Title is the song 'Dhoop ke makaan sa' from movie 'Break ke baad'

Nanu looked up in surprise when Sameer told him next morning that he would be going to Naina's house with her, "Beta, kya yeh theek rahega? Jaisa tumne bataya, uske padosi bhi koi bohot achhe nahi hain. Kisi ne Naina ka dil dukhaya toh? Aur Ayush ke sawal..."

"Ayush nahi jaa raha hamare saath, nanu." Sameer said immediately, making nanu give him a questioning look.

He explained, "Naina ko lagta hai Ayush ke liye woh yaadein dhundli pad gayi hain. Woh naye rishton se judd gaya hai. Aise mein phir se ussi jagah ko dekh ke usko confusion hoga. Naina chahti hai Ayush ke mann mein sirf unke parents ki yaad rahe, baaki iss jagah se judda sab kuch mit jaaye. Jisse kal ko uske liye hum sab hi uski family hon aur hamara ghar hi uska ghar."

Nanu nodded in understanding, "Yeh baat toh theek sochi Naina ne. Bachhon ka mann bohot komal hota hai. Ayush ke liye yehi theek rahega." He was worried for Naina though, "Lekin Sameer, Naina ka khyal rakhna. Uske liye akele wahan jaana kaafi mushkil hoga."

"Naina akeli nahi hai nanu. Main hun uske saath." Sameer smiled assuredly.

Nanu stroked his head lovingly, a gentle smile erasing his worries, "Tere saath ki wajah se hi Naina ne wahan jaane ki himmat jutayi hai. Khush raho."

As they approached the lane, Naina stiffened in her seat. Sameer glanced at the nervous wrenching of hands in her lap.

He didn't have to ask for the exact address. The huge, imposing house stood apart from other smaller ones around it. He had seen its picture on Naina's insta page. The mansion looked even more impressive as they stopped in front of it. He placed his hand on her wringing fists as she stared out of the window at the place she called home till a year back.

After opening the heavy metal gates, they walked in. What was once a beautiful garden now lay withered and unkempt. Naina recalled how much her mom used to love the flowering plants, insisting on planting different ones for every season.

When she spoke, it was more to herself than telling Sameer, "Nanu ki tarah mumma ko bhi gardening bohot achhi lagti thi. Koi mausam ho, hamare yahan phool zarur khilte the."

Sameer wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving a little squeeze.

The heavy lock opened easily as she twisted the key. They entered into a big hall, which had two seating areas. Compared to them, dining area had a smaller table, with just four chairs. Sameer noticed the door beside it, probably leading to kitchen. A passage at the end meant there were more rooms on the ground floor. The stairway wasn't visible, but he could see the passage on the floor above. Closed doors meant more rooms. Presently, all furniture was covered with white sheets, walls had some pictures, but some faint marks as well, of the frames that had been removed. Even in this state, the house felt lived in. He could feel the warmth it must have been enveloped in once.

Sameer looked around. Everything was white... pure and serene.

Naina looked around. Everything was white... frigid and lifeless.

When he turned his gaze to her, the lost frantic look in her eyes reminded him of the days when he used to visit her house in Delhi, and found her lost in similar manner quite often.

He wondered what he could say to ease her pain. He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes, "Naina, kisi ko takleef mein dekh ke kehna bohot aasan hai ki 'I understand what you're going through'... lekin aisa nahi hai. Jiska dard hota hai, uske siva koi doosra nahi samajh sakta ki uspe kya beet rahi hai. Main bhi nahi jaanta tumhe iss waqt kaisa mehsoos ho raha hai, tum kya soch rahi ho, tum kitni takleef mein ho. Main bas itna keh sakta hun ki mujhe tum hamesha apne saath paogi. Tum kuch bhi share karna chaho, achhi ya buri yaadein, dard, gussa... kuch bhi... main sunne ko ready hun."

She kept looking at him for a while. His eyes mirrored her pain... much more than anyone had ever done.

Then she smiled.

Sameer felt his heart twist at that smile. He could see the pain, the hurt, even anger in her eyes... smiling through all that wasn't easy. She had to be exceptionally brave to do that. Which she was. He placed a kiss on her forehead.

Taking a step ahead, she went into his arms, her solace.

"Sameer, mujhe khud nahi pata main kaisa mehsoos kar rahi hun. Main yahan dukhi hone nahi aayi. Ek faisla lena chahti hun. Tumhara saath meri himmat hai. I love you for going through this with me." She mumbled against his heart, the rhythm soothing her even more.

He tightened his arms, "I love you too... forever... and beyond."

