Naina woke up with a jerk seeing herself sleeping in his arms, close to his heart... she can even hear his heartbeat... she roamed her eyes seeing car stops at the red light... she tried to sit back straight realized him also sleeping peacefully keeping his head... even in his deep slumber he was clutching her tightly in his embrace...

Due to her sudden move, his sleep too disturbed... they both parted away feeling awkward... she moved slightly keeping a distance apologizing, "sorry... voh mujhe pata nahin chala..."

Sameer smiled seeing her nervous look keep his hand on hers, "it's okay... you were tired... just relax..." he knew how much she gets nervous with their closeness and doesn't want to keep her in any awkward situation... they both shifted away looking outside as seems none was ready to initiate any further talks...

Looking outside suddenly Naina realized that it was already very late and knowing Kamya's habit to sleep early, she felt bad thinking how much Kamya must have waited for her to have dinner together but didn't get possible... even she doesn't have any regrets for the time she spends with Sameer but leaving Kamya alone at her own house makes her feel sad...

In her thoughts, "kal subah hi Kamya se sorry bol dungi... voh mere ghar par hai aur mujhe waqt hi nahin mila uske saath baatein karna ka bhi... usey kitna bura feel ho raha hoga na... par aaj subah jo kuchh bhi usne kaha, voh galat tha... mein naraaz nahin hoon usase par uska yeh badla hua behavior, na jaane kyun ek ajeeb si bechaini de raha hai... jaise kuchh galat hone wala hai...

Uska yun achanak hamare ghar aana, Rani Sahiba se itani closeness aur Sameerji ke saath yun jabardasti friendly hona... mujhe laga ki mere samjhane se shayad voh samajh jayegi par uska mere ghar mein aakar rehna... shayad usake iraade nek ho par uska bartaav itna ajeeb kyun hai... voh meri bachpan ki dost hai aut ek yahi rishta meri zindagi mein aaj bhi hai... Maa papa ke baad sirf Kamya thi jis par maine hamesha aankehn bandh kar ke vishwas kiya hai... Kanhaji, mein nahin jaanti ki uske man mein kya chal raha hai, par mujhe meri dosti par poora vishwas hai... voh kabhi mujhe dhokha nahin degi....

Par mein jaanti hoon ki Sameerji ko Kamya bilkul pasand nahin... I wish ki mein unhein samjha paati... par aaj jis tarah subah se mein pareshaan thi, pehle Preeti aur phir Sameerji ne jaise mujhe samjhaya, mujhe vishwas dilaya ki mujh mein koi kami nahin, I am perfect... laga jaise dil par se ek bojh utar gaya ho... shayad mein unke laayak nahin par phir bhi unki najaron mein mere liye ek izzat hai, meri parwah hai...

Jis tarah se aaj unhone mujhse baat ki, mujhse maafi maangi... mujhe smajhaya unke gusse ki wajah jo shayad ek tarah se theek bhi thi... Rocky ke case mein sab bohot uljha hua tha aur voh sirf mujhe bacha rahe the taaki mere naam par koi aanch na aaye... mujhe bhi samajhna chahiye tha... bela aunty ne bhi mujhe bataya tha ki iss ghar mein log alag soch rakhte hai... mein abhi tak kisi ko bhi theek se nahin jaanti aur jaise Rani sahiba ka behavior hai, mujhe unse dur hi rehna chahiye...

Par inn sab baton ke beech hamare rishtey ka kya... ek taraf voh mujhe sabse bachate hai, Kamya ki baton se jo dukh hua, usey bhi dur kiya, aur dusri taraf mujhe aaj tak ek outsider hi samajhte hai... kitna uljha hua rishta hai hamara... ek saath hokar bhi hum donon ek dusre se kitne dur hai, jaise nadiya ke do kinare...

Unhone aaj tak jo bhi kiya mere liye, shayad ek ehsaan ya sirf apni jimmedari samajh kar kiya par mere liye voh meri zindagi hai... mein inkaar nahin kar sakti ki unki wajah se hi aaj mein aur mera baby zinda hai... uske aage shayad unki yeh teekhi baatein bhi bardasht kar lungi... par unka saath hamesha dil ke kisi kone mein ek ummid jaga deta hai... unke itne kareeb rah kar unse dur rehna ab aur bhi mushkil hota ja raha hai mere liye... Kanhaji, kuchh toh raah dikhaiye..."

