Marked By Darkness

Chapter 30- Good Bye

Esha rolled her eyes. "I don't think it has any destiny."

Ruhi sat down on the edge of the couch, staring at her hands, her voice low but firm. "I believe in destiny. But we don't know what our destiny is. At least we can choose to do whatever we want. If our soul wants something, then why not follow it? I love him. How do I move on from him?"

Esha raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "When is he leaving?"

Ruhi glanced at the clock on the wall, her voice a mixture of sadness and acceptance. "Today at 7 pm."

Esha's eyes widened in disbelief. She shook her head, her tone sharp with surprise. "What? Today?"

Ruhi nodded slowly, her lips tight. "Yes, his flight is today."

Esha's face twisted with urgency, the realization of time setting in. "Ruhi, it's already 5 pm. Listen, do you want to meet him?"

Ruhi looked up at her, confusion and doubt flickering in her eyes. "What? I mean, how?"

Esha stood up abruptly, a spark of excitement lighting her face. "Let's go to the airport. With me."

Ruhi's brow furrowed, her voice laced with hesitation. "It's not possible."

Esha threw her hands up, frustration creeping into her tone. "Why not? If you want to see him, this is your chance. Just come with me."

Ruhi paused, her thoughts racing. She wanted to see him, but the practicality of it seemed impossible. Her heart raced, unsure whether this was the right decision. "I don't know, Esha... we're running out of time."

Esha's expression softened, understanding replacing the urgency. She stepped closer, putting a hand on Ruhi's shoulder. "Look, if you don't try now, you'll regret it. Let's go. You can say goodbye, get some closure. Please, Ruhi."

Ruhi's POV...

the city lights blurred past the car windows, I felt a whirlwind of emotions inside me. The relentless ticking of the clock seemed to magnify the urgency of the situation. Esha's supportive presence beside me was both a comfort and a reminder of the gravity of this moment.

With each passing mile, my heart wrestled with the weight of unspoken words and unexpressed feelings. I couldn't help but replay our moments together in my mind, each memory etched with the desire to find a resolution to this chapter of my life.

The airport materialized before us, a place that symbolized both endings and beginnings. Esha's proposal held the promise of a final chapter, a chance to confront Sounak and lay bare the emotions that had been building within me. Her willingness to accompany me on this spontaneous journey spoke volumes about the strength of our friendship.

As we parked the car and made our way towards the terminal, my pulse quickened. Time seemed to accelerate, as if fate were pressing us forward. With every step closer to the departure gate, I braced myself for what lay ahead. This meeting could be my last chance to find closure, to ask the questions that had tormented my mind, and to perhaps find a sense of peace amidst the turbulence of my emotions.

Esha's presence and her offer of support were a reminder that I wasn't alone in this journey. As we navigated the bustling airport, I realized that whatever awaited me on the other side of those sliding doors would be a step towards healing, towards finding solace, and perhaps, towards finding the closure I so desperately sought.

"It's 6:08 pm," I muttered, glancing at my watch, frustration creeping into my voice. "This traffic is driving me crazy."

Esha, always the calm one, barely flinched at my urgency. "Keep your head up, Ruhi. We'll make it."

But the seconds were not on our side.

"Take the right lane," I urged, my voice rising slightly in panic as the cars around us seemed to creep forward at a snail's pace.

"Got it," Esha replied, skillfully maneuvering the car into the alternative route. We both knew that the chances of catching him before he left were shrinking with every minute.

By the time we reached the airport, it was 6:35 pm. My heart was pounding as I glanced at Esha. "Hurry, Esha. I'll go find him."

She nodded and jumped out of the car, already heading for a parking spot. I ran, my steps quick and heavy as I entered the terminal. The crowded space felt like a maze, each person a potential roadblock to the one thing I was desperately searching for. I couldn't let him slip away now.

The minutes felt like hours as I moved through the terminal, my heart racing with each passing second. My body moved on autopilot, but my mind was consumed by one thought: I had to find him. My pulse quickened, the urgency mounting as I weaved through the crowd.

"Please, Steven. Last time, just one more time," I whispered to myself, trying to steady my breathing. But the clock kept ticking. I needed to get to him before it was too late.

And then, there he was. I spotted him in a group of friends, all laughing and talking in that carefree way that used to be so familiar. My heart flipped, and a thousand emotions surged through me. But I hesitated. Surrounded by his friends, I felt like an outsider, unsure of how to approach him, unsure of how to say the words I'd been holding back for so long.

Esha's voice broke through my thoughts. "Ruhi, what are you doing? Go talk to him."

I shook my head, unable to move. "He's with his friends... I can't do this here. Not in front of everyone."

Esha's words cut deep. "Are you really going to hold onto this unexpressed love forever?"

The truth of it hit me like a wave. Maybe I was. Maybe the fear of rejection, of saying goodbye, had kept me silent all this time. But at what cost?

"I don't know if I can," I murmured, the weight of the decision settling on my shoulders. "It's too much."

Esha wrapped her arms around me, her support as steadfast as ever. The tears that had been threatening to spill finally fell, the mix of love, regret, and hope crashing through me all at once.

And then, like a sudden spark, Steven's gaze met mine from across the terminal. Time seemed to stop. For a moment, it was just the two of us, and the noise of the world around us faded into nothingness.

A fleeting smile crossed his lips, and my breath caught in my chest. He reached into his pocket, and I felt the familiar pang of anxiety stir in my chest. I didn't know what to do. Should I run to him? Should I stay back?

Before I could make up my mind, my phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. His message appeared on the screen, cutting through the tension.

Steven: Goodbye, ma'am.

A soft smile tugged at my lips, despite the ache in my chest. I quickly typed my response, my fingers trembling as I wrote.

Ruhi: Bye and safe journey.

Seconds passed before his reply came through.

Steven: Thank you. And thank you for coming.

The words were simple, but they carried so much weight. I swallowed hard, typing one last message.

Ruhi: Take care.

In that moment, I realized the goodbye we'd been avoiding had come. It was quiet, it was simple, but it was final.

And yet, as the weight of the goodbye settled in, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of peace. Despite the pain, despite the unspoken words and unexpressed feelings, I knew it was time to let go.

Esha stood by my side, her presence a steady reminder that, though this chapter was closing, there were others ahead, waiting to be written.