Anah's POV

Everybody was waiting for me, for my response, to tell my decision as if I get to make any after Bhai's last wish.

The last thing I expected from him was asking me to marry somebody without even knowing him. It feels like all those morals and ethics he partially helped me to inculcate were based on sandy soil which was slipping slowly with the bygone time.

I am not hyperventilating, after maa I always had Aunt Nafisa as a motherly figure in my life but still from a young age I became self dependent. My brother was the person after Riya with whom I shared everything to the core and always got a "make-ur-own-decisions" from him.

My eyes fell on the bedside photo frame of my Maa and me. My body all of a sudden felt heavy with an invisible burden as I slumped on my bed looking at the ceiling, one hand grabbing the picture.

Tears pricked my eyes, the million memories of Bhai and maa started revolving like a whirlpool, sucking me in. Pictures can be so deceivingly convincing sometimes, they not only capture the brightest moments of life but also the once which were bright just for pretence.

They have this unearthly power within them which not only makes you believe in those smiles that they showcase but also have the best strategy to manipulate your emotions.

For me, usually the latter has been the case as most of our childhood pictures were either clicked on mom's departure or during our surprise visit to her posting place, back then these meant the world to me but now they remind me of a time which is gone and nothing can bring it back.

A knock on the door brought me out of my reveries. With a quick look into the mirror obviously wiping away any sign of solace, I opened the door. Uncle Sheikh stood there with a soft smile and tray filled with food. "Anah, can I come inside? " With a similar smile I welcomed him in.

He kept the tray on the bedside table as he patted me to sit beside him. I adjusted my dupatta (long tradition scarf) around my neck as I obeyed to his wish.

"Anah, dear, I don't know what you must be feeling after Asad's message but what I know is.."

He brushed my hair gently as I looked at him " He always loved you more than anything. Beti, I don't have children of my own but I have seen both of you from the very first day and is sure that if Asad chose Shourya for you, there has to be something promising in him." 

He sighed looking at my straight face, "nobody is forcing you to abide by anything that you don't want but there is nothing wrong in trying for the sake of your brother,your dad will take any kind of action only after knowing your decision."

I smiled at him which he reciprocated and with a blessing he went away. My mind had a lot of thoughts about this Shourya, one being he is a Hindu. Not like I am a racist but culture difference is a huge obstacle in Indian society, I can't be sure about his views towards this issue.

The more I think about him, the more complicated it becomes. I sighed as I munched on an apple. My phone pinged near the bedside indicating a reminder as soon as I reached for it, it rang, giving my body a surprise reflex.

It was from the hospital. " What? Okay! Prepare the O.T. and check her vitals and please ensure that she is consious. Tell Dr. Anuradha to prepare the grafts, I will be there in 10 minutes".

I collected my handbag and while checking for the essentials grabbed my coat and rushed out. Being a doctor I can't be slow, I ran through the stairs as Aunt Nafisa called me. "Anah? What happened? Where are you going beta?"

"Hospital" with the same pace I rushed outside towards my car. The moment I got into, my phone rang.       "Riya, I can't talk now, going to the hospital, it's an emergency".

Without waiting for a reply I quickly disconnected and the engine of my Honda city muffled. With a decent speed I squeezed through the bustling roads of Mumbai silently cursing the population of the metropolitan. My phone rang again, it was an unknown number, before I could pick up, my body jerked in the front against the inertia giving my body an adrenaline rush.

Ah-oh!

I am not sure how long I sat there in horror and anticipation but the furious knocking on the window definitely said it was quite a while. I quickly got out as I analysed the damage. It was indeed alot, offcourse nothing in my life have to be on a normal scale, not even an accident.

"Ma'am you could have been more careful while driving! The indicator was easily visible from a distance.." I massaged my forehead as I turned around towards him only to know he was an army officer, with his uniform.

After all the people it have be someone from Army!

Instead of arguing I was listening to his claims in a hurry as I checked my phone for time while nodding here and there. "See officer! I am very sorry but I really have to go. I am a doctor and it's an emergency,  please whatever damage is caused, I am ready to pay"

"Ma'am it's not about.." he tried to reason "I know officer and I didn't meant it in that way but I really don't have time, there is an emergency, I have to go." With the final say and without waiting for his reply I rushed to my car and tightened my seat belt.

But as I said things can't be smooth when it comes to me, the engine didn't start. I tried again and this was it. "Aahhhhhhh! " I screamed in frustration and hit the steering wheel. I quickly grabbed my bag and got off the car in search for an auto.

I quickly called the hospital to inform them about my situation and to address the current state of the patient.

Mumbai and it's Rickshaws, when you need one it will never show up.             "Excuse me?" In a haste I turned towards the voice and was met with brown orbs looking at me with curiosity perhaps. For a moment, I was stunned at his handsome face.

It took me a few seconds to blink away only to give him a full view. Before he could continue, voice of the nurse on the other side of the call brought me back to earth and I can't be more thankful only if he had commented about my almost indecent stare It would have been beyond embarrassed for me.

"Yes and keep them on fluids. Do a final CT & EEG and keep me updated." I felt a stare on me as I looked from the corner of my eye and still found the guy standing.

Before I could ask anything he said something which left me dumbfounded, "It was your fault. If you can't drive then why even bother. I respect women utmost and I won't let anybody ruin the name of women drivers just because you can't see."

My cheeks turned red both in anger and embarrassment. " Excuseme! I am not going to argue with you because I would just end up eating my time and energy and unlike you I have very important task to do so if you are done reprimanding me for a mistake done mutually I would rather like to leave your complaining sarcastic self alone"

I gripped my handbag and walked towards the intersection satisfied with my reply.

The moment I got into the auto my mind went back to the sarcastic idiot.

Such a monkey!