Dearies....here is the weekend part! So far, I have emphasized on the Jija-Saali bond, so here is the much overlooked Jija-Saala bond. Arjun's character has been demented & hacked for reasons unknown. The Brother-Sister duo & the Jija-Saala had quite a potential. While I might not put him on a pedestal, I am trying to give him redemption from the spineless worthless guy he has been portrayed in the show. Let me know what you think!

Part 25

In the games period,  Naina sat watching her friends enjoy playing Stapu & think about another two stories that were required to pen down for the competition. In the distance, boys played various games like Khokho & Kabbadi, whereas Sameer went to Arjun to play in his team & make up for the lost practice time in the morning.

Seeing him approach, Arjun questioned him, "aaj subah practice miss kyon kar di? Agar team mein select hona hai toh aisi laparwahi nahi chalegi. Poore samarpan se koshish karni padegi". He reprimanded him like an elder brother.

"Tum sahi keh rahe ho Arjun, par aaj Somvar tha toh Naina ko mandir le jana tha, issliye practice miss ho gayi" Sameer explained and then immediately defended, "par maine jogging aur exercise miss nahi ki". Then continued, "kya main thodi der tumhari team mein khel sakta hoon?"

Arjun thought for a moment "actually abhi team set hai toh tum chaho toh fielding kar sakte ho, slip position par. Shaam ko ground pe aa jana, theek se practice karne ke liye". Arjun gave him options & instructions.

Sameer reminded him, "Arjun, shaam ko toh Naina ko doctor ke paas le jaana hai na!"

"Arre haan..." Arjun pondered about the situation. "Theek hai kal subah practice karenge".

They continued to play for a while & Naina observed them from afar. She couldn't hear them but saw the exchange & noticed that something had changed between her brother & Sameer. Arjun wasn't as cold as before when he had first seen him in the house & the idea of Sameer so close to her had irked him.

Last period was Kumud teacher's & all students submitted their assignments. Also the pairs who worked together.

Kumud teacher was skeptical "Pehli baar school mein kuch aisa hua hai. Sabka assignment mein baad mein check karoongi, pehle yeh dekhu ki jodiyon mein kaam karnewalon ne kya kamaal kiya hai".

She shuffled through the pairs' assignments & came across that of Naina-Sameer. She read the title to the class aloud & some gasped, some eyes rounded, while some were amazed at such a unique thought. She skimmed through the article quickly & was visibly surprised. "Naina-Sameer, aage aao!"

They looked at each other & were slightly scared as Kumud teacher was known for her strict attitude towards students. She never differentiated & did not show any favoritism. So, even Naina was punished when she had missed the debate competition while trying to save Nanu, as the teacher hadn't known about it. But even later, she had not appreciated Naina'a selfless community service but rather scolded her for marring the school's name.

"Apna lekh puri class ko padhke sunao", She decreed.

Sameer & Naina looked at each other & they took turns to read alternate pages. Since they had spent ample time on it & Sameer had done the task with dedication, he didn't have problems pronouncing the difficult Hindi words, rather he was well acquainted with them now, all thanks to Naina. (The article would be too long to mention here, but I have mentioned the topic & on what lines it would be in the previous parts).

The class was surprised with the beautiful article but MP were surprised to see this studious side of Sameer.

Then, the unthinkable happened & Kumud teacher clapped for them to be joined by the class. She praised them which was actually the first "yeh lekh tumne likha hai Naina?"

"Nahi Miss, Sameer aur maine milke sanshodhan kiya aur fir ek saath baithke likha hai".

"Bahut achcha likha hai! Tum logon ne sach mein saabit kar diya ki agar milke saajedaari mein koi kaam kiya jaaye, toh parinaam aisa ho sakta hai. Baaki logon ko bhi tumse seekhna chahiye".

Sameer-Naina smiled at each other that their joint efforts had paid off well. Sameer's confidence raised as others could see the power of their pair. He knew it wouldn't be long before Naina too realized it.

