After six months
......time flew like flocks of birds migrated to the faraway coasts...... Going back to their places.....

And everything started to settle down..... At a steady pace....

They currently live in delhi..... He is working at the headquarters with her married to him... But currently exempted from joining her duty...

When catastrophe ends... It lives its after effects.... If not visible.... Then maybe on the souls of the people who face it.....

She wakes up in cold sweats..... Some. Nights..... And clings to him..... Making sure its actually him... Sleeping beside her...... He stays up thereafter...... Patting her head...... Kissing her brow..... Telling her it was just a nightmare.....

........
After an year
She is getting dressed for ali and pooja's marriage.....

Covering that bare portion of waist visible through her saree

He nuzzles her neck.... Kisses her cheek... From behind...

She feels like she is being resuscitated by his touch.... Only familiar thing.... To her.... Only soothing thing..... His embrace.... Only home to her....

"jaan... Tum ne. Wo saree kyu nahi pehni...... Jo tumhare liyelaya tha"
He asked. Noticing... Her covering up herself.... Vigilantly......making her wear pearl necklace...

"ye..." she looks in awe... At the gift.... He is delicately wrapping around her neck....

"ye usi saree par suit hota nai" he asked deliberately.....

"ye bohot khoobsurat he" she smiles.....
"woo... Mai.... .. Mujhe comfortable nahi lagega.." she stammers.... "wo wahan bohot sare log honge..." she isn't sure how to frame the sentence....
He looks at her... Sympathetically.....
Those nightmares she gets...... Being ripped off her clothes..... Being seen vulnerable....by someone other than him..... Those scars on her soul

He doesn't say anything..... Just blinks

She often seems to clutch his hand tightly.... When surrounded by a bunch of strangers.....
Locks the house and checks several times as he is off for his night shift...

There were countless times he tried to explain.... That its all alright..... And she should try to move on..... And she tries..... Honestly.... But her wounds are deeper than the scars depict them to be..... He understands that... And is content with the thought that she is safe and with him....

.....

"oyye miss call... Mujhe laga tu nahi aYegi.... Pata he... Rajveer sir ko kotna maska mara... Tujhe sTh lane ke liye"

She was getting her ready for the nikaah...

"kaise nai aati... Teri zindagi ka... Otna khoobsurat pal he..." she smiled.... Taking kohl.. And marking the area behind her ear....
"ali ne to behosh ho jaana he aaj" she chirped...

Pooja smiled and pressed her arm.... "tu theek hena"
She nods....
It was after a very long time... She saw her friend smile like this and make jokes
They head towards the aisle... Where this innocent couple vow to love each other till eternity..... Trying to get a glimpse of each other through the veil....
"itna ke utavla ho raha he usool... Apna hi maal he.... Jee bhar ke delh lena"
Listening to his comments..... Rajveer shook his head....

"ye kuch keemti pal hote he huda.... Jab hum use jo aap se pyaar karta he.... Itna khush dekhte he.... Don't disturb him" as the maulana chants the surat.... To get them married....

A strange sadness in his voice...on Missing those precious moments..... With her.... The one he loves....

If only he could see her smile the way pooja is smiling on her big day....

But in certain moments of intimacy.....
And leisure....
He could see her lips curled in a parabolic shape..... Upwards....

Her eyes glittering.... Her heart content..... As he cages her in his embrace at night....
Though its like a shooting star.... Fades away quickly..... Before he can catch a proper glimpse of it...

But he sees it...its there... And that's enough for him....

He craves for a day when she would let him make love to her... Worship her skin... When she won't get startled as she does... When he hovers her....when the room will fill up with gleeful laughter... As they rest tired after a long love making tickling and. Teasing each other......

But there is still time for that..... He knows... And for her.... He can wait till eternity.... Trying to strengthen.. Their relationship... Which is so strong yet so delicate....
.....

B"oleto.... Rajveer sir.... Aap us se baat kyu nahi karte... Duty wapas join karne ke liye"aalekh asked out of concern....

