Long and unedited..mistakes are to be pointed out..but I'll not correct them. I am busy..

NAINA

It was around eight in night when she arrived in nainital. Lost, devastated, shattered and broken. Vision was blurred so was her life. She had never thought someday sometime her life'd take such a turn.....But what pained most was HIS SPINELESS BEHAVIOUR! He called her names but she forgot it..He behaved rudely, she neglected it. But just because she had a past, he could not blame her for his mistakes...neither he had the right to call a blissful night just a raw sex! It hurt her..pierced her and provoked her....

She fetched her luggage..and turned to leave.

'Madam. Agar problem na ho...to aapke ghar tak chhod du?' She heard cab driver asking and stopped..

Really? Was this driver for real? When her own husband, sorry ex-husband now didnt do any mercy on her..this stranger was trying to be helpful. Naina could not stop feeling poor. She didnt want mercy...not anymore. Hence she tried to object..

'No...rahne do. I'll call my brother.'

But driver seemed to be adamant.

'Me free me nahi le jaaunga. Paise doge aap. Isliye samnan anadar rakhiye aur chaliye....Isi bahane me ek cup chai pi lunga. Chaliye na madam.'

Before she could register her objections, driver put her luggage back in the cab and asked her to take her seat. She somehow went back to her seat and sat lost in her thoughts while driver started the vehicle...searching for her acquaintance. Her real one...where she was safe and sound...for real. Where she had her respect intact....despite of being stained and used.

She leaned on window and closed her eyes..and tried to think what led her hopeful relation facing this ending. What led her to face this end!

Perhaps it was bound to happen. It was inevitable because people were not gods. They were judgemental and stone-hearted.

But truth never lessened her pain and she cried more. This time silently shedding tears.....and waiting for her house to appear where she was going to bring down sky on some one else too.....

She knew he'd read her eyes....and it scared her. Perhaps her decision of coming Nainital was wrong. Perhaps she'd let Naveen stay out of this. But for how long. Sooner or later he'd come to know about it. And he sure would scold her for hiding her pain and problems. So it was right?

But outcomes of her revelation was going to be drastic. Should she search for a hotel and wait for her releasing from KMA and next appointment letter? Or should she return back to KMA where perhaps Alekh could help her? Or should she go into hiding? Naveen'd be happy about his engagement with annie. She had heard his cheerful voice. And her arrival that too in this state would bring nothing but grievance. No naina....Naveen didnt deserve it. After getting freedom perhaps this'd be his first course of happiness. She needed  not to ruin this.....

She had no blue moon in her fate but that didnt imply she'd bring eclipse in others' lives. Noo....

Naina wiped her tears...Perhaps it was better for her to stay away from people. To begin a new solitary life where no one was going to feel guilty or burdened because of her......perhaps this was the right time.

Soon Cab turned to somewhere else....this time searching for her own real dwelling....where she herself had respect and space for her darkness.....a place bright enough to engulf her black and shady soul...

NAINITAL

NAVEEN.

Annie was staying over tonight because Naveen had guven so many false excuses. Though his parents had bought none but her soft heart melted seeing him making efforts and she decided to give it a chance. Moreover she wanted to meet Naina. Because Naveen had told her that she'd come as she had promised two days ago.. 

On the other side, Naveen had forgotten about Naina' arrival or her peomise completely. He was busy in making fun of his fiancèe and preparing some dessert for her. Soon he found Annie over his shoulder.

'Aaila annie! Aise karegi to kaise biwi banegi! Me mar jaayega heart attack se...Dekh..abhi mera dil bahar aa jata tere hath par...'

But he had to change his tone as she seemed to be not interested.

