Chapter Sixty-Two: The Goodbye
The last morning dawned soft and golden.
No one wanted to get out of bed.
Jay lay in Keifer's arms, listening to the sounds of the hotel waking up. Birds. Distant temple bells. Percy's voice somewhere, already yelling about something.
"Last day," she whispered.
"Last day." He kissed her hair. "The real last day this time."
"I don't want to go."
"I know. But home is waiting. Keigan. The mansion. Our life."
"I know." She turned to face him. "But part of me will always be here. With them."
"They'll always be with us. Phone calls. Video chats. Future trips."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Until the end of the universe."
---
Breakfast was a blur of emotions.
Everyone was trying to be cheerful, but the sadness underneath was undeniable.
Percy was louder than usual, as if volume could mask the feelings. Honey held his hand under the table.
Akshi was taking photos of everything. "ONE MORE! SMILE! OKAY ONE MORE! OKAY JUST ONE MORE!"
Shreya let her, understanding that Akshi needed to capture every moment.
C.N. was quiet, occasionally looking at Rakii like he was memorizing her face.
Felix and Bridget sat close, not speaking much.
Mica was uncharacteristically still.
Keiran, too young to fully understand, was confused. "Mamma, why everyone sad?"
"Because we're leaving, baby. And we'll miss our friends."
"But we can call them, right?"
"Every day, baby."
Keiran nodded, satisfied. He turned to Akshi. "AUNTIE AKSHI! I'll call you EVERY DAY!"
Akshi's eyes filled with tears. "You BETTER, little man! Rex better call too!"
"REX WILL CALL!"
---
The ride to the airport was quiet.
Too quiet.
Percy tried to start a sing-along. It fizzled.
Chethan attempted a joke. No one laughed.
Akshi kept taking photos out the window, capturing the landscape one last time.
Shreya held her hand.
Mithun sat beside Shreya, close but not touching. His presence was enough.
---
At the airport, the reality hit.
This was it.
The moment they'd been dreading.
Percy hugged Chethan first—long, dramatic, with actual sobbing.
"BROTHER! I'LL MISS YOU!"
"BROTHER! CALL ME EVERY DAY!"
"EVERY HOUR!"
"That's too much!"
"EVERY TWO HOURS!"
"...Deal."
---
Honey hugged Akshi. "Thank you for everything. For the energy, the laughter, the chaos."
Akshi was crying. "You're the best! Tell Percy to behave!"
"He never behaves!"
"I KNOW! THAT'S WHY WE LOVE HIM!"
---
C.N. shook Mithun's hand, then pulled him into a hug. "Genius to genius. Keep in touch."
"Always. Your brain is impressive."
"Your calm is impressive. We balance."
"We do."
Rakii hugged Shreya. "I'll send you all the photos. All seventeen thousand of them."
Shreya laughed through tears. "I'll treasure them."
---
Felix and Bridget said their goodbyes quietly, warmly.
David made Freya laugh one last time.
Mica actually cried, which made Calix cry.
Grace held Grazel up to say goodbye. The baby cooed, as if understanding.
Yuri filmed everything, but his hands were shaking.
---
Jay saved Shreya and Akshi for last.
She stood before them, Keifer beside her, Keiran in her arms.
"Sisters," she said, voice cracking.
"Sisters," Shreya whispered.
"Best sisters ever," Akshi added, already sobbing.
Jay pulled them both into a hug—fierce, tight, unwilling to let go.
"I meant what I said. Call every day. I don't care about time zones. I don't care about anything. Just call."
"We will," Shreya promised.
"Every SINGLE day," Akshi confirmed. "And video calls with Rex!"
Keiran held up Rex. "Rex will wait by the phone!"
---
Keifer hugged them both too. "Thank you. For everything. For becoming family."
Shreya wiped her eyes. "Thank you for letting us."
Akshi nodded frantically. "Best thing that ever happened to us!"
---
Mithun approached Keifer. They shook hands, then hugged.
"Take care of them," Mithun said quietly.
"I will. Take care of her."
Mithun's eyes flickered to Shreya. "Always."
"She'll figure it out eventually."
"Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, she's my best friend. That's enough."
Keifer nodded. "That's everything."
---
Chethan had one last thing. He ran to the group, holding a bag.
"I GOT YOU ALL SOMETHING! FOR THE PLANE!"
He distributed small packages—local sweets, tiny souvenirs, handwritten notes.
Percy opened his. "A NOTE! CHETHAN WROTE US NOTES!"
Everyone opened theirs.
Simple words. But perfect.
Thank you for being family.
Come back soon.
I'll miss you.
You're the best thing that happened to me.
Rex is my hero.
That last one was for Keiran. He clutched it proudly.
---
The boarding call came.
Final hugs.
Final tears.
Final promises.
Jay held Shreya and Akshi one last time. "I love you both. Sisters forever."
"Forever," they echoed.
Keiran kissed Rex and made him wave goodbye. "Rex says bye-bye India! Rex says thank you for everything!"
Ganesha, tucked in his other hand, nodded solemnly.
---
They walked toward the gate.
Everyone looked back.
Akshi was waving frantically. Shreya was crying but smiling. Chethan had his arm around both of them. Mithun stood tall, watching.
Percy yelled one last thing: "WE'LL BE BACK! INDIA ISN'T RID OF US YET!"
Honey pulled him through the gate. "Come on, babe."
"BUT I HAVE MORE TO SAY!"
"You can text it!"
"TEXTING ISN'T THE SAME!"
---
On the plane, silence.
Not a sad silence. A processing silence.
Keiran fell asleep almost immediately, Rex and Ganesha tucked on either side.
Percy leaned against Honey, exhausted.
C.N. stared out the window.
Felix held Bridget's hand.
Mica curled into Calix.
David put his head on Freya's shoulder.
Grace rocked Grazel gently.
Yuri didn't film. Just sat.
Aries pulled Ella close.
And Jay leaned into Keifer, watching India disappear below the clouds.
---
"We'll come back," she whispered.
"We will."
"With more people."
"Probably."
"The family will keep growing."
"It always does."
She looked at him. "I love you."
"I love you too." He kissed her softly. "More than all of India."
"That's a lot."
"The most."
Keiran stirred, murmured, "Rex says bye-bye India. Rex says see you soon."
Jay smiled through tears. "See you soon, baby."
The plane flew on.
India faded behind them.
But India would never leave them.
---
End of Chapter Sixty-Two