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Nisha leaned against the flushwork of Budden Memorial Methodist Church as the words of Nirupama echoed in her ears... "Naina ka subah ka injection lag gaya na?'' ... "mein hospital aa jaungi " ...

She felt cold though the bright rays of sun encompassed her petite frame in its wide frame.Her mother was ill,sick and suffering..if she knew she was going to never return she would have given her mother a tight hug and would have rested her head on her shoulders and would have cried till the tears ran dry.

But she was not given a chance..rather was cheated and lied to.

"Arey! Nisha beta! Tum yahan? Akele aayi ho?'' Nanaji asked as he spotted Nisha sitting on the steps to church with the kids cycle standing at far.

"Kya hua beta? Itni udas kyun ho?Mujhe nahin bataoge? ''Nanaji asked caressing her soft curls and placed a kiss on forehead.

"Aapko kyun bataun? " Nisha questioned and sunk her head into knees.

"Kyunki main Nisha ko aise udas nahin dekh sakta.'' Nanaji said and Nisha looked up to him.

With tears in eyes that were threatening to fall down since long; she moved near him.Nanaji opened his arms and she crashed into his arms breaking into loud sobs.

"Mumma ko ..dard ho.. raha hai..'' Nisha spoke in hiccups.

"Kisne bataya tumhe ?'' Nanaji asked surprised how Nisha came to know about her mother's truth.

"Sab ne mujhe..jhooth bola ...Mumma ..ko bada wala..dard hai'' Nisha spoke as she remembered Nirupama and Rishav's treachery.

"Aapko pata tha Mumma ke bare mein ?'' She asked Nanaji wiping tears.

"Nahin Beta.Mujhe kaise pata hoga? ''Nanaji lied through teeth.

"Mumma ko wo bada wala ijexion se ..dar lagta hai.'' Nisha said remembering how Naina had flinched from taking injection last time when she had high fever.

"Ijexion nahi beta injection.Injection lagega tabhi to wapas tumhari paas aayegi.'' Nanaji tried cheering up the upset angel.

"Wapas aayegi..wapas aajayegi...Kab aayegi? KAB AAYEGI? ''Nisha s temper flew away as she was reminded of false promises.

"Shaant beta..Shaant.Tum choti bachi ho isliye tumhe nahin bataya hoga. ''Nanaji tried pacifying her .

"Sabko pata tha na..Mumma kahan hai..mujhe kyun ..leke nahin gaye? Main Mumma ko bilkul pareshan nahin karti.Main kitna royi lekin kisi ne bhi Mumma ke paas leke nahin gaya..Main kya itni shaitan hoon? ''Nisha asked and Nanaji didn't know what to answer.

Some times are just difficult.

"Nisha! Tum yahan ho kisiko pata hai ghar main? ''Nanaji asked concerned.

"Nahin..'' Nisha replied and turned away her face.

"Yeh to galat hai beta.Tumhari Aunty aur Rishav to pareshan ho rahe honge.Chalo tumhe ghar chod deta hoon.'' Nanaji said as he got up.

"Aap jao..Mujhe nahin jana ..Main yahin rahungi.Mumma aayegi to mujhe leke jayegi.'' Nisha declared her final decision.

"Nahin beta aise yahan akele rehna safe nahin hai.Tumhari Mumma ne to boli hogi ki badon ki baat mante hein.Boli hai na?'' Nanaji definitely knew how to cajole and convince kids.

"Haan.. ''Nisha replied as she nodded in affirmation.

"To chalo..'' Nanaji held her hand and both descended down the church stairs.

"Kahin ye Moti Church to nahin chali gayi.Mujhe shaitan bolti hai aur khud shaitani karti hai.'' Rishav was hell lot angry on her for going missing with no information.'

He cycled to the church and spotted Nanaji approaching from far with Nisha walking beside him holding the cycle.

"MOTIII..'' Rishav shouted aloud and ran throwing the cycle to road.He didn't care to pick it up even.

