Dedicated to @iamstupidgenius because his idea actually helped me write.
If you want a happy ending, it's depends on where you stop the story. -Oscar Wilde.
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Chapter twenty-nine: The one with tieing loose ends.
It was the first day of THE WEEK.
Mahaya and Yashraj were up and ready to go. Both of them had decided to go to all the silly places the people in love go.
They first went to a cliche romance movie in which the actor and actress just die in the end.
The movie depressed them so much they decided to watch Jurassic World. This was the movie they really enjoyed.
That's when they realised: to hell with cliches. They wanted to have fun.
So they next played billiards, pool and snooker.
Then bowling.
Yashraj won that one, scoring 124 while Mahaya had scored 102.
That's how they spent their first day. Goofing around.
Horror house, rainforest, you name it and they did it all.
So by the time they arrived home, they were beat.
As per tradition, Yashraj dropped Mahaya off at her floor.
"Well, today was fun." He spoke, holding her hand.
Mahaya nodded.
Then they looked at each other for a moment and spoke together.
"Let's not do it again."
"Awww!" They again said together.
That's just about how it was. They both agreed that they were too old to be doing this. Yeah, it was fun but they should have been doing something else.
So, after kissing Mahaya goodbye Yashraj decided to do something different the next day.
He laid down on his bed and decided to sort out all of his thoughts and make some really good plans but...he fell asleep.
The next day, both of them got up at nine. Which was usual for Yashraj but not for Mahaya.
She freaked out. So Yashraj did what every good boyfriend would do. He fed her.
Thanking him, Mahaya gave him a sloppy kiss and they moved to the car.
"Where to today?" Yashraj asked as they buckled in.
"Today, we go to my high school." Mahaya grinned as she drove to Ramnarain Ruia College.
It was an off day for the college or maybe students were bunking.
Anyway, Mahaya, along with Yashraj, met all her teachers. And each and every single one of them was pleased to meet her.
Then, Mahaya proceeded to show Yashraj every nook and corner of the campus.
Yashraj watched amusedly as Mahaya told him stories related to every place.
And to think this girl was leaving in just three more days. His heart clenched in pain.
Just when they were at the junction of the staircase, he stopped her chattering.
"We need to talk." He said, fearing the outcome of this discussion.
"What have we been doing all this time?" Mahaya chuckled nervously.
Yashraj cocked his head to the side, gazing at her.
She sighed and looked at him with fear in her eyes.
"I know we need to talk about us. And the future. But, today, let's just skip it. Let's just enjoy ourselves as much as we can. We can have the talk later." Mahaya pleaded and Yashraj couldn't help but agree.
So he left Mahaya guide him through every classroom of the college and then both of them went to visit Mount Mary, just because.
Together, they lit the candle and wished.
They just didn't know how similar their wishes were.
_••____••___••___
The third day, it was the worst possible.
Mahaya had just informed Yashraj that she had to spend this time with her mom.
"I can't help it. I haven't spend much time with her since...forever." Mahaya pleaded.
"But...you're leaving in two days!" Yashraj grumbled.
"I know baby. I'll make it up to you tonight. I promise." She promised.
This made him feel better.
"I'll hold you onto it." He said and Mahaya hugged him, before going to her Mom's floor.
Mahaya took a deep breath as the elevator reached her moms floor.
Mahaya and her mom didn't share a good relationship. They never agreed on anything. Every conversation they had turned into an argument so fast, you'd take time to figure out what happened.
So Mahaya was preparing herself.
She knocked on the door. Her mom was reading some article in a magazine.
"Mother?" Mahaya asked hesitantly.
Her mom looked at and smiled.
"Come on in." She said.
"What are you reading?" Mahaya asked as she sat on the bed beside her mom.
"Just something." Her mother shrugged it off as she brought forward five bags of clothes.
"I bought these for you. I know we don't exactly have similar taste but this time, I tried shopping through your mind." Her mom smiled sheepishly as Mahaya examined the clothes.
"Thanks mom. I love these." Mahaya smiled as she hugged her mom, probably after months, or maybe even year.
"How long are you going to be there?" Her mother asked.
"A year. Maybe even more." Mahaya shrugged. For the first time, she hadn't exactly planned her future.
For the first time, after her desperation, she had no idea what was going to happen.
