The early risers chirping, morning sun beams peeking through the clouds, birds about their morning rituals, a gentle cool breeze, golden light everywhere, covering natural and man-made creations, full of beauty and magic, filled with the promise of a new beginning.

Naina woke up early and get ready fast as after so much of happening from last few days, she needs to calm herself and need some lonely peace time...

Chachiji asked seeing her ready to go out in early morning hours, "beta, tu itni Jadli taiyar ho gayi.. kya baat hai..."

Naina replied hiding her tension, "voh Chachiji aaj mera mandir jaane ka bada man ho raha hai.. chali jaaun... mein jaldi aa jaaungi" she knew how much Bela always scared sending her alone outside after her accident but never shown up...

Chachiji smiled caressing her head, "iss mein puchhne ki kya baat hai.. par tu akele kaise jayegi.. itani subah rickshaw bhi nahin milega... kahe toh mein chalun saath mein..." although she never stopped her having full trust on her but always feel helpless in reducing her pain...

Chachaji entered from their back, "Bela, tumhein darrne ki koi jarurat nahin... hamari beti bohot strong hai aur akale jaane mein kyun darrna..." he smiled encouraging his little one...

Before Bela said further, he assured her, "vaise koi baat nahin, mein usi taraf jaa raha hoon toh mein saath chalta hoon.... tum mandir chali jaana mein vahaan road ke paar jo park hai vahaan walk kar lunga... theek hai... isi bahane mein thodi der apni beti ke saath gappee bhi maar lunga varna kahaan time milta hai..."

Naina nodded her head knowing how much these two persons loved her and support always... she left with Anand chatting on about her experience in college, hiding about her feeling about one person... reaching mandir, Chachaji dropped her in front of Mandir and left for walk, assure her to meet in half an hour...

Naina went inside the courtyard and sits on the bench lying at small park in temple patio. Morning cool breeze & temple bells soothes her pain and giving relief to her inner turmoil.

She smiled recalling how since last one year she daily visited temple praying for his wellness and wishing to meet him soon... though her all wishes comes true, and he is back but as destiny play his own role, it was better for him to stay away from her now...

She got so lost deep in her thoughts not realized when a tear rolled out from her eyes... suddenly she realized someone caressing her head and she lifter her face seeing an old man standing there close to her with showering love...

Naina asked surprisingly, "Nanaji Good morning... aap yahaan kaise achanak ... aaj to somvaar bhi nahin hai..." she knew Nanu visited every Monday religiously to temple and meet her at same place...

Nanu replied sitting next to her, "tu bhi toh hai yahaan, aur mujhe jahaan tak yaad hai aaj somwaar toh nahin... aur dekh tune dil se yaad kiya toh mein aa gaya meri Mini (Naina's nick name) ke paas..." he wiped out the tear from her cheeks and kissed on her forehead...

Nanu hiding his pain seeing her sad asked, "vaise kaisi hai tu... kuchh hua hai kya jo tu itani udaas hai..."

Naina smiled replying, "nahin Nanu, mein bilkul theek hoon... aapko aisa kyun laga ki mein udaas hoon.. voh th bas man kiya aaj mandir aane ka bas isiliye..." she averted her gaze knowing how easily Nanu always understand her feeling without uttering...

Nanu hold her hand softly asked, "kya hua Mini... mujhe bhi nahin batayegi..."

Naina replied slowly, "aisi baat nahin bas voh aaj man kuchh udaas tha toh socha thodi der yahaan aa jaati hun... aapko pata hai na ki Mandir aakar mujhe bahut shanti milti hai aur dekhiye isi bahane aapse bhi achanak mulaqat ho gayi..."

Nanu realized she is trying to avoid topic, so he doesn't ask further... he changed the topic, "lekin kya fayda yahaan aane ka jab tu andar hi nahin jaati... yahaan baahar baithi rehti hai akele..."

Naina lowered her eyes, "Nanu aapko toh sab pata hai na... please ... aur vaise bhi bhagwan toh har jagah hai... mein mandir ke andar jaaun yaa na jaaun usase kya farq padta hai... lekin aapne nahin bataya ki aaj aap achanak yahaan kaise..."

