“I just cannot believe she said that,” Anya said as she shook her head.

“She is not in the right frame of mind.” Himani tried to reason.

“Don’t be upset.” Kabir wrinkled his nose as he said that.

“I am not upset. I am shocked. I mean.” She frowned “You know what I mean?”

Himani looked at Kabir for an answer, but as usual, his face was blank. “We don’t.” Ali, who was walking towards them said. “What is the topic of discussion?” Himani motioned towards Anya Ali raised his eyebrows and looked at Anya. “What did you do now?”He asked Anya while shaking his head.

She narrowed her eyes. “Why will I do anything?”

“You always do something. Rohit is not always behind you for no reason.” Anya rolled her eyes. “Actually you two are just like each other. Annoying.”

Anya’s nose grew bigger. “Are You really going to compare me with him!?”

“Are you really going to get carried away. Be on the topic for once.” Kabir huffed.

“Yeah. What were you all talking about?” Ali asked Anya.

“Dia,” Himani replied.

“What about her? She liked the kitty party we had yesterday?”

Anya rolled her eyes again. “She hated every minute of it.”

“Really?” Kabir asked instantly.

“She didn’t say that. But she did not like yesterday.”

“Why?” Ali asked casually.

“She felt jealous of me. Us being happy reminded her that she is not. She said my happiness bothered her.” Anya was very careful about the details she shared with her friends. She did not want her friends to have a bad opinion about Dia.

Ali sat next to Kabir before saying, “ouch. That must have hurt.”

“Not really. I am shocked about something else.”

“About what?” Ali asked.

“Growing up I always felt jealous of her. I always wanted her life, her parents, her face, her hair, her perfect weight, her carefree attitude, and what not! And look now. She is jealous of me. I always thought my life was miserable when compared to her.”

“Tables have turned,” Ali said, which made Anya shake her head.  “It happens.” Ali tried to explain. “  What we feel and think now will change in some years and we won’t believe how our lives have changed. If ten years ago someone would have told me I will be happy in the future I would have laughed at their face. “ He smiled. “I think that’s the beauty of life.”

“I never thought this day would come. I thought I will die wishing to live her life. I mean, I thought it was stupid of her to get married so early leaving her dreams and career behind, But soon I started struggling for money and my position in the company. So, I started thinking she was lucky to get married to a rich guy and was living happily. So I always thought her life was perfect.”

“Things change. What is the big deal?” Ali could not stop himself from asking.

“I find it difficult to believe. Things can change so much!?”

“It can. We have a live example in front of us.” Himani said.

“So much? Life is definitely unpredictable.”

“It sure is,” Kabir said after letting out a deep breath. The look on his face said that he had been a victim of life’s unpredictable nature.

“Wow,” Ali said looking at Kabir ‘s face. “looks like we never discussed something.”

Himani raised her eyebrows, surprised to know Kabir had a secret. Anya raised her left eyebrow as well hoping Kabir would tell something about it. “It’s good that you are not hurt.” Kabir changed the topic.

“I am not. Actually, I am happy.”

“Because people don’t insult you enough, so you like it when they do?” Ali said making Himani laugh.

Anya narrowed her eyes. “No, because Dia opened up. She does not open up much. I am glad she said what was in her mind. At least she said that to someone.”

“She should tell what is in her mind to he idiot husband, not you,” Himani said before curling her lips

“She started at least. Maybe soon she will tell her husband what’s in her mind.”

“Anya, I think you are wrong.” Kabir caught everyone’s attention.
“In what? Not feeling hurt or being happy about her insult? “ Ali asked. Anya narrowed her eyes at him again before changing her focus to Kabir.

“When you asked her to meet a psychologist she refused instantly.  Without hesitation,  right?”

“Right.”

“And then yesterday she told you what was hurting her.”

“Yes.”

“She does not think twice before telling you anything even if it’s negative.”

“I think.” She frowned as she did not understand where Kabir was heading.

“That’s a good thing. Maybe you can help here instead of my brother. “

“How?”

“Once he said all you should do is listen. That, at times, reduces half of the problem. Talk to her. Get her to open up. She will feel much better after letting things out of her.”
Anya gave it a thought before nodding.  “That makes sense. I think you are right. I should do that.”

“Good then. Talk to her tonight.”

“That’s the plan. Oh” Anya suddenly remembered something. “Are you done with that file I gave you?”

“No. I will go and do now.” Kabir stood up to leave.

“I have to complete mine, too.” Anya started walking behind him. “So glad even you are not done.”

Kabir smiled and soon both of them went to their desks leaving behind Himani and Ali. They both saw them disappearing in the maze of desks and then looked at each other.  “Don’t you think Kabir is?” Himani stopped as she was not sure if she should complete the sentence or not.

“Too much into Anya's cousin?” Ali completed for her.

“Yes!”

“Do you think he is interested in her?”

“I never thought that. But, now I am starting to think. Kabir never shows interest in a girl so much.”

“Wow.” Ali expressed his shock.

“I know.”

“Kabir is interested in Anya. That is so unexpected.” He said before standing up from the chair.

Himani frowned  and as Ali started to walk she said, "I did not mean Anya.”  She started following him. “I cannot believe Kabir is interested in Anya.”

“Don’t believe.

“How come I did not see that coming?”

“Because it did not come. “

Ali, as always, ignored the other person and kept talking himself. “Wow! Kabir likes.”

“Dia,” Baskar said coming out of nowhere.

Ali shook his head. “No, sir. Anya.”

“No! Dia. He likes Dia.” Himani turned to look at baskar.” How do you know, sir?”

“Do you think my hair is grey due to the sun? I have years of experience .”

