"Hurry up guys! What are you doing? There mehendi function has started and you all are gossiping here? Go and get your seats!" A young beautiful girl scolded her friends who were sitting outside the mansion.

"Yeah going! Yaar Naira, your jiju is so hot! I feel jealous over Ahana di!" One of her friend commented to which naira began glaring at her and hit her arm.
"Shut your mouth and go inside. Everyone is waiting for the ceremony to begin." She last time scolded and made her way inside the 'Agnihotri' mansion.

Agnihotris are the rich industrials of the city as their empire has a great rich through many cities and states. It was Rishab Agnihotri with whom Ahana's marriage has been fixed some months ago and now finally the wedding ceremonies has started.

Naira reached near her father and side hugged him while both admiring Ahana, who was seeming happy beside rishab.

"Missing di already?"

"Yeah! Tumhari maa mujhe hamesha chidhati thi ki ek din tum dono shadi karke chali jaogi aur tab main zidd karta tha ki tum dono ki shadi nahi hone dunga but see, aaj main khud apne bacche ki shadi karwa raha hu!"

(Your mother always used to tease me that one day both of you will marry off and leave me, and i used to say that i would never let you both marry but see today I myself marrying off my child.)

Naira hugged her father tightly knowing how much emotional he was getting and also missing their mother who died some years ago.
"Dad! We can meet di whenever we want. Don't be so grumpy and enjoy the ceremony. Look, how happy di is! Rishab jiju will take care of her just like you do." He smiled with a nod and pushed off the lone tear.

"Naira beta!" They both snapped and looked at the couple.

They were rishabh's parents, Prerna Agnihotri and Rajeev Agnihotri. Beside them a well build man was accompanying who was rishabh's younger brother, Rahul. Prerna was their step mother as after Rahul's birth Rajeev's first wife died due to some complications and to take care of the children he married to prerna who later turned to be the best mother and best wife for them.

"Yes aunty!"

"Beta, can you bring the jewelery set from my room? Rahul is going outside for other work and i have to present here. Please bring it for me!" She insisted sweetly and with same gesture naira agreed.

"I will just come aunty! Where's your room?" She asked as prerna instructed her.

"Uff, kitna bada ghar hai! Main toh firse bhul gayi prerna aunty ka room. Ab kisko puchu?" She wondered seeing the same structures of room.

(How big this house is! I again forgot prerna aunty's room. Now who do I ask?)

She was passing by a room when she heard some light sniffles as if someone was crying. Her heart started beating faster as a unknown feeling attracted her towards it. She felt the strong urge and with a push opened the door. The room was dipped in darkness, she blindly tried to find out for any switch but getting hit from something fell down with a thud.

"Ouch!" She yelped and hearing her voice someone crawled up in fear clutching the end of curtain in tight grip. His sniffles muted as he gulped them fearing someone will punish him for making voices.

Whearas naira could clearly feel the presence. She lifted her head and saw a shadowed figure behind the curtains. A smile crept on her lips as she guessed it.

'I think, koi baccha hai!"

She stood up and pulled the curtains aside revealing him completely. She saw the switch board and turned on the lights. With a big smile she looked down only to get numb at the revelation.

Her eyes met with the teary ones. She gasped at his handsome face but then the weird moves shocked her. Her mind filled with confusion and she couldn't proceed with it.

"Mat maro! Pl_please mat maro! Bhai!! Bhai!!" The voice was manly but the way he was yelling was showing the childishness.

(Don't beat me! Please don't beat me!)

"Listen! Main tumhe nahi maar rahi. Please shant ho jao. Tum aise behave kyu kar rahe ho, aur kon ho tum? Dekho agar koi prank hai toh please don't do this. You are scaring me!"

(Listen! I am not beating you. Please calm down. And why are you behaving like this? Look, if it's some kind of prank then please don't do it. You are scaring me!)

She said coming near him. And he composed himself more in the corner. Hiding his face with both his arms he almost begged before her.

"Pl_please mat maro. Bohot dukh raha hai, mat maro please!"

(Please don't beat me! It's paining a lot, please don't beat me!)

Her heart pained at his breaking voice. His tears were tackling through the cheeks.
Coming closer to him, she sat down and held over both of his hands.

"Shh! Dekho_"

"What's going on here?" A strong voice came as he flinched at his place and naira too.

