Naina is sleeping when naushad comes in hurry and almost fall over her sleeping form. He has stumbled on his own shoes.

Though the noise wakes her up. She lazily yawns and opens her eyes only to find something damp and so good in front of her eyes.

Naushad' damp hair and his face.

For a second she is all cherry but the next moment she remembers that the person in front of her is Naushad Rizvi. She smoothly sits up and waits for him to speak.

Instead of uttering something he bends down and kisses Saira. Mutters something to her and then looks at Her.

'Aaj shayad hume aane me der ho jaaye. Aap khana kha lijiyega. Aur hamara intezar mat kariyega.'

Naina just nods though in mind she is telling him what an great idiot he is. He knows pretty well that if there is slight chance of his being at home around nine or ten she never eats before him. And the reason he gets behind it is perhaps she is so traditional and believes in these type of customs. But reality is she doesn't want him to eat alone. Naushad has a bad habit. He when alone does whatever he feels like. Sometimes he has missed dinner. And Naina eats with him as a supervisor. To check whether this guy is eating his food properly or not. But Naushad can not understand this, can he!

He has left by the way. When Naina comes out of her dream land, there is no sign of him.

She smiles.. Life is bittersweet. He is caring but the way he shows it, its rude.

Apna apna luck by chance.

She shakes her head. Saira is still sleeping. She wakes her up and takes her wiggling form to bathroom.

As usual she is not ready to take bath.

Then she makes breakfast for both of them. Its the day when khala'd return. Naina takes a sigh of relief. These two days ahe just worked hell much.

And then coming back home without a driver it was pretty tiring too. She herself had denied for a drive when naushad had offered her before. But yesterday she really wished she had that car or two wheeler whatever he was talking about.

And like a dream come true in evening she got one.

Thats Naushad for her..ladies and gentleman. A Riddle to solve.

______________________

Naina is reading some report in her cabin when Pooja comes in.

Dr. Pooja Ghai.

She is a talkative girl and naina' time pass whenever she is bored. And not to forget a very good friend.

'Naina. Teri beti to so gayi. Abhi chai pine chale kya?'

She shakes her head.

'Kyu? Chal na. one cup of tea every hour keeps you recharged and afresh.'

Naina laughs.

'Man nahi he mera yaar.'

'Kyu? rizvi shahab se panga ho gya? Yar wo banda kitna hot dikhta he! Lekin uska gussa! Poore Shimla me famous he.' She tells her dreamingly.

Naina is intrigued and angry.

'He is taken for your kind information. Aur tujhe kaise pata unke gusse ke bare me? Mene to shayad hi kabhi bataya ho!'

'Mera Ali tere Naushad Miyan ke sath hi posted he. Bol raha tha ki kuch dino pahle ek junior officer ko sabke saamne suna diya tha..Baad me transfer letter thamaya wo alag. Yar Tera pati itna chida kyu rahta he? Dont you keep him satisfied?'

'Satisfied? what do you mean by satisfied? I think he is satisfied with his family. Isme me kya naya karu?'She is puzzled..

'Pagal aurat! Satisfy in bed. Sare mardo ka ek hi key hota he. Sex. Jitna mile utna kam.'

She is red...cherry red. Pooja has a sharp tone..but it has told something very bluntly today.

'Pagal he kya? kuch bhi bolti jati he. Koi aur kaam dhandha nahi he tujhe?'

'Are you for real? Apne dosto se ye sab share nahi karegi to kise batayegi? Come on girl. Its sharing and caring. Bata na..Kya hota he tum dono ke beech me? Is he on top or you pushes him hard! bol bol..'

Naina' face is burning hot. She cant speak..

'Chee.. Kaisi bate karti he? Hamare beech aisa kuch nahi he. For God' sake he has a daughter.'

'Ha to Wo bacchi tere Naushad miyan ne sex karke hi paida ki thi. Download ni ki thi aur na hi market se khareed kar laaye the. Aur ye kya baat huyi ki He is a father! Shukra mana ki he is experienced. Mere Ali ko to pahle dus minute mood me laao..Thank God. Uske baad mujhe koi extra effort nahi karna padta..'

