Kiranjeet and I make our way to a small balcony attached to the green room. There’s a staircase that leads up from the balcony. We sit on one of the stairs, and I suddenly realize that we’re holding each other’s hands tightly, as if we don’t intend to ever let go. In the background, we can hear the emcee talking to Cheryl and Dino.

‘Cheryl, Dino, how does it feel to finally meet in person?’

‘It’s … overwhelming, to say the least,’ Cheryl admits, her voice trembling with emotion.

‘But it feels like I’ve always known you,’ Dino confesses.

As we listen to them speak, it’s as if their words are giving life to our feelings, like we’re watching a movie about our own selves.

I muster up all the courage I have and turn towards Kiranjeet. ‘Sitting here with you after all these years, it’s like stepping back in time and reliving all those moments when we sat on the staircase behind the science lab and shared lunch.’

She nods as she leans against my shoulder. ‘It’s been quite a journey.’ Her voice is barely above a whisper.

‘But the two of us, and this moment here, it’s all a reminder of the power of love to endure even the greatest of trials.’ I smile.

‘We always wanted to be together, but somehow, fate managed to keep us apart for so many years …’

‘But I guess everything happens only when the time is right. And our meeting again via AILENA is proof that maybe this time, fate wants us together,’ I say, sounding more hopeful than ever.

‘I’m sorry for leaving you, Nirvaan. I have always loved you. I left for the US because of my toxic family situation, and although it’s been more than nine years, there hasn’t been a day when I haven’t thought of you. Even while I was talking to Neer on the app, it felt strange because it would remind me of you … but I could never have guessed that it was actually you.’ With that, she breaks down.

I wrap my arms around her and gently rock her back and forth. ‘I’m so relieved to know this, Kiranjeet. I’ve been in a few relationships after you left me, but I never felt the same way about anyone else. I’ve missed you so much. It’s a miracle that we found each other through AILENA. Before anything else though, I want you to know that I’m one of the investors in the app. They’ll be making it public later today. Also, and more importantly, I did not refuse to be with you on the app as you might’ve assumed. It was a system update error, a glitch,’ I tell her everything in a rush.

‘So that makes us even.’ She laughs.

‘It certainly does!’