(Jasmin Bhasin as Aarohi Sharma!)

Aarohi settled on a chair near, Diya's bed, whereas I stood near her bed. We both stayed silent until we noticed moments of Diya's fingers and frowning on her head.

"I think she gaining her consciousness." Aarohi said nervously.

"Diya.."

"Anuraag...where am I?" She said in weak voice.

"You are in hospital..." I answered, caressing her hair softly.

My eyes traveled to Aarohi, who was anxiously waiting to talk her best friend.

"Diya..I have a very important person to meet you, okay?" I said, and blinked at Aarohi to say something.

"D-Diya.." tears traveled from her eyes.

"Who?" She said through oxygen mask.

"It's me...A-Aarohi..." she trailed off, wiping her tears from her cheeks.

Diya's hands searched for hers, I knew that I should leave two best friend alone, who have met after two daunting years. After giving a understanding nod to Aarohi I left the room.

"How are you?" Diya asked in sore voice, removing her oxygen mask.

"What are you doing..don't remove it." I said concernedly.

"No I am fine."

"If you say so...how have you been?" I asked wiping my tears.

"Honestly miserable! Without a friend like you..life is meaningless" Her words touched my heart as I felt the same.

"I missed you." She said.

"I am sorry...my brother shouldn't—

"Hey, sshh don't say that, I respect him for his feelings that he had for me. Your brother didn't do anything wrong, neither did you...it's my fault that I couldn't speak up, you know?" She smiled through her pain.

"Why are you like this Diya?"

"What do you mean?" She pouted.

"Forgiving, Nice, and selfless.."

"I am none of those okay?! You haven't seen me yet ask Anu!" She giggled, her tears felt from her cheeks.

"Your husband?"

"Yes, did you meet him?"

"Yes...I am glad that your fate decided to bind you with such pure soul...you know he came to my house, and pleaded me to help you by donating blood..." I said remembering from earlier.

"He did that..." her voice soothed.

"Of course.."

"Diya?"

"Hmm.." She hummed, appearing deeply in her thoughts.

"Do you...love him?" I asked hesitantly.

She stayed silent for a minute, "I don't know..Aaro. I am overwhelmed." Her lips trembled.

"So you don't love him?" I teased her.

"No! I mean I am confused...I don't know.." she said helplessly.

"Okay think calmly and tell me...have your heartbeats quickened when he was close to you?" I asked holding her hand in mine.

"Y-yea-h" A shy smile formed on her lips.

"Do you feel safe with him?—does he make you comfortable?" I asked.

"All the time."

"Are you afraid to lose him?"

"Yes.."

"What if he chose somebody over you, How would you feel?"

"He wouldn't.."

"How can you be so sure?" I interjected.

"Because...he loves me and I know that.."

"Love.." I smiled.

"Huh?!"

"You love him, you idiot!"

"Do I?"

"Yes, If you're still not so sure...just trust your feelings...and listen to your heart." I said.

"I will keep that in my mind." She smiled.

"Before you go...can you hug me?" She asked innocently. "Of course." I hugged her carefully not hurting her wounds.

"Will I meet you again?" She asked.

"Yes, Anuraag has my number, just call me whenever you need me." I replied.

"I will, take care of yourself." She smiled.

"Aarohi..before you go..." Anuraag came inside the room. I noticed, behind him Sivan was standing. "Diya, how are you feeling now?" Sivan asked without looking at me.

"Ahem. Sivan say what you came here for?" Anuraag interrupted.

"Yes—Aarohi..I-I am sorry...I blamed you and your family and insulted...without realizing. I hope you and your family forgive me." Sivan said guiltily.

I stared at him, crossing my arms over my chest. He quietly removed his eyes from me and shifted to Anuraag.

"I can't forgive you, I hope you understand why!" I replied coldly.

"O-of course, I completely understand, just so you know, I will not stop apologizing until you forgive me." His words gave me unknown strange-weird feeling.

Not feeling comfortable with Sivan's gaze, I looked at Anuraag who was now busy talking to his wife, the love I see in his eyes for her, melts my hearts. The way he held her hand in his hand, the way he caressed her hair, the way his eyes shined looking at her...with so much pure love.

