Ananya's POV
In the last few days, I had finally started to feel a little bit myself again.
Even though Maa was not around and the nightmares still woke me up in the middle of the night, Alex's presence around me gave me the strength to keep fighting.
He has been a good friend even when it came at the cost of his sleep and comfort.
I felt guilty when my nightmares not only woke me up but disturbed his sleep as well.
But his adamance to not let me go through it all alone and his subsequent visible discomfort in doing that made me feel helpless.
All I could do was ask him to take one side of my bed, so that he could atleast get a little comfortable sleep.
A bed was far better than a chair.
He hesitated.
Things had definitely changed between us since that evening when he professed his love for me. He became more cautious around me.
But one thing never changed for me.
I still felt safe around him. He may have unintentionally hurt me that one time before when he ignored me completely, but the Alex I knew would never do that to me again.
I had hurt him too. The feeling of loving someone and not getting the same love in return was something I was very well acquainted with.
Alex was my best friend. He was infact my only friend and family now. I loved Alex. Ofcourse I always did. But just not the way he did.
It made me feel guilty sometimes.

It was not all fine at work as well. Nathan and Amelia ensured to make every moment a living hell for me. They made me start early and wait till late. I was made to do their personal errands too.
Getting hot coffee was the first task of my day and if at all the coffee was not hot or as per their taste they would make me run to the coffee shop again.

Amelia failed to accept the fact that it was Nathan who fired her at his own will. She still held a grudge against me. Or may be she just enjoyed tormenting me.

They for sure were having fun in my misery. But as Maa always said, I had to be honest at my job. I did all my duties with dedication.

All this was taking a toll on me, and I kept looking forward to spending time with Maa and Alex more and more.
Alex had no clue of what I was going through at work. He avoided talking about Nathan most of the times, except for a few times when he would pull my legs taking Nathan's name.
To be honest, I liked it that way. Less of Nathan meant less of lying to Alex.

But I was not going to let anything dampen my mood today. It was a bright Sunday morning. Alex was sleeping like a baby, letting out little snores every now and then.
I was beaming with happiness today. I stared at Alex in amusement for a few mins and then quickly got out of bed.
It was Maa's birthday today and I wanted to make it special. It was god's grace that she was still with me.
If asked I could never explain in words the bond I shared with the Donavans. I was one of them now. They protected me. Gave me a home when I was struck by fate in the worst possible way.

I decided to bake a cake, just the way we did when Maa was around. I got freshened up and quickly took a nice shower.
I slipped into a pair of cute little pink shorts and a nice lose white T-shirt with Minnie mouse printed on it.
I blow dried my hair and quickly ran to the kitchen to start on the cake.

A dark chocolate mud cake was on my mind. I started sieving dough when Alex stepped into the kitchen.
"Woah!! What are you upto?" He exclaimed while picking up an apple from the dining table.
"We are going to have a busy day today Mister. You know what day it is. I am going to bake Maa's favourite cake and we are going to have a small party between you, me and Maa at the hospital.
You up for it?" I looked at him with expectant eyes.
"You don't have to look at me with that puppy face. You know I am all in. Tell me what I can do to help." Alex blurted as he ate his apple.
"I didn't cook any breakfast. Can you go pick something up? It would help. And while you are at it, get yellow roses too. And some balloons as well. Run now!!"

I wanted Alex to go out so that I could bake his favourite cake too. The batter was all ready for the pineapple cake and I started on the icing for it. He didn't really like chocolate much.

It was after a couple of hours that Alex returned. I was already done with the cakes and packed them to go. I had baked some muffins too, to share at the hospital.
"I am sorry. The Roses! I looked for them everywhere, but no luck. And then after driving around I found this small store I came across. It looked so small from outside but their collection was huge.
I would take you there some day, you would love it."
I just smiled at him. I knew yellow roses were difficult to get in that part.
Most of my job was done.
"What did you get to eat?"
I opened the parcel and began peeking through each box to find something interesting to eat.
I found an energy bar and it seemed quite appealing to me.
I unwrapped it and took a bite.
"No. That was for me." Alex jumped off the couch.
"So what? I ate it. You mind?" I retaliated.
"Yes I do. Ananya, I wanted to eat that."

"Aweee. Little Lexi wanted to eat his bar. I ate it. Poor baby." I teased him a little as he twitched his face. I tried to take another bite from the bar but before I could Alex snatched it from my hand and startled me.
"Alex! Give it back. Right now." I felt a little irritated at my loss.
Alex was laughing wickedly now.
"Na na na na na, Na na na na na!! Ananya wants her bar back? Come take it."I started chasing him around the dining table.
But he was swift.
I was losing, now I wanted to get the bar back at any cost. It was a competition between him and me. A friendly one ofcourse. But I was in no mood to lose and neither was Alex.
With an intent to divert his attention I threw a little icing on Alex.
"Woah!! What did you do that for? Now you will not be spared for sure. Take this now."
He was now chasing me with the piping bag in his hand trying to throw the cream on me.
"Aargh.. Alex. No. Sorry. Sorry." I ran as fast as I could. I ran around the couch in the living room with Alex catching up soon.
"Give up Ananya. I will just put some cream on your face and we can end it there. I will give you the bar too. Stop running." Alex proposed his offer.
I rejected it downright. No way was I going to give up.
We kept running around the sofa where Alex almost caught up with me when I moved up the stairs and ran towards my room. I wanted to lock myself in but Alex was fast.
We were laughing like kids, exhausted with all the running but we wouldn't give up.
I ran inside my room and tried to lock it but Alex moved his feet and stopped the door from closing.
"Thats cheating Alex. No . No."
"You are cheating. You cannot lock yourself in a room. Whats the fun in that."
He was trying to push the door open and with all my strength I was trying to keep it closed. But I gave up as I couldn't hold it any longer. He ran inside and caught hold of my hand.
I turned around, still trying to free myself when our feet got entangled.
I fell on the bed with Alex on top of me.
For a moment it all froze. We were struggling to catch on our breaths, breathing heavily.
As we fell little cream got splashed on my cheeks.
It was awkward. The proximity felt a little different. I tried to move but with Alex on top it was next to impossible for me.

