Title is the song 'Raat ki daldal hai bhaari re' from movie '1947 : Earth'

All I have to say for today's update is 🙏🙏🙏

Sameer looked at the uncertainty in her eyes. There was a world of different shades in her brown pools... fear, apprehension, concern, pain, guilt, hesitation... but they had a flicker of hope too. And it was this emotion that he wanted to become strongest.

Holding her shoulders, he gave her an assuring smile, "Kuch bhi ho, Naina, yeh mat bhoolna ki main hamesha tumse pyar karunga. Hum married hain, aur rahenge. Hamari shaadi mere liye koi acting, koi majboori nahi thi. Main hamesha se tumse shaadi karna chahta tha... because I fell in love with you even before I met you. I'm lucky ki aaj tum meri wife ho... aur hamesha rahogi. Iss sach ko koi nahi badal sakta."

Her body trembled slightly under his hands. Sameer gripped her harder.

When she looked at him, her eyes showed incertitude, "Iss sach ko mera sach badal sakta hai. Sameer, aap janna chahte the na mere baare mein... meri beeti hui zindagi ke baare mein. The time has come for you to know everything."

"Haan Naina, main janna chahta hun. Lekin main pehle hi bata raha hun... it won't change anything between you and me. Tumhara jo bhi kal tha, main sirf uska dard mitane ke liye uske baare mein janna chahta hun. Tell me, what hurts you so much." He wanted her to unburden herself from all the pain.

Naina steeled herself. She turned away from him, tearing herself from his hold and sat down on the chair. It was a long story... and she needed both strength and support to relive it.

Her eyes had a distant look when she started speaking, "Myra meri best friend thi, jabse maine school jaana start kiya. Uska ghar same locality mein tha, hamare ghar se bas thoda door. Hum school ke baad bhi zyadatar time saath rehte the. We grew up together. Mumma papa usse apni beti jaisa maante the. They were happy that I had company. Hum dono hamesha saath rehte, saari baatein share karte, saare secrets ek doosre ko batate the. We were inseparable."

Sameer was surprised, because it was the first time he was hearing this name from Naina. From what she was saying, if Myra was such a good and close friend, where was she now? Why wasn't she in Naina's life anymore? But he didn't ask anything, waiting for her to go on.

"Myra ke parents aksar abroad jaate rehte the. Uncle ke business mein aunty bhi help karti thi isliye unke trips saath mein hote. Myra aur uska bhai, Vihan, servants ki responsibility the, hamesha se. Main unke ghar jab marzi chali jaati thi. Myra bhi aati thi hamare yahan. Hum dono ke liye ek doosre ka ghar jaise apna khud ka hi tha. In fact, mumma papa ke liye toh Myra unki doosri beti thi. Jab dekho mummy uski favourite dishes banati thi, jo chahiye hota tha papa uske liye order kar dete the. Paise spend karne ki restriction nahi thi usko... they were quite wealthy... lekin usse khushi hoti thi jab hum log uski zarurat bina bataye samajh jaate the. Servants hamare yahan bhi the lekin mumma hamesha hum logon ki choice ka khaana khud banati thi. Myra ko yeh homely atmosphere bohot pasand tha. Papa mumma usse bhi bohot pyar karte the, apne bachhon ki tarah."

Sameer was glad she had such wonderful parents and friends.

"Mera aur Myra ka birthday same date ko aata tha. Jab 16th birthday pe sabne hamare liye birthday song mein kaha 'many boyfriends to you' toh ek ajeeb si feeling hui. Aisa nahi tha ki school mein boys hamare dost nahi the lekin woh sirf normal classmates ke jaise the. Hum dono ne hi kabhi kisi pe crush nahi kiya tha. Lekin uss din, pehli baar jaise kuch sapne jaage." She bit her lip, fighting the lump that was threatening to choke her.

Sameer took the other chair. His heart thudded with inexplicable anxiety.

"Uss din shaam ko pehle Myra aur maine hamare ghar cake cut kiya, phir uske ghar gaye. Saalon se hum yehi karte the... dono jagah saath mein cake cut karte the. Uske parents lavish arrangements karte lekin sirf kuch der ruk ke apne kaam mein busy ho jaate the. Tab hum wapas mere ghar aa jaate the jahan mumma hamari favourite dishes banati thi. Uss din bhi yehi hua. Cake cut kiya aur uncle aunty ne hum dono ko wish kiya. Aunty ne cake khilate hue kaha 'Toh ab tum dono sweet sixteen ke ho gaye... wow... pata hi nahi chala kab bade hue. Anyway, enjoy this time and have fun'... I wondered what was so special about being sixteen. Tabhi Vihan wahan aaya. He was one year elder to us. Usne bhi hum dono ko cake khilaya. Phir dono ki pony kheench ke kaha 'Last baar kheench raha hun... ab tum dono kiddos nahi ho, isliye ab se tumhe tang nahi karunga'."

