Goa

Naina is waiting for her husband to arrive with their daughter. She fiddles nervously with the floating-ring, which she keeps on her lap. 'Where are you Sameer ji?'

Her heart-beat is erratic and she knows something is not right, somewhere!

A group of girl’s walks pass her, talking about a very sad incident, which have happened a hour ago. She asks them the details, and they tells her, that a man,  with a baby was washed up on the other side of the beach, but the baby did not SURVIVE.

Her world crumbles the moment she hears about the child. She walks to where the incident have occurred.

After reaching there, she just finds a baby carrier, and it is the same one, which she and Sameer used for Saina. She drops to her knees and screams out in anger.

Hot tears flows down her cheeks as she clutches the carrier. 'Sameer ji,' she suddenly yells out.

One conversation is repeating itself over and over in her mind, 'Promise me, you BOTH will come back to me!'

The feeling of sorrow is over taken by fury. Suddenly, she feels a piercing pain in her stomach. A fisherman comes to her aid and takes her to a nearby missionary hospital.

******

'Rakesh, avoiding my calls like this, is not a good idea! Do you have my money? Stanley barked on the call with Rakesh.

'Um..Yeah..Yes, almost!' Rakesh's voice cracks.

'ALMOST, that means you have NOTHING!You and Anand have one more month. Thirty days to give me my $25 million!' Saying this, he disconnects the call.

'Thirty days,' echoes in Rakesh's mind and he is about to fall, when Anand saves him from falling.

******

The fisherman assists Naina in climbing the 8 steps that leads to the hospital. On entering, she spots Sameer; seating on a bench at the far end of the hallway.

Forgetting the pain in her abdomen, she marches towards him, even leaving the old fisherman behind. Her long strides takes her to him in a matter of seconds.

He is sitting silently on the wooden bench, tightly clutching a damp, scruffy looking teddy bear. Dried tear trails are evident on his cheeks.

Just then, he sees his wife standing in front of him. 'Nainu!'

She slaps him on his face. 'HOW COULD YOU SAMEER JI? HOW COULD YOU LET THAT HAPPEN TO OUR BABY? OUR DAUGHTER IS DEAD, BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU KILLED HER SAMEER JI! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!'

As he opens his mouth to say something, she restarts her tirade. 'Do you know what date is today? It’s her 1st birthday Sameer ji! I was going to have a small party for her. I was going to make a wish for her, when she will blow out her candle. I was going to smear the icing from the cake, onto her face, and then take out a photograph of her messed face. I was..I was..I was going..'

She breaks down crying again. He wraps his arms around her and holds her close to his heart.

'I was going to CELEBRATE her birthday Sameer ji, I never thought I will be BURYING her on this day!' She sobs.

'NAINA, SHE’S ALIVE!'

'What did you say?'

'Saina is ALIVE!'

'Where is she?'

He cups her face, 'Inside the ward. The doctor is examining her. We have to wait out here!'

******

PRECAP ~ SATISFACTION

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