Since the day, my uncle mentioned, him accepting me as his wife, got me thinking...that I should repay his favour. It's not only that but I also heard my other aunties, who were talking about my and Anuraag's relationship. That how he saved me from being humiliated and the whole "Rana" family in front of society.

Even though I am not ready to consummate this marriage in right ways...but I have to! To repay him.,and this the only way.

"Anuraag?"

"Yes Diya?"

"I-I-I want to talk to you about...." I paused.

"Our marriage." I whispered the last part.

"What About?" He asked, I could feel him standing few feet away from me.

Nervously, I fidgeted with my finger ring, adjusting and readjusting. "Diya? What is it?" His both hands rested on my shoulder. I took a moment and blurted it out. "I want you to kiss me...make me yours in all ways." I felt his hands slipped from shoulder whilst taking few feet away from me.

"I can't!" He replied. My tears welled up in tears as I felt rejected. "Why?" I asked demandingly.

"Why? I can ask you the same....you have been distant from me for almost a week..and now you come and ask me this!"

"You are my husband, and I am your wife. And-

"Stop it! Do you relies, what are you saying? Are you hearing yourself!?!...I love you!! Okay! And I know you don't! I would never lay my finger on you! Until you want it in all right ways..love. And all these days have been waiting! And I will wait!"

He was hurt, I did to him. How could I make him sad, who have respected me all along? I hate myself!

"You l-love me?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes! I never told you..." he cupped my face. "But I fell in love with you the moment I saw you...and fell deeply every second, every day I shared with you...in past month I have realized that before I met you, I was only breathing but now I am living." He placed my hand on his chest. "Do you feel this heartbeat? It's only for you!.."

"I am sorry..." I said in low voice, as tears fell.

"No, Diya, sorry wouldn't help...you have broken my heart...you think so low of me...I don't even know what to say anymore...I can't...please leave me alone..." he distant himself from me.

"Anuraag..Anuraag..please lis- Aaa—!" I tripped, rolling down the stairs and hit my head on something hard. Pain, excruciating pain..my head, my hands...my whole body was aching, every stairs I fell down from hit me differently giving pain...was I going to die?..may be.

"Diya!" I yelled when I saw her falling from staircase. I ran as fast as could.

"Oh my god...Diya Diya! Stay conscious...Anjali-call ambulance now!!" I said when I saw her running towards me. "Ye-Yes..hello..." Anjali went outside to other room call. Her aunt and Sivan wasn't home as they have taken her uncle to a clinic for routine check up.

Her red wedding bangles, were shattered as her body laid on the marble floor...her blood was spattered on the floor, I tried to keep her conscious but she struggled. "No no no, Diya. Don't-

"Jija ji, the ambulance is here." Anjali came running.

I quickly picked Diya, in my arms and rushed outside. The paramedics put a oxygen mask, and attached IV tube on back of her hand.

"How long ago the accident happened?"

"Just almost 10 minutes ago...she was running and fell..I have told her so many times not to run but she never listened me..."

"Anything we should know about patient medical history or something else?"

"Yeah..She can't see." I replied.

——

"What's your relationship with the patient?" The Nurse asked.

"I am Anuraag Agnihotri, she's my wife Diya Agnihotri..." i replied.

"Okay, Mr Agnihotri, please fill out this form and submit to the receptionist."

I quickly took the form and sat on the hospital metal seat, by the window. My hands were trembling, my eyes were foggy and my mind couldn't stop picturing her in pool of blood. I was anxious, fearful, and most importantly angry at myself, for ignoring her. Choosing my ego over her...if I haven't walked away...she wouldn't have fallen from those stairs at first place. I tried to regained my focus. I anxiously, read the form with my eyes, and signed it.

One hr later, Diya's aunt and brother arrived at the hospital. Aunty Reena and Sivan never left my side. "Aunty you should go home and rest." Sivan insisted.

"No, dear. Let me be here at least until doctor comes outside from the OT." She replied.

"Doctor, how's she?" Sivan ran towards the doc.

"Her condition is critical! She has lost so much blood. She needs AB negative blood ASAP! Our hospital's blood bank doesn't have this blood group right now, but we are doing our best to get from other hospitals, but it would more convenient if you know anybody that have this blood type." Doctor said.

"In our family only her dad had this blood type...as Diya." Aunt Reena said. "Sivan we need to call Aarohi! Her blood group is same as Diya."

"Aarohi?But will she help her?..after all those things happen in last two years?" Sivan interjected.

I exchanged my gaze between them in confusion...as I obviously was missing something.

"Aarohi? Her best friend?" I asked.

"Ye-yes, did Diya tell you about her?" Aunt Reena asked, surprisedly.

"Yes, she mentioned about her..but never talked about her."

"Of course she didn't...that is not important right now...Aunty is right, we need to call her." Sivan said taking his phone out and dialled a number, he seemed frustrated every time when the call didn't go through.

"What happen? Is she not picking up her phone." Aunty asked

"Yes, it's unreachable."

"Where does she live?" I asked anxiously.

"5 km away from our house...where are you going, Anuraag?"

"Sivan, send me her address...I am going to get her." I rushed towards the exit.

__________

I drove as fast as could to the address that Sivan sent me, thousands of thoughts were invading my mind. But I had to focus on driving...as soon as I reached...without locking the car, I ran into the house and rang the door bell like a manic.

"How many time should I tell you? We don't need newspapers—who are you?" A teenage girl asked surprisedly.

"I am here to meet, Ms. Aorhi Sharma...where is she?" I asked demandingly.

"I-Di (sister) someone is here to meet you!" She called-looking behind her, few foot steps approached us.

"Who are you sir?" She looked at me.

"Diya is in danger, please help..she needs blood."

"What happened to her?" She asked in fear.

"She fell...please let's go..I will tell you more to our way to hospital..hurry." I said pleadingly.

"I can't—I am not...who are you?" She shook her head, and closed her eyes.

"Why can't you? You are her friend...but if not friendship's sake...then come with me for humanity's sake...she urgently needs blood...or else..." I trailed off.

"Or else?!" She asked, shiver in her voice.

"Please...come" I pleaded.

"Radhika...stay here. don't open the door for stranger...I will be back soon.—let's go." She looked at me and I lead her the way.

_____________________

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