The fire was blazing in front of my eyes, the whole platform was filled with blood, shattered clothes and earful of cries. All the awful things were there, yet my eyes was searching for something... for Anika.

I knew what would be the result yet I took a step ahead... rather tried to run towards the compartment in which she was but was only crushed down by another huge wave of fire which came from the compartment, taking me to the ground.

My eyes were still open, I don't know from where had I got that energy from, the dust particles around me were suffocating me, my eyes were leaking there was so much of blood around me. My hands had as well started to hurt... but I, I tried to stand up or at least crawl to the compartment only to be pushed down by someone.

All energy going vain... nothing worked nothing at all. Not enough to put out the fire and let me know if she was okay. My heart was beating loudly crying for me to get up to look for her, telling me she would be alright and such a jerk was I to even think that we lost her.

"sir the ladies compartment is completely taken down by the fire, it seems that the bomb was planted there only, none of the people is alive sir.." someone said just above my head. Not at all caring that there is a person lying down and may be there would be his new love in that fire died all because of this stupid bomb blast.

The heavy ness on my eyes was making it difficult for me to keep my eyes open, but I wanted to see, I wanted to see her... and then as if it was a dream, I smelled the beautiful fragrance of her and then heard her voice followed by her presence.

I was then lying on back, my eyes still on the door of the compartment from where she came, all fit and fine

"Sameer.." her voice was so soft and filled with love. I felt as if I could trade anything with this world to be with her, for her to live just a few more years longer.

She walked more close to me and then kneeled down beside me, not touching me nor saying anything, just looking at me.

"Anika, please give me your hand" I said with so much of difficulty. But she refused – for the very first time.

"I won't be able to... Sameer, I love you just remember that, and I am happy...the most happiest person in this world, just let Arjun know that he should just grow up and grow a pair of balls and propose Arohi." She laughed at her own stupid joke and then all of a sudden looked at me with eyes that could have the most pain.

"and for you, just be the way you are... smile all you could, live as much as you could and love... love again someone more special than I am. And just to let you know, it was me who made us a team for our project... I had always loved you Sameer, but you have a chance live again, smile again and for me love again... and if you find her just hug her tightly; that tight hug would be from me. I love you Sameer, but I have to go you can sleep now." She smiled and started to stand up. I wanted to hold her, tell her whatever she is saying is all stupid.

But I couldn't the heavy blow of fire blow me making me close my only to fall in a deep slumber – not before seeing her walking away from me, with a satisfied and happy smile on her lips.

PRESENT

Arohi's pov

A DEEP SILENCE

That's what had evolved all around us.

My senses were numb; everyone sitting here had either a small smile on their face along with tears in their eyes or something that Arjun had.

A SATISFIED LOOK!

Something, which made me wonder. what did he really wanted, what he was thinking about? And all I hoped for it to be nothing related to leaving us again.

I quickly took hold of his hand. I wanted him to look at me, to talk to me and to tell me that he was alright and he would never leave me again – like ever.

"Di-did she looked happy when you last saw her?" Arjun voice broke throughout the room. A few sniffles were heard as well but other than that there was a pin drop silence.

We all were remembering the days that we had spent with her, our first meet with her, the way she had made us smile numerous times and had as well been the reason for our migraine.

Sameer let out a soft chuckle and said

"That little vixen was very happy, she had talked with me when I was about to lose consciousness... may be would be my illusion, or may be her soul which was forced to let her body go."

We all walked out of the room once we had known that Sameer was fine. But the turmoil that was going on in my mind couldn't stop anytime soon.

"Arohi, you are coming with me, right? I have ..." Abha asked eyeing me, then Arjun and then to our intervened hands, that we had been holding from the beginning, and being in each other's touch made us calm down.

"I .. um "

"she will come with you ," Arjun stated in finality and then let go of my hands.

There was no reluctance, no need to ask me if I was fine or not, he didn't even bother to tell me if he would come tomorrow o not or he would talk with me or not.

But even I couldn't say anything, he just turned around and walked away from there; and maybe he wanted to have a bit of time all alone? I thought and walked away with Abha.

The whole ride was silent. I looked out of the window only to see each and every shop and roads were filled with decorations – for New Year's and Christmas.

"He won't go Arohi just give him a bit of time, it's been a lot for him as well." Abha said looking straight at the fast moving traffic.

"I just hope so. You know after all these days, I had thought that I have made at least that much of improvement in making a place in his life that he would confide in me... but I guess I wasn't that capable. "

"Arohi, I hope that you know what you were getting yourself into while accepting Arjun's proposal?" Nitya asked all of a sudden, as if to show her presence In this car or say the conversation.

"What do you mean?" I turned around, my one leg folding on the seat , while the other was dangling to the ground.

"All she means to say is, if he took these many years to confess you that he likes you... than obviously he will take a lot of time to confide in you. But remember Arohi don't force him, give him his space he will for sure come back to you.. and when he comes-"

"When he comes I will greet him with open arms." I completed for Abha and turned around and opened the window and let the blissful cold wind hit my face.

They all were right, Anika was someone close to him and to know rather to confirm her death was a biggest thing and for sure he would take some time to solve his dilemma to soak in what was let in front of him and to overcome the shock that she was happy at her last moments of her life.

I closed my eyes to let the sleep that was far away for a few days to take over me.

