Recap

Aayush and Sam spend the next two years of their love life, apart from each other, with Aayush being in New York for his studies. He promises to return to India after he completes his education and that they would get married and get settled in New York itself. During Sam's birthday, in the final year, her friends surprise her with Aayush. Sam doesn't know that he had come to India. Everyone celebrates her birthday, when she gets a sudden call from her Mother. In the present, it is revealed that Anita is Sameera , when suddenly Emily is found to be unconscious.

Chris's POV

After calling for an ambulance, I carried Emily downstairs and laid her on the couch.

Anita...that is Sameera..whatever her name was, she was under panic and she put Emily's head on her lap and sobbed silently.

I didn't know what to do. The ambulance arrived few minutes later and the paramedics rushed Emily inside the vehicle. Sameera went along with her and I followed the ambulance in my car.

We reached a nearby hospital and they rushed Emily into the emergency care .We  weren't  allowed inside, so we sat on the chairs in the waiting area.

A nurse came to her with some papers and asked her to fill out a form. Her hands shook and she was unable to write. I took the pen, filled out the form and asked her to just sign it.

She was still in shock. Her eyes were red and swollen. She had apparently cried all the way to the hospital. I sat near her and held her hands.

"Will she be alright Chris ?"

"I promise she will be healthy soon. Don't worry ."

She nodded slowly and said, "Why does God take everyone away from me? All those  I love ! Why Chris ?"

"You shouldn't overthink . Just keep calm Ani....Sameera. I am here for you."

"I'll be back", I said to her and went to get something to drink.

There were many corridors in the hospital and it took me sometime to find the cafeteria and return to the emergency ward.

Just as I came back, a doctor who had been speaking to her walked past me.

I rushed to her and asked what did he say.

"Emily is out of danger for now. They say she has to undergo radiotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading.", she smiled relieved.

"See...I told you..she will be fine..Here, drink this.", I handed her a cup of coffee.

"Thank you Chris !"

We were allowed to see Emily after some time.

It pained me to see her on the hospital bed with all those wires and equipment around her. Poor thing ! Just yesterday, she was happily playing in the garden with me and now she is in the hospital.

They had put her on sedatives , so she slept peacefully. I felt it was my duty to protect and take care of Emily and her mother. I considered Emily as my own daughter.

Sameera stroked her hair and sat next to her bed.

"Go home Chris. I'll take care of her."

"What makes you think I am going to leave you and Emily here all alone ? Don't be absurd !", I said angrily.

"Chris..please..."

"I will not hear another word !"

She sighed and rested her face on Emily's bed. I was in the room along with them. I sent a message to my sister Alice about the incident. She was terrified and I assured her that Emily was going to be fine. She said she would visit us the next day. It was 1 a.m in the morning. Sameera had slept off near the bed itself. I covered her with a blanket I found and I watched over Emily for the entire night. I also admired Sameera while she slept. Even while she slept, I could see the insecurity and fear on her face. I felt very sorry for her. She must have had a troubled past and now Emily  has fallen sick. Whatever happens, I will stay by her side and I will never leave her. I decided that it was not the best time to confess my love for her. Where would she go ? I would tell her after Emily gets completely alright.

Morning dawned and Sameera woke up from sleep . She looked at Emily first and she saw me awake, sipping coffee.

"Dear God ! How could I doze off ? How irresponsible I am !"

"Relax. I am here. "

"You were awake the whole night ?", she asked in an astonished tone.

"As a matter of fact, yeah ! Emily is fine now.", I smiled.

"Thank you Chris. Very much.", she held my hand as a sign of gratitude.

I am sure there was no sign of love , just friendship. It pained me.

Alice came to visit Emily and she stayed for a long time, cheering her up.

Emily was discharged from the hospital in few days and the doctors asked her to visit regularly to perform radiotherapy. They assured that after the treatment, the cancer can be completely removed. Sameera became very happy after hearing it.

We also took Emily to visit her friends at the orphanage and everyone of us had a really good time.

Just then, my manager gave me heaps of tasks to be completed and I had to stay overnight to complete all those. I had so many client meetings and it was driving me crazy. It took almost two weeks to complete all the assigned tasks and I couldn't visit Emily during that  time.

I wanted to know the rest of Sameera's  story. After that night,  due to Emily's sickness, I forgot about her story. Then, I remembered but I didn't want to ask her about it fearing that she might go into emotional breakdown again.

Now, two weeks had passed since the incident and I guessed that Sameera would be completely normal by now. I didn't ask about it in office too. She too had lots of work to complete and I knew she wouldn't be comfortable to tell the story right in the office.

