||Abhishek||

Shubman was continuously weeping and I can't leave him alone in this state. Also, I can't take him to his home cause I know his family will freak out. I decided to take him to Riya's flat. Riya lived alone in a flat so it was the safest place. I immediately texted her.

Me
You home? It's urgent.

Babe ❤️
I'm. What's wrong?

Me
Siya broke up with Shub.
I'm bringing him to your place,
Is that fine?

Babe ❤️
Oh shit!
Yes sure, but why did she
break up?

Me
I'm driving right now. I'll tell you
everything once I reach.

I kept my phone aside and drove us to her place. Shubman had stopped crying by now but was still motionless. I tried to talk but he didn't respond which worried me to hell.

"Shub for God's sake please say something" I said. He turned to me for a second then again looked down. He is my best friend and I just can't see him like this.

I parked the car outside her society and stepped out. I went to the other side the opened the door for Shubman. He looked at me weekly but stood up immediately when he saw we're outside Riya's apartment. We took the lift upstairs and I rang the doorbell​. She opened the door within seconds.

"Oh my God Shub" she broke down seeing his state and immediately hugged him. Shubman hugged her back and started crying again.

"C'mon get inside" she said after breaking the hug. She made Shubman sit in her sofa and handed him a glass of water. Riya signalled me to come with her room and I did so.

"Why did she break up?" She asked, "I don't know, he isn't saying anything. He's completely broken" I replied.

"We need to know what happened out there. I've never seen him this Abhay, my heart is aching looking at his condition" she said.

"Do you think it's the right time?" I asked.

"I don't know, did you guys had dinner?" She asked and I shook my head. "We'll ask him after dinner, take care of him till I finish cooking" she said and left. Over these years Riya and Shubman had come close. They were no longer just good friends but shared a brother-sister relationship.

I went back to the living room and sat beside Shubman. He wasn't crying but looked lifeless. I preferred to stay silent cause asking anything right now might worsen his condition.

After few minutes Riya said she's served the dinner so I stood up from the sofa. Unlike me Shubman didn't.

"Shub come let's have dinner, you​haven't eaten anything since morning" I said but he shook his head.

"Shub​ please" Riya came by now. He refused to speak.

"Shub please, if you don't eat anything, I won't eat either" I said. He looked up.

"Fine" he finally spoke. We all sat for dinner and unlike other days, there was silence this time. Once we were finished, I helped Riya clean the table. Surprisingly Shubman helped us too which made me feel better. Once everything was done all of us went to the living. Me and Riya were sitting opposite to Shubman.

"Shub I know you aren't ready to speak about it yet but please, if you can then tell us what happened brother. We're worried about you" I said.

"Yes Shubman, all of us are like family here and we're here to help you" Riya said and Shubman nodded.

"I'm sorry guys" he said and narrated us the entire incident. Once he finished speaking, both me and Riya were in shock. I've always liked Siya as a friend but after what she did today made me curse her. How can she play with someone's emotions like this?

"How can she do this? You loved her with all your heart and she was just using you all these years? I feel like punching her right now" Riya said.

"Not every love story has a happy ending. Maybe I just don't deserve to be loved" Shubman said.

"You do Shub! Don't think like this, it's not your fault. You did everything you could and it's her loss to leave a guy like you" I said.

"I don't know Abhay" he sobbed a little.

"You okay Shub?" Riya asked.

"Can I stay at your place tonight?" He asked, "ofcourse" she said.

"I don't feel like talking right now. I'm going to sleep" he stood up to leave.

"Things will get better brother" I said and he weakly smiled at me.

"Goodnight" he retreats and leaves.

|| Anya||

I went up to the terrace and found Dad standing at the edge and looking at the moon, his back facing me.

"Dad" I called and he turned.

"Hey sweetheart" he smiled.

"You wanted to talk?" I asked and he nodded.

"Anya, what I'm about to tell will change your life forever. I never wanted to do this so early but the circumstances led me to do so" he said.

"What's wrong Dad?" I asked.

"You and me, we both know the truth that I don't have much time left. And you also know that I'm not opting for chemos-" I cut him off.

"Dad please don't say this"

"Let me finish Anya" he says softly and I nodded.

"Every father has a dream to see his daughter get married to someone who's worth his daughter. I've that dream too. I never wanted this day to come so early but unfortunately my health isn't supporting me" he said on the verge of crying.

"Dad please don't cry" I said as a tear escaped my eye.

"You remember what Dr Batra said? I've, atmost, one year. I've never asked you for anything in my entire life. Please Anya, it's my last wish" he finished.

He was right. He has never asked me for anything. Had he asked for something else I would have said yes without even thinking twice. But marriage is something which is the decision of a lifetime, and I always dreamt of marrying a guy I love.

