Nandini was hazily aware that there were people in her room, and they were murmuring worriedly to each other. There were fuzzy images of their family doctor sitting by her side, and giving her an injection. He had told her something calmingly. Every now and then, she would feel cool, gentle hands on her forehead and cheeks.

Her body was burning. Her head was splitting with pain, and the nausea was unbearable.

She knew her mother had not left her side for hours. Occasionally, she would hear her grandfather's anxious voice, and feel his hands caressing her head. Once when she had opened her eyes, she had seen a blurred image of Prakash standing by the door, looking frightened.

She wanted to comfort him....to comfort all of them. But she lacked the strength to even keep her eyes open for longer than a few seconds.

Then again, if she could have spoken, her words would have terrified her family, because she would have begged them not to pray for her recovery...but to pray that she should die this night...

**********************************

Uday Singh gazed thoughtfully at the middle-aged man who was entering the small hall adjacent to his bedroom.

Looking weary and anxious, Sumer Singh greeted him respectfully and enquired about the reason for the summons.

"Sit down, Sumer," Uday Singh said kindly.

Sumer Singh stared at him with a sharpened attention. It was unlike Uday Singh to invite him to be seated near him. Had something gone wrong with Prithvi? Was that why Uday Singh wanted him to sit...to give him bad news?

"Your highness, what is wrong? Prithvi is fine, isn't he?" Sumer Singh asked fearfully.

"Prithvi is perfectly well," Uday Singh assured him. "If he was not, I wouldn't be fine either. But I did want to discuss something about him with you."

As his breathing eased, Sumer Singh awkwardly occupied the chair indicated by Uday Singh.

As soon as he was seated, Uday Singh gently said, "Prithvi is currently on his way to a cottage I own in the Neelkanth hills up north. It was one of Aditya's favourite retreats, and I had told Prithvi about it on his birthday. He called up Dilawar at around midnight yesterday to get the exact location."

Taken aback, Sumer Singh gaped at him.

"Now, Sumer, I want you to tell me about all the interactions you had with Prithvi yesterday after Priyamvada left," Uday Singh said intently.

Sumer Singh waited for a minute to collect his thoughts and then said, "After his mother had left, Prithvi told me he too would be leaving and would return in two or three days. He didn't tell me exactly where he was going. But I felt certain he was going to Shamli," Sumer Singh admitted, recalling the endearing awkwardness in Prithvi's demeanour. He had felt so happy at the idea that Prithvi would be going to Shamli. Not just because of the hope it offered in the form of Nandini, but also because it would have given the prince much-needed respite from the gloomy environment in the palace.

"Prithvi had met me before leaving," Uday Singh interjected. "And though he didn't tell me either about his plans, I too was sure he was heading to Shamli. Mainly because there was a happy spark in him that I hadn't seen for very long."

Sumer Singh inclined his head unhappily in agreement, then said, "Then last night, I called up Sankatmochan...Prithvi's childhood friend who stays in Ayodhya," he added distractedly.

Uday Singh nodded. "I know."

"I thought Sankat would be excited and happy at Prithvi's surprise visit. But he didn't mention Prithvi at all or wait for me to ask about anything. He was frazzled, and told me that he and the Bharadwajs were having a terrible time. First, when he had returned home in the evening, Ayodhya's doors were apparently open. He thought a thief had broken into the house, but then found everything to be intact. But later in the night, he heard a bit of commotion in Nandini's house, and learnt that she had fallen ill...severely so, with high fever, nausea, a terrible headache," Sumer Singh said unhappily. "Then today morning, Sankat called me up to tell me that they had to rush her to the hospital in the middle of the night. That's where she is right now."

"The hospital? Oh dear Lord...how is she now?" Uday Singh asked agitatedly, distressed by the news.

"Sankat says she is feeling a little better but the fever isn't subsiding. I have asked him to give me regular updates on her condition."

"Let me know too," Uday Singh instructed, relieved to know that Nandini was recovering.

