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FATE TWISTED BY LOVE

CHAPTER 28

When Naina remained quiet for few more minutes, Sameer understood that she wasn't ready to accept him as her friend. As some more time passed, he felt her body turning heavy & he heard her snoring softly. He smiled lightly & then without disturbing her slumber, he picked her up & made her sleep on his bed.

He pulled his quilt on her & was about to move away, when she caught his hand. He sat next to her & brushed his fingers in her hair, patting her head lightly to make her sleep again. She shifted her head from the pillow to his lap & instantly curled up to his warmth & slept peacefully.

Sameer though couldn't sleep at all. He wasn't comfortable in that position & then all the conversations with Kabir & Naina kept replaying in his mind. His gaze moved to his cute wife who was sleeping calmly. He brushed her hair away from her serene face & kept staring at her affectionately. His mind wandered to her words again.

He thought to himself, "Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki Naina ke dil mein bhi wohi dard hai jo main bhi bachpan se seh raha hun. Apni muskaan ke peeche apna har ek dard chupaa deti hai, bilkul meri tarah. Akelapan kya hota hai yeh koi mujhse poocho... Bhale hi Munna, Pandit aur Nanu mere saath the, par mere papa mummy ki kami koi poori nahi kar sakta."

Closing his eyes, he continued, "Maine bhi aajtak mera dard kisise nahi kahaa, kisise nahi baanta, kyunki mujhe wohh kisi ke saath share karne ka mann hi nahi karta tha. Munna, Pandit, Nanu, sab mere apne hai, fir bhi maine kabhi unse mera dard bayaan nahi kiya. Tumne sahi kahaa Naina, Munna aur Pandit mere best friends hai toh zaroor par shaayad main bhi sabhi baatein unse share nahi kar sakta, nahi bataa sakta unhe ki main kitna akela feel karta hun."

"Agar Nanu ko kuch kahaa toh wohh khaamakha pareshaan ho jaayenge, Munna aur Pandit se kuch kahaa toh unhe meri fikar lagi rahegi, unki bhi toh personal life hai, main mera akelapan kisi par zabardasti thopna nahi chahta, isliye kabhi maine kisise mera dard, mera akelapan, meri tanhayee, kabhi share hi nahi ki."

The tears that he had controlled till now made its way in his eyes & he opened his eyes to let it flow. His misty gaze landed on his beautiful wife who was curled up to him on his lap, "Naina... Jab se hum mile hai tab se hi maine kitna galat samjha hai tumhe, jaanbujhkar kitna hurt kiya hai tumhe. Kabhi maine koshish hi nahi ki tumhe samajne ki, jaanne ki, bas jo mujhe sahi lagaa wohh main kehta gaya, karta gaya... ek baar bhi yeh nahi socha ki tum par kya bitegi."

"Naina... Ho sake toh mujhe meri har ek galti, meri har badtameezi ke liye mujhe maaf kar dena. Main itna buraa nahi hun Naina... bas haalat hi aise hai ki main tumhe samaj nahi paaya. Par ab main samaj gaya hun ki humara dard ek hi hai, aur main tumhara har ek dard durr karunga. I promise Naina ki main tumhe kabhi akela nahi chodunga. Tumhari wohh hasi wapas laaunga jiski tum hakkdaar ho, tumhe har wohh khushi dunga jo tum deserve karti ho. Pati hone ka farz toh nibhaunga hi par uske saath saath main tumhara bohot accha dost bhi banunga, main wohh best friend banunga tumhari zindagi mein, jiske saath tum sab kuch share kar sako, mann mein jo bhi ho wohh bina kisi jijak ke mujhse keh sako, jaisa dost tumhe chahiye, waisa hi dost banunga main Naina..."

He closed his eyes making that final promise to himself for becoming that best friend Naina wanted in her life. He too needed such a friend & who could be better than his lovely & caring wife, who shared the same pain as his. He drifted to sleep in that uncomfortable position. His hand stayed in her hair while the other was in the tight grip of his wife.

