By Your Side

Miley Kyu?

After exiting the cabin, Samairaa takes a seat at her desk.

SV- Toh finally inko mera sach pta chal gaya. Damn too quick Miss. Mallik.
Par ab sabse badi yeh musibat hai, agar Neha aur Haseena Mallik mil gaye, toh mere liye problem hogi. Kaise bhi karke I have to keep these two away.

She opens WhatsApp in her phone and texts Rahul.
"Ms. Khanna and unki company ko yeh bilkul pta nai lagne Dena, where I work. Also, if they ask my personal number, don't give them at all."
She sends the text.

She keeps her phone on the table and streches her body after the long tiring day. She keeps her palms on her face and stays in that position.

Yaar Didi, aaj jaana jaruri hai kya? You know abhi kuch safe nai hai, please mat jao. Mere liye?
The girl gives her a pleasing smile while gazing at her with the most innocent eyes.

Acha chal maan le, mai nai gayi, aur koi ghar mai aakar mujhey pakkad le? Kabhi naa kabhi toh apne dar se nikalna hoga naa. Aur hume khatra bahar hai, tu toh mujhey mere room se nikalne ko mana kar rahi hai, Anni. (Pulls her cheeks)

Aur Anni, waise bhi ek journalist ko aay-din aise khatre hote hai, toh kya mai har waqt dar ke rahun? Aur yeh baat toh tu bhi jaanti hai naa

Haan haan, dar ke nai lad ke jeeya jaata hai. Maan gaye meri maa, ab jao aap. Chain se jeene do mereko.

Achaa? Abhi kon tension le raha tha.

Hoga koi mai kyaa janun (laughs)

After the flashback, Samairaa chuckles lightly, but shortly after, her lips become straight and her smile disappears completely.

As Anaya was ascending her stairs, she observed that the window's curtains were not in the same position as when she had previously left. It appeared as though someone was hiding behind it. She keeps staring for a while, but she suspects she might be hallucinating. like frequently people do. She then enters the other room and notices that the curtains have been moved once more. Her heart beats quickly as she moves closer to the window to check what's hidden behind the curtains. Each second she goes breathing becomes harder. Although her mind was preventing her from moving forward, she could not control her legs. When she gets there, she raises her hand to pull back the curtain when she is stopped from behind.

Anni, kya hua? (Keeps hand on Anaya's  shoulder)

Anaya turns and looks at the person standing behind her.

Kuch nai, bas aisa laga wahan.... Nai. Kuch nai.

Pakka?

Haan, kya hua.

Kabse bula rahi thi, khana taiyaar hai, tu hai ki sunti nai, dinbhar yeh earphone laga ke ghumti hai naa, kaan kharab ho chuke hai tere.
Par mera kya? Mai toh bas chilaati rehti hun, bolti rehti hun, sunta kon hai meri idhar. Bata? Kya farak padhta hai mere bolne kaa....

Arrey meri behna, please, abhi mat chalu ho yaar, Bhukh lag rahi hai, iss bache ko.

Chaliye bachaa!

Anaya turns to leave, but someone behind her knocks her down. And then everything goes black. All she could hear was a searing shriek.

Samairaa stirs awake, panting heavily. She looks around but sees nothing that makes her more anxious. Her throat is parched. She keeps her hand on her chest to keep her heartbeat consistent. She then drinks a glass of water and applies water drops to her face and eyes to improve her vision.

Ahh, mere ko neend  kaise aa gayi, woh abhi idhar aur aise. Time kya ho raha hai? Abey yaar 11 baj rahe hai. Aur fir yeh patrolling ka time aa gaya. Hell! Chalo, nikalte hai. Par ek min, mai idhar akele toh thana kon sambhalega....

She sees Cheetah sleeping at his desk peacefully.

Kasam se bhagwan, aise neend toh mai bhi deserve karti hun. Idhar aakehin band nai karo, purani yaadein tapak jaati hai. Bhakk!

She leaves the station for her patrolling.

After a half-hour ride, she comes to a halt near a grocery store. She jumps down her bike and enters the shop. She buys one water bottle for herself and turns to leave when she is grabbed by the back and snuggles her strongly. She understood whose appearance it is. Of course, she can't erase that feeling. But she nevertheless acted unsure.

Excuse me, who is it? She enquires.

Since she receives no response, she removes her hands from her waist and turns.

SV- Ohh Ms. Khanna. Aap idhar? Aur yeh kya tha?

NK- Anaya, it's me.

SV- Sorry, Anaya who? You are mistaken, I am Samairaa Vashisht.

NK- Why are you doing this?

SV- Doing what? Anyway, it's quite late, Maddam, you should go home or your hotel.

NK- Yeah sure.

SV- Okay. So, you will go by your own, or...

NK- I will go, thank you.

SV- It's my duty. (Smiles and leaves)

SV comes out of the shop and drinks the water in one go.

"Why, why why!" She crushes the bottle in anger and throws it in dustbin. Within seconds she flees away in her bike.

I know, I know Neha,  you want to talk to me and trust me even I want to talk to you, my heart out.  But, My self esteem will never let me do that. Toh bhul jao aur bhadh mai jao!

But you can't deny that you felt good when she did that. Right?
A question was raised within her by a voice within her.

Nai, nai acha laga mujhey.

Come on Anaya, mujhse jhooth kyu bolna?

Nai, ek baar jo dil se chala gaya, so chala gaya, fir naa toh uske aane ki khushi naa uske jaane ka gham.

Are you sure?

Freaking 100% sure. I have other things to focus on. And this time, I won't let myself down. I won't.

She rides her bike fast through the cacophony and silent roads, perseverance in her eyes.
The person who was once scared of the dark and disdained the night is now surviving as if she is the founder of this world. Death drastically manipulates your destiny. And this is the most tranquil thought that can possibly eventuate. The cold airflow by her crafted her feel stronger then ever before. But nevertheless, with some emotions flashing before her eyes, she clamped her control on the accelerator. And she only says one sentence in vague terms.

"Thank You."

"Neend bhi lutt gayi, chiin gayi
Raat bhi na sahi, na rahi
Raat bhi laazmi, zaalmi
Gaye tum gaye ho kyun, yeh raat baaki hai
Gaye tum gaye ho kyun, saath baaki hai
Gaye tum gaye hum tham gaye
Har baat baaki hai"