He halted the Jeep two streets before her lane.

Rajveer - main auto karwa dun

Nahi - no I will go walking
She took her hand bag from back seat

She is home for three days for Diwali.
He came to drop her ..... And halted the Jeep with some distance before her home.
Due to obvious reasons.

Rajveer - apni bus ka time Bata Dena main lene ajaunga.

Naina - ap Huda ke sath Ghar kyun nahi chale Gaye...
Diwali pe akele rehna is so horrible.

She said with sadness feeling guilty for leaving him alone.....

Rajveer - Naina
Maine jab se hosh sambhala hai...har Diwali akele hi manai hai....
Mujhe adat hai.

She saw him with longing and love

Naina - jab humari shadi ho jayegi na
Phir ap kabhi bhi Diwali pe akele nahi rahoge...

She said with honesty making him smile....
He hold her hand tight.... Assuring her that he will be ok.

Rajveer - ab tum jao...
Maa baba intezar Kar rahe honge...

He said kissing the back of her hand.

___________

Maa - Kya banau Tere liye

Asked her mother affectionately

Naina - kuch bhi bana lo maa
Bahar kha kha Kar Ghar kar garam Pani bhi achcha lagta hai...
She said gently

Her mother smiled at her

Maa - bal kitne rukhe ho gaye hain tere... Chal tel dal dun.

Naina - maa abhi nahi ,rat ko sone se pehle daal Dena...
Aur baba kaha chale Gaye...

Maa - Tere liye rasgulle lane Gaye hain
Aur Kal Tere liye mehndi wali bulwayi hai....

Naina - maa yuckk
I hate mehndi....mujhe nahi lagwana
Apko pata hai mujhe uski smell achchi nahi lagti....
Main nahi lagwaungi....

Maa - Diwali hai Naina...

Naina - main nail paint laga lungi..

Maa - ginti ki cheeze Hain is duniya mein Jo tujhe achchi lagti Hain...
Offo Maine chai chadhayi thi... Bhul hi gayi...

She was about to get up

Naina - ap baitho main lati hun.

She said and got up immediately and left the room

Her mother was arranging her clothes when her eyes fell on the message notification tone on her mobile

It read
Rajveer sir

Her mother got alert and saw towards the door.

And without a second thought swipe her phone to read the message

Main Delhi pohoch Gaya hun
maa baba theek Hain na?
Unse koi bhi argument mat karna.
Agar mere bare mein kuch kahen bhi to chupchap sun Lena.... don't give back answers.
Aur maa ko batana mat ke wo saree Maine di hai....
Aj night shift hai Meri..... To wait mat karna so Jana....
Kal baat karenge.
By.

She immediately locked her phone back.

And she entered with tea mugs.

Naina - maa
Naye cups le aynege Kal....
Ye sab kitne purane ho gaye hai.

Maa - han...
Kal chalte Hain market.

She said trying to figure out whether to ask her or not.....

But she was more Disturbed with the content of the message
She doesn't want to think anything good about him
But always  ends up finding hard to point faults.

His goodness makes difficult for her to resent him

They never talked about it after that night
And she was surprised that their utterly stubborn daughter.....who use to throw tantrums on her every demands how quietly accepted their decision.

But they could feel the hollowness in her heart
They thought that maybe time will heal everything
That the feeling will pass away
But everytime they can read her face
That how agitated and anxious she is.

How her smile lack the sugar
Her face dull and unenthusiastic.

Had this been their old Naina
She would have fought for what she wants
They are sometimes so amazed that how she has become so calm and sensible

"Maa ye apke liye"
She placed a saree on her lap

Her mother came out from her chain of thoughts and saw the saree.
It was black silk saree....with silver border.

She said nothing and took it with a smile
Not in a mood to question her and break her heart.
As she is home after a long time just for three days.

"Meri dost hai na Malini ..... Wo shayad Diwali party mein aye .... Apne bete ke sath.....
Main chahti hun tum usse Milo."

She said on the dining table serving her rice ....

She didn't looked up at all and continue to mix dal with rice

Naina - ji maa
Mil lungi

She said obediently
And her mother saw her with testing eyes.