A/N : Longest chapter for my lovely readers so far, 2042 words. That's alot.

(p.s: Make yourself known in the comments or DMS❤️)

Anah's POV

"Okay. Just give the sedatives for the night and reduce the IV. Inform me if there's something wrong. I would be leaving now." Giving the nurse a polite smile I proceeded towards the exit with my stuff in one hand and my eyes checking the time.

7:40 PM, not bad.

As I was about to walk towards the parking area I realised the car was at the mechanics.
" Oh god, how can I forget?" Sighing at my retarded brain I quickly called for a cab. I rolled my eyes when the quickest cab possible would take 30 min to arrive. I sighed as my eyes fell on the park in front of the hospital.

Entering the park, I saw alot of people jogging or taking an evening stroll with their dogs or kids eating ice cream along with there parents. Luckily I found an empty bench and decided to sit there.

I was just going through my phone when I felt a ball hit my leg. My eyes drifted for the owner as a kid came running straight in my direction. The girl asked for the ball with a cute smile.

"Aunty can I have the ball please?" Her sweet voice brought a smile to my face. I looked around and saw a lady looking at us in a distance. Might be her mother. I quickly averted my gaze back to the toddler as she looked at me with her head tilted.

Aunty? Ofcourse, you are 27 Anah!

"Sure baby, what's your name?" Holding the ball in front of her I asked. She readily took the ball " Ananya" she murmured shyly and ran away, shaking my head at the sweet retreating figure of hers, I noticed the woman from earlier coming my way.

As she got close, instinctively I got up as she waved at me. "Hello! That's my daughter Ananya with whom you were talking to earlier". "Oh! She's very cute and beautiful. It's nice to meet you". Putting my hand in front of her as she shook it warmly.

"You mind if I join you, actually I was very bored. I rarely come here so don't have any friends in the park and Ananya is too indulged with the other kids, I kinda feel left out". She explained. Without hesitation I nodded with a smile.

"By the way I am Sandhya, I am a home maker". I smiled "I am Anah, I am a doctor in the hospital across the park". She seemed sweet. Within five minutes of conversation, I realised I wasn't wrong.

She indeed was such a talker, in a good way ofcourse, kind of reminded me of Riya. Riya! She called. Making a mental note to call her after dinner I didn't realised that my phone was vibrating.

"Anah!" Sandhya's voice brought me out of my reverie as I looked at my phone. The cab was here. I got up gathering my stuff " It was such a pleasure talking to you Sandhya but my cab is here. I have to go, I can't delay, I have to be somewhere, I hope you understand"

She smiled and waved her hand as gesture of 'no worries'. Her hug surprised me, though I reciprocated with equal warmth. Some people really can make you feel so attached in such a short time that it's scary.

As we part, she called Ananya over as she ran and hugged her mother's legs. I awed at the lovely sight of mother-daughter duo. "Ananya we should be leaving now beta, it's getting late too." The child nodded along her mother's leg.

"Do you mind if we join you to the exit too?" She asked. " Ofcourse Sandhya, you don't have to ask." As we were walking, I felt a tug on my scarf as I noticed Ananya holding its corner. I shared a curious look with her mother as she gestured me to crouch to her level. Without any notice she wrapped her soft arms around me and gave the sweetest kiss possible on my cheek.

My poor heart!

I couldn't help but reciprocate the gesture with a lil more tickling. Her giggles truly made my day and for first time in a while, I felt truly happy. "Bye Anah Aunty, we will play next time when we meet okay!"

"Sure love, Bye my darling Anu"

As we big goodbyes and stepped into our respective cars a smile tugged my lips constantly. As the familiar lane of my house approached, I couldn't help but think about the sudden dinner plan. " Don't overthink it Anah" I softly murmured as the car came to halt just opposite to my house.

Paying off the driver I quickly stepped in. Just as I entered the living area my eyes fell on all the people sitting Infront and by 'all' I meant, Aunty , uncle, papa, Riya and Anuradha Aunty.

I guess it indeed wasn't just any dinner party. If they would discuss about Bhai's wish for me and talk me into it, I swear I would be so angry on all of them. Pretending to be as normal as possible, I greeted all the elders and hugged Riya.

She tapped beside her as Karim chacha brought a glass of water for me. " Anah, you are late beta. Was there some emergency at the hospital?" My dad asked as a conversation starter but I knew him too well for his bad luck as I could easily see through the 'everything's fine' facade they all were trying to pull.

"No papa, actually on the way towards hospital I got into a lil accident and totally forgot that my car was at the mechanics, I was actually waiting for the cab to arrive, that's got me late". At the mention of the accident all of them started asking every sort of question all together.

