Night of 25TH

Alternate Ending Part 4: Love Since 22'

Present

Author

Shubman and Anya stood at the threshold, ready to fly first to Mumbai and then to New York. Anya's parents had also come to Mohali last night, and as soon as they arrived, Anya was met with a barrage of scolding for running away in such a vulnerable state.

But in the end, Shubman came to her rescue, saying that he had already scolded her enough for it, even though he actually hadn't.

As they stood at the threshold, both their mothers instructed Anya to take care of herself, not to be childish, to take her medicines on time, and the list went on.

Meanwhile, the men held Shubman in their grasp as Anya's father spoke, "If my daughter comes crying to me again, you will see the worst of me."

Shubman gulped and nodded, noticing that Anya's father was almost his height, maybe an inch taller. His perfectly trimmed moustache stood upright, making it clear he was not someone to be messed with.

While his own father held him, he warned, "She is just like Shahneel, so don't mess up this time, or else..."

"Okay, Papa, I get it, but please don't scare me like that," Shubman whined.

His father sighed and released his grip, his expression softening slightly. "Just make sure you take care of her," he said firmly.

Shubman nodded quickly, eager to avoid further scolding. "I will, I promise."

The twins shifted their attention towards them, urging Anya to kneel. Anya knelt, groaning slightly in pain. She felt little lips kiss her cheeks, and one of the twins said, "Kisses make things better and heal pain faster."

Anya felt a surge of emotion and pulled both of the kids into a hug, kissing their foreheads. "Aunt Chucky is weak now," she said softly, "but she promises to give you the best piggyback rides when she's back on her feet."

The twins beamed at her words, their faces lighting up with smiles. Anya, feeling a mix of love and sadness, held them close for a moment longer before gently letting them go.

Shubman said softly, "Shall we, Chucky? We're getting late."

Anya was about to move out when her father hugged her tightly. "Get well soon, chutku," he said. Anya, who had always whined about the nickname, buried her face in his chest, weeping as she sought comfort against his strong yet soft embrace.

Her father gently stroked her back, his voice soothing. "You're going to be fine, chutku. Just take care of yourself, alright?"

Anya nodded, her tears slowly subsiding as she held on to him. She pulled back reluctantly, her eyes red but her spirit a little stronger. "I will, Daddy. I promise."

Shubman, watching from the side, offered a supportive smile. "Let's go, Chucky. We need to catch our flight."

Anya took a deep breath, nodding once more. She walked towards the gate, casting one last glance back at her father and mother.

Throughout the flights from Chandigarh to Mumbai, Mumbai to Dubai, and Dubai to New York, Anya kept her face buried in Shubman's arm, biting her lips. She had always been anxious around doctors, and Shubman remembered the tantrums she threw when she had her arm broken. This time, however, she was eerily quiet, staring into space without a word.

Shubman could tell she was overthinking, imagining all the worst possibilities. With 20 minutes left before they landed in New York, he gently turned her face towards him and said, "Stop it. Stop those thoughts. If you're negative, your body will react that way. But if you think positively, it will react that way too."