I would like to thank all of you who voted my stories as one of their favourites. Your opinion is indeed precious to me. I might not be able to say it to each one of you but I value your love immensely ❤️ A big thank you 🤗

Title is the song 'Tu hai ki nahi' from movie 'Roy'

"Naina phir se coma mein nahi jaa sakti."

The words had stumbled out of him before he could help. In this situation though, all he could think about was Naina. The few seconds her eyes were open, he had seen such pain and emptiness that he knew this was not a normal fainting spell. She was under some grave risk. His heart had dropped to his stomach as her eyes lost all emotions, and turned to stone, before she dropped unconscious. He was crazed, he was scared, he was petrified. It made him break into cold sweat, even thinking about how Naina must have felt when she received the news of her parent's accident. Never in his entire life had he felt so much fear.

Doctor looked at Sameer, "Pehle bhi koi shock laga hai kya inhe jiski wajah se coma mein chali gayi?"

Still reeling from what doctor had just said, Sameer replied in a halting voice, "Sh... shock nahi... overdose... drug overdose."

Both doctors looked at each other. One of them placed a hand on Sameer's shoulder, "Dekhiye, agar aap humein inki complete medical history batayenge toh treatment ke liye achha rahega."

Sameer nodded. All he wanted was to see his Naina open her eyes and look at him again, with same love and warmth. One of the doctors went back to Naina while other one asked Sameer to follow her to the small room ahead. Once they were seated in the cabin, Sameer narrated the incident that happened years ago.

Doctor kept noting something on her writing pad. When he stopped, she asked, "Kya aapko pata hai kaunsi drug thi?"

"Nahi doctor. Main tab Naina ko nahi jaanta tha. Usse bhi koi idea nahi hai. Woh toh victim thi." He said painfully.

"Well, koi bohot strong drug rahi hogi, aur dosage bhi kaafi high diya gaya tha shayad jo do mahine tak unhe hosh nahi aaya. It's a miracle that she survived. Is she... I mean..." Doctor hesitated for a while, "...unhe koi psychological issues toh nahi hain... matlab mental health pe toh koi effect nahi hua na?"

Sameer blinked in stunned silence. Could she have been effected to this extent...

When he didn't answer, doctor said in a milder voice, "Different drugs ke different effects hote hain. Agar unke system ko pehli baar mein hi kuch itna strong diya gaya tha toh kuch bhi ho sakta tha... disability, paralysis... ya phir death."

Sameer clutched the arms of his chair, his heart in his mouth, "Nahi."

"Dekhiye, main aapko saari possibilities bata rahi hun. Meri duty hai. Isse patient ko hi help hoti hai. Aap agar unke baare mein complete information denge toh humein clarity milegi treatment ke liye." Doctor explained.

Sameer expounded whatever he had observed right from the time he met her... her insecurities, her fear, her hatred for men, the nightmares, panic attacks. He told about her parent's accident and demise, and her dream sometime back where she saw him in the same state. He also stated today's events, which led her to this condition.

Doctor leaned back in her chair, "Toh aaj unhe iss baat ka shock laga hai. Probably she thought ki aap bhi unke parents ki tarah... I mean, aise waqt mein dil mein bure khyal pehle aate hain har kisi ko."

"Nai... Naina theek ho jayegi na?" Sameer asked earnestly.

"Hum poori koshish kar rahe hain." Doctor assured him, "Kya uske baad kabhi inhone koi aur drugs..."

Sameer cut her in between, "Naina ne kabhi aisa kuch nahi kiya doctor, na pehle na baad mein. She has been very strong. Usne pehle uss bure haadse ko peeche choda aur apni studies complete ki. Mumma papa ke accident ke baad usne ek nayi jagah se phir se apni zindagi shuru karne ki himmat ki. She's not an addict or anything. Uske saath jo hua usmein Naina ki koi galti nahi thi. Woh ek qualified professional hai aur ab ek bohot achhi wife aur mother hai."

"Mother?" Doctor questioned, "Lekin aapne kaha woh conceive nahi kar sakti."

"We have an adopted son." Sameer declared in a quiet voice. He hadn't mentioned about Ayush and how he entered Naina's life, though he had told about her pregnancy and miscarriage.

"Okay Mr Maheshwari. I think humein kaafi insight mili hai aapki wife ke case pe. I'm sure isse unhe treat karne mein help hogi. Filhaal, hum unhe room mein shift karenge. She'll be under observation. Ek nurse unke saath rahegi. Aap chahen toh ruk sakte hain lekin room mein nahi." Pushing aside her chair, doctor got up and went out of her cabin towards Naina's bed.

With heavy steps, Sameer walked back to the seating area, where nanu was waiting.