"Yes, Your Highness," Sumer Singh murmured, then continued his recounting. "After I spoke to Sankat, I became really worried about Prithvi. I tried to call him but couldn't get in touch. I began calling up old friends and acquaintances. No one knew where he was.  It wasn't the first time that Prithvi had gone off like this, so I thought I would wait till morning and then decide what to do. But close to midnight, I received a message from him. He didn't mention his location...he had only written that I shouldn't be worried about him, and that he would be back after seven or eight days. He also asked me to convey the message to everyone. I was very relieved to hear from him, but the message disturbed me more than I can say. I couldn't sleep all night. Today morning, I was on my way to your suite to seek your advice when I was told that you were asking for me." Early in the morning, he had also been accosted by Kadambari, who too was frantic because Prithvi had not called her after leaving Aadyabhoomi, and her calls to him were not going through. He had withheld the news about Nandini to avoid being subjected to more histrionics.

Uday Singh reflected for a while, then he asked, "What do you think happened yesterday, Sumer?"

"It's difficult to say, Your Highness," Sumer Singh replied uncomfortably.

"I know...but you must have a theory," Uday Singh said perceptively.

Sumer Singh hesitated at first, then he cautiously said, "I think Prithvi went to Shamli, and met Nandini. But I think something went terribly wrong. And that is why he left without meeting Sankat...and that is why Nandini is unwell," he added with a quiet certainty. "I have seen this happen once before...when she'd suffered a bad shock on seeing Prithvi get injured. I could be wrong, but...I feel it in my bones..."

Overwhelmed, Sumer Singh dropped his gaze.

"I believe you are right about all of it," Uday Singh contemplated. "If anything, I think you're understating the problem. Whatever happened in Shamli must have devastated Prithvi to the extent that he couldn't endure it," he sighed. "Or he wouldn't be heading to that isolated place instead of coming home to his family."

Sumer Singh looked up and urgently said, "Prithvi shouldn't be alone. I must go to him."

"No, Sumer," Uday Singh said sharply. "I forbid you or anyone else from disturbing him at this time. I know how much he loves Nandini, and when a deep love like that turns its back on you, it would seem to be betrayal of the vilest kind. It could create wounds that are almost impossible to heal. I am certain Nandini has valid reasons for her behaviour, and must be as heartbroken as Prithvi. But she has a normal, loving family that will take care of her. So, I am not too worried about her. It is Prithvi who needs our understanding and support at this time. We have to give him time and privacy to overcome this heartbreak. Let him take as long as he needs. When he returns, he will be stronger than before," he asserted confidently. "But if anyone goes to him right now, it will only stop him from grieving as he wants to. He will try to be put up a normal, calm façade, and that will end up causing more damage to him in the long run."

"You're right, Your Highness," Sumer Singh conceded reluctantly, recognising the wisdom in Uday Singh's guidance. He gazed sorrowfully at the two large framed photographs of Prithvi displayed prominently on wall behind Uday Singh. The prince was annoyed and grim in one picture. In the other picture, he was laughing with his head thrown back, looking happy and carefree. Both the photographs were stunning.

How happy he had been to see Prithvi leave yesterday morning, Sumer Singh recalled bitterly. He had rejoiced on imagining Prithvi in the sweet and simple surroundings of Ayodhya...comfortable and happy in the midst of the Bharadwajs...and also managing to sort out all the problems with Nandini. Instead, the last flame of hope had died out.

"There is hardly any network in those hills," Uday Singh said. "Dilawar will keep in touch with the caretaker of the cottage, and will let us know if any problem arises. Don't let Sankatmochan or any of Prithvi's friends or acquaintances know where he is. They might call you when they can't get in touch with him. Tell them that he has gone for some work, and must not be disturbed for two weeks. Prithvi has said he will return sooner than that, but I think we should be prepared to hear that he needs a longer break."

