The rain had been falling all day in a steady drizzle that blanketed the streets of Gurgaon and turned the air into a thick, oppressive overlay. Kaira watched the drops of water roll down the window. The sounds of the city outside, like her whole world, had wrapped itself in a haze. The distant honking of vehicles and the murmur of people walking below seemed muted. 

Her apartment was quiet. Too quiet. The only sound inside came from the soft scrape of cardboard against tile as she slowly packed away the last few pieces of her life. Clothes, books, some leftover kitchen utensils she never used. Each item placed into a box felt like a piece of her past being sealed away.

The apartment was almost empty now, stripped down to the basics. There was no evidence of the two years she and Mahek had shared in this space. It was amazing how quickly love could be packed into boxes, or erased as though it had never existed.

Her breath caught in her throat as she glanced toward the corner of the living room, the spot where their small couch had once been. The same spot where they’d spent so many nights curled up together, laughing, chatting, watching Netflix, having wine, chomping off the half-baked homemade pizza. She had loved those quiet evenings, when it was just the two of them in this tiny apartment and nothing else mattered.

But that was before everything had gotten complicated.

Before Mahek had left.

Kaira let out a deep sigh, turning her attention back to the boxes in front of her. She needed to focus. She needed to finish packing. There were only a few days left for her to move out and gone for good. She was leaving for Berlin soon, taking a job that she had fought so hard to get. It was a dream opportunity, a chance to finally be free. To start fresh in a place where no one knew her, no one could judge her, no one could demand things from her that she wasn’t ready to give.

But Berlin felt like a distant promise now. She looked around at the barren walls overshadowed by the weight of everything she was leaving behind.

Forcing herself to focus on the task at hand, she shook her head. She reached for the next drawer, her fingers brushing against a stack of old papers. Bills, receipts, grocery lists. Mundane things that didn’t seem to belong to her anymore. A couple of boxes holding a few things and a million memories.

She got up to place one such box in a cardboard box when she stumbled and crashed on the carpet. As she picked herself she noticed that a few things had toppled over from the box. 

A photograph.

Kaira froze, pulling it out from the clutter. She recognized it instantly as the image came into focus. It was a picture of her and Mahek, taken two years ago at the Delhi Pride march. They were standing close together, arms wrapped around each other and their faces bright with joy. Mahek had one arm slung over Kaira’s shoulder, her hair pulled back into a messy bun with her wide smile unapologetic. Kaira’s smile was more reserved and her gaze was slightly averted.

It was their first Pride march together when they had dared to step out in public as a couple, to claim their space in a world that was unforgiving. Kaira could still remember the way Mahek had held her hand tightly, how she had laughed and cheered, mingling with the crowd.

Mahek had been fearless that day. And Kaira had been in awe of her.

But to her it seemed like aeons ago now.

Her fingers traced the edges of the photograph. A lone tear swam in her eye terrified to flow. So much had changed since that day. So much had gone wrong. And now, as she sat here alone in this empty apartment, it felt like all of that joy, all of that love, had slipped through her fingers.

She set the photograph down on the floor beside her and turned her attention back to the drawer. She was about to close it when something else caught her eye—another photograph, this one hidden beneath a pile of old receipts.

Her pulse quickened as she realised what it was.

It was a picture of her and Mahek from their one-year anniversary. They had taken it at a small café near their university, the same place where they had shared their first kiss. In the photo, they were sitting side by side at a small wooden table, hands intertwined and smiles soft and easy. Mahek had been wearing her favourite yellow scarf, the one that Kaira had always teased her about because it clashed with everything she owned. Kaira could still hear Mahek’s laughter in her ears. The warmth of Mahek’s touch was still alive in her senses.

Her throat tightened as she stared at the photograph. A surge of memories came flooding back with startling clarity. She hadn’t seen this picture in months. She had forgotten it even existed. Holding it in her hands now, it felt like the past was pulling her back.

Kaira closed her eyes as her grip on the photograph tightened. The room around her seemed to blur and shift. The sound of the rain faded into the background, replaced by something softer—voices, laughter, the hum of conversation. And when she opened her eyes again, she wasn’t in the apartment anymore.

***

Kaira blinked her eyes to wade away her disorientation. She tried to make sense of her surroundings. She was sitting at a small table in a cosy, dimly lit café. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the scent of rain-soaked pavement from outside. The low murmur of conversation floated around her, punctuated by the occasional clatter of dishes and the hiss of the espresso machine.

She knew this place. It was the café where she and Mahek had spent countless hours during their time at university. The same café where they had celebrated their first anniversary, where they had shared long, quiet conversations about their future.

But this wasn’t just a café. This was a memory.

