Hi All!Thank you for your awesome and encouraging responses.Since my exams are ongoing I am not able to reply back to each one of you.Will surely do soon.Keep the love coming.:)

Here is the update,read on.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Few Days Later

In School

"Rishav! Tu mujhse baat mat kar.Main gussa hun tujhse.Tune Nandita Miss ko jhuth kyun bola?'' Nisha asked while terribly miffed with Rishav's lying attitude.

"Toh kya sach bolke phir se punishment kha leta?'' Rishav asked taking out his lunch box.

"Haan kha lete lekin jhooth kyun bola?Tere wajah se mujhe bhi jhooth bolna pada''. Nisha sulked as she took out her lunch box too.

"Oho! Bol to aise rahi hai jaise kabhi jhooth nahin boli hai.'' Rishav said with mocking grin.

"Haan boli hoon na jhooth,tujhe bachane ke liye humesha.Nahin to main kyun jhooth bolun.Mujhe tujhse baat nahin karni.Jhoota'' Nisha defended her stand against his allegations.

"Bahut acha.Mat kar.Mujhe bhi shauq nahin hai.Aur bhi friends hein mere''.Rishav spoke looking at the group of boys standing at distance.

"To jaa unke pass.Main to tera friend nahin hoon.''Nisha spoke as she took a bite of muffin.

"Haan haan jaa raha hoon.Baat nahin karna mujhse phir wapas''.Rishav spoke with attitude and left to join the boys group.

"Hey guys! Mujhe ek interesting game aata hai.Its called 'Truth and Dare'.''Shivam,one of the boys gave the suggestion to make the recess more interesting.

"Wow.Lets play then.''Rishav spoke up and all others agreed.

"Rishav!Bol 'truth' ya 'dare'?''Shivam asked as the spinning bottle stopped at Rishav.

"Dare.I love dares''.Rishav spoke excited about the dare.

"E Rishav!Nisha teri best friend hai na? ''Prithvi,another boy asked.

"Yes.She is my best friend.''Rishav spoke forgetting all the bitterness they had shared just moments ago.

"Toh tera dare hai jaa use dhakka deke aa.''Shivam dared cocking his eyebrow.

"Dhakka dun Nisha ko?Gir jayegi to chot lagegi use''.Rishav reasoned and suddenly felt he did mistake by choosing the dare.

"Hehhe..Arey ladki se dar lagta hai? Agar dhakka dega to teri best friend nahin banegi kya?'' Prithvi asked instigating the tiny male ego in Rishav.

"Kyun nahin banegi best friend?Tumhe shaq hai?'' Rishav asked with an airy attitude.

"To phir let's bet'.Agar dhakka dene ke baad bhi teri best friend rahegi to yeh Cadbury Silk tera.Aur agar nahin rahegi to tujhe humein ek Cadbury Silk dena padega.Bol manzoor hai?'' Shivam asked flashing the limited edition pack of the chocolate.

"Itni choti si bet'.Ok bet' is done.'' Rishav spoke up and went to complete his dare and bet.

He saw Nisha approaching towards him from the classroom.

"Nishaaa! ''Rishav squealed and ran towards her.

Before Nisha could know what was happening her head hit against the adjacent pillar and she fell to the floor. She only saw a blurring image of Rishav kneeling beside her and perhaps calling her name.The world faded away for her then.

"Moti! Arey niche kya so gayi?Uth.Tu meri best friend ab bhi hai na?''Rishav shook her body while she lay unconscious on the floor.

"Moti! Kya hua?Tu kuch bol kyun nahin rahi hai.Aankhein khol''.Rishav shook her for the nth time and sudden fear gripped him hard.

"Moti! Kya hua?Nisha! Uth na.Aankhein khol''.He shook her body with more intensity as the crowd piled round him.

"Hato Rishav!Mujhe dekhne do''.Nandita Miss's voice boomed from the back as Rishav cleared bit space for the teacher.

"Miss!Mo..Nisha ko kya hua hai?''Rishav asked as he saw teacher checking her pulse.

