Naveen tiptoed to his Dad's room and peered inside. Rajveer was at a corner drinking. Naveen wanted to go to him. He din't understand why he was not allowed to go in there anymore. His naani was always stopping him from going saying either his dad was not there or that he was unwell. His dad was unwell before too,thought Naveen. Once , he had come home in bandages all over his body. Even then, they played being a 'Mummy' on that day, where he covered Naveen with paper to look like him. For once, his naani had gone to sleep early and Naveen took the chance of going into his parent's room.

"Papa" he called out, coming inside the room. Rajveer din't hear, so he came closer. Putting a hand on his shoulder, he called again. "Paapa..."

Rajveer came into his senses.

"Naveen..kya kar rahe ho tum yaha....soye kyun nahi.." said Rajveer, hurriedly, putting the alcohol bottles aside.

"Papa....aapko kuch dikhana tha..."

"Abhi nahi...jao tum.." said Rajveer, trying to get away from him. He din't want his son to smell his alcohol soaked breath or see him in his current state. " Jao..so jao...mein abhi bohot busy hu.."

"Papa..bas ek baar dekh lo...mere room mein hai..aayiye na..." Naveen held his hand to take him to his room.

"Meine kaha na..." yelled Rajveer, jerking his hand away. " Nahi aana mujhe kahi...jao tum yaha se.."

Hearing the commotion, Naina's mother came up running. She picked up Naveen who was looked shocked and hurt, tears running down his face. 

"Beta, kya kar rahe ho tum yaha...chalo apne kamre mein."

She took him away from there. 

Rajveer turned to follow them and apologize, but ended up knocking the alcohol bottle with his leg and hurting his leg.

Rajveer slumped down again. He took out the first aid box and bandaged his wound haphazardly. He was too tired, but couldn't go to sleep. He picked up a few painkillers and gulped them down hoping his brain would shut off. He curled up on his bed on Naina's side, hoping some of her essence was still contained in the sheets.

*****

Rajveer woke up, with his head throbbing. It was about 3 am. He tried his best to go back to sleep , but Naina's memories kept haunting him. He finally got out of bed and picked up her picture.

He held it to his heart and involuntarily started moving to the garden. He looked up at the stars. His eyes started watering again.

"Naina...kaha chali gayi ho, Naina...kyun mujhe iss tarah akele chod kar chali gayi ho ? Mujhe kyun apne saath le ke nahi gayi...kyun ?? kyun ??"

"Rajveer" called a voice from behind.

Rajveer turned back with a force. Naina was standing in front of him. Rajveer felt as if life was returning back to his body. He couldn't believe his own eyes. She stood firmly, expression angry.

"Naina" said Rajveer, lifting up his hand to touch her to know if she was real.

 "Bas". Naina held up her hand. " Bas kijiye, Rajveer. Kya halat bana rakha hai aapne apna....Kya aap wohi Rajveer sir hai...jissne mujhe ladna sikhaya ? Kya aap wohi hai...jo har halat mein muskurate the...aage badthe the...aur hum sabko aaga badhate the...kya aap wohi hai jisse meine pyaar kiya ?" 

Her face curled up in disgust.

"Mein nahi rahi to kya aap apna zindagi jeena chod denge , Rajveer ? Kya aapke paas mera ansh nahi hai ...humara pyaar ke nishani ko kaun samhalega ? Kya uske ke saath aise bartav karne ke liye, hum ne usse paida kiya ? woh itna chota hai...aur bilkul akela. Aur mere maa-baaba..mein bhi kitni bevakuf this jo yeh maan liye, ki aap unhe apne parents samajhte hai...lekin aap toh unki dard kam karne ki toh door, unka dard baat bhi nahi rahe...."

Rajveer stared at her all through, with tears in his eyes.

"Rajveer, aapko sharab mein dub kar apna career aur apne aap ko barbaad karna hai...toh shauk se kijiye...bas itna yaad rakhiye...ki aap apne aap ke saath, mere parivaar ko, meri khushi ko, meri yaadon ko aur mere sapnon ko bhi saath saath barbaad kar rahe ho."

Naina turned around to leave. 

"Naina". Rajveer held her hand. He was still swaying under the effect of alcohol and the pain in his feet.

"Naina...aisa nahi hai...mein bas...mein bohot pyaar karta hu tumse.."

"Mein jaanti hu Rajveer, par uss pyaar ka kya...jispar har bache ka haq hai..uss pyaar ka kya...jo aapko apne desh se hai...? jab aap ek sipahi bane, toh aapne apne vatan pe har haal mein mar mitne ka vaada kiya...uska kya ? Samhaliye apne aap ko Rajveer...samhaliye"

Rajveer hugged her tight...He never wanted to let go...

****

Rajveer woke up, his head throbbing. He was in his bed. The clock showed 5: 30 am. He looked around. Naina was nowhere. He was dreaming. He shouldn't have taken sleeping pills with alcohol, he thought. He got up from his bed and picked up her picture.

"Naina...mein tumhe kabhi nahi nirash karunga....I promise. "

 He wiped his tears and went to the washroom to get ready for the day, wondering how on earth was his bandage so neatly tied on his feet.