When Naina looked at the house again, she could visualise the disparate time she had spent here... those cheerful years of school when she was so full of life, dreaming of a tomorrow as bright as the flowers in her mom's garden... the coldness of that time when she hid from every visitor, scared of facing their ridicule... then was the time which would have been nothing but a dark abyss for her had the spark of Ayush not lit up not just hers but her parents' life as well.

The smile turned calm. She looked at Sameer, who was observing the room.

"Papa kehte the main unki princess hun, aur mumma queen. Woh kehte the hamare liye palace jaisa ghar hona chahiye, isse bhi bada." She reminisced how her father always pampered her.

Sameer turned to see her. The glassy eyes were sparkling with memories.

"Mumma kehti thi bada ghar nahi dil hona chahiye. Dono iss baat pe argue karte the. Ek seating area guests ke liye tha, aur ek woh jahan hum har shaam time spend karte the." She pointed at the snug comfortable set of sofas near the dining table, "Jab papa kuch naya lene ko kehte, mumma gussa karti, aur papa mujhe apni team mein le lete. Phir mumma ko manna padta. Woh khud khyal rakhte the ki sab kuch ekdum saaf suthra aur perfect condition mein rahe."

Sameer smiled, "Yeh aadat tumhe unse hi lagi hai. Bhalla aunty wale ghar mein main hamesha sochta tha ki tum sab kuch itna organised kaise rakhti ho, jabki Ayush bhi saath hai. Mummy toh Deepu ko keh keh ke pareshan ho jaati hain."

Naina looked at him, "Ayush bhi bohot organised hai. Mumma ne usse shuru se apne toys aur baaki cheezen sambhalne ki aadat daal di thi. Uska alag room tha, aur har week usse gift milta tha agar uska room aur cupboard saaf rehta tha toh."

"Yeh toh bada achha idea hai. Sach mein mumma papa child psychology mein expert the." Sameer exclaimed.

She held his hand, dragging him towards the passage, "Aao tumhe apna aur Ayush ka room dikhati hun."

As he had guessed, a marble stairway was in the passage. There were several doors on first floor. Naina opened one in the center. It was a brightly lit room, owing to large curtainless windows through which ample sunlight seeped in. A fairly big terrace could be seen beyond the window, which had a door right next to it. There was a bed, without mattress, and a built in closet, besides a low table and small chair. One wall had a huge picture of Ayush as a baby.

Sameer looked at it fondly, "Kitna pyara hai. You are so lucky ki usse iss stage mein dekha." He pouted, "Main nahi dekh paaya."

She pulled his puffed cheeks, "Maine bhi tumhe nahi dekha jab tum baby the. Hisaab barabar."

"Yeh kya baat hui Naina. Aise toh maine bhi tumhe nahi dekha tha. Toh hisaab barabar kaise hua? Mere do points hain tumhara ek. Matlab mere double points." He grumbled, following her as she went out.

"Pakke marwari ho." She waved her head.

The corner door led him to the room which was definitely hers. Though it also had just a bed without mattresses, a larger table and chair and a chest of drawers along with a much larger cupboard, what made him sure was one wall covered with clouds, painted in different shades of white and grey against a blue background. Invisible strings, which had drop shaped crystals at uneven intervals, hung over the entire wall like a curtain. Stepping back, he tilted his head to the side, mesmerised by how it brought a rain like effect.

"Tumhe baarish itni pasand hai ki apne room mein hi baarish le aayi." He looked over his shoulder, chuckling.

"School mein thi jab hum Singapore gaye the. Wahan se laaye the yeh strings. Mujhe yeh baarish jaise lage isliye wall ko aasmaan bana diya. Choti thi na, isliye bohot excited thi yeh dekh ke... jaise Ayush stars se hota hai." Her smile wavered, "Uske baad hosh hi nahi raha ki room ke décor pe dhyan dun."

He held her wrist and pulled her closer to the wall, running his fingers over the crystals, "Achha kiya jo nahi hataya. Mujhe dekhne ka mauka mila. Naina, mujhe baarish se pyar karna tumne hi sikhaya hai. Isliye mujhe bhi yeh utna hi exciting lag raha hai jitne Ayush ko apne stars lagte hain."

She looked at his beaming face, and her face relaxed into a smile again, "Chote bachhe ke jaise ban jaate ho tum kabhi kabhi."

"Jaisa bhi hun, ab toh shaadi kar li tumne. Ab jhelna hi padega iss chote bachhe ko." He shrugged.

She flicked her brows, "Bachhe ko control mein rakhna achhe se aata hai mujhe. Tumne hi kaha tha na, mumma papa child psychology ke expert the. Main bhi unki hi beti hun. Thoda bohot maine bhi seekha hai."

