23 April, 1995 was perhaps the most black day of their life.

It was just 15 minutes before, when  helding his bleeding heart, Sameer stared at her sleeping face with misty eyes, and softly applied the cooling ointment on her cheeks and hands. He blew over his scratches, and every scratch filled his heart with an excruciating pain. The more his heart was aching, the more he felt more pain than her, seeing her swollen cheeks, messy hairs and the deep red and now slightly purplish nail marks on her arms. His hands were shivering, but somehow he managed to apply the ointment on her wounds.

As the task in hand completed he ran out of room, at this time wanted to shout, to cry, to scream so loudly that his voice could reach the heavens. He knew that he should call the doctor first, but all his sanity flew out of the windows, and taking a moment of luxury, he ran upstairs.

His breaths felt like gasps as if struggling hard for air, he ran and reached in the middle of the terrace, then suddenly collapsed. He fell so hard on his knees on the hard concrete that must have an injury, but not his eyebrows even furrowed. He punched the concrete floor, then repeated and repeated and repeated, until his knuckles were bloody.

“No…. Nooooooooo….. q Bhagwanji kyuuuuuu….”, suddenly he screamed, and bursted in tears.

“Qqq…. Q bhagwan q…”,he repeated again and again and kept punching and injuring his hands.

However, even if he was in deep sorrow, he didn’t forget his hurt wife lying there waiting for assistance. He controlled himself, wiped his face, then again wiped his face in his sleeves, then tried to take a deep breath and wiped his face again in his sleeves. All because no matter how much he tried, his eyes kept spilling and spilling and spilling. The more he tried to look normal, the more his face looked painful. But he had to do it.

Sameer got up and with heavy steps went downstairs, and now….

Now he was stunned. The door was locked. “But why… why did Naina… is she alright…. Kahi usne kuch….”

The way she was hurting herself, his heart jumped in his mouth instantly. His breaths automatically went heavier and limbs felt like jelly. He limped and somehow he lifted his hand and knocked the door. At first his voice was low, but then he howled her name loudly.

“Naina… Naina… Naina darwaja kholo… Naina, darwaja kholo… Naina… Naina…. “

He hailed loudly, suddenly remembered something and screamed,”Radhe… dusri chabi la… “

“Naina… Naina darwaja kholo, warna… warna main tod dunga… Naina…. Nainaaaaaa….”

He screamed and screamed, again and again but there was a mourning silence behind the doors. Frustrated or to be very precise, scared in heart, he threw the kicks on the door violently.

Not more than 5 minutes, but felt like the whole eternity, Radhe came running with the second set of keys. Sameer took the bunch and tried to open the door, but his fingers were shivering so badly that he couldn’t find the keyhole and insert the key. But then he tried again and opened the door.

His legs were trembling badly as he entered the room slowly. But haste in the next moment as she was neither on bed, nor he could find her in one glance over the room.

“Naina…. “

His heart trembled as he hailed over and over and quickly checked the balcony and washroom, but she was seen nowhere. He was already scared and now the situation was frightening.

“Radhe sab jagah dekh… Naina niche toh nhi gyi… porch ke dekh ke aa…”,he shouted and said to Radhe.

Radhe was already alert, he ran downstairs immediately.

Sameer ran behind him, but just as he was about to cross the threshold, he heard a faint sob. He quickly turned his head and checked again.

“Naina…”, suddenly he sighed her name and walked back in the room.

Sitting between a small space of love couch and corner table, she curled up herself like a ball. Her knees were up, and face was in the knees, and hands locked behind her leaned head covering her ears. Her whole being was trembling slightly.

“Naina…”,he crouched before her, whispered her name and touched her arms.

She shuddered, lifted her head from her knees and instantly moved back nonchalant to the fact that this small place had no room to move. As a result, her back knocked the table, a photo frame with their marriage pic fell and broken. Well, his heart broke too seeing her behaving strangely again.

Yet somehow composing his pain, he said slowly to her,”Naina, yha se uth jao, lag jayegi tumhe… please…”

“Sameer…. Mujhe ek baat btayenge…”, suddenly she lifted her face and asked him.

Her bloodshot red eyes and hoarse voice sent his heart in the pit of pain. And unable to respond audibly he just nodded in reply.

“Meri galti kya hai… kyu ye sab hua… kyu Sameer, kyu… aakhir maine kya bigada tha unka…”,she asked, breaking more with every word and at last, she shouted.

“Naina… utho tum yha se… “,he tried to think, but actually he had no reply to her question. He just held her arms and helped her to get up.

Naina quietly followed him. He settled her on bed carefully and turned to bring water, when her quiet voice echoed under the silence of the room.

“Us doctor Dipti ke paas mujhe aap le gaye the…”

“Sunaina se bhi aapki zindagi judi hai…”

“Aapse badla lene ke liye ye sab kiya naa unhone…”

“Naina…”,her every word mixed with that particular indifferent cold tone shuddered him. He couldn’t help but murmured her name.

“Aapne bachpan me Sunaina se dosti ki khud ko mummyji se bachne ke liye…”

“Aapki dosti ko galat samajh aapse shadi ke sapne dekhe Sunaina ne…”

“Apne business ko support dene ya society me so-called ijjat ke liye mummyji Sunaina ki shadi krana chahte thi aapse…”

“Naina, tum aise q…”,her every word was pushing him into the endless abyss of pain and guilt and he mumbled somewhat understanding and somewhat unaware of the upcoming.

But regardless of his shocking state, she interrupted and continued with her blabbering,”aap…. Aap…. Aap… sirf aap… toh fr sazaa mujhe q mili… q Sameer q…”

Suddenly she screamed again and jerked his hand with a shrug.

“Naina…”,he murmured in disbelief.

“Mujhe yha nhi rehna… mujhe aapke ghar me nahi rehna… mujhe…”,she shook her head vehemently and said.

“Ye… ye kya bakwas kar rahi ho… dimag kharab ho gya hai kya…”, seemed like she touched his bottom line and he shouted burning in grief and anger.

“Haa, ho gaya hai… aur ab mai aapke saath is ghar me nahi rahungi…”,she shouted too.

“Naina, tum…”,the shock was so big that he couldn’t believe his own ears.

Suddenly she got up from the bed.

He panicked, held her and said,”Naina… ye kya kar rahi ho tum… kha jaa rahi ho… kya ho gya hai tumhe… dekho… dekho mai manta hu ki ye zakhm bhut gehra hai lekin… hum aise… aise tut jayenge toh…”

“Tut jayenge…. Ab baki kha hai kuch juda hua… mai decide kar chuki hu, mujhe jana hai bas…”,her tone was more self mockering or more decisive, he couldn’t say, but his heart shattered in pieces.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to do, but all he knew that he couldn’t let her go. Suddenly he held her tightly by waist. She wriggled badly but he said hurriedly,”Naina suno… mere liye nahi pr Nanu… Nanu ke liye…”

Just in the moment, she stopped struggling and stayed still in her arms. Sameer sighed, opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn’t as she screamed.

