Chapter 64 The Stars That Never Touch the Moon
Swarnagad The Palace Rooftop Midnights Loneliness
The palace rooftop was a field of white marble washed in cold silent moonlight The air carried twin scents the intoxicating sweetness of night blooming jasmine from the gardens below and the distant damp chill rising from the Mandar river Prince Aakaash stood alone at the carved balustrade a still figure against the vast sky His gaze was not on the brilliant dominating moon but on the faint distant stars that dared to shimmer around it almost invisible in the lunar glare
His eyes held no light of their own They were like still pools reflecting that cold light holding a faded shadow like an old portrait left too long in the sun
The soft scuff of leather on stone broke the quiet Pranav approached his presence a gentle disturbance in the perfect stillness
Pranav his voice a soft weight in the night What do you see my friend The moon rises every night
Aakaash turned slowly In the corners of his eyes moonlight had crystallized or perhaps it was something else something warmer that refused to fall
Aakaash a faint ghost of a smile touching his lips I was wondering do you think the stars ever loved the moon They are so close yet they can never touch it They just watch
Pranav came to stand beside him Their shadows stretched long across the marble one looked broken leaning the other straight and supportive
Pranav voice deepening When an eclipse comes the moon hides and when the sun rises the stars vanish The moon can love the stars but not the sun
Aakaash lifted his chin The moon seemed to catch in his eyes held prisoner there
Aakaash So should the sun stop loving the stars
Pranav Yes because the dawn waits for the sun every morning
Aakaash breath hitched just for a second He opened his palm as if to catch something from the air moonbeams or memories
Aakaash Love happens only once Pranav Even if you never hold it your heart still beats to that same rhythm The stars may never possess the sun but they wait for its rise every single day
Pranav looked at him seeing a pain so deep it had no shape no words left
Pranav carefully weighing each word Like you do for Dharaaya
Aakaash closed his eyes a flinch so subtle it was almost invisible as if pressing on an old deep bruise
Aakaash No my friend she belongs to another now
Pranav hand came to rest on Aakaash shoulder light but solid An anchor
Pranav Then can you forget her
Aakaash opened his eyes There was no fire in them just a deep still accepting peace
Aakaash No never Forgetting Dharaaya would be like forgetting to breathe with my last breath
Pranav voice trembled
Pranav To love someone with your entire soul it often destroys the lover Sometimes no matter how much you love you lose in the end And the truth is those who lose their love never find peace
A soft sad smile touched Aakaash lips It wasnt a smile of joy but of acknowledgement
Aakaash You speak the truth friend but we cannot forget Princess Dharaaya
Pranav tone turned wry though the pain beneath was raw
Pranav Even knowing she is now your friends other half
Aakaash lifted his eyes back to the sky The moon had begun to hide behind a wisp of cloud
Aakaash Love can never be erased A true lover loves his beloved for eternity even if it costs him his life Someone else may come into your life but the one you loved from the depths of your heart hatred can never be born for them In some corner of the heart that love always remains alive
He paused then spoke so softly the words almost melted into the breeze
Aakaash And when she stands before you that love reveals itself No matter how much you restrain yourself the heart does not stop my friend
Aakaash looked at Pranav His eyes held a strange serene calm
Aakaash But I am happy my friend
Pranav pulled him into a tight embrace No words passed between them just the shared rhythm of breath Then Aakaash gently pulled away and walked slowly towards the stairs leading down from the roof His shadow grew longer and longer on the stone then was swallowed by the darkness of the archway
Pranav stood alone looking up at the sky
Pranav to himself voice thick with a deep personal pain He says hes happy I know he hasnt found happiness He has just learned to be happy with what he got
Aakaash Chamber A Burning Temple of Memory
In Aakaash chamber only a single oil lamp burned Its flame danced nervously in the draft from the window fighting to stay alive Aakaash stood by the window outside moonlight painted the world silver but his eyes were turned inward
He walked to an old sandalwood chest With a key from around his neck he unlocked it The hinges sighed Inside on a bed of plain cotton lay three objects a single perfectly preserved but dried crimson rose A delicate silver bangle snapped clean in two A square of sky blue silk handkerchief in one corner of which in fine faded ink was embroidered the name Dharaaya
He lifted the handkerchief It was weightless He brought it to his face not to smell it but to feel its texture against his skin Then he sat on the edge of his bed cradling it in his palms and closed his eyes
Aakaash words slipping from his lips like a prayer I remember the first time I saw you I remember the first time I spoke to you I remember waiting just to catch a glimpse of you and being happy just seeing you from afar I remember staying awake nights waiting for you and waiting all day just for a chance to talk to you I remember laughing with you and I remember crying for you I remember telling you everything and I remember not being able to tell you so much I remember your eyes your laugh your voice I remember remembering you every day and I remember trying to forget you every day I remember every moment spent with you but now you are not here
His voice dissolved into the silent room A sudden stronger gust from the window swept through The lamp flame wavered fought and then died with a soft puff
The room was left in moonlight and the profound aching silence of a shattered heart
Pavangadh The Newlyweds First Night
In the bridal chamber the window was open Moonlight lay across the floor like a silver sheet Dharaaya stood before a large ornate mirror her back to the room With careful deliberate movements she reached up and began to remove her heavy wedding jewelry Each piece a diamond studded earcuff a layered gold necklace gemmed armlets made a soft metallic clink as she placed it on the velvet lined tray Each sound was like the final echo of the wedding bells
Vaayansh stood by the door leaning against the frame His eyes were fixed on her reflection in the mirror watching as the princess transformed into his wife layer by layer He looked as if he was witnessing a cherished dream finally solidify into reality
Vaayansh his voice warm honey in the quiet Dharaaya the first time I saw you you looked just like the moon and you look exactly the same tonight The only difference is now the moon is mine
In the mirror Dharaaya saw his reflection watching hers A shy true smile bloomed on her lips erasing the composed calm of the days ceremonies
Dharaaya You how do you still say such sweet things even after the wedding Everyone says husbands change
Vaayansh pushed himself off the doorframe and walked towards her his steps silent on the thick rug He stopped behind her not touching but his warmth reached her Then gently he took her hand the one not holding an earring His fingers laced through hers warm alive irrevocably linked
Vaayansh If I must change I will only change to love you more with each passing day
Dharaaya lowered her eyes but a glow lit her face brighter than the moonlight on her skin
Dharaaya softly And what if I ever get upset with you
Vaayansh laughed a soft confident sound that filled the room with safety
Vaayansh Then I will use every trick to appease you with words with affection and if nothing works I will just pull you into my arms and hold you until you forget why you were angry
Dharaaya looked up her eyes meeting his in the mirror They shimmered holding a light that was part joy part overwhelming emotion
Dharaaya voice thick Do you know Vaayansh since childhood I dreamed of marrying someone who could look into my eyes and understand my unspoken words And today that dream is complete
Vaayansh leaned forward He didnt kiss her lips Instead he pressed a feather light kiss to the sindoor parting in her hair right on her forehead It was not a kiss of possession but a kiss of promise
Vaayansh And my dream is in my arms tonight No desire remains unfulfilled
The moonlight seemed to draw a veil around them pulling them closer in its silver embrace In the room words were no longer needed There was only the music of shared breath and the synchrony of two heartbeats finding at last the same rhythm
Outside high above the moon slipped fully behind a cloud as if granting them privacy Perhaps it shed a single celestial tear one of joy for the love found or of sorrow for the love left waiting in the shadows of another palace
But the night moved on And in Pavangadh the first sunrise of a shared life was still yet to come
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