New York, U.S.A

Nitya and Tina had taken an early morning flight and reached New York. Nitya couldn't sleep all night. Aniket's confession was echoing in her head all the time. She couldn't think straight.

Tina had already placed a coffee before her eyes and it had been 10 minutes since then. Nitya was lost.

"Kya yaar Nitya, tune itni subah ki flight kyu li yaar, meri toh abhi tak nahi utri" Tina complained. Nitya didn't answer. Tina looked at the coffee which had turned cold by now.

"Nitya main kya bol rahi hun, tu sun rahi hai ?" Tina asked but Nitya still didn't reply.

"Nitya teri coffee cold coffee ban chuki hai" she said, picking up the coffee mug and this brought Nitya out of her thoughts.

"Haan kya keh rahi thi?" She asked Tina.

"Matlab maine abhi tak jo kuch kaha vo tune suna hi nahi, kahan khoyi hui thi tu?" Tina asked.

"Vo yaar Tina, Aniket ne kal..."

But before she could complete her sentence, Tina interrupted in-between "Kya Aniket ne kal kya? Tujhe propose kiya? Fir...fir tum dono mein kiss hua hoga haina" Tina asked excitedly.

"Shut up Tina! Aisa kuch nahi hua, aur vaise bhi main Aniket se pyar nahi karti" Nitya announced.

"Kya? Tu pagal hai Nitya? Aniket jaise hot ladke ke pyar mein toh koi bhi pad jaye, aur vaise bhi Aniket kitna well mannered bhi hai, fir tu us se pyar kaise nahi kar sakti Nitya" asked Tina.

"Tina, Aniket bahot achhe hain, lekin main unse pyaar nahi karti, vo mujhe achhe bhi lagte hain, par sirf ek dost ke taur par, main unse pyaar nahi karti" she said.

Just then she received a call. It was from Aniket. She sighed, she didn't want to break his heart by telling him the truth, but one day or the other she had to answer him and bring him to reality. She picked up the call.

"Hello" she said.

"Nitya, maine aapki original dress aapko bhej di hai via post, zaroor pahankar bataiyega kaisi lagi" he said.

"That's so sweet Aniket, main zaroor pehnungi"

"Haye, aapne toh mujhe fir yaad hi nahi kiya" Aniket said.

"Aniket mujhe aapse kuch kehna tha" she said.

"Kaho, keh daalo vo baat jo sunne ke liye mere kaan kabse taras rahe hain" Aniket said with a wide smile, his heart was beating faster.

"Aniket, maine puri raat aapne jo kaha us baare mein socha, aur sochkar is nateeje par aai hun ki, ye nahi ho sakta Aniket, main aur aap ek saath nahi ho sakte" she informed him, with a heavy heart.

Aniket's face fell with whatever he heard. He couldn't accept the truth. He was too disappointed. It was for the first time that he had fallen in love with someone and she had rejected his feelings.

"Arey toh koi baat nahi, hum dost toh hain hi" he said disheartened, swallowing a lump down his throat.

"Zaroor" she replied and he disconnected the call.

DELHI, INDIA

ArMan's room.

It was past 12, Manvi was studying hard as her exams were approaching soon. Aarav had returned late as his meeting went for hours. He had returned earlier but hadn't retired to his room as he was working downstairs on his ongoing project. All others were soon asleep. He stepped up to his room and when entered there, he saw Manvi's books scattered all over the bed. She was engrossed in her studies so much that she didn't even realize it when he stepped in. He was impressed by her willingness to work hard. He went to the washroom and changed to his comforts. He tapped on Manvi's shoulder. Manvi turned to him. She was surprised to see him there.

"Tum aa gaye,mujhe pata hi nahi chala"she said.

" Hmm, vo toh main dekh sakta hun, chalo ye saari kitabein uthao, mujhe sona hai"

Manvi picked up the books from his side of the bed and sets them in the right place.

"Good girl, ab kitabein band aur neechey chalo mujhe bhook lagi hai" he almost said in an orderly tone.

"Kya? Tum mujhe hukum de rahe ho?" Manvi asked.

"Ji nahi, hukum nahi de rha hun balki dhamka raha hun, abhi nahi chalogi toh maa se keh dunga, aur fir tumhein karna padega"he retorted.