"Behosh ho gayi hai.Hospital lena padega.Tum chalo mere saath.'' Nandita Miss instructed while Rishav trembled with fear of danger to Nisha's life and also getting punishment both from school and his mother.

" Naina Agarwal! ''The Principal Madam's voice boomed through the cell phone while Naina was involved in designing the cover page for her upcoming book.

"Yes!''Naina casually spoke plugging the ear phones.

"I am Nisha's Principal.Nisha is unconscious and is admitted in City Hospital.I am speaking from there.Can you please come here immediately.'' The words of Principal shook the ground beneath Naina while her throat went dry for seconds.

"I am coming''.She could manage to voice and her hands were already searching for the ATM Card and house keys.

In hospital

"Doctor! Kya hua hai meri bachi ko?'' Naina asked tears pooled in eyes.She could not bear to see the sun of her universe lying still on the hospital bed.

"Ghabraiye mat.Wo thik ho jayegi.Choti bachi hai na.Chot thodi gehri hai.Hum kuch tests kar liye hein,reports aayegi to pata chal jayega ki condition kya hai.Phir bhi aap tension mat lijiye.''The doctor consoled while Naina nodded and thanked the doctor.

"Aunty!Mo..Nisha thik to ho jayegi na? ''Rishav asked Naina as she sat on the tool near Nisha's bed.

"Rishav!Pehle yeh batao yeh sab kaise hua?Kaise gir gayi?Nisha to kabhi bhag daud karti nahin hai.''Naina asked while Rishav trembled with fear.

"Wo..wo..Aunty hum khel rahe the..''Rishav trailed as a sense of guilt reflected upon his face which Naina didn't miss to notice.

"Haan khel rahe the..phir kya hau?'' Naina asked deciding to go deep into the matter.

"Wo..maine Nisha ko dhakka de diya''.Rishav spoke editing the truth and dare game portion.

"Dhakka kyun diya?Tumhe jeetna tha kya game mein?''Naina asked suddenly feeling her gut wrench in past bitter memories of her school life.

"Sorry Aunty.''.Rishav mouthed as he held his ears seeing forgiveness.

"Tum sab ladke bhi...''Naina passed a general comment and went up to the nurse who signalled her to come to doctor's cabin.

"Naina ji! Aap bilkul befikre rahiye.Nisha bilkul thik hai.Aap kuch ghanto mein use ghar le jaa sakte hein.Bas khayal rakhiye jyada stress na le aur bhaga daudi na kare.Do tin thodi weakness rahegi bachi hai na.Aap yeh medicine counter se le lijiye''.The doctor's words fell like melody in her ears.Naina heaved a sigh of relief learning that her world was out of danger.

The testing times were over.

"Thank you so much doctor''.Naina thanked the doctor and left with Rishav to collect the medicine.

In late hours of evening

"Hello! ''Sameer received the call and continued flipping through channels out of which nothing captured his interest.

"Hello!Uncle main Rishav.''Rishav spoke out loud enough that Sameer checked if his speaker was ON.

"Haan Rishav bolo.Kaise yaad kiya?'' Sameer asked looking at the clock which was ticking away to strike 9 PM sharp.

"Uncle!Aapko ek baat important batani thi.Nisha aaj school main gir gayi thi aur use chot ayi hai.''Rishav informed while Sameer jolted up from his semi interested state.

"KYA?Gir kaise gayi?Tum kya kar rahe the?Kaisi hai ab woh?'' Sameer fired Rishav with questions while Rishav dreaded to answer back in fear of getting scolded.

"Wo..wo..maine hi use dhakka de diya tha''.Rishav spoke the truth despite the fear of getting scoldings.

"Tumne dhakka diya?Lekin kyun?'' Sameer asked surprised with Rishav's confession.

"Wo..''.Rishav stammered a bit but then went onto confessing about the truth and dare and the bet' he took.

Sameer was shocked to learn about the whole incident.The bitter memories of such a heinous act flashed across his eyes.

