"The silence speaks for itself. If you know them well, you'll know the meaning of all kinds of silences."

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"Hi," I whispered awkwardly, not wanting to break down or make a scene, not in front of Maya. Emotions, though sometimes are a strength, can be one of the greatest weaknesses of humans too.

"You threw away our connecting device," he mumbled, coming closer. His hands were balled into fists at his side.

"You tried to cage me, to control my freedom," I replied, trying to rein my heart in. I would not fall for his charms again.

"I forgot when the protectiveness crossed the line into possessiveness." His beautiful lips trembled. I cast a quick glance at Maya. She didn't look away from her screen, obviously giving us privacy.

"And?" I folded my arms.

"And?" His earlier demeanour was gone, replaced by surprise. His eyebrows rose upon his forehead like two big question marks.

"So, what if you crossed the line?" I asked icily.

"I..." He looked at Maya for a clue. She threw a bored look at him, which said 'this is your problem to handle'.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, just say sorry," another angry voice grumbled at the door.

"Mani..." Uttering his name brought unbidden tears, which I fought back.

"Believe me, Tora. I've made him practice that one word so much, but the great Death chickened out again," Mani snickered. It wasn't exactly disrespectful but seemed like friendly teasing.

Mrithun had been practising to say sorry? That was new. My heart cried out for the poor guy who was still trying to grapple with his unwanted human emotions and struggling to learn our ways just to be with me. But did he know that we couldn't be together? We getting close would definitely kill me.

"Yes, I am sorry for everything, Tora. I shouldn't ha..." He stopped, his voice breaking, "Please come back to me."

"Actually," Maya's voice rang out from behind me, startling us all. "Your human lover has a favour to ask from you, in exchange for that sorry."

"I..." I gulped.

I did have a favour to ask, but I wasn't so mean to ask a favour like that in exchange for a sorry. I threw a pained look at Maya. Her expression was calm. She wasn't influencing anything. It was my choice.

"Anything you ask," Mrithun said quickly.

"You're so quick to make promises these days, Mrithun," Maya chided. "Any promises made in my office shall be final and binding."

"Okay, anything that is possible for me," Mrithun amended.

"Really impulsive of you." Maya shook her head. Only she knew what I wanted to request.

Mrithun looked expectantly at me.

I took a deep breath. My going away forever was really the best choice. Mrithun, Mani, the Fates, they could all go back to how they were before I came. Mrithun would be free and in a few years, they both would move past me and find someone worthy of their love, not a half immortal glitch like me.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I didn't hold them back this time. There was a sound of a chair being dragged noisily, and Maya was gone with a pop, leaving the three of us alone.

"What happened, Tora, what do you want?" Mrithun asked. "You don't have to be afraid." He reached out, as if to touch my face, but his hands stayed frozen midair. The pain and the dilemma in his eyes were killing me.

I stood there still, my feet frozen, my shoulders shaking with overflowing emotions. I didn't cry that day when I was on top of the bridge. I was ready to take my own life as if I had any right on it. But at that moment, when I had to make the choice, I was scared.

Mrithun bridged the gap between us in one long stride. He grabbed my hips and drew me closer, squashing my body against his. His grip was strong, demanding, wanting. He needed me. I could choose a life of seclusion with him, forever. An eternity with a man I loved. That was so much better than choosing to end it all.

But the saner part of my brain knew that making that choice was akin to caging Mrithun too with me. If he was free, at least he could go around and fight for his job or whatever. He would lose his freedom and his job, only to be with me, still hiding, even living in fear of being caught and sentenced. Would that be the kind of life I would want for anyone, let alone someone I fell in love with?

The answer was no.

"I'm here for you. You can ask whatever you want," he said softly, clearly unaware of what he was promising. It almost felt like cheating him.

"You promise?" My voice trembled.

"I do," he frowned, realizing a little too late that there might be a reason why I was making him pledge so vehemently.

I was aware of Mani being present, but at that moment I didn't care. I didn't hold back anymore. My arms held his neck, gently dragging him down as I rose on my toes and placed my lips on his. His mouth reacted automatically, seizing my lips between his, sucking softly, like that was the last sip of ambrosia and he would die without me. I clung to him, pressing myself further into his chest, disappointed at the barrier of the skins between us. I wanted to melt into him, become one body, one soul, and one entity. He was that one ray of clarity in the dizzying darkness.

My intent mouth parted his hungry lips, savouring the last kiss, drawing out each second, till eternity. I was floating, drowning in ecstasy. He knotted his hands through my hair and deepened the kiss, electricity crackling strong enough to raze the entire world around us in one blitzing inferno. I couldn't feel my body. I was just a presence hovering in ether, tethered to this realm by one string of desire holding on to me. I could have this every day, every day till eternity.

My brain was swimming in doubts. The kiss was like a swift flood, breaking down all the dams I had built up in my mind. My resolves began to crumble faster than they had built up. Kissing him was a mistake. The distance growing between us had made my decision easier. But this newfound proximity was addling up my thoughts. I broke off the kiss, pushing myself away from his chest. I was panting. My heart felt like a wooden raft tumbling down into a waterfall. It could only break into splinters.

He looked shocked. He touched his lips instinctively. It shattered me again to see him so confused yet so vehemently in love. I closed my eyes shut. I had to do this.

"I have a wish," I breathed.

"Yes..." He eyed me warily.

"Take my life. Free my soul. I can't live in fear and in hiding for eternity."

The breath left his body in a whoosh as if someone had punched him in the guts. He stared at me, his mouth opening and closing, unable to utter a word.

"You promised," I whispered, dealing the final blow at him.

Monster, I was a monster. I wrecked lives since I was born. First my mother, then Nikhit, now Mrithun. I didn't deserve to live, anyway.

"No." Mani was the first to react. "Are you out of your mind?"

He came closer. Cobalt flames burned behind his irises, ready to destroy anyone who might have hurt me enough to make me choose eternal rest. "We're here, we're still fighting for you. We will change the laws, anything."

"I'm sorry, Mani, but this option is not up for negotiation. I made my choice. Me leaving forever is the best possible option before anyone else has to make exceptions for me." I cast a single glance at Maya, who had reappeared again.

"She has immortal blood..." Maya sighed, narrating the entire tale. Mani's eyes widened. But Mrithun gave no reaction. I wondered whether he had even heard anything.

"I am a big mistake." My shoulders slumped in defeat.

"You are not," Mrithun spoke up now. "Everyone in this wide world exists for a reason. No one is a mistake, ever."

I lowered my eyes.

"You can have your wish," Mrithun's voice rang out loud and clear over the pin-drop silence.

Mani widened his eyes at him. "You are not serious, are you?"

"I promised her." His voice was steel, so were his eyes. They were pitch black, cruel and merciless, without a hint of the humanness which was shining in him earlier. I might have killed that part of him forever with my demand. I had expected him to react, to say anything, anything to convince me to stay. I didn't know if I would have stayed, but the lack of effort from his side made the inevitable seem even scarier.

"I just hope you'd forgive me for not being the lover you deserved. " His voice was monotone, almost robotic.

"Mrithun...I..."

But my words were drowned out in a commotion. The door to Maya's office burst open and a cold draft suddenly chilled me to the bones.

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Author's Note : Why didn't Mrithun react?  Who bursts into Maya's office?

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