Epilogue

"I guess we really were always going to end up here, weren't we?"

Alekh looks up at Naina from where he's been checking his weapon, the corner of his mouth lifting in a wry smile. "I don't know, it definitely could have been elsewhere."

"There were a few times, weren't there?" Naina can't help the smile that comes to her face, "Less than in our first life though."

Their careers haven't followed the same path they did in that other life, yet they've still managed to arrive at the same place they were on the exact same day. It's certainly not the first time they've been in danger, Naina can think of a few times she's woken in the hospital over the years, usually with Raj's worried face peering down at hers, her hand grasped tightly in his.

Naina sighs, trying to subdue the pang of grief she feels, that this might be the end of that run of luck. She wishes, so very badly, that today might not be the end.

Alekh's voice breaks her reverie, thoughtful although tinged with his own sadness. "I truly don't mind dying here today, Naina. We've done this life justice, we've lived it as we should."

"We did have our share of happiness this time around, didn't we?" For a moment they trade a smile across the small space. "Though I can't help wishing for more."

The years have brought her more happiness than she has known what to do with and Naina has thanked the gods for each and every day that she's been granted. It has all been a miracle, time she never expected to have, and she has found herself wondering just how long it can last for.

As the years have gone by, Naina has seen how her and Alekh's actions have changed not only their own lives but those of their friends as well. It has been more than their own happiness that they secured when they woke up in their altered reality.

Huda has stayed with the army, the most patriotic Captain that anyone could wish for. His mother misses the days when he was a farmer instead, but Huda won't be going back now. He didn't lose his way this time, didn't lose his purpose. Instead he found his own identity and reason for continuing, he doesn't need to follow anyone else's light.

Yudi's journey has followed a similar path to the first life, although Naina thinks that he might have found his confidence earlier this time around because of their actions. He seems closer to settling down than he was in that other timeline if his frequent visits to Shalini and his niece are anything to judge by. The little girl is growing up well, the darling of the entire academy, and Naina has seen the happiness that she's brought Shalini as well, a fulfilment that she had always felt was missing.

Ali and Pooja had fulfilled their parents conditions and been married two years after Raj had visited their houses. They have supported each other in their journeys, and Naina can't help but contrast it to that other life; to the Pooja who had lived without them, unable to return to where she was meant to be; to the Ali who had struggled alone through a system that didn't always support his principles.

Then there are the fates of her and Alekh, their loved ones alongside. Alekh and Reena have been married only for a year, both agreeing to wait until they were settled into their careers to take their relationship to the next step. By the time they had made the decision, Alekh was a Captain, Reena a respected investigative journalist, her parents had had no objections.

Naina and Raj had married almost immediately after permission had been granted, waiting only for a date when all their friends could attend. They had seen no sense in waiting, not when they both understood just how precious the life they had been granted together truly was.

Naina has treasured every single moment with him. Every night they have gone to sleep together, clasped in each others' arms, every morning that she has woken to his smile, to the softness of kisses designed to make her not wish to get out of bed.

They have been able to be posted together due to their marriage, parted only when a mission calls for it, and that is another thing to be thankful for. Naina has still made her own identity and reputation within the army, achieving her own recognition.

It has been a life of happiness and love, it has been a life that Naina never expected she would be able to have.

She reaches out across the small space between them, taking Alekh's hand. "Thank you."

He doesn't need to ask what for, Alekh has always understood. Instead he looks down at his watch, perhaps checking how far they are from that original time on this day. "There's nothing to wish to go back and change this time around."

"No, there truly isn't." Naina smiles wistfully, "If we were to be given the chance to go back again I would do it all exactly the same way once more."

"Rajveer Sir might not agree." Alekh tells her matter of factly, "He asked me once how and when we died the first time, I think he was hoping he could stop it this time around."

Naina might be leaving this life with less regrets than the last one, but she could never feel anything but the deepest grief at the idea of leaving him alone. They have each had enough love for several lifetimes' worth now and still it isn't enough, it will never be enough. She cannot allow herself to think of how he will live after her death, she knows too well herself the depths of grief that a loss such as that causes.

"I know he would have if he could have." Naina remarks, looking down at the wedding ring on her finger. "Maybe today really was inevitable."

"Then I'm glad," Alekh tells her, "That we're together for it once again."

They smile at each other, and Naina knows that she's prepared for whatever will come next, even if she can't be happy about it. Perhaps it is enough to have her best friend at her side when she meets her fate, she is glad that that at least has not changed.

Naina is opening her mouth to tell Alekh something, anything that might make him feel better, when their Major comes running in, back from his surveillance of the surface.

"There is a small force fighting their way through to us!" He announces, and the change of mood is immediate, soldiers straightening as their hands go towards their weapons. "They're trying to save us, will we let them do it alone?"

"No, Sir!" They chorus, spirits lifted as they begin to ready themselves immediately. They had all been prepared to die bravely, to do what they must before the end. It seems now, that someone has given them the chance to fight to live instead.

Naina was taught from the beginning to fight until the last breath, until no hope remains, she certainly isn't going to forget that lesson now.

/

It takes three hours for the two groups to clear the enemy forces together. Three desperate hours in which the battle is almost lost more than once, as they fight their way towards each other.

It is only when the enemy's retreat has been sounded, the scattered forces fleeing, that Naina allows herself to slump in relief, her weapon finally lowered. She glances to her right, trading a nod with Alekh as she confirms that they've both made it through with minimal injuries.

He will be able to celebrate his first marriage anniversary after all and Naina…

Naina's fate has been changed as well.

"How did this happen?" She murmurs, not even sure if he'll hear her over the settling noise of the battlefield. "How did we…"

"Naina! Naina, where are you?"