Ali frowned. “What are you talking about Mani? We agreed in the cafeteria that he likes Anya.”

“No, we didn’t. You assumed and refused to listen to me.”

“How? He is working so hard to help Anya’s cousin!” Ali said emphasising on Anya's name.

“Yes, Anya's cousin Dia.” She emphasised on Dia's name. “He isn’t helping Anya, he is helping Dia,” Himani said and Baskar agreed by nodding his head.

“That actually makes more sense,” Ali said raising his eyebrows.

“What is happening there?” Baskar asked when he saw Anya and Rahul facing each other, Anger all over their faces. They seemed to be engaged in a heated argument.

“He knows very well that Anya can eat him raw and still always provokes her,” Ali said crossing his arms.

“I know right. Why is he always after her?” Himani asked with a frown on her forehead.

“He is so arrogant. I don’t like him.” Baskar said shaking his head.

“Are you not going to stop them?” Ali asked Baskar.

“No, no, Anya can fight for herself. Also, you just said she can eat someone raw. Why jump in the fire?”

“And people think he isn’t smart,” Ali whispered Himani.

“Let’s get back to work. They will sort it out.” Baskar said before leaving.

Himani frowned and said, “What kind of a boss he is?”

“The best kind of.” Himani laughed but soon frowned when she heard Anya yelling. Ali shook his head before saying, “Let’s actually get back to work. They both aren’t worth wasting our time.”

“True.”

Kabir ignored the angry birds and walked past them. Ali laughed at his friend and slowly started jogging towards him. “I found out something about you,” Ali said to Kabir.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“I will say I am happy.”

“Why?”

“No particular reason.”

“OK.”

Ali suddenly gasped. Kabir looked at him. “Are you alright?”

“I remembered where I saw Dia  and her husband.”

Kabir stopped in his tracks. “Where?”

“You remember at the early stage of our friendship. It had only been a few months since I joined the company. I did something?”

Kabir frowned. “What?”

“I created a scene in someone else's house?”

“Oh, yeah. You almost got arrested that day.”

“Yeah. That was Dia's house.” Kabir's eyes widened imminently. Ali had never seen his eyes that big. He took a few steps back in case Kabir hits him. Kabir was not the only one shocked. Anya, who was passing by had heard their conversation. Her eyes were as wide as Kabir's. She quickly turned around and went back to her desk. She we disturbed the whole day. Which was why she did not talk to anyone. She quietly worked and then quietly went home. Even at home, she was quiet. She knew what had happened, but she did not have any details. At that time, she remembered supporting Ali. But now that she knew it was her cousin’s house, she was angry. But before reacting she decided to take some time to think. She did not want to overreact like always.

“Why are you not sleeping?”

Anya looked to her right and saw Dia standing in the doorway. “Why are you up?” Anya asked a question instead of replying.

“I woke up suddenly.”

Anya switched off the TV when Dia sat on the chair. She knew Dia had something to say. She did not want to pressurise Dia so she patiently waited for her to talk. Dia hesitated for five minutes before finally gathering the courage to say, “Are you angry?”

“No, I was earlier. Now, I am fine.”

“I am so sorry, I should have not said that.”

Anya shook her head. ”I was not angry at you. I was angry because I had a silly fight with a silly colleague.”

“But you might have been angry because of me too. I was very rude and insensitive yesterday.”

“It is OK.”

“I never intended to upset you.”

“ I know.”

“You always talk about your friends and I always felt a little jealous. Just a little.”

“That’s fine. I have been jealous of people, too. How can I be upset with you then?”

Dia looked at her fingers before entwining them. She wanted to say something, but it was more difficult than she thought it was. Anya stood up from the sofa and said, ”Come lets sleep.”

“I want to say something.” Did whispered.

“I did not hear a word. What did you say?”

Dia looked up at her. “I want to go to a psychologist.”

Anya raised her eyebrows in delight. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Anya smiled. “Good!”Unknowingly Dia smiled back. Anya smiled wider when she saw that. “You are really sure, right?” Dia nodded her head. “I will call Samar right now.” Anya wanted to make an appointment before her cousin changes her mind.

“Are you free tomorrow?” Anya said as soon as Samar answered the call.

“My brother is too costly,” Kabir said from the other side.

Anya frowned. “Why did you answer?”

“Disappointed?”

“Where is Samar?”

“Out with his girlfriend.”

Anya pressed her lips into a thin line. She knew he was lying, but she still wanted to hit his head hard. “Give him the phone, will you?”
“He is coming wait. Why did you call him so late, by the way?”
Anya looked up at the wall clock and wrinkled her nose. It was quarter to twelve. In her excitement, she lost the track of time.

“Hello.” Samar's voice filled her ears and her heart rate instantly went up.

“I will call you tomorrow.”

“What? Just say what you want to say, now.”

“I wanted an appointment for my cousin.” She whispered.

“My receptionist takes the appointments.”
Anya narrowed her eyes. “Fine then. Give me her number.”

“You can find it online.”

“I can find a new psychologist as well. Bye.” She disconnected the call before rolling her eyes. Dia was observing her cousin. She wanted to smile at her cute expressions, but she did not. Anya smiled when she noticed Dia staring her. “I took the appointment. Let’s sleep now.” Dia nodded. She started walking towards the room when Anya stopped her by asking, ”Hey, did you meet Ali before you met him now?” Anya shook her head. “I mean, maybe a few years ago. Did you meet him?”

“Yes.”

Anya did not expect Dia to say yes. She was still trying to absorb what Ali had said and Dia's yes, made her regret asking. She wanted to say OK and leave it there but something made her ask, “Where?” she was scared of the answer.

“He broke into my house. I think three years ago. Why?”