'Kaise nitthalle bhai ho! Aaj subah se tum apni khud ki shadi ki planning me busy ho...Naina ko phone kaun karega? Tumhara jeeja! Dekho Naveen....I am telling you tum bahar aa gaye is ka matlab ye nahi ki panchi banke gagan me udoge. Apni responsibilities ka dhyan rakho....warna-'

'Warna...samajh gya meri maa. Mujhe samajh ye nahi aata ki kya dekh kar mene tujhko propose kiya...Accha khasa kunwara tha me. Mati maari gayi-....ooow. ye har ghadi maar peet jaruri he kya! Kar rha hu na phone yar....I am not irresponsible. Rat ko network nahi the is liye call nahi kiya...Aur subah Raj se baat huyi thi na....bol rha tha naina so rahi he..Aur itni rat me ho sakta ho she changed her plan. Usko ghadi ghadi phone karunga to usko ye nahi lagega ki bhai meri jindagi me bewajah dhakhal de rha he! Badi aayi responsibility wali....Huh.!'

He made faces to which he again received a slap..

'Ha to....Itna to pooch hi sakte ho ki kaisi he wo! KMA is not a safe place for her...You know tha na.'

'I know...but I know Raj is with her. Aur meri bahan ko taqleef nahi hone dega. Aur phir me soch raha hu ki me bhi KMA me jaakar shal se mil lu...Chandra itna to kar hi dega na..Buddha aaj tak mere koi kaam ni aya.'

'Just because of Chandra sir, Naina ko KMA me last minute appointment mili. Samjhe!'

'Chandra sir! Aaha......mujhe to nahi di kabhi itni izzat.'

Annie just swatted away his hand which was inching close to private area of her petite waist..

'Tharak control me rakho. Naina ko phone karo..'

Naveen could not stop himself from making cute baby pout and impersonating a whining baby boy. Anita then kissed his cheek...and he gave hee ear yo ear grin and began dialing Naina' no..

'Haa...ab phone karta hu...ruk. ek min. Ye Aalu parantha mere ko phone kyu kar rha he? Kahi isne apni biwi ki jagah mujhe to speed dial par ni rakh diya! Ruk ek second annie..'

He recueved alekh' call..

Hello....

..........

..........

'Pagal he tu? Bewada ho gya he....Abe Rat ke dus bajne wale he.....Akal use kar.'

..........

...........

'Tu phone rakh pahle....agar teri baat jhuth nikli to KMA ground me dayda dauda kar peetunga..'

Before he could reveal what alekh said..Annie grasped his tensions..

'Naina KMA me nahi he?'

'Abee....Ek me hi hu jisko kuch samajh nahi ata. Udhar Alekh idhar tu. Dono jagga jasus bane pade ho. Alekh ko lagta he ki Naina Sham hote hi KMA se nikal gyi...aur ek tu..jisko mene kuch bola nahi phir bhi samajh aa gaya ki Alekh Naina ke baare me hi bat kar rha tha..'

'Naina kaha he? Bakwas baad me karna..'

'Ruk..uski last location check karne de.......

......

.....Damn! She is here...in Nainital. Ohh god! Ye Yaha kya kar rahi he...aur wo bhi bina mujhe bataye! She said she'd inform me..lekin abhi she is somewhere away from us.....Yee.....Ye dekh...uska location on he...and she is perhaps in car or cab...Dekh..annie.'

'Ye kya ho rha he? Subah to Raj ne bola tha ki so rahi he...aur ab bina bataye Nainital ghoom rahi he? There is something wrong. Naveen....go and find her. Bring her here...'

'Ha..wahi karne ja raha hu. Ma baba ko kuch mat bolna...bewajah bp bad jayega. Tu key leke aa...me bahar wait kar rha hu.'

And he dashed away for doors. Opening them and reaching to his car..Annie came within seconds..running and panting. He started off the engine and soon both were running on roads...searching Naina...

Naveen could not put his finger on what was missing. Raj could not tell him lies....but at the same time his own sister could not be hideous and secretive...to him. Naina was the person who'd announce her arrival in Nainitaal even when she was ten kilometers away. Even when her train was going to take time, she'd call him umpteenth times and irritate him. She' d never roam this city alone that too in night.

Why she didnt tell him? What was there?

