Naina ran her eyes over the frame of her brother and bhabhi. They both seemed fine.

'Aap log... theek toh hain na?' The concern for their presence in the hospital made her ask hesitantly.

Instead of answering, Anuj asked in a rough voice, 'Tu itni subah hospital mein kya kar rahi hai?'

Tina eyed her night clothes, then smiled sarcastically, 'Lagta hai raat se yahan hai. Kyon Naina, achanak hospital aane ki kya zarurat pad gayi? Woh bhi akele. Aaj kahan hai tumhara boyfriend jiske dum pe uss din itni akad rahi thi? Bhaag gaya? Aur tumhe akele hospital ke chakkar lagane ke liye chorr diya?'

Naina clenched her fists, but kept her voice low, as she was aware of the surroundings, 'Hospital mein toh aap bhi ho bhabhi.'

Anuj retorted in a tight voice, 'Tina ke papa admit hain yahan.'

'Main bhi kisi ke liye aayi thi jo yahan admit hain.' Naina replied drily.

'Oh really?' Tina quirked up a brow, 'Zara humein bhi milwao. Dekhein kitna sach hai tumhari baaton mein.'

Naina gave her an icy stare, 'Aapse milwana main zaruri nahi samajhti. Hospital mein sirf well wishers ko patients se milna chahiye.'

Tina's anger flared up, 'Dekha Anuj, kaise jawab de rahi hai? Saaf pata chal raha hai ki jhooth bol rahi hai. Iska hai kaun jisey dekhne iss haal mein ayegi. Iski friend bhi ab toh India mein nahi hai. Main bata rahi hun mera shaq sahi hai. Sirf paison ke liye kisi ladke ke saath... chee. Tumhari behen ko toh kisi ki izzat ki parwah hai nahi. Lekin main yeh bardasht nahi kar sakti ki aisi ladki ke saath koi mujhe dekhe. Please, chalo yahan se.'

Naina spat back sharply, 'Toh jaiye na. Maine aapko nahi roka. Lekin itna sunn lijiye... paise arrange karne ko bhi aapne hi bola tha. Tab kyon nahi socha ki main itna bada amount kahan se laungi.'

Anuj narrowed his eyes, 'Hamare saamne aisi baat karte hue tujhe zara bhi hesitation nahi ho rahi?'

Tina pulled at her husband's arm, 'Let's go Anuj, kisi ne dekh liya toh hamari image kharab ho jayegi.'

'Ek minute Tina.' Anuj shrugged off her hand and walked towards Naina, his eyes burning with anger, 'Tu hamesha se mujhe aur papa ko disappoint karti aayi hai. Lekin mujhe nahi pata tha tu itni besharm bhi ho sakti hai. Tera lalach toh tabhi samajh aa gaya tha jab tune court ka notice bheja. Par tu paison ke liye itna gir sakti hai yeh nahi socha tha.'

Naina looked back at him with same stern expression, 'Sharm mujhe nahi aapko aani chahiye bhaiya, mere baare mein itna ghatiya bolte sunte hue. Lekin apse aur kuch expect bhi nahi kiya jaa sakta. Khuli aankhon se bhi aapko kuch nazar nahi aata. Mera kuch bhi kehna bekaar hoga, isliye mujhe koi explanation nahi deni. Jis din aap apni aankhen aur dimaag istemaal karna shuru karoge, uss din mujhse jo puchoge main uska jawab dungi, lekin tab tak... I don't owe you any clarification.'

Red haze of anger clouded Anuj's mind, and his hand shot up in air. But before it could reach Naina, an iron grip clamped down on his wrist.

Naina was too stunned to react for a few seconds. She had never seen this kind of explosive behaviour of her brother. He was indifferent, but not violent.

'Who are you?' Anuj furiously tried to release his hand from the grip, which was crunching the bones of his wrist.

'Pehle tum bolo tum kaun ho?' Sameer growled, 'Meri wife ke saath aisi badtameezi karne ki tumhari himmat kaise hui?'

'Wife?' Tina's sharp voice made Sameer look back at her. His eyes narrowed. The face felt familiar.

He turned to Naina, 'Kaun hain yeh log?'

By now, she was able to get a grip on herself. She contemplated whether to disclose their identities to Sameer... but the introduction would have to be followed by more revelations, and she was not ready to share this part of her past with someone who was just a passing chapter of her life.

'Purani jaan pehchaan hai.' She muttered in a low voice.

Tina was still staring at him with wide eyes, 'Tum... tum toh wohi ho na, Naina ke boyfriend? Wife kyon keh rahe ho?'