I hope they get all the happiness they deserve! I smiled at them.

"Aarohi, come on I will drop" Anuraag said.

"No, I will go myself, Diya might need you here."

"It's almost midnight...let's go." Anuraag insisted.

I nodded solemnly. "Okay, thanks."

"You stay here Anuraag, I will drop her.." Sivan interjected. Anuraag exchanged gaze between me and Sivan. I glared at Sivan, annoyingly.

"No, I rather go alone than with you!" I responded, coldly glaring at him.

"Sivan you stay with Diya, I will go.." Anuraag said.

Anuraag and I went to the parking lot. And got in his car.

"I am sorry, you had to face him..." he said while driving the car.

"Don't be..it would have happened sooner or later...I just don't like him!" I opened up.

"Why, If may I ask?"

"He slapped my best friend on her birthday, without a reason." I closed my eyes.

"WHAT!?!" He said, shockingly.

"Yeah...that time I wanted to him with a rock or something...but seeing my brother laying there, holding his head with his palms while the blood staining his shirt...I got afraid." I shivered.

"I am sorry...Now I know why can't you forgive him.." Anuraag said understandingly.

"Anuraag.."

"Hmm.." he hummed while driving.

"How did you end up marrying her, exactly?" I narrowed my eyes, curiously.

"Oh...I don't live here...in India..I was born here but my family moved to Canada when I was 10-11 years old. I came here to attend her wedding...without having any idea..that she's the bride...when I saw her for first time...I was attracted to her..I never told anyone, apart from Diya and you." He laughed nervously.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." I said reassuringly.

"So I was saying...yeah! As soon as I knew she the one...who's getting married! I was feeling something that I couldn't explain...every wedding rituals, ceremonies were making me anxious...I wasn't feeling to stay here so I decided to go back to Canada. Sivan stopped me and convinced me to stay here until her garland ceremony....so I stayed." He paused.

"That morning I went to market to get some things for wedding, and when I was back I saw that she was standing at the Altar, like a statue; when her so called would-be-husband didn't show up for the wedding.

Her tears were dripping, while people were taunting her, whispering so many things...every word coming from their mouth was like salt on her wounds! I hate it! I couldn't stop myself from defending her...her innocence didn't deserve that...no girl should be go through that kind of pain and humiliation...which she was going through. When someone said that no one would marry her...I stepped up and asked her hand for marriage in front of everyone...I was no hero...just a guy in love with her..with no clue whatsoever..." he chuckled at the last line. I smiled amusedly.

"I also asked her...if she want to marry me... and with obvious reasons...she said 'yes'...I married her witnessing all the gods and the holy fire...putting Vermillion powder in her forehead and nuptial chain around her neck...making her my wife..my life partner and being hers.

I still remember when her small tear fell and landed on my hand while I was putting nuptial chain around her neck. It broke my heart...you know it didn't seemed right to marry her in that situation but today I am happy that I got the chance to spend my life with her...I have promised her that if she chose a different path I will support her not matter what.." he said, proudly.

"You love her, don't you?" I said.

"Yes, a lot—my heart stopped when she fell from stairs...seeing her blood spattered on the floor, made me more fearful..." I saw him wiping his teary eyes with his sleeves.

"Anuraag, everything will be alright."

"I know,—you might be thinking that this dude is so emotional." He laughed nervously.

"No, not at all...in fact I am thinking that, Diya is lucky to have a life partner like you, by her side." I said.

"No I am the lucky one...I was a lonely guy before I met her, she made my house a home for me...every time I used to come from work...I used to wish going back to work... as the silence of my house was deafening most of time...since the day she arrived in my house, my house echoed with her sweet laughter, her words and most importantly her angelic presence." His words felt warm with hint of pain.

"Are you trying to make me cry or something?" I said wiping my happy-tears.

"No no I am sorry—sometimes I just—

"It's okay...I was just teasing you..." I interrupted him.

—

"Thank you so much, Aarohi." He said.

"Your welcome, and take care." I said getting out the car.

"Good night." He waved.

"Good night." I replied.

_______

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❤️ Swati.C