CHAPTER 16

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After Vinod's last rites were finished and everyone had left after paying their respects, only we were left. Simmi's in-laws had finally gone to sleep and I read a story to Meeshu and finally she had gone to sleep as well.

I helped Simmi re-arrange the furniture back to normal, and then I prepared tea for the both of us. With a cup in our hands, we finally sat down.

Simmi kept staring at the main door of her house without blinking her eyes.

"Hey," I placed a hand over her knee, "You okay?"

She looked away before shaking her head. "No. I—," she swallowed, "I keep thinking this is some sick joke and that any moment now Vinod will walk through the door and laugh at me. I... I just don't understand..." her face contorted in pain and her eyes welled up. Without even taking a sip of her tea, she placed it back on the table. Her hands shook as she continued. "I don't think i am capable of coming to terms with his death. It was so sudden Meera."

"I know Simmi," my own eyes welled up with tears for my sister and the pain she was going through. "No one expected this. It was so sudden."

"He didn't even have any health problems. I just don't get it. What went wrong? I think if he had any disease, this wouldn't have hurt that much. I would've mentally prepared myself for this."

"Simmi... no one can prepare themselves for a close one's death. That's just... not how it works. It would've hurt you the same."

Simmi nodded and closed her eyes, the tears flowing down her cheeks. "Meera? Will you do something for me?"

"Anything." I replied without wasting a second. It was true, I would've done anything for her then.

"Will you please stay? I need you with me." She clasped my hands in her own shaking ones.

"I—," I really wanted to. I didn't think i could leave her alone like this, but what about Pawan? And Yuv? Pawan would surely chew my head off for this. "Of course, Simmi. Whatever you need. I'm here for you." She pulled me into a hug and held me tightly, as if afraid that i would vanish.

"Thankyou. It means so much to me." She whispered softly.

I called up Pawan the first chance I got after Simmi went to Meeshu's room. "Hello?" Pawan's voice reached my ears and i grimaced, knowing what was coming.

"Hi, Pawan. How is Yuv?"

"How am I supposed to know? Ask mom."

"You haven't talked to him?" I asked, feeling incredulous.

"I didn't have time Meera. I had office."

I can't believe he didn't find time to call his own son and ask how he was.

"Anyway, I don't have time to pick you up from the airport tomorrow so I've booked a cab for you." He continued.

"I don't want to come back yet." I said softly.

"What?"

"I want to stay with Simmi for a few days."

"What for? You should come back, how long do you think my mother will be able to take care of Yuv? She's getting old, Meera. She doesn't have the energy." He tried to guilt trip me.

"Pawan— my sister's husband just died. She needs me. I will stay with her for as long as she needs me to. Besides, i will talk to your mother, don't worry about that. And i will call the cook and tell her to come early to cook for you before you go off to office."

"Fine— It seems like you have already decided and taken care of everything. But i will have to cancel the ticket and even the cab. They won't even return the whole amount, they charge for cancellation." He groaned.

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