It has been almost two and half week to Saira' incident. Naina in these few days has mixed up well with the fact that Nashad will not apologise with her..

She doesn't want now...

As her sole attention is undivided and focused on someone...someone who is light of this house...

Saira..

Naina has been spending her time mostly with saira...Sometimes reading her stories...sometimes talking with her...and sometimes feeding her. During these sometimes though she has witnessed A grumpy and agitated Naushad...many times. But the fact he is silent has given her upper hand and liberty.

Now Saira' condition is much better.. Infact she can roam and play now. But statuary warning is same..she is forbidden from excitement and physical labour.

Right now Naina is combing Saira' hair...And  trying to make a ponytail of them.

'Saira..Aap hilna band kijiye..Warna Me aapki ponytail nahi banane wali..'

But cute girl giggles and soon turns her head to Naina...laughing at her..

'Saira...Aap maanengi ya nahi?'

She is scolding her mildly...While the girl is enjoying her irritation...

She again shakes her head and Naina' loses her grip on her hair. Soon they are open and scattered..

'Lijiye..Ho gayi aap khush! Ek to aapke baal bahut sare he...upar se Aap ka hilna dulna..An hum aapke bal nahi banane wale!'

Saira pouts and kisses her cheek...

'Nahi..Aap banayiye na. Hum to bas aise hi aapse majak kar rhe the..'

And like an ideal baby she is sitting immobile in front of her..while Naina combs her hair again.

'Saira aapse ek baat pooche!'

'Haan pucho.'

'Aap hamari ammi nahi ho kya?'

And she abruptly stops...

'Aapko aisa kisne bola?'

Girl hesitates....

'Wo...wo abbu..'

'Aapke abbu ko aise majak karne ki aadat he..Saira. Hum aapki ammi he..'

'Lekin...Saira aapko ammi nahi bula sakti...Abbu ne mana kiya he..'

'To aap humko Naina bulaao..'

'Tauba tauba..Ye to gunaah he.'

Looking at her cute expressions She laughs..

'Kisne kaha ye gunaah he! Aap humko hamare naam se bulaao...Aapko pata he..Mere bhaiya mere se saat sal bade the..lekin Me unko naam se bulati thi..'

Saira is listening her very attentively....

'Phir unhone aapko daanta nahi?'

'Nahi..Kabhi nahi. In fact unhone hi mujhe apna naam lena sikhaya..Pahle me unko Naeen bolti thi..Phir dheere dheere Mene unko Naveen bolna shurur kiya..'

'Accha..'

'To saira humko kya bulayegi?'

She is still hesitant..

'Accha..ek baat batayiye...Aap humse mohbbat karti he?'

'Ha..behad..'

'To phir aap humko hamare naam se bula sakti he..Hum bhi to aapko aapke naam se bulate he.'

'Nahi..Abbu ka kahna he ki bade logo ka naam nahi lete..'

'Lekin Me log kaha hu Saira? Me to aapki apni hu na.. To aap mera nam le sakte ho.'

'Lekin..'

'Aapko pata he...bahut sare bacche apni ammi ka naam lete he..meri ek dost bhi apni mom ko unke naam se bulati he.'

She still is hesitant in calling her by her name..

'Chalo theek he...Aap hamara naam nahi loge..Ammi nahi bolego...Aap batao..Humko kya bolego?'

She meekly calls her...

'Naina...Naina hi thik he. Lekin aap Abbu ko nahi bolna...Wo daatenge.'

'Nahi bolenge...Ye aapka aur hamara raaj he..khush? Chaliye..ab sahi se baithiye..Aapke baal banane he..'

She turns her back to her..and Naina begins combing her hair..black and thick..just like her father.

Soon the girl is all set..with two cute ponytails. Naina kisses her cheeks...twice. she cant help...Saira is looking too cute..

------------------------------

It has been days...since she is here..But Naushad is still unable to cope with her presence. Her continuous interference with Saira is irritating him...and scaring him. He cant say anything to her as Khala has taken promise but....His heart is always ready to stop whenever he imagines Saira' future with Her.

She has married him under her brother' wish. It was not her wish..

He has done the same..He married her because Naveen wanted him to do so.

This is not the relation which would last long. And still she is giving his daughter hopes...and dreams which she can never fulfill..

As Arwa did...Naina too will leave Little Saira soon....And then he will again left to collect his poor baby girl and mend her little heart..

He is afraid...and angry.

Naina has stopped listening him. Infact the last talk between them was days ago..Perhaps the day he brought her back. They had  not talked properly since then..They have nothing to talk. Moreover he knows if he ever tries to talk her, the topic is going to be Saira and soon he will unleash his suppressed anger....

If silence is the solution, let be it...

But......

.....His heart is not silent. All the times it is asking him questions...and telling him things which he cant do now..

______________________

Naina is reading a book while walking in garden. Before she can register his presence she has collided with him..

'Sorry..wo....Mene dekha nahi.'  She has apologised without making any eye contact..

As she turns, she hears him..

'Hume aapse kuch jaruri baat karni he.'

She stops dead in her tracks.. She is scared..

'Humne aapse hospital join karne ko kaha tha..Aapne abhi tak join kyu nahi kiya?'

'Mera man nahi he.' She pouts...

He takes  deep breathes..

'Dekhiye...Jab tak aap yaha he aap hamari jimmedari he. Hum nahi chahte ki Aap apna kimti samay barbaad kare..'

She has understood his hidden meaning..

'Jimmedari? Aap mere foster parent ho? Shadi ki he aapne mujhse...Adopt nahi kiya...I dont wanna join hospital. Mera man nahi hota..Thand me bahar jaane ka.'

And she has left...Naushad who is gritting his teeth..

He can see...his single promise has bought him tensions..

