She Will Exist In Me

Aahna was having breakfast with her father, Vijay. Her new life was going to begin from today because today was the first day of her college but she wasn't happy about it. She had just got up after having breakfast when someone rang the bell of her house.

Aahna opened the door and saw her childhood friend, Ayansh standing in front of her. "Ayansh, come inside."

"Hello uncle." Ayansh said to Vijay.

"Ayansh, come son. How are you?" Vijay asked Ayansh.

"I'm fine, uncle. How are you?"

"I'm also fine."

Aahna came there with her bag and said to Ayansh, "Let's go, Ayansh. We are getting late."

"Yeah, I was just waiting on you."

Aahna was about to go out when Vijay called her back and kissed her forehead. “I hope you will make me feel proud.” These words from her father made her sad instead of bringing a smile to her face. Ayansh notices that something wasn't right with her or she is hiding something from Vijay but stays silent.

Vijay has a brain tumor. Aahna received Vijay's report only yesterday which states he needs an operation soon or else she will lose Vijay. This is what made her sad. She left the house with Ayansh and sat in the car. Ayansh sat on the driving seat and fastened the seat belt.

"Wait, are you going to drive?" Aahna asked, sitting on the back seat.

"Why? Is there any problem?”

Aahna was a little surprised as she had always seen the driver taking him to school. "No, it's good to see you driving." She came and sat in the front seat and he started driving the car.

"Are you sad?" Ayansh asked, looking at Aahna. Aahna was lost in deep thoughts. Ayansh's voice broke her trance and she said, "No, why should I be sad?"

"I am asking this because you are very quiet today." Ayansh said while focusing on the road. In school, Ayansh used to call her the talking queen because she was always talking but today she was silent as if something was troubling her. He could not see her so quietly. Both reached college soon.

"Let's go and find our friends." Ayansh said and both went to the canteen.

“Ayansh and Aahna. It is good that both of you are finally here.” Their best friend, Rohit said.

"What happened?" Ayansh asked while sitting. Aahna also sat with him.

“Nothing has happened. We are just planning to have a party after college." Rohit said and Ayansh happily asked, “Really? Where have you thought of going?

"At any restaurant or at someone's place if their parents allow." On hearing this, Ayansh quickly said, "Let's go to my house."

After college everyone sits inside Ayansh's car except for Aahna, who was standing outside with a sad face. Ayansh was about to fasten his seat belt when he saw Aahna standing outside. He got out of the car and went up to her. “Aahna, are you not coming with me?”

"No, I'll take the bus." Ahana said, looking down.

"No way. You are coming with me.” Ayansh held her hand and started taking her towards the car but she released her hand. “Ayansh, try to understand. I don't want to party with you all."

"Is there anything bothering you?"

"Please go, Ayansh." Aahna pushed him away. The tears she had been holding back since morning finally started flowing from her eyes. Rohit was watching all this sitting in the car but he did not interfere.

"No, I will not go without you. I will take you with me to your home.” Before Aahna could stop Ayansh, he asked everyone to come out of the car.

"What happened?" Rohit asked him.

“We will have this party some other day. Aahna is not feeling well.” Ayansh said.

Rohit looked at Aahna and said, “Okay, no problem. We are leaving. Let's meet tomorrow."

After Rohit leaves, Ayansh asks Aahna to sit in the car. Aahna sat in the car. Ayansh started driving and after some time stopped in front of a park. "Come on, let's sit here for a while. You'll feel good."

They both stepped out of the car. Ayansh held her hand. They went inside the park and sat on a wooden bench. "Do you remember this park? We used to come here so many times in our childhood.” Ayansh said, smiling.

"Are we here to talk about this?" Aahna asked.

"No, I wanted to spend some time with you."

Aahna took a deep breath and said, “Ayansh, that was the time when we didn't have to worry about anything but now, everything has changed. That childhood is just a memory. We have to live in the present now.”

Ayansh felt that she was right. Really everything has changed. Ayansh's behavior towards her as well. He had never cared for her so much in childhood but now he could not see the tears in her eyes.

“Aahna, I have been noticing you since morning. Why are you so upset?”

"I told you there is nothing. I'm not upset." Tears started flowing down her cheeks.

"Your tears are saying a lot."

She looked at Ayansh and hugged him tightly. Ayansh caressed her back. "Tell me, what's wrong?"

“Dad has a brain tumor. He was feeling daily headaches, so I decided to take him to the hospital. Yesterday, I got his report and came to know about it." Aahna told him everything.

"Does he know about this?" Ayansh asked.

"No, I can't tell them. He needs an operation as soon as possible." She started crying.

“You have to tell him about this.” Ayansh tried to calm her down.

“I know but dad won't be ready for surgery. He will start worrying about the expenses.” Aahna wipes her tears.

"Don't worry about the expenses. I will help you but you have to tell them.” He said and she nodded.

At night, Ahana was going to warm some milk for Vijay when she heard the sound of someone falling on the ground in the room. She ran inside the room and saw Vijay lying on the floor unconscious. "Dad."