"One,  two,  three, four,  five............ forty six,  forty seven, forty eight,forty nine, FIFTY!  Why am I torturing myself by counting?  Quietly run.  Stop talking! " Ali  shook his head and continued running. He was enjoying and having a good time while running,  but he did not like being alone. He was looking for a familiar face. He knew Kabir was somewhere near. It was a daily routine for Kabir to go for a walk early in the morning in that park.  So was the daily routine of Anya and Ali.  But they all came in their own time and never coordinated their time. And they hardly crossed paths.  He smiled widely when he saw Kabir.  Kabir was running towards him, but he was lost in his own thoughts and did not notice him.  Ali jogged in the same spot until Kabir reach him and then he started running next to him.

"What do you want? "Kabir asked.

Ali frowned. "Nothing."

"Then why are you smiling? "

Ali smiled wider. "Because I am happy to see you. "

Kabir looked at him. "Why? "

"Because you are my friend!"

"Run quietly. "

Ali shook his head and quietly followed the order.  Kabir was surprised that Ali obeyed him and did not throw a commotion, but just as he got impressed by his friend Ali said, "Guess who is saw today? "

"Who? "

"That guy who used to work with us. I don't remember his name.  He was in marketing I guess. Not sure.  He left almost two years ago. "

"That was very helpful. "

Ali laughed. "He looks very cunning. He said something to me so I never liked him. He started working at a law firm after he left us."

Kabir slowed down and eventually stopped running. "You mean Kunal Chauhan?"

"I guess. I don't remember his name. "

"He started working at Dia's husband's firm. "

Ali raised his eyebrows. "How do you know that? "

Kabir started walking and Ali followed. "When he left he told me where he was joining."

"How do you know that is her husband's firm? "

Kabir shrugged. "I don't remember.  Anya talks a lot."

"She sure does. But what she does more is being weird. Look at her. " Ali motioned towards a tree behind which Anya was standing.  "These cousins sure love trees. "

"What are you doing? " Kabir asked Anya while walking towards her.

"He." She pointed at two men who were walking together.  "Is Dia's husband. "

"And the other one is Kunal," Ali immediately said.

"He used to work with us, right? " Anya asked Ali.

Ali nodded his head couple of times. "Now, he works for him. " Ali narrowed his eyes and frowned. There was something about Aman's face that was ringing a bell in Ali's head. "I have seen him somewhere. " He said to himself. 

"What is he doing here? " Anya said. "I don't think I have ever seen him here before.  Or maybe I did.  I don't know."

"He is definitely not a regular." Ali said.

"But why is he here now?  It's too close to my house. "

"Let's find out. " Kabir said before he started walking towards them.  Anya and Ali exchange glances. "What is he doing? " Anya asked.

"I will go and check. " Ali ran to catch up with him. "What are you planning? "

Kabir looked at Ali and kept his eyes steady on him.  "To talk. "

Ali quietly followed him.  He sensed Kabir was up to something and thought it was better to stay quiet. Anya was anxiously looking at them.  Once they started talking she guessed Kunal introduced Aman to them.  They were talking calmly.  Nothing seemed off. They talked just for a minute or two and then parted away.  Anya patiently waited for them, but as soon as they came close enough for her voice to reach them without being loud she said, "what what what? "

"He is here because he had an important trial at court today. He wanted Kunal's help and as Kunal was here he came here. " Ali said in one breath.

"He frequently does that? " Anya asked.

"This is his first time. And he did not seem impressed by the park.  He isn't coming back. " Kabir said this time.

Anya frowned. "What kind of high standards does he have? What's wrong with the park? "

"I know right. It's beautiful, peaceful and natural.  What else was that rich spoiled brat expects from a park? A marble floor?"

Kabir closed his eyes.  "If you two are done expressing your hate for him and for rich people then can we end the conversation? I am done, so I am going home."

"I still have two kilometres to go. " Anya said before crossing her arms.

"Five. " Ali said. 