'Wo me...Mujje Dr. Khanna bula rahi he.tu baith me abhi aayi.' Naina tries to run away

Pooja holds her hand.

'Ek bat bata..Kitna time huya teri shadi ko?'

'Kya pooja! Chhod na.'

'Are bol na.'

'Around six seven months.'

'Ha to aur kitna adjust hoge tum log! You guys are married for God' sake. Aur shadishuda hokar agar aise celibacy enjoy karni he to kyu time waste kar rahi he? Kabhi tere ko wo hot nahi lagta? Mere se pooch. mujhe tere Nausjad miyan ko dekh kar yahi khyaal ata he...
Khuda ne kya soch kar ise banaya he..
Jab banaya he to ye mere hath kyu nahi aaya he! '

'Chup kar pooja. Kuch bhi bolti he! We are not like that. Air jaruri he kya har shadi me sex ho!'

'Bina sex ki shadi nahi hoti aur jab nahi karna to shadi hi kyu kari?'

'Bataya to tha Circumstances hi aise the. Jaane se pahle Naveen bhaiya asked him to take care of me.'

'It does not matter bahan. Dekh. Koi bhi rishta kaise shuru hota he doesn't matter. What matters is how we take that relation. Mere aur Ali ke nikah ke piche meri jhoothi pregnancy thi. But that doesnt matter. Mujje uske sath life spekd karni thi. Amd he was hesitant because of his family and our differences. mujhe kuch samajh nahi aya so I faked pregnancy. Aur agar nahi karti to ab tak kunwari hoti. Ali se to kuch hone ko raha.. But now we are happily married. Thats important. Tera aur naushad ka rishta kaise bhi shuru huya ho, lekin you guys are a couple. Ek sath rahte ho, Ek chhat(roof) ke niche sote ho. Phir kya problem he? You should move forward in this relation.'

'Its not possible yar. He has been hurt in past. Aur phir uska attitude. Gussa. Kabhi kabhi dar lagta he kahi me kuch aisa bol du ya kar du jo use bahut naraz kar de to....Life ka ye last rishta bhi kacche dhage jaise toot jayega. Its not like I tried. Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aya..So I pushed him. Many times. But it'll not come in that way. I think he needs time. He shared his past with me. Is se jyada me kuch maang nahi sakti us se. He seems like a rock but isnt. His heart is marshmallow. And broken.'

'Exactly. Take care of him. See..Us ka dil toota he. But deep inside he too wants someone to take care of him.'

'He told me the very first day..Ki Me is rishte me azad hu.'

'Ha to kya ye bolta ki aao mujhe phir se barbaad kar do! Me barbaad hona chahta hu. Mujhe lutne ka shauk he! Tu bhi pagal he. He doesn't want to get hurt again. Isliye he is cautious.'

'I understand yar. Thats why I try to give him his space.'

'matlab khula chhod diya he tune apne miyan ko!'

'pagal he tu kya? I just dont want him to trouble yar. Jyada baat karungi to pata nahi kab kis baat par naraz ho jaaye. Aur phir mujhe nahi pata use kaise manate he. He roams in whole house angrily and thumping his feet. I dont like this. Isliye accha he ki usko pareshan na karu.'

'To phir sex kaise hoga?'

'Tu kar lena mere badle ka. Ab nikal yaha se.'

Pooja laughs.

'Tere hath lottery lagi he. Bahan cash kar.'

'Tu ja rahi he ya dhakke maar kar nikalu!'

'naushad miyan se milwa de ek baar. Me bhi ankhe sek lu.'

'ali ko talaq de de phir.'

'ahaa...I am smelling something burning.. Kuch jal raha he kya? Ohh No. Naina tu jal rahi he.'

'fuck off bitch.'

'Being typical innocent girl are we! Aise gali degi mere ko tu?'

'pooja..please..'

'Okk...But one reminder. Relations when mobile are alive. The moment they are rigid, they stench and die slowly slowly. Keep it alive Naina.'

