After a long day of recording statements, submitting evidences and doing all the paper work, Rajveer entered his house. Naveen , who was siting with his grandparents, rushed forward

"Papa..aap kaha chalegaye the..kal raat ko ghar bhi nahi aaye..." he whined.

Rajveer knelt to face him. "Bohot zaruri kaam tha, bacha."

"Papa..mujhe laga tha ki ..aap bhi mujhe mummy ki tarah chod ke chale gaye."

Naina's mother got up. " Naveen...aise nahi kehte beta..."

Rajveer looked at his mother in law and signaled her not to say anything.

"Beta, pata hai mein kal kis kaam se gaya tha ? Jo bure log aapke mummy ko humse dur legaye..unhe pakad kar saza dene gaya tha..."

Naina's parents looked at him shocked as Naveen said. " Papa...aapne unhe mara ache se ?"

"Haan" said Rajveer. " Mein unhe itna maara ki unhone apni galti maan li....aur aapke mumma ko humein wapis de diya."

"Rajveer, yeh tum kya..?" asked Naina's dad.

Rajveer looked at Naveen's confused expression and pointed towards the door. Naina stood there watching her son, with all the love and pain in her eyes.

"Mumma..."yelled Naveen as he ran in full speed into her arms.

Naina knelt down to hug him tightly, tears now flowing out of her eyes. She kissed him a hundred times. 

Naina's parents went to her too, still trying to process the fact that their daughter is alive.

"Mumma, abhi aap kahin nahi jayenge na mujhe chod kar..." Naveen was saying, clinging to her and not leaving at all.

"Nai..bacha..kabhi nahi." she said patting his back. 

She looked at Rajveer, and he knew exactly what she was thinking As long as they were part of the army, neither had the right to make such promises.

***********

Rajveer entered Naveen's room, to see him sleeping, clutching Naina tightly. 

He came closer to pat his head.  Naina opened her eyes. 

"Chod nahi raha tumhe ? " asked Rajveer.

"Nahi...apna pair mujhpe dal ke soya hai. Keh raha tha..ki uss weight se mein uth nahi paungi."

"Usee kya pata, ki uski maa ne Azhaan Ali ko mar giraya." said Rajveer smiling.

Rajveer's cell phone vibrated, so he went out to take the call. Naina fell back asleep.

********

Naina's mother saw Naina carrying Naveen and pacing in the hall. Seeing Naveen awake, she asked, " Chalo Bacha...Mein school ke liye tayyar kar dungi"

"Nai.."yelled Naveen, still holding Naina, possessively.

"Aaj rehne dete hai, maa..." said Naina, though a little worried about Naveen.

"Theek hai...beta, kya khaogi, bolo...tumhara jo man karega mein wahi banaungi...kitni sukh gayi hai meri bachi."

Naina smiled. Somethings never change.

"Umm....Kadai Paneer...aur aapki haath ki dal." said Naina.

"Ok" said her mother.

"Ma..Rajveer garden mein hai ?"

"Nai...wo Ananya ko hosh aagaya karke phone aaya tha, toh hospital gaya hai."

As her mother left, Naina's expression turned sour. "Mein yaha itne dinon baad ghar aayi hu, aur inhe...inhe Ananya ke paas jaana hai."

"Mumma, Ananya aunty hospital mein hai ?"

"Haan beta, unhe chot lagi hai."

"Humlog bhi chale kya Mumma ?"

"Tumhe bhi Ananya aunty pasand hai, beta ?" she asked , dryly.

"Haan...woh bohot achi hai....jab papa ne kaha woh meri nayi mummy banne wali hai..."

"Kya ?" asked Naina. Whatever Naveen said after this..Naina din't hear any of it. 

He was going to marry her...thought Naina again and again. 

Her heart was breaking again...