Nanu, "sach kahoon toh aaj na jaane kyun dil mein aaya ki mandir jaana hai aur mein aa gaya... vaise aaj mera koi apna bahut udaas tha toh socha uske liye prarthna kar loon isi bahane taaki voh jo chahta hai voh poora ho jaaye... uske dil mein jo dard hai, jo bojh hai voh kam ho jaaye... par dekh tujhse mulaqat ho gayi aur lagta hai vohi prarthana tere liye bhi karni padegi..." he said thinking about Sameer and their discussion last night... seems both of his little ones needs his support...

Naina grinned widely, "samajh gayi, lagta hai aapka pota sonu (Sameer's nick name) vaapas aa gaya hai aur aap ussi ki Khushi ke liye yahaan aaye ho na... duniya mein vahi aapke dil ke sabse kareeb jo hai..."

Nanu laughed, "haan tu bilkul theek kah rahi hai... lekin sach kahoon toh tu bhi mere dil ke utane hi kareeb hai... tujhse milta hoon toh lagta hai dil ko sukoon mil gaya hai... pata hi nahin chalta ki mein tum donon mein se kisase jyaada pyaar karta hoon... lagta hai tum donon jaise mere jigar ke do tukde ho"

He stood asking her, "tu bhi chal na aaj mere saath mandir mein... tu ghabra mat, dekh mein hoon tere saath.."

Naina denied politely, "Nanu aaj nahin... aaj aap akale jaaiye.. vaise bhi Chachaji aate hi honge... aapse milkar, baatein karke ab achchha feel ho raha hai.... man ek dam shaant ho gaya jaise... aur phir mujhe college bhi jaana hai..."

Nanu smiled blessing her, "mera man toh tujhe dekh kar hi khush ho jaata hai... alag sa ek rishta jo hai tere mere beech jaise.... man karta hai tere saath baatein karta hi rahun.... Bhagwan tujhe hamesha khush rakhe..."

(in his mind) : aaj aisa lag raha hai jaise Mini aur Sameer ek hi dard se gujar rahe hai... in donon ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si becheni hai... jaise kisi apne ki talash... bhagwan mere donon bachchon ka dhyan rakhna... in donon ne hi bachpan se bohot dukh aur akelapan saha hai... bhagwan kare jaldi hi koi inn donon ki zindagi se saare dard mita sake...

He patted her cheek and then left for darshan. Naina also returned home with Chachaji and then after breakfast left for college with Preeti...

Sameer reached college with Munna Pandit... they entered seeing girls already settled on their seats busy in chatting with each other... except one who was trying everyone's gaze hiding herself in a corner...

Munna greet all, "Hi Good morning girls... kya baat hai swati.. aaj to tu 1000 watt ke bulb ke jaisi chamak rahi hai.." he praised his girl trying to pamper her...

Swati glaring him, "haath laga ke dekh le.. current bhi lag jayega..." they all giggled on their banters and lame jokes... whereas two souls were totally quiet...

Sameer stands there for few minutes looking towards her with wet eyes, but she was continuously looking down avoiding his existence

Preeti was fuming in anger seeing Sameer... she was still mad about his behavior towards Naina but remain silent knowing Naina will not dislike... Munna Pandit and Swati were all busy in their chit chat not aware of all this...

Sameer finally seeing no response from Naina, walked off and sit back on his seat... he wiped out his tears and keep on staring her which gets noticed by Preeti, who loses her temper seeing this...

JBR enters and they all settled... Munna was quite confused on seeing Sameer's dull face...

Munna (in low voice) : kya hua Sameer, tabiyat abhi theek nahin hai kya teri...

Sameer : nahin ab theek hai.. (in his mind) : ghar se kya kya soch kar aaya tha ki jaate hi Naina se baat karunga... usey kal ke liye sorry bhi bolunga.. par yahaan aakar, uska utara chehra dekh kar saari himmat jawaab de gayi.. ek shabd bhi nahin nikla munh se..aur Preeti., lagta hai kal ki baat se naraaz hai, aur hona bhi chahiye, maine kaam hi aisa kiya tha..... par ab mein kya karun, kaise baat karun.. koi toh raasta hoga.....

Class ends and JBR left the room. Sameer was still in same position as everything around him loses its existence... he was totally lost when Munna jerked him hard...

