Anah's POV

"Bhai?" I questioned. "What happened Anah?" Aunty Nafisa asked as I felt her move towards me. She kept her hand on my head lovingly and brushed my hair.

"He left this pendrive for me fufhi( aunty)." I felt everyone's eyes on me. I got up from the couch and adjusted my dupatta( scarf) on my head as I looked at my papa.

He nodded assuringly at me to which I might have nodded, I don't remember because I was too busy to plug the pendrive into the tv. I wiped my tears while hurriedly grabbing the remote with shaking hands and pressed play.

There he was, smiling goofily at me. A sob cried from my throat as the tears undelightfully flew pass my cheeks. My hands covered my mouth and I knew I can't look, it's just too much for me. He was there all well and alive but in reality he was not.

The inner arguement seemed childish and meaningless but was terrifying and heart wrenching, the only way to end it was to accept the bitter reality of his death, of which I was not ready to.

I turned my face around as Aunt Nafisa cradled me into her arms like a little girl as I sobbed into her. "Stay Strong meri bacchi (my little girl), he needs you to listen to his last plea."

She broke the hug and wiped my tears. She lovingly brushed my cheeks "You are your maa's brave Anah!" With that she simply nodded and lightly turned me around to the TV.

Uncle Sheik played the video again.

I can do this.

"Hi my kiddo, my Anah, I know you must be very angry at me right now but believe me Anah I am always with you, may not be physically but emotionally always in your kind heart. So now you better wipe your tears and save them for later because you are going to be very angry at me after this message."

He smiled softly at me and gave me an assuring blink. A smile graced my lips hearing my brother's voice.

"I have taken a very big decision of your life without discussing with you. I know Anah you have every right to choose what you want in life but being your elder brother I can't just take my leave before ensuring that you are safe and will be safe in future."

He sighed deeply.

I frowned at his words. I looked at my papa and found him already looking at me with a look I couldn't muster. My attention shifted back to the screen as he continued.

"I found a guy for you Anah, your future husband."

He stopped speaking and looked straight into the camera, it felt more like he is looking at me and trying to gather the effect of his words through my eyes. If he could really see through me then he couldn't find anything because I am sure, they are blank.

All my life, my brother broke all the restrictions in Islam for girls be it dressing sense, liberty, freedom of speech and most importantly making me realise the importance of self confidence and education.

But he took one of the most important decisions in my life without even discussing with me. I felt anger rose though my veins with disappointment towards him. Everybody was looking at me but nobody said a word.

"He is a very good man Anah, he will do anything for you just to protect you. Please trust your brother for the last time, I love you Anah I really do. Shourya is the best for you, fulfil this last wish of your brother. He will love you more than life itself. Just trust me.."

He blew a kiss at me and waved softly with teary eyes and the screen went black again. I looked down and gulped. My breathing was fast as I didn't knew what to do. In a haste I turned around and blocked all the voices that tried to stop me and just ran to my room.

I quickly locked it and leaned on the cool wood. My body slumped on the floor, my head resting against the door. All the memories of my Maa flooded into my mind and were playing like an old movie Infront of my closed eyes.

I felt more tears flew through. Why this is happening to me maa? Your army took everything from me and Bhai wants me to marry an army guy. I can't do this maa I can't, I miss you. Please come back, your Anah needs you the most.

That night was the longest night of my life. It was painful to the extent to which my body was numb. One moment can change everything, this statement never felt more true.

Today changed my life and I knew there was so much more to come. I needed rest, I wanted someone to sing a lullaby to me, I wanted to get my Bhai back, I wanted a normal family like everybody else, I wanted so much more from life that it scared me to think,

How will I pay back?

********

Shourya's POV

The tires screeched and broke me out of my reverie instantly. I heard barking and more barking. I securely putted the pendrive into my backpack as I got out of car.

The moment I got out, got pounced by two heavy bundles of joy. Gem, the retriever and Missile the German shepherd. I got welcome licks and sniffs, I couldn't help but laugh at there innocent love. I cradled there heads and chuckled.

"Maa Shourya has arrived!" I heard the sweet voice of my Bhabhi(SIL) announcing my arrival inside the house. Some things just never change. In a split second, I was back on my feet as my junior took out my luggage and carried them inside.