She turned to see him again sleeping keeping his head on backrest... she keenly looked at his tiring face, "par aaj... jo yeh waqt maine Sameerji ke saath bitaya... voh pal kitna alag tha... maana jyaada baat nahin huyi par bina kahe unhone mere man se saare waham dur kar diye... aaj poora din hum ek saath the, par pehli baar unka saath achchha laga... ek anjana sa apnapan tha unki baaton mein... par kyun..?"

"pata nahin Kanhaji ne meri kismat mein kya likha hai... shayad yeh kuchh lamhe unke liye koi maayne na rakhe par yehi meri aane wali zindagi ki yaadein banegi, jinke sahare mein saari umra bita sakungi... jaise inhone kabhi anjaane mein ya majboori mein hi sahi hamesha mera saath diya hai, mujhe bachaya hai... mein bhi apni taraf se poori koshish karungi ki meri wajah se inhein ya ghar mein kisi ko bhi koi pareshaani na ho..."

Tumne Na Suni Dhadkan Humari

Par Humne Mehsoos Ki Saanse Tumhari

Itne Dur Hokar Bhi Kareeb Ho Aap

Shaayad Yahi Hai Khush Naseebi Humari

Sameer keeping his eyes closed, all lost in his own thoughts, "kitni koshish ki isase nafarat kar sakun, par nahin kar paaya... jitna isase dur jaane ki sochta hun yeh dil ke utne hi kareeb aa rahi hai... kabhi nahin samajh paaya ki iske dil mein kya hai... par na chahte huye bhi dil mein sapne jaagne lage hai... jaise zindagi mein jo adhura rah gaya tha voh poora hone wala ho... iska masoom chehra, jheel si gehri aankhen... man karta hai bas dekhte hi jaao... aur iski masumiyat... kaise sambhalu samajh nahin aata... jo khud itni masoom hai voh kisi ko dhokha dene ke baare mein soch bhi nahin sakti... par duniyadari se bilkul dur hai... aankh bandh karke kisi par bhi bharosa kar leti hai..."

He turned to look at her side thinking, "man karta hai saari duniya ki najaron se bacha kar kahin dur le jaaun.. jahaan koi iske dil ko na dukha sake.... par aisa mumkin nahin... mere saath kahin iski bhi zindagi aur khushiyaan na barbaad ho jaaye... iska haq hai har khushi paane ka par kya mein isey voh de paaunga... kabhi kuchh nahin kehti, kuchh nahin maanga toh kaise jaanu ki iska dil kya chahta hai...

"khud apni uljahano mein itna uljha hun ki na chahate huye bhi baar baar iska dil dukkha deta hun... pata nahin kaise meri itni kadwi baatein sehti hai... aur koi hota toh nafarat karta par iski aankhon mein sirf masumiyat aur khamoshi hai... pata nahin iske aage hamare rishtey ka kya hoga par mein inqaar bhi nahin kar sakta ki mere dil ke har kone mein sirf Naina hai... meri Naina... par kya yeh kabhi mujhse pyaar kar payegi... hamare rishtey ko dil se apna sakegi... kya mein isey zindagi ki saari khushiyaan de paaunga... ya meri kamjori mein dab kar iske saare sapne choor ho jayenge..."

Tumse Nahi, Tanhai Se Darte Hain

Pyaar Se Nahi, Judaai Se Darte Hain

Tumhe Paana Ya Khona To Naseeb Hai

Lekin Hum Kismat Ko Aazmane Se Darte Hain!

An awkward silence prevailed in the car... Pandit looked at them from rare view mirror getting irritate, "donon hi nalayak hai... ek toh hai hi gadha aur usko mili bhi hai perfect gadhi... office ke kaam ke alawa jaise kuchh hai hi nahin baat karne ko... bas apne apne man mein baatein karte rehte hai... idiots... ab mujhe hi kuchh karna hoga..." he smiled naughtily and turned on the audio system playing a romantic song...

धीरे धीरे प्यार को बढ़ाना है हद से गुज़र जाना है

धीरे धीरे प्यार को बढ़ाना है हद से गुज़र जाना है

मुझे बस तुझसे दिल लगाना है हद से गुज़र जाना है...

ऐसी ज़िन्दगी होगी हर तरफ ख़ुशी होगी,

इतना प्यार दूँगा तुझे ऐ मेरे सनम,

अब न कोई गम होगा ना ये प्यार कम होगा,

साथी मेरे मुझको तेरे सर की है कसम,

इक दूजे को आज़माना है हद से गुज़र जाना है.....