So, on a warm Saturday evening, I drove to her house. I had bought gifts for Emily , all her favorite things. Besides, I was desperate to know what had happened to Sameera's boyfriend. Where was he ? What did her Mom tell her that changed her life ? Why was she unmarried ? A thousand questions ran through  my mind and I was determined to find the answers.

I reached her home and pressed the doorbell.

Sameera opened the door. She wore a white shirt and denims. She looked as beautiful as ever and her big, beautiful eyes lit up on seeing me.

"Chris !", she exclaimed, "Come in !"

"Forgot us, huh ?"

"Hey, I was busy with work. You know about our manager right ?", I said as I handed over a small bouquet of flowers to her.

She smelled it and said, "That's sweet of you. Yeah, the manager is becoming mad and I could see you always rushing out to meet clients ."

"He has finally given me some rest and here I am .", I said triumphantly.

She laughed. It made to very happy to see her laughing after a very long time.

"I'll be right back.", I said and went upstairs to meet Emily.

She was in her room, playing with dolls.

"Uncle Chris !", she screamed and gave me a tight hug.

"How are you sweetheart ? Have you taken your tablets ?"

"Yes Uncle ! Why didn't you come to see me ?", she pouted.

"I was very busy dear. See, I have bought you Barbie dolls and lots of candy.", I handed them over to her.

"Thank you Uncle.", she planted a kiss on my cheek and went to play happily.

I kissed her back and went downstairs to talk with Sameera.

"I'll make dinner. Stay !", she ordered.

"Umm...", I hesitated.

"What ? ", she asked.

"You haven't finish telling me what happened after you got a call from your mother ."

Her smile suddenly faded.

"Oh...yeah..I forgot to tell you the rest.", she forced a smile on her face.

"Sameera..we can talk about it some other time if you are not comfortable."

"No..let's finish this now. I would feel better if I told you about it.", she went to sit on the couch.

I followed Sameera and sat opposite to her, to listen to her past.

..........................................................................

Sameera's POV

"Sameera ?', my mother's voice trembled.

"Mom..is everything alright ?"

"Grandmother has been admitted in the hospital. Please come soon.  A...AVH hospital !"

I couldn't believe it. My granny , in the hospital.

"Sam...what happened ?", Aayush rushed to me and asked.

"Granny.....", I couldn't speak.

"What happened to her ?"

"She...she..is...in...in the hospital.", I was in shock.

"Come on !", he pulled me .

We went towards Aayush's car.

"Get in !", he ordered, "Put on the seat belt !"

I obeyed him and he started the car and went as fast as he could.

"Which hospital ?", he asked.

"AVH. "

Neither of us spoke during the ride.

He steered the car into the hospital building and stopped at the entrance.

"Go. I'll come ", he said.

I got out and ran into the hospital building. I didn't know where to go. I stood in the center of the lobby, wondering where to go.

"Sameera !", I turned to see my Father coming towards me.

"Thank God you are here. Come !", he took my hand and led me somewhere.

I turned back to see if Aayush was coming. He saw me with my father and followed us.

My dad led me to a room on the first floor. People whom I had never met in life where crowded near the room. They looked sober and dull.

"Dad....Granny is not ?", the word "dead" couldn't come out of my mouth.

"Not yet dear.", he replied. His voice quivered and he was ready to break down any moment.

He led me inside the room. A bed was located in the center of the room, on which lay my beloved Grandmother. There were again many people whom I didn't know, standing around the bed.

My mother stroked Granny's hair and she sobbed quietly. I ran towards my Granny to see her eyes closed.

"Granny..please don't be gone."

"Sameera ", she replied softly in a croaked voice.

"I am here Granny . I am here !" , I wept .

"Can you fulfill my last wish ?"

"Anything Granny ! Please tell me what it is."

She slowly held out her hand to me and said, "Promise me that you will marry your cousin Harish ".

I was thunderstruck !

"What ?", I screamed.

My head spun and I didn't know what was happening.

"Promise me child .", Granny's hand was still held out to me.

No ! No....no.....this is not happening..this is just a dream.

"Sameera..do it !", I could hear Mother's voice behind me.

No..I can't betray Aayush ! Never ! I became restless.

Someone took my hand and gently placed it on Granny's hand.

Anger rushed through me and I jerked my head swiftly to see who that person was !

It was Aayush !

He smiled and said , "Sameera will marry Harish, Granny."

Granny finally closed her eyes with a satisfied smile .

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My dear readers, hope you like the chapter ! I am sure you must be having a lot of questions, all of which will be answered in the forthcoming chapters.

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