Pooja's face shifted from shock to concern. “Are you running away from him?”
Yamini met her eyes. “I'm choosing to start over.”
Pooja didn't look convinced.
“What about the exhibition?”
Pooja had sent out invitations two weeks ago, insisting the photographs deserved to be seen. The prints were now sitting in storage since Yamini had vacated the Dalview studio.
“I'll be there for the exhibition. Then I'll leave.”
Pooja reached over and squeezed her hand.
“Just make sure you're not running from something you actually want.”
Yamini didn't answer.
Because she didn't know anymore what that was.
Pooja stood. “Call me tonight. Even if you just want to sit in silence.”
Yamini nodded, her throat tightening.
When the door closed, the apartment felt smaller. Quieter.
She opened the laptop again.
Bharat's image filled the screen. Golden-brown eyes. Controlled expression. The maharaja in his domain.
Her fingers hovered over the brightness slider.
She could soften the shadows around his face. Make him look warmer.
Instead, she reduced the highlights. Muted the gold.
Then she dragged the file out of the exhibition folder. And then deleted it.
Her breath shook.
“I hate you,” she whispered into the empty apartment.
The words didn't sound convincing even to her.
Her hand moved to her chest.
She caught herself a second too late. There was nothing there. There hadn't been for two weeks. She had thrown away the emerald fish pendant.
She lowered her hand slowly.
Sheru climbed into her lap without being invited.
She didn't push him off. She held him closer.
Her phone buzzed on the desk.
She let it ring. And kept staring at the empty space on the screen where Bharat’s picture used to be.
CHAPTER 49
