Awakening love

CHAPTER-1

“Sometimes we have to break few promises in order to protect our loved ones”

“Wake up sissy, I am begging you, please wake up….” tears are pooled in Pihu’s eyes, pleading to unconscious Annika laying numb on the hospital bed, a nasal cannula below her nose which is placed to provide oxygen to her. A heartbeat monitor on the left side of her bed and cannula on her right hand attached to the glucose drip stand. It’s been 6 years since that tragic incident happened, it literally changed the lives of everyone closed to her but especially of Pihu. That was the last day she opened her  eyes after that nobody saw her as before, just the droplets of tears slides from her eyelids which gives a hope to all that she still have life. The doctors have left their all hopes, that if she will ever recover, “ Please wake up. Talk to me, how much  more I have to wait to listen my sissy’s voice, her laugh, her scoldings….how much more….see I bought your favourite black roses for you, open your eyes, see, how beautiful these are, but you know what they are not more beautiful than you..” little girl trying hard to act strong and fight the hardest battle, The pain of seeing your loved one in pain is more than any other kind of heartbreak or love failure. The irony here is that  Pihu is actually not a real sister of Annika, the tie of friendship have bound that together for years and by the time, the depth of their bond is that much inclined that no one can even assume that they are not real sisters. This is the beauty of real friendship, the only relation which we choose. She held Annika’s hand and places a soft kiss on her head, while tears flowing our of her blue eyes, “I eavesdropped the conversation of aunty and Dr Mehra, he said that beside of the physical wounds, something have caused you a deep wound mentally and it seems like that you actually don’t have will to live, If he will be informed about that, then there are chances of you to recover” her eyes and cheeks turned red by crying, she wiped her tears by her right hand while holding Annika’s hand by left hand and continues to speak, “why you bound me in that promise sissy, in order to bring you back in life, it is really important to open that secret to the Doctors, I am losing all  my strength now sissy…I am really angry to you, why you are letting me fight this battle alone, I need you sissy, I need you...” she tightly shut her eyes, as if she is trying hard to stop that ocean flow out from her eyes but still unable to control it, as the tear were still continuously flowing down from her cheeks to the Annika’s hand. “ Which promise?” she was interrupted by a shivery, cold voice, as soon she turns , Annika’s mother… Mrs. Mona Sharma, was standing numb without any expression on her face as If something really broke  her heart. By the Mona’s reaction, Pihu realises that she overheard her monologue, the vertical wrinkles on her forehead is the clear proof of her fear, the fear of the breaking of that promise, the fear of the revelation of the ‘secret’. “How could you hide such a big truth from us all..” Mrs. Sharma moves her head in the disapproval, the disappointment this lie caused her towards Pihu, tears flowing down through her cheek bone. Pihu walk towards her but Mona stops her by the hand gesture, “Why you kept it hidden” again throws the same question but this time, the tone was louder than before. Mr. Sharma and the other friends, Navya, Priya and Dev, who came to meet Annika, also gathered in the hospital room after listening the Mrs. Sharma’s voice, they all are clueless about what is going on there, “Just try to understand me, aunty” Pihu tried to hold Mona’s hand, but she jerked Pihu’s  hand from her hand aggressively. “I don’t want any explanation, just give me the answer, Pihu.” She shuts her eyes tightly but the tears were still flowing through the corner of the  eyelids of her shut eyes. She turns around and goes to Anil,  Annika’s father, “anil….she knows something which can help in the recovery of Annika, but she is not telling me, Please ask her to tell me…Please ask her…please” she buries her head in Anil’s chest and cries vigorously. “If I was able to then I would have told this way earlier,  but I still remember, the way sissy held my hand with her blood coated hand and asked me the promise of not telling that truth, the truth behind that accident, the truth behind her this condition, I can’t…..how can I break her promise…” she is crying and sobbing loudly, as soon she completes her sentence, she run away out of the hospital room, while crying and wiping the tears away. “Navya, Priya, you both take care of uncle and aunty, I am going to look for Pihu, she is not in her senses right now, its not even easy for her too, she is just a teenager not mature enough to handle such situation.” He asks both of them, “yeah, she also needs an emotional support, don’t worry, we will handle here, you go and look for her.” Navya replies, and Priya also nods in agreement.

*                *                         *                 *                        *                  *

Its 5:00 p.m.

Two hours passed since Pihu left from the hospital, still there was no sign of her. Dev looked at every possible place where she can go but still couldn’t able to find her. “I have looked at every place she can go, but she is not there” he was on phone call with Mona, “Please look for her dev, I yelled at her too much I should have thought about her too, I committed a very bug mistake,” she pleads from the other side of the phone, “yeah…aunt..” dev was saying something when she suddenly saw a glimpse of Pihu,  “I think I found her, I will call you back bye,” he immediately disconnected the call and followed her. She goes in the Bangla sahib Gurudwara, pray for Annika and then sits near the Sarovar (the holy river). Dev follows her with a distance and watching her each and every movement, he actually don’t want to scare her. Pihu was silently sitting near the holy river and remembering the memories of the childhood with Annika. She was Annika’s  junior during the school time when she first met Annika was in  11th standard, and she was the student of 7th standard. Those were the golden times they both spent together, sudden wave of sadness appeared and tears are flowing from eyes “why god? Why I am so helpless at this point, why I can’t tell them about sissy’s past, please cure my sissy’s every wound, please, I can’t handle it alone anymore.” Dev silently comes and sit beside her “you know what, god  never takes the  credit, neither of the good nor of the bad. In order to bring your life back to the track, you have to do your Karma,” Pihu looks at Dev, but then again shifts her gaze towards the Sarovar. “ Is it right to break the promise, sissy taken from me?” she asks. Dev politely hugs her and embrace her in his arms “even if the cost of saying your loved one is to break the promises you made them, then you should break it, a promise is not more important than the person whom you made it.” She remained still, he patted her head and kept like this for a moment till he thought she is fine. From the very childhood he pampered her as if his own sister. “you alright now shorty? Now don’t cry, And don’t worry no one will force you okay? It’s totally your choice whether you want to tell that secret to us all or not… I know you are really smart girl, whatever decision you will take, I will surely be the right decision, I trust you okay” he says while cupping her cheeks. “come let me drop you to your home..” Pihu nodded in the approval.

At Pihu’s Home.

Dev dropped Pihu to her house, since she came back home, she seemed too lost. She didn’t even had dinner. It was a dark night, she was standing near the window of her room and gazing the shining moon. She was in pink coloured night-suit with teddy bear print on it and open hairs. A strand of hair fell on her eyes because of the breeze of the cold wind. She tucked the strand of her ears without moving her gaze from the moon even an inch away and leaned towards the corner of the window to take support of the wall, crossed her hand and took a deep breath. “Come sweety, have dinner, don’t go to bed empty stomach” the silence of the room was broken by her mother’s voice. “no mom, I am not hungry today.” she replied without looking at Mrs. Shergill. She places the tray of food on the table beside her bed, and turns Pihu towards her forcefully, “Mrs. Sharma called me, I know what happened today, come here let me tell you something.” Mrs. Shergill held her hand and made Pihu sit on the bed in front of her. But, instead she lays her head on Mrs. Shergill’s lap and let the rest part of her body on her soft mattress. “mom i am clueless, I don’t know what to do, I am feeling helpless.” Pihu breaks the silence by her words, Tears flowing from her eyelids to the temple of her cheek, but she isn’t wiping them but letting them flow. “you are my strong daughter, don’t let any situation defeat you, you want to know the correct path right ?” Mrs Shergill said politely while running her fingers in Pihu’s hairs and patting her head. Pihu nods. “then just answer me, can you live with the regret if Annika dies” Mrs Shergill throws a heartbreaking question towards Pihu. She quickly sits back and covers Mrs. Shergill’s mouth with her hand, “never say it again, Don’t ever say it again” she says, and loses control over her emotions and starts crying vigorously, her cheek turned pink by crying. Her mother cupped her face with her both of the hands “just think, you can’t even hear about this thing, how will you bare the burden of this regret if even by misfortune, something like this happens.” Pihu shuts her eyes, trying to erasing even the thought of something happens to Annika. Later, Mrs. Shergill Feeds the food to Pihu and makes her sleep. She covers her with her pink blanket and places a soft kiss on Pihu’s forehead, and turns the lights off. Before leaving the room, she says softly “a promise can never be more important than a person” and shuts the door. Leaving Pihu with the thousands of thoughts and the killer silence. “Now I know what I have to do,” Pihu takes a deep breath and fells asleep.

Next morning

“Good morning mom” Pihu greeted her mother with a huge smile on her face. “Oh la la! My doll is really happy today, keep smiling just like this always. My sweetheart.” Mrs. Shergill cups her face while adoring her. Pihu hugs her mother tightly “thank you so much mom, thank you so much for leading my way, thank you so much for helping me to come out of the tornado of my thoughts.” She expresses her feelings with teary eyes “you are my daughter, of course I have to be there by your side, but tell me where are my princess heading to” Mrs. Shergill asks while giving side eye to her. “to sissy’s house to correct my mistake.” She Replies in a confident tone and gives greetings to her mom and left.