I looked at him and saw him staring at my face. His eyes locked into mine.
We were so close that I could feel his warm breath on my cheeks.
I couldn't find any words to break the silence and break the eye contact.
I felt a sudden pull towards Alex from deep inside of me.
I gave into the moment and it was visible that Alex gave in too.
Nothing else mattered in that moment. Alex wiped the cream off my cheeks with the tip of his thumb and sucked it off of it.
It sent a sudden chill down my spine as he slowly brought his face closer to mine, our lips closing in for a kiss.
My heart was beating like a drum. But something inside me prevented me from stopping what was about to happen.
We almost kissed when the phone started to ring breaking the flow of the moment.
The moment was gone. Without a word Alex got off the bed and gave me a hand to help me get up.
I couldn't look at him, it felt awkward.
I ran outside into the passage where the cordless phone was sitting on a table in a corner.

"Hello."
"Hello Dear. How are you my child?"
I recognised the voice.
"Hello Mrs.Lexstur. I am fine, thank you. How are you doing?"

"I am doing good child. Just missing my son, who it seems doesn't really care for his mother anymore. I have been trying to reach him since past two days. But no luck. Will you help me connect with him please dear?"

A sudden wave of guilt took over me. I was not only troubling Alex those days but his family was also suffering because of me.

"Alex, your mother. I am sorry, because of me your family..." my eyes moistened and I couldn't complete the sentence as my heart was full of emotions. I owe this family so much.

"Hey, stop it. We will talk. Stop crying." He took the phone in one hand and pulled me in his embrace with the other. He gently kissed my forehead as he continued talking to his mom.

We were all set to go to the hospital. Alex looked a little upset. May be his mother was angry at him for ignoring them and putting me above everyone else.
"Is everything alright Alex? I think you should go visit your parents. They must be really angry on me."

"No. Nothing like that. You they like. I am the one they are angry at. My grandmother is here. And its never good news when she is here." Alex still looked worried.
"You are hiding something."

"You will laugh if I tell you why."

Alex took a deep breath.

"Come on,  try me." I insisted.
"Ok. So here it goes. She wants me to go to the mansion where she has also invited her long time best friend's grand daughter. And she wants me to consider her for marriage as she is very keen on deepening her so called bond with her bestie. And she chose to sacrifice me and not John. Why not John?"
I tried to control my laughter but I couldn't any longer and so I bursted out.
"I am sorry. I am sorry. But Alex , why are you running away from all this? You should meet her once. Give her a chance."
I said while controlling my laughter.

"Chance! I have eyes for only one girl now. I am waiting for that one chance myself. And I have absolutely no problem in waiting. If she cares enough she will wait too."
His eyes pierced through mine and my smile vanished. It struck me what he really meant.
The car had come to a halt. Without saying anything further, he got out of the car and came to my side of the car to open the door.
"Chill babe. Its alright. Come lets go celebrate. I know how to handle my grandma. Now stop finding amusement in my misery." He winked at me trying to lighten the mood.

We decorated the room. The doctors and the nurses found it amusing. We invited them for cake cutting to which they readily agreed.
It was fun decorating the room. I told stories about me and Maa to Alex. We laughed and joked around remembering our time with her.
I won't lie. Behind all the smiles and the happy face I was trying to hide my tears. I missed Maa terribly. And to see her lying on the bed barely holding onto life for my sake was heart breaking. She was more than a mother to me.

But Nothing would stop me from celebrating her presence.
'I love you Maa.' I whispered as we cut the cake.
The staff rejoiced with us.
I took out the other cake for Alex.
"Here. Hope you will like this."
"What? You baked another one for me? I love you Ananya." He hugged me in excitement.
I didn't know he would like it so much.
"Eat and tell me if you like it."
"I love it already."
Seeing him dig into the cake sent a wave of satisfaction inside me. I was smiling as I looked at him, trying to prevent others from taking a piece of it.

In the middle of the little silent party we were having, I heard my phone ring.
The number on the screen made me quiver. I couldn't ignore it and so I took the call.
" Hello."
"Yes. But its Sunday today."
My happy mood could last only this long I guessed.
"Sure. I will be there in 30 mins."

I turned towards the room where Alex was standing with his back resting on the window pane.
"You have to leave? I thought Nathan would be coming here today."
I had to come up with some lies. Quickly. Before I get caught.

"Yes. He will come. But first I have to go and sort out some pending task in the office. He needs my help."
He shrugged it off and went inside.

I cleared the room as the crowd became scarce. Alex was still busy with his cake, which made me smile.
"Alex, you should go visit your parents. I will go to office. We can may be meet in the evening when you can tell me everything about this girl your Grandma chose for you."
Alex looked a little pissed. He didn't like me mentioning that girl. But that was the only way I could avoid him coming along.

He avoided eye contact, as I left the room.