Kaira’s breath hitched in her throat as she looked across the table. Her gaze landed on Mahek who was sitting just a few feet away. Her eyes warmed up looking at Mahek’s soft and familiar smile. Her hands were wrapped around a steaming cup of tea. She looked just as she had on the day this photograph had been taken. Her hair was let loose and the waves fell on the frame of her face, her eyes were bright with happiness.

Kaira’s pulse quickened as she realised what was happening. This wasn’t real. This was some kind of hallucination. She was back in the past, reliving a moment that had long since slipped away.

But it felt so real.

“Kaira?” Mahek’s voice cut through the fog of Kaira’s thoughts, pulling her back to the present of this memory. Mahek was looking at her with a mix of amusement and curiosity, her head tilted slightly to one side. “You look like you’re a million miles away.”

Kaira blinked, struggling to find her voice. “I—I’m here,” she said.

Mahek smiled, her fingers playing idly with the edge of her scarf. “Good. Because I was about to launch into a very important discussion about where we should go for dinner, and I need your full attention.” She chuckled.

Kaira smiled at the sound of Mahek’s voice and the twinkle in her eyes. She had forgotten how easy things had been between them once. How effortless it had all seemed in the beginning, before the weight of the world had settled on their shoulders.

Mahek leaned forward, her expression growing more serious. “Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future lately.”

Kaira’s heart skipped a beat. She knew where this conversation was going. She remembered it clearly now. This had been the day that everything had changed.

Mahek took a deep breath. “I know we’ve talked about it before, but... I want us to be more open about who we are. Maybe come out to our parents.” Her gaze was affixed on Kiara’s face.

Kaira’s stomach churned as the familiar dread settled over her. She had known this conversation was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. She knew she wasn’t prepared yet.

“I want to stop hiding,” Mahek continued, “I don’t want to pretend anymore. I want to be able to hold your hand in public, to introduce you to my family, to live our lives without fear.”

Kaira clenched her jaw. She remembered this moment too well. Mahek’s eyes were so full of hope and certainty. And she remembered the way she had felt terrified and trapped. It was as if the walls were closing in around her.

“I—I don’t know if I can do that,” Kaira’s voice was trembling. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just...”

Mahek’s expression softened, but there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes. “I know it’s scary, Kaira. I know it’s not easy. But we can’t keep living like this. We deserve to be happy. We deserve to be ourselves.”

Kaira looked away then, unable to meet Mahek’s gaze. She had wanted to say yes. She wished to agree with her and tell her that she was ready. But the fear had been too overwhelming. The fear of what her family would say, of what society would think, of what it would mean to truly be seen.

“I may be moving to Berlin for good.” Kaira blurted. It didn’t seem like she would keep it held in for long.

“Berlin? But you said, the office is considering a project based shift. What’s with moving?” Mahek’s expression changed from pleasant to bitter in a moment. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes reflected concern.

“I just need more time,” Kaira whispered. “This move seems important for now.”

Mahek nodded, “Okay. More time.” Her facial muscles relaxed a bit but her jaw was still tight with tension.

But Kaira had known, even then, that time wouldn’t change anything.

***

The café dissolved around her, and Kaira was pulled into another memory. This one was darker and heavier. The air was thick with tension.

She was back in their apartment now, standing in the middle of the living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Mahek was pacing in front of her, her hands gesturing wildly as she spoke, her voice trembling with frustration.

“This isn’t just about us anymore, Kaira!” Mahek shouted, her face flushed with anger. “This is about who we are. Together. This is about being true to ourselves. I can’t keep hiding. And I won’t.”

“I’m not asking you to hide,” Kaira shot back. She could hear her heart pound in her ears. “I’m just asking for more time. I’m trying to figure things out. Berlin is a great opportunity for me…”

Mahek stopped pacing, her eyes locking onto Kaira’s. “Figure out what? Going away from here will not make a difference in the way we are considered. Do you think putting up pretension works? Can you really love me openly, without fear? What exactly are you trying to figure out, Kaira?”

Kaira swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. “I’m trying to figure out how to make this work with me being gone.”

Mahek shook her head, her voice breaking. “And you think your going away will make everything alright? Kaira, we can be together even if you are away. It’s just about being brave enough to accept our truth and come out to the people whom we love.  It is about being able to reclaim our lives. To live the life we deserve. Together.”

Kaira’s heart ached with the weight of Mahek’s words. She wanted to be brave. She wanted to be the person Mahek needed her to be. But she didn’t know how.

Mahek let out a shaky breath, her hands falling to her sides. “I love you, Kaira. I love you so much. But I can’t keep waiting for you to be ready. I can’t keep pretending like everything is okay when it’s not.”

Kaira’s breath hitched in her throat as she watched the tears well up in Mahek’s eyes. She had never seen her so vulnerable, so raw like this. It made her feel like the worst person in the world.

“I don’t know what you want me to do,” Kaira whispered, her voice trembling.