"Then start walking. Be in office on time. Bye. " Anya said before she started running.

"Do as she said. " Kabir said before he started walking too.

Ali kept his hands on his hips. "Why do they always boss around?  I will see them when I become their boss one day. " Ali said and started running.  Anya completed her two kilometres and went home.  She was scared how Dia would be when she enters the house, but to her surprise Dia was sleeping.  She was still sleeping even after Anya was all ready to leave.  She could not sleep the whole night and had fallen asleep around five in the morning.  Anya waited for some time, but when Dia did not wake up she decided to wake her up.  She didn't want Dia to wake up to an empty house again.

"I will be back by eight." Anya said before picking up her phone from the centre table in the living room. 

"Can you come home before that? " Dia whispered.

Anya smiled."Don't worry Nani will be here any minute. "

"Aya!  I totally forgot about her.  Where is she? "

"She was missing her son and his kids.  She is coming back today and listen she does not know anything, so she will be shocked to see you.  Don't let that affect you.  "

"Oh." Dia wasn't very comfortable around her cousin's grandmother,  but she was happy that she won't be alone. But she was scared of her reaction, of what she would think of her and how she would treat her. Before Dia could think more about it,  her cousin's grandmother arrived.   Dia was nervously sitting on the chair while Anya explained her everything.  Her grandmother had a blank expression on her face which made it difficult for Dia to understand what she thought about her and her situation.  Her blank expression made Dia feel that she didn't like her or what she did.  She was afraid that she would have to go back because of her.  She did not want to do that. 

Anya was late for work so soon after she was done explaining everything to her grandmother she left.  Dia wanted Anya to stay for some more time as it would be awkward without her, but she did not have the courage to ask Anya to do so. Dia did not know what to say or how to behave, so she decided to stay still until told otherwise. To her relief Nani went to the kitchen and disappeared for a long time.  Dia was sitting alert just in case Nani comes back in the room,  but she didn't.  After a while Dia realised that she was working in the kitchen,  probably preparing lunch for them.  Dia quickly ran to the kitchen to see what she was doing.

"Nani why are you working? " She extended her hand. "I will do it."

"No, no.  You go and sit.  I will make lunch for us."

Dia wanted to take the knife from her hand and tell her to relax,but she could not say a word. She was feeling bad for making her work,but she was afraid of doing anything about it. She stood in the same place as she did not know what else to do. Also she did not want nani to think she was irresponsible.  "We can do this together. I will sit down and cut the vegetables.  You make the curry," nani said after a while. Dia quickly nodded her head and started working.For next fifteen minutes they worked quietly without disturbing each other. Dia kept checking if nani was looking at her or not.  Every now and then she felt as if nani was looking at her, but that was not the case.  Nani was busy with her work and didn't have time to look at anyone. 

"Why are you looking at me again and again? " Nani suddenly asked. 

"Ha! " Dia panicked for a second.

Nani looked up. "What is bothering you? " She shook her head and said nothing."Do you want to ask something? " Dia slowly shook her head again. They worked again in silence for ten minutes. Dia was feeling very awkward and she wanted to hide somewhere.

"I think you did a right thing by walking away from a person like him. You did not deserve that. But what you did to your parents was wrong. I met them yesterday.  They are really worried.  Your mother was continuously crying. That was not right."

Dia looked down.  She was feeling guilty and ashamed.  She had a feeling what she did was wrong,  but her cousin's words made her think that she was right.  Now after talking to nani she was again thinking that maybe she was wrong. She was feeling scared again. She wanted to cry again.

Where on one hand Dia was trying to keep her tears to herself, there on the other hand Anya was trying to concentrate on work,  but her mind kept drifting to her cousin. 

"Done with the report? "

Anya looked up and saw Kabir standing.  She shook her head, " Almost done."

"Ok."Kabir turned around and left.  Ali was observing them. Once Kabir left he looked at Anya. She looked distracted and lost. He stood up from his chair and sat on Himani's chair. " How is your cousin? "

"She was fine when I left.  I don't know about now."