"Moti! Tu..'' Rishav could not speak anything more since he was overwhelmed with extreme joy of finally finding her after so many hours.He hugged her tight and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

"Chod mujhe..'' Nisha wriggled out from the hug and pushed him.

"Maine kya kiya?Tu phir ro rahi thi? ''Rishav asked seeing her swollen red eyes.

"Haan ro rahi thi..Kyunki tu mujhse jhooth bola..Aunty ne bhi jhooth bola'' Nisha said as Rishav looked in surprise.

"Tu pagal ho gayi hai..Main kyun tujhe jhooth bolunga? Gadha hun,aalsi hun lekin jhootha nahin.Aur Mummy tujhe kab jhooth boli? Mere Mummy ko aisa mat bolna.'' Rishav could never stand false allegations and allegations against his parents and friends.

"Mumma hos..pi..tal mein hai.Par Aunty ne boli ki wo badi jagah pe hai..book likh rahi hai.Mujhe pata hai wo jagah kitna bekar hai.Badbu aati hai.'' Nisha had a terrible experience of hospital and she never liked the idea of someone close to her to be in hospital.

"KYAA?Aunty wahan hai?Tujhe kisne bol diya?Wish kite wahan pahunch gaya kya?'' Rishav tried to fathom how his aunty reached hospital and how Nisha knew something which he didn't.Strange.

"Nahin..Aunty phone pe baat kar rahi thi.Main sun li''. Nisha clarified.

"Oh!To Mumma ko pata tha.Wo humse chupayi yeh baat.Aaj to main unse baat nahin karunga.Tu bhi nahin karegi.Samjhi?'' Rishav was now angry on his mother for telling them lies for so many days.

"Hmm...Tu mujhe dhoond raha tha? ''Nisha asked as she saw Rishav profusely sweating.

"Haan...Mumma kitni ro rahi thi...Aise bina bataye koun ata hai?'' He asked wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Koun ata hai?'' Nisha asked surprised that Rishav knew answer to some question which she didn't know.

"Shaitan ata hai.'' Rishav answered.

"Tu mujhe shaitan bol raha hai na..Khud kya hai? ''Nisha ran behind Rishav to hit him for calling her Shaitan'.

"Gadha hoon... ''Rishav spoke as he tried saving himself from Nisha's playful beatings.

"Rishav aur Naina ab ghar jao.Tumhari Mummy pareshan ho rahi hogi.Aise bina bataye kabhi idhar udhar mat jaana.'' Nanaji advised them as he entered his gate.

"To aap yahan rehte hein? Aap Uncle ke saath Delhi nahin gaye?'' Rishav asked still bit angry with Sameer's non-helping' attitude.

"Haan hum yahin rehte hain.Bataya tha na ki hum church ke paas rehte hein.Aur Sameer ko zaroori kaam hai na wahan,main uske saath jaake kya karunga? " Nanaji said and Rishav realized that Sameer was really in urgency to go to Delhi.

"Main idhar-udhar nahin aayi thi.Main yahan har Sunday aati hoon Mumma ke saath.Yeh jagah aur yeh raaste mujhe ache se pata hai.'' Nisha clarified and Nanaji looked a bit surprised about coming to churches religiously.

"Aaj to Sunday nahin hai.Kyun aayi thi yahan? Rona tha na..Field mein bhi ro sakti thi..Chal ghar..Aaj Mumma se achi mar padegi. ''Rishav scolded her for her stupidity and pulled her hand to go to home.

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"Nisha!Mujhse naraz ho?'' Nirupama tried talking to Nisha for the umpteenth time.

"Haan wo naraz hai..Main bhi naraz hun''. Rishav voiced and sat grumpily.

"Thik hai..Main akele Naina se milne hospital chali jaati hoon...Tum log baitho naraz hoke.'' Nirupama tried the last trick in pocket to cheer up Nisha.