Manvi's mouth fell wide open as she was confused with his behavior.

"Aaj main isay chhodungi nahi" Manvi thought.

They went downstairs and were at the dining table. Manvi was about to enter the kitchen but Aarav showed her a hand and stopped her.

"Tum ruko" he instructed and this confused Manvi even more.

He went inside the kitchen and after a while, he returned back. Manvi saw him holding two plates in his hands. He placed one plate in front of her and took the other plate and settled next to her.

"Ye sab kya hai?" she asked curiously.

"Khana, chalo khao" he said to which Manvi smiled, she sweetly looked at him

"Aise mat dekho mujhe biwi, mujhe pata hai tum exams ke preparation mein itni magan thi ki tumne khana hi nahi khaya hoga" he said to which she nodded. She was surprised as for the first time he had addressed her as his wife.

"Arey ghoor kya rahi ho, khana thanda ho jaega, fir mat kehna ki thand khana khila diya maine tumhein" he said and she smiled at this. Both of them had their dinner and went back to the room.

Manvi resumed her studies but Aarav picked all her books and placed them on the side table.

"Ye kya kar rahe ho tum, mujhe padhna hai, exam sar par hai " she said.

"Kal subah jaldi uthke padhna, abhi chalo so jao" Aarav replied.

"Lekin mujhe padhna hai"

"Maine kaha na, kal subah jaldi uthke padh lena, even a machine needs rest, why not you? Chalo so jao" he said.

Manvi couldn't resist as it was a very sweet gesture from him. She smiled, placed the rest of the things in place, and laid beside him to sleep.

SEATTLE, U.S.A

Aniket was completely disheartened by Nitya's words. He never expected this from her, he had actually noticed love in her eyes every time she had met him. He was sure that she loved him, but what he heard from her broke his heart. Ryan came up to him, he wanted to talk to him about something important

"Hey I have something important to tell you,..."

"Not now Ryan" he said, took the extra keys from the shelf, and moved out.

"Where are you heading to ?" Ryan asked but Aniket didn't reply.

He walked to the central park nearby. He saw a couple sitting on the bench together holding hands. In his imagination, it was him and Nitya. He sat on the bench, tears rolled down his eyes as his dream broke.

DELHI, INDIA

It was morning by now in Delhi. Pooja was pacing in her room, Anoop saw this, she looked to be very much worried. He came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Kya hua Pooja itna pareshaan kyun ho rahi ho?"

"Dekhiye na raat se subah ho gai mere Ani ne phone hi nahi kiya, vo roz phone karta hai mujhe subah shaam roz, aur main laga rahi hun toh utha nahi raha, kahin kuch hua toh nahi hoga na" she said worriedly.

"Shaant ho jao Pooja, usay kuch nahi hua hoga, ekdam thik hoga,kar dega phone, tum chinta mat karo"

"Nahi ji mujhe toh badi chinta ho rahi hai" she said. Manvi was passing near her room. Pooja called her and she came into her room.

"Manvi beta"

"Ji maa"

"Waqt toh dekha karo Pooja Manvi ko kyun" Anoop interrupted but Pooja didn't stop.

"Beta,Aniket na kal se mera phone utha nahi raha, na utha raha hai aur na usne khud kiya hai, ek baar Nitya ko phone karke pucho na ki use kuch pata hai kya" she requested.

"Aap fikar mat karo Maa main Nitya se baat karti hun" she said and dialed Nitya. She told her everything. Nitya assured her that she would inform them as soon as she gets to know something about him.

New York, U.S.A

"Ye Manvi kya keh rahi thi, Aniket ne apne ghar pe call kyun nahi kiya" she thought.

She dialed Aniket but he didn't pick up. She dialed his friend Karan. Karan picked it up.

"Hello"

"Hello, Karan, Aniket hai wahan? Vo phone kyun nahi utha raha?" She worriedly asked.

"Nitya Aniket ki haalat bahot kharab hai, vo bahot bimar hai, bahot tez bukhar hai usay" he said.

"Kya? Aniket ko bukhar hai lekin kaise?" She asked.