The voice that calls out her name is hoarse, desperately seeking confirmation that she is alive and well. Naina would know that voice anywhere, there has never been one more beloved to her.

Despite her exhaustion, Naina levers herself up from the ground as quickly as possible, head turning as she tries to spot him. He is still at a distance, checking fallen soldiers as he goes.

"Naina…"

"I'm here!" Naina calls out, voice cracking as she sees him turn towards her.

Raj does not waste a moment.

He must be almost as exhausted as she is, but he breaks into a run the moment he spots her, as Naina tries to make her own way towards him, leg dragging from her injury.

It's just a few seconds but it feels like an eternity until he reaches her, pulling her towards him until she's cradled against his body, his arms wound tightly around her.

"Naina, I was so afraid…" It comes out almost as a sob and she pulls back to look at him, catching only a glimpse of his face, blood running down from an injury near his temple, before Raj's lips are on hers, kissing her soundly.

Naina can taste the blood from his cut, his sweat and the smoke of the battle. She thinks, somewhere, there may also be the taste of tears. She kisses him back fiercely, clutching onto him with all her might.

Parting at last, Raj leans his forehead against hers, his breath shuddering as he calms himself. Naina can understand exactly how terrified he was by the pressure with which his fingertips dig into her sides, the erratic beating of his heart against her own chest.

There is the sound of a throat being cleared and they step apart reluctantly, turning towards the sound.

"Her husband, I presume?" Major Zubeen asks, his tone tinged with humour.

Raj clears his own throat, stepping forward to offer his hand. "Major Shekhawat, I volunteered to lead the relief forces to your location."

"And it's a lucky thing for us that you did." Major Zubeen comments as he shakes Raj's hand. "We couldn't have held out for too much longer otherwise."

Raj nods, the seriousness of his own expression reflecting just how close a call it was. "We've managed to achieve an important victory here today. We'll help you to hold the pass now until further orders come through."

"I'll give my thanks to the high command for that, now if you'll excuse me, I'd better get back to checking on our troops."

Major Zubeen takes his leave even as Raj crouches down to inspect the damage to Naina's leg, noting the hasty bandage tied around it. "You need to be seen by a medic."

"Look who's talking." She retorts, hand coming to rest on his head just above his own wound. "Were you injured anywhere else?"

"Bullet graze to the arm." Raj says casually as he stands once more, "Are you alright, Alekh?"

"No injuries on my side, Sir." Alekh levers himself up, knowing that he'll be needed to help restore order now that the battle is over. "Did Yudi come with you as well?"

"He was just establishing communications to report on the victory, he should be here any…"

"Chief! Naina!" Yudi is with them in another moment, hugging them both fiercely before he lets them go. "You look alright, Alekh, but I think Naina had better get to the medic's tent."

"I'll take her now, you two assist in strengthening the defences again." Raj instructs them, placing his arm around Naina's waist to help her limp as they begin to slowly make their way toward the medic's tent.

/

It is hours later when they finally have time to rest.

Although it appears the enemy is gone for now, further reinforcements had arrived a few hours later, the initial defenders dismissed to recover their strength for when they'll need it.

On a narrow bunk they lie curled up together, Raj's arm around Naina's shoulders as her own is wound around his waist.

"I still can't believe that you made it." She whispers to him, "Today, I really thought that…"

"That you were going to die." Raj finishes for her, and despite the quietness of his words she can easily hear the fear in them. "I was terrified I would be too late."

"But how did you know? Even I didn't know for certain that the past was likely to repeat itself until yesterday when we were dispatched here. How did you know what to do?"

"From the moment you told me how you died in that other life, I've prepared myself." Raj states seriously. "I've had the geography of this area memorised for years. Alekh told me about the attack itself and how they overwhelmed you. I didn't know for certain that it would happen again but I couldn't leave it to chance."

"You never said anything." Naina's tone is one of amazement, even as she reaches up to trace his face. "I didn't know that you remembered."

"Do you think I could ever forget how you came back to me?" Raj asks her earnestly. "Everything I have in this life, every single happiness, came from that moment where your last dying wish was granted. After everything we fought for and all we overcame, how could I let that same moment take you away from me again?"

Naina knows, without needing to be told, that it is a fear that must have haunted him through all their years together. One that he has hidden well but never managed to dismiss, preparing himself so that it could never come to pass.

"Everything I do is for you, Naina." Raj tells her, "And if I had failed, I wouldn't have stopped until I found my own way to go back and change it all over again."

What can Naina say to that? She, who crossed time for him once, knows that emotion well.

"You won't ever need to," Naina promises him when there are no other words that will come to her. "You and I, we've claimed this life, we've made it into everything it should have been. Now all we have to do is live, live happily and well for the rest of our lives."

Naina understands now all the more clearly, that the reason she had been sent back had never truly been only about saving Raj. She and Alekh have saved their own lives too through their actions, they have put things back to where they were meant to be.

Raj's arms are warm around her, the beat of his heart comforting under her ear, and Naina finds the rhythm lulling her to sleep.

There is no reason to fear now, no reason to think there is any other reality that she might awaken in.

Naina is where she belongs, in the future she made for herself.

A/N: And there we go, the end of the long journey for all of our characters, and the happiest one that I could provide to them. A big thank you to everyone who read along and who supported me with reviews throughout this story. For the guest who commented recently that I remind them of a writer from Orkut – that probably is me since I did used to post in LRLT there!

I don't know when I might post another LRL story, but hopefully there will be some more inspiration to start one soon. I am going to miss interacting with all of you through the fic, so am always happy to receive messages through the site as well!

If you do enjoy my writing, then please do give my original novel a try – it's up on amazon as Border Crossings by Andrea Karim and I am also working on the second part of it.

I hope everyone is safe and well and that things are looking considerably better in all of your lives than when I started this fic in the middle of the pandemic!