"I am sure she is fine. "Anya smiled but continued working.  "What are you planning?  Will you take her to Kabir's brother? " Ali asked.

"I think so.  Maybe.  I'm  not sure."

"You should go.  Ask Kabir to come with you. "

"I don't think so.  She should talk to him alone.  I don't want her to feel uncomfortable.  So even I won't be there.  I will wait outside. "

"That would be better. " Ali agreed

"I need some air."

Ali did not stop her.  He knew she was upset and wanted to be alone.  Ali went back and sat on his chair before he started working. He was busy working when Rohit came to him.  "Where is your friend? "

Ali looked up at him. "Who? "

"Anya who else. "

"I do have other friends."

"I don't care about that. Where is she? "

Ali looked back at his computer."She went out. She needed break. "

"We just started working. She needs break every five minutes."

"Look rohit,  I am busy here.  Anya will be back soon. And stop bothering her.  Unlike you she has a life outside this office and some times it's difficult to cope. "

"Why are you fighting for her?"

"You got a point. Why am I fighting for her. She is fully capable of taking you down by herself. " Rohit was about to reply Ali when Baskar called him.  He had to leave immediately and Ali had not been more grateful before.

Ali looked around to see if Anya was back. She was nowhere in his sight. He wondered where she was. She was sitting on a bench that was in the little garden in front of their office building.  She was facing the main road. She did not want to look at her office, so she chose the bench which showed her the road. She was thinking about a lot of people but all related to one. That one person was close to her heart,  but at the same time took the peace of her heart away. Anya could not stop thinking or worrying.  Her brain could not rest. Her heart was a mess. She could not imagine how Dia was feeling. The thought of Dia made her frown. She closed her eyes.  Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. She opened her eyes abruptly. She saw a familiar face as soon as she opened her eyes. He was walking towards the office. At first he did not notice her and she was hoping he would pass without knowing she was sitting there.  But just as she wished for that he noticed her.  Changing his route he walked towards her. 

"What are you doing here? " Anya initiated the conversation.

"Kabir forgot this. " Samar showed her the file in his hand. "file at home. He forced me to bring it. This file has some information or something like that. "

"He is suppose to give a complete report before five." Anya informed him.

Samar nodded his head."That's what he said."

"You can give it to me.  I will go up in a minute. "

"I was hoping for that. "

Anya smiled before taking the file from him.  She was expecting him to leave,  but instead he kept standing, blocking her view. She waited for few seconds before looking up at him. He raised his eyebrows which made her frown. She shrugged before saying,"I don't think he needs this file that urgently.  I can spend one more minute here." He smiled this time before sitting on the bench.  She was on the far left corner and he was on the far right corner.

"How are you? " He asked.

"I don't know."

"Hmm." He nodded his head a copy of times.  "Kabir told me you are disturb."

"He told me about you, too. "

He raised an eyebrow"What about me? "

"He suggested me to take my cousin to you. He said you are good in your field. "

"Oh that. " He gave a nod to his head.  "I would love to help Dia."

Anya raised her eyebrows, "you remember her? "

"Not really. Kabir told me about her."

"I talk a lot of her now a days."

He smiled. "I guess that is the reason."

"It's good you doing remember her. She is so different now. It's disturbing. "

"I do remember a small girl around you. You always acted like you were her mother. "

"I felt like I was her mother."

He smiled."You are over protective of your things. "

"I still could not protect her. "

"It wasn't your fault. "

"What time are you available? And where are you available? "

"I only have one place where I practice. "

"Which is? "

"I will give you my card." She immediately extended her hand. He rolled his eyes. "When I stand up."

She chuckled. "OK."

"She will be fine.  Don't stress too much."

"How can I not? "

"That is a good question.  You will stress about her.  That is natural.  But don't be Anya. "

She frowned and quickly looked at him, "what? "

"Being Anya means being hyper and worrying a lot. Over thinking, over worrying, over everything. "

"I don't do that"

"Oh! I know that. "

Anya rolled her eyes. "leave. Don't you have to work? "

"I can ask you the same question."