Rahul moved with big steps and crouched down near him. He immediately hugged him and rubbed his back in a soothing manner. Whereas getting the comfort finally he stopped struggling and cried near him.

"Who is he? And why is he behaving like this? Are you doing any prank bhaiya? Please tell me!"

"No one is doing prank naira. Your presence scared him. He is my younger brother, Jai! Jaiveer Agnihotri!" She was shocked at the revolution. And soon everyone gathered in the room.

Seeing so many people jai become uncontrollable as he pushed rahul and hid behind the couch. His act was unexpected as till date none from the Singhanias were aware of him. They didn't know that rishab has a brother who is mentally unstable.

Prerna got panicked as rajeev tried to calm him and he gestured rishab to handle the situation. Ahana who was seeming like aware of it reacted normally and asked her father and sister to come out with other members.

"Jai, what happened baccha? Look bhai is here. Everything is fine, calm down baccha!" Rishab calmly said like convincing a child. His voice did the magic as jai immediately hid behind him, clinging to his back like second skin.

"Bh_bhai!" He cried and hugged his brother. Rahul left and looked at naira to do same. But she was so much engaged in the newly found mystery. Her eyes were staring him unconvinced. She was numb to react anything.

※※

"What was all that? And what was the need to hide your son from all of us? We could have understood the situation, rajeev! Don't you trust us?" Aditya Singhania bolted out with a little raised voice. He was questioning them from the time they gathered in a room. Prerna, rajeev and rahul were sitting while rishab just arrived after making jai sleep.

Ahana was with naira as she was trying to calm down her father. And among all the person was standing, his eyes were scanning through everyone. Where everyone were seeming tensed, he was enjoying the atmosphere.

"We wanted to tell you everything but Mihir bhai suggested to keep it secret untill the marriage. We didn't want to trouble anyone with jai__"

"That doesn't make any sense prerna! You both are my friends and you hid such big thing from me? I was asking you about jai from beginning but you both ignored my questions. What happened?" He said as prerna felt tears streaming down her eyes.

"Dad! I knew about jai. Rishab told me when we first time met." Ahana told as naira looked at her shocked.

"I will clear your confusion Aditya!"

"Jai is only son of me and prerna! He wasn't like this before. Some years ago jai and his friend, who he used to love were traveling in car. He was angry as prerna had rejected his love. I somehow convinced him and called him to come back but don't know what happened and we got a call from hospital that they met with accident. Ayesha died on the accident spot only and jai was very much critical, he had gotten a major head injury. We did surgery and it was successful. He recovered fast and that time everything was normal. His behavior was normal. He was in shock due to ayesha's demise and then suddenly one day his behavior changed. He went out of control. He wasn't recognizing any of us. We talked with many top surgeons but that was too late. He had lost his memory and slowly he started behaving like a child. Doctors told that maybe the shock had affected on his mind. After that we tried many medicines but don't know how his condition worsened day by day. Doctors told that nothing can happen with now. There are very low chances that he may get back his memory again."

He completed heavy heartedly. Aditya was all heavy heart while naira was in different zone. She couldn't decide how to react.

Rahul hugged his mother as he couldn't see her crying. Where mihir was glaring at him. He had always tried to keep Rahul as much as away from prerna, to create hate in his heart for her but everytime he failed. He didn't like rajeev marrying prerna after his sister's death. He never wanted any other share holder in rajeev's property which lead him to hold intense hate towards jai. He had always bullied him in childhood which was never in anyone's eyes and with him Rahul also used to hate jai. He used to think that their father loved jai more than him but after what happened he somehow changed his heart. He started being more protective towards jai which was biggest failure for mihir.

"I am the culprit! I was the one who rejected his love, I always hate ayesha and because of my hate both of their lives spoilt. Ayesha died and in her memories my son lost the flow of life. How could I do this with my own son?" Prerna cried as seeing her naira felt very bad. She went near her and crouched before her.

"Aunty, please don't blame yourself. None can change what happened but you can still try to improve his health. Dad knows some neurologists, you can ask their suggestions also. Maybe some miracle will happen." Her words brought a smile on prerna's face as she looked towards Aditya who shook his head positively.

"I will talk with them tonight only. Once the wedding ceremonies over then we will begin his treatment." Aditya said comforting rajeev who was hiding his pain for prerna as he didn't want her to fall weak.

