Part 19

Sameer continued to wrap and bandage the wounds carefully just like he noticed while unwrapping. Even after he was done, Naina didn't let go off his shoulder. He didn't want to let the moment end, and knew that if he uttered a word, it would, but unwillingly he had to let it go as it was time for her to rest.

Sameer: hmmm... Naina....ummm ho gaya!

Naina opened her eyes and looked into his and then both their eyes fell where she was still clutching him. She let go immediately, slightly embarrassed that she hadn't realized what she was doing. He felt bereft but the slight curved smile indicated to her that he didn't mind her hold on him, indeed was rather satisfied.

To lighten the moment, he immediately, pulled a tablet out of the strip and handed her a glass of water with the medicine.

Sameer: Yeh dawaii khao aur so jao. She gulped the medicine but couldn't go to sleep.

Naina: Nahi Sameer, abhi kaise so jaoon. Wo Kumud teacher wala assignment bhi toh khatam karna hai.

Sameer: Tum uski tension mat lo. Wo assignment Monday dena hai, abhi dou din chutti hai. Humne jo select ki thi, main saari kitaabein le aaya hoom, hum agle dou din mein use pura kar lenge. Aur competion ki taiyaari bhi karenge.

Naina gave a puzzled look: Competition? Sameer, iss halat mein main competition mein kaise hissa loongi? Pakka haar jaaongi aur school ka naam kharab hoga? Abhi theek hone mein bahut din lagenge. Par tumhe hissa lena chahiiye! Shanti teacher se kehkar, tum apna partner badal lo, fir tum hissa le paoge!

Sameer smiled: Naina, agar mujhe apna partner badalna hota, toh main yahan nahi hota! Na hi tumhare ghar mein pocha laga raha hota aur na hi tumhare Papa ki baatein sun raha hota.

She lowered her gaze coz she knew he hadn't received even a decent welcome.

Sameer continued: Naina, mandir mein vaade toh maine kiye the tumse, par bina kahe, nibhaye tumne, apni parvah kiye bina, mujhe bacha liya...tum chahe khulkar na kaho ki tumhare dil mein mere liye kya hai, par main... main tumse bahut pyar karta hoon....aur apna vachan puri imandaari se nibhaunga. Haar-jeet ka toh pataa nahi, par Bhagwan ne life mein aur Principal sir ne competition mein hume partners banaya hai toh ab competition mein hissa toh hum saath mein hi lenge....aur aisi koi baat, cheez, ya insaan nahi hai jo mujhe mera partner badalne par majboor kare; khud tum bhi nahi! Toh ab tum taiyy kar lo, tumhe mere saath milkar jeetne ki koshish karni hai ya bina lade hi haar maan leni hai?

He knew he had stroked the fiery competitive spirit in Naina. He had heard countless tales from MP how she would fight for even one mark, especially with Sanjay to reclaim her topper position. He wouldn't let her lose her confidence that easily and he was right.

Naina: Theek hai, hum hissa lenge aur jeetenge bhi....time-table banane se shuruat karte hai, waqt utna hi hai par ab kaam badh gaya hai, kyonki ek haath kam ho gaya hai! Wahan mere table pe, chart paper aur felt pen hai, hum abhi saara plan banayenge taaki subah se kaam shuru ho jaaye!

Sameer knew that now she wouldn't rest in peace till she had organized her thoughts and carried out the task panned in her head. He reluctantly gave in and brought the things to the bed she had asked. They started organizing their time table, she directing, he drawing. They skillfully allotted time for their regular studies, school activities, Sameer's practice sessions for cricket, his personal time to write poems, her stories, music, and other routine chores.

Finally, the medicine started taking its effect and she started to yawn. Sameer stopped everything and gathered all the material.

Sameer:  Buss Naina, baaki ka kal karenge. Ab tum so jao, jaldi theek hone ke liye, aaram bhi zaroori hai.

She lied as he propped the pillows to her comfort and covered her with the quilt. Naina reminisced the Mt. Abu night, when he was sick and stayed in her room, she had cared for him, now he cared for her similarly. He too smiled reminiscing the same moment, his Naina always cared for him, even risking her reputation, now he loved to care for her and shower his undying love.

He wished her goodnight and looked at her until her eyes closed due to the medicine effect. He couldn't take his eyes off her sleeping form, there were so many emotions coursing through him, this was such an intimate moment, unlike last time, when even though sleeping, Swati was a silent part of their encounter. This was just them, he could continue to look at her for eternity but exhaustion was taking over its toll and to be Naina's rock, he had to gain his strength. He quietly tiptoed out with a last loving glance.

Preeti was seated on the swing and was engrossed in a styling section of a magazine. She looked up when she saw Sameer approaching.

Preeti: Naina so gayi? He simply nodded. She noticed the lovelorn look on his face and continued in her usual chirpy tone. Arre Jijaji, aap chinta mat karo, dekha nahi kya? Naina chahe kuch bhi kahe, uske dil mein aap hi baste ho...sab theek ho jaayega! Main hoon na aapke saath.

Sameer was happy that since Naina was her priority, she would always side with him.