"Yaar Sameer, yeh chamatkar kab hua bhai? Tu kabse padhai mein itna dhyan dene lag gaya?" Asked a happy but bewildered Munna.

"Haan yaar. Subah se dekh raha hoon, class mein aisa dhyan laga raha hai jaise ki tapasya kar raha ho! Bhai, apni nahi toh hamari izzat ka toh khayal kar le!" Pleaded an amused Pandit.

"Chup karo tum donon, yeh sab kuch Naina ki wajah se hai aur Naina ke liye hi hai". He looked at her & a smile crept on his face, while she was busy smiling at something Swati was whispering to her.

"Dekh Naina, tum donon ki jodi ne toh kamaal kar diya".. Swati whispered to her & Naina smiled reservedly. She knew she was trying too hard to keep him off but was failing miserably & ironically she was not angry about it.

While returning home, even Preeti joined the car ride in the back as she thought the front seat was only Naina's right or at least she should be first!

"Jijajiiii" She squealed in delight! "Mujhe Swati ne bataya aaj class mein kya hua. Aap toh chaa gaye!"

Sameer smiled at her antics "Saaliji, yeh kamaal mere akele ka nahi, hamari jodi ka hai, hamare saath ka hai".

While Preeti raised her eyebrows in affirmation praising her Jijaji's love for her beloved sister, Sameer was busy gauging the said sister's reaction in the rearview mirror.

Naina couldn't suppress the feeling of gratitude for getting acknowledged for her efforts & he noticed that she was starting to trust him again.

In the late afternoon:

"Naina, chalo, aaj tumhe doctor ke paas leke jana hai!" Arjun came hurriedly to Naina's room.
Naina didn't say anything, but got up from the bed & followed him out.

Sameer was pacing the hall but didn't know how to tell Arjun that he too wanted to accompany them. He cursed himself for reminding Arjun in the morning about the doctor visit otherwise right now he would have been the one taking her. Then he slightly tapped his head & started mumbling "kya soch raha hai Sameer? Car mein school saath mein jana ek baat hoti hai par aise tujhe kaun uske saath akele jane dega? Koi na koi toh saath aayega hi na!" But he couldn't deny that he was dying to be by her side, whether or not she wanted or liked. He just couldn't let her be.

He huffed when the brother-sister duo came out. Arjun looked at him & did something which he would never do, act impulsively that too in Naina's matter. "Sameer, tum bhi chalo!"

Naina and Sameer looked at each other. Naina was shocked as this was very out of character for her brother but Sameer could jump in joy.
He grabbed the car keys & when they were about to leave, Chachiji came back from her vegetable shopping.

"Bhagwan jhooth na bulvaye! Kahan ja rahe ho tum teenon?" She asked suspiciously.
"Chachiji, wo Naina ko aaj doctor ko dikhana hai na, toh hum buss wahi clinic ja rahe hai", replied Arjun.

"Arre, fir akele kaise ja rahe ho? Rakesh Bhaisaheb nahi ja rahe hai kya tumhare saath?" She was surprised how could the kids handle such a situation all by themselves.

"Nahi Chachiji, Papa toh kisi kaam se bahar gaye hai". Arjun replied again.

"Aise kaise! Yeh Bhaisaheb bhi na! Pehle bata dete toh tumhare Chachaji office se jaldi aa jaate aur Naina ke saath jaate. Koi baat nahi, main hi chalti hoon!" Chachiji dumped her vegetable bag on the stand by the door & was getting ready to leave when Rakesh walked in.

"Bhagwan jhooth na bulvaye, bilkul sahi waqt par aaye hai Bhaisaheb!" Praised Bela.

"Main hamesha har jagah sahi waqt par hi pahuchta hoon...waqt ka paband hoon, shikshak hoon!" Rakesh boasted.