"It's lunch break." Anya defended herself.

"Same for me. "

Anya frowned."OK."

"Do not force her to meet me. " He says after few moments of silence.

"Why?  You don't want to meet her? "

"I don't want you to force her.  If you force her then she might not like talking to me.  That won't help. "

"Oh. OK."

"I will get going now. "

"OK."

"Stop wasting time here. Go up and give Kabir that file."

She narrowed her eyes."This is why I don't like you." Before he could say anything she stood up and started walking towards the building.  Anya didn't have a very sweet or loving relationship with anyone,  but her relationship with him was the worst. She was always bitter towards him.  She took Everything he said and did in a negative way.  He on the other hand always played along with her.  Sometimes he ignored her,  but sometimes it was world War III between them. They used to fight a lot,but they were still friends. Things did not change over the years but the distance between them increased.  Friends when children were now people who just knew about each other's existence.

"Kabir."  Anya gave him the file before sitting on her chair.

"Thank you.  Where is he? "

"Who? " Ali immediately stopping what he was doing and looked up at Kabir.

"My brother."

"Samar. OK. "

"Panchayat. Ali wants to know everything. " Himani said.

"Himani!  When did you come back?  How is your grandmother?  Were you here since the morning? "

"Breathe. I am not running anyway. Take your time with the questions. "

"Just answer. "

"I came back last night and no I just came to office. My son wasn't feeling well in the morning. What else? "

"Your grandmother. " Ali reminded.

"She." Himani pressed her lips together. "Is not fine.  She cannot survive for long.  But she is still with us and I am not going to shed a tear."

"I am sure that's what she wants. " Kabir said with a smile.

"I know." She smiled. "So what did I miss? Is Rohit still alive or Anya lost her calm? "

Ali shook his head. "She did not! "

"Why are you so disappointed? " Anya asked frowning.

"Because I have already bought the ticket to Rohit's finale. "

"Very funny. " Anya mocked him.

"It is. " Ali whispered.

"What happened? " Kabir asked Himani who was looking at her phone screen with a frown.

"My husband received a call from police?  Someone from our building went missing so they want to ask questions. Oh! " Himani remembered about Dia. She looked at Anya immediately.  "It must be about Dia. Any news about her? "

"No nothing. We are clueless. " Anya replied. Ali and Kabir exchanged glances before looking at Anya.  "I am praying for her.  Do not stress a lot. "

Anya smiled and then looked at the boys.  Kabir raised his eyebrows questioningly. She looked back at Himani. "Himani did you eat anything? "

"No,I did not get time. I didn't even have breakfast. "

"Then go and eat right now. You don't have much time left. "

Himani smiled. "I did not bring my tiffin. "

"How can you forget my mother? " Ali asked.

"Huh? " Kabir and everyone else were confuse.

"She is a typical mother. Gives us more than we eat and when we ask her what we will do with the extra food she says, either eat it or feed the needy. " He smiled. "Poverty teaches you what hunger means. You can take my tiffin. "

Himani smiled. "That's really sweet of her. Thanks, But I will buy something from the canteen. "

"Do you earn millions? Go and eat."

Himani smiled wider. "Okay. I will go and drink some water before that. "

"Sure."

Himani smiled again. She went to the canteen to get some water leaving behind the others. Anya looked at Kabir. "I want to say something good to Ali. What is wrong with me? "

Ali beamed proudly. "I am too good, right? " Anya narrowed her eyes making him laugh. Kabir smiled at them before asking, "why didn't you tell Himani? "

"It's would put unnecessary pressure on her.  Let her answer the questions without any stress. "

Kabir nodded his head. "That makes sense."

"If she makes a mistake it will not only put you in trouble but also her. It's best she is unaware of things right now. " Ali said.  "I am impressed Anya.  That was quick thinking you did. "

Anya smiled. "I am too good, right? "