This chàpter is dedicated to my nanaji. I love you nanu from the bottom of my heart.

Its really easy to say:

"People die every second"

"Death is inevitable"

"He/She was really old"

But those suffering before,during and after death know what it feels like. They know what it is like to lose somebody, to endure that pain and the tears. And the person who is dying, his unfilled wishes, never to see his loved ones grow up, never to know the future and never to be a part of future succumbs him to the worse death ever.

We knew what it was to have a person suffer through cancer.

Yash uncle, my mother's brother, best uncle ever had the same fate. Its been five years since he died from cancer. He fought through the deadly disease very bravely.

My mother were two sisters and two brothers. Nitesh Mama was the elder one among all with whom my Nani was now living, then it was Yash mama, then my Mother then Richa masi.

Richa masi and mamma were very close to each other. They would talk for endless hours on phone and understood each other very well. Nitesh mama was the silent type. He wasn't that much friendly like Yash mama was. Yash mama was my favorite. When we were little he would buy me and dee lots of chocolates and take us children to visit places. He was closer to children.

Nitesh Mama and Yash mama, each had a son whereas Richa masi had a son and daughter.

It was unfortunate that Yash mama's son didn't had the qualities mama himself had. But that was not something I wanted to talk about right now.

Papa was coming back home tomorrow and everyone else were joining him too. I didn't know how I was going to react in front of Dadu. I didn't know how was I going to control my tears. How was he facing all this?

Fate was really cruel... A doctor now became a patient himself. Truly, nobody can predict the future.

A knock sounded on my door. I looked up to find Sonal dee standing. She had the same sad expression that I had.

"Can I come in?" She asked with a sour voice.

I nodded. I didn't had the power to speak coherently. She came and sat beside me on the bed. She took me in her arms and the tears broke free again.

"Everything is going to be all right" Sonal dee whispered.

I shook my head.

"Believe in god Aesha"

I cleared my throat but my voice was still rough "You know dee, that's only a lie! You know what happened with Yash mama. There is no coming back, no cure! This is all going to end badly again." I shouted.

She didn't say anything but kept holding on to me.

Our silence was broken by the ring of Sonal dee's phone. She pulled back and wiped her tears with one hand while picking up the phone with another.

"Hi Kratik" She whispered.

"Yes, she is here with me" She replied back to something he asked.

"Okay, talk to her" She handed the phone in my hands.

I placed the phone on my ears but didn't say anything.

"Hey champ, you okay?" Kratik jiju asked. Why did everyone asked were you okay, when they clearly knew you weren't. Had it become a trend?

"Hi bhaya" I whispered.

"I know champ that you are strong. You need to be brave dear for your family. Do you want to make your Dadu upset?"

"No" I shook my head even when U knew he couldn't see me.Upsetting him was the last thing on my list.

"Then don't cry. Your tears will weaken him. You need to smile for him. You have to make him happy" Kratik Jiju was right. My tears will break Dadu more. He didn't need more trouble on his list. Happiness was the best cure.

"You are right, bhaya. I wouldn't cry. I don't want to make him more sad"

"That's my champ! Now, give me a big smile" I smiled at his words

"Thank you bhaya"

"I have a gift for you that I am going to give you on the engagement day"

"You do know that its your and Dee's engagement! Not mine and yours" I teased him. Sonal dee elbowed me in stomach. ouch! that sting! Kratik jiju's laughed uncontrollably.

"I know but wouldn't mind to steal you" He joked back

"No ways! You are welcome to have Sonal dee and I am already married to my books" I snickered.

Kratik jiju and Sonal dee both laughed at my words. I gave the phone back to dee.

"Sorry Kratik, you are stuck with me. Maybe, she already has someone" Dee winked at me.

"Dee!" I whined. She was worst!

"Bye Kratik, talk to you later" She hang up and hugged me again.

We decided to watch a movie together to distract ourselves. I decided to watch Harry potter again. I loved that movie.

After a hour or two, my mother called us downstairs to meet the guest. It was really hard to leave Harry Potter in the middle but we had to. When we went downstairs, I found the guest was none other than Nina

"Hey" Nina greeted. Shr knew something was wrong.