Bela nodded & grimaced without his notice, but continued "Ji Bhaisaheb, ab aa gaye hai toh Naina ko dikhane doctor ke paas le jayiye na. Bachche akele kaise jaayenge, issliye main saath ja rahi thi par ab aap aa gaye hai toh aap hi chale jayiye".

"Arre, mein ghar aaya hoon toh kaam se aaya hoon, fir bahar jana hai. Faltu nahi baitha hoon jo dekhte hi kaam pakda diya".

Naina was saddened at his remark that he didn't acknowledge her or her current condition that could garner his attention. Bela tried to say something more as she too didn't feel that his attitude towards his sick child was tolerable.

But Arjun cut her in between "Koi baat nahi Papa, mein Naina ke saath ja hi raha tha!"

Rakesh didn't like it "Tu? Tu kahan ja raha hai? Teri shaam ko practice nahi hai kya?"

"Papa maine pehle hi coach ko khabar kar di thi ki main aaj shaam ko practice pe nahi aa paunga".

"Lo...kar lo baat...ab practice chodke yeh sab ghar ke kaam karega. Ek toh yeh laparwah ladki apna haath jalakar baith gayi hai aur teri wajah se tere bhai ke carrier mein rode pad rahe hai. Arjun, tum practice par jao, mein jaata hoon iske saath". Rakesh volunteered half-heartedly.

Just then Taiji walked in. "O Bai, yeh Agarwalon ki toli kahan ja rahi hai?"

Sameer had been a mute spectator till now & had enough of the Agarwal dose, so he spoke on everyone's behalf in a curt tone "Taiji wo Naina ko doctor ko dikhana tha na, wahi ja rahe hai".

"Ne wah! Hume toh na kisine pucha na bataya. Chalo main bhi chalti hoon".

"Mela dekhne nahi ja rahe hai aur na hi laddoo jalebi bat rahe hai, jo main bhi chalti hoon. Wahan doctor ke clinic mein intezaar karna pad sakta hai, baithne ko jagah bhi na mile. Aap rehne dijiye Bhabhiji, ghutnon mein dard ho jaayega!" Rakesh taunted & warded her off.

Taiji grunted but left.

"Chalo Naina", commanded Rakesh.

Looking at Naina's sad expression that she would be stuck alone with their father for god knows how long, Arjun suggested again "Papa, main bhi chalunga! Waise bhi maine pehle hi practice ke liye mana kar diya tha toh aaj mere bina hi team bana li hogi aur peechli baar doctor se dawaiyon ke baare mein main hi samaj kar le aaya tha. Saare reports bhi mere paas hai".

"Haan.. thik hai thik hai...chalo!"

Sameer also followed them when Rakesh stopped again "O baalon ki dukaan!" Tumse kisne kaha saath chalne ke liye?"

Before Sameer opened his mouth & they got into an argument, Arjun broke in between "Papa, Sameer nahi aayega toh gaadi kaun chalayega? Waise bhi yeh toh Naina ke kam ke liye hai na....toh ise toh saath chalna hi chahiye na! Naina ko kisi bhi cheez ki zaroorat padi toh yeh hi jaayega na!"

Rakesh pondered for a second and nodded, "hmm...chalo".

Sameer & Arjun looked at each other & Naina noticed the exchange. Some equation was definitely changing between her brother and the guy she had come to love so much but wasn't sure what to do ahead about him.

When Sameer brought the car around, Arjun again intervened "Papa aap aur Naina peeche aaram se baithiye! Main aage baith jaata hoon".

"Lo....jiska beta hi apne baap ki izzat na karta ho, duniya use kya samman degi? Abhi tu itna bada cricketer bana nahi hai jo apne baap ko peeche chodkar aage nikalne ki baat kar raha hai. Pehle kuch ban ja, apni mehnat se naam aur paisa kama, isse bhi badhiyawali gaadi khareed, fir main shaan se usme baithunga! Lekin tab tak tujhe apne baap ke nakshe-kadam par hi chalna hai, samjha?"