"And Sumer, even after Prithvi returns, you must not tell him anything about Nandini falling ill," Uday Singh cautioned. "It will not serve any purpose apart from adding to his unhappiness. In fact, we must strictly avoid taking Nandini's name in front of him till he gives an indication that he wants to talk about her. Tell Sankatmochan too that he must not mention Nandini at all when he's talking to Prithvi...and vice versa. Under these circumstances, I feel it would be best if they remain unaware of each other's condition. Maybe they will miss each other so much that they will come together again, and all will be right with the world. If that doesn't happen, I suppose -"

Uday Singh abruptly abandoned the depressing statement, unable to complete the thought in his mind.

"Either ways, I feel an important chapter in Prithvi's life is coming to a close," he sighed.

**************************

Seated in the wheelchair that was being pushed by a large guard, Indrajit moved through the passageways of the age-old bastion of his ancestors.

He wasn't comfortable in the wheelchair. And he could only move about in a limited space because of the basic construction of the palace. The indignity of being lifted over stone thresholds and stairways had to be avoided. But he didn't mind moving about in the same places every day. Anything was better than being cooped up in the room.

Indrajit gestured to the guard to move towards a marble portico that overlooked one of the many verdant green gardens of the palace.

It had not rained for two hours, and some blue could be seen in the sky. He hoped it would not rain again for a week at least. He despised the monsoons. The gloominess of the grey clouds, the fearful sound of thunder, the frightening flashes of lightning - everything about the season was designed to torture him...and he didn't want to be upset by anything at this time.

On the outside, he didn't have much to be cheerful about. His jaws would remain wired for some more days, and so he couldn't speak properly yet, and he continued to be dependent on others for the most basic body functions. He also couldn't predict what was going to happen in the coming months or years.

Yet, he had an extraordinary calmness in his heart.

He hadn't known the meaning of peace before he had come to this palace. It was still just an acquaintance. But he was becoming more familiar with it bit by bit, and was beginning to see a glimmer of light in the distance.

In a thousand years, he couldn't have imagined that the bloodlust that had driven him to Aadyabhoomi would end in this moment, Indrajit mulled.

Of course, he hadn't ascertained if Priyamvada could be trusted or if she had any secret agenda. However, he had grown to understand one thing, and that had made a huge difference to his attitude towards her. Whatever her faults were, Priyamvada had loved his father wholeheartedly, and she remained as devoted to him now as she had been when he was alive. And everything she said about his father felt like the truth.

Furthermore, when Priyamvada spoke to him, her motherly affection appeared to be so genuine that he could almost believe that she considered him to be her son. It was only in her absence that his deep-rooted suspicions raised their head. Now those doubts too were starting to decrease.

Also, Priyamvada had given him the details of the lawyers hired by his father to fight for him in court. Maybe he would investigate. Or maybe he would let it go. The knowledge that his father had wanted him to be a part of his life, and had put in great effort to see him from afar and be informed about the happenings in his life...it had changed so much for him. 

Nevertheless, he'd felt dumbfounded when his step-mother had requested him to accompany her and Prithvi on a long tour of the world. He had not gone outside the country yet, and had not wanted to do so either. And now he had to consider the possibility of travelling with his step-mother and brother, as if they were a unit...a family? The idea made him very uneasy. 

Priyamvada had given him time to think over it. But he was certain that he was going to refuse. He wasn't prepared mentally for taking the tangled relationships further, especially his relationship with Prithvi.

The dreams that had scrambled his father's images with those of his brother had reduced in number, but they still troubled him now and then. In a vulnerable moment, weakened by his step-mother's emotional words, he had asked for Prithvi. And the resemblance that had angered and tormented him since years had suddenly transformed into a source of immense solace. But he had not repeated the request after that. And Prithvi hadn't visited him either. Jiva, though, had told him that his brother was monitoring his well-being from a distance..

