There was a complete silence in and around us, we all stood there calmly looking at each other, trying to grasp what should be our reaction.

We all knew this news was something that we have been waiting to hear, but with that we as well were worried for the consequences of it.

Sameer, his accident was the only key to our so many questions – that's what we hope it would be, and now that he was alright, and out of coma, We felt as if the mystery box was about to open; the gift in it would either be our end or a bright future. And all I want is the later.

I looked at Neel and then at others, I have to be there, check him up, but the problem was, I didn't know who shall I be, his doctor or the friend who was so concerned to inform him that how brutally 11 years of his life has just gone in drain – all because of some peoples foolish wishes.

The innocents are always suffered in the war. A war in which they didn't had any contribution, and more than the innocent it's the youth and the unknown for whom I feel bad for.

"Neel I need to go there, his vitals need to be checked and I have to ask him certain questions." I said and then I turned to a very stiff Arjun.

In all the dilemma of mine, I completely forgot about him and it only made me feel irritated of myself.

"Arjun, inform our parents and will you come with me?" I asked cautiously. Every move and ever step that now I would be taking is vital.

It's the unknown path that I was walking on, and I know at the end of whatever path I take, there is either a cliff or a well, things would either destroy or mend – but their consequences would be worst.

"I will come with you." Just like that we walked towards the gate, towards the car.

The tiredness that I was feeling just a moment ago had completely worn off.

The cool air that was blowing around wasn't even enough to shoo away the turmoil that was going on inside me.

I wanted to speak, yet the words weren't coming out, and the tears seemed to have taken a long holiday, as my throat would feel that pain of a sob to let go, but the tears won't appear – only for the sorrowful act to be left unattended.

We all finally walked to the cars, everyone started to inform their respective parents and the frustrated answers were even louder than the bye's.

About half an hour's drive was what took me to finally reach the hospital, the tension in the car was palpable, and Arjun's expressionless face wasn't giving me much of confidence either.

I walked out of the car, at that moment the rest as well came; when we reached inside the hospital our parents attacked me with numerous questions.

The clamor was so much that one of the guards were about to throw them outside, but Arjun talked with him and I was left alone to attend my parents.

"mom, you guys need to calm down, I can't let you all in right now, I don't know what his condition is, I just don't understand if Arjun and Vihaan had warned you all not to come here why are you all – now let it be, but first please be quite I need to check him ... now please behave and excuse me."

Sometimes, the roles get exchanged so easily, it was once a time that at hospitals our parents used to tell us to behave and now we have grown up so much that we need to tell them to behave – in all not to worry too much!

I walked with the heavy steps from my cabin to the I.C.U where smaeer was resting.

I wanted to ask him so many questions, but more than that I was scared that what would be his reaction?

I knocked on the door and once getting a firm come in walked inside.

My view to him was blocked by his mom and his sister, the whole room was filled with his family. Thank god it was just me, if it would have been any of the senior doctors than it would have been such a huge problem.

"Mr. shastri you all should have not come here, all at once, I am sure my team would have informed you that only one person is allowed at a time in here." I said still standing at the entrance, not at all taking my eyes to his laying form – now only with his eyes open.

"beta thank you... thank you soo much for helping us out, and giving me my son back!" sameer's mom thanked and joined her hand showing me her gratitude.

"Aunty, it was my duty as a doctor as well as a friend to help my dear friend here- so Mr. Sameer Shastri how are you doing this evening, shall we check your reports and you?" I asked.

But the every single word that I said with enthusiasm had taken up that energy which may be a mother would have utilized while delivering her child.

The pain and sorrow was so much that I couldn't even make myself to look in his eyes. His questioning eyes for sure were goining to haunt me throughout my life.

"A- Arohi?" he stuttered. May be, because of the sudden movement of his vocal cords after such a long time!

But hearing his voice only made that tears to finally show their existence. But then this wasn't the right time, hence with a deep breath I pulled them back; giving them an assurance to acknowledge them soon enough.

"Yes Sameer, and may I ask you ... how are you doing?" I asked while I checked his nubs, which were now healthy, followed by his wounds and stiches which for sure would take a bit of time to heal.

"why am I here?" he asked, I didn't try to as shocked as everyone was, it was sure that after such a long time he was tend to forget some things, but then the look on his face told me that somewhere or the other he knew the reason and was just scared to confirm it.

I looked at his parents and family members and smiled at them.

"Uncle, aunty could all please wait outside, would like to talk to my patient and I have to run some tests on him." They all nodded their heads, while sameer's mom kissed his forehead, smiled at me and walked outside.

I took the table which was vacated by sameer's mom. There was a complete silence for a moment, I looked at his ECG and other reports and then finally looked up at him, his face with so many questions, so was mine... and we were the only ones to answer them – truthfully, at least this time.

"What do you remember?" I asked him in a friendly yet professional voice.

If I had let that friend in me out, I would have been crying my eyes out, for what the reasons were huge and if any of my reasons were true – the thought only got me to worry even more.