The next morning when Naina woke up, she felt something hard below her head & she immediately jerked up after realizing that she was sleeping on her loving husband's lap. With that sudden movement, even Sameer jolted up from his deep slumber. When Naina tried to get up, her hand was held by Sameer who was looking at her intently to check if she was uncomfortable knowing that she had slept on his lap.

Naina met his intense gaze, "I'm sorry... wohhh mujhe pataa hi nahi chala ki main kab so gayi. Aap... aapko meri wajah se neend nahi aayi hogi na thik se? Sameer... aapko mujhe utha dena chahiye tha. Main acche se so gayi aur aap aise... aise hi baithe baithe so gaye. Aapko bohot uncomfortable hua hoga na?"

Sameer kept looking at her blabbering wife while she continued her rants & cursed herself for behaving so reckless. When Sameer could take no more, he just pulled her in his arms, "Ab bas karo... kitna bol rahi ho... Thik hai na... ek baar main tumhari god mein so gaya tha tab tumhari bhi neend kharaab hui hogi na. Aur ab tum mere god mein so gayi, toh hisaab barabar ho gaya. Ab ek aur shabd mat bolna aage... chupchaap taiyaar ho jao."

His hold on her loosened & she moved away slowly. Sameer kept staring at her till she disappeared behind the washroom door. He got up & saw her parent's photograph lying on the couch. He picked it up & walked downstairs to have a talk with his grandfather. After discussing something with his Nanu, he called up Munna & asked him to come to his place right away.

Within ten minutes, Munna appeared & he met Sameer & Nanu in the living room. Sameer asked them to arrange everything in the next few hours. After forty minutes, Naina came downstairs & helped Ramdhari in making the breakfast while Sameer went back to his room to get ready.

In the next hour, they finished their breakfast quietly. In the sudden rush to get ready & make the breakfast, Naina had forgotten about her parent's photograph. She didn't eat much & neither Sameer nor Nanu insisted her to eat more. They knew that she was missing her parents & also her Nanaji. They kept talking normally without making her feel sadder.

Naina was back in her room while Munna & Pandit had come to make all the arrangements in Sameer's house. Even Anjali had accompanied them. She entered the kitchen & with the help of Ramdhari, she prepared prasad for the pooja that was held for Naina's parents. While everyone was busy doing all the preparations downstairs, Naina sat in her room with her diary,

Hiii diary...

Bohot dino baad main tumse baat karne aayi hun...

Please gussa mat hona...

Tum jaanti ho naa ki main kitna busy rehti hun aajkal...

Pehle college, fir NGO ka kaam aur fir ghar ka chota mota sa kaam...

Tum jaanti ho aaj mujhe tumhari yaad kyun aayi hai???

Accha toh tumhe pataa hai...

Chalo accha hai, tumhe yaad hai ki aaj mere papa mummy ki barsi hai...

Main har saal mandir jaati thi Nanaji ke saath, hum wahaan choti si pooja karte the aur kuch garibon ko khana khilaate the...

Aaj pehli baar koi nahi hai mere saath...

Na mere papa, na meri mummy aur na mere Nanaji...

Aaj pehli baar main itna akeli ho gayi hun ki kuch samaj hi nahi aa raha...

Main mandir jaana chahti hun, jaise main pehle jaati thi...

Pooja na sahi par thoda mann ko shaanti chahiye hai aaj...

Diary... kya main Preeti ko bulaa lun???

Nahi... usse bulaaungi toh kahin wohh bhi meri tarah ro na pade, uske bhi toh parents nahi hai na ab. Nahi... nahi... Preeti ko bulaana sahi nahi hoga...

Kya... kya main akeli hi mandir chali jaaun???

Fir neeche Nanaji aur Sameer ko kya kahungi???

