A/N: Hi Everyone,

We're so close to the end, but it's not over. We have one last epilogue chapter after this one. Also, be sure that you read the last chapter: The Stranger. Finally, you can now check out the "Character List" from the chapter select menu.


Chapter 38: The Plane

I finished telling Dhiren about my conversation with Nilima and its aftermath by informing him that I would probably visit India in December. Then I, at last, fell silent.

Dhiren, who had been sitting quietly during my whole story, finally spoke. "Kelsey," he said, "I cannot believe this."

Before I could stop myself, I said, "You're a weretiger who enters my dreams and you can't believe this?"

He smiled down at our hands. At some point during my retelling, he had taken mine in his. "I suppose it does sound rather absurd when you put it that way."

"How else am I supposed to put it?"

He shook his head and then he looked up at me. His gaze was so intense. I wondered for a second if he was going to force us into another dream world, Inception-style. Then he said my name, "Kelsey."

It sounded different than usual. In fact, I had never heard anyone say my name like that. My mouth went dry.

"I want to thank you for today."

"It…it was nothing," I said. I was starting to blush. "Nilima did most of the hard work. I mean, 24 million dollars…that's a lot of money. You should really thank her."

He shook his head again. "Do not call what you did nothing. You reached out to Nilima despite your misgivings, for me. You returned to the circus, a place you learned to hate, for me. You are going to India, for me and you risked your life earlier today, for me. That is not nothing. Because of you, I'm going back to India. Kelsey, I haven't been there in years." His eyes actually looked misty as he squeezed my hands tight. "It's incredible. You're incredible. I…thank you. Thank you, Kelsey."

I couldn't think of anything to say and Dhiren looked like he was on the verge of falling apart. After a moment of hesitation, I let go of his hands. Then I scooted forward and gave him a hug.

At first, Dhiren was surprised. I was surprised. I did not hug people often, but it felt right. Dhiren held onto me like I was his only support in the world. I rubbed his back experimentally.

"I am sorry," he said, "I am overwrought and acting ridiculous." He started to pull away.

"After you comforted me for like an hour yesterday night, I think you're allowed a moment of weakness," I said, gently pulling him back towards me.

Dhiren chuckled, but it didn't sound happy. "Not a moment, Kelsey. Years, decades, perhaps centuries, I have been wallowing for a long time and in less than a couple months, you've changed everything."

"I don't know about that," I said, "but I'd like to. Dhiren, I'm so sorry that I didn't realize these dreams were real earlier. If I had, maybe we could have avoided today's mess. I just was so caught up in my own problems, but I should have been more curious, more aware. I…" I stopped.

Dhiren, who had let me embrace him again, had gone suspiciously still.

"Dhiren?" I pulled back, placing my hands on his shoulders so that I could look at him.

Dhiren's face was pinched with worry.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"You want to know who I am, don't you?" His voice was flat and I hated the pained look on his face.

"I do," I said cautiously. "I want to know about everything, you, this place, all of it. Is that a problem?"

"No, it's not," he began, but I didn't believe him.

"Then what is it?" I asked.

"I'm just…" He tried again. "It's a long and complicated story, Kelsey."

"I guessed as much." With a smile, I quipped, "Magical dream tiger men aren't exactly short and simple."

Dhiren gave me a small smile in return. "Yes, well…I suppose you are right." He took a deep breath. With us this close, I could see his chest rise and fall.

"Listen, Kelsey. I promise that if you like India, if you like the Waghdhare Circus, and if you decide to stay, I will explain all about me and these dreams and everything."

I studied him. "You don't want to tell me now?"

He shook his head. "It would not be wise. Please, Kelsey, trust me on this."

"Trust you?" I repeated.

He nodded. His expression was deadly serious. "I know you must be curious and that I am asking a lot, but please."

I opened my mouth to protest but then I stopped. "I do trust you," I said and it was true. After everything we had gone through this summer, I did trust Dhiren. "If you think it's better to wait, it can wait."

