Meera snuggled close to Kabir and they watched the sunset, sitting by the sea at Marine Drive. Kabir passed on some salted peanuts to Meera and he held her close.
"This is my favorite part of the city," Meera said, "The sea and the sunset, it's just so beautiful. The sun looks like this golden ball of fire that just drops into the sea painting it crimson!"
"You should try writing poetry," Kabir said, kissing her cheeks, "You've got a beautiful imagination."
"The sea...it's water is so surreal," Meera said, "Sometimes it is beautifully azure, like the enticing blue of someone's eyes...and when the sun sets in it, the water turns red, the color of blood...like something bad has happened...like someone died..."
Kabir hugged Meera as he noticed a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"I really don't remember anything about my family, Kabir," Meera said, "But whenever I look at the sea...I feel deeply connected to it, I feel it holds all secrets, it holds the secrets of my happiest moments, and it also holds a heart wrenching pain...it's just a feeling I get and I...feel this cool evening breeze, it's like whispering something in my ear, it is trying to tell me something..." she said with her eyes closed.
"It is saying that you are the most amazing girl in the world," Kabir said, "And no matter what may have happened before, you are free now and you deserve all the happiness in the world."
Meera blushed.
"You look so beautiful when you blush..." Kabir said, "You mean so much more to me than I could ever express. I have dreams, you know, of pampering you like the princess that you are."
"And what pampering am I about to receive?" she asked playfully.
"Look at that building there," Kabir said pointing to a 5 star hotel, "On its roof top is one of the city's most luxurious restaurants. You'll get this same view that you love, your golden sunset and crimson sea, but we'll be just so higher up in life. And then you could have your favorite prawn salad, and maybe we'll have champagne too, coz we will be celebrating!"
"And what would we be celebrating?" she asked.
"You," he said, kissing her forehead, "We will be celebrating you."
"That's so sweet of you Kabir," Meera said touching his cheek, "But I think. I'd rather celebrate 'us', our freedom and our new life."
"4th of November," Kabir said, "That was the day we first set foot in this city, the day that blessed us with our new lives. Like a new birthday for both of us."
"Amen," Meera said, placing her shoulder on Kabir's head and gazing at the crimson sea.
*************************************
Meera smiled as she was driving her car along Marine Drive, thinking of one of the best moments of her life. She entered the gates of The Intercontinental Hotel and handed over her car keys to the valet. She then proceeded to the rooftop.
It was late evening and she was mesmerized by the view. It was just like Kabir had described, just so much better from that height. She had reserved a table for herself.
She was greeted warmly by the server who led her to her table.
"I'll have a prawn salad and a champagne," she said with a smile.
"If I may ask, is it a special occasion?" the server asked with a smile.
"It's our birthday, mine and my husband's," Meera said cheerfully.
"Will he be joining you shortly?" the server asked.
"No, he is dead," Meera said.
The server was taken aback. "I'm so sorry ma'am," he said.
"It's alright," Meera said with a gentle smile, "He was a wonderful man, and I'm just here to celebrate him, and us."
The server bowed and left. He returned with the order after some time. Meera enjoyed the meal, remembering all conversations she had with Kabir, and all the beautiful moments. She imagined Kabir's spirit around her, and felt a sense of calm.
She just sat at her table for a long time, till the sun set into the sea, and the water now looked a frightening shade of black. The waves roared like a hungry monster threatening to consume all that is beautiful. Meera decided to go back home.
She walked back to the lobby and waited for the valet to get her car. A family of four was also waiting for their car. A couple and two cute daughters. Meera smiled looking at the children. But her smile quickly faded when she saw the face of their father. He was the same blue-eyed man she had seen multiple times in her dreams. She just couldn't forget his face. The world seemed to freeze around her as she could barely process the shock. Was she dreaming again? Or was he really there? Meera felt a pounding pain in her heart as she struggled to breathe. She wanted to pounce upon him. She wanted to grab him and ask why he haunted her like that. She wanted to know if he had any connection with Mithila as she had repeatedly seen in her dreams.
The valet handed over the man's car keys to him and the family started walking towards their car. Meera followed them and made a note of the car's license plate. Shorty after, the valet gave her the keys to her car. She waited for the blue-eyed man to drive ahead and quietly followed him. Keeping her eyes fixed on the man's car, she called up Aryan.
"I'm sending you a license plate number. I want the owner's details asap," she said.
"On it," Aryan said, "Call you back as soon as I have the info."
Meera continued following the man's car. Her heart was pounding in her chest in anticipation of what horror fate was now going to uncover for her. The car moved into a posh locality in Juhu and finally entered the gates of a bungalow. Meera noted down the address - J 21, city road, Juhu
