"You can do this. Come on. Just a little more. Just run till that light pole and then we will stop. Come on!" Anya was constantly motivating herself to make sure she runs. She always did that to keep herself motivated. She started breathing heavily once she stopped running. Why do I hate myself so much! She was screaming inside. She loved how she pushed herself every day but she hated herself while running. She was still catching her breath when her eyes fell on an old lady. It was the same lady she saw sitting all alone a couple of weeks ago. She was again sitting alone. Anya had noticed that she was no more regular in the park and could not stop thinking about her. She was glad to see her but she looked lost. Unlike her usual self.

"Thinking why she looks upset?"

Dia turned around to see who said that. It was a woman about her age, shorter than her, and with a figure, Anya dreamt of. She walked towards Anya and stood next to her. "I have been wondering the same. She was missing for a long time."

Anya nodded her head. "Yeah." I have seen her somewhere.

"I was thinking of going and talking to her. Wanna join?" She said and started walking towards the lady.

Anya raised her eyebrows. "Sure." Anya wanted to talk to that lady but she was never going to do that. It was out of her character and she never did something that was out of her character. Although she always thought she would. She never did it. She quietly followed her.

"Hello, aunty," The other lady said.

"Hello," Anya said awkwardly.

The old lady smiled. "Hello."

"How are you?" The other lady asked.

"Fine. How are you two?"

"We are good. We were wondering why you have been so upset. Is everything alright?"

She smiled and looked down. "Life. Life happens. You learn to be alright."

"Did something happen?" Anya asked. 

"Old Age. It leaves you all alone." The young ladies looked at each other unsure of what to say. She exhaled deeply. "I am all alone. My friend died. My husband died two years ago. I was lonely. I was sad but I had her. This time I have no one. Kids are busy in their own life. Cannot blame them."

"You are never alone. God sends someone to you. Always." The other lady said after which she smiled. Anya's eyes widened immediately. She was the same lady Anya had seen Aman with.

"Who will he send for me at this age?"

"Maybe he sent us."

The old lady smiled. "Maybe."

"Come on." She sat on the bench next to the old lady while Anya stood in the same place. "Tell us about yourself. Tell us about your grandchildren."

"They are very naughty! Two of them are just three years old and messes the whole house. Their mothers always run from here to there." She laughed. "They make me so happy."

"Kids always make you happy. They have some magic in them I guess."

She smiled. "I am thankful for them. They make me forget my grief."

"That's what kids are for. They are amazing."

They talked to the old lady for ten minutes. Actually, Anya just smiled and listened while the other two had a conversation. After a very long time, the old lady felt good. She was grateful for the strangers who cared. They had a long conversation about grandchildren, weather, modernisation, world and a few other topics. It made them all feel good. Talking to a stranger can be easier and more beneficial some times. But soon both the young ladies were getting last to reach home so they said their goodbyes.

"That was very sweet of you," Anya said once they started walking towards the gate.

"That's nothing. I have a grandmother at home so I know how to cheer them up."Anya smiled. " I saw you the other day at the mall."

Anya's heart started beating faster. "When?"

"Last week I guess. You guys were trying to hurt him?"

"What?"

"Aman? I saw you all in hypercity." Anya said nothing and kept walking. "It's OK. I know Aman deserves bad."

"Then why are you his friend?"

"Because I have known him all my life and we were quite close as kids. He is my cousin."

"Sad to know that."

She shook her head. “Why were those boys helping you?”

“He wronged them.”

“He has wronged a lot of people.”

“He has.”

“He wasn’t like that as a kid. He was a nice guy. But then I moved to another country for education and when I came back he was a totally new person “

Anya smiled this time. “It's funny how we drift apart from our people and when we see them again they have changed completely.”

"And not for good."

Anya nodded her head. "Not for good."

"How did he hurt you?"

"He didn't hurt me directly. But that would have been better. I am Dia's cousin." She looked at Anya. "I was close to her as a kid, too."