Her mom nodded.
"This thing between you and Yashraj, is it serious?" Her mother asked after a few moments.
Mahaya looked at her mother in shock.
Her mother and she never discussed relationship or boys. Maybe it was because Mahaya was soon shifting or maybe because Tanya got married but Mahaya's mother had begun to try getting close to her daughter.
Mahaya nodded silently.
Sensing the fact that her daughter wasn't going to say much, Disha herself spoke, "You know he reminds me of how I met your dad." Her mother recalled, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"What? You found him in the backseat of your car?
"No. I was in the rickshaw and he was sitting in the car in front of me, being taken away by policemen." Disha said, chuckling as Mahaya burst into laughter.
"Why was he arrested?" Mahaya asked.
"Oh, your Dad doesn't want you to know that." Mahaya's mother pursued her lips as Mahaya laughed again.
That's how, after years, the mother and daughter duo bonded over one of the most important men in their lives.
___•____
Yashraj had finally decided to face the situation.
Having Mahaya go in two days, made him realise that he needs to move on. And for that to happen, he needs to tie up the loose ends.
And since Mahaya was busy spending time with her family, Yashraj decided to make the best of it.
"I'm so glad you decided to hear me out." She smiled as she stood up, greeting him.
Yashraj tried not to scowl at her.
"Well, I'm here to listen. So speak." He said in a cold voice.
Karen sighed.
"I loved you so much Yashraj. I still do. I love you so much it's painful. But I had to take that job. It's always been my dream." Karen spoke and Yashraj couldn't help but think how similar it was to Mahaya's.
"So, one week after accepting my proposal, you run off to New York City. And the only way you could tell me you were leaving me was through a voice mail." Yashraj spoke, trying to tone down the bitterness to the minimum.
But looking at Karen, he didn't do a good job.
"I know I acted cowardly. But what could I have done?" She asked rhetorically, looking for Yashraj's sympathy.
"Seriously? You got the offer a month ago. You had to tell me about a month ago, dammit. Yet you accepted my proposal and then ran up. There were hundreds and thousands of things you could have done Karen. You were just too scared to do them." Yashraj snapped.
In that moment, he realised why he loved Mahaya so much more.
Mahaya didn't act cowardly. She told him upfront.
Karen looked down and then straight into his eyes.
"You are shouting at me." She softly pointed it out.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves down.
"I know I should have done it differently. Each night before I go to sleep, I'm always thinking about how different our lives could have been right now." She spoke, gazing at him.
"Why are you saying these things now? It won't change anything." Yashraj said with a cold voice.
"Because I want you back. You are the love of my life Yash. And I yours. We are Yashraj and Karen. What happened to us?"
"You ran away and gave up on us. There needs to be two people in 'us' Karen. You left. The end." Yashraj said before Karen could break into tears.
"But I want that life with you. The one we had. Please." She pleaded.
"Karen, I love Mahaya." Yashraj spoke with utter sincerity and love.
"I know but she leaves in two days." She quickly spoke.
"So are you." He replied.
Karen leaned forward.
"That's what I want to talk about. Yashraj, I want to give us another chance. I'm ready to stay here. I'm ready to live here. Let's start our lives again. Let's give us another shot." She begged.
Yashraj stared at her for a moment.
"Is this why you gave her the job? To separate us?" Yashraj asked her, horrified and disgusted.
"No! Is that how low you think of me?! We had selected her after the seventh interview itself. It's just a plus." Karen quickly explained.
Yashraj nodded. So Mahaya did get it because she deserved it. Good.
"Yashraj, please. You are the love of my life. Let's work this out. I know we can. Please." Karen begged and Yashraj just looked at her.
"Goodbye Karen." He said as he got up and turned around, not exactly getting the closure he wanted.
----••-----
Today was Mahaya's last day in India for a very long time.
Next morning, she was going to leave. So Yashraj decided to make this day count.
But Mahaya had her own plans.
"Where are we going?" Yashraj asked as they started driving away from the city.
"You'll see." Mahaya smiled at him softly and Yashraj held her hand, tracing her knuckles with the pad of his thumb.
Then he realised that the way was familiar.
It was because he had driven on this road almost six months ago.
He looked at Mahaya in shock but she kept her eyes straight on the road.