"Na... nanu... usse kuch... hoga toh nahi na?" Though he didn't want to appear dejected, the dread in his voice gave him away.

Nanu stood up and pressed his hand on Sameer's shoulder, "Tu ghabra mat. Naina meri sher bachhi hai. Woh tujhse ya mujhse kahin zyada strong hai. Dekhna, woh bohot jaldi theek ho jayegi."

Sameer wanted to say more but a painful lump in his throat dumped his unspoken words deep inside.

Nanu took him in his embrace, stroking his head, "Himmat rakh beta. Dekhna Naina iss toofan se bhi waise hi wapas aa jayegi jaise usne ab tak saare toofano ka saamna kiya hai."

It took a while for Sameer to comprehend what he meant. And when he did, he moved back abruptly, his eyes wide, "Nanu aap..."

"Maine suna jo tune doctor ko bataya." Nanu said in a serious voice.

His already pale face turned paler as Sameer stared at nanu, trying to gauge his reaction on this revelation. He didn't know what to make out. Nanu had heard everything it seemed. A new panic started to clench his heart as he waited.

Nanu removed his spectacles and rubbed the corners of his eyes before looking back at Sameer, "Doctor jab bahar aaye toh main yahan se uth ke puchne aa raha tha ki Naina kaisi hai. Lekin... drugs wali baat sunke mujhe jhatka laga. Main khud ko rok nahi paaya aur darwaze pe khade hokar woh sab suna jo tune doctor ko bataya. Jaanta hun mujhe aise teri baat nahi sunni chahiye thi. Lekin mera dil yeh yakeen karne ko taiyyar hi nahi tha ki Naina khud kuch aisa kar sakti hai jo... aur mera yakeen sahi saabit hua."

He grabbed nanu's hand, pleading, "Please nanu, aap... aap kisi se kuch mat kehna. Inn sab mein Naina ka kya kasoor tha? Lekin ab tak hamesha usse hi sazaa mili hai. Main nahi chahta usse phir se saari baatein yaad aayein."

Nanu covered Sameer's hand with his palm, "Naina koi sazaa nahi deserve karti. Sameer, jo hua woh..." He swallowed, unable to even fathom how someone could be so brutal to a girl who was full of life. Wiping his eyes, he cleared his throat, "Kisi bachhi ke saath aisa nahi hona chahiye. Bhagwan kare uss ladke ko uske kiye ki sazaa zaroor mile."

Tears rolled down Sameer's eyes. He hugged nanu, not knowing whether to feel relieved at his reaction to Naina's past or be worried about what he would say at her inability to conceive.

"Tujhe hausla rakhna hai, Sameer. Apne liye bhi aur Naina ke liye bhj." Nanu said gently, holding him close.

Sameer told him about the death of that boy, and his sister's suicide. Nanu let out a long breath, "Apne karmon ka hisaab har insaan ko yahin chukana padta hai. Sach kahun toh mujhe pehli baar kisi ki maut ka sunke zara bhi dukh nahi hua."

Doctor's voice made them wipe their eyes and turn immediately.

"Hum aapki wife ko kuch tests ke liye le jaa rahe hain. Uske baad second floor pe room mein shift karenge. Aap Room No. 208 ke bahar wait kijiye." Doctor informed as Naina was wheeled out on a stretcher.

Sameer rushed to be by her side. She laid still, oblivious to everything happening around her. He wanted to go with her but doctor said no one was allowed inside the MRI and CT scan labs, except the patient. Nanu pacified him when Sameer started to argue with the doctor. Finally, he gave in, when doctor told him that every minute was crucial for Naina.

"Nanu, aap... aap thak gaye honge. Aapko ghar... lekin aap kaise jayenge... Raju aur Harish dono hi nahi hain... achha main cab... lekin cabs bhi available nahi hai..." Sameer went on mumbling as they waited in front of the room.

Nanu stalled him, "Main theek hun. Tu meri chinta mat kar."

Sameer gave him a concerned look, "Ghar par Ayush aur Deepu akele hain. Naina unhe akele nahi chodna chahti thi isiliye mere saath office nahi gayi."

"Maine Bela ko phone kar diya tha. Anand aur Bela dono hamare ghar pe hain, bachhon ke paas." Nanu replied, "Ayush ko bola hai office ke kisi kaam se humein jaana pada. Jab baarish rukegi tab ayenge."

Sameer pursed his lips as another thought hit him, "Mummy... unhe bataya?"

Nanu let out an exhale, "Nahi beta. Agar unhe bataya toh woh foran wapas aana chahenge. Iss mausam mein, woh bhi raat ki drive theek nahi hai."

Sameer nodded. He wasn't in a position to answer any questions of his mom at present.