Anuj also appeared shocked, and was glaring at Sameer.

He left Anuj's hand and wrapped a protective arm around Naina, 'Because we are married. Yeh wife hai meri. Aapko koi problem hai iss baat se?'

'What?' Tina's eyes darted from one to another a few times, then an evil smile appeared on her face, 'Oh achha! Hospital mein aisa kehna padta hai, jisse koi complication na ho. Tum Naina jaisi ladki se shaadi...'

Sameer cut her short, his jaw clenched in fury, 'Don't you dare. Meri wife hai Naina. Uske liye kuch bhi bolne se pehle dus baar soch lena. Warna main bhool jaunga ki hum hospital mein khade hain.'

Tina took a step back, but did not waver as she shot a snide look at them, 'Jhooth. Shaadi ki hoti toh humein bulaya hota. After all, sirf hum hi toh hain fam...'

It was Naina's strong voice that drowned Tina's accusation this time, 'Shaadi mein unko bulaya jaata hai jo kareebi hote hain. Jitne log meri khushi mein khush they, woh sab invited they.'

Anuj's voice dripped with disdain as he hurled another insult at Naina, 'Impossible. Shaadiyaan aise nahi hoti. Apni harkaton ko chupane ke liye shaadi ke naam ka sahara mat lo. Kya proof hai ki tum dono married ho?'

Naina looked at them, her voice heavy with restraint, 'Proof jeb mein leke koi nahi ghumta. Kya aapke paas iss waqt koi proof hai ki aap dono ki shaadi hui hai?

With a smirk, Anuj pulled out his wallet and opened it, to show Tina's picture, 'Shaadi ki hai, isliye apni wife ki picture hamesha apne wallet mein rakhta hun. Kya tere iss so called pati ke paas teri koi picture hai?'

Sameer could sense the rancour in their behaviour. He remembered the previous meeting with them... how disturbed it had left Naina. He could also comprehend the humiliating implication of the woman's venomous deductions.

With a single, decisive movement, he stepped ahead, positioning himself between Naina and them, as a shield against their hurtful gazes, 'Dikhawe ka proof unke liye hota hai jinhe apne pyar par bharosa nahi hota. Mere pyar ki picture yahan hai, mere dil pe.' He placed a hand on his heart, 'Hamesha ke liye. Aur haan, main road pe chalte hue kisi bhi anjaan ko hamari shaadi ka certificate dena zaruri nahi samajhta.'

Just then, a person from hospital staff came over, looked at everyone with confused eyes, then addressed Sameer, 'Mr Manoj, aap bills ki copy lena bhool gaye they. Lijiye, aapki mother ke saare bills iss envelope mein hain. Insurance claim karne ke liye chahiye honge.'

Sameer quickly grabbed the envelope, and nodded at the person.

After he was gone, Tina sniggered, 'Ab main maan sakti hun ki sach mein shaadi kar li tumne Naina. Apne jaise kisi average insaan se. Toh Manoj ji, aapki mummy ke treatment ke liye insurance wale pay karenge. Mujhe laga tum koi raees ladke ho par tum toh iske jaise hi nikle.' Her gaze hardened, 'Isilye Naina ne woh notice bheja. Uss din tumhari car dekh ke maine socha tum paise wale ho. Par shayad woh rent pe li thi, ya kisi ke driver ho? Flat pe kabzaa karne ka plan tum dono ne milke banaya hoga, haina?'

Sameer's muscles tensed, and he was about to retaliate when Naina's action left him shocked. She placed one hand on Sameer's shoulder, leaning against his chest and put her other palm over his heart. Her voice rang out like a hiss, but the steely edge in her tone could not be missed, 'Aapko jo kehna hai mujhse kahiye. Mere pati ke baare mein kuch bola toh theek nahi hoga. I won't tolerate anyone speaking to my husband like that.'

'Excuse me. Side dijiye.' An urgent sound from behind made Naina and Sameer turn.

Hospital attendants were bringing two stretchers, with patients on them. Quickly, they moved aside, clearing the passage. Sameer looked around, and found several people eyeing them with strange expression. Even when their voices were low, it wasn't difficult to guess by their body language that a heated exchange was taking place.

'Naina, I think humein chalna chahiye.' He held Naina's hand firmly, looking at the two people who were still staring at her with contempt, 'Yahan time waste karne ki zarurat nahi hai.'

