The following day unfolded with the same frenetic pace as the one before, leaving Nil and acutely aware of the imminent departure looming over them. In the quiet solitude of her room, Lata found herself engulfed in a whirlwind of thoughts that refused to relent. As if drawn by an unspoken understanding, Kao made his way to her door.
Upon entering, he found Lata reclined on her bed, her countenance shrouded in shadow, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Kao, what brings you here?" she asked, her tone betraying a weariness that seemed to weigh heavily upon her.
Kao approached with a gentle solemnity, his presence a calm amidst the storm. "I realized I hadn't had a proper conversation with you, and tomorrow I depart," he explained softly, his expression betraying a sadness that mirrored her own. "So I felt compelled to seek you out if only to bid you farewell properly."