'roger that. Now get lost.'

Pooja leaves not before winking at her. And she too laughs later...

But Can really this relation move forward?

Naina wonders which type of love Naushad would have been. A passionate or a typical moody one.

'Come on naina. Its paranoia. Daydream. Naushad aur mohbbat! Agg aur pani jaise he. Focus on your work. It gives you money. And Saira..Not his father.'

But she cant help it. Even if she denies she does expect things from him. Perhaps this is so called move on of her relation with naushad.

She focuses back to her report. Medicines and patients are better than relations and thoughts.

Are they????

__________

Naushad has stopped keeping track of time. Recently a local news paper has pointed out about AFSPA and its misuse. Though it's usual and he is not supposed to give clarification. But still it has increased burden on him. He has to check few more things now. The way army personals have been behaving in remote areas and their relation with people there is friendly or not, He has to prepare a report on that too.

No wonder sooner or later Ministry could ask them to clarify the situation. just to keep things under check and balanced. They know they are doing their work well but there is something called politics and media. A boon and bane.

Before he can go to next file, an orderly knocks his door.

'Sir. Koi madam aapse milna chahti he.'

Naushad tells him to dismiss that lady. He is not free.

'Sir mene pahle yahi bola. Phir unhone kaha ki wo aapki .......Aapki....Aapki...'

'Age kuch bolna he to bolo warna yaha se jaao.'

'Sir me nahi bol raha ..bol to wo madam rahi he ki wo aapki biwi he.'

Naushad abruptly stands up and knocks the table to make files fall.

'Naina? Wo yaha kya kar rahi he? Send her in. Aur ek pani ka glass bhijwa dena.'

Soon Naina comes in. And Naushad thinks he is daydreaming. He looks everywhere but her.

She places lunchbox at table. Naushad looks at it as he has seen a ghost or titanic on his table.

Naina breaks the ice.

'Khala ne bheja he.'

Naushad nods. And tries to think what he should tell her. But can not.

Naina hands him sanitizer and herself sets one plate.

The moment Naushad looks at her with almost gigantic eyes, Orderly enters with water jug. He puts it on table and leaves and locks the door. Naushad looks at door and then at Naina.

Naina pushes plate towards him and he has no other option than eat food.

He thinks for a moment.

'Tum bhi kha lo.'

And he can see ghostly smile on her lips.

'nahi..Mene kha liya.'

'Bola na kha lo. Hume itni bhi bhookh nahi lagi he.'

And soon naina joins him in same plate. Though she has insisted on serving another plate but can not.

While eating naina is so cautious and Naushad is too. He waits until she has her morsel. Then he goes for his. They are eating together but in turns.

When he is done Naina offers him sweet.

'Kheer. Mene banayi.'

She forwards spoon to his mouth. He is adamant on not opening it..but..

'Hmm..Acchi he.'

He can see Her laughing though she has not expressed but he can tell very well that its in her mind.

He says nothing. And soon she has fed him too many spoons full of kheer. She reaches for his handkerchief which is on table.

'what?'

'Wo...Aapke face par kheer lagi he.'

He in hurry wipes his whole face with the hanky which she was about to pick up.

She packs things and puts Tiffin in bag. She is about to leave.

Naushad observes her. She smiles at him and goes out.

He sighs and slumps in his chair.

Its always this messed up or he is the one who is messed up.

Its slowly slowly getting overwhelming for him. And he cant stop things because he knows he doesn't want to.

He shuts his eyes..

but...

'sir. Aapki begum to bahut hi acchi he. aapke liye khana laayi. aur ek meri Biwi he. Morning me nashta bhi nahi deti..'

Captain Huda..His junior..

and biggest flirt.

He looks at him who is eyeing leaving form Of Naina.

'captain Huda. Aap chahte he ki hum aapko is room se bahar fenke ya aap khud chale jayenge?'

He hurriedly leaves. Meanwhile Naushad is wondering if Khala really did sent lunch for him or.......

He picks files. They are more important.