BIG-J

27

Deciding to take control of my life, I headed home early and immediately texted Shreya. I explained that I couldn't handle the pressure, needed space, and wanted to go on a vacation for two months in Paris. In the message, I mentioned turning off my phone for a while. She called, and during our hour-long conversation, she respected my decision, although the true reason involving James remained unspoken.

James's POV:

Realizing I had messed up, I understood that I should have been honest with Anushka about my feelings before getting involved with Shreya. Determined to set things right, I decided to end things with Shreya. Right at that moment, she texted me about a solo date, and I, in response, liked the message. Dressing up formally, I brought a rose bouquet and went for the date.

Shreya looked stunning as usual, and we had dinner, talking until I knew what needed to be done. Taking her outside to the park, I hesitated before saying, "I have to tell you something." With a serious smile, she held my hand. I confessed, "I can't do this; I'm sorry." Shocked, she clutched the bouquet, her face betraying her emotions. In a soft but hesitant voice, she asked, "Do what, James?" I explained, "I'm in love with Anushka. I cannot continue this, Shreya. It's all messed up. I cannot play with your feelings and hurt her. I have to go to her."

Before I could continue, she planted a soft kiss on my cheek, and a tear fell. Pulling back, she said with teary eyes, "No wonder I was the one putting in effort. No wonder you never looked at me the way you looked at her." She hushed me as I tried to speak, saying, "I understand; let's end this date as a couple for the last time. Then, you can meet Anushka." She rested her head on my shoulders, and as the rain started pouring, the only sounds were the raindrops and her whispers amid the tears.

After dropping Shreya at her house, she grabbed my hand and urgently said, "She is leaving tonight. You have to meet her." Confused and anxious, I stammered, "Huh, where, what?" She sighed, "Anushka is leaving for Paris for 2 months. You have to meet her. Go, hurry."

Without a second thought, I rushed, not bothering to order a cab or anything. I ran straight to catch a bus, but heavy rain and traffic made it challenging. With no other option, I called her repeatedly, but each attempt resulted in no signal or "user not found." Frustrated, I finally reached the airport. In a hurry, I made my way to the gate, and, thankfully, I saw her. Thankful that I ran, but just like when she fell, I tripped and fell, watching her vanish from my sight. I was late.

Anushka's POV:

Stepping inside the plane, I felt a sense of relief – finally, a vacation, a time to focus on myself, to get over him, and an opportunity for self-improvement. As I settled into my seat, I decided to read Elinia's letter. It was an apology, sincerely written, and I appreciated the gesture. She provided her new number, explaining her departure two weeks earlier due to her parents' job. Dominic had also left for Paris permanently. It was a strange turn of events, but it felt like a chance to meet Dominic and reconnect.

Despite feeling betrayed, I was open to the idea of people changing. I happily anticipated whatever awaited me. Putting on my headphones, I decided to doze off, embracing the journey ahead.

The entire two months were truly transformative. I immersed myself in learning new words and spent a lot of time with Dominic. The lack of contact with the outside world felt liberating. During this time, I decided to make some changes—growing my hair, dyeing it a honey-brown colour, and updating my dressing style. It was a period of self-discovery, and as the journey came to an end, I felt a mix of gratitude and readiness for whatever awaited me.

On the last day of this memorable journey, I expressed my gratitude to Dominic for being a part of it. As I hugged him goodbye, the words "au revoir, nous nous reverrons" left my lips. Little did I know that back in the UK, a new chapter with potentially more drama awaited me.