When Shanaya walked out of the hospital room that morning, she found Dhruv sleeping on one of the metal chairs placed outside in the hallway. The back of his head rested against the smooth tiled wall behind, his hands clasped together in his lap. Her shoulders tensed when she saw the way he was sitting—his back arched, one leg crossed over the other, making for a bad posture. When she walked to him, his eyes fluttered open. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up,” she apologised softly, wondering what he was still doing there. His tongue flickered over his bottom lip as he folded his arms. “That’s too bad, Shanaya. I was having the best dream.”She did not fail to grasp the sarcasm in his voice; just like her, he had got no sleep the previous night. “What did you dream about?” she still asked. Dhruv sat up straight in his chair, finally fixing his posture. Her shoulders relaxed as she watched him come up with a response. “I’ll tell you while we’re having breakfast,” he finall

The night air was harsh on Shanaya’s skin. Every breeze was a reminder of her grandmother’s words—cruel, sharp, and the sort to leave permanent wounds on her soul. She let out an exasperated sigh and closed her eyes, thinking about her parents. She wondered how things would have been if they were still there. Ahail would have never gone down the path of self-destruction, never lost Noor—he would likely have a high paying job somewhere in some cool city. He would go out on vacations to all the great places in the world like he always wished. She would have remained silly, never toughened up, never taken up responsibility. But instead, here she was, wondering how much truth was held in Suhala’s words. Had they given up on themselves? Whatever did she mean by that? For the last six years, Shanaya had done everything in her capacity and beyond to get to where she was. She had left no stone unturned. She had failed, fallen and then risen up, tried again until she had become successful.

Shanaya leaned against the side of her parked car, her nervous gaze fluttering repeatedly towards the door of Dhruv’s new bungalow. She had been standing outside his house for ten minutes, but so far there had been no word from him. She had considered knocking on the front door or ringing the bell, but feared it would make her look too eager or desperate. Eventually she had concluded that it was best to wait for him. But for how long, she had no clue. It had been five days since Ahail had been discharged from the hospital. Five days since she had heard Dhruv’s voice. Five days since she had seen his face. Five days since she had looked into those brown eyes. Shanaya had missed him. But she would throw herself under a bus before she could ever let him know that. Over the past few days, thoughts of Dhruv had incessantly invaded her mind. She would dwell on the curve of his smile or the gentle stubble on his cheeks, which was gradually growing into a beard. Sometimes her thoughts wo

[DHRUV]Shanaya briskly walked ahead of Dhruv, her steps rapid and concise, leading them towards the courtyard adorned with a small park. The park featured a modest collection of playground equipment—a set of swings, two slides, and a merry-go-round. Dhruv trailed behind her, his movements relaxed and unhurried. As he glanced around, he absorbed the sight of the children engrossed in their own world, completely unaware of their presence. The sound of laughter filled the air as they halted. The children, immersed in their games and play, continued their innocent escapades, their laughter echoing like music in the background. Dhruv glanced at Shanaya, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of joy and tenderness as she observed the carefree spirits before her.Dhruv couldn't help but smile as well, his gaze shifting from one child to another. He marveled at their uninhibited enthusiasm, their boundless energy that seemed to fuel their every movement. It was a refreshing sight, a reminder of

Shanaya commenced her Sunday by making a visit to her apartment early in the morning. It had been quite some time since she last set foot in her place, as she had chosen to temporarily reside in her family house. This decision was driven by her desire to closely monitor Ahail's recovery from the seizure and ensure his well-being.As Shanaya observed Ahail's remarkable improvement, a sense of relief washed over her. His appetite had returned, and his overall appearance had become more vibrant and lively. In the evenings, he would engage in activities with Suhala and Harish, such as watching TV together. Just the previous day, she had witnessed a playful argument between them over the choice of program - Suhala wanted to indulge in her daily soap opera while the men insisted on watching highlights of the latest cricket match.Witnessing these small cracks being mended within her family had brought Shanaya immense joy. It served as a reminder that healing and unity were indeed possible,