"Vo Nitya aaj yahan baraf gir rahi thi,jab humne Aniket ko dhoondha toh vo hamein central park mein behosh mila, thand se behosh ho chuka tha" he said.

"Kya?"

"Haan Nitya, in fact hum uski family ko phone karne hi wale thay" he replied.

"Aniket ki tabiyat bahot zyada kharab hai kya Karan" Nitya asked.

"Kya bataun Nitya, vo uth bhi nahi paa raha hai, hosh mein bhi nahi aaya hai abhi tak" he replied.

Nitya was worried, tears fell off her eyes. She couldn't imagine him being in this state.

"Ye sab meri wajah se hua hai" she said within tears.

She immediately went to her room and packed her stuff. Tina watched her doing so.

"Tu kahan jaa rahi hai?" She asked

" Seattle," Nitya replied.

"Kya? Is waqt ? Achanak kyun?" She asked.

"Aniket ko meri zaroorat hai" Nitya said within tears.

"Arey lekin tu agar abhi airport ke liye nikli toh wahan 12 baje pahunchegi" Tina said.

"Haan toh kya hua Tina, dekh mera jana bahot zaroori hai" she said and left the place.

Seattle, U.S.A

It was midnight when Nitya stepped at Aniket's flat. Ryan opened it and welcomed her inside.

"Aniket kahan hai?" She asked.

"He is in his room" he replied.

Nitya stepped into his room. She saw Karan sitting next to Aniket placing a wet cloth on his forehead. Aniket was still unconscious.

Nitya stepped inside and said " Karan, main ek medical student hoon, Aniket ka khayal behtar tarike se rakh sakti hoon, tum hamein akela chhod do"

"Ji Nitya" he agreed and moved out of the room. Nitya closed the door. She placed the wet cloth on his forehead. Just as she touched him, Aniket came back to consciousness.

"Nitya, aap...nahi meri imagination hi hogi"he murmured and closed his eyes again.

Nitya softly placed her hand on his cheek, with which he opened his eyes again. He saw Nitya teary sitting next to him.

"Nitya aap sach mein yahan" he said.

Nitya checked him, first his temperature, and then took the other vitals.

"Aapke vitals se pata chalta hai aapka bukhar abhi tak nahi utra, aur na hi jald utarne ke chances hain" she said, placing the stethoscope on his chest.

"Nitya aap yahan mere liye aai hain?" He asked with a little sign.

"Gehri saans leejiye" she said ignoring his question.

"Nitya boliye na" Aniket requested.

"Aniket mujhe mera kaam karne deejiye please" she said and he did as she instructed.

"Aap jaante hain Mr. Aniket Malhotra aapko pneumonia hone ke pure chances thay, agar Karan aur Ryan aapko time par nahi bachate toh" she glared at him and muttered.

"Aap mujhse naraz hain Nitya?" Aniket asked.

Nitya smiled and said " Nahi Aniket naraz apno se hua jaata hai, aur fir aapka aur mera rishta hi kya hai, aap meri behen ke devar hain, aur main aapki bhabhi ki behen, filhaal aap mere patient hain"

She gave him a glass of water and the medicine. Aniket took it quietly. He knew she was too mad at him, but he smiled seeing her there for him. She was about to get up but Aniket held her hand.

"Sach kahiye na Nitya aap yahan mere liye aain hain"

"Auntie ka phone aaya tha Aniket, vo fikar kar rahi thi, unke bete ko kahin kuchh hua toh nahi, usne phone hi nahi kiya, unke kehne par main yahan aai hun, ab main unhe inform kar doon?" she replied, jerking his hand away. Aniket was shocked to hear this, this broke his heart even more. She removed her jacket and placed it on the side table.

She picked up the phone and dialed Pooja, she informed her that he was okay and would talk to her when he is completely fine.

Nitya was awake all night and kept on checking Aniket's temperature. She was only satisfied when his temperature got normal. Aniket woke up, he saw Nitya wearing her jacket again. She wrote something on a writing pad and left it on the table next to him.

"Good morning, Aniket, ye kuch dawa hai, teeno time ki, aap le leejiyega aur haan apna temperature note karte rahiyega" she said.

"Aap kahin jaa rahi hain?" Aniket asked.