"Thank you," he said again.

"Stop thanking me already," I huffed. Just because I wasn't pressing him didn't mean I wasn't curious. It just figured that now that I was ready for answers, I wasn't able to get them.

"No, I cannot stop thanking you," he said breaking through my thoughts. "I cannot thank you enough."

I glared at him.

"Nor do I want to," he added. "Kelsey Hayes, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my long life."

I frowned. This was too much, but I knew I couldn't tell him that. "At least allow me to thank you too," I said.

His eyes went wide and I knew I had him.

"I don't deserve your thanks," he began.

"Yes, you do," I insisted. "You've risked your life for me too. Dhiren, you showed me more kindness than I deserved. You listened to me when no one else would. You always tried to help me however you could. I am so glad you left the circus to find me. If you hadn't run away, I think I'd still be laying around depressed and confused in Sarah's backyard. You saved us both, Dhiren. So, I cannot thank you enough."

He looked speechless. I knew the feeling.

"It's not so easy being thanked, is it?" I teased.

He gave me another small smile. This one was adorably bashful. "I admit I'm not used to it," he said.

For a moment, we just looked at each other. I couldn't say which one of us was more grateful for the other.

Then I felt someone shake my shoulder. I turned and suddenly, I was back in the truck. Light streamed out from the opened backdoor casting the figure above me in shadows.

"You really can talk to him," they said in wonder and I realized it must be Nilima.

"Yeah," I said, "I thought you knew."

"I hoped you could," Nilima said. Then she looked over at Dhiren who was behind me. At this point, my eyes had adjusted to the light and I could see her clearly. "Hurry up and say your goodbyes," she said to him. "We're at the airport."

I turned back to Dhiren. He was a tiger once more. It didn't matter. I went in and gave him another hug. "Goodbye, Dhiren. I'm going to miss you."

Dhiren nuzzled my face and chuffed softly. Even though he couldn't talk anymore, I knew what he meant. There were tears in my eyes and even Dhiren's eyes looked shiny when Nilima coughed.

Dhiren growled at her.

Nilima actually rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah," she said to the tiger. "I'm glad you finally made a friend. Now come on."

Dhiren nuzzled my face one more time and then he moved out of my embrace and started walking out of the truck, glowering up at Nilima the whole time.

Nilima ignored him and asked me, "Are you coming?"

For the next half hour, I helped Nilima load Dhiren onto a private jet. The two continued to bicker, but I soon realized they were actually quite close. Even so, I made sure that Dhiren wanted to go to India with her before they closed up the plane.

To my relief, he nodded emphatically.

With that cleared up, I said one last goodbye to him and promised him again that I would visit in December. Then I left with Nilima's men so they could close the hatch. Dhiren and I watched each other until we couldn't see one another anymore.

During the rest of the preparations, I quizzed Nilima to make sure I would get picture updates about Dhiren and his time in India.

In no time, the plane was ready to go. Nilima and I were standing by the staircase to one of the plane doors. Nilima said, "Well, this is it, Miss Hayes. I got you a taxi to drive you back to your car and I'll contact you when we reach Mumbai. It's been a pleasure doing business with you." She took my hand and shook it.

"Yeah, it's been a pleasure," I said but I didn't sound nearly as cool and impartial as she had.

Nilima noticed. "Cheer up, Miss Hayes. December will come sooner than you think."

"I hope so," I said.

Nilima's face softened and she said, "Me too."

She surprised me by giving me a quick hug and then she went up the staircase and into the plane to join her co-pilot. I made my way to the designated safety area to watch her and Dhiren take off for India.

Their plane maneuvered itself onto the main airstrip. It began to accelerate as it moved away from the airport. I watched as it lifted itself off the ground and flew into the blue summer sky.

I kept watching the plane until I couldn't see it anymore. First, it was toy-sized. Then it was a dot and then nothing. They were gone.

I smiled. Tears were streaming down my face.

For once, I didn't bother to wipe them away.