The hospital corridors stretched endlessly as Anshika walked toward the doctor, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The exhaustion weighed on her shoulders, but nothing compared to the dread twisting in her chest. The doctor's face was grave, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Doctor, Dadii kaisi hai?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

(Doctor, how is Dadii?)

The doctor sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Woh theek hai, par..." He hesitated. "Mujhe nahi lagta ki woh zyada din tik paayengi. Aisa lagta hai jaise bas tumse milne ke liye ruki hai."

(She's stable, but...)
(I don't think she has much time left. It feels like she's holding on just to see you.)

Anshika's heart clenched. "Main unse mil sakti hoon?"

(Can I meet her?)

The doctor nodded but then glanced at the two men beside her. "Yeh kaun hain?"

(Who are they?)

She didn't hesitate. "Mera bhai aur dost."

(My brother and friend.)

The doctor studied Kashish and Agastya for a moment before stepping aside. Anshika walked into the dimly lit room, her breath hitching at the sight before her.

Her dadii sat by the window, frail and small, bathed in the silver glow of the moonlight. Her once-strong frame had withered, but her eyes still held warmth when she turned to look at Anshika.

"Beta... tu aa gayi."

(Child... you came.)

Anshika forced a smile despite the burning in her throat. "Haan Dadii, main yahin hoon." She stepped forward and knelt beside her, gently taking her wrinkled hands in hers.

(Yes, Dadii, I'm here.)

Dadii exhaled, a tired smile playing on her lips. "Mera waqt aa gaya hai, Anshika. Main jaanti hoon."
(My time is up, Anshika. I know it.)

"Aise mat kaho, Dadii—"

(Don't say that, Dadii—)

She shook her head. "Mujhe baat puri karne de, beta." Her voice was weak but firm. "Mere jaane ke baad, mera ghar tera hoga. Wahan jitne din chahe, reh sakti hai."

(Let me finish, child.)
(After I'm gone, my house will be yours. You can live there as long as you want.)

Anshika's lips parted in shock. "Dadii..."

"Aur..." her dadii's fingers trembled as she squeezed Anshika's hand. "Mere kamre ki almari dekhna. Teri maa ne tere liye kuch chhoda hai wahan."

(And)
(Check the cupboard in my room. Your mother left something for you there.)

Her mother?

Anshika barely breathed as she nodded.

Dadii turned her gaze to Kashish and Agastya. "Yeh kaun hain?"

(Who are they?)

Anshika straightened. "Mere bhai aur dost."

(My brother and friend.)

Her dadii's eyes softened before hardening again, her voice holding the last ounce of authority she had left.

"Iska dhyaan rakhna. "
(Take care of her.)

Both Kashish and Agastya exchanged glances before nodding. "Hum wada karte hain."

(We promise.)

Dadii sighed in relief. "Achha hai... bas itna kehna tha."

(That's good... that's all I wanted to say.)

And with that, she closed her eyes.

Anshika felt the exact moment when her grip loosened, when her body relaxed, when her final breath left her lips.

Her world shattered.

"Dadii?" she whispered, shaking her hand. "Dadii, please... aankhein kholo..."

(Dadii, please... open your eyes...)

But there was no response.

A broken whisper escaped her throat as she pressed her forehead to her dadii's hand. "Dadii, mujhe chod ke mat jao... please..."

(Dadii, don't leave me... please...)

Kashish stepped forward, pulling her into his arms as she broke down. "Anshika, hum yahin hain."

(Anshika, we're here.)

Agastya's grip on her shoulder was firm, grounding. "Tu akeli nahi hai."

(You are not alone.)

But at that moment, surrounded by the weight of loss, Anshika had never felt more alone.

At Anshika's home

That night, she arrived at her so-called home with Kashish and Agastya. Her hands were cold, her body exhausted, but she held her head high.

She stepped inside, facing her father, her stepmother Reema, and her stepsister Siya. They barely looked up, their expressions indifferent.

"Dadii ab nahi rahi."

(Dadii is no more.)

There was a heavy silence. Then, Reema scoffed. "Buddhi thi, mar gayi. Kya naya hai?"

(She was old, she died. What's new?)

Anshika's nails dug into her palms. "Humein unka antim sanskar karna hoga."

(We need to arrange for her last rites.)

Her father sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Aur paisa kahan se laayengi?"

(And where will we get the money?)

Siya smirked from her seat. "Waise bhi, ek buddhi aurat ke liye itna tamasha karne ki zaroorat nahi hai."
(Anyway, there's no need to make such a fuss over an old woman.)

Anshika snapped. "Buddhi aurat? Woh tumhari Dadii thi!"

(Old woman? She was your grandmother!)

Reema rolled her eyes. "Itna drama mat kar, Anshika. Jo hona tha, ho gaya."
(Stop this drama, Anshika. What had to happen, happened.)

The air felt suffocating. Rage burned in her veins.

"Main kabhi wapas nahi aungi iss ghar mein."

(I will never return to this house again.)

She turned on her heel, heading for the door, but her father's voice stopped her cold.

"Ghar chhodna hai toh guardian certificate chahiye hoga."
(If you want to leave this house, you will need a guardian's certificate.)

She froze.

Slowly, she turned to face him. "Kya?"

(What?)

A slow, cruel smile stretched across his lips. "Main dunga... ek shart par. Tujhe us aadmi se shaadi karni hogi jise main chununga."
(I'll give it to you... on one condition. You will marry the man I choose.)

The words felt like a slap.

Kashish cursed under his breath, Agastya stiffening beside her. Both could hear it as the door was open.

Reema smirked. "Itna bura bhi nahi hai, Anshika. Kam se kam kisi kaam to aayegi."
(It's not so bad, Anshika. At least you'll be of some use.)

Siya laughed. "Agar zyada koshish kare, toh shaayad uska pati use pasand bhi kar le."
(Maybe if she tries hard enough, her husband will actually like her.)

Anshika's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She knew her father's nature. If she threatened him, he would still never give in.

She lifted her chin and met his gaze, her voice calm but deadly.

"Theek hai. Main shaadi karungi."

(Fine. I'll marry him.)

Her father smirked in victory. "Badiya. Shaadi ek hafte mein hai."
(Good. The wedding is in one week.)

Anshika exhaled sharply. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away.

The moment she stepped outside, the rage in Kashish's voice exploded. "Are you insane?! You can't actually go through with this!"

Agastya's voice was eerily calm, but his eyes were burning. "There's another way, Anshika. You don't have to do this."

Anshika turned to them, her gaze steady. "You think I don't know that? But right now, this is the only way. He won't let me go unless I agree. But one thing for sure. Main haarne waali nahi hoon."

(I'm not going to lose.)

And she wasn't kidding.

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