“Get out….”

“Kya…”,he was baffled.

“Aap chahte hai naa ki mai yhi rahu, toh jaiye yha se aur fr mat aaiyega… mai… mujhe aapki shakal bhi nhi dekhni…”,she shouted.

“Naina…”,he whispered in disbelief.

“Get out… now… just. leave. me. alone…”, she covered her ears with both her palms and squeezing shut her eyes shouted again.

God knows what was there in her tone, that he shivered and left the room immediately. Naina saw him going, though she herself wanted this, but at this moment his slumped shoulders, and haggard moves pinched hard in her heart.

***********************************************

Naina had locked herself in the room, Sameer looked like a dead person sitting in the living room and in all this chaos the one person who was most affected was neither Sameer nor Naina but Nanu. His heart ached for both of his kids. But he couldn’t even be sad. His grandson and daughter in law didn’t even have a sip of water, but even if his heart and appetite had refused, he did complete his lunch and dinner as he knew that in this situation he couldn’t fall weak.

Helplessly he looked at Sameer frozen on the couch like a statue. More than 10 hours passed, but he hadn’t even blinked his eyes, but was staring at the door of the room motionlessly. Nanu was extremely worried for him. He stood at the threshold of his room for some time, looked at Sameer, and thinking something deeply he moved towards the staircase.

Suddenly Sameer plopped from his seat and said to Nanu, “Nanu, ye kya… doctor ne abhi aapko permission nahi di hai seedhiyan chadhne ki, fr aap upar q jaa rahe hai…”

“Sameer, beta Naina se baat karni padegi naa… is tarah toh tum dono apni tabiyat kharab kae loge… mai usse baat karna chahta hu…”, Nanu replied looking at him with concern.

“Nahi Nanu… abhi nahi… abhi Naina ko kuch waqt ki jarurat hai… use thoda waqt dete hai, fr baat karenge naa, aap bhi aur mai bhi… thik hai…”, he slowly tried to make him understand hiding his tears in heart.

“Sameer, tu thik hai naa…”, Nanu wanted to ask a lot, but in the end, only these words escaped from his mouth.

“…”

Sameer wanted to reply, but couldn’t. Instead he just nodded his head vehemently. Nanu sighed and patted his head worried but helplessly.

Although the time had stopped for this family of three, the hands of the clock didn’t stop. Time was ticking over with it’s pace. Almost 24 hours passed, neither she came out of the room, nor opened the door for anyone. The whole night passed, but he didn’t even blink his eyes. Though he didn’t sleep, but worried for Nanu, he slipped from the living room and went in his study and spent his night there, but now he was very worried for her.

Sameer himself hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday, but now he was worried for her. He saw Kanchan di coming with the tray of breakfast, and thinking something took the tray from her hand and asked her to go back and he himself knocked the door of their bedroom.

“Naina… Naina, darwaja kholo please…”, he asked, knocking on the door.

He disappointed next moment as his urges went unnoticed, but he instanced again,”Naina, tumhe mujhe nahi dekhna, mujhse nahi baat karni toh thik hai, mai chala jata hu… lekin kuch kha lo please… tum janti ho naa ki tum khali pet nahi reh sakti, ye thik nahi tumhare liye… please… dekho khana yha rakha hai, tum kha lo…”

Sameer softly urged and left keeping the tray on the side table.

Not before 5 minutes, the door opened slowly, she came out, took the tray and locked herself again. Although she didn’t look anywhere else, he couldn’t help his eyes getting misty seeing her distressed state. Messy hairs, swollen eyes and crumbled clothes, he knew instantly the torture, she was giving herself.

“Naina… fr se mujhse apna dard baantne ka haq chheen rahi ho naa…”, sorrowfully he mumbled but sighed in relief next moment thinking that finally she took the tray.

“Sameer baba, ab aap bhi kuch kha lijiye…”,he turned to go back to study, when Kanchan asked him.

Thinking something he nodded his head, quite excitedly Kanchan went downstairs and brought another tray of food for him.

Nothing more changed after that, but she didn’t lock herself in silence, but now opened the door on knocks and perhaps replied on queries too. And somewhat it made him a bit relieved too.

********************************************

One more day passed in silence in this mansion. Although the heart protested, the human body had its own limitations. For more than 36 hours, he didn’t blink his eyes but now couldn’t take it anymore. And fell asleep in his study only. Although it’s a short nap filled with nightmares, it still worked on his tired body. He was feeling refilled when suddenly woke up with a startle. Wiping his face, he looked at the source of the loud chiming voice that caused his slumber to break off.

Suddenly his eyes widened realizing the date it was, her last exam. Helplessly he looked at the doors of the room, he didn’t even know whether she would appear for the paper or not. Honestly giving to her state, he didn’t want her to go for exams even, but at this time cluelessly he stared at the closed doors of the room.

Time was passing slowly and he was almost sure that she wouldn’t go for exams. Just then the doors opened and his relieving breath stucked in his throat only. Naina came out all ready for the paper.

He ran behind her and said,”Naina, kha jaa rahi ho tum… wo… wo paper jaruri nahi… rehne do, mat jao… koi baat nahi, next year de dena paper…”

Naina didn’t reply to him, instead she turned her face sideways as if not wanted to see him even. Sameer was startled. Though she had told him already, but he was never ready to take her indifference. But nonchalant to his feelings, she moved towards nanu’s room.

Nanu was also surprised to see her but a bit tense too. Naina saw his shocked, surprised status, but didn’t say anything about that, infact touched his feet and said the same she did on her every paper,”Nanaji, aj mera paper hai…”

“Oh haa… “, Nanu was more surprised, but said like any other day,” jeeti raho beta… tumhara paper sabse acha ho…”

Naina lowered her eyes, but couldn’t hide her bulky eyebags, and haggard mind state. Nanu patted her head affectionately and said again,”kuch kha ke jana beta…”

“Ji nanaji, nashta kar liya maine…”, she softly replied and moved out of his room.

Sameer heard all this conversation peeping through the window. For a moment, he couldn’t understand, whether to be relieved that she was coming to normalcy slowly, or be sad for her indifferent behaviour towards him. Though somewhere he knew that this was coming, but thinking and experiencing were two different things. He thought he was ready, but this time, every passing moment went like cutting through his heart.

Helplessly he followed her with a distance and saw him leaving with the driver. This was the first time when this happened between them, and the feeling was really life sucking.

Although he chose to let her go with Kamal, he couldn’t stop himself from following them. With a safe distance he followed her in another car, and was shocked again when the car didn’t stop at the temple and straight stopped at the gates of her college.

