Years passed, and Ishan often looked back on his life.
Thanks to William's help, he turned the company into a global success.
His son Ganesh studying to become good enough to become the owner of the company.
While Poonam was studying abroad.
Even after becoming successful, Ishan never forgot William.
He visited him regularly, bringing fantasy books.
Ganesh sometimes joined, bringing manga and anime.
William never married and was often found at his home or at Sam's grave.
One day, Ishan visited alone. No books in hand, he wanted to address the one thing that had haunted him, the will William had left for him.
Entering William's home, Ishan found him reading a fantasy romance novel.
Clearing his throat, "William we need to talk."
"Sure thing come sit down." After that he slowly put down his book before marking where he left off.
"William I wanted to know something important!" Ishan was trying his best to say it.
"What is it?" William was confused as Ishan was never really that serious when they talked.
"I wanted to know.... The will." Ishan forced himself to utter those words.
William thought for a while soon he got up and opened a cabin and pulled out a letter.
"You mean this old letter?" sigh looking sad at it. "Nobody knows when they die or how this was a promise of me and Sam." Emotions were clearly displayed on his face.
"We agreed we wouldn't grief if one of us died early a promise I still hate but a promise that is dear to me."
Hearing this he wondered why William always go to Sam's grave then. But it would be disrespectful to ask.
William shrugged, holding the letter in his hand. "It was just collecting dust."
At that moment, Ishan felt foolish for having let the letter haunt him for so long.
"By the way, how do you even know about this? Only Sam and I wrote these things just in case."
Ishan hesitated, unsure of what to say. If he admitted the truth, it might seem like his kindness over the decades would be fake.
Clearing his throat "When I read Sam's note, I noticed it had an older writing style something he used when I first joined a few months in. At first, I thought it was something he'd written before he passed, but the style was too distinct. That's when I suspected you might've done the same."
William laughed. "Damn, Ishan! You compared his writing style? Clever. Looks like I made the right choice putting my faith in you."
Ishan laughed nervously, relieved his lie worked for now. But William's laugh started turning into a fake laugh.
"Come on, Ishan. Tell me the real reason. What you said made sense, but it doesn't explain how I had it."
Ishan sighed, knowing he couldn't escape this conversation.
he explained what had happened that day, apologizing for not saying something sooner.
He admitted how he feared that revealing the truth might make his decades of friendship seem fake.
William listened patiently. "Ishan, my time's almost up. There are still so many books I haven't read. If I fall into my final slumber, donate these books to an orphanage. This time, I'm not leaving a will."
He glanced at the shelves filled with books that had been his companions over the years.
Picking up a lighter, he burned the letter in his hand, watching the flames consume it.
"If that's all," William continued, lighting a cigarette, "why don't you join me? I'm heading to Sam's grave one last time."
Ishan nodded, knowing the doctors had already told him William only had a few days left.
Age had caught up with him, and there was nothing anyone could do to delay the inevitable. But at least William would pass peacefully.
---
The two men walked in silence to Sam's grave.
William hummed a lullaby softly to himself, a melody Ishan didn't know but found it beautiful.
When they arrived, William knelt at the grave and began talking about a book he just finished.
A habit that had became more frequent as his conversations become stale so he started telling stories and memories.
Ishan didn't find it strange, books had been William's life for as long as he could remember now.
After paying his respects, Ishan said his goodbyes and returned home, leaving William alone at the grave.
There was nothing more to say, only a silent wish for a better life in another world.
---
Later that night, William returned to his home and began reading.
Despite his weak body, he pushed himself to keep going. He finished his current book and picked up another.
Looking at the cover '1Q84' by a Japanese author.
But as he tried to read, his eyes grew heavy. His body, already frail slowly, his vision blurred, and his consciousness faded.
When William's eyes opened again, everything felt light.
He turned his head and saw Sam standing in front of him. For a moment, William believed it wasn't real.
As he tried to stand, he realized his body felt weightless.
Looking back, he saw himself still sitting in the chair, sleeping peacefully.
The truth was evident in front of him. he had passed away.
Before he could fully process it, his vision shifted.
He saw a healthier version of himself standing beside a woman. Nearby, a younger woman held an infant in her arms.
Sam spoke "William, this is an alternate universe a world where you moved on from my death. In this life, you forgave yourself and found happiness. You got married, had a daughter."
William watched, experiencing the memories of this alternate life.
He saw how different his life would become and how many things changed.
For example William was still the boss and Ishan was still working for him.
But it wasn't big company like now instead it barely changed.
The visions of him dating, holding his daughter in the operating room, the moment his daughter become a mother all of them.
Every vision brought him tears. He was overwhelmed by them yet his tears didn't fall.
Wiping his watery eyes. "Sam thank you for showing me these memories."
William looked back at the books, at first he didn't like it but Ganesh always talked about it which made him interested.
From that moment he started his reading journey.
Looking back at Sam "but I would still choose the life I lived thousands of times."
Sam only smiled. "Puppet, we are ready!"
Puppet who this time had a better outfit than his tired office worker outfit came out.
Puppet only looked at William before announcing. "You both are currently dead. I'm not a god but I'll grant you 3 choices choose."
"1.relive this life without retaining any of your memories."
"2.Everything will be random but you will retain certain amount of your memories."
"3. Have all your memories and live in a different world."
With that puppet stopped talking.
'so it's like a reincarnation?' William was thinking to himself when he saw the puppet nodding to confirm.
Which stunned him.
The puppet quickly responded "I'm not reading minds, I guessed all of the possible answers even if my guess was wrong, there was 87% of me getting right if I simply nodded."
Hearing puppet answer his confusion, he looked at Sam.
"Hey Sam don't you forget about me!"
Sam retorted "Like hell I will!"
Both smiled, shacking hands with each other.
"To the end of our lives?" Sam's smile didn't leave even when they both should be serious.
"Even after death you didn't change hah?" William's smile also wasn't going anywhere. "Brothers till the end!"
Seeing them both puppet choose option 3 for them.
The both of them disappeared in front of puppet who was just there for no reason.
"Good luck father, good luck master."