"haan sir.. We all are in delhi... Aap use technology and computers dept me recruit karwa sakte he..... That way.... She won't have to be present on feild.... And i will be there to help her" ud suggests...

"that's a brilliant idea ud.... Me usse baat karta hun...but... I would be happier..... If she tells it on her own... That she wants to rejoin her duty" he stirs his glass of sherbat..... Thoughtfully...
"wese mene headquarters me tumhara cr bhej diya he... They might send u for a training.. And recruit you as a captain.... In technical warfare dept..." he tells ud"they are quite impressed by your work"

He hugs rajveer happily..

"u deserved it cadet" he smiles.... Noticing tears in eyes of this silly boy.... Who risked his career for their mission....
Aalekh  and huda smile. . And joins the hug....
While naina who has just come.... Inside... Notices.... Them hugging.... And smiles ear to ear... At some refreshed happy memories....

.....

"naina.. "dr shalini.... Asks...

"mai jaanti hun..... Ye baat kehna bohot aasan he... Par don't you think... Its high time.... You take an effort.... To overcome your fears...." she indicates at something...

I"ts been an year naina..... Tumhe aage badhna hoga... Un palon ko peeche chod ke .. Ek bure sapne ki tarah...... Ek bohot khubsurat zindagi... Tumhara intezaar kar rahi eh" she looks at her

"jaanti hu mam... Wo mera intezaar lar rahe he... I try.... So hard..... To not get scared.... To forget everything.... Those dirty moments.... Par..." she cries in shalini's arms.....

Its the first time she speaking about it.....

Shalini keeps coaxing her.... As she pours her heart put to her.... First time in these two years...... Hoping that now her wounds will heal
.......

Days and nights pass in same uncertainity...... But he could say she is trying to walk halfway..... Trying to move on... As he sees her smile and crack a joke... Or two.. At dinner..

Or ask him to hook her blouse  sometimes ...

Or when she confidently walks out of home in uniform..... He knows.... She is a long way ahead...... Taking baby steps.. And he supports her..... With all he has.... Hoping one day.....he would get her back..... The way she was....
.....
.

But that night was different......
That night...  a dimly lit room...

She is undressing herself quietly... And slowly...... And looking at herself in mirror...

He gets glued to the door....

It was the first time since their. Marriage. That she's forgot to unlock...
The door..... Before undressing herself.....

As she peels off her clothes slowly as if... Trying to fantasize..... Something... Her expressions.... Full of want and lust....
He gulps in.... Indecisive... Wether to go inside or not....

He is about to walk away.... But his heart ruling against the decision.....

It was as if a charm..... An aura... Dragging him to her.... He walks towards her.... Only maintaining a slight distance...

He calls her with all the love..and affection.....

"naina"

She turns... Her eyes moist... But still clear.. About what she wants....

They almost rush to hug each other..... And feel their skin..... Against each other....rubbing....smoothly....

He reverently carries her to bed..... In his arms.... Her eyes full of consent...
Yet... Before peelig her cloths.... He asks...
"naian... We... Don't have to.... If u r scared...."

"i can never be scared of making love to u...... I feel safe when you touch me..... Not filthy... Not tainted.... Just pure.. And clean." she says... With honesty....

He smiles through his tears... And reverently lays her down......
His fingers running on her body.... Like clean water...... Clearing the stains of dirty past..... On her skin....

He delicately... Undressed her... Kissing and sucking every part of her skin.... Like a treasure... Discovered newly.... Like worshipping her....

And she grunts..... Moans... Even laughs... And cries... As  she

melts in his  arms.... Rolling on the bed..... Screaming each other 's name.....

The night was like one' s when the sky has a blue moon on it..... Rare.. Etheral.... Surreal.....

Two lovers emerge in passion... Forgetting the bitter past....... And marking the new beginning of their life in a new sense

Baawra sa ho andhera... Bawri khamoshiyan....
Thartharati lau ho maddham...
Bawari madhoshiyan...
Baawra ek ghungta chahe... Haule haule bin bataye...
Baware se mukhde se sarakna....
Bawra man dekhne chala he ek sapna
....