Both Priyamvada and Prithvi were not in the palace right now. Priyamvada had extended her stay in the Devgarh palace, while Prithvi was living like a hermit in some filthy, spartan cabin in the mountains. It was apparently a place their father had liked. He couldn't fathom his father's reasons for being fond of a hut, but he could understand the need to get away from people once in a while. As for himself, he didn't mind the absence of his step-mother and brother as it was temporary. And in the meantime, he could think about the request made by Priyamvada.

Indrajit felt a surge of irritation. He was almost definite that he did not want to accompany them. But doubts wouldn't leave him alone...

If he tried hard, he could visualise a time when he would have a cordial relationship with his step-mother. But it would be very difficult for him to build a rapport with his brother, Indrajit thought obdurately. Step-brother. They didn't have anything in common apart from the blood in their veins. Yet, according to Priyamvada, his father had greatly desired a life in which the four of them would have lived together as a normal family.

What was he going to do...

Indrajit stiffened on hearing familiar footsteps that he loathed. Was there no limit to the girl's shamelessness? Was this how a highborn female was supposed to behave? Pestering him like an irksome fly at every given opportunity?

The first time the odd specimen named Rajeshwari had approached him and attempted to converse with him, he had felt appalled at her nerve. He had not said a word in reply, and after the initial shock, had ignored her. And he had maintained the same attitude for the past three days. But his refusal to speak or acknowledge her presence did not seem to have any impact on the brazen girl. She had simply sat on the nearest chair, either in silence or making meaningless comments about the palace or the weather.

He disliked women in general, and he still despised - and distrusted - his step-mother's family. In a different scenario, he would have dealt with Rajeshwari in the manner that she deserved. But he had heard that Priyamvada was fond of the girl, and Prithvi was very protective about his cousin. While he didn't know where his relationship with both of them was heading, he felt peculiarly reluctant to behave in any way that would displease them. It was merely because he was at their mercy at present, Indrajit decided obstinately. 

So, this time too, he did not respond to the timid questions and kept staring ahead stonily.

But he wouldn't put up with the harassment much longer, Indrajit resolved angrily. He had sufficient problems on his plate without being hassled by a freakish creature from a despicable family.

**********************************

With a tray that held three glasses filled with sweet lime juice, Nandini carefully walked up the stairs in Vrindavan. As she entered her room, she ruefully said, "Sorry for taking so long. Maa just wasn't willing to leave. I had to force her to go to Manju aunty's house."

"Why didn't you call us downstairs instead of bringing all this here," Nishi scolded, getting down from the bed quickly and taking the tray from Nandini's hands. "Sit down now."

"I'm perfectly fine," Nandini said exasperatedly, taking the glass that Nishi offered sternly. "I returned home eight days ago, remember?"

"And you were in the hospital for four whole days, remember?" Vrinda said testily, taking another glass from the tray. "Do you know how scary that time was for all of us?"

Her fears had increased on witnessing the condition of Nandini's family. She had not seen Bhoothnath and Sarojini look so worried till date, and was quite sure she had seen tears in their eyes twice. And Prakash too had often seemed close to crying.

"My blood reports and others tests were fine," Nandini mumbled.

"Thank God for that," Nishi said fervently, keeping the tray on the table.

"I think your grandfather was right," Vrinda mused. "You must have attracted the evil eye because of your success in the exams. Why else couldn't the doctors figure out the reason for your illness?"

"That's just superstition," Nandini said wanly.

"It's good that you finally convinced your mother to go out for some time," Nishi said, sitting down again on chair adjacent to the bed with a glass of juice in her hand. "I don't think she has left the house since you returned from the hospital."

"She hasn't. And she still checks on me every two or three hours," Nandini said wryly.

"Mothers...they are all the same," Vrinda smiled affectionately. "Okay, let's talk about something nicer. I was going through some baby accounts on this app when you were downstairs. You'll love these pictures and videos, Nandini," she grinned, scrolling through her phone. "Look at this baby! Have you seen a cuter kid?"

Nandini smiled warmly at the plump infant on the screen.