I petted both of, Gem and Missile's heads, as I walked towards the main door. Home brings out the best moments of my life, not that I don't love being out there protecting my country but let's be honest, everybody needs a safe haven, even a soldier like me.

Before any further despondent memories could flood my mind, I saw the happy faces of my family. Nothing can go wrong now. I won't let it.

With a relieved breath and a genuine smile, I greeted everybody. But before I could step into the house "Shourya stop!" My Maa came towards me in haste. Her eyes were wet, she gave me the biggest smile possible as she revolved the Arti Thali ( Holy plate with auspicious materials) around me.

Our eyes were showing the relieve we felt. She applied the Tilak (holy red powder) and I touched her feet. And Instantly I was pulled up and hugged tightly by her. "You got us so scared Shourya!" She weeped softly into my shoulder while I softly rocked her and brushed her hair. " Maa, don't worry. Nothing will happen to me. I am here, now be happy and you know na, I don't like tears in your eyes" I softly kissed her knuckles and she shooed me away.

"Where is my hug, mister?" A voice sounded from behind. I don't need a second to realise who the person was.
I decided on not turning around. I pretended to ignore them as I moved to greet other people.

"Shourya Singh Rajput! Are you trying to ignore your Bhabhi?" I grinned and finally turned around. Before I could play more she attacked me with a bear hug.

I chuckled "We missed you so much Idiot! Thank god you are safe or else" she warned still hugging me tightly. I broke the hug and gave her a bow "How can I go against my lovely bhabhi?"

"Hey man, nobody taught you that its bad to steal other's girl, bro code remember?" My elder brother came and hugged my Bhabhi possessively to which she merely shook her head with a smile.

"Well what can I say Bhai? Bhabhi always loved me more than you." We stood like that for a minute and then we all broke into fits of laughter.

"Welcome home kiddo! You better stay for long. Mom misses you so much, hell we miss you so much Shourya". I nodded in understanding.
"I miss everyone of you Bhai that it hurts but I can't neglect my duties towards the country."

Before Bhai could say anything, Bhabhi interrupted "Comeon Anirudh, he just came back, give him some time." He sighed deeply but said nothing. He kissed bhabhi's cheek and went off to his sort.

"And yes remember she is my wife, don't charm her" he said in a fake warning tone and finally went away. Bhabhi shook her head at his retrieving sight and turned to me.

"Let's sit somewhere" we went to sit on the courtyard swing as I smiled softly at her. We sat quietly for sometime not because there was nothing to say but on the contrary alot to share, mostly from my side like always.

"You know Shourya, you see that plant over there, it's a climber. Your brother sowed its seeds on one fine day but like always forgot to look after it. Poisonous weeds grew along but nobody noticed until Ananya once ate one when she was on her mud hunt and got very sick."

She stopped adruptly and looked at me "If the weeds were taken care of earlier then Anu wouldn't have gotten hurt that day."

She pressed my shoulder assuringly "Sometimes you have to take care of somethings before they hurt you because most of the time you are obliviant about the intensity of the consequence".

"You just came home, I dont want you to burden your heart with somethings that you couldn't avoid like weeds but what you can do is unplant them and assure that they won't hurt anybody."

"You don't know Bhabhi, what I.." I stopped before revealing anything about Asad. My inner turmoil is toxic for me, I know that but there were things that I could have done in a different way then maybe, just maybe, reality would have been different.

She sighed "Okay, let's go and have your favourite cake, I made it with my own hands for my beloved brother" she smiled at me cheerfully. I couldn't help but smile back. "Sandhya!" We heard my brother's voice from inside.

"We should go inside bhabhi". We went inside while she cracked some lame jokes which were not funny but I laughed because her expressions were funnier. She was the closest thing to an elder sister and I adored the way she loved all of us dearly. My brother choose the best girl for him.

My eyes widen as I realised something "Bhabhi?" I called for her. "Where is Anu"? She chuckled softly. "Finally you asked. She is sleeping upstairs. She was so excited since last night and didn't slept well, from morning she was waiting for you but ended up falling asleep, she will be up in a while."

My princess! I missed her so much god. She is the light bulb of my life. I remember when 3yrs ago Bhabhi called and said that they are expecting, I was already planning the gifts for a baby girl in my head and we got the same.

She lit our life like a firework.

It finally feels, even just for a moment, like life gave me everything I ever wanted.

A/N : Longest chapter so far! 1913 words.❤