Feel free to point out mistakes.

Enjoy:)

"And we all burst out laughing," Anya said with a smile on her face. "Ali is the funniest one. Don't tell him I said that." Anya smiled again. "It was a fun day. I hate picnics, but last year's picnic comes in the 'top ten fun days of my life'. Funny thing that list only has four days. But I intend to make it ten one day."

Dia nodded her head. Anya always tried to talk to her, tell her funny stories and also told her how she had fun with her friends. But Dia never replied. She simply nodded or some times smiled, which seemed like she was in pain. Anya thought if she kept doing that one day Dia would reply the way she used to do. Anya was waiting for that day patiently.

"And I do not think I have seen any more places. Not that I complain. I do not like to travel or go for a picnic or leave the house. My ordinary life is what I want." Dia nodded her head. "You love travelling, don't you?" Dia nodded again. "You have gone to so many places. Why don't you share something? Some stories." She shook her head this time. "OK. That's fine. Let's watch a movie. Which movie would you like to see?"

"Whatever you like."

"You say what you want. I will watch with you. What kind of movies do you like? I remember you always watched a Barbie movie on Sunday afternoons. Want to watch that?"

"OK."

Anya frowned instantly. She was not expecting her to say yes to that. Anya, as a kid never liked Barbie movies or shows. Now as an adult they did not exist for her, so thinking of watching it was a horror to her. "We can watch something else. There is a very interesting show, Victoria. It's about Queen Victoria. Would you like to see that?"

"Say yes."

"OK."

"Let's do that then." Anya quickly switched on her TV, excited to finally see the series. But while she was waiting for the TV to switch on, she felt guilty. Dia never asked Anya to do anything for her. She quietly sat in one corner of the house without troubling anyone. Anya turned around to face Dia. "You know what. Let's watch queen."She frowned. "Queen Barbie."

"OK."

Anya turned around again with a smile on her face this time. She took the remote in her hand and pointed it at the TV. She stayed in the same position for almost a minute before turning around again. "Do you know where I can find that?" Anya tried searching for Barbie movies or something that Dia would like, but she could not find any. After fifteen minutes she gave up. She sat next to Dia before saying, "Movies are boring. Let's do something else."

"OK."

"OK."

They ended up doing nothing that day. Anya proposed many options and Dia kept saying OK, but they could not do anything. Anya talked and Dia listened. That's all they did the whole day. Anya said a lot of things, but not what she wanted to say. It was only a few minutes before they were about to sleep when she said what she wanted to say the whole day. " Dia."

"Hmm."

"I have a friend. No! Friend's brother. He is a psychologist. I heard he is very good. Although I doubt that. No. I do not doubt." She did not want Dia to doubt him because she knew her doubt was baseless. "So, what do you think about it?" Anya smiled. Dia kept starring her without blinking.  Anya raised her eyebrows to encourage her to speak, but that did not work.  "I meant," Anya said. " Why don't you go and meet him?"

"Why?" Dia whispered.

"Ah. He is a psychologist. You can go to his." Anya looked up. "Workplace? Yeah his workplace, I guess. You can talk to him. Maybe that will help you and."

"NO!"

Anya gasped and shrugged together. It took her a few seconds to recover. "OK. At least meet him."

"NO!"

Dia stormed out of the room. Anya's eyes were wide open. Dia surprised her every other day with something unexpected. Anya was still not used to it She could not sleep properly that night, not because she was upset or shock,but because she wanted to tell her friends about it. Whenever something unexpected happened Anya ran to them first.

"Why are we not working?" Kabir asked to no one in particular.

"What is the problem? Why are you always so eager to work?" Ali asked .

"I do not want to work today." any said.

"Why?" Himani asked Anya.

"Dia snapped at me yesterday."

"I can never understand girls. Why is that haunting you so much? So she did. Move on. Live."

"Shut up."

"Why did she do that?" Himani asked.

"Because I asked her to meet Samar."

"Why did she react like you?" Kabir asked this time.

"I don't know. I was."She paused. "What do you mean!?"

"Stay on the topic." Kabir said with a smile.

"Maybe she does not want to meet a stranger." Ali guessed.

"Or maybe she does not want to meet him because depression and asking help for it is a taboo." Himani said.

"You think that might be the case?" Anya asked.

"It can be. Our society is ashamed of depression."

"I do not think that is the case." Kabir said.

"Then why did she snap like that. That was the loudest I have heard her in years."

"Maybe it was sudden for her." Ali said.

"Maybe."

"Lets go to work now." Kabir said.

"How come work is the only thing in your mind?" Ali asked.

"Better than having a book in my mind."

"Only if you knew what a pleasure it is."

“What do you plan to do now? “ Kabir asked Anya.

“I don’t know.  I will let her be like that for now.”

“She sounds depressed. Waiting can cause more harm.” Himani expressed  her view.

“She sounds scared more than depressed.” Ali said before talking a sip from his water bottle.

“I don’t know if she is depressed or not,  but she is definitely not herself.” Anya said looking at Himani.

“I agree with Ali.  She is scared.  Maybe we should give it some time and see.  If she still doesn’t act normal then we know where to go.” Kabir said trying to make Anya feel better.