Sameer: Thank you Saaliji, mera saath dene ke liye, aap ekdum best ho!

Preeti patted her back and turned up her imaginary collar. Sameer smiled at her cute antics.

Preeti: Achca aap ke liye chaddar aur takiya rakha hai, aaram se so jao. Waise kal school ki chutti hai, par hamare ghar mein, Taiji 6 baje se hi O bai O bai karna shuru kar dengi. Hum andar so rahe hai toh Naina ki wajah se mujhe bhi 7 baje tak sone milega, par aapko nahi.... Toh uske liye advance mein sorry. He just shook his head to assure her that he didn't mind. Aur haan, yeh baharwala bathroom istemaal kar sakte ho, maine extra towel aur napkin bhi rakh diye hai.

Sameer thanked her, they bade goodnight to each other and she scampered away to the room she shared with her sister.

Sameer brought out his night suit, went to the bathroom, washed his face and changed. He noticed the small scrape marks on his shoulder blade and smiled in satisfaction at the reflection. It was her mark of possession on him, her trust and faith in him. "Meri Naina" and he sighed deeply with a firm resolve to bring everything back to normal at the earliest.
While settling on the deewan, he thought about Nanu that although late, he might be awake waiting for some news from him as he hadn't called him after reaching here and knew Nanu wouldn't call unless emergency, to avoid initiating anyone's dislike, especially Rakesh Sir.

He dialed his home number and Nanu picked up on the first ring.

Nanu: Hello Sameer beta!

Sameer: Mujhe pataa tha Nanu, aap abhi tak jaag rahe honge!

Nanu: Teri aawaz sune bina kaise so jaata. Tujhe waha bhej toh diya, par dil se teri chinta nahi ja rahi thi. Vishakha ka phone aaya tha toh sab batana pada. Thodi naaraz hai tujhse bhi aur mujhse bhi, ki mujhe aise tujhe Agarwalon ke ghar nahi bhejna chahiye tha, pataa nahi Rakeshji tera kya haal karenge?

Sameer was slightly skeptical: Nanu, aapne mummy ko sab bata diya?

Nanu: Haan sab. Par chinta mat kar, tere aur Naina ke baare mein nahi bataya hai! Tu kaisa hai Sameer? Unhone tujhe jyaada pareshan toh nahi kiya? Aur Naina kaisi hai?

Sameer was relieved: Nanu, aap tension mat lo, main bilkul theek hoon. Yahan sab bahut achche hai, Taiji, Tauji, Chachiji, Chachaji, aur preeti, sab ne mujhe bilkul paraya feel nahi hone diya. Buss, Naina jaldi se theek ho jaye, uska haath buri tarah se jal gaya hai Nanu, Sameer was back to feeling his guilt.

Nanu: Beta, tu fikr mat kar. Jab pyar kiya hai, toh nibhana bhi padega...wo kahavat suni hai na..."ye ishq nahi aasan, ek aag ka dariya hai aur doob ke jaana hai"... par beta tujhe doobna nahi, tairna hai, wo bhi Naina ko saath lekar.

Sameer: Nanu, main Naina ka haath aur saath kabhi nahi chodunga! Nanu, Munna Pandit bhi wahi honge na...

MP were doing ishaaras to Nanu since long to let them talk to him.

Nanu: haan haan... tere rahu ketu yahi hai, jab se tu gaya hai, yahan phone ke paas se hile bhi nahi hai....le baat kar le. He handed the phone to them after asking Sameer to take good care of himself and Naina and continue his duty with diligence.

MP: Sameer, Kaisa hai bhai tu? Sasural mein pehla din kaisa raha? Naina se baat hui? Safari suit ne jyaada pareshan toh nahi kiya? Baaki gharwale kaise hai? Tujhe theek se khane peene ko toh dete hai na?

Sameer was overwhelmed with his friends' concern.

Sameer: Arre are... shant ho jao tum dono, itne sawal ek saath poochoge toh jawab kaise doonga? Then he slowly assured them about his well-being, and that he was fine and patiently answered all their questions and assured them that although no one could replace them, he had Preeti to fill in some gap, who knew Naina in and out like they knew him. Only that he was worried about Naina and her health and confidence.

Munna: Tu chinta mat kar Sameer, dekh ghar ka morcha sambhalne ke liye, tere saath Preeti hai, aur school mein toh hum sab hai hi! Tu chinta mat kar, Bhabhi jaldi theek ho jaayegi aur tum dono ki dosti bhi fir se ho jaayegi.

Pandit: Haan Sameer, tu buss datte rehna, hum hai na tere saath...ab so ja... aaj trailer dekh liya na, kal se jang-e-maidan mein pehla kadam rakhna hai, saare hathyar taiyyar hone chahiye.

Sameer smiled at their crazy remarks to boost his morale... he longed to hug his besties....but though they weren't present physically, he knew, they would turn up faster than sound if he needed them. Finally, they wished him luck and hung up.

Sameer went to sleep with a contended smile on his face.... Things would be alright in due course, he wasn't alone, he had a strong support system.

