Title is the song 'Tu jo hai toh main hu' from mover 'Mr X'

"Sameer, tum... tum theek ho?" Naina's feeble voice was filled with frantic concern.

Another wave of emotions gushed through him. Lying here in the hospital, awake after a traumatic night that could have lasted for any length of time, her first thought was his well being. All he could do was nod, pursing his lips.

"Woh car... tum..." She couldn't form any more words as the scene flashed before her eyes, making her shudder.

"Naina, sirf car damage hui hai. Main andar nahi tha. Mujhe toh ek kharonch tak nahi aayi. Sachhi. Dekho, main bilkul theek thaak tumhare saamne baitha hun." He straightened, spreading his free arm.

Her eyes scanned his face and whatever she could see, and a relief softened her brown orbs. She attempted to raise her other hand to touch him, but looked beside her in confusion when his hand landed on her arm, halting the movement. After a few seconds of disorientation, her eyes widened as she registered the iv attached to her hand, the whiteness of hospital room, narrowness of the bed... her head jerked back at the sound of beeps, taking in familiar monitor screens.

Once again, she was hit by a sense of deja vu.

"Yeh sab... hospital... kya hua?" She looked at him, alarmed.

Sameer cupped her face, giving a soothing smile, "Kuch nahi. Tum... bas behosh ho gayi thi toh... checkup ke liye yahan laaye hain."

Her face turned more sallow as she gulped, her eyes filled with panic, "Ki... kitne din?"

He thought she wanted to know how long she would remain in hospital. He was about to answer when the real meaning dawned on him seeing her press her lip under her teeth to prevent its quivering.

He quickly squeezed her hand more to his heart where it still lay, and replied softly, "Din nahi, bas ek raat. Kal raat tum behosh hui thi. Doctor ne medicines di thi unki wajah se tum aaram se raat bhar soyi, aur ab uth gayi."

"Medicines? Kyon? Sameer, please sach sach batao kya hua mujhe? Aur tum..." Her eyes roved over him again, trying to see any signs of passage of time, more than what he said. But he was wearing the same clothes that she remembered him in. His face looked tired, yet his eyes seemed delighted.

Before he could erase her doubts, the doctor arrived, who had been informed of Naina's state by the nurse.

"Good morning, kaisa feel kar rahi hain aap?" Doctor asked in a cheerful voice, glancing at the screens behind her.

Sameer stood up and stepped aside, giving space to doctor. Naina's eyes followed him, checking him from head to toe. Seeing him safe and unhurt, the dread in her mind eased considerably.

"Koi discomfort ya pain mehsoos ho raha hai aapko?" Doctor's voice reminded her of the other reason of her anxiety.

Naina looked at her in apprehension, "Main kabse behosh thi doctor? Kya main... kahin main coma..."

Doctor gave her a comforting smile, "Aapki tabiyat kal raat thodi bigad gayi thi. Shayad stress se chakkar aa gaya. Kuch tension ki baat nahi hai. Raat bhar ki neend ke baad ab app bilkul fit lag rahi hain."

Naina let out the breath she was holding, "Main theek hun." She tried to sit up, and her hand shot up behind her head where a sharp pain made her squeeze her eyes shut.

"Doctor, Naina ko..." Sameer was beside her in a flash, holding her.

"Nothing to worry." Doctor made Naina lie back, then turned her head to examine the spot, "Girne ki wajah se sar ke peeche thodi chot aayi hai. Do teen din mein heal ho jayegi."

She then gestured to nurse, before addressing Sameer, "Aap zara bahar wait kijiye. Main ek baar aapki wife ko examine kar lun."

Once outside, Sameer fished out his phone. He smiled, looking at the fully charged sign. Since the moment Naina had collapsed, he had forgotten everything. Nanu had taken the phone and put it on charge in the room where he rested, borrowing the charger from someone. Before leaving in the morning, he had given it to him, saying that he was sure Naina would be awake before battery runs out again.

"Aapka vishwas jeet gaya nanu." He breathed in relief, and dialled his number.

"Sameer, Naina ko hosh aaya?" Nanu's voice was laced with concern.

"Naina uth gayi hai nanu. Woh theek hai. Doctor abhi check kar rahi hain. Aap mummy papa ko bata dena. Main baad mein call karta hun." He disconnected as he saw the door of Naina's room open.