Waise Sameer ko toh maine bataa diyaa tha kal raat hi ki aaj mere papa mummy ki barsi hai...

Haannn... Yahi sahi hai...

Main akele hi mandir chali jaati hun...

Thodi der mandir mein rahungi toh mann bhi halka ho jaayega aur main thik bhi ho jaaungi...

Chalo diary... main abhi jaati hun...

Jald hi waapis milenge...

She closed her diary & hid it in her luggage. She freshened up & was ready in a white coloured lucknowi salwar suit. She tied her hair in a braid & left with her handbag. She suddenly recollected that she hadn't seen her parent's photograph since morning. She kept the handbag away & started searching for that photograph. She continued her search for the next half an hour but it was all in vain.

At that moment, Sameer walked in the room to freshen up. He saw her searching for something & he knew what exactly she was hunting for. He entered the washroom with a set of white kurta & jeans. He quickly freshened up & came out to find his wife sitting on the bed who was by now sobbing.

When Naina couldn't find that photograph, she sat down on the bed with a thud & started crying, remembering where she had kept the photograph last night. Then it suddenly dawned on her that she was holding that picture in her hand till she slept in Sameer's arms. She got up quickly to see her handsome husband standing in front of her in a white kurta which was paired with a light blue jeans.

Her teary gaze met his & she immediately walked to him, "Sameer... Mujhe... mujhe wohh photograph nahi mil raha hai... Aapne... aapne kahin dekha? Mujhe yaad hai ki kal raat sone se pehle tak wohh photograph mere haath mein hi tha... Toh fir achanak se kahaan gayab ho gaya ab? Sameer... please mujhe wohh photograph chahiye... wohh ek hi nishaani hai mere paas mere mummy papa ki... Jab bhi mujhe unki bohot yaad aati hai tab main hamesha ussi tasveer ko dekhkar apna mann bhar leti hun. Sameer... mujhe wohh tasveer dhoondne mein meri madad kijiye. Please Sameer... please..."

Saying that, she fell down on her knees sobbing hard. Sameer quickly kneeled down in front of her & gathered her in his arms. "Sshhhhh... Naina... Wohhh tasveer mere paas sahi salaamat hai... tum ab yeh rona band karo... Dekho... Tumhare mummy, papa aur Nanaji wahaan upar se tumhe dekh rahe hai. Tumhe aise rote hue dekhkar kya unhe accha lagega? Nahi naa... Toh bas ab rona band karo aur neeche chalo... Sab tumhara intezaar kar rahe hai."

Naina met his worried gaze, "Sab???" He smiled, "Haannn... Sab... chalo khud chalkar neeche dekh lo kaun kaun aaya hai." As she got up, he again tugged her hand, "Pehle thoda fresh ho jao, fir neeche chalte hai." She nodded in a trance & went to freshen up. After five minutes, she walked downstairs holding her husband's arm. She needed his warmth today to stay sane.

As she descended the stairs, she saw her friends present there who were seated on the white mattresses with Nanu & Munshiji. Her eyes moved ahead & teared up instantly after seeing her parent's picture which was now enlarged & framed in a large photo frame. She glanced at her husband & knew that he was the reason behind all this.

She wanted to go to the temple & offer her prayers as she did every year but here, her husband had made all the arrangements in their house only & he had even invited all her friends who were very much important in her life.

When her best friend saw her, she quickly got & rushed to her. Naina instantly wrapped her best friend in a tight hug & cried silently. Everyone in the living room cried with her quietly as all knew that both the best friends were feeling the same pain. Sameer fisted his hands as he was trying to control his emotions too. This girl was making him feel too much these days & his emotions were scattered all around.

Anjali came & separated the girls & led them ahead where Panditji was waiting to start the pooja. Sameer silently followed with misty eyes & then sat next to his wife for the pooja. Naina kept crying the whole time while Sameer held her hand & kept rubbing her palm. Once the pooja was done, Anjali & Preeti distributed the prasad to all.