मैं अकेला क्या करता ऐसे ही आहें भरता,

तेरे प्यार के लिए तड़पता उम्र भर,

जाने क्या मैं कर जाती यूँ तड़प के मर जाती,

बिन तेरे भला कैसे कटता ये सफ़र,

तेरे लिए मर के भी दिखाना है...

A soft smile crept on their faces hearing the song played, well suited to their situation... a soothing romantic song depicting how slowly and steadily their relation is also growing...

Their trance broke seeing car entering their mansion compound... they get down from car and entered home... it was all silent and house was lit with some dim night lamps only... the moment they turned to enter in elevator, heard a soft chirpy voice, "hey guys... so finally, you are back..."

They turned to see Kamya standing there keeping her hand crossed to her chest with a wide smile on her face... she was in her night wear... a revealing red silky nighty till her thighs with a net over coat...

Naina looked at her wristwatch showing 1 am... she asked suddenly, "Kamya... tu soyi nahin abhi tak... tujhe toh jaldi sone ki aadat hai na... aadhi raat ho chuki hai... mujhe laga tu so chuki hogi ab tak..."

Kamya grinned widely coming close to her, "tujhse mile bina mujhe neend hi nahin aa rahi thi... kitni der se tera intzaar kar rahi thi..." she turned to Sameer, "subah bhi theek se baat nahin huyi toh socha aapke saath thoda shaam ko time spent kar lun... par koi nahin raat hi sahi... hum ab bhi baat kar sakte hai... right..." her gaze was fixed on Sameer who was glaring at Naina...

Naina felt bad for her, "sorry Kamya... voh office mein jaruri kaam tha, varna hum jaldi aa jaate... tujhe hamare liye itna pareshaan nahi hona chahiye tha... so jaana chahiye tha... vaise tu ne dinner kar liya na..." she asked out of courtesy...

Sameer frowned seeing her giving explanation to her friend for being late... whereas Kamya seems least bothered in her talks and focused more on him...

Kamya replied, "haan, dinner toh kar liya... maine toh sabke liye dinner plan kiya tha par tum log nahin aaye toh Vishakha aunty aur maine akele hi kar liya... isn't it too bad ki pehle hi din koi nahin tha mere saath... but it's okay... dinner na sahi par maine socha tum logon ke saath coffee ho jaaye... I mean thodi der saath baithenge na isi bahane... right Sameer..." her gaze was fixing at Sameer avoiding Naina's presence there...

Before Naina replied Sameer said in a rude tone, "no... I don't think it's good to have coffee so late..." saying this he looked at Naina with a sharp tone, "let's go... it's too late for you... I know you are tired, and we have to go office tomorrow..."

Kamya tried to stop them again, but seeing his cold behavior stops herself, "mujhe laga hum saath mein time spent karenge par..." before she complete Sameer said with an evil smile, "don't you think you should give some privacy to newly married couple... actually, I want to spend some time alone with my wife... hope you understand... right..." his tone was full of sarcasm...

Kamya felt embarrassed and seeing no way to stop them said, "ya sure... why not... I know you all must be very tired... so it's okay... hum kal subah milte hai... vaise bhi ab toh roj hi milna hoga so good night Sameer..." she wished to him and went to the guest room, leaving Naina in daze... she ignored her presence and didn't even bother to wish her...

Sameer seeing Naina standing there hold her hand to jerk, "you really think she was waiting for you... she was not even looking at you..." he said in a mocking tone...

Naina lowering her head, went inside the elevator without uttering a word... she was aware of Kamya's habit of sleeping early but today she was awake just to have coffee with her or just with Sameer... strange...

After reaching to her room, Naina left to change in washroom taking her clothes, avoiding any discussion with Sameer... coming back finding room empty, she went in balcony to get some fresh air feeling suffocating, as unable to handle this another mess in her life... the more she is trying to keep Kamya away, the more she is trying to go near him... her mind was clouded with lots of confused emotions... feeling dishearten...

She stayed there for a longer time expecting Sameer to get slept avoiding any more discussion about Kamya... she stirred with a jerk suddenly heard Sameer calling her, "you are still thinking about her...?"

Naina turned to see him sitting there at some distance... but couldn't utter a word... she was somehow loss of words as Kamya's changed behavior which was disturbing her also a lot... but not ready to accept...

Sameer came close to her asking sarcastically, "so... you understood that I was right about her...?"

Naina didn't know what to say... she still wants to believe her, but little confused too...

Naina said looking down, "aisa nahin hai... aap abhi bhi galat samajh rahe hai... mein usey bachpan se jaanti hun... uske man mein aisa kuchh nahin hai... aap usase abhi mile hai aur dekhiyega kuchh hi dinon mein aap bhi uske dost ban jayenge..." she said to satisfy her own confused feelings...