"Tumne acha nahi kiya Rishav.Wo tumhari dost hai,kitni bharosa karti hai tum par..Aur tumne sirf ek chocolate ke liye use dhakka de diya.Not expected''.Sameer spoke with a discomposure in tone.

"Sorry Uncle.Aage se aise galti nahin karunga.Promise.Aap use dekhne nahin aaoge?'' Rishav swore and mentally made a note to ask for forgiveness from Nisha when she gets well.

"Ab to itni raat ho gayi.Kal milne chala jaunga.Thank you for informing.''Sameer said but still his heart wanted to meet her at that moment only.He too knew that Naina would not be very happy to see him there,in her home.

"Uncle!Mein rakhta hoon.Mummy bula rahi hai.Bye.'' Rishav spoke up and hung off.

Sameer kept the phone and paced in the room forgetting all about the dinner lying on the table.Nisha's adorable face accompanied with her bright smiles and those goofy faces flashed across his eyes.He could not bring himself to imagine her even sick,hit on head and lying still on the bed.

What would be Naina doing?She herself was not fine and was just in post recovery phase..none except Nirupama to help her out.Should he go?Would Naina let him meet Nisha?Would Nisha be happy to see him?Would he be able to stop himself from retorting back to Naina's taunts and sarcastic comments,her angry ones too?

Lots of question did somersaults in mind and while his feet took him unknowingly to the drawer.He took out his diary to clear up his mind by writing out and the pink brunette clip fell from drawer.

The same one which belonged to Nisha and he had securely locked it in his drawer.

"Piku!Nanu so gaye hein?'' Sameer asked Piku who was cleaning the kitchen finally before retiring to the bed.

"Haan Sahib!So gaye hein.Par aap kahan jaa rahe hein itni raat ko?'' Piku asked surprised seeing Sameer dressed to go out.

"Haan wo Nisha ke ghar jaa raha hun.Nanu puchenge to bata dena.Aur yeh mein duplicate chabi leke jaa raha hun,tum kaam khatam karke so jaana.'' Sameer instructed while Piku smiled knowing how in few days only Sameer has come to love and adore Nisha and Rishav like his own.

"Mumma!Mujhe neend aa rahi hai.Aankhein khul bhi nahin rahi hai.''Nisha mumbled in half sleep as Naina administered the medicine syrup to her.

"Neend ana achi baat hai beta.Ab so jao ache se.''Naina kissed her forehead as she pulled the blanket over her.She traced the heavy bruise on Nisha's head which had swollen.For the second time in years,she again felt she would have lost Nisha to the worst times and cursed stars.

"Aati hun baba..Itni jor se bell koun bajata hai?''Naina mumbled in disgust at the lack of etiquette of the untimely visitor.

"Koun ..TUM?''Naina's eyes rolled in surprise seeing Sameer at her doorsteps while the wall clock behind her struck 11 PM sharp.

"Naina!Wo..Nisha.''.Sameer didn't know how to start the conversation.

"Andar aao''.She opened the door to the hinges and he followed her inside.

"Baitho yahan.Main thodi der main aati hoon.'' She spoke and without waiting for his reply went inside.Sameer saw her drawing curtains and switching off lights of the verandah.The lights of kitchen too was switched off.The whole house sunk in half-darkness barring the small living room where he was sitting waiting for her,while she took eternity for returning back to him.

"Toh..Nisha ke bare mein kisne bataya tumhe?'' Naina asked knowing at back of her head that it could be either Rishav or Nirupama.

"Rishav ne.Kaisi hai wo?''He asked not knowing how to ask her if he could see Nisha.

"Wo left wali room mein so rahi hai''.Naina spoke knowing very well what actual question he wanted to ask.

"Thank you'' He threw the words and left to check on Nisha.

Seeing the bundle of cuteness lying with a swollen head and stitch pulled the strings of his heart.He could not stop himself from kissing her on forehead.For the first time in days of his acquaintance with Nisha,he saw her so quiet,so tired.And that unsettled him.

"Doctor kya bole?Tests kiye hein?'' Sameer asked coming out of room and seeing Naina writing out something on paper.