“Naina, tumhe bhut gehri chot lagi hai janta hu, magar aise khud se dur mat jao… mai tumhe aise nahi kho sakta…”, he was helpless at this moment, but never for a moment even thought to give up on her.

Sameer patiently waited for her for more than three hours, and his eyes restlessly searched for her in between all the happy faces of students. She appeared with Kamya almost at last, when he started to panic already.

At this desperate moment, when he suddenly saw her, he couldn’t help himself and ran towards her and said agitated at his most,”Naina, kha reh gyi thi tum… tum thik ho naa… itni der q ho gayi…”

Most of the time, his words warmed up her heart, but this time the ice she made her heart was so strong to melt down with these meagre words. However, perhaps she was with Kamya, and didn’t want to reveal the happenings between them, so she gave him a face. Naina looked at him and though didn’t say anything but nodded slowly, and said to Kamya,”thik hai Kamya, mai chalti hu…”

“Haa, thik hai… lekin yaad hai naa taiyariyo ke liye bhi, aur baad me shadi ke sare functions pr tujhe aana hai…. Aur jijaji aapko bhi…”, Kamya chatted and invited them excitedly and left soon.

Naina didn’t wait for him to move, but hurriedly walked to the side, where her car was parked. Sameer’s heart ached impeccably again, but he slowly followed her. She sat in the car and closed the door with a loud bang. She was angry and he knew that and even after all the grief in heart, he found it indescribably cute.

His lips almost curled up, when suddenly her voice boomed in and numbed his senses,”mera peechha karne ki jarurat nahi… kahi bhagungi nahi mai…”

Sameer was shook. The water bottle almost slipped from his hands, but just the next moment, he composed himself, took a backstep and mumbled, “sorry…”

Naina didn’t reply, but Kamal saw him in confusion. Sameer saw him, nodded slightly and kamal started the engine.

************************************************

Everyone has their own set of reactions towards a defined trouble. As far as he knew her, she was always very vulnerable, and every time he successfully pulled her back. But this time she locked herself in solitude, and he was almost clueless about how to help her. Her indifference was a different case, but her strange behaviour in college not only shook him, but left him to think deeply.

“Sameer tu office jaa raha hai beta… lekin Naina… wo abhi bhi thik nahi aur tu… tu fr se…”, Nanu was not only shocked but a little angry too, when saw him all ready for office the next morning.

“Nanu, mai toh…”, Sameer tried to reply, but Nanu interrupted him.

“Sameer, mai janta hu office me is waqt koi urgent kaam nahi, isliye kaam ka bahana mat dena… thik thik bta, kya baat hai… kya chal raha hai ye…. Tu aise use chhod ke… dekh beta, mai janta hu wo tujhse naraz hai, lekin aise jana toh…”, Nanu scolded him at first but ended with consoling him softly.

“Nanu, aap meri baat toh suniye…”, Sameer held his hand and said,”Nanu, mera yha se jana hi abhi uske liye achaa hai… mai yha nahi rahunga toh woh kamre se bahar aayegi, kam se kam aapse baate karegi… shayad dheere dheere fr se sab thik ho jaye… pehle jaisa…”

“Nahi Sameer… wo naraj hai toh use mna, use akela chhod ke mat jaa… aise toh woh aur dur ho jayegi…”,now nanu understood his concern, but didn’t seem convinced.

“Nahi Nanu… wo mujhse kabhi dur ho hi nahi sakti… hum dono ek dusre se naraj ho sakte hai, pr pyar karna toh nhi chhod sakte naa… “, Sameer tried to convince him, or rather himself.

“Pta nhi beta, magar mujhe kuch thik nahi lag rha…”, Nanu was still uncomfortable about his sudden decision.

“Nanu, sach kahu to abhi mujhe bhi thik se nahi pta… lekin use mnane se jyada jaruri hai abhi use us andhere se nikalna, jha usne khud ko kaid kar liya hai… pta nhi Nanu kyu, pr aisa lag raha hai ki agar un andheron ne usse dosti kar li toh hum hamari Naina ko kho denge Nanu, aur mai… mai ye kaise…” Sameer stuttered somehow, sniffed and said again.

“mere yha se jane se agar wo un andheron se bahar aati hai toh uski ye nafrat bhi manjur hai mujhe… ” he shivered saying this, but couldn’t find another way.

“Sameer, tu itna bda kab ho gaya beta… “,with a sigh Nanu caressed his head.

Sameer smiled bitterly, and got up to leave.

“Naina bhut pyar karti hai tujhse Sameer, wo tujhse kabhi nafrat kar hi nahi sakti…”,just as he reached near threshold, Nanu’s voice caught his steps.

“Janta hu Nanu…”,he didn’t turn around, but said softly and left.

*****************************************

When Naina heard the starting sound of the engine and exasperatedly looked at clouds of smoke and dust behind him. She took a back as never expected that he would leave suddenly. But imploring in the situation and giving the fact that Nanu was alone there downstairs, she combed her hairs, changed her clothes and went downstairs after assuring that she was in good shape at least visibly.

Nanu saw her and smiled, perhaps now slightly convinced of Sameer’s decision.

“Naina, tu thik hai naa…”, Nanu asked her.

She didn’t reply but nodded slowly.

Both Nanu and Naina didn’t talk anything about Sameer for the whole day, but talked on other things. Though Nanu could understand her disinterest, he neither asked nor let her go, instead he talked softly about many other things.

Naina brought his food and he compelled her to sit and eat with her. Whole day passed, though not jovial, but at least not that gloomy too. However this pithy day turned off, when night fell and loud honks of car assured his arrival.

Naina suddenly quieted. She straightened her back, thought something, and left the room without any other word. Nanu didn’t stop her, and felt that Sameer’s decision was right.

Sameer came in. He didn’t see, but heard her anklets going upstairs. He was relieved but at the same time hurt too. He heaved some deep breaths, put up a smiling face and went to Nanu’s room.

” arey aa gya tu… “, nanu pretended to sleep and now surprised.

“Nanu, Naina kaisi hai… usne baat ki aapse… khana khaya… “, Sameer asked restlessly without any preliminary preparations.

“Haa, thik hai wo… subah se thi idhar hi… khana bhi khaya… fr mai shayad so gya toh chali gayi hogi… “Nanu didn’t want to tell him the fact.

Though Sameer already knew, but nodded not intending to break the ivory painting he showed. Well, it was not otherwise for Nanu too, he had seen through him, but at this time didn’t know how to reply, but the desperation, the longing, the yearning  in his eyes broke his heart completely.

Since morning, it didn’t affect him, it seemed like any other day of life, but this time when faced with the naked truth, his heart had no qualms. He caressed his head, and thought that he needed to talk to Naina soon.