Arjun gulped coz he had no counter argument "ji Papa". He glanced at Sameer trying to convey "Sorry dude!"
As if Sameer understood, he smiled and pursed his lips in response.

So, Arjun settled behind him, Naina sat behind but diagonally such that he could see her in the rear view mirror, while Rakesh settled in the passenger seat.

Sameer adjusted his mirror to look at her, when Rakesh interrupted "ab kya mahurat ka intezaar kar rahe ho? Chalo!"

Nanu had arranged for the best burn specialist, but his clinic was on the way to Maninagar, about 20 min drive from her home. Sameer was enjoying the ride eventhough Rakesh the tyrant was next to him, he could steal soulful glances at her and surprisingly Naina too obliged him with no anger and an occasional smile. Arjun observed the silent exchange and made it a point to keep an eye on Sameer and talk to him if need be, even warn him to just focus on his duty but not manipulate his sister again.

Rakesh oblivious to all these exchanges, continued to rant about the roads, slight evening traffic and some nasty Ahmedabadi drivers (if anyone lives there, u know what I mean).

Suddenly, Sameer was late in spotting a high bump and had to break hard to keep the car from bouncing and that resulted in everyone jerking forward. Naina in time had braced her other hand on the back of the front seat and thus avoided bumping herself and injuring her hand further.

Instinctively, Sameer turned around "Naina tum theek toh ho? Lagi toh nahi?"

She smiled and shook her head "main theek hoon".

But Rakesh's rant began "Arre...gaadi chalate waqt dhyaan kahan hai tumhara?"

"Sorry sir, wo bump thoda late dikha". Sameer apologized.

"Yahi hota hai, jab ameer gharwale bachchon ke haath mein paise aur gaadi aur azzadi de dete hai toh wo tumhare jaise bigdail hi ho jaate hai. Agar chalani nahi aati, toh dikhava kyon karte ho?" Rakesh reprimanded.

After that Sameer was rather focused on the road but no one could deter him from stealing an occasional glance of her and check if she was ok.

The drive was about 30 min due to the mild evening traffic, which had already soured Rakesh's mood. And to top it off, the doctor was not in his specialty clinic. The receptionist informed that the doctor was affiliated to the city hospital & due to an emergency burn case had to rush there. She wasn't aware of when he would be back but surely he would be back, no matter how late it was, since he had patients waiting. So, they could wait or prefer to reschedule the appointment & come back some other day.

"Ho gaya satyanash! Tum gaadi jaldi nahi chala sakte the!" Rakesh's rant was directed towards Sameer.
"Aur tumhari ek laparwahi ki wajah se mera aur Arjun ka keemti waqt barbad ho raha hai", he directed the taunt to Naina.

There was only one empty space left in the lobby, so Arjun made Naina sit, placed a hand on her shoulder in reassurance, while the boys leaned on opposite corners, Arjun next to her & Sameer opposite to her. While Naina was lost in thoughts, Sameer's love-filled gaze never left her once. Arjun noticed it but chose not to comment in front of Papa, lest everyone would be in trouble.

After 20 min of pacing around, Rakesh's patience was exhausted. He went & blasted the receptionist.

"Aapke doctor ko mareezon ki chinta hai ya nahi? Hum logon ke paas aur bhi kaam hai. Faltu nahi hai hum!"

The receptionist gave him back "Sir, doctorsahab bhi emergency patient dekhne hi gaye hai, ghumne nahi. Aur main fir keh rahi hoon, ki aap baad mein appointment lekar aa sakte hai".

"Arre yeh kya baat hui? Aapko tameez nahi hai baat karne ki".

"Sir aap shanti se intezaar kijiye warna mujhe security bulakar aapko bahar bhejna padega. Yahan hangama karne se patients ko taqleef hoti hai, aapke saath bhi toh patient hai na".

