Chapter: 29
(A Knock on the Door of the Inner World)
This morning feels different somehow. Sunlight pierces through the window glass and falls on Oishi's face, yet she doesn't open her eyes. There's a strange rhythm in her chest, as if her heart keeps whispering—something will happen today.
Slowly, she gets up and walks to the balcony. The chirping of birds, distant sounds of vehicles, and a silent thought keep circling her mind—"What is Ayush thinking today?"
A message appears on her phone screen:
"Will you give me some time after college today? I want to take you somewhere."
A soft smile forms on Oishi's lips. She replies—
"You decide, I'll come. But not too far, okay?"
Ayush writes back—
"If you're there, no place feels far."
That one line melts Oishi's heart. While tying her hair in front of the mirror, she softly whispers to herself,
"If you keep talking like this, Ayush… I won't be able to control myself anymore."
Even the classes at college seem distracted today. Her pen doesn't move across the notebook; instead, her eyes keep drifting toward one end of the corridor.
Ayush enters the class and casually glances at Oishi. Their eyes meet, but neither says a word.
Sreya, sitting beside Oishi, whispers,
"The way you two look at each other could outshine a movie script."
Oishi smiles faintly and says,
"Shh! Someone might hear..."
After class, Ayush waits for a moment and then takes Oishi to a quiet park behind the college. There's an old bench there—perhaps a place where lovers once sat long ago.
Sitting beside that bench, Ayush says,
"This place is very special to me. When I was a kid, I used to sit here and look at the sky. I didn't know back then that one day I'd want to share this sky with someone."
Oishi looks at him, mesmerized.
"The way you speak, it feels like I'm the heroine of a story. But I know… my story will end in a very harsh reality."
Ayush grows serious.
"Are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not afraid of you… but I'm afraid of losing you. I know you're Muslim and I'm Hindu. I know my family will never accept you. My brother would probably kill you if he saw you!"
Ayush neither laughs nor cries. He simply says softly,
"I'm ready to die… but I'm not ready to live without you."
Tears fill Oishi's eyes.
"Do you know… I pray every day that society never notices us? That no one sees us… that no one separates us."
Ayush then takes out a small envelope from his pocket and hands it to her.
"This is a talisman my mother gave me. She said, whoever I give this to… should become my life partner. I want you to keep it."
With trembling hands, Oishi takes it. As she opens the envelope, her eyes fill with tears.
"If you do things like this… how will I ever forget you, Ayush? You've become the only address of my heart."
Within these words, all their fears, pain, love, and promises blend together. Evening slowly falls around them, birds fly back to their nests.
Silently, a vow is written in their eyes—
"We will stay together… no matter what."
"I've made a decision, Oishi," Ayush suddenly says.
"What decision?"
"We'll run away."
Oishi is stunned.
"What are you saying? Have you gone mad?"
"Yes, I am mad. Mad enough to dream of a life with you. I know society won't let us be. Religion, customs, family—everything will try to pull us apart. But I want to take you somewhere where no one knows us, no one asks our names… where we're just loved as human beings."
Oishi remains silent. The wind blows through her hair, her eyes glisten with tears.
Slowly she says,
"Promise me… if anything happens to you, I'll be by your side. If anyone pushes you away, I'll hold your hand."
Ayush steps closer and places his hand on her shoulder.
"Promise me… you'll be mine till your last breath."
Oishi bows her head and says,
"You are my religion, my faith, my world. I will be yours, Ayush."
A deep silence descends beside that old bench. Yet within that silence, an unbreakable oath blooms.
They know danger lies ahead.
But they also know—they will face it together.
And that togetherness will turn their lives into a story no one else can write—
a story they will write themselves, with their own blood.
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What happens next? Stay tuned for the next part.
Coming very soon… 👀
To be continued…..... 🌷