Sameer winked, "Ek baar baarish mein saath bheegne toh do jaan, dekhte hain kitna control kar paogi tum."

Her eyes widened at his sudden remark. Turning abruptly, she walked towards the door which led to a terrace. He grinned, having seen the colour on her cheeks before she turned her back to him. Following her, he stepped out on the terrace which was big enough to hold a party. Earthen pots, painted white, lay uncared. Some still had dry, dead stems, devoid of leaves.

Taking his attention back to her, Sameer found her looking at some dark marks on the floor.

"Yeh kya hai?" He peered at the parallel lines, which looked like they were made by iron rods.

"Yahan jhoola tha. Ayush ka favourite time hota tha jab papa usse jhulaate the. Main aur mumma dheere dheere push karte isliye usse mazaa nahi aata tha. Kehta tha main papa ke saath hi jhoolunga." She looked at the vacant space as if she was still seeing the non existent swing.

Sameer recalled Ayush had mentioned the same when he had seen the swing on their terrace. Even now, he liked to be there with Sameer at least once a day.

They were still at the part of terrace which was hidden from the view of neighbours.

Before she could take Sameer towards the outer edge, a loud, piercing voice resonated through the quietude, "Arre Garima, aaj yeh badi gaadi kiski aayi hai? Pehle toh kabhi dekhi nahi."

Naina flinched visibly while another milder voice replied, "Beena aunty, Delhi ka number hai. Pata nahi kiske yahan aaye hain."

First woman again said, "Khadi toh Agarwal house ke saamne hai. Teen plot leke ek ghar banaya hai toh kisi ne socha hoga bade log rehte hain isliye yahin khadi kar di. Ab unke ghar thodi koi ayega. Unki ladki toh bhaag gayi maa baap ke marte hi. Garima, main hamesha se kehti thi yeh ladki sahi nahi hai. Ab batao, college pohonchte hi par nikal aaye the. Aur uske maa baap ko zara bhi chinta nahi thi. Main toh udti chidiya ke par gin leti hun tujhe pata hi hai. Kaha tha uski maa se ki sambhalo apni beti ko lekin kisi ne meri suni nahi. Aakhir karwa diya na muh kaala. Yeh drugs ki aadat jaati thodi hai. Rehti hogi ab kahin nashediyon ke beech mein."

Sameer clenched his fist, his fury making the veins of his neck jut out. He was about to rush ahead when Naina held his wrist, shaking her head, "Unse ulajhna bekaar hai. Pehle dheemi awaaz mein bolti thi ab khul ke bolne lagi hain. Ansuna kar do. Waise bhi, hum yahan ladne nahi aaye."

Before he could say anything, the younger voice reached them again, "Beena aunty, mujhe toh Naina aisi ladki nahi lagi. Ab college wali baat ke time toh hum yahan rehte nahi the. Lekin do saal mein maine Naina ko chupchap office aate jaate dekha hai. Ek do baar baat hui toh usne bohot achhe se jawab diya. Mujhe toh badi decent lagi."

"Tu bhi aa gayi uske dikhawe mein. Garima, uss ladki ko bachpan se dekh rahi thi main. Kuch bhi pehenti thi." The disdain was quite evident in the sharp voice, "Ladki hai, ladki ban ke rahe. Dupatta daale, choti banaye. Lekin usse toh nikkar pehen ke, khule baal rakh ke ghoomna tha."

"Aajkal sab pehente hain Beena aunty. Usmein kya burai hai. Shaadi se pehle main bhi jeans pehenti thi. Woh toh ab ammaji ko pasand nahi isliye chod diya." Garima stated.

The older woman said with what sounded like a smug smile, "Aakhir ghar ke bade hi lihaaz sikhate hain. Main toh sabko apna maan ke hi bolti hun, jisse unki zindagi sudhar jaaye. Jabse shaadi hoke yahan aayi hun, chandan ki tarah ghiss gayi sabke liye sochte karte. Kya karun, meri aadat hi aisi hai, har kisi ka khyal rehta hai."

The younger woman retreated, "Achha Beena aunty, main jaati hun. Ammaji ki dawa ka time ho raha hai."

Older voice continued talking to herself, "Haan haan tu jaake seva kar. Shukar hai achhe sanskar wale log hain ab yahan. Warna yeh Agarwal khandaan toh duniya se nirala hi tha. Pata nahi kahan se ek bachha utha laaye. Kis jaat ka hai, kis dharm ka hai yeh bhi nahi pata. Hey bhagwan, soch ke hi darr lagta hai ki bada hoke pata nahi kya banta. Chalo, ab jahan bhi ho, hamara peecha toh chuta."