Panditji left after blessing them all & everyone sat down on the mattresses again. Sameer sat away from his wife as Preeti & Anjali sat at the either side of Naina. By looking at her face, he could tell that she was very much sad & so was he. He shifted his eyes away from her & chatted with his friends & Nanu.

Nanu spoke, "Sameer... hum thodi der mein mandir jaayenge." He agreed & asked his friends to accompany them to the temple as well. Naina kept looking at her handsome husband who was now busy talking to Munna about something. Anjali & Preeti knew what was going on in their friend's mind.

Sameer had called up Preeti & asked her to come to their house. When Preeti had asked about the reason, he had informed about the death anniversary of her best friend's parents & she had immediately agreed to come soon. She had noticed the panic in his voice too as if he was controlling his emotions too. Even now, anyone would say that he wasn't in a right frame of mind.

After few minutes, they left towards the temple. Nanu, Naina & Preeti sat in Sameer's car while Munna, Pandit & Anjali came in Munna's car. Kabir could not come as he had gone for an important meeting early morning & so, he wasn't informed about it. Preeti though had left a message for him.

The whole ride to the temple was silent. As they reached the temple, Naina's eyes turned misty & she looked at her husband as if asking how did he know that she came to this particular temple every year with her Nanaji. Sameer just smiled in response & blinked his eyes.

Sameer held her hand & led her to the temple. As they reached upstairs, she was stunned to see that Kabir was waiting for them there. Ramdhari too was present there with some carry bags. Everyone went inside the Shiv temple & offered their prayers. When they came out, Sameer led her to the carry bags which included some shawls & food packages for the poor people who were sitting there near the temple.

Naina & Sameer together handed the shawls & food packages to those people one by one. Naina was content as all that she did every year was done this year too, even in the absence of her Nanaji. They descended the stairs & then left towards their home. Everyone dispersed from the temple as they wanted to give Naina some alone time.

As they came back, Naina was about to go towards the kitchen to help Ramdhari when Sameer stopped her, "Naina... Lunch already taiyaar hai toh tumhe kitchen mein jaane ki zarurat nahi hai. Chalo pehle fresh ho jaate hai fir Ramdhari thodi der mein hume lunch paros dega."

Before she could say anything, Nanu too added, "Sahi keh raha hai Sameer. Aaj tum koi kaam nahi karogi. Jao... tum dono fresh ho jao aur fir aadhe ghante baad hum lunch ke liye milenge." Naina nodded & followed her husband to their room.

Naina freshened up first & then Sameer. Both of them got back to their casual clothes & then headed downstairs for lunch. Once the meal was done, they went back to their room. Naina had many things to talk to her dear husband. As Sameer was about to open his laptop to check his work mails, he heard Naina's soft voice.

"Thank you, Sameer... Aapne aaj jo mere liye kiya wohh shaayad koi aur nahi karta. Aaj aapne ek pati hone ka farz nibhaaya hai Sameer. Aur main khush hun ki aapne bina mere kahe meri har khushi ka khayaal rakhaa aaj." She stood in front of her parent's photo frame & asked, "Sameer... aapko kaise pataa chala ki main har saal wohi mandir jaati thi aur wahaan jo log baithte hai, unhe khaana khilaati hun?"

Sameer stood right behind her & replied, "Sach kahu Naina... toh mujhe kuch nahi pataa tha, maine wohi kiya jo mere dil ne kahaa. Main kabhi kabhi uss temple mein jaata tha jab bhi mujhe sukoon chahiye hota tha. Aur yeh shawl aur khaana dene ke liye mujhe Nanu ne kahaa tha. Nanu ne kahaa ki aise mauke par agar hum gareebon ko khaana khilaate hai toh hume punya bhi milta hai aur guzre hue logon ki aatma ko shaanti bhi milti hai."