Sameer sat with Nanu for some time and then went to their room upstairs. Like the last few days, Naina saw him coming, and locked herself in the balcony. Something pinched into his heart again  and his heart convulsed and ached so hard that he struggled to breathe for a moment. He sat on the bed for some moments, but then got up, changed his clothes quietly and left the room.

*******************************************

Nanu  and Sameer both thought that the situation would be better after some days, but it was more or less the same even after ten days. Sameer was restless and nanu was extremely worried for both of them. He used to spend his whole day with Naina, but was unable to stop her when Sameer arrived.

Helplessly, he looked at the Sameer’s haggard condition, infact deteriorating condition everyday but now even out of lies to soothe his pain. In fact now Sameer had stopped asking even. He came, sat with him for sometime then headed upstairs in the guest room, now became his room.

Here, Naina didn’t say anything but her situation was no better either. Perhaps somewhere she too felt loneliness. It seemed like loneliness was a fated disease for this household that sat stagnant in all of their lives.

Perhaps the young ones couldn’t understand, but Nanu was now worried for something else too, and he decided now to talk to his obstinate kids.

“Sameer, tu aj office mat jaa…”, Nanu said to him just as he saw him ready to leave in the morning.

“Q Nanu, kya baat hai… kuch hua kya…”,he asked slowly.

“Haa, bas aaj mat ja… kaam hai… wo kal…”, Nanu replied slowly.

“Nanu, mujhe kaam hai, mai chalta hu…”, neither Sameer let him complete, nor stopped for another moment, but left hurriedly.

“Sameer…”, Nanu whispered and looked at him with a sad look.

“Naina, kab tak chalega bachhe ye… mai tum dono pati patni ke bich bolna nahi chahta, isliye chup tha, lekin ab bhut ho gya… tujhe uski haalat dikhayi nahi deti… naa thik se khata hai naa baat karta hai… mujhe toh ab…”,as he didn’t succeed to talk to Sameer, he couldn’t leave any chance to talk to Naina now.

“Nanaji, mai…”, Naina wanted to reply, but suddenly felt herself at loss of words.

“Kya mai… bol naa Naina… uski taklif kya sach me tujhe dikhayi nahi deti…”, Nanu was not only worried but now hell annoyed of both of his stubborn kids.

“Aur mera dard, meri taklif… nanaji shayad aap bhi mera dard nahi samajh paa rahe…”, she lowered her eyes and replied.

Nanu was shocked, but couldn’t be silent this time. He thought something, sneered and said,” hmm, thik kah rahi hai tu… mai toh nahi samajhta, toh kaun samajhta hai…”

“Bol Naina, kaun samajhta hai usse jyada ek parivaar  naa hone ka dard, jisne apne maa baap ko bachpan me kho diya aur fr puri zindagi ek parivaar ke liye tadpa ho…”

“Bta mujhe, jo bachpan se apne ek parivaar ke liye tadpa ho usse jyada kaun samjhta hai parivaar banne se pehle tut jane ka dard…”

“Tu sab samjhti hai naa, toh bta mujhe jisne zindagi bhar akelepan ke kaale saayon se ladai ki hai, usse jyada kaun samjhta hai is akelepan ki taklif….”

“Tu thik kahti hai Naina, shayad mai nahi samajhta, pr tu toh samjhti hai…”

“Samajhti hai naa wo dard jab zindagi me pehli baar pyar ka ehsaas ho aur wo bhi chhin jaye…”

“Mujhe nahi samajh aata, lekin tu shayad samajhti hai ki jab dil ke har zakham se dard tapakta hai toh use chhupa ke muskurana kitna asaan ya mushkil hota hai…”

“Bachhe maa ke jyada karib hote hai isliye kahte hai ki maa ka dard koi nahi samajh sakta, lekin isse pita ka pyar kam nahi ho jata… tujhse pehle uska sapna tuta, fr bhi tere liye haste huye usne har toofan ka saamna akele kiya… dil me chahe kitna bhi dard tha tere liye muskurata rha… tu akelepan me kaid na ho jaye, isliye ab fr se khud ko akelepan me jhonk diya…”

“Tu samjhti hai naa… tu toh sab samajhti hai to ek baar ko sochna ki kya beeti hogi us par jab us din tu hospital me…”

“Naina, mai ye nahi kahta ki uski galti nahi, lekin beta ek sapne ke liye haqiqat ko dard nahi dete…”

Nanu said everything sneering but raging at her calmed demeanor. But suddenly he seemed to remember something, and became very sad, still continued, “Jab tum dono ka bandhan bandha tha toh socha tha ki dono ka dard ek hai, toh pyar ka rishta shayad der se jude dard ka rishta hamesha rahega…. Ab Lagta hai ki mai galat tha… ek dard ne tod diya tum dono ko…”

“Ek baar Sameer ne mujhe kha tha ki, tum dono ek dusre se naraaj ho sakte ho lekin narazgi me bhi pyar karna nhi chhod sakte… mera nahi toh uske is vishwas ka maan rakh le… beta ye waqt uske liye bhut…”

All this time when Nanu was ruthlessly showing her the mirror of truth, she was silent, but suddenly she felt something and asked restlessly.

“Kya nanaji, unke liye kya…”, suddenly she was alarmed.

“Kuch nhi, bas ye din… Naina, Sameer ko teri jarurat hai beta…”, Nanu had already said enough, now didn’t find anything more to say, but breathed heavily, replied in a very sad but pithy tone and went to his room.

Naina was already in the mess of emotions and now every word from Nanu pushed her in a whirlwind of thoughts or rather restlessness. She thought, and everytime her heart reprimanded her, every time she found herself in the deep pit of pain and then that abrupt ending, she was suddenly very worried.

At this time, when she was very desperately struggling with lots of open wounds before her, the phone rang. She received the call and the matter pushed her more in grief.

**********************************************

It was almost 10:40, when Sameer reached home. He was extremely distressed that day and didn’t want to face anyone and came late deliberately. But what he didn’t know was that two eyes hidden in darkness, observing him very keenly.

Sameer came in, looked at the dark silence, his shoulders slumped slightly with a sigh and slowly he went into the dining area. He sat in his place and turned his plate. Food was there in different bowls, and casseroles. He just opened one casserole, served himself, brought out one chapati and sat in a chair.

Naina shockingly looked at him. He had served himself ‘karela bhaji’ that she made for Nanu. Although there were other veggies in too, he didn’t look even in those bowls. She knew that he hated this veg, but suddenly seemed like it didn’t matter for him at all.

“Aapki pasand itni kaise badal gayi…”, suddenly something hit her in her gutt, but the next moment brought the bigger shock.

Next moment, even before taking the first morsel, Sameer brought out his wallet, opened it and kept it beside himself. He looked at the wallet for some moments, a small smile appeared in the corner of his mouth and he said,”janti ho aj kya hua… wo apne mishraji hai naa…”

He took a bite talking something with no body like a lunatic, but Naina instantly knew it was her picture, he was talking to. She was even more startled or to be very precise, very guilty at the moment. However they both continued.

