BEEP BEEP.
Rajiv jolted awake, heart hammering in his chest.
For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, breath uneven, the darkness pressing in. Sweat clung to his skin, his T-shirt damp and twisted around him.
He fumbled for his phone.
4:00 AM. May 19, 2032.
He let out a long, shaky sigh.
"It's today, huh…" His voice came out rough, thick with sleep.
He swung his legs over the bed, rubbing his hands hard down his face.
"No point lying here."
The apartment was dead quiet. He padded into the hallway, casting a glance at the closed bedroom door at the end.
Arin and Maya were still asleep. Lucky brats.
He crept past and entered the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face.
In the mirror, a stranger looked back. Gray streaked through his hair. His eyes were rimmed with exhaustion, his skin pale, lined.
He gave a dry snort.
"Old habits die hard, huh."
Back in his room, Rajiv tugged on shorts and running shoes.
He opened the top drawer. Inside sat a battered old keypad phone. No apps, no touchscreen. Just buttons. His backup.
Plugging in his wired earphones, he twisted the dial until classical music crackled through the static.
He was never much for Western music, but over the past two years, it had been the only thing alongside early morning runs that dulled the restless ache inside.
Outside, the world was cold and still.
Rajiv looked up at the sky.
The moon, or what was left of it, hung shattered above. Jagged at the edges, cracked clean in two. Stars glittered around it, some familiar, others blinking unfamiliar patterns.
He checked his watch.
4:55 AM.
"Fifty minutes to sunr---," He exhaled sharply. "star-rise… fuck it will light up the day, let's run."
His feet struck the pavement in a steady rhythm, breath warming in the chill air.
His mind drifted.
He had been thinking last night about the upcoming six-month shift to their new project at Sector 51. Maya and Arin had already packed all their essentials into boxes, ready to go.
Maya had requested leave on short notice, and thankfully, her new boss had been kind enough to grant it, though there was a catch. Since the company couldn't officially approve such a long leave unless it was maternity (with proof), her boss had used a workaround: suspending Maya for six months under the table.
It wasn't without cost. When Maya returned, her salary would be reduced by 20% for four months to offset the unofficial arrangement. Still, Maya was grateful. She knew it was a personal favor, and without it, she'd have been forced to choose between her job and the family's stability.
The night shift workers were returning, and Rajiv started waving to those he knew a little
"Here's the tiger!" a worker called out with a grin as Rajiv jogged past. "Go, old man, go!"
Rajiv gave a soft laugh, shaking his head, breath steady as his feet hit the pavement.
The radio crackled, and the song changed — something soft, something that hit the heart.
Wise men say… only fools rush in…
Without thinking, Rajiv's lips moved along with the words.But I can't help…
But then he stopped.
Just like that, a picture filled his mind,
Sujata, sitting on the couch, holding baby Shree in her arms, smiling that warm, gentle smile. Little Arin beside her, pouting, tugging at her sleeve, trying to crawl up too, laughing, making her laugh.
Fallin in love with you~
Rajiv's chest tightened. His steps slowed. His breath hitched.
He stopped in the middle of the street, bent forward, hands on his knees, eyes squeezing shut.
A lump swelled in his throat so big it almost choked him.
"Shit…" he whispered, voice shaking.
He stood there, taking slow, shaky breaths.
Get it together.
"I… I should go home now," he murmured softly, barely able to get the words out.
He turned, walking back the way he came, heart heavy, his eyes stinging as the old love song played on.
Fifteen minutes later, Rajiv was heading upstairs to their apartment. He was halfway up the stairs when loud shouting came from the apartment below. Rajiv sighed, already knowing what was coming.
The door across the hall slammed open, and out came a scruffy man, late forties, gray beard, messy white hair, yelling like crazy.
"Shut the fuck up, Caroline!"
A woman's angry voice shot back from inside.
"Get your ass back here, John!"
Rajiv shook his head. Fuck, it's way too early for this shit.
The Smiths are fighting again.
The woman stepped out—a sharp blonde in her late twenties, face like a knife.
"You and your dumbass conspiracy bullshit ain't no fucking savior, John."
John's face turned bright red, yelling back,
"Show some respect to your fucking father, you bitch!"
She just rolled her eyes.
"Then shut your damn mouth about your space conspiracy and get a fucking job, you old fart."
She shoved him back inside hard.
"They knew, Carol! They knew! Nevada wasn't an accident!" he screamed as the door slammed, muffling him.
Rajiv froze on the stairs, trying to sneak past without being noticed.
No luck.
Caroline caught his eye with a cold look that said, Why the fuck are you even here?
Rajiv mumbled, "Excuse me," and hurried past, face burning.
Jesus, antisocial as fuck, he thought, rushing upstairs.
Inside the apartment, he closed the door behind him and leaned back, exhaling hard.
"Well, that was awkward as hell."
In the living room, Arin was already up, toothbrush hanging from his mouth, standing over a box of boxing gloves and hand wraps.
The sound of the shower running meant Maya was awake too.
For a second, Rajiv and Arin locked eyes.
Then they both looked away.
Rajiv cleared his throat, heading into the kitchen.
"Get dressed," he said over his shoulder. "We leave at nine."
Arin's voice came quietly.
"…Do we really have to?"
Rajiv smiled faintly, sadness flickering across his face.
"Yeah, kid. We need to see her."
Later
The cemetery was quiet.
Wind rustled softly through the trees, brushing the stone markers with careful fingers.
Rajiv and Arin walked side by side, their steps slow and careful across the damp grass.
"You know," Rajiv murmured, voice low, "she'd love to see you smile."
Arin's reply was barely a whisper.
"She will. When she sees me in person."
A long silence stretched between them.
They reached the headstone.
Rajiv knelt slowly, brushing his fingers over the engraved name.
"…Honey. It's been a while."
Behind him, Arin stood stiff, head bowed, fists clenched, shoulders trembling slightly. His long hair cast shadows over his face.
Rajiv turned, looking up at him. His eyes softened.
"Arin… come here, son."
Arin hesitated, feet planted firmly, then slowly — almost reluctantly — stepped forward.
Rajiv reached up and rested a hand on his son's arm.
"She'd want you here, kid."
Arin let out a shaky breath, jaw clenched, blinking fast as he stepped closer.