Sameer sat with an impassive face. He didn't know what was in store for him.

Naina chewed her upper lip before speaking, keeping her eyes on the floor, "Tab maine first time Vihan ke liye... attraction feel kiya."

Sameer clenched his jaw.

After a few seconds of silence, she drew in a long breath to continue, "Lekin usne kabhi mujhe koi attention nahi diya. Mostly woh apne friends ke saath ghar se bahar hi rehta tha. School mein bhi... woh aur uska group popular the, par hamari hardly kabhi baat hoti thi. Lekin woh Myra ke liye bohot protective tha. Kyonki main hamesha Myra ke saath rehti thi, isliye woh mere liye bhi do teen baar... kuch ladkon se jhagad pada. Jab hamare batch ne unhe farewell di toh... he was selected the King, aur jis ladki ko uske saath Queen ka crown mila, sab unn dono ko tease karne lage. Mujhe bohot gussa aaya."

Sameer wanted to ask her to stop. He couldn't tolerate the thought of her being jealous for some other guy.

"Uss din shaam ko maine gusse mein Myra ke aage bohot kuch bol diya. Ab tak maine usse nahi bataya tha ki main uske bhai... I mean, I liked Vihan. Lekin meri baaton se Myra ne guess kar liya. She hugged me, saying that she was very happy. 'Uss idiot bhai ki har baat pe mujhe gussa aata hai, lekin agar tum dono couple ban jao toh I'll be so happy that he's my brother. Naina, tune usse bataya?' She was more excited than me. Lekin jab usse pata chala ki maine kisi se kuch nahi kaha hai toh usne suggest kiya ki woh Vihan ko hints dene shuru karegi. Maine mana kiya but..." Naina did not look up once.

Sameer couldn't move his eyes from her even for a second. He was a little amazed that in spite of talking about things that seemed a happy phase of her life, there was no hint of any joy on her face... it was rather contorted as if the memory was hurting her.

"I don't know Myra ne usse kuch bola ya nahi, par Vihan ne mujhe kabhi kuch importance nahi di. Ab woh college mein tha toh bohot kam usse dekh paati thi. Unke ghar pe kabhi dikh jaata toh general ek do sentences exchange hote the. Surprisingly, it didn't bother me. Kabhi kabhi hafton ke baad usse dekh ke yaad aata tha ki maine itne din mein ek baar bhi uske baare mein nahi socha. Mostly woh friends ke saath busy rehta tha. Aur Myra ke parents... they were always away. Hamari life aise hi chalti rahi aur school ke baad hum bhi college mein aa gaye. Lekin college mein humein alag hona pada... kyonki Myra ne architecture choose kiya tha. Ek din jab woh Vihan ke baare mein kuch bata rahi thi toh I realised I wasn't interested. Woh bhi thodi surprise hui 'Tujhe ab Vihan nahi pasand kya?'... tab mujhe mehsoos hua ki woh ek crush tha... momentary... kyonki uss age mein jab yeh baatein hui toh wohi saamne tha, aur mujhe laga main usse... but it wasn't so. Mere mann mein ab Vihan ke liye kuch nahi tha... aur maine yeh baat Myra ko clearly bata di. Woh thodi disappointed thi... lekin usne bhi dekha tha ki do saalon mein mera aur uske bhai ka koi khaas interaction hua hi nahi tha. She accepted."

Sameer found his breath again.

Finally she looked up, but did not meet his eyes. Her gaze settled on the darkness outside the window, which had the curtain slightly pulled apart.

"Hum dono first year mein the... jab hamara 18th birthday aaya. Myra ke parents ussi din wapas aane wale the apne trip se. Lekin subah unka call aaya ki unki flight miss ho gayi hai, aur woh next day hi aa payenge. She was very upset. Mumma papa ne hum dono ke liye party arrange ki. School ke friends, college wale naye dost... sabko invite kiya. Hamare ghar mein hi saare arrangements kiye. Myra aur maine sach mein enjoy kiya. Lekin uski aankhon mein baar baar aansu aa jaate the, jab mere parents usse pamper karte. Raat ko jab ghar jaane ka time aaya toh Myra ne mujhe saath chalne ko kaha." She paused and looked at Sameer for a moment, "Mumma usually mujhe raat ko kahin rukne nahi deti thi. Mujhe bhi unke bina achaa nahi lagta tha."

