Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai

Part 1

* maybe death hurts less than life *

• • •

The Room

In a dark room, a girl was sitting on the floor hugging her knees, her face was pale, her eyes were puffed and she looked like she hadn't slept for nights.

The room was a total mess. Maybe it was a reflection of her life or the inner turmoil she was going through.

"Why is it always me, God? I hate myself, I hate everyone. All I ever asked for was happiness but I can't find it. I want to die, I wish I could. I actually can but I'm just a coward", she yelled with her lungs filled. Her chest felt heavy and her head started spinning.

That was until someone knocked on her door. She hated interruptions.

"Anika, please open the door. Dad has arrived", her little sister Shirley called her. Shirley knew what was going on inside her sisters room but she chose to stay silent.

"Stop lying Shirley, he said, he won't be coming home before a week" Anika replied rudely. Her voice held emptiness. The kind of emptiness which could tear you apart.

"I'm not lying, please open the door", Shirley pleaded. Anika knew if she didn't open the door, her little sister would've kept irritating her so she unlocked the door.

"Can someone die and still be breathing? Yeah, my sister was the biggest example. She seemed so lifeless. Looking at her, ached my heart. I just wanted her back but somehow she doesn't let anyone in" Shirley thought while looking at the state of the room.

The blinders were closed, so that no light could enter, pills were lying on the floor, cushions and blankets were thrown in the corner of the room. And there she was, sitting in a corner, with her head on her knees.

All her mascara smudged, her hair was a deep mess and her arms had scratches, like always.

"What? Now don't start your drama, I know what you're gonna say", Anika rolled her eyes. She wasn't a mean person, events turned her into one.

"Take a bath and come out", Shirley ordered and left.

• • •

The Mansion

A lady was desperately calling someone, while walking here and there. She looked as if she was in a hurry.

"See, he's again late for dinner. I know work is important but not more than his health", the lady seemed angry.

"Mom, you know how he is, he'll be here any minute", a guy in his teens replied. He seemed pretty chill.

"Yeah, mom, Ru's right", another guy answered. But he seemed to be in his early twenties.

"I'm always right", Ru mocked his elder brother. Om just rolled his eyes.

That's when a man in his mid-twenties entered home. He sensed the air filled with tension and looked towards his mom, whose face was filled with annoyance.

"Shit, I missed your call, didn't I? I'm so sorry mom, it seriously won't happen again", but his mother didn't seem convinced. He looked at her and then held his ears.

"You said that 1000 times still it happens again and again bro" Ru smirked on which he got a glare by Shiv

"There better won't be a next time", she glared at him.

"I think you're gonna die today", Om started giggling.

"Shivaay, before going to sleep, please have dinner. We'll talk about this tomorrow", she said and shook her head in disbelief.

"Your wish is my command, madam", Shivaay smirked, knowing that this cheesy line was going to make her smile.

She playfully smacked his head and wished them a "good night" before leaving.

"Ru, next time you try to manipulate Mum, I'll make sure that your girlfriend gets to know you still sleep with a teddy" Shivaay threatened him.

"And what about you? You still watch Tom & Jerry", Om tried to defend his other brother.

"Both of you, shut up, it's just a bad habit", Shivaay tried to defend himself.

"Bad habit?", Om & Ru looked at each other and burst into laughter. Making a grumpy face, Shivaay started munching his noodles.

• • •

Back to the room

She was standing in front of her father's room. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. A fake smile spread all over her face and she finally gathered the courage to enter the room.

"Hey Dad, how are you?", she asked and took a seat near him.

"Hey, I'm fine. How's my princess doing?", he asked her.

How was she? Well, she was everything just not happy. Her heart was beating but she wasn't living. With each passing minute the urge to die kept growing.

"Princess' are happy, I'm not", she chuckled coldly. Her gaze was fixed on her hands, which were resting on her laps.

He was speechless. He didn't know what to say, and he certainly didn't want to lie to her that everything was going to be fine.

Anika went from there and Shirley entered the room, looking at her sister's face, she sighed hopelessly.

"Dad, I think it's big time we should take her to a psychiatrist", she suggested.

"You're actually right, we wasted a lot of time. I know a very good psychiatrist. I think he's the only one who can handle her case", he replied, taking his laptop.

"I hope she'll be fine soon cause I can't see her in this condition anymore. I want my best friend, my crime partner back", tears formed in Shirley's eyes.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine soon", he consoled her.

• • •

Shivaay entered his room. Jumping onto his bed, he thought to go to sleep. But he couldn't go against routine and started checking his emails.

Looking through hundreds of mails, he opened the important ones.

Maybe it was destined to happen, maybe it was planned that he'll click on the mail of Anika's reports. The email which changed his life and hers too.

"Anika De'Cruz, get ready to come back to a normal life cause Shivaay Singh Oberoi never fails when it comes to making someone happy", he mumbled to himself and fell asleep.

Sometimes all you need is just a little ray of hope.

_______________________________________

Amna xx