“What’s wrong with you again now?” Shrey shouted at Anuya.
“Nothing, just leave me alone please. I don’t want our relationship anymore” She pleaded and pushed him away.
“Don’t do this to me please. Don’t push me away” Shrey tried to hold her from back.
“Shrey, it will hurt you. Please go away for now” She screamed and left his place.

He stood there, almost lifeless, watching her go away. She left him without an explanation.

He wanted to know the reason, wanted to support her, wanted to take away her problems. He felt helpless; he was unable to do anything. She wasn’t ready to open up and say what’s wrong with her. She was acting weird all these days; at times all she wants is him and the very next second she was asking him to go away. Shrey knew something was bothering her more than him. He went and spoke to every other person close to her.

After few days, he found the harsh reality but he was already late, very late. She was suffering from leukaemia and battling her last days. He was shattered. The girl he loved the most was going to leave him forever. He now knew the reason of her behaviour.

He was standing in front of the ICU, staring at the most beautiful face with teary eyes. He requested doctor to talk to her once. After pleading for a few minutes, he got some time to be with her. He went in with trembling legs; tears rolling down his cheeks. He sat next to her bed, held her hands.

“Anuya, why didn’t you tell me?”Shrey asked with a sunken voice.
“I don’t love you, that is why I left you. Why are you here?” Anuya tried to show her fake anger.
“Stop lying” He held her hands even tightly and Anuya felt a tear fall on her hand.
“Shh… don’t cry please. I didn’t want to hurt you. I wanted to make sure that you can live without me happily” She broke down.

“I can’t live without you baby. I won’t let anything happen to you. I love you” He wanted to make her believe in his this illusion and be lost in it as well.
“I love you too. But I don’t have time to be with you. I am sorry” Tears were trickling down her beautiful eyes.
“Shrey, just hug me and make one last promise that you will never let your smile fade away.”
As she finished, he hugged her tight and she took her last breath in his arms. “I promise baby not to cry”

A few years later…

“Anuya, you are getting late for your school”
“Yeah papa, just two minutes”

He adopted a girl, she always wished to have a daughter. He named her Anuya. He didn’t break his promise. God sent him an angel to bring back his smile, his little Anuya.