As they started to walk towards the main gate, Anuj followed them with quick steps, and spat out, 'Yaad rakhna Naina, jis cheez pe tera haq nahi hai usey tu cheen nahi sakti. Apne ulte seedhe tareekon se tu mujhe kuch din ke liye rok sakti hai, hamesha ke liye nahi. Tujhe kuch nahi milega.'

Sameer wanted to stop, and ask him what he meant, but Naina pulled at his arm, walking out at a faster pace. Once they were in the car, he could not hold back his curiosity, 'Yeh tumhare koi rishtedaar hain?'

Her voice was nothing more than a whisper, 'Rishtedaar toh woh hote hain jinse koi rishta ho.'

He could hear the faint tremor in her voice, unmistakable in its heaviness. Sameer glanced at her, searching for visible signs of distress. He could not be sure, because he couldn't see her face directly. She had turned to look out the window, her expression shielded from his view. He opened his mouth to ask, then decided to stay silent. From whatever he had seen and heard, the couple appeared well known to Naina, but apparently they were not on good terms. Slowly, some fragments of conversation came back to him. The man seemed to be warning Naina, that she wouldn't get what she wanted. And the woman had mentioned something about claiming a flat. Was Naina trying to acquire something that belonged to them? But they were also saying something about arranging money. What was this complicated equation?

He recalled the previous interaction with the same people. It had left Naina unsettled deeply at that time too. He could not forget how she had claimed that he was her boyfriend, and wrapped her hands around his arm. And today, she had again taken a stand for him, and calling him her husband with such passion that it had left him frozen for a moment. One thing was sure, Naina wanted those people to believe that she and him... were real.

At home, Naina was quiet in the room. Outside, with his family, she had interacted with a smile, and her voice had been normal. But he could see that the smile did not reach her eyes.

'Naina... ek baat...' He initiated, hesitantly when she was dressed for office.

But Naina did not let him complete, 'Please, abhi nahi. Mujhe office ke liye late ho raha hai. Munna bhi nahi hoga. I need to go.'

And she was gone.

Sameer spent the day thinking about her, and the scenario he witnessed. His mind conjured up various situations. Those people could be from the mafia... they might be blackmailing Naina, maybe that was the reason she was so desperate for money... or they could be someone needy, who Naina was trying to cheat. He immediately shook his head, denying the possibility of such thing. From what he had seen, they looked quite affluent. From their clothes, their car, accessories... it was evident that money was not an issue for them. Then why were they hurling such insults at Naina... why were they hurting her so much? Could they not see how much pain their words were causing? Naina looked like all life had been sucked out of her... not just today morning but after meeting with them last time too. And he could not see her like that.

Just as the thought struck him, he sat up with a jerk. What was this new feeling inside him, that wanted to take care of Naina, be by her side always, to protect her from anything that could give her pain. Why was he so bothered by her affliction?

Clutching his head in his hands, he mumbled in frustration, 'Urrghh, this stupid feeling again. Mujhe nahi pata tha main ek average ladki se itna attract ho jaunga. Sochne mein bhi ajeeb lagta hai. Main, The Sameer Maheshwari, jiske peeche Delhi se Mumbai tak ki ladkiyan paagal hain woh aisi boring, mamuli si ladki ke peeche pada hun. Aisa nahi chalega. Mujhe kuch toh karna padega. Woh saamne hoti toh Munna ka idea lagata lekin abhi... uske emotional stress ke baare mein sochte hue kaise uski tel wali image help karegi? Mujhe khud ko strong banana hoga. Ab se usey ignore karunga... sirf gharwalon ke saamne thodi baat karunga warna dekhunga tak nahi. Aur uske baare mein sochunga bhi nahi.'

But don't you want to know what is hurting her?

As the reminder of his mind voice rang in his head, he shook his head fervently, 'Uski problem hai. Woh jaane. Maine pucha, usne nahi bataya... baat khatm. Kaunsa meri asli biwi hai jo uske issues ko apni problems banau. Mere khud ke paas kam tensions hain kya deal karne ko. Sabse badi tension toh woh khud hi hai. Pata nahi kya makeover karwa diya hai Anu ne uska, glow karne lagi hai. Mere liye faaltu ka panga kar diya. Na chahte hue bhi baar baar nazar usi pe jaati hai.'

Swaying between the attraction that he was trying to fight, the concern that was still gnawing at some corner of his heart, and determination to ignore her, he spent the day without getting much work done. In the afternoon, when he got to know from Munna that aunty was discharged from hospital, he was relieved to get something else to think about. After office, he drove to Munna's house.

