"Do you want some tea?" Dia asked her cousin who was sitting on the sofa with a long face.

"No."

"Water?"

"No."

"Dinner?"

"No."

"Any snack?"

"No."

Anya returned home from work around half an hour ago and since then was glued to that sofa. She acted stranger in the morning too, but Dia thought it was the morning that made her ill-humoured. When Anya came back home she assumed it was work, unaware that there was only one reason. There was no one that day who didn't notice her odd behaviour. Even strangers found her different. She was evidently upset. "Did something happen?" Dia asked her after some time had passed.

"No."

She sat next to her on the sofa. "He talked to you?"

"Who he?"

"Sa." Anya looked up at her before she could complete the word. Pressing her lips together she sat quietly after that. Many times she thought of saying something but she was intimidated by her cousin. That night they exchanged very few words. They ate in silence and went to bed earlier than they usually do. Dia slept in no time but Anya could not sleep for most of the night. She did not have a particular topic in her mind just restlessness in her heart.

Next morning as usual Anya went office and Dia was home alone. But unlike usual they did not talk in the morning. Dia knew something was wrong but did not imagine it would be due to her. She kept blaming her work. Just like the other day, everyone at work sensed Anya was in a bad mood. Everyone was careful around her. Anya did not talk unless necessary. Her friends were discouraged to talk. That day she could feel but could not think. Her mind was empty. That resulted in a very quiet day. But that was unlike her life so it lasted just till the lunch break.

"You weren't supposed to do this report in this format!" Rohit exclaimed loudly.

Anya was sitting alone at her desk as everyone else went to the canteen for the lunch break. There were a handful of people around them "You should have told me earlier."

"Are you a small kid who needs to be guided for every little thing?"

"I will do it again. Stop yelling."

"Be more attentive."

"Hey, It's your fault. You should have been more clear."

"You don't have common sense that is the fault here."

"I guess, the fault is that you are stupid."

"The fault is" He moved closer to her and whispered, "that you are so busy hiding your cousin that you are neglecting your work," saying that he left. Anya froze instantly. She was numb but her heart was beating very fast. Her head started to spin. Resting her elbows on her table she held her head in her shaking hands. Her fingers turned cold. Slowly breathing became difficult and everything in front of her eyes became blurry. She could see a pen on the table and rest everything was black. When that pen started to fade she rested her head on the desk and closed her eyes. She did not know when she passed out. Everything happened in a blink of an eye. She regained consciousness without any chaos but with a headache. She slowly lifted her head which felt heavier. Looking around found Himani sitting next to her. She kept staring her as she did not have the energy to move. After five minutes Himani noticed her. She smiled and asked, "what happened? You fell asleep?"

Anya did not reply and lifted her head as slowly as it could be lifted. She rubbed her eyes gently while asking, "what's the time?"

"Two."

She wanted to calculate the time she had been unconscious but as she did not know when she had passed out, asking time turned useless. She looked at Himani and asked, "do you have some water?"

"Sure." She picked up the bottle from her desk, "take it. Oh God Anya! Are you sick."

Anya shook her head and took the water. While she drank the water Himani said nothing but once she was done she asked, "Are you sick? Do you want to go home?"

"I am fine."

"You look really sick."

"Periods." She lied. "It doesn't kill."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Oh! I must start working on the report."

"Why is your hand shaking!?"

"Because I have to prepare a report. It's urgent."

Himani stood up and took her hand, "come on, stand up."

"Sit down, please."

"No, stand up."

"What's happening?" Ali asked them.

"Please." She whispered. "Please sit."

Himani sat down but didn't leave her hand. "What happened?" Ali asked again.

"Nothing," Himani said with a shake of the head.

Ali wasn't convinced but shook his head. Himani looked at her again. "Are you fine?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to go home?"

"No."

"OK. At least drink some juice. Come, stand up we will go to the canteen."

Anya did not argue to that. With the help of Himani she went to the canteen. She had some juice and a sandwich. She rested some time and they returned only after half an hour. After that Anya worked and worked. Her mind was not at peace but she did not stop. She gained sudden energy to work. It was her subconscious way of dealing with things. Himani kept checking on her but when she seemed better Himani relaxed. The day went by in stress and making everyone believe she was fine. She stayed late at work that day. Himani wanted to stay with her but she had some work so she had to leave. Anya was glad for that. She wanted to be alone. Never once in those hours she thought of talking to Rohit. She wants to stay far away from him. First time in her life she was scared of him. She was in fact terrified. She was even scared to leave her chair which was why she was still at work. She was scared of being seen by Rohit.

After she had spent more than necessary time alone at the office she decided to go home. She had just come out when she saw Himani walking towards her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to the accompany you home."

