There is a darkness underlying Garv and Yahvi, and it tinges their relationship as well. Get a glimpse into the web of secrets and lies that entangle even the very people who spun it. Here is an excerpt from Cross Your Heart, Take My Name:

---

Have you ever disappeared from someone's life just like that? No intimation. No conversation. Nothing. Well, I'm going to do that. Today. In fact, in a few hours.

Since the time I woke up, I had a knot in my stomach. The ominous kind that constantly whispered that nothing would go right. I don't remember the last time I woke up with my head buzzing like this. But the good thing was I was looking ahead to a busy day. Busy days take care of whispers like these and other unnecessary thoughts. I had no time to waste but my anxiety led me to an early morning smoke. I do smoke but not this early. I have my first cigarette with coffee after I reach office. But today was different. Or perhaps today was mundane but I was different. For starters, I was not going to office.

I looked out as I exhaled a puff of smoke, admiring the vivid splash of colour that was already appearing at the horizon despite the blanket of smog. The view put me at ease. The idea of living in a concrete building only to stare at other concrete buildings suffocated me. I had always wanted to live in a place from where I could watch the horizon. Horizons! The only time nature seems to have closure, contrary to its otherwise limitlessness. But this view, my bedroom, my wardrobe, my coffee machine . . . I wouldn't see them ever again. The thought was as exciting as it was scary. Leaving something behind always troubled me. But for the first time, I was seeking adventure in that 'trouble'.

I stubbed out my cigarette and messaged her: Good morning. This was more to check if she had woken up. Our destination was the same today. That reminded me of something she'd once said: Doesn't matter if two individuals have the same destination. The journey is always different. I'd asked her why she thought so, and she'd replied that perspectives were always different even if the relationship was the same. I guess she was right.

We generally never exchanged 'good morning' messages. In fact, we were yet to exchange anything which could possibly lead to any monotony. Why seek what you are running away from in the first place? The message didn't get delivered.

I chose not to waste any more time. I showered, got dressed in casual attire, ate a quick breakfast—half a bowl of cornflakes and three boiled egg whites—picked up the bag I'd packed and left. I placed a note on the dining table under a vase which had some fresh lilies I had bought the previous night. Before firing up my SUV, I checked my phone again. The message had still not been delivered. I sent another one: I'm on my way. Will reach in an hour. See you. This time the message got delivered along with the previous one. I didn't think much about it and drove off.

While driving to the spot where we were supposed to meet, I felt like one of those kids who'd told his mother that he was going to school but was actually bunking class to watch an adult film with his friends. I was sure she felt the same. It had been—I counted in my mind—twenty-six times in six odd months since we had met, and yet we had planned this like we had known each other for years. I realized it was not about the number of meetings or the amount of time that you spent with a person, it was about how intense your feelings were for each other, how strong the bond was. Our plan was simple. We would meet at a dhaba in Lonavala, where she would abandon her car, and drive to Mumbai together in my car. We would then leave my car in the parking lot of one of the malls and take an Uber to the international airport. From there we would catch a flight to Santorini, Greece. Why Santorini? That was her favourite place. What would we do there? We didn't know. Till now, we both had been running after a plan in life. Not any more. We both wanted to live like nomads. We wanted to belong only to the present without any baggage from the past or any care for the future. Unbelievable, right? I know.

I reached the dhaba and lit a cigarette as I waited for her to either message or call me. She did neither. As the day progressed, I started getting calls from work. I took some time to sort them out. Nobody knew I was going to disappear. It was unfair to my employees and the company. But the essence of this plan was to not think about others. It was about being selfish and living for yourself.

~

Novoneel Chakraborty's new thriller has us at the edge of our seats.