve called off the engagement between Kiran and me. I don’t want to marry him. I’m sorry.” She swallowed. “I know the engagement was the perfect solution to our problems, but I’ve arrived at a different solution I’ll tell you about in a moment. For now I want to say, I’ve… I’ve met someone who’s become very important to me,” she said, smiling. “His name is Grey. It used to be Grey Emerson.”

There was a long, shocked silence.

“The Emerson boy has become important to you?” Appa’s voice finally bellowed down the phone. “A member of the family that tried to destroy our family’s reputation! And you’re calling off an engagement with the Hegde heir for him? Are you mad, Jaya?”

Jaya could hear Amma’s more soothing voice trying to placate her father. “Actually,” she said, her voice slicing over both of theirs. “The one who leaked Isha’s photographs and the one who added fuel to the fire with the pregnancy rumors was Kiran Hegde. Not the Emersons. In fact, I’ve already spoken to Kiran about it. He’ll be issuing a public apology in the papers very soon. I think our problems are over. The Hegdes will be facing the wrath of the people now, and rightly so, I’d say.”

There were spluttering noises from both her parents. Finally, Appa said, “Kiran leaked the pictures? He was behind the whole thing?” He was clearly apoplectic.