“I guess. You know she passed her fear to me.  Now, even I jump like a spring when someone knocks the door.  I keep thinking what will happen when her husband finds out she is with me”

“Don’t worry.  Worrying isn’t going to help. “ Kabir said. 

“I have a question . How come police has still no clue? It's been such a long time. “Himani asked Anya.

“We don’t know if police have any clue or not. "Ali said. " Maybe they have.  Maybe they have suspected Anya or maybe Himani.” Himani’s eyes widened.  “Who knows.  Maybe they are even following Anya around,  to see what she does and if she knows something.”

Himani looked scared and her eyes were wide open.  Anya was frowning and she was angry now.  Kabir looked at the girls before he hit Ali on his head.  “When will you learn what to say and what not to say? “

“I was just telling the truth.”

“Truth my foot.  Be quiet.”

“It can be true.“

“Ali get lost!" Himani exclaimed.

“I saw that police officer few days ago. “

“Which one? “ Kabir asked instantly.

“The one who asked questions about Dia.  It looked as if he was looking for someone. “

“Looking for someone? “ Kabir asked.

“Waiting for someone?"

“Really? Himani asked. 

“I don’t know.  It looked something like that."

“You are overreacting. Like always." Ali said. 

“It is possible. “ Alganya was honest.

“ You have many things to stress about. Don't add more. Be careful. That’s all you can do now. “ Kabir said. 

“Yeah.”

“Do not worry.  I am sure he was waiting for his girlfriend. “ Ali tried to change the mood.

Himani chuckled. "How do you know he was waiting for his girlfriend? “

Before Ali could reply the door opened and their angry looking boss,  Baskar, came in. 

“What is this!?  Do you four get paid to sit and talk? You all always waste time and don’t work. You are only wasting time and money of the company. Look at other employees. They are so competent and determined. Look what you are doing? Why is no one working?  I need an answer right this instant.” Baskar took a deep breath after he was done shouting.  They did not stand up or apologise or start working.  Instead they all sat in the same place,  without moving or saying a word.  Except for Himani who had a small frown on her face,  all had blank expression on their faces and kept staring Baskar.  When after a whole minute nothing changed,  baskar frowned before he ran toward them and sat next to Ali.  “I did not mean that.  You all are the best employees of the company.  I am very happy with your work.  You all help me so much.  I am sorry.”

Ali patted his shoulder.“It’s okay.  We did not get offended.”

“We were about to start working. You didn’t have to yell.” Himani said.

“Sorry.”

“Sir." Anya said. "Is there something we did wrong? Did we not complete our work on time?”

“No, no. I did not say that.”

“Yeah. You just lovingly insulted us .” Ali whispered so that he doesn’t hear him.

“Himani, did you send the mail to Rohit?” Anya asked Himani.

Himani gasped.”Damn. I will send the mail right now!” himani quickly jumped up and left the meeting room.

Once she was out Anya turned to Ali.”I don’t mind you telling the truth. I appreciate honesty. But don’t scare Himani. She is in this because of me and I don’t want to freak her out.”

“Noted. I will be careful next time.”

“Thank you.”

“Why did you yell at us?” Kabir asked Baskar.

“I heard few people say that I’m not at all strict.  And that I’m not firm which is why people always take advantage of me."

“That is not true.”  Anya was quick to say.

“Yes, sir. No one can take advantage of you. It is not possible.” Ali shook his head as he said that.

Baskar smiled instantly. ”Thank you.”
Ali smiled before looking at Kabir who was trying not to smile. Anya ignored them and looked at her phone to check if she had any message.

“Let’s go and work now.” Anya said.

“Yeah or else sir will yell at us again.” Ali said standing up. 

“oh no ,no. I will not.” Baskar reassured them, making Anya smile this time.

“How can we worry when we have Baskar sir?” Ali said when he saw Anya smiling.

Baskar smiled proudly. “Thank you.”

Kabir opened the door and waited for everyone to come out before he closed it.  Kabir and Ali started walking behind Baskar and Anya went in the other reaction. She dialed her grandmother's number , but her grandmother did not answer.

“Anya.”

Anya stopped in her tracks and looked to her left. It was Rohit walking towards her. Be calm. Be nice.

“Are you planning to get fired? What is this?”

“You have to be a little more clear for me to understand what you are saying?”

“Where were you? Are you not taking work seriously? If that is the case then you should quit.”

“Oh, I should really quit. How else will you be able to get a promotion? Or a good image? Wait.” Anya shook her head. "You can never have a good image."

“Your attitude is such a big problem. It’s your fault and you are the one talking? People like you.”

Anya started walking, ignoring him. Rohit had issues with everyone in the group, but Anya was his favourite target. He was always ready to criticise and put her down. Anya being a lover of her pride, hated him for all that and more. If she was given a chance she would have done everything in her power to make Rohit pay for all the insults and rudeness. Luckily for Rohit, Anya was always calmed down by her friends, or the result of one of their arguments would have ended on a legal note.

“What’s wrong?” Himani asked looking at Anya’s face.

“Why is murder a crime?”

"What happened?”

“When will I have few minutes of peace?”

“Soon darling soon.” Anya shook her head. She was making a presentation when suddenly her phone started ringing. She absent-mindlessly answered the call.

“Hello.”

“Hi. Is this Anya?”

“Yes. May I please know who you are?"

“Aman. Dia’s husband.”