I enter the house, the floors creaking beneath my shoes. Shahid ushers Kaka in too as he is profusely apologizing for giving such a surprise.

"Come on ma. I know you liked it." Shahid hugs her again and this time she hugs her back.

"Of course. A mother always loves it when her children come home." She wipes her tears and looks at kaka, "Could you keep them upstairs?" pointing at the suitcase and small handbag.

He bows and takes them up.

"It is not that I don't like the surprise but I don't have anything prepared." She pouts. She was always this cute.

"MA! We aren't guests for you to treat us in a special manner." He holds her warm hands in his warm hands, pressing them. "We are glad to be back." And looks back at me for assurance.

I nod back at them and look at the portrait behind her. The garland seems to be fresh.

"I change it every day. Different flowers." My mom says when she follows my gaze.

"OHHHH! Dad looks so handsome, doesn't he?" he lightens up the mood but I don't smile.

I don't smile anymore when they mention him. Just like 4 years back.

Flashback

"Kanak? What happened?" Shahid shouts as I fall, my phone falling with me. He grabs it in a quick motion and speaks.

"Hello?" "Yes maa? No no, she is okay. What happened?"

He gets silent too. I am still staring at that cold hard floor.

"When? Okay, we will be there." He keeps the phone. I could hear him take a deep breath in, trying to control his tears. He wanted to be strong in front of me.

I keep staring at that cold, hard floor and I feel two hands on my shoulders. Those hands which always gave my warmth, couldn't do anything anymore. Because I broke that day.

Everything in me broke that day and I still haven't found all my pieces yet.

He puts my head on his chest, patting my back. He thought I would cry but I didn't. I didn't shed a tear. I couldn't.

I don't know for how long we sat there like that but I was thankful for Shahid to be there with me.

Flashback Ends

"Would you like some tea?" Ma speaks looking at me. I nod my head indicating that I was tired. I head straight towards the room on the left.

"But...." Shahid stops Ma from saying any further.

"She needs this Ma. She has held it in for four years. Let her be." He assures her with his sincere smile.

It was this sincere smile that won me and my parents over.

Ma nods sadly as she goes to the kitchen with an excited Shahid.

Ironical as to how one part of the 'home' was beaming with happiness and the other side with total despair.

I was brooding.