Talking like a mad man, he ate two more morsels, but suddenly gasped. It seemed like he remembered something and suddenly became very restless. He looked at the bite in hand, heaved a deep breath, it looked like he was struggling with something, but then kept the bite back in plate, pushed the plate back, got up and left for his room.

Naina was suddenly very worried. She wanted to talk to him instantly, but Sameer had already locked himself in his temporary room. Her own medicine could be this bitter, it only fell on her then. She thought something and went to the balcony, thinking how to break the ice between them, but it made her more anxious.

She couldn’t see him, but his shadow. She knew that he was also on the balcony. She also knew he had his wallet in hand and he was talking something slowly looking into it. She suddenly felt struggling for a breather, just like a cat on hot bricks. She walked to and fro wringing her hands together, feeling something really strange about him and at last when couldn’t think anything she knew the only one way left. She almost ran towards his room.

“Naina, thodi der mere saath walk pr chalogi… please… mai… jyada dur nahi, bas thodi der…”

She opened the door to go to his room, but surprisingly or rather shockingly he was already there on her door, lifted his hand to knock. And before she could ask anything, he requested her. His solemn but helpless tone shook her. She couldn’t reply anything, but just nodded yes.

**********************************************

“Sameer…”

Naina looked at him walking slowly but extremely silent that seemed like lost somewhere. He didn’t say another word since they left. She was worried, wanted to ask, but as soon as she called his name, he trembled like woke up from a deep sleep and said hurriedly,”haa haa, chalo kaafi der ho gayi naa… sorry mai thoda… umm, chalte hai ab…”

Sameer was really behaving in a very strange way and with every passing moment, she felt like a storm coming up. Though she didn’t call him to go back, without listening to her, he turned and walked and cluelessly she followed.

“Sameer, suniye toh… mujhe aapse kuch kehna hai…”, just as they returned home and left her on the door of her room, he turned to leave, when she stopped him.

“Hmm, bolo…”,seemed like he was scared of something, but still replied slowly, although didn’t turn around.

“Sameer, mujhe… mujhe kahi jana hai… mai…”,she hadn’t completed yet, but he asked.

“Kha… kha jana hai…”

“Pta nahi, lekin mai…”,she replied, but was interrupted again.

“Kab…”

“Jitni jaldi ho sake… ho sake toh kal hi…”,she replied, fortunately he didn’t interrupt this time.

Instead he thought for a moment, sucked in a deep breath and asked slowly, “kal hi jana jaruri hai kya…”

“Zaroori toh nahi, lekin jitni jaldi ho sake…”, she softly replied again.

“Hm…”,he didn’t ask or say anything else but left with a humm nodding his head in yes.

She was stunned, didn’t know how to react, but his retreating back, helpless tone, slumped shoulders, and the most he didn’t even look at her, it seemed like one by one life was giving her her own bitter medicines.

Naina was again swung in between lots of unanswered questions. Sameer was sad, perhaps she expected him to be angry, or upset, but this strange behaviour, she was already shaken badly by her own fate, now his strange behaviour scared her wits off. She wrung her palms and joined them tightly so that her nails hurt herself.

Suddenly she thought something, lifted the receiver, wanted to call someone, but realised the time miserably and kept the receiver back.

Naina was completely at loss, didn’t know what to do, and at this moment she only had one way to go and talked to him. She opened the door again and shockingly or surprisingly he was again on the threshold. Though this time not to knock, but leaving slowly. It seemed like he came to find her, but couldn’t gather the courage and turned back to leave.

“Sameer…”,she anxiously stopped him.

He stopped, but didn’t turn around immediately, in fact pondered for a moment then turned around. Naina opened her mouth to say something, but he said before,”Naina… mai…”

He took a pause, gulped down a big lump and said again, ” Naina, mera sar… sar bhut jyada dard ho raha hai… mai kya… kya aj mai yha so jau please… mai tumhe disturb nahi karunga, balcony… balcony me so jaunga… ummm, wha… wha akele nind nahi aati…”, He looked exactly like a small kid lost in the big hassle of the world.

Naina shuddered. Already she was anxious, now again this seemed like God had decided for whipping her for her every bad word. She restlessly stepped ahead, lifted her hand to keep on his forehead and asked desperately, “kya hua aapko… bukhar toh nahi…”

But before her hand could touch his forehead, he stepped back hurriedly and asked slowly, “Naina, please…”

“Hmm…” her hand hung in the air, she trembled, felt his odd behavior again, but then left the door nodding her head.

Sameer looked at her stepping aside and moved in the room.

Naina turned to find the balm for his headache, but without any word, he straight went on the balcony and slept.

“Sameer, ye balm…”,as she turned back to apply balm for him, but he was not there.

“Sameer…”, she murmured in disbelief when hurriedly went on the balcony and saw him sleeping like a small baby with his knees curled up, and something in his hand.

Restlessly, she checked his forehead. Thankfully he had no fever. But slowly unknown to him, she softly applied balm on his forehead, then covered him with duvet. Just as she covered him, he straightened on his back, and earth shattered for her again. He hadn’t something in his hands, but his wallet and her dupatta. She felt her heart piercing with several burning hot pins suddenly.

“Sameer…”,her lips shivered slowly.

At this moment life not only slapped her badly, but taught her something that she had forgotten in her pain. She never knew, when she and Sameer grew so apart that their normal chats felt like requests…oh wait, that was not normal chat either. It should be that they stopped talking at all. She never knew that the distance she was digging between them would be so deep that she couldn’t find a way to reach him.

Naina was worried for him, restlessly remembered all the moments between them, when he was vulnerable and every time his loneliness pulled out his emotions. She knew how much he was scared of loneliness, still she…

“Sorry Sameer…”, her lips trembled again and she sobbed inaudibly.

Sameer had slept and thinking about his headache she decided to talk to him in the morning, and not to disturb his sleep. In fact she sat there for a long time, kept staring at him, caressing his forehead and hairs and lastly kissed him softly on forehead before herself sleeping off. Though she wanted to sleep with him, the doctor had strictly prohibited her from sleeping on the floor, and he was sleeping on the floor bed. She looked at him, kissed his forehead and left sadly.

*******************************************

“Thanks…. Huh… samajhte kya hai khud ko, aur mujhe…”

As she was late to sleep, it was obviously a late morning for her, but just as she opened her eyes, she ran to the balcony to see him, but instead of him, there was just a thankyou note there. It suddenly raged her anger up and throwing the paper note aside after crumbling it, she angrily snorted.

