My translator is....well not dead. She is not available..My urdu isnt Up To the mark. I am sorry for not being able to give it the touch which Maham di can. please manage with my language..

Same day evening.

Its around eight again and Naushad is with Saira. Saira is doing something wirh papers and colours.

'Abbu. Aapne dekha na ye.. Kitna pyaara he..Saira ne banaya. Dekho...Isko dekho na.'

She shows him her art work which is nothing but too many lines drawn together and with so many colours. And in middle there are a blot of colour and its just impossible to get meaning out of it.

'Ha Jaan..bahut khubsurat he. Lekin ye he kya?'

'Samandar. Ye jo bada sa he na..ye machali he. Aur ye sab pani he. Ye iska ghar he'

And the next moment..

Naushad is on floor tolling with laughter. But his this action gets Saira angry. she pouts and cries.

'Nainaaaa....Abbu saira ka majak uda rahe he.. Saira ko ni baithna yaha...Saira ko lekar jaao...Naina...Abhi aaoo.'

Naushad sits up with straight face. He ruffles her jaan' hair and kisses his pouted cheeks..

'Accha baba..Maaf kijiye hume. Aage se nahi hasenge. Wada. Wese ek baat batayiye..aap Naina ko unke naam se kyu bulati ho? Wo aapse umar me badi he na..Aur rishte me bhi?'

Saira is scared...and looks down..

Naushad pucks her up in his lap and kisses her hair.

This is just a replay of what had been his relation with her daughter. She bit scared..because he was always bit controlling around her. Even if it was out of his immense care and protective nature, it just made Saira afraid of him..and his reactions.

He Mumbles slowly..

'Saira..Aapko humse dar lagta he?'

But the girl has gone quiet..

'Saira. Abbu aapko bahut daant te he? Aapko Humse dar lagta he? Isiliye aap Naina ke pass jaate ho Hume chhodkar?'

'Nahi..Wo...Saira ko acchi lagti he. Unke pass bahut sari kahaniya he..'

'To aap humse mohbbat nahi karti?'

'karte he na. bahut sara..'

'Naina se jyada?'

She is silent...

'Hum aapko naya khilauna laakar denge. aur kahani bhi sunayenge..'

'Nahi...Naina ki kahani acchi he.'

'Accha. Parso Hamara off he. Hum aapko naye restaurant me dinner karayenge.'

'Saira ko sirf apne man ka khana he. Aap saira ko waha wo ghaas phoos ni khilaoge.'

'ye ghaas phoos kaun bolta he?'

'Naina. Wo bolti he jab Naveen bhaiya..yani ki Saira ke mamu...Abbu mamu to hi honge na wo?'

And he nods..

'Ha..jab Naveen mamu unko sald khilate the..to wo Sara salad chupke se bag me bhar leti thi..aur raste me kisi ko khila deti thi. Isliye salad ghaas phoos huya..kyunki isko Jaanwar khate the..'

He is surprised. Not only she is so intelligent but her heart too is golden. Children always have purity in them. untouched and not maligned. They always are real thats why they are referred to be epitome of gods. And his girl is also so pure and innocent.

Somehow the credit could be given to Her..Naina. His second wife but real mother to this girl.

He had come to know this after he stopped shutting himself from his own daughter. And letting her do what she wants..Let her live freely.

This is when he is coming in terms with her so much naughtiness and mischievous tendencies. Her hyper active mind..and never silent mouth. She is always busy with something..sometimes colouring, sometime running in house and always tearing Naina' ear off with her complaints and demands..

'abbu...Boliye na..Aap lekar jaayenge Na Saira ko? saira na wo princess wala tiara laga kar jaayegi...aur nayi dress bhi. bahut maja aayega..Aap bahut acche ho. Aap sabse acche abbu ho. Saira sabse jyada aapse hi pyaar karti he.. Yaay.'

And then she is out of room..laughing and shouting. much excited to disclose this surprise to her mom..

Naushad stares at her disappearing image..

Then he stands up. Rooms have been his sole companions lately. perhaps its time to come out..and watch his daughter happy and playing..

_________________

Naina is checking data on her laptop. And then suddenly someone has landed on her.

Her cute little devil..

'nainaaaaaaa.....Abbu hum sab ko lekar bahar jaayenge. Khana khane. Parso. Yay. Hum sab chalengw. Naye naye kapde..Yayy...Kitna maja aayega na..Hum waha par ghaas phoos nahi khayenge. Hum waha par accha khana khayenge...Khala ke khane se accha. Kitna beswad khana hota he unka. Saira ko to ulti aa jati he. Saira ko khala ka khana nahi pasand.Khala ko bolo ki kal se khana ni banaye..Hum sab log ab bahar hi khayenge..He na..Kitna maja ayega!'

She is rambling...while Naina watches her with tears in her eyes. This girl never lets her feel alone. She is always at home when this girl is around. And when she is not around!

She kisses her cheek..And hums. But Saira never lets her speak and goes on telling her about her recent drawing and her dad' reaction. And then her complain..and then what she did when Naina was at hospital...Everything. Many of it is repeat but Naina is listening...Enjoying her small weight on her as she is sometimes standing on her knees..then legs..and then she has jumped to her shoulders and hanging there...making his move forward and back. like a pendulum slowly slowly..

She is busy in her work..and Saira in hers..