"I have saved some cute pics too," Nishi recalled enthusiastically, jumping to sit next to Nandini.

They smiled and laughed for about five minutes over adorable pictures and short videos of babies.

Nandini felt comforted by the presence of her best friends. They had visited her on all four days in the hospital, and had come home every day after her discharge. If she had changed her college, as she had decided after the horrific incident with Dhiren, she would have been miserable without them. But she'd resolved to continue to study in the same college. It was a weak-willed decision that increased her self-hate. But every spot that contained the smallest memories associated with Prithvi had become sacred to her. And the institute, along with the road that led to it, was among those places...

"Look at this cutie," Vrinda squealed. "Those eyes and cheeks! Nandini, if you have a daughter, she will look like this," she laughed.

"Well, the fortune-teller at the college festival had said Nandini would have four sons," Nishi reminded her.

"Minimum," Vrinda rectified defiantly. "That means she could have daughters too,"

"Kindly keep your family planning wisdom to yourself," Nishi pleaded with folded hands.

Giggling, Vrinda looked at Nandini and turned serious. "Nandini, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

Nishi gazed suspiciously at Nandini, then she climbed down from the bed, taking all three empty glasses. "I'll tell you what's wrong with her," she said irritably while walking to the table and keeping the glasses on the tray. "She's thinking about Prithvi."

Vrinda glanced at Nandini's unnaturally pallid face. "Is that true? Nandini, you have to stop thinking about him."

Folding her arms, Nishi stared at Nandini. "You said the relationship was over, but I don't think you believe that yourself. You've not gotten over him. I actually feel like you're obsessing over him even more than before."

Nandini drew up her knees and shuffled backwards to lean against the wall, hands coiled around her legs.

Vrinda hastily said, "Nish! Don't talk to her like that -"

"I have to do it," Nishi insisted. "I have to tell her what both of us having been thinking."

She and Vrinda had been silently supportive for weeks, and had also sworn to Sarojini many times that nothing had gone wrong in Nandini's life. However, she could no longer tolerate being a helpless witness to Nandini's painful struggles to get through each day while maintaining a charade of normalcy. And she could speak freely at this time because they were the only people in the house. Nandini's grandfather was in the shrine and Prakash was playing with his friends outside.

Nishi discontentedly said, "Nandini, I thought you'd feel better after going to Vishranti Nagar. But you've been sadder after returning. You had stopped sharing many things with us after you and Prithvi....and that's okay. We can understand why you didn't feel comfortable talking to us about that part of your life. But Prithvi has been gone for such a long time, and you're still mourning over him. It's okay if you don't want to talk to us about how you feel. But you have to talk to someone. If not us or anyone else you trust, you could go to a professional...a psychologist or a counsellor...and just talk about everything that's troubling you."

"Nishi's right, Nandini," Vrinda said apprehensively. "You need to speak to someone about what you're going through."

Nandini knew they were right. She had to confess...or the unbearable remorse and heartache that were choking her on the inside would eventually send her to a mental asylum. If Nishi and Vrinda decided to end their friendship with her after learning what she had done, it would be no more than she deserved.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Nandini murmured, "I'll tell you both what happened. But please don't ask me for details. And no one else must know – not even Rishabh."

Vrinda and Nishi glanced warily at each other, then agreed cautiously.

Nandini began to speak slowly and clearly, but she meticulously avoided meeting the wary eyes of her friends.

"I have to tell you about Prithvi's mother first. When he was a child, she had left the house one day for...for some work. She didn't return. She'd been very depressed after his father's death. So, the family thought she had killed herself when they found the body of a woman dressed in similar clothes. But she had not died. She had ended up in a destitute home somehow. When Prithvi was living here, someone told him that they had seen his mother. That's why he had left Shamli. To search for his mother. He found her some weeks ago."

Nandini paused her narration for a few minutes, realising that her shell-shocked friends were struggling to follow and process her words. They asked her to repeat many things to confirm that they had understood correctly. However, respecting her request, they did not seek more information.