Annika’s home

Everyone was sitting on the round dining table with the glass top. Two servants were serving the breakfast to everyone. They all were having breakfast but faces of all were dull  as the impact of the yesterday’s incident, specially on Mrs. Sharma’s face. “okay let me tell ask you all a question, An ant says something in the ears of elephant, and he faints, tell me what did he said” Dev says in an excited voice to cheer everyone, by this he gathers everyone’s attention. “you and your PJs” Navya lets a laugh out. Dev mimics her and asks excitedly “Now Answer my question fast….” Mr. and Mrs Sharma looks at each other and then to the Navya and Ishika for the escape but “he is the king of these PJs uncle, no one can escape from it” both of them laughed out loud. Mrs. Sharma also smiled a bit, “We don’t know, you tell” she say. Dev answers dramatically “ the ant said that I AM PREGNANT AND THIS CHILD IS YOURS.”  He threw is hands in the air in a dramatic way and said with a big smile, expecting laugh from everyone but instead an awkward silent spread over the dining table and everyone were just looking at  him with no expression at all. They sees at each other and then, The room filled with the laughter. “ohh god…. Dev! You are an idiot” Mrs Sharma said to him while laughing out loud. “ Anything for you…!” dev winked. “ I have made my mind” they were interrupted by a voice, it was Pihu with a side hand bag hanging on her left shoulder, She walked towards them and again says “yeah, I have made my mind”. Mr. Sharma asks her in a polite tone “ Made mind for what”. Pihu comes towards Mrs. Sharma, kneels down and holds her hand “ I have made mind to tell you about what actually happened at that day.” . Pihu’s this statement filled Mr. and Mrs. Sharma’s eyes with tears but this time with the tears of happiness. “no more tears now, Now, sissy will recover soon, trust me.” She says while wiping her tears. “Great! I knew that you will surely take a right decision, after all you are our smart girl,” Dev exclaims. Pihu smiles him as the response and then  stands up “I am ready to tell you everything but I just have one condition, I will not tell anything to Uncle and aunty” the vertical wrinkles appeared on their faces in the confusion. Mr. Sharma was about to ask something but before he could say something Pihu added to her statement. “there is a reason behind it which I cannot tell,  so please understand my situation uncle. Please.”

Mr. and Mrs. Sharma nodded in agreement and accepted Pihu’s condition. “Navya sis, Priya sis, Dev bro, come with me,” she commands them, and headed them to Annika’s room, in which once she used to live. Pihu opens the gate of the room, the room was with the interior of Black and grey contrast, A large photo of Annika was hanging on the wall behind the large king size bed. “she was never like the other girls,” tears pooled in Navya’s eyes, “yeah, when all girls liked pink colour, she was the one who always sticked on blue and black” Priya’s eyes also filled with tears. Dev shuts the door behind, and Pihu leads them to sit on the bed. She opened the door of the large grey cupboard and pulled out a key from her pocket. “what’s this key for?” Dev asked. “Shh..” Pihu replied and continued to remove the cloths. Behind those cloth there was a poster of panda, she removed that poster and behind it there was a secret drawer. “what the fuck..!!” Dev exclaimed . “Oh.. shit..!” Navya and Priya ,also gasped, they all were looking at each other in disbelief. Pihu opened the drawer and pulled out an old diary, the cover was blue with the black hearts on it. The diary was covered with the dust and the blue colour of the cover turned brown because of the dust. Pihu held the diary with her both of the hand and turned her face towards three of them, and let a sigh out, “its not over yet, there is something else important still remaining” Pihu picked her hand bag from  the ground. “Oh Pihu,  I wasn’t completely recovered by the first bomb you dropped and now you are dropping another one.” Dev covered his face with his both palms and took a deep breath, “go ahead Pihu!” Navya nodded in approval. Pihu pulled another diary from her bag. “It was never only ‘Annika’ it was always ‘them’.” Priya gasped “Oh god, another diary,”. Kavya also exclaimed “I am not understanding it”. Dev groaned “how much more twists are left Pihu.” Pihu narrowed her eyebrow, and the let a sigh out, “calm down you will understand everything.”. Three of them nodded in the agreement. Pihu opened both of the diaries and continues “Let’s start from where it all started, their story, the untold and the unheard part of Sissy’s life, 6 years ago.

CHAPTER – 2

“hold your breath and dive into the past”

[ Annika’s diary]

Alarms rings*

“umm…..What the hell, just stop!” I murmured in the sleepy voice. In the whole world I just hate three things, first- lie second- if someone disturbs me while eating and third-when someone ruins my beauty sleep. I snoozed the alarm while keeping my eyes close and then the realisation hit, “oh dam….!!! Not again please…” I fake cried as it was the first day of the school after the summer vacations and I decided to wake up early and see the very first day I failed. “why didn’t you woke me up, its 6: 30,  how am I going to get  ready in just 30 min” I yelled from my room. My sleep was vanished when I saw that I just had only half hour to get ready. Mom yelled from the kitchen in a teasing tone “ you really wanted to go in the school van, right? so I thought you will wake up yourself only”. Uff, my mom and her habit of teasing me always on the wrong time. I shouted, “mom, is it time to tease or give me taunts” I started fake crying. “now stop acting, and hurry up, if you missed your school van then you will be responsible for your father’s anger”

Dad came “oh god why you both are shouting in the early morning.” said in frustrated voice. “your spoiled princess can never be on time, and then just shout” mom yells from the kitchen. I was in bathroom but how could Annika Sharma lose an argument “I am listening all your gossips” I shouted to let them know that I still didn’t lost the  argument. “the don’t listen, and get ready fast” mom yelled back, urgh. I can win arguments with the whole world but not with my mom. She knows my every strategies . I quickly took bath and starts to get read. I played my favourite song, ‘Levitating by dua lipa’ while combing my hairs. “Like mother like daughter,” I heard dad murmuring, but I just smiled at their compliment because it’s not a lie after all.

[ 7:00 am Annika waiting for the van ]

“Oh god! I asked them for the school van and they looked for a bullock cart …How much time it will take, its already 7:00 am oh gosh is it coming with the speed of a bicycle or what ? ! “ I groaned as I am that kind of person who can make others wait but can never wait myself. You can call me Dady’s princess but it is what it is. After waiting for 15 minutes finally I saw a  school van coming, and I could sense that it was the one for me as dad already explained its appearance to me. The van stopped right in front of me and  the gate opens. And a literally cutie pie girl was sitting near the window and I guess she was the one who opened the door. “what’s you name sweety?” I asked in a polite tone. “Pihu” she answered with a  huge smile on her face. A smile appeared on my face too automatically.

“thanks god! finally something good happened, she is so cute, I can’t control myself to pull her fluffy cheeks, but huh no! it’s too early to show my true colours to her.” o giggled the castle of my dreams broke by her voice, “what happened to you” She asked in confusion, I think she heard my murmuring. “nothing, you are of which standard?” I tried to change the topic. “I am of 6th standard , and you ? oh wait I forgotten to ask your name too , what’s your name”  Pihu asked with the embarrassment  and a cute smile on her face……..I answered ” I am Annika and I am of 11th standard” Pihu’s eyes widened up as she heard my reply, I observed the confusion on her face, and asked what but  she didn’t replied. After insisting for a long time and then  finally she answered. “I thought you are of 8th -9th standard because of your height  “  wait, what, I definitely  wasn’t expecting that answer, “haw” I acted to be angry from her and turned my face to the opposite direction and pouted to show that I was angry with her. She got tensed and tried to convince me by making puppy face and saying ‘sorry’ in cute childish voice, When everything failed then she tried buttering me. “I thought you are younger because of your cuteness sissy, you are too cute as compared to the other girls of your age” she winked while saying these. The skill buttering at this age wasn’t supposed to be this much perfect but she did her job really well as after listening her this statement I burst into laughter “oh gosh I thought you are just cute but now I came to know that you are much cuter than I thought” and we both laughed out loud.

*After few moments some more children were picked and the school van was full but there was still a place vacant.*

Pihu whispered In my ears “be habitual to this congested van,” and giggled, I just really loved the way she was making every effort to make me comfortable in the van. I was having strong feeling that, a really string connection is going to form between us. I giggled at her warning and nodded in the approval of the same.

Few minutes later our van stopped in front of a street and a guy appeared, He was actually tall as I would have stood beside him then I cannot even reach his shoulder properly he is too giant as compared to me. His face was tilted at right hence his face wasn’t fully visible to me but he had a very sharp jawline, a jawline of which I dream, as I am a chubby girl with a combo of round face. Urgh! He came and sat beside me, right beside me, an electric wave ran into my nerves, It never happened to me, this was strange but I neglected, and then I heard a girl sitting right in front of him murmuring “why can’t he chop off his leg, they are dam too big, everyday makes me uncomfortable, gosh!” As soon I listened that poor girl’s murmuring I wasn’t able to control my laugh and I laughed out loud. Yeah, this is the most stupid habit and the biggest enemy of my life. No matter how much I control but this laughter attach only occurs when it’s a situation where I am definitely not supposed to laugh. He gave me a glare; her eyes were too blank as he just murdered someone just before leaving the home! But I laughed at his insult I can’t expect him to shower flowers on me. So, I tried hard to control my laugh and luckily succeeded. “ sissy, this big bro, he really have really big legs that the person sitting in front of him can’t even be able to move his leg even a bit.” Pihu said slowly, okay, so I think in order to survive in this van I have to follow number of rules and I just got two of them. I gasped “woah! Really?” Pihu nodded “I wish you would never sit in front of big bro!” huh, now after hearing Pihu’s description about that place, I also wish the same. “by the way, what’s name of this giant creature,” I asked Pihu. Suddenly the van driver shouted, “Adhwik, son, bring your fees tomorrow okay?” to which that guy answered “yeah I will” OH MY GOD! HIS VOICE, his voice was as deep as a fucking ocean, before it I just heard this voice in movies and k-dramas. I have never heard this much masculine voice of any guy. I was totally mesmerized by his voice as words themselves came out of my mind, “interesting”, he gave me a death stare! “did I said it that much loud!” I threw my head into my palms due to embarrassment.

He whispered “no you didn’t said it that loud!” wait, what! He heard this too, either he had a good capability of listening or I was just a stupid who was talking shit about him while sitting right beside him.

I gasped and flinched, I wasn’t aware when my one hand automatically got placed to my heart, as a reaction of what just happened I back-to-back created embarrassing situations for me, my eyes widened and mouth opened in an oval shape as I was saying ‘haw’ without actually giving voice to it. “close your mouth, looking really weird” oh wait, what! Did just this weirdo roasted ME. What the hell man!, I squinted my eyes, gave him a forced smile and turned my face.