"Aap hos..pi..tal jaa rahe ho..Mujhe bhi jana hai.'' Nisha jumped from her seat and held Nirupama's hand.

"Hospital?Phir to ek shart par.'' Nirupama said as she smiled seeing her plan working.

"Aap jo bologi karungi.Aaj to koi homework bhi nahin hai.'' Nisha was ready to do anything ..literally anything.

"To phir dono haath muh dhoke khana kha lo,phir hum chalenge.Rishav !Promise karo wahan Aunty ko tang nahin karoge''. Nirupama instructed and both nodded to the conditions laid before them.

"Aunty! Aap humara ghar ka lock khol do.Mujhe Mumma ka favourite dress pehenke jaana hai.Please. ''Nisha requested as she found that particular red frock' missing from her bag.

"Mumma! Aap tayar ho jao.Main lock khol dunga.Mujhe pata hai.'' Rishav volunteered to help his mother.

"Acha mere shaitan sher.Yeh le..Wahan kuch shaitani mat karna.Nahin to thappad padegi.'' Nirupama said as she handed over the key of Naina's house.

At Naina's House

"Nisha! Jaldi kar..Aunty ke paas jaa rahi hai ya school ke function mein?'' Rishav was getting impatient with the late.

"Rishav! Tu meri wo pink hair clip kahin dekha hai? Yaad hai us din park mein lagake gayi thi.Aunty ko bhi nahin mila aur yahan bhi nahin hai.Kahan kho gaya?'' Nisha was upset on losing her clip ...perhaps forever.

"Tu ab clip dhoond rahi hai? Naya kharid lena.Chal jaldi''. Rishav uttered and he remembered something important he had to do..something very important.

"Nisha! Wo Uncle ne bola tha ki tu agar mil jayegi to unhe phone karne ke liye.Main tumhari landphone se phone kar dun?'' Rishav asked Nisha and he searched his pocket for the card Sameer gave him.

"Haan haan kar de.Tu bhi na ..bhulakad hai''.Nisha said as she applied her mother's lipstick and checked her beauty in the mirror.

"Hello Uncle! Main Rishav.Wo Nisha Church ke paas thi.Haan hai ab mere paas.

Haan yeh uski ghar ki number hai.

Mumma bula rahi hai.Baad mein baat karunga.

Bye. '' Rishav kept the phone and joined Nisha and Nirupama outside the house.

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"MUMMA! ''Nisha howled and ran towards Naina.

Naina choked on the water she was drinking hearing Nisha's voice.She saw Nisha come running and tumbling on her bed to hug her.

Nisha hugged her mother tight and Naina peppered Nisha with the most affectionate kisses.How terribly both missed each other.

Nisha sunk her face into her mother's chest. Naina clasped her arms around her. A mother's arms are more comforting than any one else's.

"Mumma!Aap yahan the? Mujhe kyun nahin leke aayi?'' Nisha questioned with a cross looking into her mother's eyes.

"Mujhe nahin pata tha ki main yahan aaungi isliye nahin layi.'' Naina tried answering to the questions that were cooking in the tiny head.

"Aap book likh rahi thi?Book kahan hai? ''Nisha asked searching for the book which kept her away from her mother for so many days.

"Book? ''Naina asked surprised and saw Nirupama gesturing to nod a yes' to Nisha's questions.

"Haan book...wo kya hai na wo book main publish karne ke liye bhej diya hai. ''Naina understood that Nirupama had cooked stories to convince Nisha that Naina was fine and in very good health.

"Aap mujhe phone kyun nahin karte the?Meri birthday bhi aapko yaad nahin thi na.Aap sab bhul gaye..mujhe bhi'' Nisha complained as Naina tried holding back the tears.How would she let her baby know that she was on the see-saw of life and death?

"Nahin Nisha.Mumma kabhi apni Nisha ki birthday bhul sakti hai? Mumma ne to bola tha Nisha ko mandir le jane ke liye''. Naina said as she caressed Nisha's back.