"Aunty, you should bring him outside. Interacting with new people can improve his health. He was very scared alone in that room. If you will treat him like normal person then that will be helpful_"

"We know what to do and what not girl! His doctor has suggested to keep him away from crowd. I think Doctor's suggestion is more effective than any others." Mihir bolted up taking everyone's attention. None was convinced with him but at that time they didn't argue much as prerna was panicking over it.

※※

It was a bright morning, as usual the family members were busy in the preparation of wedding. It was decided that four days later the marriage will take place at Agnihotri mansion only.

Naira reached in front of the gates as she drove her car inside and came out. As soon as she came out, someone approached her.

"Naira?" She snapped at the source of voice and then smiled seeing rahul.

"How are you bhaiya?"

"I'm fine! What about you? And you didn't inform before coming. Anything serious?" He inquired which she shook away.

"I came to meet Jai!" He words dropped his smile. He confusingly stared at her sometime and then sighed.

"What do you want naira? You know, your presence will scare him. He will end up hurting himself or you. Please stay away from him." He suggested politely not wanting to trouble jai more.

"You're taking me wrong bhai. I want to meet him once. Please! I promise, if he behaved like yesterday then I will never try to meet him. Just one time, please!" She said in a convincing voice. Rahul was in dilemma before but hearing her pledges he agreed and permitted her to meet jai.

※※

Darkness was spread everywhere around the room, in the mid on the large bed, jai was laying with the blanket covered over his figure. He was clutching over the corner tightly and his eyes were wide open as if he was keeping eye on any movement around himself. He was fearing from the darkness but then none was there to light up his room. He doesn't want to live alone but none care.

Suddenly his ears caught some voice as his body began shivering in fear. His forehead started sweating as composing himself inside the blanket he shut his eyes tightly.

The doors opened and closed, with it naira entered inside. She huffed at the darkness and switched on the lights. As soon as the lights turned on, jai opened his eyes. He somehow felt relaxed as the fear pushed off. He likes lighting around him and it also brought a smile over his face.

"Jai!"

The voice hitted and he moved a bit but didn't reacted much. His body was shivering which didn't go unnoticed by naira. She took a deep breathe and walked to the other side of bed and held over the end of blanket pulling it off from his head.

"Listen! I'm naira_" She couldn't finish her sentence as before that he jumped from the bed and went behind the couch. He sat down in the corner and threw the teddy in her direction to keep her away.

"Go! Do_don't come!" He stated and covered his face but naira wasn't someone to give up. She instead walked closer and sat on the couch. Then bending behind, keeping her hands over the headboard she started speaking to him.

"Why are you behaving like this? Do you know who I am?" He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head still not looking at her and trying to hid himself.

"Oh! That's why! I told rishab jiju to inform you but i think he forgot." This time she successfully brought his attention.

"B_bhai!"

"Yeah! Rishab jiju told me that jai needs a best-friend so i came here to befriend with you but i think you don't need one." She pretended to be sad as hearing her voice jai slowly gathered courage to look in her direction. He pushed his body upward and stood up still maintaining distance from her. Naira bit back a smile and pouted more.

"I don't have any friend here!" She told him hoping for an answer.

"M__me too!" He whispered in a low voice pressing his cheek with his finger while holding the curtain in other hand. Naira squealed at her successful attempt and again went with the flow.

"Really? Let's do one thing, We both will become each other's friend. What says?"

This was when his eyes shined, he smiled widely like a child. It was first time when someone was talking to him like this. In these three years no one talked with him. Rishab did but he too never understood what he needed and what not. Sometimes rahul used to play with him but that too not for long. Everyone was busy in their own works neglecting him. They never noticed from where he was suffering and what kind of love and care he needs.

After getting the comfort from naira his body language changed as for first time he approached her and hesitantly lifted his arm, forwarding towards her to shake hands.

Naira immediately grabbed it as her own face holding a big smile.

"Friends!" He whispered in the same childish manner.

"Best-friends!!" She whispered back in a promising tone. Her eyes scanned through his figure as she noticed his pale handsome face. His messed up hairs and the slight marks on his nape. Her eyebrows wiggled seeing them but later she ignored and concentrated over him.

"Now, let me clear one thing. As you are my best-friend, so you have to come with me to my home. You know, I have a lot of video games. We both will play together and then we will go out." She excitedly told pulling him towards her and making him sit on the couch.