"But Dad, Mom and Aryan need me. I know you always wanted me to get married but there's no need of it as of now. Aryan is still studying and I earn enough to take care of our family" I explain.

"I've talked to your Mom and Aryan, they want this too" he said. I was in dilemma after this. A part of me said I wasn't ready for this but the other part, the dominant one, said I can't disappoint my family. My family is above everything for me and I decided to listen to my dominant part.

"Fine Dad, I'll"

A smile appeared on Dad's face as soon as he heard this. It was a genuine smile I hadn't seen in days, it made me smile too. Dad is the most important person for me, it's only cause of him that I'm here.

"Thank you" he hugged me and I hugged him back. "It's late now go and sleep, goodnight" he said.

"Goodnight Dad" I smiled and left. I went back to my room still thinking about our conversation.

My life is about to change.

||Shubman||

Its been two days since I've been staying at Riya's flat and surprisingly she hasn't kicked me out yet. Abhay and Riya didn't ask anything about Siya after that night. Instead they were trying to light up my mood all the time. Abhay didn't go home for two days just to stay with me and make sure I don't feel alone. This actually worked for me cause I was feeling better. I wasn't over Siya yet and I don't know if I'd ever be but spending time with them made me forget my sorrows for sometime at least.

Riya was afraid that I might become a drunkard and start taking cigarettes, so she put me on house arrest during her working hours and when Abhay was out. Lol. I'm not attending calls from my family cause I wasn't ready to tell them anything yet. Mom never liked Siya, she always told me that she just doesn't give her the right vibes and me being me never listened to her, now I realise that I should've. Dad was fine with Siya till our relationship doesn't affect my cricket and mental space.

I was lying on the bed playing FIFA when I heard a knock at the door. I diverted my eyes to find Riya standing there.

"Can we talk?" She asked, "sure, what happened?" I asked. "Come let's have a cup of coffee together" she said and left.

I followed her to the dining where she poured a cup of coffee for me and passed it. "Sit" she said.

"What's wrong Riya?" I asked.

"Why aren't you picking up your family's calls?" She asked.

"Who told you that?"

"You answer first"

"I know they'll force me tell everything and once I tell them everything, they'll start cursing Siya and even though we aren't together, I can't hear anything against her" I explain. "Your turn" I added.

"Your mom called me today" she replied.

"I don't remember my Mom calling you ever before this. How did she get your number?" I asked.

"Well yes you're right. You ain't picking up her calls and asked Abhay to do the same. That's when she called Abhay's mom and apparently she gave her my number and I told her you're here. They want to meet you" she said.

"Did you tell them about Siya?" I asked, "no" she replied and I sighed.

"Go meet them Shub, they're worried about you" she said.

"Fine I'll go" I said, "thanks, take my car" she said and I nodded.
____________________

I stood outside the main door and rang the bell. Mom immediately opened the door and hugged me real tight.

"Shubman we were so worried" she said, "sorry Mom" I replied. I went inside and saw Dad sitting in the living room. I was going to my room when Dad stopped me.

"Shubman wait, we need to talk" he said.

I turned and asked, "about what Dad?"

"About what happened.." he paused, "that night between you and Siya" he completed after few seconds.

"Let me guess, Abhay told you everything?" I asked and he nodded. "Please" he said softly gesturing to sit. I went and sat opposite to him and Mom sat beside Dad.

"Shubman I know things were hard for you in these two days but you can't just sit and wait for her all day skipping your practice knowing that she won't come back" he explains.

"Dad I'm not waiting for anyone, I know you're disappointed that I skipped practice and I'm really sorry about it" I apologised.

"It's not about practice Shubman, I'm just asking you to move on" he said.

"Yeah Dad, I'm trying to focus on my cricket"

"By move on, I didn't mean cricket"

"Then what're you talking about?" I asked confused.

"We're your parents Shubman, we'll always do what's right for you. And we've taken a decision. We don't want you to commit another mistake, you're getting married my son" he said.

"NO!" I screamed as a reflex reaction.

"What happened?" Mom asked, "I'm sorry I didn't want to scream, but Dad marriage? Why? I'm still young and at a very important stage of my career, I'm not prepared for this" I lied. The truth was I still loved Siya and was not ready to let someone else take her place.

"You were two days back" he said.

"But Dad I don't want to get married to someone who I don't know, what if the girl is not right?" I explain.

"Shubman do you remember when I asked you to become a cricketer? Was I wrong then?" He asked, "No Dad but-" he cuts me off.

"You won't regret my decision I promise" he said.

"I know Dad but still"

"Please Shubman" he said with pleading eyes and I knew I've to give up now. Dad has never requested this much for anything and he was determined to hear a 'yes' and I didn't let him down.

"Okay Dad" I replied. They stood up and hugged me.

He didn't know that I might never love the girl he chooses.