Reached school*

“After the dispersal just come at this place only okay, you have to wait here until I drop  students of the route……Pihu it seems like you and Annika became really good friends in just one meet so just take care of your sissy and make sure she will not forget this place” we looked at each other and shared a smile, “don’t worry uncle I will  bring sissy with me” Pihu said in very proud voice buy keeping her both hands on the shoulder and tilting her head upward with a proud smile on her face as she finally gets the chance to show that she is also a responsible girl. After that we both entered the school gate.

In the school*

It was the first period, I am a psychology student, and this subject is newly added, hence a separate room is not allotted yet, so all the students had to go to the Library for the psychology class. I was heading to the library and that’s when I saw him, his face wasn’t visible to her but his tall body and his hairs were enough to let me know that it was him, chilling with some boys . And when I am saying ‘some’ It’s definitely NOT ‘some’  they were like 15-20 boys with him  and there I witnessed an  event.

A girl approached Ashwik*

That girl blushed and confessed in a trembling voice         “Ashwik, I really wanted to say this thing since very long but I never gathered enough courage to tell you that I feel something for you I..I….mean, I am in love with you….” Ashwik ’s friends started hooting , but one of his friends said the most bitter thing one could ever say to a girl “ have you even seen your face in mirror do you think you are capable of becoming our bro’s girlfriend  just be in your limit girl” the girl’s eyes were pooled with the tears, hiding her face in embarrassment  and was about walk away from their, when suddenly Ashwik held her and said “wait now it’s my turn to speak,” He dragged his friend who insulted that girl and  said “ say sorry!”  “what?” the guy asked in the confusion “ JUST SAY SORRY” Ashwik yelled at him in loud voice led the room in immense silence…..

“I am sorry” the guy apologised and left the room in anger. while giving angry look to him. Then Ashwik offered his handkerchief to the girl and said in very polite voice “ see, I respect your feelings and I understand your feelings are genuine and I really have no intentions to hurt you but I don’t want to keep you in dark either by telling you that I  have feelings, I hope you will understand my point of view. I don’t believe in love and all, for me it’s just a waste of time” that girl nodded in agreement and walked away from there…

I was watching all this drama from a distance, I definitely hadn’t thought that this guy could have this much maturity, and I really appreciate the way he handled that  delicate situation, and instead of rejecting her brutally, he politely made her feel being understood, “he is a nice guy” I murmured, as soon as I said this to myself, His eyes locked with mine, I can’t afford being caught staring at him for the second time in a day, avoiding any other embarrassing moment I moved from there and went to the library, But apart from everything that incident, actually imprinted a really good image of him, but we can’t judge someone without actually knowing them,

It’s the dispersal time*

It was the time of dispersal and as Pihu said, she led me to the way to the place where van driver was supposed to pick us. And, that’s when I saw his full face, he was standing at a place where the sunlight was direct hitting his face, . He was clean shaven , brown skinned which shines like gold as soon as the ray of sun fell on his face. His eyelashes were curled as someone had applied mascara on it  HOW IN THIS WORLD, SOMEONE CAN HAVE SO PERFECT FACIAL FEATURES* if someone can break this ‘myth that a perfect  guy will surely have muscular body and fair skin’ then it will only be him* I was  looking at his face, thinking how perfect this guy is when Pihu threw a  really uncomfortable question towards me “sissy, do you like big bro?” I came back into the sense as soon I heard her question, oh, no! it’s not like this  you are misunderstanding it I am just praising that he looks nice, and that’s it and anyways I already have love of my life,” i told her while blushing and covering my face as a shield to hide how stupidly I was smiling as soon as I talk about him, huh! Nothing can make me blush the way just his name can make me in a couple of seconds, Pihu was shocked as well as curious too, she asked “Woah……what is his name is he your classmate???” I blushed and said “ his name is ‘dev’ and no he is not my classmate he is of other stream but we are childhood friend since 6th standard……..” I was about to tell more when our van driver told that its my stop…I waved and greeted ‘bye’ to Pihu with the promise that she will tell about this any other time.

This first day was really good consisted of number of mesmerising as well as, embarrassing moments, but one thing I felt today is that I got a younger sister today, just by spending few moments with Pihu, I can predict that this is not a temporary connection, and I have a strong feeling that this is not limited as ‘senior and junior bond’ but a ‘younger and elder sister bond’. I just hope further days will go as smooth as this day just with, lesser number of embarrassing moments.

[SECOND DIARY]

I was preparing breakfast when I heard footsteps of someone coming towards me, I turned, It was mom “Beloved son, you..... Why do you wake up so early in the morning and do my work too?"  she patted my work. I just not understand why there is a thinking that only women are meant to do the household works and not men, In my opinion it have to be an equal share. In this world there are only two women who are my strength and the weakness at the same time. My mother and that witch (my sister), and I really don’t any of them to have a feeling that doing these household chores is their duty.

“ maa why just you and that witch have to do all the work and why I can’t and anyway you have to work for the entire day so why can’t you get leave from just few works .” I hugged my mom and placed a soft kiss on her forehead to expresses the gratitude and love towards her. “I don’t know what good deed I had done in my past life that I got YOU as my son” and hugged him back…..I offered a cup of tea to her and went to the temple of his house…….to worship the lord Krishna and played a spiritual song. My every day starts with a hug by mom and worshipping Krishna, I am not a patient of OCPD but I actually think that I am not a great fit in this generation with a hook-up culture and one-night stands, I believe in the type of love which ‘Radha and Krishna’ shares, and follows the path of Krishna, he is not just a god to me, he is my ‘mentor’, my ‘best friend’. My ‘teacher’, my everything. And according to how much I read in the scriptures, and about the teachings of him, it never allows me to make any women feel unworthy, Women are actually the reflection of Goddess Radha and, so, In my opinion the change starts from your own house so, I made this rule that, at morning the household works will be done by the males and not by women. I got ready and went to the stop from where the van driver usually picks me.

I thought today’s day will also be like as ordinary as other but I was definitely wrong about it. I saw her from the window of the van,  her frustration was clearly visible on her face as she wasn’t comfortable in that congested van it seemed like she is travelling first time in the school van, typical daddy’s princess behaviour*

She was staring directly in my eyes which made me really uncomfortable. She is dam pretty, her skin colour is just like mine, her eyes…those green eyes were appeared to be like that of a cat, but it actually suits her, her voice is thousand times more, sweeter than the chocolate itself. I was looking her with a corner of my eye, when Pihu said something to her that in respond she giggled.

“why can’t he chop off his leg, they are dam too big,” I heard the girl sitting in front of me, murmuring. I was about to say something when I heard that girl beside me laughing. Her white teeth were shining like pearls and the strand of hair coming to her eyes making her more attractive  and the dimples were cherry on top…The wind became the reason of her jet-black  strand of hair to tease her which led her to set them behind  her ears…dang!! She looks so adorable while moving her finger behind her ear to pull the hair back and it was making it even more difficult for me .

I was figuring what the hell is happening to my mind that I was forgetting my “affair with girl = collide with death ” rule. when suddenly the driver shouted my name and asked to  bring the fees…,I heard her saying “interesting” as a comment to my name…to which I  passed a smile. I guess it was a misunderstanding, I just wanted to pass a smile but I ended up giving her a really weird look which made her feel embarrass ….oh god!! This inability to express one’s emotion  is the worst curse one could ever get and as a bonus being introvert, ‘worst combination ever’..….she patted her head on her hand out of embarrassment.…I  really didn’t wanted to make her feel embarrass “ you didn’t said it that loud” yeah I said that…..i really said that….like how a person could be so idiot…you actually responded to a thing and then telling that you didn’t heard it…….,but her reaction was worth watching as maybe I read her mind unknowingly……

WE REACHED SCHOOL………

I was about to enter the main gate of the school when I heard the van driver saying “After the dispersal just come at this place only okay, you have to wait here until I drop  students of the route……Pihu it seems like you and Annika became really good friends in just one meet so just take care of your sissy and make sure she will not forget this place”

“ ‘Annika..’ what a sweet name, wait! What did he said! Sissy??” I was adoring her name and suddenly realised that he described her as Pihu’s sissy, dang! Man, I though she is same age that of Pihu, . Because of her height………

Yeah she is too tiny…..but cute though..*

I tried hard to not ask but I don’t know why I failed to do so and ran to the van and asked the driver ‘ what!!!!Sissy ??? is she elder than Pihu??” the next thing which I heard was the last thing I was able to 7imagine that will come  out from his mouth “she is even elder than you Mr. , she is in 11th standard ” am I dreaming or what………did he just said that she is senior than me…..

“Hey Krishna !! will I get all the surprises today only“

It took me whole day to believe that whom I was thinking a small junior girl is actually even elder than me……….a thought crossed my mind. “a year elder won’t make a great difference” instantly erased by the another thought “ Ashwik no!! you can’t………its bad manners to think like this about a girl whom you met only few hours ago and don’t even know her full name and remember your rule : “affair with girl=collide with death……” I don’t know why first time in this life I am getting attracted to girl……a guy who don’t even likes to talks to girls is now continuously thinking about a girl, who is elder than him in age and shorter in the height…..why I am feeling a sudden change in myself……why just a normal meet with a girl is affecting me too much

IN SCHOOL………….

A girl proposed me in front of my friends ……when I say I never fell in love or never had feelings for anyone I really mean this…..but I always try to make sure that I would never hurt anyone’s feeling with my words ( I am very cautious about my words)………insulting someone or hurting someone by your words and then saying I am straightforward doesn’t makes you cool……it’s my personal opinion……..

