His Anonymous Love

Episode 12

The soft chime of the bell at the library entrance broke Kabir's train of thought. Lifting his eyes from his published book, he glanced toward the door.

A young woman had just stepped inside. She wore a sky-blue kurta and carried a thick, worn notebook in her hands. There was a quiet stillness to her presence—strikingly similar to the serene composure Simran used to carry years ago.

She walked straight to the reception desk, spoke briefly with the librarian, and then drifted toward the bookshelves. Kabir watched her from a distance. Whether by accident or driven by a silent search, she chose the very same aisle where The Shadow of the Wind had rested for years.

She pulled a volume from the shelf, and as she flipped through its pages, a small piece of paper slipped from her fingers and drifted to the floor.

Kabir’s heart skipped a beat. Guided by pure instinct, he rose from his table and crossed the room toward her. Bending down, he picked up the fallen slip. It wasn't pink paper, but a simple white bookmark adorned with a delicate pencil sketch of a rose.

"I'm sorry," Kabir said gently, handing the bookmark back to her.

She turned and met his gaze. Her eyes held an innocent warmth. Taking the bookmark, she offered a subtle smile. "Thank you. This bookmark belonged to a very dear friend of mine... she is no longer in this world."

Kabir froze, an unexpected wave of restlessness surging within him. "Your friend...?"

"Yes," she took a soft, heavy breath and extended her hand. "I'm Meera. I came here today to return something that belongs to someone else."

"Return something?" Kabir looked at her, searching for answers.

Meera unclasped her notebook. Resting inside was a weathered, faded envelope inscribed with the words: "To Kabir — From Simran's Heart."

Observing the shift in Kabir's expression, Meera explained softly, "Simran and I were admitted to the same hospital during her final days. She gave me this letter and asked me to deliver it to you only after your novel was published. I saw the announcement of your book launch in the newspaper just this morning."

Kabir’s hands began to tremble as he accepted the envelope from Meera. Even in her departure, Simran had left one last secret behind.