"Hein? Aap kab bole the? Wo to main Uncle ko dukan mein bola tha'' Rishav protested seeing his credits going to someone other.

"Rishav! Aunty kuch bol rahi hai an Nisha se.Tu chal yahan se,hum ice cream khate hein.'' Nirupama quietened Rishav and pulled him from the room.

"Aap mere liye kya gift laaye ho? ''Nisha asked with expectations filled in her heart.

"Gift? Wo..Paise nahin the na.Jab hum ghar chalenge tab kharid lungi.'' Naina knew her daughter would definitely understand some situations.

"Okay'' Nisha voiced and shifted herself from Naina's lap and mistakenly grabbed Naina's hand to avoid herself from stumbling to the floor.

"Ahh! Beta dhire.'' Naina flinched in pain as Nisha had grabbed the place where the IV was connected.

"Aapko dard ho raha hai? Yeh kya hai? ''Nisha saw a big needle pierced deep into her mother's dainty hand and some water is dripping through a white tube.This devil tube and needle were surely hurting her mother.

"Yeh..dawai hai.Isse Mumma jaldi thik ho jayegi. ''Naina explained as Nisha perched to inspect the connections of tube and needle.

"Aapko dard ho raha hai na? ''Nisha repeated to which Naina nodded in affirmation.

But then what followed was completely predicted yet unexpected.

Nisha pulled out the tube and gave the drip-system stand a push.

"Nisha! Kya kar rahi ho,Mumma ko zyada dard ho raha hai. ''Naina was terrified seeing Nisha react such impulsively and violently.

"Aap mera haath chodo.Yeh sui(needle) main nikal dungi.'' Nisha tried taking out the needle while Naina vainly tried calming her daughter.

"Shaitan sui.Meri mummy ko dard ho raha hai''.Nisha looked at the needle with scowl and fury before pulling it out with force.Drops of blood trickled down from Naina's hand as she tried to keep off the intense pain.

"NISHA!Kya kar rahi ho?'' Nirupama rushed to Nisha and pulled her from Naina .

She called the nurse and doctor to check on Naina and reattach the tubes and needle.

"Yeh bacha aapka hai?'' The nurse in mid-fifties asked as she checked on the IV connections.

"Haan..'' Naina confirmed and looked at Nisha who was sitting on another bed with Rishav and Nirupama by her both sides.

"Bacha sambhal nahin sakte to paida kyun karte ho?Doctor ne mana kiya tha na bache ko nahin lane ke liye.Tang karenge.. ''The nurse was surely pissed in handling such incidents on regular basis.

"Wo..ro rahi thi isliye hume lana pada.'' Nirupama interrupted in between.

"Maa ke bina bache to royenge.Lekin aapko patient ki haalat ki bhi fikr honi chahiye''. The nurse threw the words and left the cabin perfectly content with the arrangements.

"Mumma! Sorry.'' Nisha voiced from far.

"Koi baat nahin beta.Idhar aaja''. Naina called her.Nisha jumped from bed and rushed towards her mother.

"Mumma! ''Nisha called and pulled Naina's face.She planted a kiss on her cheek and kept her head on Naina's lap.The tenderness of her mother's caresses drove her into sound sleep.The long sleep that was cure to the worries of tiny heart and apprehensions of troubled tiny brain.

Few hours later.

"Nisha! Chalo ghar chalte hein.Der ho rahi hai''. Nirupama called Nisha as she found her playing with her mother's hair sitting beside her.

"Nahin mujhe nahin jaana.Aap jao.Bye Rishav.'' Nisha said and pretended to sleep.

"Nahin Nisha.Chalo.Mumma ko rest chahiye.Hum phir kal aayenge.'' Nirupama said as a promise as she lifted Nisha off the bed.

"Mumma ..mujhe nahin janaa..wapas ''Nisha pleaded and held on to Naina's arms.

"Nisha! Tum meri pyari bachi ho na.Aise zid mat karo.Aunty ke saath ghar jao.'' Naina cupped Nisha's sullen face and tried convincing her.