Jai shook his head and pulled his knees closer wrapping his arms around them and balling up on the place.
"No! I_i will no_t com_e. He doesn't like it." His words were not clear to understand but she could guess that he denied to come out.

Still understanding the fact that her eagerness could push him away once more she denied the plan and decided to do something other than outing.

"No problem! We will go to my home tomorrow! Today you show me your home then we will play with your toys! Btw, where are your toys? I don't know where is it." She said pouting. Jai giggled as he titled his head then holding her palm pulled her with him.

She felt the strings of current running through her body as his touch affected him differently but as usual this time too she ignored it and focused on what he was showing. There they reached near the cupboard beside which a box was kept and there were lot of toys in that. He showed her smilingly and sat down near it bringing out each one.

"Bhai gave me this!" He squealed happily showing her his gift which rishab gifted him.

"Wow! It's so pretty. Jai, let's go to rishab bhai and also show me your home." He nodded immediately and dragged her with him. Once reaching the door his steps halted and he stepped back like some realization hit him. Naira noticed that every time the topic come related to going out his face lost colours and he behaved scary.

'There's something which is bothering him!'

She thought and sat on the edge of bed with a big pout. Jai noticed it as he bent before her to come in her vision. Naira again turned her face while he too changed his direction.

"Wha_t happened? I_i am sorry!" His cute apology had all her heart. She gripped his palms which were holding his own ears as he was apologizing her for the thing he didn't do.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I made you sad." She smilingly shook her head at his cute answer.

"Buddhu! You can never make me sad, don't say sorry!" He smiled. Her touch smitten him as a kind of comfort he felt.

"What's your name?"

"Oops! I didn't tell you." She giggled slapping her head while the actions made him chuckle too. "I'm Naira! Your Ahana bhabhi's sister." He confusingly looked at her not knowing the relationships.

Naira understood it and then ignored not wanting to trouble him.

They started playing games as there wasn't anything so she turned on some board games on her mobile, which lightened his mood. She was willingly loosing the game to make him happy and bringing smiles on his face.

"Yaay!! I won again!" Jai clapped his hands laughing and cheering for himself. Naira chuckled at his childish acts then pretended to be angry which increased his joy of victory more. He pinched her cheeks as she shockingly glared at him and hit over his arms.

He hit her with the pillow and soon she reciprocated the same. They both engaged in the pillow fight. Both of them enjoyed each other's company a lot that Jai forgot about everything except his best-friend who brought happiness with her. She came like a sunshine in his dark castle, blooming the flower of his life with the rays of happiness and joy.

His back touched the soft mattress and he rolled over it laughing freely. Naira hit the pillow and accompanied him.

"Don't laugh jai! I will beat you now." She pouted but that didn't work much. He covered his lips with the palm and giggled like a girl.

They both were spending time when again the door opened with thud. Jai alerted with the sound and within a flip of eye he jumped behind naira hiding himself from whoever had arrived. Naira shockingly looked at him but then diverted at the door where prerna was standing.

"Jai!" She lovingly called him. "Nothing has happened! See mom has come." She said but he shook his head and grabbed her arms tightly from behind.

"You here? H__he was laughing, right? I heard your voices. Was that real naira?" She asked being stunned at the miracle. Her son, who had lost his smile was laughing freely with naira. Was that her imagination or real? She walked to them and sat on the far corner to keep some good distance from him.

"Jai is my best-friend aunty! He listens to everything I say, right jai?" She blinked her eyes at prerna who later nodded her head and acted to what naira was doing.

"Hmm!" Jai answered from behind.

"Then come forward and sit like a good boy. See your mom is teasing me that my best-friend doesn't listen to me." He twitched his shoulders then looked up from hers. Once realizing that naira is there he showed courage and sat beside her. His palm was tightly gripping over hers as he once glanced at her with a hesitating smile due to prerna's presence. His head was low as he was avoiding to look at anyone except naira.

"Veeru won't you talk to mumma?" She emotionally said. Her voice cracking due to the overwhelming feelings.

Naira felt bad seeing a mother longing for her son's love. She couldn't see both of them like that. Knowing that jai will not react by her actions, she asked prerna to come closer. Taking her palm she kept it over jai's cheek. He flinched little but naira blinked her eyes with a smile and he calmed down.

