invisible string ✓

twenty four

“Yes, you realised that it's time to tell me everything. Well and good. But… What is that everything you're trying to say?” I knew that I was a bitch to interject her like that, but who would like to wait for someone to complete beating around the bush?

Letting out a fed-up exhale through her mouth, she continued, “Okay. So… Imagine this. We live in a universe. You and I. Existing in this world. One world. But, what if there was another world just like ours?” Noticing my frown getting deeper, she continued, “What if there was one world created by you? What if there was a world, which existed only in manuscripts, is actually a real one? What if the Ishaan Ahuja you met at the theatre— and this moment— is your creation for real?”

There was silence as she paused to drink up some water. The one which demanded for some noise and more truth.

“So, let me tell you what happened.”

With that, she explained everything: how she became Ishaan's online friend through emails, how she transitioned to the universe where Ishaan existed and met him there, how she met other characters like Ved Singh and Mehak Trivedi— who was then Mehak Trivedi Singh by getting hitched to Ved— and other trivial characters of my book, how Ishaan and Maahi had a conversation over a phone call at Crapolla Cove (just like how I had planned for prologue of Call It What You Want), how he proposed to her at the meantime, how they're together after him knowing about the real reason of his existence, and how they are here to meet me to get approval from me of their relationship.

After hearing all of the stories, I wished I could believe them but I couldn't. I couldn't believe the fact that she was telling me that I was right about being overly delusional. I couldn't believe that my book was a mirror that reflected a parallel universe. I couldn't believe that this whole stuff was going on already. Like, that sounded obviously false, so it had to be a dream.

But, why was it real?

“Do you want me to believe this?” I raised my eyebrows and folded my hands while I leaned on the chair.

“Oh, come on, Miss Chatterjee!” Miss Bansal raised her voice in an exasperated tone and questioned, “What am I going to benefit by lying to you? And, especially, about this?”

Though she had a point, I replied to her with an, “I know. But… This can't be happening, can it? Travelling from one world to another? I mean, the entire world of science is draining their brains to find a vehicle for that. Nobody had officially acknowledged that Mars is an eligible place to settle. Even travelling to the black hole is totally impossible—”

“Miss Chatterjee, the one you're stating are facts. They are related to science. But, this isn't. No fact can explain the reason behind its existence. I get that you're being pragmatic and realistic, but for this stuff, you need to displace your brain for a while.”

“But…” I paused midway as a sudden thought struck my mind like a thunderclap. “Miss Bansal, how would you like to believe that this Ishaan—” I pointed at Ishaan, who was sitting silent for a very long while. “— is a person from the world I created? What if he was a person from this world? What if you two were conning me?”

Of course, as Miss Bansal said, I find no benefit behind them conning me. But, it wasn't like I wanted to believe them either.

Sighing out of defeat, she suggested, “Fine. I'll propose this plan to you then: you find out for yourself whether he exists in this world or not. Take as much time as you wish to. You can do any kind of research to find this out. This would remain our final meeting if you conclude that Ishaan is from this world. But…” She paused with her tone shifting into something more serious than before. “If you conclude it to be otherwise…” Sighing for another time, she continued, “You'll know it.”