In the middle of the night, an ear-piercing sharp scream jolted him out of his romantic dream of him and Naina in the Nakki lake boat ride. This time they were holding hands while maneuvering the direction of the paddle boat.
He sat upright and realized that it was Naina's voice.  He sprinted to her room where even Chacha Chachi had gathered and tears were flowing down her eyes and Chachi was consoling her and stroking the open area of the burnt hand, while Chachaji was trying to find the medicine box.

Sameer: Kya hua?

Preeti: Wo Naina ko raat mein baar baar karvat badalne ki aadat hai. Waise toh seedhe so rahi thi, haath side mein failakar, par shayad neend mein dayee taraf karvat le li aur pure haath pe so gayi aur shayad isiliye dard se chilla padi.

Sameer flinched visibly as he could feel her pain. He also saw the bandage was now yellow and red colored, indicating that some lesions had busted with the pressure, oozing puss and blood. He couldn't see her in so much pain and tears. He immediately came forward.

Sameer: Preeti thoda pani lekar aao please. She immediately hurried off to the kitchen. Chachaji, mein bandage kar deta hoon, abhi sone se pehle bhi maine hi kiya tha.

Chachiji raised her brows as the closeness was unsettling and Chachaji was confused whether to rely on him or not. He gave one look at Naina.

Sameer understood his dilemma: Main theek se karoonga, bharosa rakhiye, aur nahi dukhne dunga, and he forwarded his hand to accept the medicine box from him.

Finally, Chachaji gave in. Chachiji also got up to move on the other side. He started unwrapping as before, when Preeti came back with lukewarm water and a clean cloth. Sameer started to clean as before, wiping away all the blood and exudes without flinching even once at the grossness as he was completely focused on her care and trying to not hurt her. Then, he used the antiseptic doctor had recommended in such an event, applied ointment, and wrapped it again as before. During this time, Naina didn't cry out even once, neither hissed in pain, relieving both her foster parents, and assuring Chachaji who was more worried for her. He finally acknowledged himself that Sameer was dedicated to his task and maybe he truly cared about rectifying his mistakes.

Chachaji: Thank you Sameer! Par ab sab log so jao. Naina tum bhi sone ki koshish karo! Main yahan Naina ke paas baithunga, taaki fir se yeh neend mein karvat na le le.

Chachiji: Aap kyon ji, mein hoon na apni beti ke paas...

Preeti jumped in: Aap dono rehne do. Papa, aapko subah office jaana hai aur mummy... aapko toh kitne saare kaam hote hai. Main hoon na...

Chachiji: Bhagwan jhooth na bulwaye, Preeti, tu toh khumbhkaran ki Nani hai....abhi 5 minute mein so jaayegi. Tu rehne de!

Sameer: Aap sab log so jaayiye, main yahi kursi daalkar Naina ke haath ka khayal rakhoonga.

All four pairs of eyes gave him an amused look. It was one thing to care for a girl in daytime but totally unacceptable to stay in her room all night.  After all it was the 90s.

But Sameer continued: Waise bhi main yahan Naina ka khayal rakhne aaya hoon, sone nahi...It was still unacceptable.

But Preeti jumped in again to support him.

Preeti: Theek hi toh keh raha hai! Aur main bhi toh hoon yahan... hum baari baari se jaag lenge! Aur waise agar Sameer Naina ko khana khila sakta hai, patti kar sakta hai, toh yahan ek kursi daalke baith nahi sakta? Waise bhi agar Rakesh Tauji ko pataa chalega ki Sameer so raha tha aur hum sab Naina ke liye jaag rahe the, toh pataa nahi bechare ko kitni baatein sunni padegi.

Naina: Aap sab log please so jao, main ab nahi hiloongi. Baithe baithe hi so loongi.

But Rakesh's name did the trick and since Chachaji was ahead of his time like Nanu and somewhere he had started trusting Sameer, he acquiesced: Theek hai Sameer, tum yahan baith sakte ho. Naina, tumhara theek se aaram karna zaroori hai. Tum so jao. Chalo Bela. Koi kaam ho toh utha dena, he instructed the trio.

Chachiji didn't leave without warning them: Darwaza khula rakhna and three heads nodded.

Both Preeti and Sameer helped Naina to settle in a comfortable position to sleep.

Sameer addressed Preeti: Tum bhi aaram se so jao, main wahan darwaze ke paas baithta hoon. Before she could protest that it was ok and she would not feel uncomfortable to sleep in his presence, he pulled the chair by the door, brought his Walkman, placed the headphones, averted his gaze, and zoned out.

Preeti smiled inwardly: Such a gentleman he was. As much as he cared for Naina, he didn't want either of them to be uncomfortable in his presence or invade their privacy. She loved her Jijaji all the more and offered a silent prayer to all the gods whom Naina worshipped for sending such a Prince charming for her beloved sister, who would stand by her in all thick and thin, just like her, and beyond. She lovingly hugged her sleeping sister, without hurting her that after years of taunts, Taiji's future predictions were going to be proved false. Now, she would make sure that Naina relented soon and not drive away Sameer from her, though she had full faith that he wasn't going anywhere without her sister.