Sameer was aware how attached she was to her parents... he could now see why. Naina's loving and caring traits definitely came from them.

She looked away again, as if she couldn't bear to look at him, "Mumma ne allow kar diya, kyonki unse dekha nahi gaya ki Myra itni upset thi. And we went to her house. Ghar khaali tha. Der ho gayi thi isliye servants bhi apne quarter mein sone chale gaye the. We decided to watch a horror movie."

Flash back

Myra peeked from the sheet that she had covered herself with, "Naina, kaun aaya stairs se? Wohi bhoot hai? Ya new wala hai?"

Naina pulled her sheet, laughing, "You're crazy, Myra. Real bhoot thodi hai. Kitna darti hai, yaar. Dekh, dekh, bada interesting scene hai."

Myra screamed at her, "Pagal hai kya? Meri sheet mat kheench. Bas mujhe batati jaa kya ho raha hai."

Rolling her eyes, Naina continued her commentary, munching on the chocolate covered rum balls they had secretly ordered for themselves to celebrate their first step into adulthood.

After few minutes, she picked up the bottle of water and found it empty. Turning to Myra, she handed the bottle, "Sunn, zara paani la de na. Yeh rum balls badi strong hain. Mujhe ajeeb sa feel ho raha hai."

"Shut up. Kisne kaha tha itni saari khane ko. Tipsy hona hai kya? Wait a minute, kahin yeh tera natak toh nahi, mujhe darane ke liye? Main kahin nahi jaa rahi." Myra frowned.

"Acha baba main hi jaati hun." Naina grinned, enjoying her friend's fear, "Horror movie dekhna bhi tujhe hai aur darr bhi tujhe hi sabse zyada lagta hai. Kyon insist kiya ki yahi dekhenge?"

Myra pouted, "Yaar college mein sab tease karte hain. Ab eighteen ki ho gayi toh aur bhi karenge... ki yeh movie nahi dekhi means I'm a kid."

"We are adults now... ab koi humein kid nahi keh sakta. Officially bade ho gaye hain." Naina spread her arms and twirled, feeling a new energy in her. She stopped, holding her head as she felt a little dizzy, and winked at her friend, "Waise sach bataun, thodi tipsy ho gayi hun shayad... lekin mazaa aa raha hai."

"Haan meri maa, ab jaake paani le aa. Mujhe bhi chahiye." Myra giggled at her joke, hollering as Naina sprinted out to go the ground floor kitchen, "Aur sunn, jaldi aana, mujhe darr lag raha hai."

"Pagal kahin ki. Isse darna bhi hai aur movie bhi isse hi dekhni hai. Isse achha koi Bollywood romance dekhte, saath mein dance karte, kitna mazaa aata." Talking to herself, she entered the kitchen... and screamed.

"What happened?" Vihan turned, the bottle of juice still in his hand.

Naina kept a hand on her jumping heart, "My God Vihan, you scared me. Light kyon nahi on ki? Mujhe laga sach mein koi ghost hai. Myra ne itna psych out kar diya ki main bhi darr gayi."

Vihan raised one brow, "Why you girls watch horror movies then? Bachhon wali dekha karo na."

Naina walked to him, hands on waist, lips pressed into a thin line, "Listen, humko kya dekhna hai woh hum decide karenge. You don't have to tell us. Tujhe aur tere friends ko kehte hain hum kabhi ki tum kya karo kya nahi? So don't try to dictate to us... and in case you don't know, main aur Myra aaj adults ho gaye hain... eighteen years." She raised her chin proudly in the air.

Vihan watched the girl he had been seeing since they were kids. Dressed in a crop tshirt and shorts, she definitely wasn't a kid anymore. He recalled his sister giving him subtle hints a few times that he should ask her out. He wasn't interested then, but seeing her now, he wondered why he hadn't noticed her properly before.

"Happy birthday, Naina." He said, taking a step closer to kiss her cheek.

She stepped back, "Hey. Take it easy." She extended her hand, "Aise wish karna kaafi hai."

He grinned, taking her hand, "Oh! Sorry. Actually mere friends mein sab aise hi karte hain."

Naina shrugged, "Well, technically I'm not you friend." She walked to the refrigerator, without waiting for an answer. When she turned, he was standing with a glass of juice, "Toh ab se friends ban jaate hain. Yeh tere liye, ek friend ki taraf se."

She thought for a second, then took the glass.