"I remember, " he was quite for a moment a small panicky expression came on his face which went away as soon as it came.

"I was with a friend and I was traveling home form churchgate, I had got down form the train at jogeshwari and was waving at –"

He stilled, the things started to come to him, the monitor that monitored his heart beat started to beep, he was panicking, causing his heat to beat at an abnormal speed.

"Sameer calm down... shhh everything is alright... here take some water and calm down." I gave him some water and then sat back again, there was a complete silence.

The way he looked had broken my heart. I couldn't even imagine what was going on in his head and heart. The way he looked as if he lost everything pained my heart.

"Sameer" I placed a hand on his shoulder and that was it, he broke as if someone had taken away his only reason to live.

The tears, and reason was known to me, but I wanted to know was it true... I wanted to know, so that the other time I really hear about it my whole being won't hurt as the way it hurt the first time.

"I lost her, Arohi she is gone... I couldn't doo anything!!!"

And finally the tears were out, may be they knew that I needed them now... the pain was soo huge that I could even imagine how to console him when mine and his loss was same.

I had lost something dear, and he had lost his love ... something and someone, none of the beings would want to lose.

Sameer's pov

I laid there watching the white sealing of the hospital room.

Though I was now shifted to a private room, my health was improving, the scars and burnt marks were now seeming to be negligible, yet the new found scar was more bigger than any of these.

I looked out the window, the day was bright outside.

According to everyone, it's been 11 years – 11 freaking years that I was in coma, and now finally alive.

Yet with all these things I was thankful for the first time that I was born to my dad, there weren't any media lingering around this premises to talk to the only survivor of the blast – the survivor who in reality had actually died in that blast the very day.

I closed my eyes, yet like every other time her smiling face came in front of my eyes – the smile which I seen on her face the very first time that I had seen her, the smile that I had acknowledge when the first time Arohi introduced us, the smile when she would give me every time I would offer her my notes, the smile that I saw when she would catch me admiring her, the smile which she gave me the first time proposed her and then the smile that she was giving me when all of a sudden she vanished from my eyes.

The thought and image would give me a pain which was so unbearable.

I couldn't even understand why did I survive?

The ones who did that crime had already got their punishment, and I don't even have the ability to teach them a lesson.

And then Arohi says I have got a second chance.

Second chance? At what?

The one whom I love is now dead, my only other most favored things, my carrier has as well ruined, and the only thing that is left to get me going is the family business of mine, from which I have been running far away.

My whole life has become a mess – only if I would have not insisted to meet that day, may be then I would be where arohi is today and she would have been at my side.

Only if!

"Hey , you are up, and I thought you would be still sleeping." Nitya walked in with their whole gang.

I always envied them, the way they stayed together and were so in love with each other.

"Yeah it seemed, doctor Arohi is giving me a heavy dose." I said looking at Arohi who was all over again looking at my reports, avoiding me completely.

And the thing that may be she knew the things only made me scared.

Arohi would check me up the first thing in the morning and then would come back once her duty was over, well that was the time the whole clan would come to meet me – no matter what.

"So what do you have to discuss today?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

They had everyday a new thing to tell me, things that I have been missing all these years.

From the 2008 attack to Anna hazare till now the modi's plan for our country and as well sachin's retirement.

The last part was quite devastating – for all of us.

Our whole life we have seen that man play for our country, he was the one who made us fall in love with cricket, he was the second person other than the girl whom we loved to take our breath away, and he was the very person whom we had bid a bye on that huge ground – one fine day.

I can't even imagine how people would have reacted on that day.

"Today I have a few questions for you Sameer." Arjun came ahead and sat beside Arohi, who took his hand gave a small squeeze to it.

The way Arjun looked at me made me gulp, he had never intimidated me the way he did right now – or it's just me who felt that.

"Okay, what do you have to ask me?" I asked looking at each and every person in the room.

The way they all looked at me, it felt as if their life was depended on me, like if I didn't answered from my heart, it's their heart and hope that I would be breaking.

"Who was the girl with you during the Attack?" he asked all of a sudden.

The air that was flowing around me peacefully had suddenly vanished all of a sudden.

The mere mention of her, had got me a burning feeling at the base of my throat, I felt as I would vomit any moment now.

The memories of us together started to haunt me again, I could so clearly hear her laugh in my ears, I was so addicted to her fruity smell that I could smell it everywhere – its memory so strong.

I looked at everyone and then finally my eyes landed on the person, to whom I was most answerable.

He looked tired, worn out and defeated.

Above all it was for him that I should let him know.

I closed my eyes, praying for her to be with me. When I opened my eyes, a gush of cool air blew all around the room, as if telling us that she was with us.

I looked in Arjun's eyes and when I said the name the tears that were held for so long came out, only letting me know that how much she was loved by everyone.

"Anika singh"

the silence is quite deafening isnt it?

so what do you say...?

who all had expected this?

please let me know so that i would know that i am not that much of a suspense maker 

happy reading!!!