He watches her swaying. Next to him. she is staring at nothing.

He us silently watching her. Observing her. And he has no idea why the hell he is at peace right now. He has no frigging idea why he is feeling what he is feeling right now. His heart his soul his mind they are suddenly so calm. As if there was never a tornado earlier. Never had been..

'Naushad.' She asks slowly...Her voice is so low.

He replies..but in bit warm tone.

'Have you ever cried over something childish?'

'Matlab?'

'Kuch bhi..Jaise koi bhi character ya koi bhi song kuch bhi. Something plain that triggered your emotions. Blasted your nukes.'

He tries to remember.

'Arwa ke jaane ke baad I used to cry alone. There is this song. Sung by Kishor da. Dil par lagta tha. Aur na jaane kab aansu aa jate the. Kayi raate kayi shame..Phir Saira Ke rone ki awaz me wo kashak dheere dheere ghul gayi. Sometimes I wonder If Arwa had not left me with saira, I would have been dead.'

She thinks of holding his hand again but lets it be. Instead he scoots closer.

'What about you? Have you ever had any kind of relation before Where you cried For the person.'

She thinks....

'Romantic? I Dont think so. Naveen was strict about dating. Mere sare dosto ko dara kar rakha tha usne. And I was so busy with my own life that it never occurred to me I needed someone for myself too. Just after graduation, I applied for a job. 9 to 6 job. Pahle patients phir ghar par parents ko dekhna. Naveen khud to chhah chhah mahino me aata tha Lekin jab aata tha to pachas pange lekar aata tha. Uski is girl friend ka call, ex girl friend ke parents, kisi ka bhai, kisi ki bahan. He used to have a lot to tell me. Or me sara din wahi sunti rahti. poore saal me inhi dino ka wait karti. Kab Naveen aayega aur kab mujhko apne sare dating experience batayega. Kabhi agar mahine me ya week me call aa jata to phir mere pass Naveen ke alawa kuch aur sochno ko hota hi nahi tha. Kabhi laga hi nahi ki Mujhe kisi aur ki jarurat he. Aur jab laga tab shayad bahut der ho gayi thi. So..In my case Its just me, Naveen and My parents who were part of this circle.'

He nods.

'I am sorry.'

'For what? In fact I should be sorry. I caused hurricane in your life. I was the one who out of nowhere came into your life. But I had no other option. Mujhe kabhi bhi Naveen se aisi ummed thi hi nahi. Ma baba ke jaane ke baad se he become overprotective of me. Itna ki khud se jyada meri fikra karta raha. Aur jaate jaate bhi khud hi mujhe itna sab de gya. He...He was the best.'

Her voice breaks..

'To..Your happy here?'

She nods.

'I have boon in my life in form of Saira. The way she loves me, I dont have any other option but to be happy.'

'Hmm. She loves you very much. In fact many times she dictates me around 'cause of you.'

'Naushad. Ek wada karoge?'

He sits straight.

'I.....I dont think I can manage without Saira. Even if this relation is not we both have ever dreamt of .neither it is product of our mutual understanding. But...Saira...She has become part of me. I know I am her step mother. but....I...I never see her as step one. She is like part of my own. Usme jaan basne lagi he meri. please...If ever in future...You know what I mean...'

'Humne aapse kaha tha na..Aapka is ghar par utna hi haq he jitna hamara he. And about Saira, She is your daughter too. I am her father not her owner. Naina. If she loves you, she is yours. And about future, I dont think of tomorrow,Now.'

She is staring at him in awe..

'Your not as bitter as you show to be.'

'Kadwa karela? I think I heard this somewhere.'

She is suddenly scared..but little curve of his lips makes her blush.

'The way you were, Is se bura bhi naam rakh sakti thi me.'

He smiles..gently.

She smiles too.

silence spreads once again. She is again dozing slowly slowly.

Soon she is off. She is passed out. And Naushad has no other option than carrying her to bed. But this time he doesn't mind.

___________________

Its morning. Around Nine A.M. and suddenly ear deafening cry wakes Naina up.