"Arre jaa kahan rahi hai saath mein toh pi le." He stopped her as she started to leave.

Naina turned to find him pouring another glass of juice for himself. She smiled as he held it to her, clanking it against her glass, "Cheers... abse friends?"

"Okay." She smiled, and took a few sips.

He had drained half of his. Looking at her he exclaimed, "Oho miss eighteen, cheers ke baad poora pite hain. Bottoms up." And he emptied his glass in one go.

Naina followed him, finishing till the last drop. Putting the glass away, she picked up the bottle and started to leave when a sudden blackness engulfed her. She held onto the door for a second, before collapsing on the floor.

When Naina opened her eyes, there was brightness everywhere. She squinted, raising her hand to shield her eyes. A pain shot through her arm, making her cry out, "Ahh... mera haath."

"Naina." Her mom's shaky voice fell in her ears. She cupped her face and placed a kiss on her forehead, before turning to press a button on her side.

Naina turned her head slightly. Her mom's face slowly came into focus. Naina blinked hard.

"Mumma, aapko kya hua? Why you look so different?" She asked, and the voice hurt her throat.

Her hand slowly moved to touch her face and neck, "Mujhe itna dard kyon ho raha hai? Yeh hum... hum kahan hain?" As she looked around, she felt she had been sleeping for a long, long time. Her body had become stiff.

"Ho... hospital mein hain, beta. Tu gir gayi thi. Isliye dard ho raha hai. Bas thode din mein theek ho jayegi." Her mom said through tears, her voice riddled with pain but her face showing relief and happiness.

"Hospital? Kab, kaise... kahan giri?" She tried to recall how she fell but nothing came to her... her mind was totally blank.

"Main..." She pushed herself to sit up, but her body refused to move. It was like a heavy mass, made of lead.

"Mumma, bohot zyada lagi hai kya mujhe? Please mujhe uthao." She attempted again.

A louder voice boomed in the room as the door opened and a doctor walked in, along with a nurse, "Uth jayenge, beta, lekin ekdum se nahi... warna dard hoga. Tumhe hosh aa gaya hai toh ab dheere dheere baaki sab bhi karne lagogi. Lekin abhi relax karo. Let me check once."

Naina was perplexed. She didn't understand what was going on. Doctor finished her check up, and smiled at her mom, "Congratulations. I think recovery ab speed up ho jayegi."

She nodded, thanking the doctor.

"Papa kahan hain?" Naina was surprised that she was in the hospital and her dad wasn't fretting around her. He always made a big fuss even when she got a normal cold.

"Woh aa jayenge thodi der mein. Maine call kar diya hai." Her mom stroked her hair.

Whole day, she kept drifting into sleep off and on. Her dad came after about an hour. Naina was shocked to see that he looked much thinner. His face had lines which were not there till yesterday.

"Mera bachha. Kaisi hai meri gudiya?" His voice cracked as he delicately embraced her, his eyes pooling up.

Naina looked at her parents, "Aap log itne weak kyon lag rahe ho? Kal toh theek the? Kal shaam..." She racked her brain, "Kal shaam ko kuch hua tha kya? Papa, main kaise gir gayi? Mujhe yaad hi nahi aa raha."

He looked at his wife. There was a silent communication between the two, then he smiled again at her, "Kya hoga? Kuch nahi hua bas tu woh... seediyon se gir gayi. Ek do din yaha rakhenge phir hum ghar chal padenge, okay?"

Naina smiled, trying to recall the fall which did not come to her memory at all.

She continued to feel dizzy often, and slept most of the time. But whenever she opened her eyes, either her mom or dad were present with her. A few days later, she started to sit up. But her body felt too heavy to move on its own. She always needed help for every movement.

It was almost a week later when a friend of her father came over. After checking on her, he looked at her parents, "Agar aap kaho toh main baat karun rehabilitation center mein? Mera cousin wahan doctor hai."

Her father dragged him out in panic.

Naina narrowed her eyes at her mom, "Mumma? Yeh uncle rehabilitation center ki baat kyon kar rahe hain?"

"Woh... woh kuch nahi beta... papa ke ek aur collegue hain na, unke ghar mein kisi ne pucha tha... bas wohi bata rahe the." Her mom soothed her.

It was another week later that the truth came out in front of Naina.

Her mom had stepped out of the room to attend a call. The door was left open. She noticed people moving around in woollens.

Looking at the new nurse, she asked, "Bahar sabne sweater aur jackets kyon pehne hain?"

Nurse shrugged, "Kuch logon ko November mein hi thand lagne lagti hai. Shaam ko phir bhi thodi hoti hai lekin din mein abhi mausam nahi aaya hai jacket ka."