Naina was watching his reflection on the glass of the photo frame while he continued talking to her. She could see his care for her & she remembered how he had taken care of her & handled her last night. And today whatever he had done for her was very special. The small photograph she had was now enlarged & was hanging right in their room. He had made space for her, for her parents in their room. There was no other photo frame in the room apart from his & now her parents.

Naina turned & hugged him tightly, "Thank you Sameer for everything..." He held her close to himself, finally content on seeing her smile. As they parted, she called him out again. "Sameer... aapne raat ko mujhse kuch poocha tha aur main koi jawaab nahi de paayi thi tab aur fir kab meri aankh lag gayi, mujhe pataa hi nahi chala."

Sameer drew in a deep breath as he remembered what he had asked her. He saw her eyes shining with tears & he waited for her reply with bated breath. "Sameer... Aap mujhse dosti karna chaahte hai na? Maine kal raat kahaa tha ki mujhe ek aisa dost chahiye jo mere bina kahe mere dil ki baat samajh jaaye, ek aisa dost chahiye jisse main kabhi bhi kuch bhi bol sakun, jisse main dil kholkar baat kar sakun, har ek choti si choti baat share kar sakun."

Sameer kept looking at her, waiting to hear what he wanted to hear so desperately. She continued, "Aur aaj aapne sahi maayno mein meri har ek iccha mere bina kahe poori kardi Sameer. Main aaj mandir jaana chahti thi, pooja karna chahti thi aur unn gareeb logon ko khana bhi khilaana chahti thi. Mere bina kahe aapne meri yeh icchayein poori ki hai aa, fir toh aap waise bhi mere dost bann hi gaye Sameer..."

Naina took a step away from him, only to forward her hand towards him, "Main aapki dosti accept karti hun Sameer par fir aapko bhi mere saath har baat share karni hogi, aapko bhi apne mann ki sab baatein mujhe bataani hogi, aap bina koi jijak mujhse kuch bhi keh sakte hai. Boliye manzoor hai???"

Sameer finally breathed in & held her hand, "Haannn... Jaisa friend tumhe chahiye tha, waisi hi friend mujhe bhi aaj mil hi gayi." Without waiting for even a second, he wrapped her in his arms, feeling content. Naina too rested her head on his chest & heard his erotic heartbeats, feeling sated finally.

They stayed in each other's arms for few minutes & then Naina dragged him to the couch. "Sameer... Aap bhi ro sakte hai..." He was stunned to hear her words. She sat close to him, "Sameer... aaj mere mummy papa ki barsi thi aur isliye main apne emotions ko kaboo mein nahi rakh paayi aur bohot royi, kyunki main unhe bohot miss kar rahi thi. Aisa nahi hai ki main aaj hi unhe miss kar rahi thi, main toh roz hi unhe miss karti hun. Hum jab bhi balcony mein jaate hai, tab main unn sitaaron mein unhe dekhti hun."

"Maine aapki aankhon mein udaasi dekhi hai Sameer aur aaj uss udaasi ko, uss dard ko inn aankhon se beh jaane dijiye. Main hun aapke saath, main sab sunungi aaj kyunki main aaj sunna chahti hun. Jaise aapne aaj mere har dard ko kamm karne ki koshish ki hai, waise hi main bhi karna chahti hun. Ab mujhse dosti ki hai toh aapko wohh sacche dil se nibhaani bhi padegi Sameer. Toh boliye... main aaj aapke dil mein chupe har uss dard ko dekhna chaahti hun, mehsoos karna chaahti hun."

The pain that Sameer had hidden from his grandfather & his best friends was finally coming out from his eyes. Fresh hot tears made its way & he cried without any resistance. Naina kept rubbing his back slowly & controlled her tears. This wasn't about her now, this was about her husband & best friend Sameer...