I was about to  reply to that girl but then my eyes caught her* yeahhhhhh she was watching meeee or she was watching all the drama happening their……I watched her on the glass of the window….and the process of hypnotising started and I again lost my senses and then a voice dragged me back to the reality “ have you even seen your face in mirror do you think you are capable of becoming our bro’s girlfriend  just be in your limit girl” I never expected any of my friend to have this kind of thinking……a sudden increase of anger began and took control over my patience and I yelled first time on my friend……” say sorry!” in reply he raised a question “what?”  it increased the level of my anger even more and I yelled now in much heavier and louder voice “JUST SAY SORRY”……….I decided to avoid her reflection in the mirror as just one glance is enough to again hypnotise me…..which might be not right at this moment……..

I consoled that girl with as much polite words I can say at that moment…..and she walked away from there……..and the next thing I did was the one for which I was eagerly waiting all this drama to end……..yeahh I looked at her……but she ignored me and turned her face…….is she scared of me after watching me in anger……..wait….why I  am thinking about is she scared of me or not…………..oh god this girl made me crazy………..

NOW I WILL NOT  GIVE MY ATTENTION TO HER , I will IGNORE HER.!!!

[ for the readers who knows Hindi]

Jo nazre unse mili maano dil tham sa gaya, ye pehli muhabbat ka asar ho sa gaya,

Aksar jis rog se bachte rahe Vo rog ho sa gaya, Unki muskuarahat mei mai hosh kho sa gaya

Vo haste rahe , hum fastse rahe, kambakht mazaak bi humara hi banaa rahe the vo, aur hum unki hasi pe marte rahe.

Jo kabi socha na tha vo ha sa gaya, jis dil ko chupa ke Rakha tha vo kho sa gaya, ab aur kya hi likhu, kambakht mai bhi mareez-ae-ishq ho sa gaya

CHAPTER – 3

“A heartbreak is necessary to understand your own worth”

[Annika’s diary]

In morning.

It was 5:00 a.m. , Mom just woke up from her sleep and She couldn’t believe what she saw….She rubbed her eye to make sure she wasn’t in sleep……yeah, it was reality and not a dream…. Mom forcefully shook dad and said in panicked voice “ look there ! look there ! look there……”, okay so my mom is little dramatic, dad shouted in sleepy voice “ what the hell dammit…!! Why are you just ruining my sleep!! What have you seen there” started fake crying,  when it comes to sleeping, me and my father are exactly same, we can bare anything but not the disturbance in the sleep, he looked at that direction where mom was pointing….and…. “annikaaaaaaa” he shouted…yeah…it was just me; this all drama was created just because today I woke up early “oh god dad its mee only not a ghost” I raised my eyebrows and threw hands in air while tilting my head a little in left direction……with a comb in one hand……”

“If it was a ghost, it would have been less shocking, but you have woken up early, this is more shocking." dad replied with widened eyes…”oh come on dad ! don’t react too much” I frowned and turned back again towards the mirror and started making braids…”no my sweetie  it’s not normal tell me what happened to you? Are you okay ?” mom started checking my temperature by placing her hand on my forehead “tell me what happened to you”… I was standing still with blank expression and then started fake crying ““ mom enough !! it’s just today is an important day to me that’s why I  woke up early…that’s it" to which mom gave me a really sarcastic look and gave the most unexpected statement one could ever imagine from an Indian mom ,“is someone is going to propose my sweetie pie”. By this you all might got the idea that my mom definitely wasn’t like other’s moms. She took the ‘be friends with you children’ phrase, way too seriously. I got frustrated “ mom…first of all if someone will be going to propose me then why would I be excited, and when will you start behaving like typical Indian mother who don’t allow their daughter to even talk to the guys”, but at the end I laughed a bit,

I just can’t understand how mom is so chill, all the time. ”ladies don’t forget I am here” dad shouted from the living room, ……. “huh, I try to be like her friend and she needs strict mother,  huh, no one values my efforts” looks at the other direction and  pouted to show that she is disappointed, and keeps looking at my direction to make sure I am watching her. So, there is no doubt that I got all that drama from my mom. I hugged her from the backside “Offo, my darling….I value you,  but…there is nothing like that….it’s just today is my competition, that’s why I woke up early, my drama queen”. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and starts to get ready.

In real, mom wasn’t actually properly wrong, I was actually going to propose my first love, My boy. My whole world, From the very first day since we met,  there was not even a single day, when I didn’t think about him. I never knew he will become this much important for me in this life. I did my level best efforts to make him my friend, and now he is my best friend since 6 years. And from some of our mutual friends I got to know that he also loves me, but feels shy to confess, therefor I took the initiative to open up my feelings to him today, I am already blessed with a beautiful face with two cute dimples on my cheek, and naturally pink lips, but today I tried my level best to look even more prettier today, it’s, the really very first time I put this much efforts, just to look pretty,

In the van*

Two months passed since I joined this van, now I know everyone here. All were really sweet since the day one, specially Pihu. In these two months, many things changed but the only thing remained constant is that guy, and his mysterious personality. By the time, the curiosity to know him is increasing in me. There is something really weird about him. All this time, all what I came to know about him is that his name is Ashwik Sinha, and he is my junior. He have been avoiding me from the second day of my join….why?? who knows! But maybe only he knows..!

“Ohho,,…looking really pretty today” Pihu complimented me, I didn’t even think of the reply when she threw another statement but this time it was a question. “what’s so special today?”. Okay, so I can never hide my emotions, if somehow I manage to not tell, but  my face tells everything by itself without even my permission. My cheeks were all red but not because of any makeup but because of the blushing about the fact that I would get my love as my boyfriend in just half an hour. Pihu’s compliment actually boosted my confidence, as I believe the children’s compliments are the most genuine compliment you could ever get., and at that moment it made me believe that my all efforts worked and I was actually looking prettier. “I am going to propose dev today,” I admitted, but as soon I admitted it, there was a shift in Pihu’s expression from the curiosity to disappointment. I actually hadn’t found out the reason of that sudden change, in a couple of seconds, I was about to ask when, Pihu asked in a cold tone “Why?”

I was surprised by her answer, as I wasn’t expecting her reaction to be this. “what do you mean by ‘why’ I love him and that’s why I am proposing him, what happened Pihu..? everything alright?” I was really curious to know the reason behind her strange reaction, and then she spoke “ sissy, when you told me about your love, I mean ‘dev brother’, I enquired about him, sissy, I know him, I saw him in the park nearby our school with a girl, he is not a good guy sissy, don’t go with him, he is not capable of protecting you and your heart.” Pihu’s answer shook me from inside out, but a sudden realisation hit me ,”was she shorter than me in the height?” I asked in the confirmation of my thought. “yeah she was slightly shorter than you” she replied, “Was she had Short hairs??”I asked another question to which she replied in a nod in agreement. I took a sigh of relief and patted my hand on my forehead, “Offo, Pihu, that might be his sister, he always goes home with her” I clarified it to Pihu. “Oh, okay, then it’s fine! All the best! And I am sorry for the misunderstanding but I just don’t want you to go in wrong hands” she cleared in a low tone, while keeping her gaze on her hands in her lap. I held her hands with both of my hands and assured her “don’t worry Pihu, he is not like other guy’s he is a nice guy, trust me, he will never do anything like this.” Pihu was convinced by my assurance but somewhere Pihu’s doubt stuck in my mind, but the thought of him being different than other playboy types of guys, erased that doubt.

In classroom*

I pulled out a chocolate box from my bag which I bought as a first present of love for him, I was way too nervous to go there, I am a kind of girl who can’t even maintain eye contact with the guy whom I love, and proposing directly definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. But then my Besties came as the saviour, Navya patted my shoulder “come on my chivalrous girl, go and win your guy, this love guru’s blessings are with you” her statement led me burst into laughter. “don’t worry babe, everything will be good, now just gather the courage and go before he leaves the playground” Priya tried to build my confidence, “Yeah, just 15 minutes left in the ringing of bell, buckle up babe.” Navya highlighted the lack of time, and pushed me to go out as fast as possible. I took a deep breath and headed to the playground. There were so many students roaming here and there and then finally spotted dev, he was with his friend, I thought to wait but then Navya’s declaration of lack of time forced me to go to him as soon as possible. I was hardly ten steps away from him, when I heard the most heartbreaking words which I can never expect coming from his mouth, ”bro do you really love Annika???” dev’s friend asked him, I stopped , to let him give the answer, and the answer shattered my heart into millions of pieces, “ What!…are you out of your mind……what do you think I will love that girl…..bro my type is 1000 times better, hotter and sexier than her…….it’s just until I find  a girl of my type I will just pass time with her….” he threw even this pathetic statement with such a clam voice and crossing his arms.………his friend reacted “broo…..what !! wait !! she is your best friend no ??” to this he answered “my what???? Best friend???? Bro…you are so innocent, no problem let me clear this to you……I know from the very start that she loves me so on the name of friendship I am keeping her as an option, so that by chance if I didn’t got someone then I will have her to have fun with……..you are understanding ? of what fun I am talking about ??? and yeah In few time intervals I throw some hints like by pampering her and all so that she should always think that yeah I do love her………..” after saying this he completed his sentence with a devil laugh…. “smart move bro” his friend complimented and both started laughing. I was hearing the whole conversation from a distance, for me everything  was love, I thought love always gives peace and happiness but I never knew that it comes with an immense pain. A sudden stroke of pain in my heart begun. At that moment I was so hurt that the even tears weren’t flowing, I was just feeling disgusted because of being used unknowingly by a pathetic person, I ran out of the playground as fast as possible, the memory of that conversation in that playground was haunting me. In the hurry I even bumped into a guy but I just ignored and ran to my class. I was silent whole day. Navya and Priya asked me but I wasn’t able to explain them, how can a person tell this to anyone that she got that much blind in the “so-called” love , that never really cared to find out the true of him. When you are hurt at extreme level, even your tears denies to flow out. and today I understood it. How easy it is for someone to use and throw someone without thinking that how much emotionally other person is attached. Love is such a scary game you may never know whom you are loving is the person with whom you have to fight with the world or to whom you have to fight for you.