“Huh, aj dekhti hu… aise koi apni wife ko thanks bolta hai kya…”

“Bhut ho gya ye sorry, thanks and please… ab aur nahi… kitna ajnabi sa feel krate hai ye words…”

She was getting ready mumbling something audible, something inaudible, but it took her less than any other day to get ready that day. Naina was anxious, worried for him, feeling extremely estranged about him, and deep down very delinquent too. Though she was willing to have a heartily apology from him, but she was not afraid of his hatred, coz knew too that as long as she was willing to reach him, she wouldn’t only find a way, but he would welcome her with all his heart too. At least such was their relationship before…. Hope it’s not changed for him either… ahh… she was slightly scared.

“Sameer…. Nanaji, Sameer kha hai…”

No matter how much she was scared, suppressing every emotion deep down in her heart, she went downstairs, but disappointed as he was not there. Although it’s late for her, but it’s not time for his office too. He had probably gone earlier that day. But even after assuming the situation she couldn’t help but asked Nanu for him.

“Kyu… tujhe nahi pata ki tera pati kha hai…”, Nanu was really hard on her this time.

“Nanaji… “,she whispered then thinking something, caught his hand and said softly,”I am sorry Nanaji… maine sachhi me bhut pareshan kiya hai aapko aur unko bhi… mai kal unse baat karne hi wali thi, lekin kal wo…”,her voice lowered as she struggled to find a suitable word for his condition last night.

“Kya hua tha kal… Sameer, thik tha naa… pta tha mujhe ki wo fr se… isiliye kal der se aaya aur aj bhi subah hi… Sameer thik tha naa beta…”,all of a sudden Nanu asked anxiously.

“Kyu nanaji… kya baat hai… aap kuch chhupa rahe hai mujhse… Sameer kal thode pareshan… pta nahi pr kuch alag se the…”,she asked and replied thinking about him last night, but a sudden restlessness rushed up and bubbled in her heart.

“Chhupa nahi rha beta, lekin socha tha ki Sameer tujhe khud btayega… “, nanu softly replied.

“Kya baat hai Nanaji, btaiye naa… mujhe ab sach me ghabrahat ho rahi hai…”, Naina was scared now.

“Naina… beta, aj uske papa ka shraadh hai… har saal wo…”, Nanu softly explained the reason.

Naina was shackled by life again. She clapped her hand on her mouth and stumbled back. Nanu was saying something else too, but after listening the first line, she absolutely not needed to know about anything else. She could now understand his anxiety last night and cursed herself for being so recklessly cold towards him that he left all alone to fight with his all demons.

“Sameer… I am sorry…”, she sighed his name and a crystal clear tear broke from her eyes.

Naina was addled for him, and wanted to see him in the very moment. But a little apprehensive of visiting him in office probably worried for his anger. She was thinking about what to do, suddenly a voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Bhabhiji, ye aapse milne aaye hai…”,Radhe came in with a middle aged professional looking man.

“Mujhse…”,she cluelessly looked at the man, but before she could ask, Nanu chipped in.

“Arey Vivek tum… yha kaise…”,seemed like he knew that person.

“Haa sir, mujhe Sameer sir ne madam se milne bheja hai…”, Vivek replied politely.

“Mujhse…. Par q…”,she still cluelessly murmured to herself, when Nanu helped her.

“Naina… Vivek ek travel agent hai… apni company ki sari travel bookings yhi dekhta hai…”, Nanu softly introduced him to her.

Though Naina nodded her head, but still clueless about the reason he came to see her. She looked at the visitor of the moment and asked him, “Vivekji… aap yha mujhse milne aaye hai… sorry, magar mai samjhi nahi…”

“Haa ma’am, Sameer sir ne kha ki aap kahi jana chahti hai, lekin kha ye unko nahi malum… isliye aapse aapki preferences puchh kar aapki ticket karwa du aur wha aapke rehne ke arrangements bhi…”, Vivek explained politely.

Not only Naina, but Nanu too looked sharply at him first then glanced over Naina. Naina felt so awkward of this situation and asked a bit confused,”ek minute… meri preference… kya aapka matlab hai ki Sameer ne sirf meri tickets bnane ko kha hai… “

Vivek was puzzled by the question, but thinking deeply, he replied,” yes ma’am… unhone ye aapka passport bhi diya, in case agar aap abroad…”

Naina looked at him perplexed, but suddenly realised something. She slapped her forehead as if punishing herself to being so hard on him, but then got up and said to Nanu,”Nanaji, mai office jaa rahi hu, mujhe Sameer se abhi milna hoga…”

Naina said and moved towards main door, not intended to wait for any reply. However Nanu took some steps and said to her, “Naina, wo shraddh ki puja…”

“Nanaji, aap panditji se kah kar sham ki puja rakhwa lijiye… Sameer aa jayenge…”,she replied in hurry and went outside.

*******************************************

“Naina, aap…”

When Naina reached office, somewhat she felt the environment very ambiguous. In fact Nisha who greeted her on doors only, looked very puzzled seeing her.  Although she greeted her politely with a smile, she could see her smile didn’t reach her eyes, in fact she was somewhat upset.

“Kya hua Nisha di, koi problem hai…”, Naina asked softly walking towards Sameer’s cabin.

At this time no one stopped her, but everyone looked at her with slightly nervous expressions. She squinted her eyes and looked everywhere, but decided not to interrupt their work, and reached his cabin. However, she was disappointed as he was not in cabin.

She looked at his empty chair sadly and asked to Nisha,”Sameer kha hai Nisha di… koi meeting chal rahi hai kya… kab tak free honge wo…”

“Naina… Sameer sir… wo…”, Nisha was slowly replying when an worried voice interrupted her and shook Naina too.

“Nisha ma’am, doctor sahab aa gye…”, a man dressed in dark blue dress, probably the office boy informed her.

“Hm, bulao unko jaldi…”, Nisha instructed him and turned to Naina. She replied her, before she could ask anything, “Sameer sir ki tabiyt thik nahi, wo rest lounge me hai…”

“Kya… kya hua unko…”, though she asked, but without waiting for reply, dashed in the lounge already.

Nisha anxiously followed her, as she was already in shock and the scene inside the lounge troubled her more. Sameer was lying, probably unconscious, and a girl in her mid twenties sat by his side, caressing his hairs.

“Nisha, maine kha tha naa ki hume disturb…”, seemed like that girl was disturbed by the door open and asked in a annoyed tone thinking it for Nisha, but suddenly quited, when saw Naina.

“Get out…”, Naina didn’t scream, but her voice had something that shackled everyone’s senses present there.

“Lekin mai…”, that girl must be the most stubborn to understand.

“Aapne suna nahi Ms. Nikita… I said get out of here right now…”,no one had introduced them, but she didn’t need either. She snorted and said in such a cold tone that shivered her wits and she immediately leave the room.

Till the time the doctor reached. Naina was relieved seeing their family doctor and Nanu’s friend. Doctor smiled seeing her too.

“Uncle, Sameer…”,she instantly reached him and said in a agitated tone.

