THE PERFECT DECEPTION

EPILOGUE

Jonathan King. 

I sat by the temple, a sanctuary I crafted just for her. It felt like a monument to a love that once filled the air with music, now swept away like leaves in the wind. As the clock struck half-past eight, my eyes fluttered open to the reality of a man poised to finalise his papers—my wildcat's apartment, a place once vibrant, destined to be a home for a happy family with three children. I had dreamed of tearing down the walls that confined us, transforming it into a stunning haven. But what is a home without the one who ignites the walls, making them gleam and resonate with laughter and love?

Now, I find myself perched on the edge of a cliff, gazing down at her as she walks gracefully, hand in hand with him, while Kai, Naomi, and Kinjal trail behind, their innocent laughter swirling around them like a bittersweet melody.

"CAN SHE HEAR MY PAIN?" I bellow into the vastness, my voice echoing against the rocks. "CAN SHE!?" I call out again, searching for any sign of God, wishing for Him to intervene, to dissolve the world around me in a flood of grace. Yet, He allows me to endure the brutal agony of unrequited love. Did God genuinely intend us to bear such suffering in His name while Krishna fought so valiantly to be with Radha? I tilt my head skyward, watching as the sun struggles to break free from the heavy, dark clouds, swollen with impending rain, just waiting for a gentle nudge from my fingertips.

"God, do you even hear me?" I plead, my voice barely rising above a whisper, swallowed by the silence, only the crickets replying with their relentless chirping. Defeat courses through me, a cold rush that brings Jonathan King to his knees, his spirit bending beneath the weight of his anguish. Tears stream down my cheeks, cold droplets that trace paths of sorrow, only to evaporate, leaving behind an aching emptiness. Anupama was like those tears—an ephemeral presence that carved a wet, raw trail through my heart, eventually leaving me mired in torment.

"Anupama, did I ever truly express the depths of my love for you?" I choke on the words that burn like fire down my throat. Rising slowly, shoulders slumped, I peer into the river below, desperately wondering if it might become a soft landing for my broken heart, a path that would lead me back to her.

Deep down, I knew I wasn't a coward; the thought lingered like a stubborn shadow. Yet, as I stood there, I felt the weight of doubt pressing heavily on my chest. Indeed, it would be much easier to give up, to fade away like a whisper in the wind, rather than fight with the same relentless determination as Lord Rama. The temptation to become a ghost and slip quietly into oblivion was almost overwhelming. But that path would lead me to abandon her, leaving her vulnerable and alone with a man who would slowly and deliberately unravel her very essence.

The anguish she was enduring now would only deepen if I chose to jump ship and vanish from her life. The thought of her suffering without the strength of my presence, without the core of her spirit that I had vowed to support made my stomach twist violently. I knelt on the cold ground, my hands clawing at the earth as I tried to anchor myself in the moment. Each heartbeat echoed the pain of picturing the worst for her gentle, beautiful soul — a soul that deserved so much more than the turmoil surrounding her.

It hurt more than I could articulate, yet I realised I would continue to fight, even if that struggle ultimately led to my demise. I would battle through the darkest nights for her sake, determined to cradle her in my arms once again, even if it meant shattering every piece of myself. Whatever remnants of strength I had left were pledged to her, a promise that I would be strong enough to carry us back to where our happiness thrived.

No matter what blindfolds I might have to tighten around us or how many distractions I had to immerse myself in until we felt like we were dancing on the clouds, where sunlight always bathed us in warmth, I would not waver. I would fight like a fierce and untamed wildcat until no fight existed. And when that day finally arrives, I know she will join me in the paradise where we can dance freely, unencumbered by pain or sorrow.