CAELUM

CHAPTER 47

NOVA'S POV :
Emily and Dave decorate the home as they are meeting their cousins for the very first time , so they are excited about what to do with them , what to play and to have fun . " Babe, how are they coming? " I ask Ralph . " By train" He answers while doing something in the phone. " Train ?" He looks up and smiles . " Yeah the kids wanted to ride a train . They've been asking to go on a train journey , so they thought why don't they come here by that means" . I smile. " Right. Kids love bus and train journeys" . " Absolutely" He agrees . " Oh by the way is the lunch ready?" . He asks . " Yeah . I prepared all their faves as far as I remember their fav foods" I smile softly . Ralph sits beside me and keeps an around my waist such that my head rests on his shoulder .

" Ralph , I don't know how will it be meeting them after such a long time . What if things turn awkward. I mean it's been 20 years , I don't know how will it be . I'm just worried about them . I've hurt them a lot because of my indecisiveness. Gosh , I don't know why I did that" . I say , while playing with his shirt . My heart's scared about how will this meeting be. I might just be overthinking but that's something I can't help but to do . Only if I didn't let my emotions take over my rationality. Only if I heard them out while they were speaking their hearts out . I regretted doing that so much and till date , I regret it .

I don't expect things to immediately become the way it was like before 20 years ago , but all I can hope is , their long wait comes to an end . I want to put an end and tell them to not hate themselves as it was not their fault . I've surely committed a grave mistake . How much I made them suffer in these 15 years is immeasurable. Many things happened in the mean time . With me meeting an accident , Ralph's family business running into loses but still incurred profits after some time of rigorous efforts . Emily has been a great support system during those moments . She never lost hope and courage to keep fighting . But still she never hated me for doing that . She keeps telling things will be fine , still those reassuring words don't seem to be assuring my heart about the same .

How would it ever be ? Unheard pleas , hands trying to stop me from leaving . Devastating words . I ruined the relationships I cherished the most with my own hands . These bands that promised to be with them for the rest of their lives . Well a wise person told , a person ends up hurting the ones who they love the most or who loves them the most . Intentionally or unintentionally, we always hurt someone whom we love , cuz we can't hurt people whom we don't love . My mind runs through all possible outcomes of the event planned and a small tap on my shoulder breaks brings me back to reality .

" Babe , you alright ? You haven't been answering for such a long time" Ralph asks , concern dripping from his voice . " Oh , my apologies babe . I'm good I guess . Just my minds all over places. I'm a bit anxious" . He hugs me and I can't help as tears cascade down my cheeks like a stream . He keeps caressing my hair as it helps me calm down. My rigged breaths become normal when I feel a small kiss planted on the crown of my head . " Nova, I understand how you feel darling , I really do . But what ever has happened has happened . Thinking about it would just give you pain . All we can do is to slowly , steadily and strongly tie the broken thread. The process will surely be difficult because of the time gap , but isn't impossible if both the sides want to reduce the gap that has been formed because of ignorance and covert. I can't say they hid it from you , but they just wanted to discuss it first with the elders" I nod , agreeing .

I can't be weak when I've been given a chance to make it better . I won't push them , it's all in their will and wish to make it better , but I'll try my level best to regain their trust on me which surely is a thorny thing to do , but life is full of thorns . So why not face it and reach the rose we always wanted to be . With the optimism fulling me , I wipe my tears and put a smile on my face . " Let's make it happen" I look at Ralph and he smiles softly. Holding my face in his hands , he kisses my forehead while my hands hold his waist . " That's the Nova I know" He says and I smile . " I love you Ralph" . " I love you too Nova" . We smile. The phone rings and the caller id reads Sehun . The time has come .