“Don’t worry beta, dekhne do mujhe…”, doctor smiled, patted her head and replied.

She nodded her head and stood aside quietly saw him doing the examination. After a few moments, he asked,” Sameer ne aj peanuts khaye the…”

Naina jerked hearing this and somewhat embarrassed too, as being a wife, she actually had no idea about it. Instead of her, Nisha replied,”ji… sir ne… sir ne aj peanut butter sandwiches khaye the…”

Shockingly Naina looked at her sharply, and she lowered her eyes wringing her hands nervously. Doctor nodded, prepared an injection and inject the medicine in his veins.

After his check-up and injection, doctor stood and said to Naina,”ghabrane ki baat nhi hai… Sameer ko thoda fever hai, isiliye ye injection diya… aadhe ghante me ab temperature kam ho jayega, fr allergy wali medicine de dena… thodi der me hosh bhi aa jayega… baki iski allergy aur precautions ka toh pta hai naa tumhe…”

Naina nodded, but couldn’t reply. Doctor again patted her head and leave. Nisha followed the suit and leave the room for the two.

“Sameer… please uth jaiye… I am really sorry… I am sorry…”,as soon as she found a moment with him, her eyes spilled helplessly and she mumbled again and again caressing and kissing his forehead.

She sat with him for five minutes, and felt he was sweating profusely. She looked for a towel, but there was none. She came out to see Nisha to ask her for a towel, but a very strange scene welcomed her outside.

Nikita, the new secretary of Sameer, was shouting on Nisha.

“Nisha, how can she do it? Ye Sameer sir ka office hai, unka bedroom nahi… biwi hai to ghar me rahe, mujhse aise baat karne wali wo hoti kaun hai…”, Nikita shouted angrily.

“Nikita, watch your words. Tumhara dimag kharab hai kya… wo biwi hain Sameer sir ki, Maheshwari industries ki Malkin… tum unhe aise kaise… pta bhi hai Sameer sir ko pta chala toh…”, Nisha tried to drill some brain in her.

“Haanh… malkin… badi aayi…”,she was still reluctant to understand.

Naina squinted her eyes, looked at her, thought something and said to Nisha, “Nisha di, do me a favor…”

Nisha immediately stood up, from her seat and replied respectfully, ” yes ma’am…”

“First tell me ki Sameer ke liye aj breakfast kisne order kiya tha…”, she asked softly, but quiet sure of reply.

“Ma’am, wo…”, Nisha hesitated, but suddenly Nikita replied with a disdain in her voice,”I did it…”

Naina looked at her, sighed, thought for a moment and said to Nisha again, “Nisha di, type a termination letter for her on charge of negligence of her work right now…”

“What…”

“What…”

The reaction came somewhat same. But Nisha didn’t say anything more, yet Nikita shouted, “you… you didn’t hire me, how can you terminate me? You have no right to do this.”

However, regardless of her shouting, Naina calmly said to Nisha, “15 minutes… I want her to be out of this office in 15 minutes. And you… itna hi waqt hai tumhare pass apna saman sametne ko…”

“But ma’am, Sameer sir ke signature ke bina…”, Nisha asked slowly and Nikita craned her neck again.

“I think I can do it on his behalf, as he is not in a sound state to sign the papers. Am I right Nisha di…?”,she replied firmly and asked Nisha looking at Nikita deeply.

Though Nisha used to call her Naina, but at this time she exuded such magnificent but cold aura, that trembled her even. She didn’t argue anymore but instantly went on her table to follow the order.

Suddenly Naina remembered something and said,”Nisha di, usse pehle ek bowl me normal pani, do towels aur garam pine ka pani bhej dijiye andar…”

“Yes ma’am…”, Nisha nodded and went to do the arrangements.

*****************************************

“Naina…”, this was not the first time he said, but kept murmuring her name in daze.

“Hmm, Sameer, yhi hu mai.. “, like everytime she replied.

Some time had passed. His fever subdued and she gave him his allergy medicine. Giving the amount of complications he had related to this allergy, she was really worried, but thankfully he didn’t eat much and after taking medicine, slowly came from syncope to slumber.

In between, Nisha came with that termination letter for her signature. Though Nikita was quite hopeful by that time, but that signature of ‘Mrs. Naina Sameer Maheshwari’ silenced her. She may be cursed her in heart, but didn’t dare to say anything more and though reluctantly but leave the office with her things.

“Ma’am, sir ab thik hai…”, Nisha smiled and asked her slowly after sometime.

“Hmm… Nisha di, aapke liye sirf Naina… sorry us waqt mai thoda…”,she was perturbed as not familiar of this address.

“No problem… lekin mujhe abhi bhi lagta hai ki aapko sir ko bta dena chahiye ki jab aap Delhi me thi tab Nikita ne…”, Nisha tried to convince her for something, but she interrupted in between.

“Nisha di, chhodiye wo sab… Nikita chali gayi hai abhi… agar Sameer wapas bulana chahe toh unki marzi hai… “,she replied but felt her heart gave a physical lurch.

“Agar sir ko wo sab pta hoga to nahi bulayenge…” Nisha was still not convinced.

“Meri personal soch se jyada ye office ka kaam matter karta hai… aur Sameer ye sab jyada ache se samjhte hai, isliye jaisa wo soche…”,she softly replied closing down any more room for argue and Nisha left again.

In this both ladies didn’t notice the frown that emerged and gradually became deeper in the forehead of the third person present in the room, though sleeping visibly, but probably not actually. Sameer was already awake, and listening to their talks instantly decided to ask Naina or Nisha about this. However, some other things were more important to settle first than this now.

After she left, suddenly Naina realised that Sameer had slipped from the pillow and sleeping in her lap, hugging her legs tightly. Somewhat it felt so natural to her, that didn’t disturb her earlier, but this moment she couldn’t help her cheeks getting rosy. He was always like this, teasing her, making her blushed, but it happened after so many days, that felt like eternity.

“I am sorry Sameer…”,she leaned, kissed his forehead and mumbled again.

“Nahi bolunga, maaf bhi nahi karunga… mujhe chhod ke jaa rahi thi naa, toh jao… q fikar ho rahi hai meri…”,all of a sudden he opened his eyes and mumbled looking at her deeply.

“Nahi Sameer, mai nahi…”,for a moment she was surprisingly shocked that he was awake, but next moment shook her head hastily and tried to say.

“Nahi Naina… tumne kha tha ki agar tumhare saamne aaya toh chali jaogi… mai kal… kal thoda pareshan tha, isiliye… tum toh sach me jane lagi… mujhe hamesha lagta tha ki meri Naina mujhe chhod ke kabhi nahi jayegi, lekin tum… mai sach me tumse baat nhi karunga… tum… tum… you really hurt me this time…”,he sat straight with a jerk and said loudly this time.