"Haan Aniket, ab aapki tabiyat thik hai, isliye main jaa rahi hun wapas New York, aapke alawa aur bhi toh kaam hai mujhe" she said.

"Nitya I am really sorry, meri wajah se aapko pareshan hona pada" Aniket said.

"Hmm it's no problem Aniket, lekin haan ek request hai, jab aap aise suicidal attempts karein na toh mujhe zaroor inform kar deejiyega, kya hai main 1 din ki chutti, flight ka kharcha ye sab ab zyada afford nahi kar sakti" she commented.

She took her bag and was about to leave the room, but turned and said "Aur haan, meri fees likh di hai maine dawaiyon ke sath, digital transfer karna mat bhooliyega"

Aniket was shocked with her words and reaction. All of a sudden she had turned this cold for him. Nitya moved out of the place and left for New York.

Aniket was wondering about her changed behavior and how she could turn so cold to him. He remembered something and slapped his forehead.

"Aniket you fool, kuch cheezein kahi nahi jaati you idiot, har baar pyaar ko kehkar bataya jaaye ye zaroori nahi hai, vo vahi dress pehenkar aai thi jo tune usay gift ki thi via courier, ye uska kehne ka tarika tha ki vo tujhse pyaar karti hai, aur usne purposely apni jacket uttari thi, vo ye batana chahti thi ki vo pyaar toh karti hai tujhse lekin naraz hai, teri stupidity ki wajah se, tune apne aapko takleef di is wajah se" he said to himself and held his head.

"Kaise fix karun ye sab, kuch soch Aniket kuch soch"

DELHI, INDIA

It was evening by the time in India, Manvi was at her coaching, Aarav had informed her that he won't be able to pick her up from the coaching today. She had to return home all by herself. She waited for a long time for a rickshaw that could leave her at the metro station but couldn't find one, so she decided to walk to the metro.

She thought that the family might get worried for her if she didn't reach home on time so she decided to take a shortcut to the metro station. It was a deserted lane through which she was walking. She saw a few men standing beside the road.

"Dekh bhai dekh aaj ke dinner ka intejaam toh ho gaya, kit chali hai chhori" he commented.

"Chhori ko na, ya to pataka hai" the other replied.

Manvi heard those comments and she walked faster to reach the metro station.

"Tez tez kit chaale hai chhori, itt dekh le" one of them commented and then they started following her.

Manvi was scared but she kept on walking. She took the name of God more than a hundred times.

Manvi started moving even faster but one of those men caught her way and stopped her. The other held her hand.

"Chhodo mujhe chod do, bachao" she shouted.

"Haan yahan tera mama baitha hai na tujhe bachane" one of the goons said.

One of them touched her and this disgusted her. She was shouting but one of those goons held her mouth. She tried kicking him but failed and then he threw her on the road. She felt as if she would lose everything today. The devil attacked her and she cried, she closed her eyes, and tears rolled off her eyes. But then she heard their voices as if someone was fighting them. She got up and saw it was Aarav. She immediately ran to him. She hid behind him.

"Bas main aa gaya hun na" he assured her.

He was involved in a fight with those men as they had tried to assault her.

"Himmat kaise hui tum sab ki meri patni ki hath lagane ki" he bawled and punched one in the face.

"Aarav yahan se chalo" Manvi requested, but this incident had angered him so much that he could have killed them.

"Aarav please chalo yahan se" Manvi stuttered. Aarav was fighting alone but he was enough to fight those men. The goons ran away.

"Abhi police ko phone karta hun, kahan jayenge bhaag ke kamine" Aarav muttered angrily.

Manvi was crying endlessly and she said " Aarav please police ko mat bulao please, mujhe koi complaint nahi karni " her words shivered. Aarav saw her condition and he hugged her.

"Chup chup chup...Shh...kuch nahi...main hun na yahan" he said comforting her in his arms.

"Aarav police ko mat bulana main daagdaar ho jaungi" she said within tears.

"Nahi Manvi aisa nahi hai, tumhari koi galati nahi hai" he consoled her.

"Mujhe ghar jana hai, mujhe ghar le chalo please" she stuttered.

"Manvi, bas main hun tumhare paas, aur hamesha rahunga" he said and for the first time, he actually meant this.