The car ride was quiet, the streets drowsy in the lazy late afternoon. The lanes were unfamiliar and she followed the map to the location he’d sent.
When she arrived at the destination, she saw the unfamiliar gate, painted in soft blue. She squinted at the arched boardabove the iron bars that readLumora Children’s Home.She tilted her head, surprised. She couldn’t have guessed this if she had a thousand chances.
She got out of the car and found Raghav casually leaning against the gatepost beyond, his arms crossed, wearing a blue linen shirt rolled up to his elbows. He’d paired it with faded jeans and his usual sneakers. His hair was ruffled, and that told her he’d run his hands through it too many times out of nerves.
‘You made it just in time. They are on their way,’ he greeted her, pushing the gate wider for her to step in.
She let her gaze wander past the trees to the low building in the distance, where the chatter and laughter of kids floated faintly through the open windows.
‘All okay?’ he asked.
‘Do you know about…’ she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
He nodded, his lips taut. ‘Abhay has been staying with us since that night. He said he can’t stand to stay home without you.’
Guilt pricked her like a thorn.
‘How are you holding up?’ he asked.
Siya nodded and instinctively said, ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’
Raghav tilted his head, watching her with the kind of patience that made it harder to lie. ‘You wanna try that again?’
She sighed. ‘I’ll be okay. That’s as accurate as I can get.’
‘Fair enough, but if you ever want to talk, I’m here,’ he backed off, his eyes watching the road with anticipation.
‘Is Abhay okay?’ she blurted out, failing to keep it cool.
A flash of concern passed through his eyes as he said, ‘He’s trying, but you know him. He bottles it all up until he drowns under its weight.’
Siya looked away, blinking hard to fight the tears.
Raghav went on. ‘He is angry at the world, at fate, and even himself to some extent. But mostly, I think he’s just scared.’
‘I didn’t mean to hurt him,’ she said so quietly she wasn’t sure if he heard.
‘I know,’ Raghav reassured her. ‘And so does he.’
A gust of wind blew her hair, brushing the strands across her cheek.
‘I know both of you are in pain, and I wish I could say something that would make it all better, but sadly, I don’t know how.’
She glanced up at him, surprised by the softness in his tone.
He smiled faintly, his gaze distant. ‘Meera once told me that love doesn’t come with perfect timing. It comes when it’s inconvenient, complicated, and chaotic, but if you hold onto the one, you can get through anything.’
A small, wistful smile tugged at her lips. ‘That sounds like her. Ever the optimist.’
‘I don’t even know how I lived before she came along. She’s become the most important part of my life. I’ve been lucky to find love again and not a day goes by that I don’t thank the universe for it.’
He turned to her and sincerity shone in his gaze as he said, ‘I care deeply for both of you, and I want you to find the same happiness in life.’
His wish was like a balm to her frayed nerves. She touched his arm to convey her gratitude.
She looked around again. ‘Any reason you chose this place for Meera’s birthday?’
His features lit up when he spoke of her. ‘On our first date in Matheran, she told me how she’d once celebrated her birthday at a children’s orphanage and how it’s amongst her most-cherished memories. So I figured, if I was going to make this day memorable for her, I might as well recreate a memory that has brought her so much joy.’