Prerna's heart cried with happiness as she creased her child's cheek then peppering his face with kisses she hugged him. He tried to avoid, to maintain distance but on naira's instructions stayed quite. Once prerna ditched away he too shifted back avoiding to meet her gaze. He held on naira's hand and looked at her in a pledging manner like he was requesting her with his eyes to stay near him. She nodded her head and sat beside him.

"Jai tell your mom to bring some snacks for me. She isn't listening to me. Ask her to make something for your friend, please! I'm hungry!" Her childish cry brought out his giggles which melted his mother's heart. She wiped her tears and ruffled his hair. Though that made him shift back but he didn't react much as naira's presence was making him feel secure.

"Why are you giggling? Please tell your mom!"

She urged and he slowly looked at his mother. He gulped little and again glanced at naira to confirm. She insisted more giving him the confidence he needed.

"Mo__mom, pl_ease make something for n_naira!" His voice was coated with fear but at that time none brothered. Prerna was on cloud nine that her son talked to her. He asked something from her. She cupped his face and kissed on his forehead.

"I will immediately make snacks for you both." She thanked naira with her eyes and ran outside hurriedly.

※※

Time passed and it was almost night. Jai was totally engaged with naira, they both had lunch together. Naira tried to bring him out of the room but he was scared so she cancelled the plan. On prerna's insistence naira had her dinner with jai. After spending a lot time finally she decided to head back to her home or else her father will be worried.

"Jai! I will go now, take care of yourself okay!" She ruffled his cheek smilingly. The words dropped in his ears which immediately proceed and he held her palm pulling her down near himself.

"Don't go! Please!" Out of sudden his eyes filled with tears and he began requesting her to stay near him like something will happen if she left him.

"Jai__"

"He will come! H_he wi_ll beat me, please don't go." His pledges turning into begs which was unable to take by her. She sat beside him and cupped his cheek.

"No one will beat you jai. I will come tomorrow, now I have to go or else dad will scold me. Please let me go." She said politely like convincing a kid that he was.

But again he was insisting to stay back. She had a hard time in handling him, on one hand her father was calling her and on other she couldn't break jai's heart by going against his wish.

In the meantime rahul entered in the room. Jai had flinched on his place but after seeing him he calmed down. Rahul gestured naira and she told him everything. He blinked his eyes assuring her and sat beside them both. He held on jai's arm and told him.

"Jai let her go for tonight. You don't want to live alone, right?" He asked and jai was immediate to pass a nod. "No problem then, tonight I will sleep with you. We both will play the video games I recently downloaded. Let's have fun together." His words were convincing but again it was saddening jai that naira won't be there. He was feeling secured and protected around her but again she was going.

What if he come back and beat him again? He doesn't want the same pain, he feels suffocated in the closed room.

"Please jai! I promise, I will be here in morning. Please listen to your naira." She made puppy eyes to which unwillingly he agreed. His smile had dropped which clenched her heart. She hugged him instantly ruffling his hair and promising him that she will be there with him in morning.

"I'll be waiting! You will come na? Promise?" He asked and she nodded fast. She kept her palm on his and kissed his one. Jai smiled cutely like a child and did the same action, by kissing her palm.

Both rahul and naira giggled at him and he blushed at the sudden focus over him. Naira waved a bye and left his room. After she went he ran towards the window and peeped outside hiding behind the curtains. He saw her sitting in the car and the next moment it started moving outside.

"Let's sleep now jai!" Rahul said and brought him over the bed. He laid down and clutched over rahul's palm. Looking at him with innocence he whispered slowly. "Don't go!"

"I won't, promise!" Saying so he creased his head and soon jai fell deep into slumber.

Days passed faster and with them jai and naira's friendship grew stronger. Jai got a protective corner where he could be himself. He could freely laugh, talk and babble whatever coming to mind. He found naira unique from others. Where others try to close him around the four wall naira wanted him to come out in the large world around. She taught him many things in just few days. Her presence made him greedy for more as at that time he was the most happiest. He could complain to her, could tell her his wish and could ask her for anything he want and in returns she never avoid him instead fulfilled whatever he says. And that was where he got attracted to her. After the interaction with naira he started carving more for her.

Whenever she left the house he silently stay in room and doesn't talk to anyone but when she comes, he was the most talkative one. She brought out the best out of him and threw the worst of things.

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