"I want you to marry Vikram," Shanaya breathed heavily, holding Meher's hands tightly in hers. "Promise me you will."

"What are you saying? No, no, never," Meher said, shaking her head.

"This is my last wish, Meher. Please," Shanaya pleaded, her eyes filled with desperation.

Meher hesitated, tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked at her best friend's frail form. "I—I promise," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"And you will take care of my little one," Shanaya added, her gaze shifting to the baby girl peacefully sleeping in her hospital crib beside her mother's bed. "She deserves all the love in the world, Meher."

A lump formed in Meher's throat as she looked at the tiny bundle, a fragile life full of hope and innocence. "I will, Shanaya. I promise I'll be there for her."

Shanaya smiled faintly, a glimmer of relief in her eyes. "I know you will. You've always been my rock."

But as Shanaya's grip weakened, Meher felt the impending loss heavy in the air. 

"Please, don't leave me,Please dont leave me please!!"

Suddenly, Meher jolted up from sleep, her heart racing, drenched in sweat. The remnants of the dream lingered in her mind, the weight of Shanaya's last words crushing her.

"Why did you leave us, Shanaya? Why?" Meher whispered into the quiet of her room, tears streaming down her cheeks again. 

The morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the space around her, but it did little to chase away the darkness that enveloped her heart.

Meher POV:

"It's been 11 months," Meher said softly, glancing at the baby girl who was peacefully sleeping beside her. "You know, baby, your mumma loved you so much."

She brushed a gentle hand across the child's forehead, her heart aching at the thought of Shanaya's absence. Every day had been a mix of joy and sorrow, as Meher navigated the uncharted waters of motherhood while carrying the weight of her best friend's memory.

"You've grown so much," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're so strong, just like her. I wish she could see you now."

The little girl stirred slightly in her sleep, a tiny smile gracing her lips as if sensing Meher's presence. It filled Meher's heart with warmth.

"I'll tell you all about her when you're awake. About her laughter, her dreams, and the way she lit up every room she entered," Meher promised, her voice steadying as she spoke.

Every moment spent with the baby brought a mix of joy and heartache.

Meher often found herself reminiscing about Shanaya—their late-night talks, the dreams they had shared, and the unbreakable bond they had forged over the years. But now, as she looked at her little girl, she knew she had to be strong.

Meher took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts.

 "You'll always have me, little one. I promise to love you and protect you with everything I have. We'll create a beautiful life together, even if it's missing your mumma."

She stepped out of her room and stood in front of a door, knocking softly. When she received no response, she pushed the door open and entered. The room was adorned with a large portrait of Shanaya hanging on the wall.

As she approached the bed, Meher called out, 

"Vikram, wake up! Today is your important meeting; you're going to be late!" She hesitated for a moment, contemplating pressing his clothes to help, but before she could act, a sudden, harsh pull stopped her in her tracks.

She turned around to find Vikram sitting up, his messy hair framing his face, eyes blazing with fury.

"How many Fucking times do I have to tell you not to step into my room or touch my stuff?" he growled, his voice cold and sharp. 

"If you really think doing all this will make me accept you as my wife, you need to stop. It's never going to happen."

He grabbed her hands tightly, making her wince in pain. "You're just Aarvi's babysitter, nothing more."

"Vikram, let go of my hand!" she said, struggling to free herself from his strong grip.As he released her, she cradled her aching hand and said

"I'm not begging for your acceptance or dying for you to acknowledge me as your wife. This marriage is a name and nothing more to me."

Her eyes narrowed, and her words cut like ice.

 "And as for Aarvi, the daughter you've never even cared to see since the day she was born—don't you dare worry about her. I'm raising her with more love and care than her so-called father ever could. You lost the right to call yourself that the moment you turned your back on her."

She said and left from there.