Rewrite the Stars

18 | e i g h t e e n

Nikhil started walking away from the dorm, and Sahasra ran behind him. "Sorry Nikhil," she said but he didn't look back.

"I don't want to talk to you," he said but didn't turn behind.

Sahasra ran faster and stood in front of him, stopping his way. "I'm sorry... I missed you so much that I didn't know what to do — I just wanted to see you, but hook or by crook. Yes I'm childish, but I'm a hella good fighter pilot. But please don't get angry. Please don't ignore me."

Nikhil rolled his eyes and went past her. Sahasra fell on her knees, tears started falling from her eyes. Her voice cracked as she said, "I really missed you, Nikhil. I missed you so much that you can't even imagine."

Nikhil stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
Even I missed you Sahasra. Only I know how I survived each day without you, he said to himself.

He couldn't see her so vulnerable anymore. He turned back and went to her, holding her hands and helping her get up.

"Please don't ever prank me like this ever again. I got really scared," he said, wiping away her tears. "I missed you as well."

Sahasra was overcome with emotion, so she gave him the tightest hug ever. Nikhil was taken aback at first, but then he hugged her back, feeling relieved.

You're okay, I'm okay, everything is okay. Nothing else matters, he thought.

"I'm sorry," she whispered while embracing him.
"It's okay," he said, caressing her hair.

Sahasra then abruptly broke the hug. "Sorry for... umm..." she muttered, avoiding eye contact awkwardly.

"Sorry for?" he asked, confused.

"For clinging on to you like that," she said in a low voice, embarrassed. She mentally hit herself for lacking self-control.

"You are my wife. You can cling on to me as much as you want," Nikhil replied with a smirk. Sahasra looked up, shocked and Nikhil laughed for the first time in his arrival to Bangalore.

After roaming around the campus for a while, Nikhil said, "It's time for you to go back to the dorm and attend your classes."

"No. I want to spend time with you," Sahasra replied stubbornly.

"Sahasra—" Nikhil tried to reason with her but she interrupted him. "I won't see you until graduation so please??"

"Fine," he flicked her nose and then held her hand, walking out of the academy. "Let's go out for dinner."

The couple reached Hotel Le Jardin. The place was selected by Sahasra. She had chosen this hotel since it was kind of traditional but still unique. Surrounded by varied trees, it appeared as if they were dining in the middle of a forest.

There were ambient lights at the top, and an old bollywood song was playing in the background. The best aspect of this hotel was its food — delicious, lip-smaking Indian and Chinese cuisine.

Nikhil ordered roti, daal and salad while Sahasra placed an order for manchurian, malai kofta and naan. She mentally rolled her eyes when Nikhil was ordering diet-conscious food that day as well.

Sahasra started to have a headache, so she was about to keep her head on the table. But before she could do that, Nikhil sneakily put his hand on the table, under her head.

"Why did you do that?"

"To protect my pyaari wifey's head," Nikhil replied softly.

"Really?"

"Nope, I didn't want the table to break since a hippo's head would be on it," he smirked, earning a glare from his wife.

"Thank you," Sahasra said. "I'm having a headache."

"I bet your headache will vanish once the meal arrives," Nikhil rolled his eyes. And it was true. When the waiter brought the meal, Sahasra jerked up in excitement.

During the meal, Nikhil said, "I want to say something."

"Hmm?" Sahasra looked at him innocently.

"You're still a hippo," Nikhil laughed.

Sahasra sighed. She thought he was going to talk about his feelings for her.

What if he doesn't feel the same way? She thought, but then shrugged it away.

Should I confess my feelings? Nikhil debated within himself. At last he decided to wait for the right time. He wanted it to be an up-to-the-mark confession.

They talked about the current situation at the border, family talks and then Nikhil finally left after dropping Sahasra at her dorm.

It was a simple day — and although it lacked a confession that Sahasra hoped for, it was the best day ever since she joined the academy. It confirmed her feelings for him.

I think I have feelings for him, she started to think while laying on the bed, unable to sleep.

I felt heart-broken when he was leaving, I miss him all the time, and I wanted him to confess.
I want to be with him all the time, his presence is like alcohol — very addictive and enchantng.
Is this a sign of love?

On the other hand, Nikhil also lay awake on his bed — replaying his and Sahasra's mini-date. Was it even a date? He wondered.

I seriously have feelings for her. And I think she does as well.
I can't see her so vulnerable, I want her to be happy all the time.
Moreover, I want to be with her every second.
Her presence creates meaning in my life.

For the next few weeks, they didn't see each other and Sahasra continued her training with vigour and courage. She was lauded as one of the best female fighter pilots by her coaches. Moreover, she was soon going to be deployed in the most dangerous base of India — Jammu and Kashmir.

On learning this from her coaches, Sahasra went wild. Her dream of serving the country as a fighter pilot was coming true. She decided to share this great news on her graduation day with her whole family.

Finally the day of her graduation arrived — but Sahasra wasn't happy on this most awaited occasion. Both her mothers and Dadi had arrived, but Nikhil couldn't make it — he said that he had some urgent work.

She wanted to hit him, curse him and scold him — it was her graduation day, afterall.

But, she knew the life of uniform men and women. Now that even she was going to be one of them, there would be times when she wouldn't be there for him and he wouldn't be there for her.

――"💌"――

Vote and comment if you like malai kofta just as Sahasra !!<3
(thats one of my fav dishes yumm)