"November?" Naina was startled, "Lekin abhi toh..." She stilled, "Sister, aaj date kya hai?"

"25th November." The nurse said casually, putting away the medicines that were to be given after food.

When her mom came back to the room, Naina was sitting with a grave face.

"Kya hua, beta? Dard ho raha hai kahin? Main doctor ko bulaun? Tujhe achha nahi lag raha?" She panicked.

"Mumma, mujhe kya hua hai? Aur main kitne din se yahan hun? Please mujhe sach sach bataiye." She held her mom's hand, pleading.

Tears rolled down her face as she sat on the bed, next to her daughter, "Naina, tujhe do mahine baad hosh aaya hai. Tujhe... tujhe drugs ke overdose ke liye hospital laaye the. Doctors ne... jaan... jaan toh bacha li lekin tu coma mein chali gayi thi."

Colour drained from Naina's face. She couldn't believe what she had heard. Two months... two months of her life she had been half dead... lying lifeless in a hospital bed... while the world moved on. But how?

"Dr... drugs? Lekin mumma maine... maine toh kabhi... I swear mumma, maine kabhi kuch nahi liya." Her voice turned hoarse as she cried bitterly, having failed her parents, unknowingly.

Her mom pulled her into her arms, patting her head, "Shhh, mujhe pata hai. Mera bachha aisa kuch kar hi nahi sakta. Kisi ne shayad tujhe... shayad galti se..." She couldn't speak more, fighting with her own tears.

Naina could understand now why her parents looked different. They had turned frail... and aged... in the two months that she laid unconscious in a hospital bed.

It was mid December by the time doctors permitted her to go home. Naina was surprised that Myra didn't come to meet her even once. She asked her mom often but she always said that Myra had gone out of country with her parents. Once she was at home, the occasional visits by relatives started. Her father had three brothers and all stayed in the same city. There were some cousins too, who visited them sometimes. Since her mom's only brother was settled in Germany, it was only her dad's close and distant relatives who usually visited them. Grandparents from both sides were no more.

These relatives were employed in small jobs, and led a lower middle class life. Her father held a senior bureaucratic position in Foreign Ministry, and was paid very well. After taking early retirement, so that he didn't have to go on transfers, he had taken up a corporate job at a very handsome package. Their affluent status had turned all relatives against them, who were agitated that her father never got their mediocre children in government job, nor in his present firm. Naina wasn't fond of them... any of them, as they kept devising ways to make her family shell out money on some pretext or the other. All three brothers of her father were the same. So were their families. Their visits were less for the sake of concern and more to mock and derive pleasure by seeing their rich brother's family suffer, in spite of their wealth.

Flashback ends

Naina sat with her eyes downcast . Sameer was upright on his chair, his eyes wide.

"Naina, do mahine... tum do mahine coma mein thi? Kaisa feel hua hoga tumhare parents ko." It was too horrifying to even think what her parents must have gone through in those two months.

She wet her lips. Sameer got up to get her a glass of water. After taking a few sips, Naina placed it in front of her, and continued, "Aap pehle insaan hain jisne yeh kaha hai. Warna jo bhi rishtedaar aaye, sabne kaha ki main family pe kitna bada dhabba hun... maine khandaan ka naam kharab kar diya... drugs ke liye hospital mein admit hui, isse sharmnaak baat kya ho sakti thi..."

"What? Kis tarah ke log hain yeh?" Sameer was astounded.

"Yeh meri family ke log the, neighbours aur jaan pehchan wale the, jinke liye main ek topic ban gayi thi. Drugs ka overdose... aur itne din hospital mein rehna... unhe laga ki mumma papa jhoot bol rahe hain... aur mujhe unhone kisi rehabilitation center mein rakha hua tha, meri drugs ki aadat chudane ko. Jitne log aate ghar pe utni baatein. Mumma mujhe unke saamne nahi baithne deti thi lekin jitna bhi mujhe sunayi deta tha, wohi itna horrible tha... pata nahi bichare mumma papa ne meri wajah se kya kya suna hoga. Kuch log mumma papa ko blame karne lage ki unki liberties ki wajah se main bigad gayi. Kisi ne kaha meri galti hai kyonki main aise kapde pehenti hun, jisse logon ko lage mera interest hai inn sab mein. Kehne lage zarur aur bhi chakkar honge, ladkon ke bhi. Taiji ne kaha bilkul, ladkon ka chakkar toh hoga hi, warna ladki kahan se drugs layegi. Kisi ne kaha main encourage karti hun ladkon ko. Koi mera character certificate deke chala gaya, koi meri upbringing pe sawal uthane laga... jaise mere saath jo hua usme kisi aur ka dosh hai hi nahi. Sab relatives ne kaha woh nahi chahte unke bachhe mujhse mile kyonki mera influence unhe bhi bigaad dega. I was made out to be a culprit... in spite of being a victim. Mujhe samajh hi nahi aaya maine kiya kya hai."