"Thodi kamzori hai,do teen din mein theek ho jayegi.'' Naina said not lifting her head from the paper.

"Uski Papa nahin aaye use dekhne ke liye?'' Sameer asked impromptu and the self control in Naina broke.

"Tumhe use matlab?Koi dekhne aaye ya nahin aye.Meri bachi zinda hai,achi hai wohi mere liye important hai.'' She agitatedly spoke throwing the pen.

"Haan ya naa mein to bol sakti ho.Itna gussa hone ke bhi kya zaroorat hai?'' Sameer spoke seeing her agitated for reasons unknown.

"Saare sawal ke jawab haan ya naa mein nahin hota hai.Ab tak nahin samjhe?'' She asked cocking her eyebrow and keeping check on her anger.

"To phir question change kar lete hein.Nisha kiski beti hai Naina?'' Sameer asked feeling not comfortable with the fact that Naina was a biological mother to a child.He ,for reasons unknown, could never frame her with someone else.

"Meri hai.Tumhe kuch problem hai?'' Naina asked continuing to scribble on the paper with another pen.

"Nahin mujhe koi problem nahin hai par yeh batao uski biological parents kaun hein?'' Sameer asked prodding.

"Kitni baar bolun meri bachi hai.Meri bachi hai'' Naina spoke up and got up to take some file from the shelf.She could not ask him to leave though she wanted him to leave her alone.

"Kisko bewakoof bana rahi ho Naina?Agar tumhari hai to kahan hai tumhara pati?'' Sameer knew what her ON' and OFF' buttons are.

"Wo..Hamare saath nahin rehte.'' Naina spoke up as she leafed through the file.

"Shaadi kab ki tumne?Ms.Naina Agarwal?Daughter of:Rakesh Agarwal ''Sameer asked walking up to her holding the driving license that she had left on the table.

"Shaadi ki hai...maine.'' Naina fumbled a bit because lying had gotten out of habit for her.

"To phir sindoor kahan hai? Au aise kaise shadi kar li ki Swati ko bhi nahin bulaya?Wo to tumhari best friend thi na?'' Sameer asked stepping a foot closer to her and looking intensely into her eyes.

She was astounded by his sudden closeness and the impact of his questions on her.The warmth of him was a conflagration that set her to shivering. The file dropped hard on the floor and she jolted back to senses.She pushed him away and tried breathing clean.

"Sameer!Tum chale jao ab yahan se.Please''.Naina spoke up turning away from him.She could not muster to speak looking into those questioning gaze of his eyes.

"Haan chala jaunga.Lekin tum mere sawal ka jawab nahin diya ab tak.''He said knowing very well that he had literally left her tongue tied with his questions.

"Tumhe jawab chahiye to pehle mere sawal ka jawab do..Varsha kahan hai?Nahin hai tumhari saath?Tum kyun shaadi nahin kiye?Tumhari jaan thi na wo?Bolo Sameer kya hai inn sawalon ka jawab''.Naina threw the questions and Sameer was jolted for several seconds with the mention of Varsha'.

"Tum mere sawalon se nahin bhag sakte aise..''Sameer said dodging her questions.

"Aur tum sochte ho ki tum bhag sakte ho mere sawalon se?'' Naina asked crossing her arms.

"Varsha ko bhul jaana hi behtar hai ... ''Sameer spoke as if reassuring him.

"Aur tum mujhe aur meri beti ko bhi bhul jaoge..to behtar hogi. ''She spoke as she went to open the door.That was the most polite way she could have asked him to leave.

He looked up at her in surprise with her demand.He never wanted to be in contact with anyone but it was destiny which was bringing him close to the people and was forcibly parting him from them.His life was always a mess and it was no more a sweet surprise.

He left without uttering a word throwing the last glance at the door where Nisha was quietly sleeping.

Naina watched him go away like she had seen him go away from her leaving her all edgy, apprehensive and uneasy.She composed herself and pulled the curtain over the large glass window.Over the years she had realised that when you want to clear the mind,you should read or sleep.She chose to read a bit before dozing off.