The revelation  of dev’s true intentions left me in pieces, the girl who always stayed in her imaginary world without caring for what world thinks or says, the girl, for whom love is the most important thing in the world is now empty……..without any emotion, without any spark in her eyes. I was trying her level best to stop myself from crying and to act normal but still I could feel the increase in temperature of my body which happens only when I am deeply sad. That conversation was haunting me, more than nightmare ever could. Whole day passed and I was just thinking about that conversation, I got saved two times from a car accident, a guy pulled me, he saved me, but I don’t know, who he was but all I know is at that moment he was the saviour for me otherwise I would have died, But the fact was I actually wanted to die. Later that guy disappeared and  neither I looked for him.

In the van*

I was late, everyone were just waiting for me to come, so that they can leave, I opened the van’s door and that was full, only place which was vacant was the one in front of Ashwik, but today I don’t give a fuck about the comfort zone, today I can even eat 1 kg green chillies and can still be normal because the pain I was having in my heart was much more than any other thing. I sat in front of him adjusting my legs but it wasn’t, then he did a move, He placed  his both legs around my legs, trying hard to not touch my legs, I could sense it that he wasn’t comfortable at that position but I was. Because in this position his legs were covering mine as a shield, I don’t know why but it gave me a sense of safety even though I didn’t know that guy for so long. I leaned my head towards the window, and sat quietly. I was able to hear Pihu’s whispers but today not in state to talk to anyone, and to avoid the external nuisance I closed my eyes, but that incident was still echoing in my mind.

A sad song played in the F.M, I just want to figure it out that when we are sad why we starts to relate and understanding the lyrics. The song was so dam relatable that tears pooled in my eyes, which led to blur my vision and I don’t know when I threw a statement to Ashwik

Me : Why world seems so sad when you are sad about something….why it hurts so much…

( as I said it, tears slide to my cheekbone, and that was the time when I finally let my emotions come out)

Him : :   you gave permission to that thing or person to hurt you that’s why it’s hurting so much

( he said in a very polite tone while offering her a handkerchief)

I looked at him with the teary eyes but hadn’t said anything, I never knew this guy would give this much mature statement., I wasn’t expecting this gesture from his side, the way he was avoiding me I thought he hate me for making fun of him on the first day. I took his white  handkerchief from his hand and wiped my tears

Me : is it too much to expect respect and truth after giving my 7 years to someone..

I didn’t know why I said this to him but by this I was feeling that the weight on my heart was reducing.

Ashwik :  never keep expectation from anyone……..expectations always breaks….and pain they gives is unbearable.

Yeah he was saying absolutely right, I kept expectation from him and this was the reason why I got used. But,

Annika : How ??? when I just gave my level best to my friendship and love but all I got is betrayal….

At this point I wasn’t able to stop my emotions to come out, the tears were  uncontrollable, they were just flowing without even my fuckin permission dammit.

Ashwik : Hey….don’t cry !!!!

stress could be sensed on Ashwik’ s face, I surely made him scare”

Me : Ashwik you tell me how will you feel when you will come to know that to whom you’ve been thinking that she is your best friend and loved her from your whole heart without being selfish,  is just playing with your feelings and keeping you just as an option for future for them…… why it’s me? I just prayed for good for everyone then why I am getting this in my life Ashwik…why???

Ashwik : it’s because you thought that like how you are good…everyone in this world is good like you, but this world is too cruel for a soul like youu and as soon you will realise and accept this will be as  good for you only..

At this I just looked at him  with my teary eyes which turned red because of crying, and just turned my face to the opposite side,

*                                      *                                   *

It was 12:30 at midnight,  “ God why??? Why it happened to me????? I loved him with all what I had……I never even thought of loving any other guy…..then why I got  heartbreak” I was sitting alone in a dark room and crying vigorously……and then a physical sensation strikes, my heartbeat raised, she was sweating terribly and was shaking in forward and backward direction continuously…I was trying hard to control my emotion and tears but wasn’t able to…..and slowly and steadily I was finding it difficult to breath a stroke of pain in heart begun but in this situation all I was thinking was “dev” the only guy I kept in my life…..the only guy who was the reason of this pain. I gave him all what I had, obeyed what he said, blocked every guy whom he don’t like. Never even talked with any other guy, then why he chose  to break my heart instead of clearly rejecting me. Sometimes a clear rejection is better than the fake promises. Now I can’t understand what am I supposed to do now, My whole world got shattered in just a couple of minutes,

Suddenly a thought crossed my mind, I wiped my tears  with shivering hands and in breaking voice which can’t be audible because of the intense  sobbing…I said to myself “ No….now no more pain….now I will get free from this pain for ever” walked towards the cupboard without any expression on the face just a feeling of disappointment….regret and most importantly the feeling of being used and thrown…….I opened that large cupboard and took out a long cloth which might be of 2 to 3 metres….yeah I was heading to commit suicide… placed a stool and stood on it and tied the cloth  up to the fan and made a knot to put my head in it and placed…..and yeah my head was in the knot I was about to end my whole life just in a second when suddenly a statement started revolving around my mind “ you gave permission to that thing or person to hurt you that’s why it’s hurting so much” yeah he said this…..I frowned ….while heavily breathing. I pulled my head out of that knot and walked towards a mirror and stared at my reflection in the mirror “yeah….it was my mistake…….why I expected  love from him when he never truly confessed……..and when I expected then now I have to bear this pain…..because this is  the result of investing my love, my feelings to the wrong guy…it is the result of my inability to recognise the real intention of dev no…I will not end my life because of that motherfucker. I will live….I will be strong…..I will not disappoint my family……….I will not……..”  I promised to myself……….but somewhere in my mind the wish to die was still there in my heart and mind.

Suicide is never the solution of any problem…every problem, every sorrow is temporary it might take one month two month at most one year, but one day it will end definitely just like after every dark night sun rises and bring the new day new morning  similarly ever pain every sorrow brings the better out of you and later sometime you realises that yeah at that time it was important…….in our Hindu scripture it is written that ‘suicide is the biggest sin, this life is given by god and we don’t have any right to and this life without his permission, one day every pain will end but if you will end this life due to this ending your life will just lead to suffer your soul alone.

The girl whose not even a single wish was remained unfulfilled was in the condition where she lost all the hope of living and I definitely had not knew that I had this much capability of bearing pain at this extent someone actually said it right that you may never know how much strong you are until you are in a toughest situation which  you could not even imagine and dang!!! Your best version comes out. I forced myself to sleep event though it was really difficult for me to handle it but I did and definitely proud of myself for not giving up on life.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

[ Never let any pain defeat you….you are strong…..you are important…….your life is important more than any other person….this life is the most beautiful and precious gem protect it and live it fully with whole heart………if you ever find yourself in Annika’s place just think one thing…….you can handle every situation, you might not have any person like Ashwik to console you…but my dear readers you don’t need anyone…….you are better alone…………you are precious……you are the main lead of your story…………….]

PRESENT TIME

As Pihu finished reading the second chapter of Annika’s diary entry, tears starts to flow from everyone’s eyes. “I never had intentions to hurt her, I was fucking pathetic person” Dev’s eyebrows pulled together while tears sliding on his cheekbones. “You were just 15 years old, buddy” Navya consoled him, while  patting his head. “dev bro, everything happens for a reason, don’t blame yourself for that okay,” Pihu too consoled him. “But do you think Annika would ever forgive me for that.” Dev asked with the eyes pooled with tears,. They were consoling him, when suddenly Mrs. Sharma, opened the door in hurry, “come fast, I got a call from hospital something happened to Annika” she told while sobbing. Everyone rushed to the hospital, Mr. Sharma was already present their, constantly watching from the circular window typed space made in with the transparent shield to peek into the I.C.U. Two doctors were looking for her, number of injections were taken into the room for her treatment. Mrs. Sharma and all also reached hospital, but still Dr, hadn’t said anything on Annika’s condition. After full 3 hours, Mr. Sharma reached to the Dr “what happened doctor, is she alright, tell me please” he asked in the tensed voice, “look I already told you all that, the main reason of not recovering her is that she herself don’t want to recover, I am again asking you all that If any of you knows something about her mental health before that accident, then please just tell me, otherwise, I think we will lose her for ever please don’t lose your hope, we are also trying our level best since 7 years” Doctor consoled Mr. Sharma and left.