When silence prevailed for a few seconds, Naina let out a breath, "Yeh Beena aunty thi, hamari neighbour. Garima bhabhi unki tenant hain, upar wale floor pe rehti hain."

Sameer was finding it difficult to control himself, "Naina, woh tumhare baare mein yeh kya bakwaas kar rahi thi? Himmat kaise hui unki. Main abhi jaake unko batata hun. Meri Naina ke liye..."

"Sameer," Naina calmed him, placing a hand on his chest, "Jaane do. Unse ulajh ke mujhe time waste nahi karna hai."

Sameer gritted his teeth, taking a step in the direction of voice, "Unhone Ayush ke liye bhi... ek bachhe ke liye itna zeher."

Naina clutched his arm, "Unke khud ke bachhe nahi hain. Isliye kuch zyada hi bitter hain."

Sameer turned his head with a jerk towards her, "Khud ke nahi hain toh sabke bachhon pe ungli uthayengi? Tum kyon sunti thi unki baat? Kyon nahi pehle hi muh pe jawab diya?"

Naina pulled him inside the room with difficulty, shutting the door. She then looked into his blazing eyes, "Main kaise kuch kehti Sameer? Sabke liye toh main drug overdose ki wajah se hospital mein thi."

Though rage still simmered in him, Sameer softened his voice, "Naina, jo log tumhe bachpan se dekh rahe the woh kaise tumhe nahi pehchan paaye? Drug overdose hi reason nahi hai unke liye, woh tumhare kapdon ke baare mein, habits ke baare mein, mumma papa ke baare mein, even Ayush... jo ek baby tha jab yahan aaya uske baare mein bhi itna bura bol rahi hain. She's not bitter, she's evil."

Naina gave him a determined look, "Sameer, main yahan unko sudhaarne nahi aayi. Unki soch badalne mein mujhe koi interest nahi hai. Kyonki unki soch mere liye matter hi nahi karti. Jaane kitne log hote hain jo hamare baare mein galat raii bana lete hain. Hum sabko samjhane toh nahi jaa sakte na. Yeh log unn rash drivers ki tarah hote hain jo road ko apni jaagir samajh ke drive karte hain. Apni safety ke liye hum aise drivers ko avoid hi karte hain na... agar har ek se ladne lage toh raaste pe hi khade reh jayenge. Humein apne ghar pohonchna hai Sameer, raaste pe kisi ko gyan nahi dena... khaaskar usko jiski soch itni choti aur ghatiya hai."

The anger bubbling inside him slowly ebbed. She was right. The woman in question was not worthy of their time or attention.

Naina pressed his arm, "Khud ko unki baaton se effect mat hone do jo humne sunni kyonki aaj hum yahan hain. Kal bhi unhone aisa kuch kaha toh humein thodi pata chalega. Garima bhabhi ne kuch bura nahi bola lekin iss society mein aur bhi log honge jo Beena aunty se sehmat honge. Kya hum sabke saath ladenge, ya phir sabko samjhayenge? Nahin Sameer, unka thought process unko mubarak. They don't deserve our time and energy."

He placed his hand over hers, nodding, "You're right. Humein unse koi matlab nahi hai. She doesn't mean anything in our life."

Relieved, Naina showed him around. Her parent's room was on the same floor. Sameer was drawn to the large frame which had a picture of Naina with little Ayush in her arms. His toothless smile and Naina's twinkling eyes showed the happiness they felt with each other.

"Naina, hum yeh frame ghar le chalein? Apne room ke liye?" He asked.

Swallowing the emotional lump in her throat, she removed the frame from the wall and handed to him.

After she closed the door of her parent's room, Naina stood holding the cannister, looking at the hall below. White sheets over all furniture, barren walls, empty shelves... it wasn't her home, it wasn't the protective armour where she felt safe, cocooned in the warmth of love of her parents. They were gone, leaving behind memories. Those memories were hers... they were her true wealth. They could not be taken away. She would carry them in her heart forever. She didn't need this house to remember those beautiful moments with her parents, and the ones which were not beautiful, were not worth remembering.

She struggled to hold back her tears. It was strange that they found way to her eyes so often now... the same tears which she had buried away, long back. She had to remain strong. As her mind slowly absorbed the state of rooms, she realised it felt dead.

And there was no way one could keep holding onto the dead. They had to be released.

Slowly turning to look at Sameer, she told him what she had decided, "Mujhe yeh ghar nahi chahiye."

