It was early morning.
Papa was getting ready to leave for the office when Mother packed his lunch.
Anaya was sitting at the table, working on her laptop.
It was time for her to go to college.After a while, she finished her laptop work and left for college.
After the first lecture in Chemistry ended, as Anaya left the class, she noticed the corridor was unusually quiet.
Papa called.
Papa was calling from the doctor's clinic.
His voice sounded slightly heavy.
Son, my blood pressure is a little high.The doctor has prescribed some tests.
Hearing this, Anaya felt a pang of panic.Oh my God... don't let anything happen to Papa.
Composing herself, she said to Papa, "Papa, I'll come to the hospital in the evening."
The teacher was reading something in class.
But for Anika, time seemed to have stopped.All she could think of was Papa's face.
When she arrived at the hospital in the evening, she felt a wave of relief.
Papa was sitting on the bench.
Reports in his hands.
His hand was shaking slightly.
Anaya sits beside him and holds his hand...
"Papa... aren't you in too much pain?"
He tries to smile.
Hey, silly girl... what can happen with such a low BP?
But Anaya could see the fear hidden in his eyes.
Anaya remembered—when she had a fever as a child.
Papa would stay awake the entire night.
Today, that same Papa was sitting quietly in front of her.
At that moment, Anaya didn't remember anything—reports, bills, or salary.
There was only one thing—
If something were to happen to Papa... how would I live?
The doctor would prescribe medicines.
The doctor said, "Reduce stress; regular check-ups are essential."
There wasn't any serious illness.
But there was a warning.
And sometimes, even warnings can be disturbing.
Mother sat quietly, holding Papa's hand.
And Anaya...
Anaya was pretending to be strong.
Papa closes the file and gets up.
Returning home, Mother takes care of the medicines.
Papa lies down on the bed.
Anaya stands in the kitchen.
Calculations are going on in her mind.
The salary is low.
Bills are high.
But even after thinking about all this, she was most worried about her father.
Two days later, her aunt came home.
The conversation begins over tea.
The girl has grown up...We should think about marriage.
Mother remains silent.
Papa ignores her brother's words and buries himself in the newspaper.
Anaya overhears everything while washing the dishes in the kitchen.
Her hands stop.
Marriage?
When Dad is sick...
When household expenses are rising...
When I'm not stable myself...
At night, he tells his mother:
"Mom... I don't want to get married yet."
Mother looks at him.
First, you stand on your own feet, son.
There was confidence in her voice.
That night, Anaya opened her laptop.
I opened the internship email.
Subject:
Internship period completed.
Written below:
We wish you all the best.
That's it.
No confirmation.
No future.
She lost her job.
Staring at the screen, she realized—
Zero income starting tomorrow.
Papa's medicines are still pending.
Household expenses are still pending.
The dream is locked in the diary.
Reality stared at her.
She went to the bathroom and cried quietly.
She didn't utter a word.
She somehow managed to compose herself.
Lying on the bed, she stared at the ceiling.
A voice came from within:
You're tired.
But life said:
I won't stop yet.
How does Anaya manage to compose herself in this difficult moment?How many more tests does she have left to face?Will she be able to start her dream even in this difficult situation?To know the answers to all these questions, you will have to read the next episode of our story.