After crying for few more minutes, Sameer looked at her misty eyes which reflected the same pain. She heard his choked voice, "Naina... jab tumhare mummy-papa guzar gaye tab tum choti thi, isliye tumhare paas unki koi yaad nahi hai, par main... main toh saat saal ka tha jab main Nanu ke ghar aaya tha mummy ke saath."

"Main tab chota tha isliye jyada kuch samaj nahi paata tha, par fir jaise jaise main bada hua, mujhe sab samaj aane lagaa. Papa jab bhi ghar aate toh hamesha mummy ko maarte the aur main yeh sab chup chupkar dekhta tha. Mujhe thik se yaad nahi ki kabse yeh sab shuru hua. Maine kitni baar mummy ko tootte hue dekha hai mere saamne, par tab mujhe kuch samaj nahi aata tha. Mujhe tab se hi Papa acche nahi lagte the, jo roz sharaab peekar aate aur mummy par haath uthaate. Koi ek din aisa nahi jaata tha jab hamare ghar mein koi jhagda nahi hua."

"Ek din main ghar me tv dekh raha tha aur papa kisi aurat ke saath aaye. Unhone meri mummy ko aur mujhse kahaa ki ab unhe humari zarurat nahi hai, kyunki unhone uss ameer aurat se dusri shaadi kar li hai. Mujhe tab itna gussa aaya tha ki maine meri cricket bat utha li thi unhe maarne ke liye, par unhone dekh liya aur unhone ussi bat se mujhe maarna chaaha. Bas uske baad mummy mujhe lekar yahaan aa gayi."

"Nanu ko sab bataaya mummy ne aur fir mujhe bahaar khelne bhej diya. Munna mera cousin hai, toh wohh aur Pandit mere bohot acche dost bann gaye. Do din baad jab main mummy ko lunch ke liye bulaane gaya toh unko pankhe se latka hua dekha." He broke down completely & Naina made him sleep on his lap. He shivered while crying & Naina couldn't control her tears anymore.

She couldn't see Sameer in this way. Whatever memories she had of her parents were good ones. But the past memories that Sameer shared with her broke her heart into million pieces. The seven-year-old Sameer Maheshwari had seen the worst in his life & still had survived it. How could God be so cruel with him? How could he snatch away his parents in such a harsh way? How much pain he must have gone through after watching her mother hanging from the fan?

Naina cried with him & let his pain flow from his eyes. She knew he must have never cried like that before. Seeing this vulnerable state of her husband, her heart pained more. She promised herself that day, "Ab se Sameer ke har ek dard ko main mita kar rahungi. Main aapko har wohh khushi dungi Sameer jiske aap hakkdaar hai. Main ab samaj gayi ki aapko shaadi kyun nahi karni thi. Aapne saat saal ki umar mein itna dekha hai ki aapko shaadi jaise pavitra rishtey par se bharosa uth gaya hoga. Par main aapko ek sahi aur sacchi shaadi ka matlab dikhaungi Sameer... Main vaada karti hun ki iss ek saal ke khatam hone se pehle main aapko yakeen dila dungi ki shaadi ko kaise nibhaate hai. Aapka ek saal baad jo bhi faisla hoga wohh mujhe manzoor hoga, par tab tak aap mere pati aur dost rahenge, jisse khush rakhna meri zimmedari aur hakk hai. Aapke har dard ko main khatam kar dungi Sameer... Aaj ke baad aapki inn aankhon mein se yeh aansoon kabhi nahi aane dungi main Sameer..."

Naina wiped his tears & patted his head on her lap making him drift to sleep in just mere minutes...

How was the update???

Bohot emotional kar diya na???

Par iski zarurat bhi thi, Sameer ko bhi uska past Naina ke saamne accept karna tha...

Sameer bura nahi hai, bas past situations ne uski soch badal di...

Aur ab toh Naina uski dost bhi bann gayi hai...

Ab dekhte hai aage kya hota hai...

Stay safe... Take care...

Ignore the mistakes...

With Lots of Love,

Daksha...❤