Sameer shouts irritatingly, "kya hai Munna.. kyun pareshaan kar raha hai..."

Munna got surprised seeing him in anger and irritated which is not a usual thing as per his nature... Sameer keeps looking at him for few seconds and left the classroom frustrated on himself without saying anything... Munna Pandit run after him to stop but he reached the bike stand and left college without paying any heed of them....

Munna : Pandit dekha maine kaha tha na kuchh aur baat hai... yeh kal jo sar dard kah raha tha sab bahana tha... kuchh hai jo yeh humse chhupa raha hai lekin pata toh karna hi hoga

Pandit : Haan yaar, baat toh teri theek lag rahi hai... ab kya karein... kuchh bata bhi toh nahin raha ki hua kya hai...

Munna : Karna kya hai chal jara puchhte hai nawab sahab ka mizaaz kyun bigda huaa hai... aisa kaun sa raaz hai dil mein jo humse bhi nahin share kar pa raha... mujhe toh yakin hai isne Nanaji ko bhi nahin bataya hoga varna voh jaroor isey sambhal lete

They also left college after informing girls but didn't tell the exact reason...

They reached his home, Ramdhari was in garden watering the plants, so they went straight to his room seeing door open of his room. They shocked seeing the condition of his room.. clothes, bed sheet, books lay stern everywhere, pieces of broken vase were on the ground, amidst all this Sameer stood with his back to the door, hands fisted. They stepped in reaching where he was standing near window. Munna placed his hand on his shoulder to make him turn. They got stunned seeing his face full of tears..

Munna : Sameer kya hua hai yaar...... humein nahin batayega... dekh hum jaante hai koi baat tujhe pareshaan kar rahi hai lekin samajh nahin aa raha

Suddenly, Sameer slumped on the ground, not able to control anymore. Covering his face with his hands, he completely broke down. Munna quickly sits next to him and held him closely, soothing him...

Pandit : Sameer le paani pi aur pehle shaant ho ja.... Kuchh toh bata aakhir baat kya hai...

After few minutes of silence till his sobs die down Munna asked, "ab baat kar sakte hai.. are you okay.."

Sameer stood up and went near the door and close it. He doesn't want Ramdhari to see all this mess, to avoid Nanu to know about all this

Sameer : Kuchh samajh nahin aa raha Munna kya karun.. lag raha hai jaise sab phisalta ja raha hai, mere saare sapne, ummide, armaan.. sab khatm ho rahe hai...

Munna (surprisingly) : Kya ho gaya aisa.. wait wait... did you had a breakup? Teri girlfriend hai aur tune humein bataya bhi nahin...

Pandit asked shockingly, "Delhi mein teri girlfriend thi toh tu usse chhod kar yahaan kyun aaya.. sirf Nanaji ki wajah se.. aur isiliye tu pareshaan hai"

Sameer (slightly smile) : Nahin yaar, aisa kuchh nahin hai.. meri koi girlfriend nahin hai.. aur meri harkaton ki wajah se hogi bhi nahin..." he said getting frustrated on his failed attempt to handle his love life...

Munna asked, "toh hua kya hai.. ab batayega ya mein Nanaji ko phone karun..."

Sameer, "yaar, tum nahin samjhoge.. jab mein khud hi nahin samajh pa raha hun ki kaise yeh sab handle karun..."

Pandit said getting irritated, "ab bata bhi de yaar... soch soch kar mera dimaag phat raha hai..."

On their instance, Sameer starts telling his feeling for his lady love... he keeps on narrating the story slowly, started with first day of his meeting with her...

Munna stopped him suddenly, "ek minute... iska matlab jab tu yahaan tha yeh sab tabse shuru hua.. aur voh bhi hamare hi school ki ladki se.. aur tune humein bataya bhi nahin..."

Pandit asked sarcastically, "aur kaun hai voh mahaan kanya..."

Sameer lowered his head said slowly, "voh.. voh .. voh ladki... tum jaante ho lekin..." he knew he was wrong hiding such a big matter to his close friends and ready for their scolding...

Munna said sarcastically, "haan haan aage bhi bol mere sher... itna sab karne se nahin dara aur ab naam lene se darr raha hai..."

Sameer giving a scared look to both closed his eyes and replied in one breath, "uska naam Naina hai... Naina Agarwal..."