Its been a tradition since past few days. Tradition in Rizvi house. where Naushad Miyan has started having breakfast with two people together at same table. He in hurry as it is the third time only in a week that he has been here on dining table in morning. He has not been here for nights. And Naina who has tight schedule whole week is also right on time. She always is there on table. But presence of Naushad is something that has made the change.

saira who is sleepy still is dangling on her chair. Khala runs to her when her neck slips.

'Ya allah! Saira uth jayiye. Nashte par kaun sota he?'

'khala rahne dijiye na. Kal rat se bahut jyada excited thi isliye soyi nahi. Abhi yahi sone dijiye. Andar room me akele soyegi bhi nahi.'

'Lekin Beta. Yaha to aise ye gir jayegi.'

'nahi giregi. Me isko abhi apne sath adjust kar lungi. Aap aayiye na..Sath hi kha lijiye.'

'abhi Aayi. Aapko kuch chahiye Naushad beta?'

Epitome of silence shakes his head and concentrates on his food. Recently he has been too quiet. It is not unusual. He has always been this..less spoken but subtle to the point person. But In past few days he has lost track of things.He doesn't  know what he should talk about or tell anyone. Specially Naina.

With her things are going on a complicated note. He knows that they share a relationship no matter how he tries to run away from it. There is this existing and real relationship where she is taking care of his and his daughter. Though many times he has called this a sham. But he knows that Naina does nothing for show.

If she wants to rile him up she will do. She will irritate him and then herself will bear his anger. Then she will come with remedy. To cool his temper down. It is not just once or twice. Many times She has proved it because recently he snapped when she talked about Saira and her school.

He was scared. He was tensed but the way she had tried to tell him it was the best for Saira, it brought his worse out. He caught her last words where she indicated that she knows more about saira' betterment than him. And it just leashed his anger out.

He scolded her, chided her off. But Same evening when she silently offered him coffee and sat next to him, He could not understand why suddenly he was all marshmallow. He melted. He talked and let her do what she wanted.

This was second time.

He felt weak.

Again in front of a woman.

Prejudices once again woke up..and like always it has thrown them away from each other. Both are distanced..apart under one house. Seldom share things, seldom talk.

But is there really a gap between two?

________________

'Saira. Uthiye. Its first day of school. Aise soti rahogi to Sabse piche baithna padega class me. Utho baccha.'

She is soon wide awake with mere mention of school. She soon accompanies Naina and gets ready.

Naushad is watching her daughter taking steps which he wanted her to but was scared. Saira is not like other children. She has seen a lot at rhis young age but...he cant confine her. Not when she has not shown those signs of asthama for weeks now.

Within half hour she is ready but not before letting every wall hear her exciting cries.

'Saira waha par khoob khelegi.'

'Saira school me naye naye dost banayegi. Bahut accha lagega.'

'Saira ki do poytails banao Naina. Saira ko sabse accha dikhna he.'

'Naina. Ye dekho. Nayi dress. Saira ko naye kapde mile..yayyy.'

'Naina..Saira-'

'Saira. Bola he na..itna excite nahi hona he. Dekhiye. Aap class me jaoge...Jyada shaitani nahi karna ok? Agar koi aapko pareshan karta he to Teacher ko bolna. Aur Lunch time se karna..Me aapko Lene aaungi. Kisi aur ke sath nahi jana. Okay? Yaad he mene kya bola.'

'Ha..Jyada shaitani nahi karna. Waqt par Khana khana, Naina ka intezaar karna. Or jyada excite nahi hona. Ab chalo. Saira ko der ho rahi he. Abbu chalo na..Saira ko lekar chalo. Saira ka school bahut door he.. Chalo jaldi warna der ho jayegi.'

And Nausjad is being dragged by enthusiastic Saira. Naina comes behind holding her and her daughter's bags. Khala is standing on door with teary eyes..

'Kya huya khala? Sham ko wapas aa jayegi. Aise baccho jaise kyu ro rahi ho aap? Shukra he aapko pareshan nahi karegi.'

'nahi. Naina. Saira to is ghar ki jaan he. Iske bina ek pal bhi accha nahi lagega..'

'Aur me? Mere bina aapko accha lagta he?'

'Aap to Behad keemati tohfa ho..Jisne is ghar me khuahiya bikher di he.'

'kya khala makkhan laga rahe ho aap bhi!'

She giggles..and hears Naushad honking his poor jeep.

'Jaao beta..warna phir bhadak jayega.'

Both ladies share a laugh and soon naina is off.

Khala watches trio leaving. Saira talking and Naina trying to adjust her in her lap. Meanwhile Naushad he is focusing on road..Though Khala can see he is happy inside.

This relation has indeed shifted paradigm of his life...and this house..

___________

Saira is kissing naina bye..While Naushad is watcging her.

Naina has tears in her eyes.

'Naina aap ro kyu rahe ho?'

'Jab me pahli bar school gayi thi to...To...Me sara din ek hi jagah baithi rahi thi. Naveen mujhko chhod kar chala gya tha. aur upar se kisi bacche ne mujhse baat nahi ki thi. Me bahut royi thi tab..'

'Isiliye Humne bola tha..Saira ko thode din bad school bhejne ko. Uski umar nikal nahi rahi he. Abhi bhi time he.'

He mutters to her..silently. If Saira listens him scolding naina..He surely will be in pickle.

'Saira..Dekho. beta..rona nahi. Mera record mat repeat karna. ok?'

'OKkk..' And she runs away with the teacher who was standing there to take her in.

'Saira abhi bacchi he. Agar wo itne rush me adjust nahi kar paayi to?'

She is looking at him in awe..

'Kya he?' He asks...feeling he has said something comic or funny.

'Kitne cute ho aap! You know that?'