'Aap Saira ko akela chhod kar ayah kaise soye? Ab Saira aapse kabhi baat nahi karwgi?'

And a crying bitterly crying Saira runs away...leaving astonished and confused Naina and....Cautious Naushad who is about to run behind her.

Before she can register anything, he hands her lemon water and slips out.

_______________

Saira..beta hamari baat suniye.

But she is not in mood. She cries more bitterly.

'Beta Naina ki tabiyat theek nahi thi. isliye aapke sath nahi soyi wo. Aap good girl ho na. Acche bacche rote nahi.'

'Nahi..Saira acchi bacchi nahi he. Saira aap sabse gussa he.'

She is still crying.

'Beta Rat me Naina ko...umm..Sar me dard tha. Isliye unhone kaha ki Saira ko pareshan nahi kare. Isliye wo...Wo...Dusre room me so gayi.'

'nahi. Wo aapke sath soyi thi. Saira ne dekha. Aap hi le gaye hoge Naina ko kahani sun ne. Ab saira aapse to Baat hi nahi karegi.'

Naushad is first time in life confused as well as embarrassed. His daughter thinks they had story time. But which story night involves beer bottle.

'Saira. Dekhiye. Naina ko sach me sar dard tha. Isliye wo aapke sath nahi soyi.'

But she never listens.

'Accha baba theek he. Aaj se Naina aapke pass soyegi. Wada. Khush?'

'Nahi. aap unko Raat me le gaye to?'

He is tongue tied..

But he shakes his head.

'Nahi beta..'

'Aap ko agar Naina ki kahani sun ni he to Aap bhi Saira ke pass so jaya karo. Lekin Aise Rat me Naina ko lekar gaye to Saira bahut naraz hogi aur subah nashta nahi karegi..aur sham ko dawai nahi legi aur..'

'Areee..meri ma. Theek he. Khush. Nahi lekar jaayenge Aapki Naina ko.'

'Nahi. aaj se Saira aur Naina aapke room me soyenge. Saira ka room chhota he. Waha Saira ko accha nahi lagta.'

And then she happily runs away to fetch her bag. As she has another set to color.

Meanwhile Naushad is wondering why her daughter suddenly wants to move into his bedroom that too along Naina..

____________

Naina is sitting eye closed on breakfast table. When naushad arrives, she opens one eye then shuts it.

Hazy image of last night is too vivid. and its fluffy..for her.

Saira comes and climbs at table.

'saira. Neeche utariye. Chot lag jaayegi.' Khala is warning her.

But she never listens and sits in front of Naina. She holds her temple with her tiny hands.

'aapko sir dard he? Sacchi me?'

Naina barely hums.

'Aaj se hum teeno abbu ke room me soyenge. Waha aap sirf ek kahani sunana. Phir aapko sar dard nahi hoga.'

She opens her eyes in jiffy. He looks at Naushad in horror.

'You accepted?'

He slumps his shoulders..

'Seriously Naushad! Night before she was crying for tv. I denied. Ab aapke room me 56'' Ka home theatre chalayengi madam. Ye sab bahane he. Aur aapko samajh nahi aaya? Saira ke room se tv mene last week hatwaya tha..You forgot? Come on. Aapki beti ne aapko april fool bana diya..Seriously? Aap kaise army officer ho?'

'Kaise ka kya matlab? Army me soldier recruit hote he nanny nahi. Leave it. Hamare room me wese bhi late night tv nahi on rahega. Saira nahi dekhegi rat me tv.Dont worry.'

'Ha ha..Dekhte he.'

She stares at him while he ignores her and tells her to have food. silently..

Meanwhile Little devil is busy in munching apple. And She is coloring her book on breakfast table.

____________Same Night.....

Naina is bit hesitant about sharing a room with him. Its not like she is afraid of him or something. Its just......she still doesn't think he is ready to accept things between them.

They had this unsaid kind of relation. Where other person has very good idea of first one' needs and comfort. But...the problem is many time this unsaid unspoken relation brings them to edge. Naina is not in mood of intruding his privacy. Moreover She doesn't want her baby to watch late night tv show...which has nothing but nonsense stuffed inside useless cartoons.