He is standing there watching her leaving...towards Saira' room. He clenches his fist. He is helpless today.....

___________________

Its past mid night. Naina is sleeping soundlybin her room. Suddenly she feels someone besides her...she wakes up at once.

Saira is sitting next to her...rubbing her eyes..and yawning.

'Kya huya saira beta?'

'Humko akele neend nahi aa rahi. Abbu bhi nahi he..'

She recalls Naushad mentioning some late night work at base..Poor girl has to pay the price now. She is left to sleep alone.

Suddenly she wants to slap naushad. How can he even think this girl...so little can sleep alone! Is he not aware of effects of loneliness on kids' mind and health? Now where has his protectiveness vanished?

She holds the girl and takes her into her arms..

Saira snuggles closer to Her. She holds her waist with her tiny hands...which strangely gives Naina a unknown peace. Suddenly she is so content...Her heart is swelled...and her eyes is brimming..She is overwhelmed..

She kisses her hair..and pats her to sleep.

'Good night Naina.' And the baby is asleep in moments ...not even bothering to listen reply....

She holds her more close...and shuts her eyes..

This night is first after ages when she has got this peaceful sleep.....

______________________

'Saira..Saira..'

Her eyes flows open hearing his loud voice. She panicks..But after looking at sleeping form of Saira, she has no intention of waking this bundle of cuteness up..

She silently leaves her bed and goes out.

Naushad is searching for Saira...like mad. He is roaring at servants...

'Saira mere room me he. So rahi he.'

She announces..

He abruptly looks at her...then his gaze hardens. He indicates servants to leave.

Before she knows he is in front of her. His eyes blazing...

'Humne aapse pahle bhi kaha tha.....Saira Hamari beti he. Aapko koi jarurat nahi he us ke najdeek aane ki. I can take care of my daughter well..'

She crosses her hand..on her chest..and looks straight into her eyes.

'Accha. Tabhi wo bacchi rat ko akeli so rahi thi! Saira aapki beti he...lekin as your wife mera us par right he. Aur ye aap nahi chheen sakte.'

'Ye shadi sirf naam ki he.. Aapko is baat se waakif he.'

'Aur me aapke faltu facts me believe nahi karti...aap bhi is baat se waakif honge.'

She has left for her room..leaving an angry Naushad behind...

Naina is crossing her limits...But...He has no safe options available.

___________

It has become routine for Saira...to sleep with Naina. She is doing it secretly. Earlier when she slept with Naina, her father got angry for not finding her in her room. Little saira had to tell him that she was scared that night.

But Naina and her talks has brought her back to her bed. She tells her different different stories. Some mythological heroes..while some legends...sometimes she tells her about other stories.....

Tonight is Arabian night.

Naina is telling her how Princess began the long series of stories...

Little Saira is listening keenly. Her eyes is focused on her. And she is holding her hand...

'Naina..'

'Ha...Saira.'

'Is baadshah ki ammi nahi thi kya? Jo wo apni begum se kahani sunta tha..'

Naina laughed......

'Nahi...Sweety. wo badshah akela tha...isliye wo kahani sunta tha. Us time tv, radio, phone thode na hote the..'

Her expressions are still same. Looking at naina with big eyes...

'Accha Saira. Aapko bahar ghumna pasand he na?'

She nods excitedly..

'To phir aap kal mere sath  mere hospital chaloge? Me waha se apna joining letter le lu..phir hum ghumne chalenge.'

Saira' eyes are shining but the very next moment...they are back to disappointment.

'Lekin abbu ne bahar jaane se mana kiya he..' she is playing with her fingers..

Naina wants to tell her that her abbu has gone mad. And the rules of army has added fuel to fire. His strict rules are to be limited to his army base...not to be applied in his house.

But she has no other option than living by them.

'Me poochti hu na..unse..Phir to aap chaloge?'

And she nods in excitement ..kissing her cheeks...and hugging her.

Soon she is asleep leaving naina in thoughts...how she is going to manage Him this time...

He will never permit her to take Saira along...but this girl deserves some happy time. And looking at him, she is sure that this task is hers only..

She is scared little..in her heart.

May god help her tomorrow!

________________

Naushad is reading newspaper. Suddenly Naina arrives with his morning tea..

He sees her...and puts the newspaper down.

'Ghar me aur bhi log he. Aap ye zehmat mat uthayiye..'

She takes deep breath. This man is so hard to talk.

'Mujhe aapse kuch baat karni he..'

'Kahiye.'

'Wo...wo me..Wo..Me..Wo..Saira ko me apne sath bahar le jaau kya?'

Before she can even look at him for reply, she hears sudden break of cup. He has stood up and collision with his knee has made cup to fall..

She is scared now..

'Humne aapse kitni baar kaha he ki-'

It irritates her and she cuts him in middle...by announcing her right..on saira.

'-Saira aapki beti he. I know it. Lekin....Mera bhi us se koi rishta he...Bhale hi apki taraf se nahi.. lekin insaniyat ka to koi rishta hota he na....Please...I promise..I'll take care of her.  Usko ek cheenk nahi aane doongi. Please...I beg you..Saira ko me bhi taqleef me nahi dekh sakti..'

She is almost kneeling in front of him..begging for his permission.

He is still with plain face....

Time has stopped for Naina. She is stuck now..

Suddenly he turns to leave.......

...saying-

'Sham hone se pahle Saira aur aap dono is ghar me hone chahiye.'

And Naina is shocked....happily...

Just then Saira emerges behind curtain and jumps at her....

'Yaayyyy! Ab Naina aur Saira ka hoga day out. Yippeee..'

she has lifted her up..and roaming around happily..

Both are dancing in joy....unaware of a set of eyes..

...He is watching these girls squealing and dancing in joy.......standing at his door....