"Lekin kisi ne yeh nahi pucha yeh drugs aayi kahan se, aur tumne kab li? Tumhare parents ne bhi nahi?" Sameer asked what had been gnawing at the back of his mind for long... he kept his fingers crossed though... refusing to listen to what his mind was hinting at.

"Mumma papa ko sab pata tha." Naina uttered in a quiet voice, "Woh toh main thi jise uss waqt tak sirf aadhi baat pata thi. Yeh baat khuli jab ek din maine mumma ka phone utha liya, when she was in the balcony. It was Myra."

Flashback

"Aunty please ek baar aane dijiye. I promise main Naina ke saamne nahi aungi... main bas usse ek baar dekhna chahti hun." Myra implored the moment Naina picked up the phone.

"Myra?" She was stunned.

There was a dead silence at the other end.

"Myra, tu aise kyon bol rahi hai? Tujhe mumma manaa thodi karengi. Aur kab wapas aayi tu? Ek phone toh kar deti yaar, pata hai main..." Naina animatedly started to talk to her friend till her mom snatched the phone from her.

"Mumma? It's Myra. Woh wapas aa gayi hai. Mera purana phone ghumm gaya aur new aapne leke nahi diya, ab kam se kam apne phone se toh baat karne dijiye." Naina tried to take the phone back.

"Myra, abhi Naina ka medicine ka time hai." Her mom spoke curtly into the phone before ending the call.

Looking back at her daughter, she forced a smile, "Beta, tere liye zyada excitement theek nahi. Tu abhi rest kar. Main kuch dinon baad naya phone laa dungi."

Naina didn't say anything, but she understood that there was something her mom was hiding from her. And then she recalled.

"Mumma, yeh drugs... I'm sorry, mujhe pata hai yeh kaise hua." She looked up with guilty eyes.

A flash of pain appeared in her mom's eyes, but before she could say anything, Naina confessed, "Maine apne birthday pe rum balls khaye the. I know mujhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha lekin... I'm sorry mumma." Her eyes pooled up.

Her mom gathered her in her arms, unable to control her tears, "Naina, you are so innocent, mera bachha tera kya hoga."

"I promise mumma main phir se kabhi nahi khaungi." She cried with her mother, ashamed of what she had done.

Whether it was because of talking to Myra, or the recollection of a part of that day... Naina had her first panic attack that night.

Her mom got up at her loud scream, switching on the bedside light.

"Naina, kya hua beta?" She shifted closer to her daughter who was squirming in bed, her eyes shut, her nose scrunched.

"Yeh smell band karao, mumma. Kitni gandi smell hai, mujhe saans nahi aa rahi... please window band kar do." She screamed, drenched in sweat, in cold December month.

"Yahan kuch nahi hai Naina, aankhen khol. Dekh, sab theek hai." Her mom scooped her in her arms.

It took her almost an hour of pacifying before Naina drifted back to sleep.

The attacks happened several times in the coming days. Doctor asked them to consult a psychiatrist. But the sessions didn't help. Naina was just not able to recall the source of that suffocating smell.

As they moved into a new year, she asked her dad one day, "Papa, abhi toh main almost theek hun. College jaana start kar dun kya?"

Her parents exchanged a look before her father patted her face, a soft smile on his lips, "Usse pehle thoda ghoom ke aate hain. You need some fresh air. Maine college mein baat kar li hai, they'll allow you to write exams. Aur meri beti padhai toh khud kar hi legi, itna mujhe pata hai."

A small town in the hills of Uttaranchal was where they went next week. It was a surprise for Naina as they usually went to well known places for holidays, but she liked the quaint little town, covered in fog and mist most of the times. After spending almost two weeks there, Naina asked her mom one day, "Hum wapas kab jayenge?"

She looked at her daughter, who had started looking much better and healthier now. Maybe the time had come. Taking a deep breath, she held her hands securely, "Hum yahan se che mahine baad jayenge, Naina... tera baby born hone ke baad."

The mist closed around her... and Naina lost consciousness.