“Why god! why you did it with my princess, Why…??” Mr. Sharma fell on the marble floor of the hospital, unable to handle himself neither physically nor emotionally. When a person is suffering from any disease or not physically or emotionally not well, then the person never suffer alone the people who love that person also suffers along equivalent to that person. It is the worst nightmare for a father to look his daughter in such condition and being helpless. “No Anil, don’t lose your hope, Pihu is telling them na! believe me our princess will be fine soon, I am having a strong feeling” Mrs. Sharma trying to lift her husband both physically and emotionally. This is the depth of the relation of husband and wife even though she is also suffering with the same pain but still acted as the support for her husband, doesn’t matter what the situation is, your ultimate supporter and the source of support will be your partner in any situation. “Pihu we have to buckle it up we don’t have much time now” Priya commanded to the Pihu, “yeah sissy,  let’s complete it,” she approved it. “Uncle, Aunty, You both go with the girls, I am here to take care of Annika” dev requested Mr. and Mrs. Sharma. “no, I will stay here you all go back home” Mr. Sharma denied, “yeah, dev, look it is really important for you all to know that truth. Just go there, we are here for our princess” Mrs. Sharma added to the statement, “dev bro  aunty is saying right, as soon we will know the truth as fast sissy’s treatment can happen.” Pihu said to Dev. Priya and Nayva also nodded in the approval. Four of them left for the home back.to finish those diaries as soon as possible. They all were sitting in the living room while Pihu was preparing tea for everyone when Priya asked a question to her, “By the way Pihu, having the access of Annika’s diary was acceptable, but where you got Ashwik’s diary?? I still can’t process this thing properly” Pihu let a sight out and answered “ Right 10 minutes before the accident, Big bro handed over me his dairy and said ‘please give it to Annika, this have all the answer of her insecurities and the questions in her mind’ ” she lowered her gaze, silently watching the boiling tea coming up, “then why you didn’t give it to her” Navya asked in confusion. “I did my level best to find sissy at that moment but I failed at it, I can’ never get over with this regret.” Pihu answered without removing her gaze. From the tea. Dev observed the seriousness of the environment of the living room so he changed the topic, “ come on girls, quickly prepare the snacks I am starving as hell” he groaned. They came up with the snacks and tea and served it to all. “what do you think? What would be the reason Navya?” Dev asked while having his sandwich “look, I don’t know about Annika’s case but yeah if someone kept talking then the next headline in the yesterday newspaper would be ‘A GIRL MURDERED HER BESTFRIEND BECAUSE HE WAS TALKING CONTINUOUSLY’ do you want to be the main lead of this news?” Pihu and Priya burst out in laughter. Dev groaned “you bitch” Navya also laughed and mimicked him “you bitch” . And after a long time, laughter was echoing in this house.

After having food, Pihu sent a bottle of tea and the dinner for Mr. and Mrs. Sharma to the hospital through the servants and informer her mother about staying at Annika’s house for night. After freshening up, all of them again gathered in the Annika’s room. Pihu were wearing Annika’s night suits. “oh my god you are looking like the mini version of Annika” Navya exclaimed. Pihu giggled at the compliment. Four of them again sat in a circle and starts to read again.

[ASHWIK’S DIARY]

Today she was looking too pretty…….I just can’t get my eyes off from her, the baby pink headband on her head, was complicating perfectly with her cuteness , she applied kohl ( kajal ) it is enhancing the beauty of her eyes  and  lip gloss of a reddish tint is making a difficult job for me to move my eyes from her lips and her smile is  cherry on top……… I guess today is something special for her, it’s been 1.5 months and till now I haven’t seen her putting this much efforts for her beauty , I can definitely predict today she is heading for something really special, she really don’t need any extra stuff to look pretty god has created her by investing as much he had and it can be sensed by looking at even just at her eyes………I swear on god I never found any girl as attractive as her in my life, I always being a sigma guy who never even cared to even look at a girl  as  all the boys of our group made and believed in our slogan (affair with girl=collide with death), this Ashwik Sinha never melted or got attracted towards any girl, it doesn’t mean that I don’t like girls it’s just that in this generation its really difficult to trust one someone, nowadays, loyalty can just be seen in quotes and not in people, and I am a kind of person who once fell in love then can’t forget that person for the rest of my life. and I am dam sure in this generation where most of the girls just falls for money & looks and leaves the  guy once they gets the better options, I will never get a girl of my type………but I don’t know why I am getting attracted to her, she is such a charismatic girl, I swear…..oh god look, just by writing about her I distracted from the main point just imagine how much she affects me when she sits in front of my eyes….the kindness and politeness flows from just the way she talks….dang…this girl deserves all the happiness of this world…..the smile she is having today really suits her lips I don’t know what’s special reason for it but whatever it is it should stay forever in her life.

[ IN PLAYGROUND ]

In the lunch time I went to the playground as  I wasn’t feeling hungry today and I am thankful that I went there because I saw her, but today it was all different as she walking senselessly as she was just trying to get put from that playground as fast as possible as she was running from a memory related to it or something else. She bumped into me. I was about to ask her but she didn’t even looked at me and ran from there by her this action my doubt turned into surety that something is definitely fishy…..

I saw her crossing the road senselessly, a car was about to hit her when I pulled her back, she just got saved by being hit by that car. God, what the hell happened to her, why is she behaving totally opposite of how she was behaving in the morning, all the negative thoughts crossed at that time in my mind. When again she was about to hit by a truck but this time she handled herself. Now I am genuinely concerned for her, what the fuck happened to her dammit.

In van, she was sitting in front of me….yeah so it was actually after 1.5 months when I was seeing her with full attention and yeah again that process of hypnotizing started but today she seemed to lost as if something is really bothering her I am dying to  know what the hell is the reason of the disappearance of smile of this always over excited girl ….first of all, I am really not able to understand what is happening to me nowadays from the very first day I saw her I am acting too different….it’s not me….it’s really not me…it feels like it is a new or updated version of me….huh!! whatever, I will figure it out later, right now main thing is Annika and her sadness, so she was sitting in front of me and this was also because she came late today (first time since she joined the van) I really wanted to ask her the reason but I wasn’t able to gather the courage to ask her. She seemed slightly uncomfortable so I adjusted my legs beside her and maintained a distance from her bare legs so that I would not make her feel uncomfortable. I felt too nervousness. but the a song played in F.M  and I am million times thankful to god for this because this became the reason to start the conversation but shockingly she initiated and said “ why world seems so sad when  you are sad” dam man her words were the proof of how badly she was hurt……I was processing and thinking about an appropriate response for her statement when tears started flowing from her eyes and kept quiet for a while.………I was having strong desire to wipe her tears away and hug her and never let her cry again in her whole life…….but I supressed my inner thought and  offered her  my handkerchief and replied “ you gave permission to that thing or person to hurt you that’s why it’s hurting so much” I  chose each and every word very carefully so that I may not hurt her unintentionally to her sorrow…she looked at me with those teary eyes and then took handkerchief from my hands…….hey Krishna I can’t see those eyes which  hypnotises me whenever I look into….with full of tears…..I can’t……”is it too much to expect respect and truth after giving my 7 years to someone…..” it took her while to reply and her reply broke my heart….I was that much lost in that different yet sweet feeling that I didn’t even thought that she might have a guy in her life……..no! I am not supposed to get affected by this………..and yeah I replied by hiding those weird feelings and said “never keep expectation from anyone……..expectations always breaks….and pain they gives is unbearable………” to this she threw one more statement which filled my heart and mind with extreme anger “How ??? when I just gave my level best to my friendship and love but all I got is betrayal…..” bloody hell I want to break all 206 bones of that guy who broke her sensitive heart I clenched my jaw, closed my palm tightly and had a deep breath but everything was not helping in controlling my anger but I have to dammit I have to because right now Annika is 1000 times more important that that mother fucker…I consoled her “it’s because you thought that like how you are good...everyone in this world is good like you, but this world is too cruel for a soul like youu and as soon you will realise and accept this will be as  good for you only.” When I said this I really mean this she is really too innocent for this world and I really don’t why I just want to burn this whole world to protect her innocence and sensitive heart from this cruel world and most importantly from that bloody motherfucker…….

She kept quiet throughout the way and I can sense the millions of questions running in her mind and how impatiently she want to find answer of them but sometimes you have to suffer and bare pain to welcome the forthcoming happiness in your life…similarly this pain will also make her strong and  capable to fight from this world even alone…..from all this the only good thing happened was that I realised how much I care for her I can literally break someone’s jaw whom I don’t even know if he will ever hurt her……..I don’t want to find out more about what this feeling is or what name I am supposed to give it………sometimes  not giving name to some feelings are essential for protecting the beauty of that feeling.

CHAPTER-5

[“ somewhere, someone, will be there who will heal even worst and deep wound of your heart” ]

[ ‘ don’t do this Annika…..please…don’t do this no pain is that great that you would end your life” Ashwik yelled in panicking voice.

‘let me die Ashwik….I don’t want to live anymore….I really don’t want to live’ Annika was crying on the middle of  the road walking senselessly and I was on the other side of road , shouting from there and begging her to not do  suicide…but because of running vehicles he wasn’t able to move close to Annika

‘ Annika you are strong…..you can’t do this……Annika please…….Annika I beg…….don’t do this…….’  My eyes were full of tears and the fear of losing her can be seen in his shaking voice……….

‘ why should I live…..for who I should live……I don’t have strength to live now..’ Annika yelled while crying

‘you have Annika……you have family…you have ME……I am here for you…please don’t die………for me Annika….live for me’ he yelled

‘ but whyy????’ Annika questioned in confusion  while frowning her eyebrows.

‘ because I………….’

Dang……….a car hit Annika leaving blood everywhere on the road and the droplets of blood on my face

‘ ANNNIKAAAAAAAAAAAA…………’ ]

I shouted….my mother came to his room “ what happened to you beta….did you seen a bad dream”  I looked here and there and then saw the time...it was 5 a.m. ‘Thank god, it was just a dream” my face was covered fully with sweat and took me a while to believe that it was just a dream. “Tell me beta what made you this much restless, what did you seen in dream” mom asked out of concern. “ nothing mom, I am fine it was just a dream nothing else…..forget this and just tell me why didn’t you woke me up I am one hour late today…” I turned towards  mom and asked while  hugging ”bacha. don’t forget I am your mom I know everything…..you are stressed since tomorrow….and finally you were sleeping peacefully so how could I ruin your sleep…and  making breakfast and all is my duty…..don’t worry about it……..just tell me what happened to you why are you so different nowadays……what’s bothering my golgappa” I fake cried* “mom.. don’t call me with this name…….” mom laughed “ why??it’s cute”

“maaaaaaaaa….you na.”

