1.

After death, the human brain lives on for seven minutes replaying the best memories of their life. I always tend to wonder what memories will be played into my head. The one in which, my mom kissed me goodbye and the next day I woke up in front of the orphanage or the memories of the night, where I just needed someone to hold me and protect me from the monsters gushing into my head. But they aren't memories for me, they are the cruel reminder of my existence.

Angry waves slammed around drenching me with resentment of their own. The ferocity of the solid rock brought me back from my insurmountable thoughts.

I stared at my hand filled with different patterns of henna designs, but what caught my eyes was that one pattern adorning the name, in the middle of my palm. The dread rushed through my spine, sending tremors through my entire body, I shivered tracing the name which has the power to ruin my life.

AADIT

As if the sea in front of me heard his name, it crashed an another enraged wave drenching me completely this time. I sobbed gaping at the loathing. "Now you hate me too." I accused my best friend and the place I call home. The cold water caresses my feet tenderly. "I thought everything would go according to the plan, but it's all ruined. I couldn't help it, I am sorry." As if the sea heard me, it splashed the cold water down my leg. I lay down on the sand staring at the starry sky. Bangalore is so weird some days. The city lights make it impossible to stargaze.

What have you done Anaya?

Exhaustion washed over my whole body making me realise of the riveting day I had. The incident which led me here started to bolt my mind.

"Anaya, I beg you please do this for me." Diya gripped my wrist pulling me inside her room.

"Are you kidding me, Diya? Do you even know what you are asking me to do?" I pulled my wrist back as the sudden gush of anger forged my head. I knew it, she just wanted to be my friend because of her selfish reasons.

"Why don't you ask your rich brat friends to do this for you?" She gasped sitting on the bed.

"You never trusted me, Anaya. I always considered you my best friend but you always drew a line between us with your stupid overthinking. I would never ask you to do something which has a chance to ruin your life." She cried wiping her tears. Guilt punch me in my guts like a howling wind. How can I even have this thought about Diya? She is nothing but a supportive friend, always there for me in every possible way.

"I am sorry, please don't cry," I  whispered pulling her in my arms.

"I don't want to do this Anaya but I don't have any option. My father is headstrong in his decision to marry me to that royal heir. I have dreams and aspirations but my family would never allow me. This is my last chance to fight for my future and only you can help me." She begged caressing my hand.

No, Ana, she is just manipulating you. Please don't agree, please don't. The voice in my head echoed, dragging me out of Diya's trance.

"It's the voice again isn't it?" Diya clenched her teeth in frustration. "Ana, I told you to visit my therapist. It's not usual for a person to have this kind of voice inside their head always nagging and gaslighting them. You need help."

"How do you know?" My hands itched to strangle her. I am not mad, I am not. I was 7 when I had my first nightmare, I was sobbing lying on the cold floor hoping for someone to pick me up. I waited and waited but no one came, but suddenly a fragment of a soft voice calling me Ana crept into my mind. She has been with me since then. I don't know how she came and where she came from but she stays without judging me so I like her.

"Ana, we are best friends. I know everything about you come on." She rolled her eyes walking towards her closet.

"It's a simple plan, you just have to sit there and wait for my message, as soon as I will check in at the airport.  I will text Ahana and she will make an excuse to take you to the washroom and you have to run away and leave, that's it."

"That's it?" I raised my brows hearing her audacious words.

"Yes, that's it. You don't have to get married or something. Just sit there and pretend to be me." She yelled gripping her suitcase.

"Are you sure, you can't convince your parents?" I whispered clutching my sea shell in hope.

"No, I can't." I stared at Diya as she packed her suitcase. How easy it is for her to pack her whole world in a suitcase.

"You did that too." The voice nagged me again.

"No, I didn't. I was thrown out of my world."

"Anaya...." Diya glanced, her gaze full of pity for me. "Please go to the therapist, I will pay for the treatment."

"I DON'T NEED A THERAPIST." I yelped caressing my tattoo. "Can you please stop with this? I am done for the day."

She peeked from her closet her eyes racking over my whole body. Tremors ran down my spine feeling her gnawing gaze. I shifted and squirmed confining inside my pessimist mind. My mind and I, don't get along at all.

"You are fine, just lose some weight before coming to Udaipur. Or else everyone will instantly know you are not me." I want to strangle her now, my hand itched in my lap. Sparks of anger ran into my veins.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

She is your friend, Anaya, she was there for you ALWAYS.

The monster living inside my head forges me to have these kinds of thoughts. I chanted the words again and again until the words started twirling in my mind scaring the monster away. I screamed until I felt numb.

Until I felt it hiding.

As I already said, My mind and I don't get along.