Sameer frowned unhappily, "are you really so dumb... can't you see what she is trying to do?"

Naina at sudden loss of words tried to explain again, "look... it's really not like how you are thinking... she is just trying to be over friendly with you... she is always like this... and why will she come after you...?" she said abruptly having faith on her friend that she will not trying to be after her friend's husband...

Sameer stunned at her words thinking she is feeling so low about him that why a girl like Kamya will be after him... is this what she also thinks about him... disabled... dependent?

Without giving a glance he turned and rolled his wheelchair going inside the room... feeling hurt... seeing his suddenly changed expression she re-think and realize what she had said or how he misinterpreted her words... she was just justifying her friend but has no intention to hurt him pointing towards his disability...

Sameer was no more interested to have any more discussion... he always knew how others think him render incapable but never expects the same from Naina... the way from last few days they were together, he has firm faith that she is different from others... and have true feelings towards him... but all his hopes shattered within a blink of eye...

Naina rushed inside the room seeing him sitting their keeping his back towards her... she came in front of him, kneeled... he turned to leave avoiding her, when she stops him keeping her hand on his...

Sameer fixed his gaze on her asked, "do you despise me because I am disabled?"

Naina came to him to apologize but hearing his sore voice, she realized how much pain he was bearing... how much hurt is he by her words... which actually she didn't mean at all... but she has to pacify it... at least no more misunderstandings from her side...

She holds his hand in hers softly and smiled looking straight into his eyes, "why would I feel that way and who told you?" she said with a pleased smile on her face...

Naina took a deep breath and looked straight into his eyes, "I don't know how to say but I have never seen a person like you in my entire life... and I really mean it... honestly you don't need to look down upon yourself... never... even if you are sitting in a wheelchair... you are still you... the best... there's nobody else like you in the world... no one... believe me..." she spoke with a sincerity... devoid of any flattery or malice...

She said taking a deep sigh, "What others think about you is not important... what you think yourself means everything..."

Sameer dumbfounded about it for a moment... it was like seeing a warm sun in the depths of winter... they remain seated like this for quite some time lost in each other's eyes...

Seeing him with no response she stood to go when he holds her wrist to stop, "you really mean it... or...?"

She turned with a soft smile on her face, pinching her neck cutely with other hand, "kanha ji ki kasam... mein kabhi jhuth nahin bolti... mujhe pata hai ki hamare beech vaise bhi bohot kuchh galat hai... ek aur jhuth ka bojh nahin le sakti mein..." she said while blinking her eyes with a pure innocence... somehow, she still has guilt to get married with him with a lie... she truly respect Sameer and admire his intelligence... she appreciate all his supports to save her life and pride...

Sameer kept looking at her innocence amusingly with a blank face... he was at loss of words seeing her confidence on him... breaking the silence after couple of minutes, he said, "lets sleep... it's too late now..." she nodded smilingly feeling relaxed now... she turned to her bed but stops in between asking to help him on bed, "may I..?" he nodded...

She crouched down putting his hand on her shoulder and helped him to be on bed... today it took her bit more effort for her to help him feeling his hot breath on her neck, giving goosebumps... their bodies were stuck to each other that they could even hear their heartbeats loud... somehow managing to help him on bed, she covered him with duvet... she lifted her hand to switch off the night lamp when he hold her hand to stop, "leave it..." she smiled slowly wishing him, "good night..." and left for her bed to sleep...

Since her first day in this house, she noticed him always slept in dark but now days he let the room in dim light... is it because of her but she never told him about her fear of darkness... was he really concerned for her... but why?

Naina too laid down covering herself thinking how their life is changing... she felt a strange sensation in her heart.... their relationship was so bad back then, but now after Rocky's incident, his acts really make her confused more... seem he really cares for her... was it just because of the night they spent together to save her life...? Is he in some kind of guilt? or is there something really changed in their relation? is there any ray of hope in their relation?

She determined to know the reason for his changed behavior towards her... if he has some kind of guilt or forced into this relation, she will not allow him to do so... he has all rights to spend his life the way he wants... she knew what all he has done was just an act of humanity with no attached emotions from his side... and she really respect him...

But... somewhere deep in her heart, she was craving for his warm emotions even if it's for a short period of time... he seems cold from the outside but seems warm from inside... beyond her expectation... she wants to cherish these moments which she will keep in her heart forever...

Next update very soon... till then enjoy n stay safe 😊