It was most certainly a shock for him. He thought Naina had come here to relive the moments she spent here. But her decision to do away with the house where she had spent her entire life till one year back was unexpected.

Her eyes were clear when she elucidated, "Main bhaag rahi thi... apni beeti zindagi se. Aur bina kisi direction ke bhaagne se hum thak ke gir jaate hain. Mera direction tum bane Sameer, woh manzil tum bane jahan mera raasta khatam hua. Tumne thaam liya mujhe, girne nahi diya. Lekin mud kar dekhne ki himmat nahi ho paa rahi thi meri. Aisa lagta tha agar ek baar bhi yeh sab phir se aankhon ke aage aaya toh kahin main phir ussi mod pe na pohonch jaun jahan se aage badhi thi. Kal nanu aur dadiji ki baat sunke ahsaas hua ki main aise hi darr rahi thi. Material things are not memories. Yaadein toh dil mein hain. Haan, iss ghar mein aake mumma papa ke baare mein humne zyada baatein ki, lekin woh isliye ki bohot din baad aaye the. Agar roz yahin rahenge toh aisa nahi hoga. Aur unhe yaad karne ke liye mujhe kisi makaan ki zarurat nahi hai. Woh mere aur Ayush ke saath hamesha the, hain aur rahenge."

He couldn't help but admire her for her courage. Accepting her decision, he offered, "Tum kaho toh main apne agent ko bol deta hun isse sell karne ke liye. Tum papers de dena. Woh achha price dilwa dega."

She took a deep breath, "Mujhe paise nahi chahiye. Yeh ghar bechna nahi hai mujhe."

"Toh phir?" He gave her a perplexed look.

Naina brought out a card from her bag, and handed to him, "Yeh ek orphanage hai. Main inhe donate karna chahti hun. Inke yahan bohot saare bachhe hain. Ek chote se ghar mein sab kisi tarah manage karte hain."

"Lekin Naina, yahan orphanage... yeh toh residential area hai na." He wasn't sure it would be possible.

She brought out a paper which mentioned rules of the society. It stated that charitable activity could be run in this area, as long as there was no commercial involvement.

Sameer was even more surprised, "Tumne yeh kabse plan kiya hua hai?"

She lowered her eyes, "Mumma papa ke jaane ke baad, jab maine decide kiya ki main aur Ayush Delhi chale jayenge toh soch liya ki wapas yahan kabhi nahi aayenge. Main nahi chahti thi Beena aunty jaise logon ke beech Ayush bada ho. Ek din uss orphanage se call aaya jahan ke through humne Ayush ko adopt kiya tha. Unhone kaha yahan ki branch ke liye agar main kam rent pe koi jagah dila sakun toh unki help ho jayegi. Tab toh maine do floor ka ek ghar dilwa diya tha lekin jab dekhne gayi toh pata chala unke yahan kaafi bachhe hain. Ek aur ghar liya, lekin woh thode distance pe tha. Unke paas finances nahi the isliye uska rent bhi main deti hun. Lekin unke liye mushkil ho raha hai kyonki do jagah ke liye extra staff hire karna pada. Tab socha ki agar iss ghar mein woh sab rahein toh unke liye aasaan ho jayega. Lekin yeh bohot bada decision tha Sameer. Meri himmat nahi hui. Aakhir iss ghar pe Ayush ka bhi haq hai. Main kaise akele yeh faisla kar sakti thi."

She paused, then looked at him gratefully, "Ab Ayush ke paas uske papa hain. Tumhare hote hue mujhe Ayush ki tension nahi hai. Tumhari wajah se aaj maine yeh decision liya hai Sameer. Tum meri strength ho."

He cupped her face, "Tum jaisi strong ladki ko kisi aur ki himmat ki zarurat nahi hai. I'm so proud of you."

When they went out after securing the locks, Naina noticed Beena aunty peeking from over the adjoining wall. Her eyes popped out, seeing Naina with Sameer. He had also noticed the strange looking woman. The way Naina moved closer to him, he instantly knew who she was.

Naina looked up at him. He leaned and kissed over her hair. She smiled, slipping her hand in his, linking their fingers. He held her hand in a firm grip.

As they drove off in their car, Naina checked through the mirror. If Beena aunty's eyes were wide earlier, now they seemed to jump off her face. A complacent smile spread on her face as she muttered, "Ab aapke pados mein Aggarwal family nahi rahegi Beena aunty."

Sameer gave her a quick glance, even more proud at the befitting answer she had given to the narrow mindedness of the vile woman... without even speaking to her.

Naina was happy that she got the closure which she didn't even know was needed this bad.

Next update on Sunday