THE DEPARTURE

It was an early morning when I received a call from one of Krithi's friends. Her voice was laced with concern as she told me that Krithi was feeling down and hadn't even touched her breakfast. Still wrapped in the warmth of my bed, dressed in my shorts and vest, I felt a pull in my heart. I couldn't just lie there; I had to be there for her. Without a second thought, I grabbed my car keys and set off to her hostel, my heart racing with both worry and the yearning to comfort her.

When I arrived, the sight of her stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me. Krithi stood there, slightly disheveled, cloaked in her own melancholy. The moment she saw me, she rushed over and enveloped me in a hug that felt like a lifeline. I could feel the heaviness of her sadness in that embrace, and instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as if I could share in her sorrow. I gently pulled back to gaze into her eyes, my heart aching, and asked softly, "Why are you sad?" Her voice shook as she responded, "I have a bus now; my dad booked the ticket." In that moment, her sadness became my own.

As I rubbed her back soothingly, I felt her nails dig lightly into my shoulders, a tangible expression of her anxiety. I lifted her chin to meet my gaze, and with a tender smile, I asked, "Shall I drop you?" She hesitated, replying, "To the bus stop?" but I shook my head, saying, "Nah, to your house." Her eyes sparkled with a hint of hope, and as if I had dispelled her darkness, she hugged me tighter.

With a grin, I lightened the mood, "Now let me go have a shower and come," but my heart soared when she asked to join me at my home. Thrilled, I agreed without a second thought, eager to share my space—and my heart—with her.

After gathering her luggage, we drove to my place, the car filled with a comforting silence, only broken by the soft music playing in the background. Once we had freshened up, we prepared to head toward her home. Yet, as we neared her city, I saw the flicker of sadness return to her eyes, an emotional weight settling back on her shoulders.

She clung to my arm, burying her face against it, seeking solace. I understood her turmoil, so I pulled out my phone to check the bus location. Fortunately, it was still an hour late. Seizing the moment, I decided to whisk her away to a nearby mall, wanting to infuse some brightness into her day.

As we parked, I switched off the car headlights and turned to her, a playful spark in my eyes. "Come here," I signaled, inviting her to sit on my lap. She accepted without hesitation, and as I traced my fingers over her cheeks, I felt the warmth of her skin thawing away the tension. In a moment of inspiration, I took off the shirt I had worn yesterday—the one I had proposed to her in—and handed it to her. The fabric was infused with our shared scents, a blend of memories and feelings that I hoped would bring her comfort.

Her face lit up with surprise and joy as she held the shirt, and with a sweet smile, she slipped on the black hairband I had given her earlier. To keep our connection alive, I wrapped my hand around her thighs, leaned in, and kissed her. Initially, her lips tasted sweet, but as the kiss deepened, I could feel the remnants of her earlier tears—a poignant reminder of her heartache. We lingered in that embrace, the world around us fading away as if we were the only two souls who mattered.

Afterward, I pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead, making a promise that came straight from my heart. "You should not cry from here on out, okay?" I assured her I would FaceTime her every day, keeping our connection alive across the distance. With our hearts a little lighter, we made our way back to the bus stop where her bus was due to arrive.

As we pulled up, a sense of impending loss washed over me, knowing our time together was drawing to a close. Moments later, her dad arrived to pick her up. I watched as they exchanged greetings, but then she turned to me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears and unspoken words. I waved goodbye, feeling a bittersweet mix of sadness for her departure and hope for the days ahead. Love knows no boundaries, I thought, as our hearts, entwined though miles apart, would continue to share the journey together.