The next morning, I woke up with the memory of the previous day's trauma still fresh in my mind. It was like a heavy cloud hanging over me, but I knew I needed to start the process of healing. Krish had promised to take me on a long drive outside the city, and I clung to the hope that it would help clear my mind.

Krish arrived early, his motorcycle glistening in the morning sunlight. I greeted him with a half-hearted smile, still weighed down by the events of the past day. He sensed my unease and didn't press me with questions.

"Have you packed?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Just as you suggested," I replied. "But where are we going?"

"I'll tell you. But first...", he gestured for me to hop on.

We bid our goodbyes to Grandma and Grandpa and we set off. As we left the city behind, the urban chaos slowly gave way to the serene countryside. The roads stretched endlessly before us, flanked by lush green fields and swaying palm trees. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over everything it touched.

Krish spoke up, breaking the silence that had settled between us.

"Veena, today we're going to be doing something interesting. But, you have to promise me something"

"What is it Krish?"

"For this whole day, we're not talking about you or me. We're not sulking about our past. I just want you to focus on the beauty of this moment, the world outside, and the road ahead."

I nodded in agreement.

We drove through villages where life moved at a slower pace. Women in colorful sarees chatted by the roadside, children played in the fields, and men on bicycles pedaled leisurely.

Krish pointed out to a temple nestled amidst a grove of ancient trees. "That's a thousand-year-old temple," he said. "People from far and wide come to seek blessings here."

"Where are we going?", I asked in curiosity.

"We're going to see Nandhini. I'm going to drop you there for a few days and then pick you up."

"Oh! Really!", I exclaimed in excitement. With the situation that I was in, I needed to get out of the city and I needed a friend to talk to. Now, that I think about it, if only I had kept aside my ego and asked Krish if we would drop me to Nandhini's place all those weeks ago, I wouldn't have faced this situation at all. You're an idiot, Veena.

"How far is her town?", I enquired in excitement.

"Not very far. It should take us about 5 hours straight. But, I was thinking we could take a detour and go into the country path. Highways can be boring!"

"That sounds interesting! Do you do there road trips often?"

"I love my bike," Krish admitted. "Whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I just hop on it and ride into the unknown. It's my escape. Usually, I go alone, and it helps me clear my head. This is the first time I've taken someone else with me."

Curiosity piqued, I questioned, "What is it about bikes that you love so much? It's exhilarating, but isn't it also dangerous? Aren't cars safer?"

Krish leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Cars may be safer, but there's something about the thrill of a bike that's simply incomparable. It's a feeling of freedom and control, a connection with the road that's hard to put into words."

"I don't understand it," I admitted with a hint of skepticism.

He chuckled, "I don't expect you to. Just enjoy it," he replied, his smirk visible in the rearview mirror.

I reached into my bag and retrieved my wired headphones. Plugging them into my phone, I handed one earbud to Krish, saying, "The road is your domain. Music is mine." As I leaned closer to him to ensure the earphones didn't slip out, I activated my travel playlist on Spotify. The music enveloped us, harmonizing with the scenery speeding by, and I rested my head on Krish's shoulder.

The terrain started to change as we climbed higher into the hills. We were surrounded by thick forests, and the air was cooler and fresher. The winding roads led us to a small waterfall hidden deep within the forest. It was unlike anything I had seen before. The path was completely deserted and it was just the two of us there.

We parked the bike and hiked a short distance to get closer to the glistening cascade. I took off my shoes and let the cold creek wash over my feet. I put my bag and my jacket on the dry land, lifted up my pants and begged Krish to walk up closer to the waterfall.

"Alright!", he agreed and joined me. We both held our hands to avoid slipping on the wet and sometimes dangerously loose rocks that lay below the water. We walked towards the rushing water. It's sound was soothing, and I closed my eyes, allowing the cool mist to wash over my face. In that moment of solace, I felt relieved like a heavy weight was lifted off my chest momentarily. Maybe nature had its own way of healing wounds.

Then, I turn to look at Krish, who also had his eyes closed letting the water touch his face. Maybe I wasn't the only one who needed healing, I thought to myself.

Resuming our journey along the unbeaten paths, we drove for a couple more hours before stopping at a roadside eatery. The tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked food permeated the air, and we couldn't resist. We ordered Bun Parotta (small flatbreads) with mutton curry, and Kari Dosa, (meat-filled pancakes). The sight of others savoring these dishes with such enthusiasm made my mouth water. As we waited for our order, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me.

"Slow down, Kumbhakarna", he said laughing.

"Who's Kumbhakarna?", I ask still gulping down my food.