Little later, Naina was brought into the room. He wasn't allowed inside initially. Sitting on the chair in waiting area, he threw back his head against the wall, shutting his eyes. Inside the room was his entire world, while he waited here. She had given him something that he didn't believe in... love. Scenes of their first meeting flashed before his eyes. How confident, strong and beautiful she looked... as if she owned the world. She certainly did... his world, from that moment on. Every time he met her after that, he was more and more enchanted by her. And when he got to know of her pains, he wanted to take them all away, and hold her in his arms forever... never let her be alone again. Yet, she was alone inside now, as she fought another battle, of life and death.

Feeling helpless, he stood up and started to pace outside the room impatiently, waiting for the doctor.

"Aapki wife ke brain mein oxygen supply kam ho gayi hai, jisse unke coma mein jaane ka risk hai. Severe trauma ki wajah se aisa hua hai. Unke parents ke accident ki wajah se unke mann mein wohi darr baith gaya aapke liye, jo trigger ho gaya aaj ke incident se. Iss waqt sabse important hai ki woh hosh mein aaye. Uske baad aapko safe dekh ke unki condition improve ho jayegi." Doctor stated when she came out, "Aap unse ek baar mil sakte hain."

Sameer followed her quickly into the room. His feet halted as he gaped at the scene inside. Various tubes and wires were attached to Naina, monitors behind her blinked numbers and jagged lines, oxygen mask was placed next to her head, ready for use whenever required, dull blue hospital gown made her look even more pale.

"She'll be fine, right?" He uttered in almost a whisper, his eyes fixed on her.

Doctor patted his arm, then looked at the nurse and directed, "Make sure she keeps breathing."

This one sentence was enough to cause Sameer's world to freeze. He dropped on the chair next to her bed, cupping her face, "Tum mere saath aisa nahi kar sakti. Tum jaan ho meri. Tumhe mere paas aana hoga. Tum jaanti ho main tumhare bina nahi reh paunga Naina, mujhe saans lene ke liye tumhari zarurat hai. Apne Sameer se uski zindagi ko door mat karo. Please Naina, uth jao... please."

Both doctor and nurse looked at the monitor that flickered, showing her weak pulse getting better.

Taking a decision, doctor pressed his shoulder, "Okay Mr Maheshwari, aap yahan baith sakte hain. Shayad aapki wife aapke paas rehne se jaldi hosh mein aa jaayein. Lekin sister ko time pe checkup karte rehne dijiye."

He merely blinked to convey his gratitude. Once doctor was gone, his eyes went up to the monitor behind her... it showed the movement of that heart where he wanted to live forever. How would he live without his home... how would he survive if that heart stopped beating. Looking back at her, he was reminded of the first time he had felt a stirring in his own heart, when he heard her voice. Since then his heart beat a little faster, at every mention of her name, even unknowingly. And after he had met her, his heart fluttered more whenever he looked at her. When she had placed her small hand in his palm for the first time, a warmth had filled his heart, and since then, everytime her hand was in his, his heart was draped in a blanket of comfort and bliss. The same heart sank in despair today, unable to feel her presence.

A sudden realisation made him shiver... what she would have gone through when she couldn't reach him. He hadn't faced anything like this in his life before yet the dreaded feeling was tearing him apart. Naina had seen it happen before. Her world had shattered, right in front of her eyes. Now he could fathom the deep rooted fear in her eyes when she had that dream few nights back.

Almost immediately, he wrapped her arms around her, drawing her close to his chest. He wanted to say sorry but she couldn't hear it. He had always thought of her to be strong, but maybe there was a threshold to how strong one could be. As she lay lifeless in his arms, all strength seeped out of her, he couldn't control his tears.

Every hour, nurse checked Naina's blood pressure, noting the readings, kept and eye on drip, changing the bottle twice during the night, and was watchful of the numbers flashing on screen. Sameer kept sitting with her, whispering to her from time to time... but Naina showed no movement.

It was a long, miserable, painful and lifeless night for Sameer. Even as the sun outside broke away the darkness, his world was still devoid of the light that reflected in her caramel eyes.

"Sir, aap thodi der rest kar lijiye. Warna aap bhi bimar pad jayenge." Nurse advised him when the light from outside filled the room.

"Main kahin nahi jaunga." He said firmly.

He was afraid... afraid that if he left even for a moment, she'd slip away forever... afraid that if he wasn't here, fate would snatch her from him.... afraid that he wouldn't be able to see the gleam of her mystical eyes again if he wasn't with her when she woke up.

Her eyes were his life... he wouldn't be able to live if he didn't look into them...

"Sir, mujhe ma'm ko sponge karna hai. Aapko thodi der ke liye jaana hi hoga." The nurse persisted, though gently.