Flashback ends

Sameer felt someone was smothering him. He wasn't able to breathe. The veins on his face and neck jutted out as he controlled the urge to smash the glass table in front of him. A mounting exasperation tightened his throat, making his temple throb in furious rage that roared in him. The corners of his mouth twitched... he wanted to scream, as molten anger flowed through him like lava... but couldn't.

Naina did not have the heart to look at him. She sat in dreaded silence, waiting for him to react. When he didn't speak, she muttered, in barely audible voice, "If you want, I can stop."

"Why didn't you kill him?" His voice grated through clenched teeth.

She closed her eyes. This was what she had feared... he couldn't take it. Swallowing the painful constriction in her throat, she whispered, "Mujhe uss din se pehle tak kuch pata nahi tha. Mujhe nahi malum tha mere saath kya hua hai. I have no memory till date. Meri life ke woh do mahine, mere birthday ki raat se lekar uss din tak jab mujhe hospital mein hosh aaya, nahi hain mere paas... kahin nahi hain. Maine bohot koshish ki yaad karne ki, lekin uss smell ke siva aur kuch yaad nahi aata. Aur woh smell..." She shuddered, "Woh ghutan bhari smell bhoolti nahi."

His eyes shot up. She looked so small, so vulnerable, so lost, so scared, so helpless...

"Kya Ayush... Ayush tumhara..." He couldn't word the first thought that flashed in his mind.

Naina took a deep breath, "Ayush tak nahi pohonche hain hum abhi. Agar aap sun sakte hain toh..."

"Mujhe sab sunna hai, Naina... everything." He muttered in a clipped voice.

She still couldn't meet his eyes. But carried on with her story, "Jab mujhe hosh aaya, main bohot roi, chillayi, sab kuch utha ke phenk diya, tod diya... aisa laga mujhe marr jaana chahiye. Jin parents ne mujhe hamesha itna pyar diya main unke liye itni sufferings ka reason banke kaise zinda reh sakti hun. Shayad main koshish bhi karti, khud ko..." She gulped, "lekin mumma hamesha mere saath rehti thi. Unhone kabhi mujhe mauka nahi diya. Maine unse poocha bhi, ki kya woh chahti hain main iss bachhe ko kyonki main... main... I hated it."

He clenched his fists. It was impossible to even comprehend what must have been her state of mind at that time.

"Mumma papa ko hospital ke time se pata tha. Doctor ne keh diya tha ki abor... ki woh aisa kuch karenge toh mere liye life threatening ho sakta hai. There was no option." Naina said in a heavy voice.

Sameer picked up the glass of water and gulped down the whole of it, keeping it back with a loud sound... but the glass didn't break.

Naina's eyes got fixed on the glass, "Aise hi main bhi nahi tooti."

He looked up sharply, but she was not talking to him, "Toot jaana chahiye tha na... lekin maine yeh jhatka bhi accept kar liya. Ab mujhe samajh aaya mumma kyon Myra se naaraz thi."

Taking in a deep inhale, she said further, "Pehli baar jab pata chala, papa ne police complaint ka decide kiya. Lekin doctor ne kaha ki main eighteen plus hun, aur... aur drugs zabardasti diye hon aisa bhi kuch evidence nahi hai, isliye hamare case weak rahega. Unhone kaha hamare liye prove karna next to impossible hoga ki isme meri marzi shamil nahi thi."

He waited, while she stared at the glass, without blinking, before speaking again, "Ab mujhe Myra se baat karni thi. Mujhe janna tha... sab kuch. Kam se kam utna, jitna usse pata tha." She closed her eyes for a moment, "Kyonki aur kisi se nahi puch sakti thi... ki Vihan ne mere saath aisa kyon kiya."

Sameer banged his fist against the wooden arm of the chair. Naina got up and stood in front of the window, her back to him, "Aur ek din mumma ne khud mujhe phone de diya. Woh samajh gayi thi mere mann mein sawal hain. I called up Myra."

Flash back

"Hello aunty. Thank God aapne call kiya. Naina kaisi hai? Kahan hain aap log? Sab theek hai na, aunty?" Her voice was both relieved and distressed at the same time.

"Myra." Once again, the phone fell silent.

"Nahi Myra, aaj chupp mat reh. I want to know. Please, mujhe sab bata de." Naina pleaded.

After some more silence, finally Myra broke down, "I'm sorry, Naina... I'm so so sorry. Main bata nahi sakti main roz kaise marr marr ke jee rahi hun... main kabhi khud ko maaf nahi kar paungi... kabhi nahi, Naina."

"Myra, where's Vihan?" Naina asked in a quivering voice.