And this remark has gotten him silent for whole ride..Naina is smiling now and then looking at him but cat has got his tongue. This was first time someone flirted with him so up close. And that too someone younger..

He wants to say a lot...but..Can not. Again...Same rule..same obligations.

Though he cant stop his smile when Naina mutters how much she is missing her daughter and sniffs.

'Pata nahi mera baccha kaise adjust karega.'

She is sniffing continuously now. Suddenly her mood changed and she started missing Saira.

Naushad offers her his handkerchief..

She wipes her nose with it.

He stares at her in horror.

Soon her hospital has arrived. She waves her bye..and handkerchief is not returned to his pocket yet.

He is off to base...Without his hanky and without that heavy feeling that used to be with him in his heart.

________

The moment Naina sees Saira she runs to her and take sher into her lap. She smothers her face with kisses..

'Naina...Chhodo na Saira ko. Saira ke naye dost bane he.. Saira ko neeche utaaro..Abhi.' She is struggling to get down. Naina reluctantly puts her down.

Naina sees two boys and one girl..

'ye Riya he..Aur ye Harsh aur ye He Saira ka sabse accha dost Saket. Saira isko Saku bolti he.'

Naina is amazed. She was all tensed about this girl but the girl has befriended some people and not only this she has nicknamed them.

She is smart. After all whose daughter is she! What a proud moment.

But......

'saira! Ye aap ladko ke sath kya kar rahi ho?'

Naina turns in shock. What the hell Naushad was doing here? Wasn't he busy at base?

'Abbu...ye dekho..Saira ke naye dost.'

and girl intorduces them..

Naushad tries to say something but Naina stops him.

'Itni chhoti si bacchi ke samne apni rule book mat kholo..Aaj first day he uska. Abhi se ladka ladki nahi karo.'

He keeps mum but He knows he will not be always.

Soon everyone takes their leave. and trio is off to home.

on way Saira has so many things to tell..

and these stories and their narrator makes Naushad smile..

A small but deep right from his heart smile...

___________

As usual he has come home late and found Naina lying on sofa. She is about to fall..because of the noise he made while opening door with his duplucate keys. He rushes to help her.

She yawns..and lazily looks at him. Naushad turns his eyes. Suddenly the atmosphere is burning hot.

'Aapko nahana he?'

'Kyu? Kya huya?'

'do min ruko.aapke bathroom ka geyser kharab he. Me kitchen me pani garam kar deti hu.'

'nahi rahne do..Itni thand me raat me nahi nahana.'

But she doesn't listen him and is headed towards kitchen.

Naushad without any option left leaves for his bedroom. He washes his face and waits for sometime. Soon she enters with bucket full of lukewarm water.

'Jaldi aa jao.. Chicken Owen me he. thanda accha nahi lagega..bar bar heat karungi to taste kharab hoga.'

He looks at her in amazement. He searches her face..

There is nothing but comfort and solace.

He has nothing to say and ask.
He leaves for bathroom leaving baffled Naina who can not understand why he didnt protest.

When he comes out first thing she does is checking him out. Completely with satisfaction. And when something related with pooja' talks comes back to her mind, she is beet root and rushes away.

Naushad is at his wit' end. Two minutes ago she was checking him out shamelessly and then suddenly she herself shied and ran.

Then he registers something.

Ya khuda!

Such a nasty mind!!

when he comes to eat he is cautious. He watches his steps and tries to stay put. Silently eats food. And doesn't try to talk about anything.

But....

Out of no where he remembers that he has to thank her.

Before he can say, She grins..

'thank you bolna he na?'

He stares and then goes back to his food.

is she a mind reader?

How the hell she understood what was in his mind?

He then changes the topic..

'Tumne khana khaya?'

'ha. Saira ke sath.'

'Dobara khao.'

'Kyu? Khaya to tha pahle..'

'Humne bola na Apne liye plate lagao..'

'Sacchi. Naushad. Khaya tha.. Saira ke sath.'

'Naina..'

and she has no other option than serving one plate for herself too.

When she is done, he takes both plates and washes them. she sees him...intently.

broad back..and back to back sides of his goodness.

She sighs.

All of sudden she feels so nostalgic. Like she is remembering something....so beautiful, melodious..

When Naushad returns, he makes no attempt of going to bed.

Tomorrow is Sunday.

Naina thinks of something.

'Aap Beer peete ho?'

Naushad almost falls.

'Achanak ye kaisa sawal he?'

'mene cabinet me dekhi thi.'

'wo...kabhi kabhi yu hi..jab man hota he..'

She brings that bottle out. Soon table is set in drawing room though Naushad has made attempts of denying.

She pours in two glasses and waits for him.

He hesitantly picks and gulps whole of it down.

She does same.

Both have drank whole of it...but Naushad as he should be is not drunk. But surprise is Naina.

She is sitting silently.

Naushad wonders if she is completely drunk or mostly drunk.

But she is silent.

Then he too makes no attempt of speaking.

But without speaking he has gotten one thing she conveyed. And he has nothing to do but accept it...

He scoots closer to her. and tries to gauge her reaction...but she is falling asleep.

'ek Min Naina. Yaha so nahi paaogi. Bedroom me so jao..'

She holds his hand..

'Sleep doesn't synonym to comfort always.'

He watches her.....

She stares at him...

Eyes talk..hearts speak...

He sits down.

And without any hesitation he holds her both hands...

She smiles..a teary smile..and he cant stop his tears too..

He knows what he feeling right now has been away from him for eons. He knows that everything he has earlier was different to what he has now. What he shares with her is strange, alien but he needs it. And he cant deny that this relation is his ray of sun.

Ifitidaar-e-Ishq me hum sari raat jage..
allah jane kya hoga aage.

maula jane kya hoga aage!
😂
Ab next update ka koi ata pata nahi.