"Don't you know Kumbhakarna? Tell me you atleast know Ramayana?"

I shrugged, with my mouth still half-full "Uhm, I know the overall story. Rama and Sita falling in love, Ravana kidnaps sita and Rama goes with an army of monkeys to save Sita. Did I get the gist of it?"

Krish chuckled. "You've got the outline, but the Ramayana is much more than that. Each character has their own intricate story to tell, and it's filled with philosophical lessons."

"Frankly," I confessed, "I haven't read the books. My mother told me that Rama was the epitome of righteousness and that every man should aspire to be like him."

"Yes, that is true. Your mom taught well."

"But, don't you think these epics are a bit outdated now? Our society is nothing like what it was back then? Why do we still have to cling on to it?"

"Well," Krish began thoughtfully, "while the world may have changed, some things remain constant. We are, after all, human beings who have evolved from our animal origins. Our fundamental needs, like hunger, haven't changed much. But unlike many other species, we thrive through family and community. We're not solo creatures; we depend on love and compassion to survive. That will never change."

"That's true", I remarked, genuinely impressed."Wow Krish, That's deep. So, you do believe in monogamy? Or that true love comes in your life only once?"

Krish didn't hesitate. "Call me old-fashioned, but I do believe that there's only one true love."

"Was that your ex?", I blurted and then, felt stupid for asking it out loud. "Sorry, I asked that"

Krish, however, didn't seem offended. He replied, "It's alright. I loved her deeply, with all my heart. I was ready to move mountains for her. Looking back, I think I loved her more than she deserved. That's when I realized it wasn't true love. True love can NEVER be one-sided."

"You might be right," I admitted, recalling my recent conversation with Grandma. "I wonder when I'll find my one true love."

Krish grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Who knows? Maybe you've already met them."

I blushed with that suggestion. Wait a minute! Did he mean Tyler or himself?

I shook off the thought and then we started back on the road after that heavy meal. This time, the road led us through a village with colorful markets, where vendors sold vibrant textiles and aromatic spices. It seemed like there was a famous temple nearby. Usually, big temples here are surrounded by an area called as Agraharam, where the Brahmins and the other families that work in the temple lived. But, these days, this area has become more commercial with textile shops, food springing up.

As we passed through the village, we encountered a procession of women dressed in yellow cotton sarees, sporting crimson bangles on their wrists and crowns of jasmine flowers in their hair. Each woman carried a pot atop her head as part of a lively procession dedicated to a goddess. We paused for a moment to offer a silent prayer from the outskirts before continuing our ride. The faces of the villagers we encountered radiated warmth and friendliness, and I couldn't help but respond with smiles of my own.

Krish noticed my change in demeanor and said, "See, Veena, there's a whole world out here, filled with stories and experiences waiting to be discovered. It's important to remember that life is so much more than the pain we sometimes endure."

I nodded, touched by his wisdom. It was true; there was so much beauty and goodness in the world, and I didn't want to lose sight of that.

"Krish," I began, my voice filled with gratitude, "you really didn't have to do any of this for me. But why did you?"

"I just wanted to," he replied simply, his eyes reflecting a warmth that reached my heart. "Your smile," he continued, "reminds me so much of your mom.I don't even want to see that smile of yours wiped from your face. "

"Were you fond of her?",I asked, curious about their relationship.

"I was," Krish replied with a soft smile. "We had a special connection that's hard to put into words. It wasn't about talking all the time; I just felt close to her. I admired her a lot. Whenever she visited, I never left her side. My mom used to tease me about it. After your sister was born, I think you guys only visited once. I missed her."

"Yeah," I sighed, a hint of melancholy in my tone. "I often wonder why we couldn't visit more."

Krish's expression darkened slightly, and he muttered under his breath, "Your father."

Perplexed, I inquired, "What did you say?"

He shook his head, his features regaining their usual composure. "Never mind. Maybe you should ask your father."

I felt a sense of unease wash over me but decided to let it go for now.

With Krish's comment hanging in the air, we resumed our journey in silence, the roar of the engine and the rush of the wind around us the only sounds. As we navigated through, I found myself lost in thought, pondering the moments we had shared throughout the day. The breathtaking waterfall, Krish's insightful thoughts on love and humanity, the tantalizing roadside cuisine, and the vibrant village procession—all of these experiences had begun to weave a tapestry of memories that I knew I would treasure for a lifetime. But beneath the surface, a bittersweet ache lingered, knowing that these fleeting moments of respite were merely a temporary escape from reality -- that I was yet to face.

Do you guys love road trips?

 What's the last place you visited?