When they seemed to have gotten a grasp over the backdrop, Nandini compelled herself to continue. "When I was staying with Janki aunty, I happened to meet Prithvi," she whispered. "He and his mother were staying nearby. When I found out why Prithvi had left, I...we patched up for a while. Then I met his mother. We spoke in private once..."

"What happened then?" Vrinda asked unsurely.

"I found out that she is the most hateful human being on the planet," Nandini said abruptly, with a sharp rush of bitterness. "I hate her so much...I wish I could kill her."

Stunned, Nishi and Vrinda exchanged glances. They had not heard Nandini speak in that frightening tone about anyone so far.

"What did that woman do to you?" Nishi asked warily.

Nandini breathed deeply. "Prithvi's father and my father had known each other long ago. His mother remembered my family. She basically told me that she hates us, and many other terrible things," she said tightly. "She insulted my family...she insulted my father - repeatedly. And she also told me how she had mistreated my father in the past. I can't tell you exactly what she said...so please don't ask me."

"That's okay," Vrinda said hurriedly even though her brain felt like it was on the verge of exploding under the onslaught of one astounding news after the other. "You don't have to tell us."

She glanced at Nishi and understood from the latter's dumbstruck face that her brain had company. 

Then Vrinda perplexedly said, "I don't understand this...how can that lady hate your family? And your dad? You guys are the sweetest and most harmless bunch of people on the planet, and your father was such a wonderful person..."

"Prithvi's mother is obviously insane," Nishi said angrily. "No normal person could have any negative feelings about them."

"I couldn't take it when I heard her say those terrible things," Nandini muttered. "I didn't behave well with her, and later...I – I told Prithvi that I couldn't continue our relationship."

Pindrop silence fell in the room.

Then Vrinda gently asked, "But why did you actually break up with Prithvi? I'm sure it's not because of his mother. Something else must have happened between you both."

"Nothing else happened," she mumbled.

Failing to comprehend what she had heard, Vrinda stared at Nandini with a bewildered expression for minutes. Then she confusedly asked, "Isn't that unfair? What is Prithvi's fault? That he happened to be born to her?"

Nishi didn't speak. It wasn't only because of her shock over what Nandini had divulged all of a sudden. She was thinking of the incident when a school-going Nandini had thrown out her relatives because they had made nasty insinuations about her mother. The main mistake had been committed by two elders of the family, but Nandini had cut off her relations with the entire clan, which had actually included many wonderful people, in one stroke.

Nandini's voice remained low but it contained a stubborn strength this time as she said, "There is no future for us, so I felt it was better to...end everything now itself."

Vrinda looked exasperatedly at Nishi. "Can you please tell her she's wrong?"

"We will talk of this some other time," Nishi said uncomfortably.

"No! Please, Nishi!" Nandini said with despair. "After this day, I don't want to talk about it at all. Whatever you want to say...say it right now. Please!"

"Okay, okay," Nishi said quickly, alarmed by the strong reaction. Then she looked at Vrinda and uneasily said, "Nandini's decision is not wrong."

The statement startled Nandini. She had prepared herself to hear criticism of her actions. Support was the last thing she had expected. She didn't want it either. She wanted to be hated and condemned.

"You can't possibly mean that," Vrinda said, aghast.

Nishi turned to Nandini. "What future had you dreamed of with Prithvi? Marriage, right?" she asked gently.

With the faintest sound of pain, Nandini shivered all of a sudden.

Unable to see her anguish, Nishi hurriedly turned away and addressed Vrinda with moist eyes. "Isn't that what we too had assumed? That they would get married one day?"

"Yes, of course...but what -"

"You heard what Nandini said about his mother. Now can you imagine her living a happy and peaceful life with Prithvi when she hates his mother like this? Okay, forget that... after what Prithvi's mother said about Nandini's family, can you imagine a marriage even taking place?"