Doctor walked out, "Mr Maheshwari, blood samples le liye hain. Sab kuch normal lag raha hai. Ek ghante mein test ki report aa jayegi."

"Naina ko ghar leke jaa sakta hun kya?" Sameer asked.

Doctor smiled, "Ek baar main reports dekh lun. Hopefully sab theek hoga. Uske baad aap apni wife ko le jaaiye."

Sameer rushed back to the room. Naina was sitting with the support of pillows.

The nurse smiled, "Lijiye, aa gaye aapke husband." She looked at Sameer, "Doctor ke jaate hi ma'm ne aapko dhoondna shuru kar diya. Ab aap yahin rahiye. Main yeh samples lab mein deke aati hun."

Sameer was about to take the chair when she lifted her hand, asking him to come to her. He sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his. She straightened, leaned ahead, and cupping his face with one hand, placed a kiss on his other cheek. Without meeting his eyes, she rested her head on his chest. His lips curled into a smile as his arm went around her, gently rubbing her shoulder. Only when he felt a wetness on his shirt did he lift his face.

"Naina, tum ro kyon rahi ho?" He asked in urgency, "Kahin pain ho raha hai kya? Ruko, main doctor ko bulata hun."

She clutched his arm, "Mat jao. Mujhe koi nahi chahiye. Bas tum mere paas raho."

He relaxed, his voice turning soft, "Main toh hamesha tumhare paas hun jaan."

"Kal jab tum... tumse baat nahi ho paa rahi thi... phir woh car..." She shivered in his arms.

Sameer delicately moved her little away from himself so he could see her face. The wet cheeks, fearful eyes, teeth digging into her lower lip... it tore his heart.

"I'm sorry Naina. Meri galti hai. I promise main phir kabhi aisa nahi karunga. Please mujhe maaf kar do." He looked into her eyes, ridden with guilt. Now he knew what this fear meant, how it weighed on your heart, how it clouded your mind with most horrifying thoughts, how it made your world stop all of a sudden, how it froze time... he knew what it meant to realise that the one you wanted closest to you could go away forever.

"I... I'm sorry too. Mujhe aisa nahi sochna chahiye tha. Lekin woh sapna aur jab tumhari car..." She sobbed, "...aisa laga sab... khatam..."

He took her in his arms, crying silently with her. This was no time to tell her that similar thoughts had invaded his mind last night. They both had gone through same pain...

Controlling himself few minutes later, he said lightly, "Ab no rona dhona. Main tumhari maafi accept kar leta hun tum meri kar lo. Hisaab barabar."

"Hisaab rakhna mat chodna tum." She chuckled, in spite of her damp eyes, "Marwadi kahin ke."

"Woh toh hun. Par handsome wala hun. Haina?" He dipped his head to the side, smiling warmly.

"I love you Sameer." Overwhelmed, she placed her hand on his heart, "Tumhare bina rehna ka main soch bhi nahi sakti."

He leaned to kiss forehead, "Hum hamesha saath rahenge. Forever."

A knock at the door made him look back.

Vishakha walked in, with Vivek and nanu. She smiled at Naina, "Thank God tum ab theek ho. Subah toh main aur Vivek darr hi gaye the."

Naina nodded, "I'm fine mummy. Sorry, aap sabko pareshan kar diya."

Vivek said in a gentle voice, "Hum sab sirf tumhari sehat ke liye pareshan the. Bachhon ki takleef maa baap se dekhi nahi jaati."

Nanu went closer, placing a hand on her head, "Ab theek lag raha hai beta?"

"Jee nanu. Sorry kal pata nahi kyon... main bohot darr gayi thi." She looked up at him.

He nodded, "Main samajh sakta hun. Lekin tum chinta mat karo. Maine Sameer ke achhe se kaan kheenche hain. Aage se yeh gadha aise mausam mein bilkul bahar nahi niklega, chahe saari raat office mein baithna pade."

"Offo nanu aap meri wife ke saamne toh kam se kam gadha mat bolo. Saari image ka kachra ho jaata hai." Sameer whined.

"Chup kar." Nanu chided him playfully, "Kaam gadhe wale karega toh kya kahin ka rajkumar bolunga?"

Naina giggled at their banter. Vishakha waved her head, "Iss family mein pata hi nahi lagta kaun bada hai kaun ab tak bachha hai."

She looked back at Naina, "Discharge ke liye kya kaha doctor ne? Ab toh ghar jaa sakti ho na?"