Before the situation got worst, since the receptionist was warning him that if he didn't control his temper, she would have the security show him out, Arjun intervened & cooled him down. "Papa, rehne dijiye na...doctor aa jayenge abhi. Aap please shant ho jayiye".

"Aye baalon ki dukaan, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho? Yeh sab tumhari wajah se ho raha hai. Tum toh hamare driver banker saath aaye the na, fir jao gadi ke paas khade rehkar intezaar karo!"

Sameer was losing his cool too but for Naina's sake & just coz he was her father, he answered coolly & diplomatically "sir main driver hi hoon, par abhi na aap gadi mein baithe hai aur na main gadi chala raha hoon. Toh main kahi bhi jake aapka intezaar kar sakta hoon na. Toh issliye maine socha ki yahan andar aake AC ki hawa bhi kha loon aur agar aapko koi kaam ho toh aapko mujhe dhoondhne na jaana pade".

The brother-sister hid their smiles while Rakesh was left speechless for once. A few minutes later, one of his acquaintance, Nalin bhai entered, whom he had been buttering for long to secure an admission for Arjun in Baroda college sports quota so that he could enroll for the state cricket coaching camp in Baroda.

"Arre Nalin bhai!"
"Rakeshji...aap yahan? Sab theek toh hai?"
"Ji...wo school mein meri beti ka haath jal gaya tha toh dikhane laye the. Mera beta Arjun bhi aaya hai. Arjun..." he hollered.

Arjun got introduced & after much persistence from Rakesh, Nalinbhai decided to get him introduced to some eminent personalities involved in the selection committee so that he would have a chance to display his skills exclusively in the selections. The only condition was to leave immediately. As it was a weekday evening, it would be easy to drop in for a personal visit.

Arjun was flabbergasted. "Par Papa, hum Naina ko yahan akela chodke kaise ja sakte hai?"

"Naina ko leke baad mein aa jayenge, abhi tumhara inn logon se milna jyaada zaroori hai. Aisa mauka baar baar nahi milta!"

Just then the doctor returned and all the waiting patients & relatives crowded at the reception to let them in first. The receptionist checked with the doctor and announced that he will see all the waiting patients today in the order of appointment.

"Papa, ab toh doctor bhi aa gaye. Hum unse mil lete hai, wo ek baar Naina ko check kar le, fir chalte hai".

"Arjun...apne baap ki izzat ki aur uski baat ki koi keemat nahi hai tujhe...maine kahan na hum abhi jayenge Nalin bhai ke saath toh abhi hi jayenge. Rahi Naina ki baat, toh...aye ameerzade" He hollered Sameer "Naina ki seva karne aaye ho na, toh theek se karo. Arjun aur main bahar ja rahe hai...doctor Naina ko check kar le toh use ghar le jaana. Aur haan...doctor jo kuch kahe use theek se samaj lena, yahan wahan matargashti mat karte reh jaana". Then counteracting his own instructions, "chodo, tumse kya umeed karna? Naina....doctor jo kuch kahe, theek se yaad kar lena".

Naina was scared to be in such a situation all by herself for the first time. She stood from her seating & timidly half stammering "par Papa, agar aap please thodi der ruk jaate toh doctor se mil lete".

"Mere paas itna faltu samay nahi hai. Waise bhi tumhari laparwahi ki wajah se pehle hi mera bahut samay nashth ho chuka hai. Chalo Arjun!" & he walked away.

Arjun placed a caring and a brotherly hand on her head and face as her eyes brimmed with tears. "Naina, fikr mat kar. Sameer hai na tere saath". Saying that he too started to go away but not before taking a pause in front of Sameer, something transpired between the two boys as if Arjun entrusted his dear sister to him & Sameer gave a confident nod which was enough to convey that he assumed full responsibility. Hearing his father holler again, Arjun walked away.