And thats when both of them has begun to mould the boundaries as well as giving each other what they lacked.. unknowingly.

Its suddenly spring in house...

______________

After two days..

Naushad has returned from base. And it is already late..When he enters inside, he finds The one whom he never expects to be there..

Siara is waiting in drawing room...ready in her princess dress...and a frown on her face.

'beta aap yaha kya kar rahi ho? Soye ni abhi tak?'

Thats it. She begins to cry...Surprising Naushad.

He is not shre what he has done without even moving an inch that his daughter is shouting her lungs out and blaming him!

'Saira. Baccha kya huya? Aap ro kyu rahe ho?'

But she never stops and goes on.....

'are...Batao to huya kya? Aur ye ready hokar kyu baithi ho? Kahi jana tha Naina ke sath? Naina lekar nahi gayi kya?'

At the same moment Naina comes out. Her head covered with a shiny Christmas cap..

Naushad saw her and laughed in heart. she was looking like a clown. Before he could laugh more, a siren went off..

Saira cried more..and bitterly.

'Whats it Saira? Tell me..Ab Bina bole to samajh nahi aayega na.'

It was Naina who chided him..

'And then people ask whats bad in me. Who the hell forgets things like this?'

He heard she was angry...but what he forgot! He had not promised any-

'Oh My God! Sorry...sorry..It just slipped my mind. Sorry. Ruko abhi jeep nikalta hu.'

'leave it. Its pretty late. Aur Koi hotel ya restaurant khula bhi nahi hoga. I will manage Saira. You go and change. You'll be tired. I am heating food up..Saira...yaha aao. Aapke abbu ko base ke kaamo me yaad nahi raha...air wese bhi Saturday ko sare restaurant jaldi band ho jate he..Hum log kal chalenge.'

'Saira ne suna..Koi restaurant jaldi band ni hota.Abbu bhool gaye. Saira ab kisi se baat nahi karegi.'

amd the girl runs away..

Naushad sits down in disappointment.

'i promised her something..and I forgot. I am really not a good father. It was her first night out. And I...I am such a-'

'Will you please shut up? Being a mother is a huge task so please stop being depressing. My Dad once forgot to pick me up from school. I cried there for three hours straight. So see...Forgetting is usual in parenting. I am going to bring Saira. she is hungry. Excitement me bhookhi baithi thi. You go amd change.'

she left..and Naushad has no other option than going and change.

when he comes, Saira is smiling at Naina. But the moment she spots him, her lips shut in a thin line. She averts her gaze.

'This is my daughter! But again she is a woman! and women are so difficult. Come on Naushad...Use your charm on your daughter otherwise she could begin to call Naina her dad!'

He approaches the mother daughter duo.

Saira is still looking away..

'See...I am sorry. Please...kaan pakad kar maafi..Ab Saira ke liye hum unka favourite dinner banayenge. aur usko khayenge pillow house me! Ab to maaf karogi Saira aap hume?'

'Nahi...Aap ne hamari drawing ka majak udaya..Saira aapse ni bat karegi.'

'Hum Saira ko naya colour book lakar denge..naye crayons bhi aur is baar scented cartoon crayons..'

She looks from the corner of her eyes. Her arms are still around Naina while she is standing on table..

'Aur wo jo nayi book aayi he..Naina ne jo humko dikhayi thi...wo bhi chahiye hume. Aur Saira ko naye khilaune bhi chahiye..aur ha..Wo Jo salma khala Saira ko subah nahlati he...wo band. Bolo..Abbu manjoor?'

'ha meri jaan Manjoor. Ye kaun si badi baat he. Ab aap abbu ki god me aao..Hum dono log dinner banayenge..'

Naina tells them it has been cooked earlier.

'don't worry..we'l heat it up..'

Saira is giggling when Naushad collides with Naina in order to avoid her while taking out bowls.

She blushes and goes back to table. She watches father daughter duo running around. Actually its only Saira who is running. Naushad is managing bowls and her..at same time. When Naina offers help, He denies.

soon the table is set..and Saira has climbed on it. She is sitting on table while Naushad is telling her to step down.

'Siara neeche utariye. Ye kya tahzeeb he?'

'stop it Naushad. She is a child. let her be what she wants. Uske andar abhi se itna sab daalne ki koi jarurat nahi he. She will understand things when she comes of age. Its her time to play and see things.'

Naushad shuts up and eats his food. while Saira is again meddling with things. She throws away salad.

'Saira. chupchap se salad khao..Okay!'

And girl listens silently...eating green veggies raw. Not before transferring almost half to Naushad' plate.

He frowns...

'What about being soft policy?'

'I am her mother..'

'And I am her neighbour!'

He makes faces at her and resumes his food. In the end taking dishes to sink where Saira accompanies him. She pours washing gel into one bowl and then pushes it into sink.

'Naina...Saira ko lekar jaao'

She comes and takes her back to room...not before giving him glares...

He comes back to her room finding Saira wide awake..and playing with Naina' stethoscope..

'abbu yaha baitho..Saira aapka bukhar check karegi!'

'beta bukhar to-'

'Shut Up. I am the Doctor. Doctor saira.'

He spots Naina laughing behind her...

Its late when the girl sleeps tiring everyone in the room out. she sprawls on Naushad' chest..while holds Naina hand on her right. Both slips to their first good night sleep...the reason lying between them. A cute little reason.