Reluctantly he got up. After placing a soft kiss on Naina's forehead, he went out. The floor attendant had offered his room to nanu later in the night so he could rest. Sameer stood in the open corridor, watching the light spread around, hoping the night of his life ends soon too.

"Sameer." Vishakha's voice made him jerk out of his thoughts.

"Mummy." He fought back the rising pain in his throat, and hugged his mom.

She stroked his back, "Darr kyon raha hai. Naina ko kuch nahi hoga. Ghabra ke behosh ho gayi hogi. Ya phir pichli baar ki tarah BP low hua hoga. Itni si baat ke liye aise pareshan ho raha hai tu."

Sameer straightened. Taking a deep breath, "Woh Naina... meri car ki haalat dekh ke... usse laga main andar tha... jaise mumma papa..."

Vivek pressed his shoulder, "Samajh sakte hain beta. Abhi aate hue raaste mein humne dekha toh hum bhi ghabra gaye the. Car ko dekh ke koi bhi yehi sochega. Doctor ne kya kaha?"

Sameer rubbed his face, telling them about the fear of coma.

"Coma?" Vishakha gasped, horrified, "Yeh kya keh raha hai tu? Aisa thodi hota hai. Main baat karti hun doctor se... aise kaise..."

Sameer held her arms as she frantically looked around for the doctor, "Mummy rukiye. Hum baar baar doctors ko disturb nahi kar sakte. Main baat kar raha hun unse. Bas ek baar Naina ko hosh aa jaaye..." His voice choked.

Seeing his condition, Vivek turned to Vishakha, "Sameer theek keh raha hai. Har koi alag alag thodi sawal jawab karega doctor se."

"Lekin humein pata toh hona chahiye..." She argued.

He didn't let her complete, "Hum jaake ek baar Naina ko dekh lete hain. Baaki sab Sameer handle kar raha hai na. Usse karne do."

Sameer took them to the room. He knocked slightly. The nurse opened the door after a while, and nodded. They went in. Vivek and Vishakha were taken aback at the condition of the girl they had left smiling about twelve hours back. She looked as white as a ghost. The only sign of life seemed to be the monitor which showed slightly wavering line moving over it, with a dim beeping sound. Vishakha grabbed her husband's arm. She hadn't expected the condition to be this critical. When she came to know from nanu early morning that Naina had been hospitalised, her first thought was low blood pressure, and she had wearily stated how careless children these days had become about their health. This frail, lifeless form in front of her didn't look like a victim of neglected diet. It was something more alarming.

She was too shocked to ask anything. Vivek gently ushered her out. Nanu had come by then. Sameer asked Vivek to take nanu home with them.

Vivek was worried about his son, "Main Raju ko bula leta hun. Woh le jayega papa aur Vishakha ko. Main yahan tere paas rukta hun."

"Nahi papa. Aap log jaiye. Ghar pe Ayush aur Deepika ko kuch mat batana. Naina... Naina jaldi theek ho jayegi." Sameer said with more assurance than he himself felt.

Vishakha was genuinely worried now, "Sameer, I think humein kisi specialist ko bulana chahiye. Main Mrs Dhawan ko bolti hun. Unke bhai Mumbai mein..."

Nanu interrupted her, "Vishakha, iski zarurat nahi hai. Naina ka treatment achhe se ho raha hai. Mujhe poora bharosa hai usse jaldi hosh aa jayega. Kuch nahi hoga hamari beti ko."

After his family went away, Sameer came back to Naina.

He sat beside her, taking her fragile hand in his. His eyes trailed her face, wondering how much more pain she had to endure. He wanted her heart to be as serene as her face was at the moment. He wanted to erase the scars, wipe away all her memories, rid her of all the debris that marred their dreams of a beautiful life together. Lifting her hand, he pressed his lips against her limp fingers as he closed his eyes, focusing on the soft beeping sound that had been reassuring him that she would come back... come back to him.

"Wake up Naina." He whispered, "I miss you." His eyes were closed as he brought her hand to his heart, placing it on his chest... as if pleading to her with his heartbeats. Maybe the rhythm of his heart could convey the message when his words failed to reach her.

"Sameer."

The sound was faint, barely audible. But to him, it meant everything. His eyes flew open... meeting the soft brown ones that he longed to see since last night. Her eyes were life... his life. He wanted to be lost in them, and never find his way out. He wanted to drown in them, never to be saved. He wanted to see himself in them, every day, every minute.

"Naina..." He breathed out. His heart was beating so fast he feared it might beat out of his chest.

Fear of losing a loved one can actually cause such trauma. It's not mere imagination 😔

Next update on Thursday