Naveen could help but feel scared. Naina was hiding things only when she was in problem...or better say she was suffering. He could recall sholapur incident when Naina every time when she used to come and see him in jail was subtle. She used to smile weakly and never disclosed what was going on in her life except promising he'd be our so soon.. Naveen had been tensed about his own carrier and arrest hence could not notice sudden change in cheery Naina...but today he could tell without a second proof....Naina was going through pain....lot of pain. And he coukd not help but feel bad...miserable because every time he proved ro be a jerk of brother whenever it was about saving his sister. In sholapur...he got late and Naina had to pay consequences....God knows now what She had paid before going incognito to him....

'Hundred meters north. Naina ki last location. Naveen....Look at it.'

He saw and turned his jeep...Soon found himself on deserted road...where no single cab or vehicle was present. He could not control his impatience and got down jeep. He ran to and fro...looking for any single evidence of her sister...

He finally called out....

'NAINAAAAA......Nainaaaaa..'

But nobody heard..it seemed so. He could not help but collapse on road under dark skies...

'Naveen. Pagal ho gaye ho! Naina mil jayegi..Ye kya tareeka he? Why are you posing hope? We'll find her. Just hold on...dont loose hope....at least not now..'

He wiped his tears...and got up....When he could not come up with any idea, he thought of looking into jungles across the roads.

But he had to stop when he saw a man coming with an exhausted woman...supporting her with his shoulders and fetching her luggage on other hand.

He looked at him closely....

Woman was his Naina....

And his heart came to his mouth...This was surely what he was fearing.

Naina......broken and shattered..

What the hell happened?

He leapt to that man and held her sister. Je was about to punch him when that guy himself spoke up..

'Pichle do ghante se madam kabhi yaha to kabhi waha ghuma rahi thi. Na to exact address diya...aur Na hi kuch bataya. Pahle ye station par utarne wali thi...wo to mene inko halat dekhi aur jabardasti inke sath aaya. Madam ne jab sham ko cab book ki thi...bahut ro rahi thi...Mujhe laga shayad break up ho gya he...thodi der me theek ho jayengi.. lekin poore raste bhar ye roti rahi...aur abhi jab mene cab rok di...to jabardasti cab se utar gayi....Mujhe inhe dhundhte huye inke piche aana pada. Sir. Ye lijiye...inka saman..Aur please...inka dhyaan rakhiye. Mene kabhi kisi ko itna rote huye nahi dekha.'

Naveen' heart broke in zillion pieces...but he managed to hold Naina who was on the verge of collapsing... soon she lost her senses and fell limp. He hurriedly carried her....and indicated that driver to come along too. Which he agreed....

'Annie...isko bol..ye drive kare. Kya naam he tumhara?' He asked driver...who told him his name..Subash.

'Ok..subash. tum drive karo. Annie isko directions de dena...aur please....jaldi ghar chalo. I am making a call to doc. Khanna.'

Soon four of them arrived home. ...Naveen' home. Where Doc khanna was already waiting for them. Naveen took Naina to her room where he put her gently on her bed.

Doc examined her...

'Nothing...but fatigue and emotional stress. Do one thing..Inko jaga kar khana khila dijiye..Uske bad ye sleeping pills. Morning tak koi disturb nahi kare..She'll be alright physically....but mentally...That I cant guarantee.'

And he asked annie to take care of her food as well as driver' tea and snacks..He was going to stay till morning.

Naveen left for his room not before kissing naina' temple and wetting her hand with his tears.  Why always it was her? He could help but feel like killing himself...because somewhere he was the sole reason of all this.

He went to his room and shit the door. It was time for making an important call...to important someone.

He waited for his phone to get received on other side...after sixth ring, someone picked it.

'Hello...Raj. Naina kaha he? Baat karni he...Uska phone nahi lag rha..'

He could hear some incoherent noises...and soon a slurry voice told him..

'Ohhh...Nav...Naveen. Naina....Wo...wo....'

Raj was clearly drunk....and his stammering told him he was lying too.

'Ha...bol na...kaha he wo?'

'Room...me...he...shayaddd..'

For a second Naveen thought he was dramaing. His raj was telling him lies....plainly and without a second thought.