It was the doctor herself who answered as she enetered the room, "Jee. Aap inhe ab le jaa sakte hain."

She came to Naina and checked the readings on screens, then smiled, "Sab parameters normal hain. Sar pe jo chot hai uske liye main ek pain reliver likh deti hun. Kuch aur medicines hain, jo aap ek week tak le lo toh achha rahega, strength aayegi. You'll feel better."

She turned to Sameer, "Aap zara do minute mere saath aaiye." Before leaving, she mentioned a few names to nurse and asked her to prepare a prescription and get it signed from her.

Sameer went out with her.

"Mr Maheshwari, aapki wife ko hosh aa gaya hai isliye ab coma ka khatra nahi hai." The doctor announced, "Lekin unhe normal hone mein thoda time lag sakta hai."

"Normal?" Sameer stared at her, taken aback, "Naina... kya Naina normal nahi hai?"

"Woh bahar se bilkul normal hain. Par iss shock ki wajah se unke reflexes pe asar pad sakta hai." Doctor stated.

"Kya matlab?" Sameer asked impatiently, his heart beating so fast, he was afraid the doctor could hear it. Was she still in danger?

"Relax. Hamari body ke jis hisse mein oxygen ki kami ho woh respond karna kam kar deta hai. Naina ke brain ke saath aisa hua hai. Aane wale kuch dinon mein shayad woh aise respond na kar paayein jaise normal log karte hain... mera matlab... balancing mein mushkil aa sakti hai, chalte hue, ya stairs pe chakkar aa sakta hai. Sleep cycle bhi thodi upset hogi, eating habits pe bhi asar pad sakta hai. Maine jo medicines di hain unme anti anxiety bhi hain. Make sure woh apni medicines time pe lein. Also, unhe koi stress na ho iss baat ka khyal rakhna hoga. Unhe poora rest lena hai." She explained.

It was Vishakha who answered, "Don't worry doctor, Hum sab Naina ka poora khyal rakhnege." She joined the two of them, and looked at Sameer, "Jaa Naina tujhe bula rahi hai."

He left quickly. Vishakha smiled at the doctor, "Thank you. Waise koi darne wali baat toh nahi hai na?"

"Not at all. Jaisa aapke bete ne bataya, Naina ke pichle experience ki wajah se usse yeh traumatic attack aaya tha. Lekin usne bohot jaldi recover kar liya. I think iska credit aapke bete ko jaata hai. Woh ek minute bhi apni wife ke paas se nahi hate." She mentioned.

"Dono ek doosre se bohot pyar karte hain." Vishakha said proudly.

Doctor nodded, "Dekha maine. It's good ki aap sab itne caring hain. Warna aise cases mein ek ladki ko..."

She was interrupted by the nurse who rushed to her with Naina's file, "Doctor, aapne yeh medicine boli thi kya? Sorry, main thodi confuse ho gayi. Actually ma'm ki pregnancy report abhi aayi nahi hai aur yeh medicine pregnancy mein nahi de sakte."

"Pregnancy test karne ko kisne bola?" Doctor furrowed her brows.

Nurse blinked, a little scared, "Woh toh... as a rule sab female patients ka krte hain na yahan pe, medicines dene se pehle."

"Oh haan." Doctor rubbed her forehead, "Main batana bhool gayi tumhe. Inke case mein zarurat nahi thi. She cannot conceive. Inke husband ne kal hi bata diya tha. Isliye yeh capsules de sakte hain. Tum prescription Naina ke husband ko de do aur dosage samjha do."

Nurse took away the file after getting it signed from her. Doctor smiled at Vishakha and left after telling her to take care.

Vivek came out, "Vishakha, main neeche jaake bill settle karta hun tum Sameer ke saath Naina ko leke aa jao."

Vishakha was still standing at the same spot when nanu came out few minutes later, along with Sameer who had one arm around Naina's shoulder, and held her hand with other.

"Mummy chalen?" He asked, seeing his mom lost somewhere.

"Huh?" Vishakha jerked, and looked at them.

"Kya hua Vishakha?" Nanu asked, finding her reaction strange.

She looked at her father, then again at Sameer and Naina, who were watching her with worried expression.

"Kuch nahi. Chaliye." She let out a long breath, and walked ahead.

When they reached home, Sameer held Naina's hand firmly though she said she could walk.