"Nahin...main nahin jaungi..main aapko pareshaan nahin karungi..Promise.Mujhe rehna hai aapke paas.Mumma ..please. ''Nisha cried breaking into sobs and hiccups.

"Nisha! Aaja beta.Hum ice-cream khayenge,ghumne jaayenge.. ''Nirupama tried this trick to distract Nisha.

"Main Mumma ke saath ghumne jaungi..Mumma aap Aunty ko bolo na..mujhe nahin jaana..aapko chod ke''.Nisha cried harder in her mother's lap and Naina's eyes pooled up with tears of helplessness.

She was helpless once again.She hated these moments of helplessness.It paralyzed her.Its a sickness.The cure calls for monumental effort to stand up and start walking.

And she always had been weak in nick of time.

"E Moti! Itna zid kyun kar rahi hai..Pagal ho gayi hai..Chal.CHAL! ''Rishav yanked her while she didn't leave Naina's hand.

"Rishav! Haath chodo Nisha ka.Aise pakad te hain kya?'' Naina rebuked Rishav a little for roughly handling her.

"Sorry Aunty.'' Rishav apologised and left Nisha's hand.

"Mumma..dekho na..mujhe moti bulata hai Rishav..mujhe nahin jaana.'' Nisha cuddled more into Naina's arms.

"Nisha! Hum kal aayenge phir.Aaj chalte hein.Meri Nisha to badi samajhdar hai na.Wo Rishav ki tarah gadha aur shaitan thodi hai.'' Nirupama cajoled her and gestured her to come into her arms.

"Haan haan..main hi bura hoon,gadha hoon,shaitan hoon, aur yeh Moti to badi pyari hai,achi hai...Mujhe koi pyar nahin karta.Sab daante te hein.'' Rishav uttered and sulked in a corner.

"Kisne tujhe bura kaha?'' Nisha was more sad now seeing her best friend in tears.She climbed down from the bed and walked upto him.

"Bura hoon isliye tu Aunty ke paas rehne ke liye zid kar rahi hai.Mere saath rehna tujhe pasand nahin hai.'' Rishav replied reasonably.

"Tere paas to teri Mummy thi na par mere paas to nahin thi.Tu ro mat.Chal hum sath mein aaj ice cream khate hein.Tu aise rota hua shakal mat bana..Gadha ka papa dikh raha hai. ''Nisha wiped Rishav's tears and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Wow! Mere bache to samajhdar hogaye hein ''Naina cheered up seeing the bond between both the kids.

"Mumma main kal phir aaungi.Byee..''. Nisha kissed her mother and left in await of a new day,of seeing her mother again.

"Naina ji! Badi khush hain aaj.Aapki bache the?'' The doctor asked while he checked on Naina.

"Haan..Itne din ke baad dono ko dekh rahi hoon..Umeed bhi nahin thi ki phir kabhi dekh paungi..'' Naina's voice choked remembering the past few gruesome days.

"Aapko kya lagta hai? Aap aise inhe chodke chali jaati? Nahin jaa paati.Bache to farishtey hote hein.Bhagwan ka roop hote hein.Banjaar bhumi mein sawan ki tarah hein.Inki dua ho to zindagi mein sirf khusiyan hi khusiyan hoti hai.Aap khus kismet hain ki aapke itne pyaare bache hein.

Waise aap ka parso discharge ho raha hai.Rounak ji ko bata dijiyega.

Take Care.'' The doctor said and left.

Naina closed her eyes to relish the feeling of being back to life,being back to home,being back to her Nisha.

What more she would have wanted?

(To be Continued)

Precap-  The time froze for them and the world just went blur.He knew she was there and she knew he was there.But still it was hard to adjust to the reality; looking at each other and behaving like strangers.Their paths have crossed again.

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Hope you liked the update.Keep the responses coming..It motivates and encourages me to be better. :)