She pressed the clutch and the brake, bringing the car to a halt.
"Let's go. I want you to meet Abhishek." Mahaya said as she held Yashraj's hand and brought him inside the house.
Children were playing everywhere as an old man was serving them treats.
As soon as Mahaya entered, every child ran towards her, screaming with joy.
Mahaya laughed as she hugged every single one of them.
She then introduced them to Yashraj who got along with them just as easily because, let's face it, he was a child at heart and mind.
Mahaya watched him play with them, her heart swelling up with joy and content.
How could she possibly leave this man? This amazingly wonderful man who was as much as in love with her as she was.
And this time, he wasn't going anywhere.
She was.
Mahaya took a deep breath. She reminded herself why was doing this, why she needed to do this.
"Yashraj." She called out to him softly, asking him to come along.
She brought him face to face with Abhishek Verma.
"This is Abhishek." She introduced.
"Hey bro." Yashraj greeted.
In that moment, Mahaya could actually imagine Abhishek's response.
"Hey. How you doing?"
"He asks how you doing." Mahaya muttered softly.
Yashraj took hold of Mahaya's hand.
"I'm with this beautiful girl. What do you think?" He asked as he smiled at Mahaya.
Mahaya smiled as she hugged him tight.
Abhishek was no longer with her. Mahaya won't anymore see his smile or hear his laugh. She had accepted that three years ago. Now, she intended to spend her time happily with Yashraj, letting go of Abhishek forever.
Mahaya was giving him the tour of the house when Yashraj stopped her.
"Mahi, we do need to talk."
Mahaya nodded and both of them sat down.
"So you leave tomorrow." Yashraj spoke.
Mahaya took a hold of his hand and squeezed it softly.
She nodded.
"Then what was us?" He asked.
"Long distance?" She suggested but she could see the same fear she had reflected in his eyes.
"It never works." He spoke the words none of them wanted to believe.
"It never does." Mahaya whispered.
"So I guess then, this is it." Yashraj spoke but he didn't speak with his heart in place.
He felt like he was in a trance.
"No. Not till tomorrow. Not until you see me board that flight." Mahaya argued.
"I'll miss you a lot." Yashraj said, looking lovingly into her eyes.
"I'll miss you too. More than you know." Mahaya said as she kept her head on his shoulder.
"I'll always remember you as the bossy girl." Yashraj muttered, chuckling.
"And I'll always remember you as the guy who trashed my car."
"Quite long name, don't you think?" Yashraj nudged her.
"Well, how about..." She thought for a moment.
"The UnWanted Passenger?" Mahaya suggested.
"Oh, I'm so wanted now." Yashraj muttered.
Mahaya laughed, nodding as she kissed him.
___•_____
Yashraj had asked Mahaya to come to his place at eight at night.
He was going to do something he had never done before, exception being Karen.
Everything was ready.
And just on cue, Mahaya entered.
"Hey, where are we going tonight?" Mahaya asked as she sat beside Yashraj.
"Nowhere. I've already ordered the pizza." He replied.
"Then why did you ask me to come down dressed?" Mahaya asked in confusion.
Mischievous smile played on his lips as Yashraj pressed the call button.
"To meet my mother." He said as soon as the video call got accepted.
"Yash, are you able to see me?" A soft voice spoke from the other side but the video was blacked out.
"Mom, go and sit on the couch." An irritated girl said.
The voice was young, Mahaya noted.
Then the video went blur for a moment before focusing on the two people on the couch.
"Mahaya, meet my mother: Rajshree Rathore and my sister Alisha Rathore." Yashraj introduced and on cue, both of the Rathore ladies waved.
Mahaya smiled and waved back.
"Hi, I'm Mahaya Roy." She smiled as she introduced herself, her voice loud and clear.
"So you're the one my son keeps talking about." His mother spoke and Mahaya looked at her sheepishly.
"How are you doing honey?" His mother asked.
"I'm doing great. How are you?" Mahaya asked.
Yashraj looked with fascination and adoration as Mahaya bonded with his mother.
Yashraj was afraid they wouldn't get along.
Both of them were head strong and stubborn people who never changed their views.
So either they'd get along really good or not at all.
Right now, Yashraj was thanking his lucky stars.
"So Mahaya you're a lawyer." Alisha spoke.
Mahaya nodded.