"But they are not getting married right now, are they?" Vrinda contested hotly. "That is many years away. Who knows what could happen in that time? Maybe that crazy woman will come to her senses? And maybe Nandini will be able to forgive -"

"No. I will not forgive her till I'm alive," Nandini cut in dully. "And I will not allow her to ever come near my family."

The oppressive shadows that had fallen over her had passed, and now nothing in her demeanour revealed that she had wanted to beg Nishi to stop speaking at one point.

Nishi looked testily at Vrinda. "You heard her. And Prithvi has found his mother after years of believing she was dead. Do you think he will cut her out of his life for Nandini? Can you imagine a marriage happening in these circumstances? And if there is no marriage in their future, why should either of them waste more time on the relationship?" she asked reasonably.

Vrinda gaped at her and then at Nandini, who was staring at her hands, clearly unable to look either of them in the eye. She couldn't come up with arguments to fight Nishi's logic. But wasn't love supposed to be above rationality...above hate...above everything?

She tried to find the right words to express what she felt. Then she suddenly felt hopeless.

"I don't want to hurt you, Nandini," she said despondently. "But as your friend, I have to tell you that you are being unfair and harsh. And I just hope you don't regret this decision someday."

Nandini remained quiet. She couldn't explain that she had regretted the decision from the moment she had taken it...but was not going to change it.

Nishi uneasily muttered, "Vrinda, you know she finds it very difficult to forgive...some mistakes."

Vrinda felt confused at first, but then she realised what Nishi was referring to. The three of them had grown up together, and knew each other inside out. Nandini was the kindest, purest soul she knew...but her friend had always been ferociously protective about her family. Whenever someone had tried to hurt them, Nandini had turned into a different person. Someone who couldn't see beyond her outrage. And her anger and pain didn't decrease naturally with time, as it did for most people. It remained ingrained in her for unnaturally long periods. But again, shouldn't it have been different in the case of Prithvi, whom her friend loved madly?

Nishi voiced a doubt. "Prithvi doesn't seem to be the kind to accept things easily. What if he tries to get in touch with you again?"

"He won't," Nandini said quietly.

He had trusted her long before the fragile, beautiful bond of love had formed between them. And his trust had gone beyond the boundaries of love. He had once had absolute faith in her....in her goodness as a human being. Although they had fought frequently, he had never doubted the sincerity of her intentions...never believed that she was capable of being cruel and malicious. He would not have given up on her if her reasons for breaking up had been different. But the truth had changed everything for him. Her revelation hadn't just destroyed his trust in her love. It had destroyed the faith he had in her as a human being. She had fallen in his eyes. And for him, that was the point of no return...

With an unexpected insight, Vrinda curiously asked, "Had you talked to Prithvi the day you fell ill?"

Nandini glanced away, tears flooding out of her eyes for the first time during the conversation. She couldn't bear to recall that afternoon...she wouldn't be able to think about it for the rest of her life...

She felt Vrinda move closer and sit right next to her, back against the wall. Nishi did the same after a second.

They sat in a row on the bed, all three of them shaken by the conversation.

"I don't think we've had such a difficult talk with each other...ever before," Nishi contemplated.

"We haven't," Vrinda confirmed sadly. Then she hooked an arm around Nandini's elbow and resignedly said, "Nandini, I'll try to understand...I really will. But whether I end up understanding or not, I love you too much to be upset with you."

Not confident of her ability to speak coherently, Nandini responded mutely by placing her head on Vrinda's shoulder.

Nishi smiled at both of them.

No one spoke for about a quarter of an hour.

Then Nishi shuffled around to look at her friends and determinedly said, "Let's make a pact. We will not discuss...him again. Until and unless Nandini mentions him first."

She held out her right hand, palm facing upwards.

Vrinda hesitated, then placed her hand on top of Nishi's.

Nandini grasped the conjoined hands and brought them to her tearful eyes.

***********************************