Beyond The Golden Skies

♛ 14: Twisted Past •

The lazy evening sun rays coated Sonambar in rusty golden hues. Owing to the upcoming elections, Chocobar Café remained empty except for a few people downstairs. All seats on the top floor were vacant. Ayush reached the café earlier than Sakshi and placed two seats at their usual table by the terrace window. The place had been their safe haven for over three months. He rechecked the date on his phone, confirming it was their final time meeting together like this.

Her exam would begin in three days, and the quaint evenings spent in the café would become a distant memory.

He fished two rings out of his pocket. One, her emerald lion ring, another, a sterling silver ring with a heart-shaped white stone. He partly tapped into his savings and pitched in the payment from his Amore Grande performance to purchase the ring for her. He was sure she would accept his proposal, but even if she didn't, he would respect her choice.

Sakshi sauntered into the café with a pearly smile, dazzling in the sun rays. She sported a full-length golden anarkali gown and light makeup. The red rose tucked between the braids of her hair drove him insane.

"How are you, Ayush?" she asked.

"I'm okay, but you look stunning!"

A wistful beam crept on her face. "All my classmates wore something special today since it's the last day of college."

"And our classes."

Her chest rose and fell as she tried to steady her throbbing heart. Tears collected in the corner of her eyes.

"I will miss these days," she said.

"Imagine if B.Com was for four years? We can have many such evenings for another whole year."

"That would be possible."

"How?"

She bit her tongue and shrugged. "If I failed in the exam!"

"Haha, no! I'd never dream of such a thing."

"On a serious note, I too wish we had more time."

"Like how long?"

"Forever."

An awkward silence engulfed their table. They stared into each other's eyes without the strength to utter a word. Ayush stared at his fleeced fingers and cleared his throat.

"Sakshi I need to tell you something. It might hurt you, and I don't want to, but I can't hide it anymore."

"I don't think you can ever hurt me. What is it?"

He took a deep breath and rubbed his palms. "My father asked me not to talk to you."

She gasped and knotted her brows, gauging if it was a mere joke. She waited for him to burst out laughing, but his expression remained stoic.

"What have I done?"

"You haven't done anything. It is-please don't mistake me- your father."

"Babaji?!"

"Turns out he's the politician who had a controversy with my mother."