"Oh. I did not think you were related to her."

"I am."

"What happened to her was not good. I wasn't very close to her but I am worried. I don't believe Aman ruined someone's life like that "

"But he did that. That vulture."

"I hope and pray Dia comes home soon and safely"

"I hope the same. I hope she is fine."

"Is there a way I can help you?"

Anya shook her head but soon got an idea. "You can actually help. Can you find out how she is still missing? I mean Aman's family is powerful. He is a big lawyer and his father is a politician. Why can't they do anything?"

She nodded her head. "That is a valid question. I will look into that."

"Thank you. I will go this way." Anya said pointing towards her right.

"And I will go the other way. I will find out what they are up to and let you know soon. I come to the park at six. So whenever you get time, come early and we can talk."

Anya shook her head. "I come here around six as well."

"Then let's meet soon."

"Thank you."

"Any time. Bye."

"Bye."

Such a nice girl. How is she relate to Aman? Not all people can be bad in a family. And they aren't siblings.  She looked at her wristwatch and started walking faster. She was late for work.  But she is his relative. Member of that family. She was also his best friend. But that does not mean she is a bad person. But she can be a bad person. Did I say something I wasn't supposed to say? She mentally went through their conversation. I didn't. I just asked why they are not looking for her. That isn't suspicious. I want to know. And even if Dia wasn't with me it was logical to wonder. They are powerful and yet powerless this time. Wow, that was a good line. Focus! I didn't do anything suspicious. But I must be careful of what she will tell me. She might try to misguide me. She gasped suddenly. Did she see Dia in the mall? But Dia was wearing a niqab. She cannot possibly know that's Dia. But what if she heard our conversation? Did we say something that might have? Anya tried to remember that day and all the conversations. I don't remember. Shoot! What if she is? I should be careful. Very careful. But what if she found out? She will help her best friend. That idiot! He is the reason for all problems. I wish I could hit him. Uff. Why did I even talk to her? Got stressed for no reason. I hate you so much, Aman.

Anya quickly walked home. She had started stressing and worrying so she wanted to go home and see Dia. She was praying she made no mistakes. But she wasn't sure about that. Upon reaching home she quickly unlocked the door. Dia was in the kitchen which made her feel better.

"Anya."  Anya quickly closed the door as Dia was visible from where she was standing. She then turned around and saw her neighbour. She smiled. Anya did not like talking to that lady for many reasons. But her Nani had a good relationship with her. Anya never understood why. "How is your Nani now?"

"She is fine. She will be back soon."

"Thank God. How are you?"

"Fine. How are you?" Anya did not like that Awkward conversation.

"Good good. Oh by the way who is that girl in burkha?"

Anya's heart started beating fast. "Which girl?"

"I saw you with a girl in burkha a couple of times. Who is she? She lives in our building?"

"She is my friend."

"Oh. She comes here a lot."

"Best friend."

She smiled. "That's great. I will go now. I am getting late." Anya smiled. The lady didn't wait for the lift and took the stairs. Once she was gone Anya shook her head. "Why were you even on my floor?" She whispered. She then analysed the place properly before opening the door. She quickly came inside and closed the door. "What had happened? Why did you close the door earlier?"

"Nothing." Anya didn't want to have a conversation. She walked to her room but then came out in a second. "Do you know the girl who helped Aman that day was his cousin? The girl who drove the car."

"Yeah. Nisha."

"I don't know her name. Is she a nice person?"

Dia frowned. "She is fine. Why?"

"Just wondering."

"OK."

"I will get ready," Anya said and went to her room. She tried to distract herself from Nisha's thoughts but she could not. She was worried now. Nevertheless, she got ready and left for work. But the first thing she wanted to do after reaching her office was to tell Himani about Nisha. But they got busy with work and only got time during the lunchtime to talk.

"I am sure she isn't suspicious. She saw you guys in the hypercity and as far as I remember Dia wasn't there."