Mahek took a step toward her, her gaze softening. “I want you to be honest with yourself. I want you to stop hiding. I want you to stop running away from me, from everyone. I want you to, for once, look me in the eye and tell me that you’re not running away from me.”

Kaira looked away, shame washing over her cheeks a crimson hue. She had spent her whole life hiding from her family, from society, from herself. She didn’t know how to stop. And she did not wish to take Mahek down with her. 

Mahek let out a sigh. “I don’t want to lose you, Kaira. But I can’t keep waiting for you to choose me.”  Her voice was barely above a whisper. 

And then she walked out the door.

***

The memory faded, and Kaira was back in the present. The lone tear found company and spilled out of her eyes. Sitting on the floor she looked at the photograph she was still clutching on to. Her heart thumbed as she tried to catch her breath.

She had made so many mistakes.

She had let her fear control her. She had let her doubts, her insecurities, get in the way of the love she had with Mahek. And now, in this empty apartment, surrounded by the remnants of their life together, she realised just how much she had lost.

Her phone buzzed on the floor beside her, the screen lighting up with a new message. Kaira glanced at it. She trained her eyes to see the name on the screen.

Mahek.

Her hands trembled as she picked up the phone to open the message.

Hey. I know it’s been a while, but I’ve been thinking about you. Can we talk?

Kaira missed a heartbeat as she stared at the message. A thousand different thoughts were darting in her mind. She had spent months wishing for this moment that Mahek would reach out, that she would say something, anything. But now that it was happening, Kaira didn’t know how to react.

She looked down at the photograph in her hand, beads of sweat instantly appeared on her temples as the weight of everything she had been carrying settled over her.

This was her chance.

Her chance to make things right. To stop hiding. To stop running away.

She took a deep breath. Her hands were trembling as she typed out a monosyllable response.

Yes.

***

Kaira stood outside the café. She watched the rain drip down from the awning above. The streets were still slick with water and the city lights were reflecting off the pavement making everything seem softer.

She had been standing here for a few minutes, too nervous to go inside. She was afraid of whatever might happen when she saw Mahek again. It had been months since they had spoken. 

Even though she had spent every day of those months rehearsing for this moment, now that it was here, she felt her mind fogged. She had imagined what she would say, how she would explain everything. She wished to apologise to Mahek and tell her that she had been wrong. She wanted to tell her that she still loved her. 

But standing here, just a few feet away from the door, Kaira felt like all the words had left her.

She took a deep breath, wiping her palms on her jeans as she stepped forward and reached for the door.

When she walked in, the warmth of the café hit her immediately. The smell of coffee and baked goods filled the air. It was a small, cosy place, the kind of café that felt like a refuge from the chaos of the world outside. And there, sitting at a table by the window, was Mahek.

Kaira’s breath caught in her throat as she saw Mahek. She looked the same, but different. Her hair was shorter now, cut in a way that made her look older and more serious. But her eyes were the same shade of dark brown, warm, and full of that same light that had always drawn Kaira to her.

Mahek looked up as Kaira approached. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“Quite on time,” she said softly, her voice so familiar that it made Kaira’s heart ache.

“Yeah,” Kaira replied. She couldn’t believe that her voice was trembling slightly. She took the seat across from her.

For a moment, they just sat there in silence. The air between them hung heavy with everything that had been left unsaid. Kaira felt her heart sink, her words feeling impossible to say.

“I’ve missed you,” Mahek said in her soft but steady voice. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Kaira felt her throat close up, as she fought to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over. “I’ve missed you too,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

Mahek reached across the table covering Kaira’s hand gently with hers. Her warm touch was so familiar, it made Kaira ache with longing.

“I’m sorry,” Kaira said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I should have been braver. I should have fought for us. But I was scared. I was so scared of losing everything, of losing you, that I ended up pushing you away.”

Mahek smiled softly, her thumb brushing against Kaira’s knuckles. “It’s okay. I understand why you were scared. I was scared too. But I never stopped loving you, Kaira. I never stopped wanting you.”

Kaira felt the tears spill over as she let out a shaky breath. “I don’t want to hide anymore,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be afraid. I just want you.”

Mahek’s smile widened, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Then let’s stop hiding. Let’s be us, Kaira. Let’s live the life we always wanted.”

Kaira nodded, her heart swelling with a mix of hope and fear. She didn’t know what the future held, didn’t know how the world would react to them. But for the first time in a long time, she felt like she could face it. As long as she had Mahek by her side, she could face anything.

They sat there for a long time, their hands intertwined, the rain still falling outside. And as they talked, as they laughed, as they let themselves be open and vulnerable with each other, Kaira realised that this was the beginning of something new. Something real. Something that wasn’t defined by fear or hiding.

It was the beginning of their future. Together