There was a sound of sharp intake of breath before her reply, "Vihan ko London bhej diya papa ne. Woh tab se wahin hai jab se tere parents aaye the hamare yahan."

Naina almost screamed in shock, "Mumma papa aaye the wahan?"

Myra gasped again, realising that she had told something that Naina wasn't aware of till now.

"Myra, start... and everything." Naina's icy cold voice left her with no option.

And Myra told her what happened after Naina passed out.

While Naina had gone down to fetch water, she had waited in the room. When it was quite some time, she thought of going down, but was scared because of the horror movie. She called out her name, standing at the door. A few minutes later, she heard shuffling of feet outside. Thinking it was Naina, she opened the door, to find her brother running up the stairs. She asked him if he had seen Naina. He just pointed towards the living room and sprinted away to his room. Myra found Naina lying unconscious on the sofa. Her dishevelled state and limp body made her panic. Since there was no one at home, she ran to call Vihan.

"Listen, I don't know what's wrong with her. Teri friend hai, khud jaake dekh." Vihan rebuffed her drily.

Myra screamed at him, saying that she would tell her parents about him. While she meant about his drinking habit, Vihan, being guilty, thought she had seen him with Naina. He pleaded to her, saying that being his sister, she couldn't let his reputation be spoiled. Myra was shocked when she came to know what he had done. But his repeated pleas made her relent... and she agreed to not mention about him.

Naina interrupted Myra, her heart in her mouth, "Aur main? Mera kya, Myra? Tune ek baar bhi mere baare mein nahi socha?"

"Main... main kuch soch hi nahi paayi. Vihan ne confess kiya ki usne hi tere juice mein drugs add kiye the... he said he was drunk so he wasn't sure kitni tablets daal di thi. But he said he was sorry." Myra wiped her tears as she revealed.

Naina had turned into stone.

"I'm sorry Naina, main itni darr gayi ki kisi ko kuch nahi kaha. Lekin jab tu subah bhi nahi uthi toh... toh maine tere ghar pe phone kiya... and I lied... maine kaha ki tu stairs se gir gayi." Myra sobbed at the other end.

Naina couldn't believe that her best friend did this to her. She listened silently as Myra told her how she was rushed to the hospital. When the doctor informed about drug overdose, and said that the delay had made her slip into coma, her mom talked to Myra. Even then, she refused any knowledge about drugs, saying that if Naina had taken anything, she wasn't aware. But when the doctor mentioned physical abuse two days later, both her mom and dad went to meet Myra and her family. Naina's parents were shocked when Vihan put the blame on Naina, saying that she always crushed over him, and she was the one who forced him. Since he was drunk, he couldn't control himself. Even Myra's parents turned against Naina, saying that being a girl, she should have been careful, since boys were expected to be reckless at this age, and they were just framing Vihan now that their daughter's character had come out in open. Myra stayed quiet.

A month later, a comatose Naina was declared pregnant. It broke her parents, who were already facing criticism from their relatives over drugs theory, who were not aware of her abuse, and now pregnancy. Her parents again went to Vihan's house. By this time, he had been sent away to London, on the pretext of studies. Myra was shocked at the news. She tried to speak, to tell the truth, but was reprimanded by her parents who insulted Naina's parents.

"Meri wajah se mumma papa ne kya kuch nahi suna." Naina cried into the phone, unaware that her father suffered a heart attack at that time.

"Teri kya galti hai, Naina. Galti toh Vihan ki hai... aur meri. Agar main raat ko hi aunty ko call kar deti toh shayad tu coma mein nahi jaati. Agar main pehle din hi sab sach bata deti toh... ya phir main tere baare mein Vihan se kuch kehti hi nahi... jisse usse pata hi nahi chalta ki tujhe woh pasand tha."

"I hate him." Naina spat out, "I hate him, and I hate all of them... I hate every boy who thinks he can do whatever he wants... they all are lechers... I hate them... I hate them." She howled, throwing away the phone.

Her mom came running. She gathered Naina in her arms, consoling her, soothing her, trying to control her violent outburst. It took Naina many days to come to terms with the fact that she had been betrayed by the people she thought were closest to her. Even though Myra's parents were rarely at home, they treated her as their daughter whenever they met her. Vihan was never too friendly, but he was protective, for both Myra and her. And Myra... the friend she had trusted all her life... Naina realised she couldn't trust anyone ever. She decided there would never be anyone for her, except her parents.

Flash back ends

The reason for her lack of trust could have such roots, Sameer was stunned to hear.

The story of her past will continue in next update, which would be tomorrow