And suddenly the room filled with the laughter and the wave of sadness seemed to be disappear……

In the van*

Today I intentionally sat in front of Annika in the position which was comfortable for her. She was sitting quiet……… “oh darling…why are you so sad today…..” Pihu asked in dramatic way to make Annika laugh but she didn’t “ nothing I am fine” Annika gave cold and dry reply to her……. sissy…I know what happened to you…..sorry I eavesdropped your conversation with big bro! ……” liar, she asked me the next day about what happened, and see how acting so innocent in front of Annika, smart girl!, a soft laugh came out of my mouth. Annika gave me stare and I stopped laughing this girl is literally Hitler, She just took 2.5 months to rule on everyone from the van driver to the small kids, everybody fears of her and obeys what she says! Pihu apologised and confessed……I never saw such a strong between girls I thought all what can happen between two girls is ‘cat fight’ nothing much, but these two girls are proving me wrong dammit, and I enjoy watching them teasing each other. In reply Annika just gave a stare to her  and turned her  face away………”sissy…my sweetie sissy…smile na! you look pretty when you smile….and uff your dimples…….” Pihu side hugged Annika and placed a soft kiss on her  cheek. “I am fine…I just need some space…” She freed herself from Pihu’s hand and leaned her head on the window. I asked Pihu from by raising eyebrows,  that what happened, she whispered in my ears “I just got scolded by her…don’t try to tease her otherwise she will become a demon” and giggled…to this I also  tried to hide my smile and laugh………butt Annika noticed…….”what’s going on between you two……..ha???too much giggling and all!!?”

“ umm nothing...why do you want to know…….you just scolded me na” Pihu said while keeping her gaze on her hand, to show that she is upset………. “exactly……..it’s our secret why you want to interfere .” I said to tease her “ Hawww……..” Annika made an oval shape from her mouth and at that moment I reminded the first meet when she gave exactly the same reaction who knew that, one day this senior with the height and brain lesser than the Pihu would took over the control over my brain. But I don’t want her to know this thing, because once a person came to know that they have the power to destroy someone, then they actually destroy them. But, reminding the first meet led to the slight smile on my face, Annika clapped in front of my face and said “WAKE UP TO REALITY” huh, she broke my prettiest dream!

“So, what…. Pihu is my friend too……right Pihu??” and winked at her……. “yeah obviously I am big bro’s friend too” Pihu said while giggling………. “Hawww Pihu you changed the team.” Annika exclaimed……. “got that? Ms. Minion senior!”  I gave a proud look….and laughed……I really love to tease her.

“ don’t call me this…..” Annika gasped

“call you what…..??minion???” and teased her

“ Ashwikkkkk” she yelled in anger but this wasn’t a serious anger.

“ Annikaaaaaaa” he yelled back and laughed out loud…

“minion oh minion, Annika sissy minion” Pihu sang the self-made song and laughed too

“ you two na.” and she also started laughing…

I was admiring her while she was laughing…..Pihu caught me and gave me a smirk…….I put my finger on my mouth and said “ shhhhhh” without being noticed by Annika……

“by the way are you an alien or what…..”Annika asked

“ why?????”  I was confused by her thus question

“ because you always wear mask……right sissy??” Pihu interrupted.

“ exactly…….” Annika said and both started laughing…

I said ‘my stupid girl’ but the mask acted as the barrier and she wasn’t able to understand what I said`

Annika snatched his mask and said…….. “look how handsome you are, huh, why to keep such face covered” and she threw her hands in dramatic way…..and pulled my cheeks. Oh god! I would die out of shyness, this never happened to me, no girl touched my face like this before, I can feel the butterflies in my stomach my face turned red due to the shyness. I can feel the sudden rush of blood in my veins. “ have you done teasing me ?? now can I get my mask” I asked while trying to hide the shyness and the blush “sure sure…treat it as yours Mr. junior….” Annika giggled. Finally everything seemed too prefect as if now nothing can  happen bad.

[ IN SCHOOL ]

I was in the classroom…..maths class was going on….but on the backbench…while putting one hand on my cheeks I was reminding the moments spent with Annika……. “Hehe her hands were too soft, I felt it when she snatched mask from my face, it was cold and soft…I never felt any girl’s touch other than my sister and mother before this……..it was too mesmerising……..she called me handsome……am I handsome………, hehehehe of course, I am handsome, she called me then yeah I am handsome……” I was having a good talk with myself in my mind when a loud voice interrupted it, ” tell me the solution of this equation……fast.” Dammit, I didn’t hear even a single word of what sir had explained till now in the class....“Its…..its……sorry…..it……it might be…umm.” I stammered. it’s the first time I was facing this kind of embarrassment in this life….. “what? It…it…..Ashwik what happened to you, in whose dream you are lost since few days I didn’t expected it from you…..you are the best student of this class………but the rules are same for everyone so go and stand outside the class” sir scolded me in front of the whole class some students were laughing while some were surprised that I got scolded………yeah I am the topper of the class and its was shocking for anyone to see topper  standing out of the class in punishment…….. “I am really sorry sir” I apologised and get out of the class…….while standing out of the class “ you Annika……its just because of youuuu……..a topper is standing out of the class….because of you Ms. Annika…..urgh, but thank god Annika is not here otherwise that girl would have made fun of me for sure.” I was talking to myself and fake crying when I saw a girl coming towards me as she was coming closer the face was getting clearer and then boom…..it was Annika…”lo ji isi cheez ki kami reh gayi thi…Ashwik beta aur kuch maang leta” Ashwik was murmuring when Annika and snapped her fingers in front of his face and said “ohho…..I guess someone got the punishment ha….” Annika said teasingly and smirked “I thought you are good in studies junior” I got irritated “don’t irritate me you minion” and forced a smile.. “what did you said?? Minion ?? how dare you to call me……” interrupted by the math sir’s voice “oh Annika……you? how are you……are you being absent since few days ?? I haven’t seen you…….”  Annika gave a side eye to me and answered the sir while absolutely ignoring my existence “ no no sir I was present I just stay in classroom only” and after this sir dropped a question which faded her smile “did something happened?? You seem quite different and also since few days I haven’t seen you with dev also ??? is everything alright?”  by this question  the smile faded and her was clear proof  that she was definitely not expecting this question at this moment. Annika thought for a while and answered “ No sir it’s not like that, everything is fine its just there is a lot of pressure of studies on me and as well as on him, so we just prioritized our studies and nothing else……I just came here to get these papers signed by you.”  I was listening everything like woah! this girl, how smartly she handled this situation she might be a minion but she is smart though, a smile appeared on my face, And dang! I caught sir’s attention “ hmm you smile…..just smile…….in class you day dream and even after being in a punishment you are smiling…” Annika added more to it by taunting “ oh sir kaise kaise bache Hai aaj kal Ke” with a fake disappointing face…. And winked at me as soon  as sir turned to me…I shouted “ sir she……” and pointed at Annika , sir turned back and again faced me “ she what ??” She again winked and controlled her laugh, I again shouted “ sir she again did” sir yelled “ she did what??” Annika also said in very polite tone “ I did what junior ??” and gave a devilish smile “ nothing”. This evil witch,! Definitely knows how to play. Now I can’t even prove what she did, I replied in embarrassment, sir scolded him “ what the hell happened to you Ashwik”  took the papers from  Annika, signed them and went back to the class. Annika mimicked the sir ‘what the hell happened to you’ and laughed out loud, to which I responded with “ Bhag ja minion” while giving her a bombastic side eye. Annika laughed and moved from here…Urgh , this girl! Devil in the face of angel, I was murmuring when sir shouted from the classroom, ‘ isko koi leke jaao yaha se’ I got irritated.

[ It was the time of dispersal and everyone was coming out of the school]

I saw her coming out of the school gate, was looking all tired, then my attention diverted to a boy coming towards her, Through few friends I enquired that it was the same guy who had hurt My minion. Now I would never let come back in her life, he is not good for minion. I am not being possessive but he is genuinely not a good guy, In order to prevent him to manipulate her, I shouted to Annika “hey minion……want to have an ice cream??” I waved while calling her, She ran towards me ‘woah! This much excitement! Nice.” I laughed at her, I really love to irritate her and then watch her frustrated face, when she narrows her eyebrow and groans. She placed a playful slap on my head “ why are you calling me with this name in front of everyone”

“which name??? minion?” I laughed and teased her, now when I know she got irritate by this, now I can’t lose any chance to tease her. “don’t call me this” Annika started  shouting and hitting me playfully, but I didn’t stop this game of teasing, “ I will call you MINION MINION MINION and started laughing. In response she used her weapon, emotional blackmailing, “ huh…I am going……eat alone..” she was  about to go, when I held her school bag and pulled her back, which led  her to imbalance and she wasn’t able to move forward “don’t drag mee you giraffe”  Annika yelled , “ okay , okay, I am sorry, now I will not call you by that name! now happy?” I apologised.

She squinted her eyes and winked ““ yeah much happier……lets go” huh, clear fox. We went to an ice cream stall nearby their school gate hardly at 10 seconds distance.. I asked while throwing my hand in a dramatic manner in air, “ which flavour madam.” She responded “ umm…….chocolate” again I responded in a dramatic way “ sure…ma’am” and gave order to the ice cream vendor and then a familiar voice came “ all alone???”we turned around just to see that it was Pihu, huh, this girl always lands at the wrong timing. “without mee???” she exclaimed and gave a disappointed look at us,  I knelt on the ground, cupped her cheek and said “definitely not…..we decided that we will get one ice cream for you too, with us , how could we forget you ??? ha!!” I turned around and winked at her, “of course…Pihu do you think we will forget you ?? never baby…” she said and smiled at me.. urgh! That’s my girl, clever enough to carry on where I left.