"Iss bahane mujhe tumhara haath pakadne ka mauka mil raha hai. Yeh golden chance kaise jaane de sakta hun. Tumne hi kaha tha na pakka marwadi hun." He whispered in her ear, squeezing her hand.

Her eyes widened, but she didn't say anything. In fact, as they reached the stairs, she was glad he was holding her because the steps seemed to be swimming in front of her eyes. She gave a slight shake to her head, which brought back the pain, and she winced, touching behind at the spot.

"Sameer, Naina ke liye stairs chadhna mushkil hoga. Tu leke jaa room mein. Main Ramdhari ko bolke kuch khaane ko bhijwati hun." Vishakha directed Sameer, who was more than happy to comply.

After he laid her in bed, he winked, "Aisa lag raha hai apni dulhan ko leke aaya hun."

"Chup raho. Tumhe aur kuch soojhta hi nahi." Naina blushed at his implication.

He twitched in negative, "Tumhe dekh ke aur kuch nahi soojhta."

"Pagal." She mumbled under her breath.

"Tumhare liye." He blew her a kiss.

Ramdhari knocked at the door, coming in after Sameer told him to do so.

"Naina bhabhi, kaisi hain aap?" He asked sweetly.

Naina wrinkled her nose, "Sorry Ramdhari bhaiya main baar baar bimar ho jaati hun aur aapko pareshan hona padta hai."

"Arre nahi nahi bhabhi, humein koi pareshani nahi hai. Hum toh roz aapke liye extra kaam kar sakte hain." Ramdhari said quickly, placing the glass of juice next to her.

Sameer glared at him, "Tu chahta hai Naina roz bimar rahe?"

Ramdhari stared at him, aghast, "Yeh kya bol rahe hain Sameer bhaiya. Hum aisa kyon chahenge? Hum toh chahte hain iss ghar mein sab swasth rahein."

Sameer placed his hands on waist, "Iska matlab tujhe takleef hoti hai jab koi bimar padta hai, matlab tujhe problem hai extra kaam karne se."

Ramdhari shook his head, "Humein kaam se koi problem nahi hum toh bas..." He got confused, and looked helplessly at Naina.

She smiled, "Aap jaiye bhaiya. Sameer mazaak kar rahe hain."

Ramdhari scratched his head as he turned after one glance at Sameer's stern face, "Mazaak hans ke karna chahiye na. Humein kaise pata chalega aise muh phula ke mazaak karenge toh."

"Kya badbada raha hai tu?" Sameer said loudly.

"Hum kahan kuch keh rahe hain. Hum toh jaa rahe hain." Ramdhari glanced back at him before scurrying out.

Naina frowned, "Tum hamesha aise kyon baat karte ho? Bekaar mein unhe dara dete ho."

Sameer grinned, "Yeh meri aur Ramdhari ki chemistry hai. Agar main normal baat karunga toh usse ajeeb lagega."

Naina widened her eyes, "Chemistry?" And she burst into a laugh, "Sameer tum... tum impossible ho."

He watched her laugh freely, a lightness spreading in his heart.

Little later, as he stood in the washroom, looking at his reflection, he replayed the events since last evening. So much had happened in a short span of time that he didn't get a chance to even rejoice at things getting back to normal. He was behaving like his usual self in front of Naina, so she didn't know what danger she had been through. He teased her, made her blush, had his usual banters with family members... just to make Naina feel that nothing was amiss.

But the truth was, his world had come so close to falling apart. And it had shaken him to the core. When he had left the office last evening, it was because he wasn't ready to stay away from Naina for a single minute after his work got over. He had thought it might take him little more time, but he would be able to drive back home in spite of the weather. The decision had turned out to be a mistake... a huge one.

He was unable to shake off the look in her eyes when she had stared at him just before she fainted. What if Naina had not woken up today morning... he trembled at the thought. He wouldn't have been able to live without her. How could he?

With this came another realisation... how Naina would have dealt with everything that life had thrown at her. Losing her parents when she did not have anyone else would have been severely devastating for her. Respect for her increased manyfolds in his heart... she had gone through hell, still stood up tough and resilient, paving a new life for herself and Ayush.

"Nahi Naina, ab tumhe aur kisi takleef se ladte hue nahi dekhna chahta. Please bhagwanji, meri Naina ka koi aur imtihaan mat lena. Woh aur aansu deserve nahi karti." He prayed silently.

I know you have many questions, but we'll come to them when the time comes

Next update on Saturday