She looks for him.

He is making bed.

She tries to tell him that she will handle Saira or whatever excuse she wants she will give. But then Naushad barely spends time with his daughter. Perhaps this will make his more twisted life better. Perhaps this will ease his pain?

Earlier he has no one to look after saira after he left for base but...with her perhaps it would be easy to make things more controlled and not random.

Suddenly she is pushed by Saira..who enthusiastically runs past her and climbs on bed.

'soft soft..yeahh'

She is jumping on bed..

Naushad shares an eye contact with her..which is broken by loud voice of.......Something known as Ninja Something.

They silently make their separate ways to bed. where Saira is stuffed in middle.

Both is lying on bed..while little girl is laughing and making noise.

After one and half hour, when Naina snatches remote and shuts tv off, Saira begins crying.

'Bola tha na mene..Aapki beti ke dimag me kya chal rha he.'

'Ok. Let her watch today. Kal se nahi dekhegi. Saira...Appko naina se kahani nahi sun ni?'

'nahi. Naina ko kahani nahi aati. Saira ko tv dekhna he..'

She whines but Naushad manages to calm her down.

She is asleep...after her mother. Naina fell asleep before her..

Naushad watches Both girls..and closes his eyes.

Its good when his daughter is close..

and perhaps better when she is next to her with him...

He has no idea what he is thinking right now..

____________

Saira wakes up in middle of night and searches for remote. when she doesn't get it, she sleeps. but not before changing his position from cheese slice of sandwich to bread part. She is on side..leaving Naushad and Naina together..

___________

Naushad has no idea what he is holding right now. His hand is resting on her stomach. While One more tiny hand is wrestling with his on same stomach.

He clutches tiny one and tells Saira to behave..in sleep. Then drifts back to sleep..again.

___________

When Next morning Naushad falls on floor as He was continuously moving to corner, Naina has a good laugh.

Meanwhile saira is still searching for remote on bed.

'Beta. Rwmote nahi milega aapko. Is se pahle ki Hum aapko khud bath tub me bithaye, khud sejaake brush kariye. Chaliye.'

'Abbu....Saira ko nahi nahana..Remote dilwayo na aap.'

Naushad who is still on floor stands up.

'Saira. Hamare bathroom me geyser kharab he. Kaho to thanda pani fill kare tub me?'

She makes faces...and goes to brush her teeth..stomping her feet.

'Are you okk?' She asks him while suppressing her laugh.

He makes poker face and leaves..

In hall he hears laughter..And a secret smiles plays on his lips.

_________________

Naushad is searching for his watch.  Night before he forgot to put it at place while getting beer and stuff.

He collides with her who is searching for her hair clip.

'You want something?'

'Nahi wo hamri ghadi..'

'Drawing room me table par he. Aap na jate time Saira ko le jana. Mujhe Aaj pooja ko pick karna he. to..Me us side nahi jaaungi.'

He nods..

'You have your D.L.?'

'Ha he na..Docs me tha. I used to drive before. Aur agar nahi bhi hota to bol deti ki...Jante nahi ho army wale ki biwi hu. He is captain.'

He keeps straight face on but the moment she turns he breaks into a smile.

When he takes Saira in his jeep, She starts playing with his radio..

'Saira. Aap sidhe nahi baith sakte?'

'Nahi. ye seat ajeeba sa he. Saira ko Radio on karna he. Abbu...Please..isko on karo na.'

He plays it. And the first song in queue makes his heart skip beats...

This is the same song he stopped listening years ago..But now his heart is not in mood of stopping it. He looks on road.

Then...

'Hello.Naina...Ha..Saira ne lagaya. Suno..Abbu ke radio ko suno.....Aapko pata he ye bahut purana he...Nahi. Saira acchi bacchi he. Wo koi shaitani nahi karwgi....Tiffin bag me hw..'

He looks at her in horror. He is wondering how she unlocked his phone and made call to Naina..

When she puts the phone down, He sees eighteen pearls of his daughter.

White...gleamy..

'Brush kiya tha, Saira?'

'Ha. Garam pani se.'

The jeep moves on...