'SMASH'' 'SMASH''

Naina woke up straight on her bed as she heard glasses break.She threw the blanket and took to feet to see what transpired.Before she could realise she found herself being pushed to corner and her legs and hands being tied up.She could see a dagger pointed at her left temple and two people standing right behind her. The broken glass pieces of the window lay scattered all over the floor.

"Jara Chup-Chap Toh Baitho Ke Dum Aaram Se Nikle,
Idhar Hum Hichki Lete Hain Udhar Tum Rone Lagte Ho.

Teri Hi Justjoo Mein Ji Lee Ek Zindagi Maine,
Gale Mujhko Lagakar Khatm Saanso Ka Safar Kar De.''..

Naina dreaded listening to the shayari and the source of voice.She never wanted to hear the voice even in her dreams.The man she never wanted to meet again in this lifetime and even in next subsequent births too.But he had found her,found once again.

"Naina Agarwal!Badhai Ho..Maut ke jung jeet ke aagayi aap..E mithai khilao lekhika ji ko''. The voice ordered as he made himself comfortable on the sofa stretching out his legs.

The orders were immediately complied while Naina spat out the motichur laddoo she was being forced to gobble.

"Nisha kaisi hai lekhika ji?'' The voice asked biting on store brought potato chips.

"Sudip! Please humein chod do. ''Naina cried as she had felt that there was no use of fighting back and failing.

"Haan haan chod denge.Itna besabri thik nahin hai.

Yeh shayari to padhi hogi aapne

Sabr rakho jald hi mehsoos hoga tumhe

Mera hona kya tha mera na hona kya hai '' He sang as he got up to wash his hands.

"Meri pyari Nisha kahan hai?Arey yahin to hai..'' His voice trailed as he noticed Nisha clutching to the tiny teddy bear and sleeping.

"Nahin Sudip..Please ..nahin..uske pass mat jao.Main tumhari pair(feet) padti hoon.Please meri bachi ko kuch mat karo.'' Naina cried and pleaded.With her hands tied behind her back and her upper body almost parallel to the floor ,she was in much pain and was sweating profusely.

Even the chilly winds of hill station could not cool her off.

"Arey kaisi baat kar rahe ho lekhika ji?Kya karunga apni pyari Nisha ke saath?Kya mein itna bura hoon? Aap special laddoo khaiye.Main apne Nisha ko to gift dene aaya hun.Uski birthday thi na abhi''.He said as he took out the injection vial bottle and the syringe with the brightest grin.

"SUDIP!PLEASE!Meri bachi ko chod do...Please..'' Naina could no more voice the words as she felt lumps in her throat.

With the fresh batch of helpless tears flowing down her eyes she watched the solution of the bottle being drained into the syringe and the syringe's needle pierced into the vein of Nisha.Nisha whimpered and mumbled in sleep.But the weakness and effect of medication didn't let her get up even after so much of commotion and cries of her mother.

"Happy Belated Birthday Nisha.Hope tumhe yeh gift pasand aya hoga.'' He said as he kissed her cheeks.

"Kounsi injection ..laga di use..Meri bachi bimar hai...Kya laga diya use..'' Naina asked and cried at her helplessness.

"Zyada kuch nahin..sirf terbutaline ki overdose hi gift kiya hai.Gift kuch hatke bhi hona chahiye na..kyun lekhika ji..apka ko pasand aya gift?'' He asked with a sly smile and raised his collar.

"Aapse milke badi khushi hui lekhika ji.Phir milenge.Aasha hai apko laddoo aur gift dono pasand aaye honge''. He spoke and left signalling his men to untie her.

Naina watched them leave crushing the already broken glass pieces.

She rushed to Nisha.Tripping over the vial bottle and syringe she scampered on the bed.

"Nisha! Nisha!'' Naina shook Nisha only to find her taking irregular breaths already.

The worst times were not over,they kicked on perhaps from then.

(To be continued)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Would love to read all your responses.:)