Anya frowned before embracing her. Himani hugged her back without thinking much. She rubbed her back softly. "What happened Anya?" Anya did not reply. She could not reply. "Everything is going to be alright."

"I hope so."

"Anya." A voice interrupted them.

Anya gasped in fear. It was Aman. She looked around instantly to see if Rohit was there. Her heart was beating faster than ever. Anya took a step backwards when he came closer but her friend was quick in stopping her from going further away. " What do you want?" Himani asked.

"I just need your help." He ignored Himani. "I found a clue. I found this catalogue in our cupboard, hid behind her clothes."

"What catalogue?" Anya was able to sound civil.

"Holiday destinations. She circled a few places."

"Really? National, international?"

"International."

"She wanted to leave the country," Anya said looking at her friend.

"Wanted to go as far as possible," Himani said.

"That's so sad." Anya took the catalogue from him. "Nepal? That's close."

"But no one would have suspected that," Aman said.

"I don't even know how to say this."

"She didn't circle it." He shook his head. "Let's decide where she might have gone and then let's go and look for her."

"Let's go and look for her?" Anya asked in disbelief. "What makes you think I will go anywhere with you?"

"You have to come."

"Why? Go alone and look."

"She won't come with me."

"Glad you know that."

"You will come."

"I will not."

"Anya!" He screamed loudly.

"Aman," Himani said, "Keep your voice low."

He walked closer and looked straight in Anya's eyes. "You are coming and that's final!"

"How about you shut up first?" A new voice interrupted. All of them followed the voice to see who it was. Anya gasped when she saw Rohit. She looked at Himani in Panic. She was sweating and started shivering. Himani could not understand but she quickly grabbed her hand and stood very close to her. Aman moved backwards and frowned.  Rohit came closer when Aman said, "stay out of this. It's a personal matter."

"You made it public."

"Stay out of this. Anya!"

"Enough now! Go home, Aman." Himani was annoyed by now.

"I am not going until I know where my wife is!"

"If you want to find your wife," Rohit said, "go and look for her yourself. Why are you troubling others?"

"She is a cousin."

"Aman!" Anya yelled as loudly as her panic allowed her.

"Not others and didn't I tell you to stay out of it."

"And didn't I tell you to leave, " Rohit did not back out.

"I won't. What will you do?"

"I will wonder what it would be to see a politician's son create a scene just before the elections."

Anya and Himani looked at him immediately and then at Aman. He was angry but said no word. The stare game was kept up for some time before he looked at Anya. He starred her for some time to show his anger before leaving. When he descended the stairs Anya crunched down, covering her face with her hands. Himani bent down and quietly rubbed her back. "He is gone. Everything is fine." Anya shook her head but said nothing. They stayed still for a minute before Himani looked at Rohit and said, "thank you."

He shook his head. "Take care of her." He waited for not a minute and left. After another minute Himani made Anya stand up. She took her back in the office and made her sit in her chair. It took Anya fifteen minutes and one litter of water to calm down. Himani had requested her husband to pick them up to which he answered affirmatively. They were to drop Anya first before going home. Anya did not refuse their help. She followed her friend without protest. At that moment she would have done anything told to her without protesting or thinking. Not a single person said a word for the whole journey. When they reached their destination Himani accompanied her friend to her flat. They rang the bell which was why the door was not answered until Anya made a call to Dia.  Dia was surprised to a great extent to see her cousin like that.

"What happened?" She asked once the door was closed.

"She is sick." Himani did not say the truth.

"Then take her to the doctor."

"I am fine," Anya whispered.

"She will sleep and feel better soon." Himani waited until Anya was in the bed. She wanted to stay till she falls asleep but Anya told her to leave as her husband was waiting for her. She made Anya promise to take care of herself before leaving the room and also she motioned Dia to follow her in the other room.

"Save my number just in case you need it." Dia quickly saved her number without delay. "Call me if you need anything. She is just sick nothing to worry. Take care of her and also yourself. Don't let her go to work tomorrow. Tell her to stay at home and relax."

"I will do that."

When Himani left Dia went back to her cousin. She was sleeping. When she had entered the house she was pale and looked short of breath but now she looked at peace. Without thinking, Dia lay down next to her. She wrapped her arms around Anya and rested her forehead on her shoulder. Anya softly rubbed her left hand on her cousin's right arm. "I am fine."

"Hm." Dia has a lump in her throat and tears in her closed eyes.

"Do you believe in miracles?" Dia shook her head in a no. "You should. Because it exists. I saw one today. I saw a miracle." She rested her head on Dia's head and smiled. She did not know what the future held for them, she certainly knew they would survive it. 

***

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