"She was not. But what if she saw us all together and then followed us to the hypercity? "

"If she had to follow someone she would have followed Dia, why you?"

"Maybe she didn't know it was Dia."

"Then the problem is solved."

Anya froze for a moment. "But."

"No ifs no buts. Think about work for now. I am sure you are worrying for no reason."

"I hope that."

Himani wanted to say something but hesitated. She was trying to keep it to herself but could not for a long time. "Prepare Dia for this Anya. She cannot hide her whole life. This will happen today or tomorrow. So the best you can do is prepare her."

"But she isn't prepared."

"That's why I am saying you to prepare her."

Anya frowned and looked away. "I don't know how to do that."

"I don't know that either but you have to do that."

"OK."

"What is that you eating? Looks disgusting." Rohit said to Anya.

"Then don't look at it."

"I have no desire to look at something that disturbing. My eyes just happen to land on it."

"Seen, criticised, happy?  Now leave."

"I will, by the way, it was a very cheap shot to make me think that I was getting fired."

"It wasn't a cheap shot. It is true."

"I talked to sir."

"He was instructed to be nice to people who are leaving soon."

He shook his head. "Go ahead and mess with my head. I am not getting worked up. By the way, that's a very disturbing shoe. Where do you buy stuff from? Beggars?"

Anya looked at him to reply but he left instantly. She groaned in angry. "I hate him so much. I am just having the worst day ever." She was angry for an hour but soon her worries took over. And while Anya was worried that Nisha would be the reason Dia would end up in that house again, Dia, unaware of that, was having a relaxing afternoon. She was resting on the bed when she received a message from Khadijah.

"How are you?" - Khadijah

"Good." - Dia

"How is Mumbai? I heard it is raining a lot there." - Khadijah

Dia did not know the answer to that. The curtains in their flat were always closed. She never saw what was outside the windows. And she left the house for a short period of time, which she had not done in three days. She was clueless about what Khadijah was saying. She kept the phone on the bed and stood up. She slowly moved the curtain just a little to peek outside. It was raining heavily. It was also windy which she could tell when she saw two people's umbrella turn inside out. It was dark despite it being three in the afternoon. Dia felt like she had not witnessed monsoon in many years. Which was not completely false. She had stopped leaving her house until it was extremely necessary. She went for grocery shopping only when the kitchen was totally empty. She met her parents only when they visited her or when they forced her to come. She didn't have any friends left to meet. There was nothing about leaving the house that made her want to do it. And even when she left the house the surrounding was never something Dia paid attention to. It was the first in years that she was looking at rain without having to worry about something. She closed the curtain soon and went back to the bed. Picking up the phone she replied.

"It is raining a lot today." -Dia

"Ah! I hope that's not the case tomorrow. We are coming tomorrow." -Khadijah

"Did you leave?" -Dia

"Just now." - Khadijah

"Oh." - Dia

After talking to her new friend for a long time Dia went going through many social media apps that Khadijah had suggested her. She got easily distracted by Instagram. It kept her occupied and away from thoughts that upset her. Anya had a lot of work which kept her occupied too but she was angry the whole day. She was in a bad mood so Himani took her to the doctor with her.  Himani was not feeling well and wanted to see a doctor. It did not take a long time. They soon were in the lift, going home.

"It's nothing serious. Take your medicines on time." Anya advised.

"I will. Thank you for coming with me "

Anya rolled her eyes. "Stand quietly."

"Let's not go by train. I will book a cab."

"Yes!" That was what Anya wanted to hear after a long day.

"Let's also buy something to eat. I don't have time to cook. My maid is on leave and I don't want my husband to cook. I cannot feed my children his food."

Anya laughed "Good idea. I will but something too."

"What will you buy?"

"I don't know. Maybe paneer. Dia likes paneer."

"Dia?" A voice caught their attention. They turned around and saw Aman standing. Anya's eyes widened immediately. "Dia is with you!?"