'Accha. Kiske room me? Tere ya mere? Tujhe sharm nai aayi juth bolte huye! Rajj....She is in her room...in nainital..Wo bhi behosh. Kya me jaan sakta hu...aisa kya huya ki wo rote huye KMA se nikali...aur mujhe bina bataye yaha aayi....lekin ghar nahi pahunchi...Kya huya tha uske sath?'

He could not help but feel like punching the hell out of Raj....

But he was silent....

'Bol....Kya huya uske sath?'

He asked again...just to test what'd he tell him now!

'K...kya hoga! ....kk..kuch...bhi to nahi.'

'Kuch bhi nahi? Dekh...Raj. jitna me tujhe janta hu....Tu juth bol rha he...Sach bol....Please....Is dosti ke khatir....Raj...Bol...kya huya gudiya ke sath!'

Finally he had to beg for truth....that too from his best friend.

'Gudiya? ' he could hear his drunken laugh on other side....and he had to stop himself form doing something wrong in anger.

'Tujhe wo gudiya najar aati he? Gudiya......ha ha ha...Gudiya to innocent hoti he...Aise kisi ke sath......'

'Kisi ke sath kya? Bol Raj...Me sun raha hu...kisi ke sath kya!'

Now he was listening Raj breaking all his hopes..

'Nothingggg.. leave it. Wo....shayad apni shadi ke khatm hone par ro rahi hogi.....Ek golden opportunity hath se jaane ke gam me.......Ha ha haha....Me ne usko kitna becharai samjha tha....'

'Shadi khatm? Kya bak raha he? Aur ye kya bole ja raha he...opportunity? Raj.......Tune sharab pi he...mujhe pata he... lekin jo bhi tu bol rha he na....ye tere andar ka sach bahar aa raha he...dekh.....Me nahi janta tu meri bahan ke baare me aisa kyu bol raha he? Lekin uski halat dekh kar me ek bat bol sakta hu....ki agar tujhe lagta he ki Naina se koi galti huyi he.. ya Naina ne tujhe kabhi deliberately hurt kiya he, tu galat he. Jarur koi misunderstanding huyi he. Tu mujhe bas itna bata....wo aisi halat me ghar kyu aayi?'
And on the other side there was a deep inhale of breath....and what came out next just made him out of breath.

'We are getting divorce...I am going to be free of her....Yahi sach sun na tha...to tune sun liya...ab jaake apni bahan se pooch...ki Abhimanyu aur uska kya rishta he! Major Karthik kyu khule aam uske sath apna fling announce karta he? Tujhe ni maalum...Naveen....She is...she is.....not what we think...Tu..tu..'

Amd this just hit him hard. Raj was aware of her truth! But his words just made Naina an uncivil, undeserving, puny respected human who was, according to Raj' tone, didnt deserve a living place too..And he could not help but feel furious.

'RAAAJJJJ....DON'T YOU DARE DEFAME MY SISTER!'

'Sach is se jyada kadwa mujhe laga tha....Navu...tu nahi janta ki...ki wo...'

'I KNOW EVERY DAMN THING. DID YOU HEARD THAT? I KNOW EVERY DAMN THING....BUT I THINK I NEVER KNEW YOU'D STOOP SO LOW. SHAME ON YOU RAJ. ME....ME BAHUT KUCH BOL SAKTA HU TUJHE....LEKIN JO DOSTI KI DOR HE NA...USNE MUJHE BAANDH KAR RAKHA HE...WARNA...I'LL NOT SPARE ANYONE WHO'D SAY SUCH THINGS IN DISGUATING WAY ABOUT HER. TU DOOBA RAH APNE NASHE ME...THEEK KIYA JO WO YAHA CHALI AAYI....GO TO HELL...YOU.....ARRGHHH'

And he threw the phone....in the distant corner of room...where scattered mess wouldn't catch his attention amd remind him that believing his best friend was perhaps his mistake.....

Raj'd ask him....if he had happened to know truth. But he.....he just repeated what once Naveen himself had done.