The whole environment was beautiful or horrific I couldn't tell, but the environment inside the house was for sure horrific – rather tensed.

It was already 8 pm and Anika was yet to come home. Everyone was back but it was just her that wasn't here, especially when she knew that there was a dinner planned at her place today.

I once again for the hundredth time walked towards the window of her room and peeked down to see if she was here. But no once again I was met with an empty corridor and helplessness.

"she isn't here yet!!" Arjun barged in the room, and started to walk here and there. He was worried. I was sure that his father would be pissed but than this worry was something else, Because if it would have been his dad than he would have handled it and not looked soo shit scared.

I walked up to him and rested my hand on his tensed shoulder.

"don't worry she would be here soon ." I said and made him sit down on the bed.

I worried my lips, trying to stop them from opening and speaking out something that I would later on regret. But before I could even say anything a loud voice from downstairs got us on our feet and then towards the door all the way down.

As soon as I was on the last stairs we could hear loud voices of cries as well as the T.V that was showing the news channel. I was about to go down when I felt Arjun holding my hand tightly.

The way he looked – paled scared like shit and worried, only made me scared.

There were many times that I have known that Arjun isn't someone who would let out words, he will always walk away from you to hide his feelings be it happiness or the sorrow.

But he would never take upon someone's help to stand, to make him believe that everything was fine. And the way things were moving, were happening it seemed as if soon a large and dark blanket of sorrow.

Without a word I let him hold my hand, let him believe that no matter what I was there, but more than that I was happy that he believed that I was worth to believe in, to rest his head on in his sorrow – if it made me happy to know that may be I was someone important ... than that was the most possible clue one could give.

And call me selfish but this thought gave me immense happiness.

We both walked in the leaving room where our parents were seated but along with a few additions, which only made us to hold each other's hand more tightly – the cops.

"what is going on here?" I asked mustering some courage as it seemed that Arjun was in some deep thoughts. No words were spoken by him after those few curses that his mouth had let out in frustration while we were in Anika's room.

"you are?" one of the cops asked me. Not to forget eyeing mine and Arjun's hand that was held together.

"That's our son Arjun and she is my daughter's best friend Arohi." Arjun's dad said in a very low voice.

My eyes wondered around the leaving room, my mom and Arjun's mom were crying their eyes out.

"mumma ... aunty" I quickly let go of Arjun's hand and walked off to them and engulfed them in a hug. Their tears, Arjun's dad's low voice , the cops and finally the broken look on Arjun's face gave me shivers... something was really not right.

"I am sorry Mr singh but according to the things that we have found on the platform only confirms that Anika singh was as well there at the time of the blast. These are her id proof and bag that we had found at the plat form... it had fallen down below the train hence it was safe otherwise most of the people were not able to know whom do they belong to ."

Their words had just blocked off after the truth that may be my best friend my very first friend, who told me what a friend is who showed me this world was no more in this world, only gave me a feeling to go and vomit.

I quickly stood up and ran off to the washroom and threw everything that I had eaten for my even snacks. Once I was done when I came back the cops were nowhere to be seen.

Arjun was missing as well, his parents were holding each other, my parents were as well crying, while I... I walked towards the belongings that were kept on the teapoy.

They looked so special right now... and the lack of their owner only gave us the sence that we couldn't meet her anymore.

I took hold of the purse and the cosmetics that were lying on the table and pulled them towards my heart. I couldn't believe that it had been almost a month now since we got the news that Anika was no more in this world.

Every time that I look around in my room, it starts to eat me out. Every single wall reminds me of her, her paintings her unique way of designing my room... had her live with me all through my life.

Yet I could not touch her, feel her, hug her .

The tears fell down from my eyes as I again started to write a letter- for Anika .

It was said that the soul resides with the humans for 12 days and after the 13 day it goes in peace.

All through these 13 days we all had been writing letter, some complaining, some confessing our love and some letters were like Arjun's – completely blank.

I took the fountain pen in my hand and began to write once again

Hey Anika,

You know my life is... I don't know, I just miss you all day long. Every time that I look at your parents all I see is tears, and then a sudden smile. May be, they think how would you have called them stupid for crying.

But you know you did wrong. You left me here all alone, you had promised me you will not leave me... but than that's what you and your brother do. Leave without announcing.

He is missing, actually your whole family is missing. Its been a week,we all are searching for them. The day I came to know about it,I was happy. I wanted to help him. I wanted him to know that we two were there for each other, but you know what your brother did?

He just left me all alone at a perfect date where I was supposed to propose him.

What shall I do now?

Everywhere that I look, it feels as if I am all alone, no one is there for me, no one is there to tell me how brutal I am , how good looking I am... how I should eat less, and how I am the best friend that anyone could get.

Anika, you should have called me with you... we would have gone together, than may be it would be us together, seeing form there where you are, how everyone else cried for us-just as we had planned.

You betrayed me, stupid woman.

But you know what

I still love you

Just be happy where ever you are

Your best friend

Arohi.

That was the last letter I had let go from my fingers for her. My search for a friend like her had been constant till now. Though I had Abha, nitya, rhea... there was never someone called as Anika anymore.

A tear slipped out from my closed eyes as the soft music played in the car... while I internally cried for the only friend of mine, for the person who taught me what love was.

And who showed me what it pained like to lose a dear one.