We had ice creams and went towards the stop where van comes. And then suddenly Pihu  smirked and said “woahhhhhhhhhh”  and started giggling “what??” Annika asked, I was also curious to know, I asked while opening the cap of the water bottle ““what happened Pihu?” She answered by maintaining that smirk on her face “is it your first date??” I was drinking water, as soon I heard her question, water came out of my mouth and  started coughing and Annika’s eyes widened  up. “ WHAT…!!!” both of us looked at each other, I moved my head in denial and That little devil came up with one more awkward statement I guess she took a swear or something to make it even worst…. “Oh…..see now both of you even react at the same time…..” and again smirked…Like from where this girl gets such weird thinks in her mind and spill out exactly at the most awkward moment. Now I was confused that, was I supposed to blush, laugh, smile or got angry , so I chose the fifth option, I stayed silent and just cleaned the spilled water on my cloths. Annika pulled her ears “oh ma’am don’t run your mind in wrong ways there is nothing like what you are thinking, so Ms.Pihu please don’t think too much…..” Pihu asked help from me“ ouch bhaiya save me please…otherwise this sissy will pull my ear out..oiiiiiiii……”. What help I would have done when I was also scared of this minion’s anger. I crossed my hands and leaned towards a wall “ why you say such things which will trigger your di….?”  I raised my eyebrows  while questioning. “Sorry!! Sorry!! now I will not say such things….ouch…..now leave my ear na…aa….” Annika pulled her ear even harder and said while frowning her eyebrows “ promise me you will not say this again.” I walked towards both of them and placed my hand on  waist and fake scolded her “Pihu…why you trigger your sissy?…..don’t you know?In anger your sissy becomes a WITCH” and burst out in laughter, Pihu also started laughing……She gasped and pulled my ear too with the other hand “ I become witch????do you really want to meet a witch” and pulled harder “you both are becoming spoiled….sudhar jaao” I groaned “Oiiiiii its hurting…..leave my ear…….Sorry! Sorry! I will not say again…..leave na aaaaa” Pihu commented “Hehe I asked help from wrong person……” Annika released our ears from her hold and said ‘you both mend your ways....otherwise I will actually become  a WITCH……….huh…” gave a look and went to the van. Pihu and  I started rubbing our ears and said together “ Hitler Hai ” and looked at each other while making puppy face……….“

“IF YOU BOTH ARE DONE GOSSIPING ABOUT ME THEN PLEASE COME IN THE VAN OTHERWISE THIS HITLER WILL LEAVE Y0U BOTH” Annika shouted from the van and laughed while hiding her face…. Mw and Pihu again said together with wide eyes and mouth opened in an oval shape “ how did she heard that” and  groaned.

We ran to the van, and I intentionally grabbed the seat in front of her. I gathered all my courage to first time initiate the conversation by throwing a question “ice cream was good na?” She looked at me while tucking the strand of her hair behind her ears “hmm it was good until this Pihu asked that stupid question” forced a smile and started looking outside. I groaned ‘it wasn’t that much bad question though’ while keeping my gaze on my hand, I actually had not said it with the intention of letting her hear that. But I just can’t understand how her ears are so fine. She moved her gaze again at me “not ready for it yet.!” Said politely and again turned her face. Wait! What! What just happened, and what did she mean by being not ready yet, I think she is also having a doubt of me having feeling for her. I was adoring her, while she was looking outside the window, the squinting of her eyes when air touched her face and then the soft smile she lets out, god I can look at her for next seven lives without blinking my eyelashes even for once. And the different thing about today is I am not worried about what if she caught me staring at her, I am senselessly just having glimpse of her without caring of any other factor. “ if you’ll keep looking at me I will surely blush” Annika broke my concentration by stating this statement while passing me a smile. This time I had not moved my eyes away from her face, I shamelessly kept staring at her “your dimples are the most attractive thing in you, after your eyes” I complimented. Her cheeks turned red as tomatoes by blushing as she heard the compliment, she looked at my eyes and then turned her face out of shyness, I don’t know why I am acting like this, I am acting all weird and bold but deep down I am about to die, like from where I got this much courage out of blue. “oh really?” she responded while lowering her gaze. "Can I tell you something?" I asked her in a soft tone, I don’t know what happened to me at that moment but I was actually out of my control, my heart took over my brain. She nodded in agreement. “something is not normal, this is not normal, I have never been like this before” I said gently, Today I did and said everything which I can never imagine saying or doing. I was too scared about her response I actually don’t want to mess the things without even properly beginning them. She didn’t said even a single word, just simply looked at my eyes, our eyes stayed locked for a long time. Looking in her eyes seems like process of drowning, in which I might lose myself forever, but I am fucking loving it, now I also want to get spoiled in love, I also want to get break in love, I want to live by dying in love. After a moment she turned her face away. Now I am afraid that I might have said too much, but now I want  to risk my life to win my girl’s heart. I never knew that love will knock my door in such a strange manner. I am getting obsessed by a girl, whom I met just 2 months ago, since the first time my eyes met with her, she took control over my heart, my mind, my senses, and now she owns the castle of my heart, and I am her servant who can do anything to fulfil my mistress’s command.

“some changes brings happiness to us, while some changes destroys us, be careful of that! Playing with fire may cause a burn to the hand”  She answered while wiping her eyelids as a droplet of tear was about to flow but she wiped it off from there and then only and turned her gaze outside. By gathering all my courage, I placed my hand close to  hers, An electric wave ran through my veins, and then suddenly my brain took its initiative and suppressed the feelings of the heart. ‘am I acting too desperate? Am I making her uncomfortable? ’ a thought  crossed my mind, followed by another ‘? But if she is feeling uncomfortable she might had dragged her hand back…but what if she is just  feeling shy to say that’ this turmoil of thought literally confused me as hell, but the only thing that seemed right at that moment was pulling back my hand from there, It might make her uncomfortable and actually never had this intention, so I did, I placed my  arm back to me, and then didn’t said even a single word, I was embarrassed as hell for the words I said few minutes ago and the gesture I did a couple of second ago. I placed my hand in my lap and starts reminding the feeling of her touch that wrist was as soft as cotton. Suddenly, an awkward silence spread between us. Annika broke the silence by a question “ so…..today you gave me the treat right? Now next will be from my side…….” I was really excited, my eyes brightened up with this question but a thought crossed my mind that according to the knowledge I had about girls, usually they don’t like guys who makes them pay, and I think this also not a gentlemen behaviour to make your women pay. “umm no I don’t want you to spend your money….” I politely said, it was the worst decision  I have ever take, believe me, never say this to any girls, After hearing my statement I don’t know from where the inner feminist of her woke up, “hello…Mr. we are not living in 90s, that only guy is allowed to pay or if girl will pay then the guy’s dignity would be reduced. We are in modern world dude…..grow up…its  normal okay??” She was about to kill me dammit, then only I realised that this sugar equivalent voice can also be as spicy as red chilli. She was yelling but I was loving the way she was giving  a good dam speech on gender equality, urgh, and while thinking this I smiled a bit, “oh am I telling you a joke, am I a joke to you” she snapped fingers in front of my face dragging me back to the reality. Oh god! this habit of smiling at her  always will one day become the reason of my death, ……”oh oh! okay Ms. Superwoman I accept…..I am sorry…..okay next treat will be from your side…..happy??” I said as calmly and gently as I could, I could actually sense the decreasing anger by her face She squinted her eyes and answered in a proud tone as if she won the argument “good.”. How could I forget that I chose a 5’2 feet girl, whose anger is tiple the times of her height. But I love this shorty and can listen to her scoldings for my entire life.

Koi jaadu sa mujhpe hone laga hai, ye dil bekaabu hone laga hai,

Uska gussa bhi ab  dil ko bhaane laga hai, koi mujhko apna banaane laga hai,

Sooraj uge toh uskaa khayal, soorj doobe toh uska khayal,  ye dil humaara kaha, ye ab toh bas uske sapne sajaane laga hai

[PRESENT TIME]

“Why there is no entry of this day! In Annika’s diary” dev exclaimed, in confusion while narrowing his eyebrow. “Yeah, exactly Pihu, why it is not here!?” Navya asked and looked towards Pihu.  Priya also nodded in confusion. “Yeah, because once she tore this page apart, you will soon realise why she did it.” Pihu answered to them. “Guys it’s 3:00 a.m. I think we all should sleep, and continue it again tomorrow morning.” Navya advised. “I think Navya is saying right, we also have to go hospital too.!” Dev also agreed. Pihu closed both the diaries “yeah you all are right, we should sleep” They all were heading to the rooms when  Pihu stopped Navya by holding her hand “Can you please stay here”. Navya let a sigh out and then cupped Pihu’s face “Sure sweetie, I will stay here”. Priya and Dev left for their rooms while greeting each other. ‘Good night’.

Pihu and Navya were laying together on the bed staring the ceiling when Pihu softly asks “are you asleep?” while keeping her gaze on the roof. “Yeah, is it there something you want to tell me?” Navya turned her face towards Pihu. “I know you knew that!” tear flowed from her eyes reaching the pillow’s surface. Navya’s face turned pale after hearing it, “I don’t know what you are talking about” she stammers and turns her face on the other side. “I know sissy, that you knew about big bro! I was bound in the promise but why you didn’t tell anyone about it.”  Pihu turns towards Navya ; the disappointment could be clearly seen on her face. Navya took a long breath and speaks “just like you I was also bound in the promise, not with Annika  but by Ashwik. That day, he came to me, and told me to never tell this to anyone, he also said something to me, and said that just take care of  Annika, in short there is something which I know and even you also don’t know, and trust me I will tell each and everything at a right time, but I think you will find that thing in his diary only.” Tears strikes from her eyes. Pihu cuddles her and consoles “I understand the turmoil going on inside your heart, I am also in a same condition, don’t worry we will cope up sissy, everything will be fine.”. Navya hugged her back and “for sure Pihu.” said while wiping her tears. “you  really loved her na?” Navya asked while keeping Pihu in her arms. “Yeah, more than anything, she is my whole world, nothing is much important for me than her” Pihu replied. Navya nodded in agreement. “It hurts a lot na, by seeing her in this condition” Navya again asked, to which she replied “ it hurts like hell, but I know she will surely recover, and now my heart says that day will come soon!”