"Am I hurt? Is the other person hurt? Was there a fight? Don't u have eyes? You should have been more careful? Shouldn't you be taking rest for a lil longer?"

"Aaahh! Quiet everybody. I do have eyes Riya and no nobody was hurt neither was there a fight and no uncle I don't need to stay in the house any longer because my life shouldn't revolve around a selfish brother who just don't get to decide what I should do in my personal life!" All the frustration poured out like water from a fallen glass.

They all looked at me with eyes wide as of saucers as my dad sighed " Let's eat everybody. Anah go freshen up". I nodded and proceeded. " I'll come with you" Riya tagged along as we both went towards my room but before I heard Anuradha Aunty saying " She is hurt Aslan Bhai and more than that she is disappointed in her brother for not just one reason".

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I ignored the stinging in my eyes. As we entered my room I went to wash up while Riya took out a light cotton kameez to wear. My reflection stared back in the mirror as I realised how actually messed up I look.

As I sat beside my aunt on the table with Riya on my side and everybody around the round table the sound of the cutlery clanking was filling the space. " Anah, we all are aware about Asad's wish about you and-"

"Ah! Now are we? What about my wish papa? What about those days when you and him used to promise me that you would never force anything upon me be it small or big? Or is it-" I was cut off by aunt Nafisa.

"Enough of you child!" Her voice boomed. It was the first time in my life that I heard her shouting that too on me, on her daughter. The shock and vulnerability my eyes held wasn't mistaken by anybody on the table as Riya held my hand in support.

I blinked away the tears as she continued "We all lost Asad, Anah! He was not just a brother to you but as a son as a companion, we all lost him too. Maybe our pain isn't equivalent to yours, maybe yes your connection with him was so pure and strong unlike ours but that doesn't mean that you are the only one hurting".

"You have every right to question the decisions made by your brother but not your father. What do you expect of him? He is torn between his lost son and a daughter who is losing herself everyday. People might say it's just been a couple of weeks but they were more then enough for a lifetime of pain and sorrow".

After a few moments of silence she continued " We love you Anah. We all do. If you think that we would be irrational to you then you are wrong beta. Now please listen to your father before jumping to conclusions. You are wiser then this Anah".

The tears kept falling while my head bowed down. I heard a chair scraped and soon I was engulfed into the comforting hug of my father. I cried clutching on his shirt like a little girl. It seemed the wall of anger I made around myself got demolished. He kept muttering soothing words while brushing my hair.

As my sobs died down he crouched in front of me, while holding my hands in his "Anah, you are my precious daughter. Life has been very unfair to you child, I know but trust me you would always have your father alongside. Whenever you turn for help, my shadow would be there. Forget about what Asad said, just take this as an opportunity to find what your maa and I once shared".

Love, comfort and friendship.

"No one would force you, you don't like the guy, fine. We would never bring it up but just for your Bhai's and for the sake of finding hope to a better and a new life, meet him once, that's all I ask of."

After a few moments of silence I felt myself nodding. Relief flooded through his eyes and it soared my heart to think how hurt he had been these past few days. " I should inform you that Shourya already visited us today as he confirmed about Asad's wish. I am yet to receive a call from him as he haven't informed his family about the situation. We would fix a meeting when he calls, okay?"

I felt myself nodding again as he gave me a small smile. After the semi-peaceful dinner I entered my room along with Riya as she decided to stay overnight. She went into he bathroom to change into something comfy while I just sat across my window looking at the breathtaking full moon.

Shourya? How he must be? Would he be respectful, kind or friendly or rather just another obnoxious idiot I met the other day?

The bathroom door clicked open as Riya came out and gestured me to sit with her. "Don't stress over it Anah. Things would be fine." She hugged me which I happily reciprocated. "Riya?" I questioned "Yeah"

"Do you miss him?" Her smile wavered for a second as her eyes became misty. I held her hand tightly in mine to provide every bit of comfort I could to my most favourite person. She shook her head and chuckled.

"Sometimes, when I am alone I do think about him, I won't lie. I imagine how it would have been if he would have been all well and good, would he ask me for dates or straight for marriage as he was somewhat shy in that department?"

She looked into my eyes "But that's the thing Anah, he went away before even laying the first step. He went away before I could love him to the intensity with which it would hurt for me to breathe without him. I am not okay but I am sure I will be and so will you."

That was it.

The only way to move on, the only way to escape the pain, is to let go. Let go of the expectations.

Let go of the promises made.