"Yes. And I'll be coming to New York tomorrow." She informed them.
Alisha looked at her in confusion.
"But isn't the American law completely opposite to the Indian law?" She asked.
Mahaya was glad someone asked that question.
Usually whenever somebody heard she was going to New York to practise law, they are so happy that they completely forget the important details.
"Yes it is. So they'll be giving us a two month introductory class to bring us up with the lawyers there." Mahaya replied.
The elevator door pinged as the servant entered with the pizza.
Yashraj got up and paid the bill. By the time he returned, the three ladies were laughing at something.
It all had worked out perfectly well.
Yashraj grinned as he took a bite of the pizza, burning his tongue in process.
___•_____
"Call me as soon as you land. And remember, anything you need, just one phone call." Mahaya's Dad said as he hugged her once more.
"Yes Dad. I'll remember." She rolled her eyes.
"Good." He said as he hugged her again.
"Let her go now Dev." Nisha, her mother, chided her husband as she pulled Mahaya away from his arms, into hers.
She hugged her tightly.
"Remember to go to Aunt Rita for anything you need." Her mother waged a finger at her.
"Yes mommy." Mahaya rolled her eyes again.
Kartik was on the verge of crying.
"First Tanya left, now you. I have no idea what to do anymore. Everything's changing!" He grumbled as he refused to hug his sister.
"Kartik, I'll be back in a year. And you can visit me anytime you want. Don't forget that." Mahaya tried to lighten his mood.
Kartik looked at his younger sister for once and then pulled her into a bear hug.
"I love you so much Mahu." He muttered As he kissed her hair.
"Me too idiot. Me too." She said as she patted his back.
Then they let go and she faced Yashraj.
"This is it." She whispered and he nodded.
"Don't go please." Yashraj said, trying it for the last time.
"I have to." She said softly as she held his hand.
"No. You could stay here." He pleaded.
"I cannot." She said, trying not to cry.
Yashraj suddenly pulled her into a tight hug.
"Don't go Mahi. Please. I beg you." He mumbled into her hair.
"I have to Yashraj, please." She whispered.
"But...I don't want just a week! I want the whole lifetime dammit." He growled and Mahaya shook her head.
"I do too. But if I stay, I'll regret it forever. I'll always hate you for convincing me to stay, and hate myself for staying." She said as she ran her hand through his hair.
Yashraj kissed the inside of her hand.
"I like this. Your touch. Your warmth." He said, gazing into her eyes.
"That's why I need to leave now." Mahaya whispered, her voice breaking.
Yashraj kissed her on the cheek once before hugging her again.
"I'll always love you." He promised.
"Me too." She said.
But both of them knew what was going to happen. They'll talk on phone, Skype at times, but the time difference will create a problem. Misunderstandings, betrayals, fights, heartbreak.
So in order to avoid all of this, both of them were going to lock away these happy memories and try to move on in their lives.
Mahaya turned around, quickly wiping off the tears and then bid the final goodbye to her family and Yashraj.
Yashraj watched her get inside the security check. She have him one last smile before she disappeared.
Mahaya was gone.
Yashraj turned around, closing his eyes and saving the picture of Mahaya Roy smiling at him for the last time forever in his mind.
Always.
__________________________________________
That's it. The final chapter of The UnWanted Passenger.
I started this book on the sixth of April and completed it in four months.
I'm really proud of this work because I think of it as the best I've written up until now.
And I hope you really liked this book too.
This is it. The last chapter of Mahaya and Yashraj's journey together.
There will an epilogue coming up in a few days which will tell you what happened to them, how they moved on and where they are in their lives.
I really want to thank the_desi_writer . She has voted, commented and read for every chapter. But she has done so much more. She helped me decided the name for Yashraj. She helped me decide the story's title. The UnWanted Passenger, all her idea. Also the amazing cover. She also reviewed most of the chapters.
So thank you Twinkle.
Also AkankshaSharma3 StrangerSight affiee @anonymously_anon @coffeing and so many more for being there, always.
Your comments make me want to write. And that's what got me this far.
So a huge thank you to everyone!
Also, please do go back and comment! I have had 780 comments on this book and I want to have 1000. So please go back and comment if you haven't. Or if you have too.
Until the epilogue,
EmilyRobBaxter.