"Oh god! Can't you guys hang the garlands the way I told you for once. You will ruin the whole decoration theme." I heard her shouting.

"Chill Riya, cut them some slack" I shouted back to her. The goonghroos (little bells) in her anklet chimed as she walked.

Get ready Anah she's gonna give you a whole lecture about how everything should be perfect and in place. Otherwise it won't look good.

I shook my head at the thought "Anah! Don't you know how important it is to get the decor perfect otherwise it won't look good" I felt myself smiling as I turned around, facing her.

"Riya, I know you like my brother a lot and you want to impress him but that doesn't mean you kill the poor workers just because they couldn't handle your intricate way of decor." She blushed at the mention of my brother.

"Afterall you both are like love birds, I know Bhai likes you too but he is just too tough to admit it." I said as I hugged her sideways.

She smiled shyly.

Oh Allah Mia, please set up this love story na!

I heard the front Iron Door of the house open. I looked at Riya as both of our's eyes widen and we grabbed our gowns and just ran to the front door.

"He is here" she screamed in the hallway. I laughed at her excitement. But couldn't feel less excited. Afterall it's been almost a year since I last saw Bhai.

We hurried down the stairs as my eyes fell on the hung portrait and my feet came to halt. Riya stopped too and looked at me and between the portrait.

I felt her assuring hand on my shoulder. "I will be out, take your time Anah" with that she went towards the front section of the home.

I felt myself relaxed in presence of her. I softly smiled and lit her favourite Waterlily Incense Diya (earthen lamp). I was like 10years old when she bought this with me from a trade fair.

I looked up and there she was looking radiant as always, cladded up in her army uniform that she held with so much proud that I always used to ask her, which is more important to her, our family or her uniform?

And she always use to smile at me and say "Anah if I won't wear this uniform then I can't ensure the safety of our family. So you should know both matter equally to me because it brings me closer to my most precious possession. Do you know what it is?"

I smiled.

"You" a lone tear escaped my eyes as I murmered the last memory of her I have. I quickly wipe my tears away and smile at her. "Your army took us away from you Maa, I just wish you weren't so dedicated to serve your country. I wish you didn't went to your command that night."

I was constantly looking at her picture until I heard some commotion happening outside. I looked once again at my Maa and rushed towards the recieving area.

All the guests invited for today's celebration were crowding around. I squeezed through them muttering an 'excuse me' and went to the front.

Riya was crying hysterically and my Dad was sitting looking down. And then I saw it, it felt like someone slid the land away from my feet as it got almost impossible for me to stand on my own.

This can't be possible.

No!

I start hitting my cheeks wishing it's just a bad dream as tears started flowing and blinding my vision. I fell on my knees, eyes still focussed on the view Infront.

A felt a body crushed into me and they cried hysterically into my shoulder. My whole body was as if on some kind of hallucinogen as I wasn't able to control it.

Too much in dilemma I regained my strength leaving the other person and stood up. I walked towards my father and held his shoulder. His eyes were lifeless. "Anah.." he just murmered my name and went quiet.

"Are you Ms. Anah Ibrahim?" A voice asked. I looked towards the source and an army officer was standing there with a nervous look. My mind was numb but there was still some force on my body as I nodded to him.

He composed a little and saluted me "Mam, Martyr Lt(N) Asad Ibrahim has served his country to utmost dedication and bravery. He has been awarded the Sena medal for his bravery as he protected his battalion. His bravery is-"

"Did you just said that my brother is dead? I asked while cutting him off.

To which he looked shaken a little bit but nodded after a while. I walked past him towards the coffin which carried the person closest to my heart. I might have been crying but couldn't be sure because the numbness in my body restricted me to feel anything and was so tiring that I just wanted to shake it off but unable to.

"Open it" my words echoed in the quiet hall. "I said OPEN IT!" I shouted on top of my lungs as I felt suffocated by air. Two soldiers who I didn't noticed any prior came to my plea and opened it while saluting and moved back to there positions.

I felt myself breathing heavily at his sight. His face which never had a scar was filled with many brutal ones. I fell on my knees as I took his hand in  my shaking ones and felt the torned skin beneath. "You can't leave us Bhai, we need you. How can you be so selfish that you only thought what is righteous for your conscience. How can you forget about us, about me! How can you.." I sobbed and finally I felt the numbness shaking off my body as my head started spinning and soon all I could see was someone approaching me.

Someone's warmness around my body felt so comforting that I just wanted to stay there.

And I blackedout.