"Hi" I whispered. I didn't had the confidence to say anything right now

"Hey Nina, thanks for coming on such a short notice" I looked at Dee and she was smiling at her.

"Always Dee" Nina cheerfully smiled. So Dee had called her but why.

"Ashu, I thought it would be better if you go out with your best friend. " Dee explained my dilemma

"Thank you" I smiled. She was so nice. She knew me very well. No matter how much fight we had, we knew we could hold on to each other.

"Let's go for some ice cream Ashu!" Nina excitedly said. It was clear she was pretending to be cheerful to brighten the mood.

I nodded. I went back to my room to get my phone, watch and wallet.

We walked the distance as there was a small cafe in the next street.

After we ordered our ice creams, we settled on a table.

"So?" Nina asked. She didn't need to complete the sentence.

"Da-dadu has cancer" The tears broke free again. I didn't know from where they were coming.

Nina quickly shifted to a chair near me and hugged me tightly.

"Ssh.... Ashu" she comforted.

We pulled apart when our ice cream arrived. I saw that Nina had ordered some pastries too but what surprised me was the extra ice cream bowl.

"Whose that for?" I pointed towards the plate.

"For me" A third voice said. I looked up and there he was, my sun around whom my entire universe had changed its course.

I didn't know what my future will be without him. I didn't know what I will do if he ever decided to leave me.

I didn't know why I had to have all the depressing thoughts in the same day.

He settled himslef on the empty chair in front of the extra ice cream bowl.

"Hello to both of you" Arnav smiled looking at both of us.

"Hi Arnav, thanks for coming" Nina said. Arnav nodded while staring at me.

I looked at her confused.

"I called him. I know you need your best friend and I will always bw there for you but right now you need a good distraction and he is perfect for that." She whispered closer to my ear and winked.

"Wha-" I looked at her shocked.

"You can pretend all you want but I am your best friend, you soul sister and twin" She again whispered and grinned.

We ate in silence. After our plates were empty, Nina very cunningly excused herself saying her mother needed her for urgent matter.

"Enjoy" She had shouted on her way to door.

Now we were both alone.

" Want to go somewhere?" Arnav asked.

"Where?" I asked.

"Just somewhere"

I nodded. Nina was right I need distraction.

We went outside and Arnav informed me that he was going to get his car from parking lot.

I waited for him while watching a cute little squirrel climbing a tree.

A stylish black BMW car arrived and the back seat window rolled down. I was astonished to find Arnav. The front seat was occupied by the driver.I was no where good at cars and models. For me it screamed rich.

"Is it your car?" I asked.

He nodded "get in" He unlocked the door and I settled in.

"Driver, drive to the place" Arnav instructed.

His instruction was unclear to me but for driver it wasn't. He knew where "the place" was.

I sat silently. I didn't want to talk to Arnav in presence of a stranger.

Apparently, the gap between us wasn't good for Arnav so he pulled me to his side and wrapped his arms.

"What are you doing" I shrieked afraid of the driver.

"You know what I am doing" he smiled.

"You know we are not alone"

"I am just holding you, its not like I am kissing you" He grinned.

My cheeks heated up. I didn't look back at him and hide my face in his chest to hide my embarrassment.

The driver must have heard and it made me blush harder.

After half an hour, the car stopped.
Arnav opened the door and took my hand in his and led me forward.

As soon as I stepped out, the scene took my breath away.

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I cried while writing this chapter. It brought back so many memories, past, present and future. In no way, I mean to hurt someone through this chapter.

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Thank you everyone for all the love and support you showed to me. Most of you have read the message I had posted on my message board and encouraged me. I love you all <3
I am much better now though this cough is killing me. I got wet in the rain today and that led it to worse.

Happy teachers day in advance. I am really thankful to all my teachers for showing me the right part and all the knowledge with encouragement.

"Guru bhrama, guru Vishnu, guru Maheswar"

Don't forget to vote, follow and comment. Thank you to my new readers and followers. Sorry for not replying to your comments but know that I read them and which encouraged me a lot.