For Naina, the day had been a tough one too. In office, as she handled Munna's responsibilities along with her own work, her mind pushed back the incident, but the moment she left the office, each scene started to play in front of her eyes. The accusations hurled at her by her own brother and his wife cut her to the core. Tina had always been rude to her, but now, with every interaction, her malice for Naina was increasing to unbearable levels. And Anuj blindly took her every word to be true. They disliked her, that much she was aware of but such allegations... they were like a dagger to her heart, leaving behind a wound that was not just bleeding but suffocating her.

When she reached home, she found it difficult to sit with everyone and pretend that she was fine. Citing a headache, she went back to her room after a while. She tried to clean up the drawers, then her wardrobe... but nothing seemed to help today. The words kept ringing in her ears. Is this what her brother thought of his sister? Had he not seen her all her life to understand what type of person she was? Wasn't throwing such allegations at her insulting his own blood?

The pain intensified, suffocating her with the unjustness of the whole situation. She wanted to be alone, to gather the strength to swallow this bitterness, to summon the courage to rise above the hurt. The time on the wall clock reminded her that Sameer would be here any moment. He had questions, which she wasn't ready to face yet. She knew where she could go.

Naina opened the door of gazebo silently and stepped in, closing the door behind her without a sound. The remnants of daylight were swallowed by the cover of night that descended onto the city. The sky had faded into deep indigo, without a trace of stars or the moon. There was no light in the gazebo, making it a safe haven for her. Naina wanted to hide in this darkness, away from prying eyes of Sameer. Taking a step sideways, she slipped down against the curtained glass wall, hidden from outside. Folding her legs, she wrapped her arms around them before bending her head on her knees.

Sitting in his corner, Sameer almost stopped breathing. What was Naina doing, sneaking in like this? He had just left his office when Munna called up to tell him that his mother had fallen asleep, and he himself was quite tired so he wanted to sleep as well, now that his brother had arrived. Sameer turned back towards home. But he did not go to his room upon reaching here. He wanted to avoid being alone with Naina as much as he could. Fighting the growing pull towards her presence was most important, thus he decided to spend some time in the gazebo, and ponder over the strategy to keep distance from Naina.

However, all his plans went for a toss. Now they both were here, in the closed space, surrounded in darkness, with only the faint light coming through curtains showing him the silhouette of Naina. He contemplated whether to announce his presence, or stay hidden in the dark corner, maybe pulling the curtain over himself some more.

He had been thinking for some moments when a soft hiccup reverberated in the silent confines of the glass structure. He narrowed his eyes, to realise that her shoulders were shaking gently.

Was she crying?

Sameer felt a sudden urge to go to her. But he held back. If she was actually crying, she would not appreciate the intrusion. The probable reason of coming here was looking for solitude. She could be upset over the hospital incident. Whatever it was, he did not want his presence to come to her notice. With a light pull, he tried to cover himself with the curtain, but luck wasn't in his favour. The curtain got stuck. When he tugged again, the ring slipped against the metal rod, causing a grating clang.

The sound made Naina lift up her head with a jerk. Seeing him, she stood up with a start. Sameer got up too. A small ray of light, filtering through a crack in the curtains behind him and falling in her direction rendered a soft radiance to her. In that blurred glimmer, he noticed her barren face, bereft of any marks of tears. She had not been crying, yet he was shocked to see her eyes. The eyes, that were always fierce, always challenging, always intense, appeared devoid of every emotion, every shred of life.

They were empty.

'Tum... tum kab aaye?' She uttered, her voice a bit shaky.

He gulped, running a hand through his hair, 'Main... actually main pehle se yahan tha. Jab tum aayi... mujhe nahi pata tha tum aane wali ho. Main bas bolne hi wala tha... tum ruko main jaata hun.'

'It's okay.' Naina sighed, 'Tum mujhse pehle yahan aaye they. Sorry, mujhe pata nahi chala. I'll not disturb you.'

She opened the door beside her, and sped out before he could say more.

Sameer sank back on the chair. He could not shake off the look in her eyes. He had seen Naina upset, angry, troubled, even frightened... but her eyes had never been this vacant. She looked lost, as if she had given up on every hope.

It was about half an hour later when he went back to his room. Looking around, he did not find her anywhere. She wasn't with others either. He had seen his mom sitting alone, and Anaya wasn't back yet. A quick search confirmed that Naina wasn't anywhere in the room, washroom or balcony. His heart started to beat faster when he noticed the empty shelf in the closet area. Naina's bag was always placed here when she was at home. Today, the bag was missing.

Where was Naina?

Next update on Thursday