A day before marriage

Next morning;

Ivan and Emma went shopping.

While David, Bella, and Aina went to college.

Carla also joined them in the college.

After classes, Bella went to the principal office for tomorrow's leave.

In the principal room;

Bella: sir, here's an application for six people for tomorrow.

Professor Zain: For what?

Bella: Actually, tomorrow is my best friend's nikkah. We all want a leave.

Professor Zain: Oh, I forgot.

Bella: Sir.

Professor Zain (still working on a laptop): hmmm

Bella: So our application is accepted?

Professor Zain: hmmm. Yeah. That's because your best friend is getting married to my best friend otherwise I won't have accepted. Your whole gang has enough leaves this month. Please take care next time.

Bella: Sure sir. Thank you.

Professor Zain didn't reply but stopped working after she left.

Bella and Aina are on their way back home.

Bella: don't you think you shouldn't have come to college today? I mean tomorrow is your wedding.

Aina: That means it's my last day that I can enjoy and spend on my will. Who knows what will happen after marriage?

Bella: ahh, don't be disappointed. Everything will be fine. As a friend, I should be happy about your wedding, but to be honest l, I don't know why my heart is sinking. It feels as if a part of my body is being snatched from me. I don't know what I'm feeling but trust me, it hurts.

A tea escaped from Aina's eye.

They hugged each other. Their eyes became moist. While hugging, Bella gulped saliva from her throat as if controlling hard herself from weeping.

Aina couldn't utter a word of fear that her voice would crack in between the speech.

Anyways, it was a silent and deep warm hug from both sides which carried multiple emotions including love, sadness, disappointment, fear of loss, feelings of distress, and much more.

Aina broke the silence to divert the environment.

Aina: Won't you go to the hospital? It's a long, you haven't gone. Won't they expel you?

Bella: hmm. No. I won't go. I left the job.

Aina: what? But why?

Bella: for whom should I start?

Aina: What do you mean by whom?

Bella: nothing.

Aina noticed her face. Anyone can see she was on the verge of crying but holding her tears with much self-control and patience.

Aina's POV:

I know she is worried about me. She is worried about how she will live alone after me. No doubt she was living alone before me. But now we have developed the habit of living together.

The habit of anything is bad. It tests you. Why? Why even we develop it? Why is it so painful to leave a habit when it develops on its own?

She came out of her thinking. She was also in a pain. She knew that she is going to live a miserable life once again. It was a short, very short pleasant time that went in the blink of an eye. Now it was the time to pay back for what she spent.

Bella set the table with lunch.

Bella: Start eating.

Aina: Won't you eat?

Bella: No, I don't have an appetite. I'll just sit with you. It might be our last lunch together.

Aina: why are you talking again and again like this? You are hurting yourself. It doesn't work like this. We have to move on in our lives.

Bella: but.... Sob... But... I can't... Live.... These empty walls will eat me.... Sob ... Sob....

Aina also started crying and was controlling hard from previous some time.

Aina cleared Bella's tears.

Aina: Now stop. You won't cry anymore, promise me. Or else, don't call me your bestie.

Bella (cleared her eyes like a baby): Aina, please don't go. I won't weep anymore. Isn't it possible we leave this country and settle in some other part of the world where nobody knows us? We'll hide somewhere. Professor Aaron isn't a good match for you. I know, I know you aren't happy. How can I let you ......( Started crying hard).

Aina (angrily): can't you stop crying? What do you think? Do you think it was for me? Do you think I have taken this decision happily? No....

(She cried out). No... I didn't. That monster would have killed you all. How would I have lived then?

Bella: He can't do anything. How would he know where we go? We'll do anything. Please, Aina. Don't ruin yourself. For my sake, don't ruin your life.

Her face was all red crying.

Aina: Then kill me. It is the only thing that can bring peace to our lives.