I had no idea that I had passed out on the sofa.

" Shivanya. Wake up. It's time for lunch." I heard a voice and immediately opened my eyes to see Abhimanyu.

" I'm so sorry. I have no idea how I fell asleep." I said, embarrassed.

" It's okay. Jet lag does that. You don't have to be embarrassed." He said, offering a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

" Come for lunch." He added.

" No. Thank you. I'm not really hungry." I said. I wasn't.

That very moment, my phone rang.

" Excuse me." I muttered to him. It was Laavanya. My best friend.

" Hello." I said.

" You in Mumbai and didn't care to inform me? Send me your location. I'm coming with Reyansh to pick you up. We have a lot of catching up to do." She said.

" Just tell me where you wanna go and I'll be there." I sighed.

" You sure?" She asked.

I nodded.

" Say something." She whined.

" Yes, I'm sure. Now bye." I hung up.

I went to the dining room where everyone was having lunch. Little Sahil was also sitting.

" Hi Sahil, I'm your maasi." I said, introducing myself.

" Hii. I know who you are. Mumma says that you are a monkey who can't sit at one place for a long time." Sahil said, offering me his best smile.

" Oh...this is what she said?" I asked him, embarrassed.

He nodded positively.

" Damn Di." I muttered.

" Bye champ. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't trouble mumma okay?" I said.

" I won't. Bye." He said.

" How will you go Shivanya?" Aunty asked.

" I'm taking auto aunty." I said.

She nodded and I left.

I took an auto to the restaurant. Lavanya and Reyansh were standing outside.

" Shivanya! It has been six years!" Lavanya exclaimed as we hugged. Then I hugged Reyansh.

" Let's sit." He said.

I nodded.

I told both of them about Aditi Di and me quitting in New York.

" I think you did the right thing. Besides, you can always practice here once you clear the bar." Reyansh said

I nodded in agreement.

We ordered and ate something, talked again for a while and then they dropped me home.

" I'll see you guys on Sunday." I said, entering home after bidding them bye.

Weeks passed by and Aditi Di got weaker with each passing day. It was 31st October and she was on life support.

I was waiting outside her ward. Abhimanyu was in there with Di.

" Aditi is calling everybody in." He said, coming to the door.

I nodded and walked in with all our family.

Aditi Di looked worse. She looked in pain and there was nothing I could do.

" Di, what happened?" I asked her.

" I wanted to talk to both of you." She said softly.

" Yes Adi." Abhimanyu acknowledged.

" Shivanya, do you have someone in your life whom you love?" She asked me.

I was taken aback by the question.

" Di, let's not talk about all this now?" I asked.

" Answer me doll." She instructed.

" No di. No one." I replied honestly.

" Don't you think it's time to settle?" She asked.

" Di please don't talk right now. You need rest. We can have this conversation other day." I said.

" I don't have another day Shivanya." She said, closing her eyes.

" Di! Don't say like that!" I exclaimed.

" It is the truth." She said, smiling sadly.

" Where is the goddamn doctor?" Abhimanyu shouted.

" Abhi please. I want both of you to get married and take care of Sahil. Move on." She said.

" Have you gone mad Di! I am doing no such thing. You'll be alright." I screamed.

" Please Shivanya, Sahil will need a mother. He is too young." She said, crying.

" Di please don't go." I said, crying.

" This is my last wish. It's up to both of you to fulfill it." She said placing my hand in Abhimanyu's.

" I'll do whatever you say baby. Please don't leave me, don't leave Sahil and go. All of us need you." Abhimanyu said, his voice turning horse.

" Promise me. Both of you." She said.

" I promise." He said and looked towards me.

" Me too Di. Me too." I said hurriedly.

She said nothing.

" Di....Di....wake up. Please!" I shouted.

" Be here. I'll call the doctor." I said, making a dash for the door.

" I'm sorry Mr. Singhania, but Aditi is no more." The doctor announced coming out.

" What the fuck doctor? It was your damn job to save her. Why don't you burn your degree!?" I shouted, breaking down.

" Calm down miss. This is no way to talk to a doctor." The nurse said.

" I'm going to sue your hospital. You were supposed to save her!!" I shouted, falling down.

Badi maa and bade Papa broke down. She was her only child.

My parents were consoling them.

How could she leave us all? We love her!!

I had to cry but I couldn't break down in front of everyone because I'll have to collect the broken pieces and put them in place. They can't see me break down.

I exited the hospital without getting noticed and drove to somewhere, nowhere.

I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing.

Stopping my car near to a cliff, I sat down there to cry my heart out.

I noticed another presence there. It was Reyansh.

" What are you doing here all by yourself Shivanya?" He asked, coming closer.

" Shit! What happened? Why are you crying?" He asked.

I broke into another round of tears as he pulled me to his chest.

" It is Aditi Di." He stated.

" She left us." I said, wiping my tears.

" She's in a better place." He said.

I nodded.

" I'm going back to the hospital." I said.

" I'll drive you." He offered.

" No Reyansh, I know you're here for work. I'll go." I said.

" I'll talk to Lavanya." He said. I nodded and drove off.

Reaching the hospital, I found no one. Someone must have cleared the bills.

Before going to Abhimanyu's house, I went to mine to grab Di's favourite Barbie from my room which she loved. That Barbie would go with her.

I somehow managed to drive with tears, grabbed the Barbie and reached his house.

" Where were you Shivanya?" Mumma hissed.

" Went home to get the Barbie." I told her.

I kept the Barbie with Di.

" She goes with you. You liked her more than you liked me anyways." I whispered to her.

" That's not true and you know it." Abhimanyu said, who was sitting right next to Di.

I looked at him in the eyes. Tears, sadness and emptiness.

I couldn't maintain the eye contact so I looked away.

Her mortal remains were cremated and the men were home by evening. Poor little Sahil and Abhimanyu had done the Vidhi..

That day, I slept next to Sahil, held him and made him comfortable because all I could do was it. He was just a kid who didn't deserve any of it. None of us did.

Thirteen days passed with a flick of a finger and the final puja was done too. My Di was in a better place leaving us all alone.

" I know this is too soon but I think that we should get Abhi and Shivanya married to fulfill Aditi's last wish." His mother said.

Abhimanyu nodded but I was too shocked to react.

Was I ready to get married?

No.

But I had promised Di and would fulfill it. No matter what.