“Kisne kha… kisne kha ki aapko chhod ke jaa rahi hu… dimag kharab ho gya hai kya…”, suddenly she too lashed out.

“Kyu sirf tumhara ho sakta hai, mera nahi…jao tum yha se, mujhe nahi baat karni tumse…”,he shrugged off her hand from her shoulders got up from bed and stood closing his hands on his chest.

“Aapko toh… unhh..”, suddenly something lashed out in her, and she dashed towards him in a fit of rage.

Naina threw a pillow to him, then a towel followed by another towel and her bag too and stood up on the bed.

“Naina…”, he dodged them successfully, but shouted her name too.

“Kyu.. kya hua ab… dimag kharab ho gya hai to thik toh karna padega… puri baat suni aapne meri… har baar aadhi baat sunte hai fr khud hi kahani bnate hai… kab kha maine ki mujhe akele jana hai… kab kha… haa boliye…”, Naina retorted equally loud chasing him in room.

“Kyu, kal raat nahi kha tha…”, Sameer refuted while running for his life.

“Maine kha tha mujhe jana hai, ye kab kha ki aapke bina akele jana hai… actually naa it’s a good idea… ab toh akele hi jaungi…”, this time along with her scolding, her hands jerked and fell like slap on his arms and shoulders too.

“Ouchh, Naina…”,he exclaimed and held his hand, but as they both were running, in a moment of inertia they both fell on the bed.

“Ouchh…”,she exclaimed loudly.

The fall was hard, but fortunately it didn’t hurt her as he moved quickly and held her safely in his arms, but somehow they both fell in a very intimate position. Realizing it, her cheeks instantly bloomed with colours of passion. Sameer looked at her with all his yearning and longing in eyes. They both didn’t say another word, somewhat made the environment very stagnant yet frenzy.

“Tum sach me mujhe chhod ke nahi jaa rahi thi…”,he asked slowly, but his deep solemn voice reached her heart instantly.

She moved a bit finding a better posture, cupped his cheeks and said,” sorry Sameer ki aapko aisa lga… kahi naa kahi iski jimmedar sirf mai hu… mai… mai naraz thi, socha aap mana lenge… apni bewkoofi me dekha hi nahi ki khud tak pahuchne ke sare raaste khud hi band kar diye hai maine… us din gusse me bhut kuch bol diya… bhut jyada taklif di aapko… lekin sach me kabhi chhod ke jane wali nahi thi… us din wo sab… mai…”, she was still a bit apprehensive of that day and moreover that truth.

“Wo din… tumse chhupana nahi chahta tha… socha tha ek baar treatment ke baad final report aa jaye, fr btaunga… lekin wo file…”,he was uncomfortable too talking about that day, but slowly said in a comforting tone.

“Sameer, mujhe ab aur koi treatment nahi krana… thak gyi hu mai… please.. abhi nahi…”,she suddenly hugged him tightly and pleaded.

“Naina lekin…”,he tried to protest, but thinking something quieted and hugged her back.

Not only Sameer, but both of them felt like finding the breathing air after hours of struggle under earth. Their hands tightened the hold gradually not wanted to leave eachother. They laid hugging eachother for sometime, but suddenly he remembered something and asked,”toh raat ko kha jane ko bol rahi thi… wo bhi itni urgency me…”

“Sameer, wo Munna bhaiya…”,she said but Sameer again remembered something and interrupted her.

“Arey haa, uska call aaya tha… Swati ki koi rasm hai… tumhe bulaya hai…”,he said remembering their talk last day.

“Nahi, mujhe nahi jana…”,she got so agitated suddenly, pulled back from his embrace and sat with a jerk.

“Kya hua… kyu nahi jana…”, Sameer was shocked, but sat, hugged her from back and asked softly.

“Sameer, mujhe dar lagta hai… mujhe dar lagta hai ki meri wajah se unki khushiyon me koi anhoni ho jayegi… mujhe nahi jana wha… kahi meri najre unki khushiyon ko… nahi Sameer please nahi…”,she touched his hand on her waist, but suddenly very scared and asked in extremely perturbed tone shaking her head hastily.

“Ok… ok… nahi jana… shant ho jao pehle… nhi jana toh thik hai, koi baat nahi, ok… mai baat karunga Munna se…”, Sameer hugged her tightly and said softly calming her down, of course it’s not easy for her to get out of that nightmarish truth.

“Nahi, mujhe kahi bahar le chaliye please… mujhe sach me kuch waqt chahiye…”,she looked deeply at him, and said in a pleading tone.

“Hmm, okay… aj raat hi jayenge… mai baat karta hu Vivek se…”,he assured her patting her back and hugging her tightly.

“Sameer, I am sorry…”, staying in his arms for sometime, she suddenly remembered and said again.

“Umhm, sirf sorry se kaam nhi chalega…”,he replied in a significant meaningful way.

“Matlab…”,she lifted her head and looked at him.

The teasing smile on his lips deepened the roses on her cheeks, but before those eyelashes could veil the dark orbs, he leaned over and closed his lips to her. She shivered, but couldn’t help herself melting in his arms. She moaned softly, her hands went around his neck instantly and lips moved with him. Though the intrusion came as surprise, and filled their souls with desiring affinity. Naina or Sameer, both immediately felt soused as their seductive breaths touched eachother and their passionate love stood strong from the layers of pain.

Their tongues met and mingled the soulful muffled moans with a rhythmic movement. Their hands travelled more, fingers locked in eachother’s hair. The abstinence for so many days left them so parched that no one wanted to leave other. Her fingers remained lock in his hair, but pulled him more in herself. His hands moved and gently sneaked in side slits of her kurti.

As his fingers softly traced the silky skin on her belly, and thumb circled the navel teasingly, his lips moved more eagerly. She hummed as if appreciating his movements and arched herself giving him more to explore. The lasvious seduction of the moment was so strong that even after struggling for breathing, they both didn’t leave eachother. But due to natural desparity in the breathing air in their lungs hit the ground, he left her and she huddled in his arms and hugged him.

“Naina…”,he looked at her, sighed her name, and cupping her cheeks about to continue the kiss.

Then suddenly, she kept her palm on his lips and said,”sameer, mandir jana hai… puja rakhi hai nanaji ne…”

“Naina, mai…”,he must be about to protest, when helding his cheeks softly, she said,”aap akele nahi hai Sameer, mai hu aapke saath… hamesha…”

“Naina…”, he couldn’t refute, but leaned again and his lips, warm and unyeilding on her.

“Ye do chaar din bahar jane ki jagah honeymoon chale…”,he mumbled, as leaned more on her, lips travelled down from lips to throat searching for more skin and tongue played a trick on beautiful line of cleavage.

“Umh, sameeee…”,she moaned and fell down on bed, as the intrusion was fierce and claiming yet she had no mood to stop him.