Naina woke up with startle, sat straight and looked everywhere as if trying to find out the thing, that plopped so loud and being a reason of her wake up in these early hours of dawn. The thunderstorm was coming and though it took her pretty five minutes to understand, but now she knew that there were growling, ominous dark clouds gathering above, looming over them. There was a sudden downpour and through the rain drenched air came with the first long low rumbles of thunder. The violent unforgiving wind raced through the streets and the clatter of open balcony doors and windows could be heard from far. For once she got restless seeing this sudden change of weather. But the impetuous knocking of glass windows compelled her to get up. She got up from the bed and quickly seal closed the windows and balcony door.

Naina was never a faint hearted girl. She knew the art of survival, but now this sudden storm was filling her heart with some unknown restlessness. Closing the windows she came back on bed quickly, where he was sleeping cozily wrapped in blanket. She looked at him astonished on his deep sleep too as he was the one who had very light sleep, but amazingly he was sleeping sound that night. She too laid beside her, but now sleep was miles away from her eyes.

  Though she looked shockingly at him, but then knew that he had not slept well since last two nights, and this could be a reason for his deep slumber. She snuggled in him and closed her eyes to catch a sleep, but uproars of thundering clouds were keeping her to close her eyes. The musical silence of night was continuously disrupting by gregarious thunders of dark grey sky and every time it grumbled, she snuggled some more into him as if like a stubborn kid, rebelling to sustain the spooning warmth of him very close to herself. The struggle with nature ended when even in sleep he whispered her name and wrapped her in his arms possessively. She smiled and finally succeeded in closing her eyes feeling herself secured in his protective cocoon of loving ardency.

*********************************

"Nainu... Utho naa sweetheart... ",His soft voice made her twitching her eyes first and then open slowly.

It was almost ten past nine, when softly careressing her hairs he called her to get up. It was a quite late from her normal time of wake up. But then its a weekend, so he didn't disturb her at first and done with his work out session and even got ready. But then this feeling of loneliness and silence started getting on his nerves, he couldn't help but tried to wake her and smiled seeing her lips automatically curved sweetly even before she opened her eyes.

"Good morning sweetu...",he lovingly wished her spreading his arms like everyday and amused on his different endearments but happily with a content smile she swiftly shifted in his arms wrapping his waist in hers. He shifted a little closer, tightened his hold on her. His one hand was around her waist and other was busy in feeling the silk of long manes.

Inhaling the frenzy scents of her being he groaned loud further tightening his hold and mumbled resting and hiding his face in her hairs,"i miss you sweetheart... Missed you so much..."

"Miss... Lekin....",she wanted to pull back and say something, but he didn't let her go away even an inch and said again, "umhmm, bilkul nhi... Abhi dur nhi jana... Pta hai itna suna suna lag rha tha... Jabse utha bas tumhare uthne ka wait kar rha tha... Ye sannata, ye akelapan sa acha nhi lag rha tha..."

"Ohhh...",her lips curled in exclamation as immediately understood that it's loneliness that bother him so much always and she said careressing his back," to mujhe utha dete naa..."

"Arey.. aise kaise utha deta... Weekend hi to hota hai jab tum thoda rest karti ho... Warna to bas kaam kaam kaam... Waise aj to kuch jyada hi der ho gyi thi...",he said pulling back from the hug and lovingly tracing her beautiful features and cupping her face, but scrunched his nose at last and bit his lips as if giving excuse for waking her up.

"Haa... Wo raat ko tufaan aaya to meri nind khul gyi thi fr kafi der tak nhi aayi... Shayad isiliye...",she replied.

"Q... Meri jaan ko dar lagta hai kya toofan se...",he asked nuzzling and kissing her nosetip.

"Nhi dar to nhi... Lekin chachiji hamesha kahti thi ki 'raat ke andhere me aane wale toofan ghar bikher dete hai...' bas yhi baat yaad aagyi to, thoda disturb ho gyi thi...",she slowly put forward her restlessness.

"Wo ghar kamjor hote honge Naina, jo toofan me bikhar jaye... And i know ki hamara ghar itna kamjor nhi hai... Hai naa...", deeply looking in her eyes he could sense the anxiety that oozed from her voice, but he softly replied tried to brush off her fears.

"Hm...",she nodded and said,"mera ghar itna kamjor nhi...",she said looking in his dark orbs as knowing very well his meaning. She knew that this was absolutely not about the huge structure made of cement, stones and sand, but the small hoop of his arms that fit around her so well that she felt belonged to there only like since always.

"Nhi... Tumhara nhi hamara...",he said and kissed her palms holding her hands and added further,"ab uth ke jaldi se ready ho jao... Breakfast karna hai.. bhuk lagi hai bhut..."

She chuckled on his way of whine but got up quickly to get ready for the day.

Though he tried to erase her fears but wondered himself that,"is this restless because of that invitation from chachiji...". He himself got perplexed when remembered her reaction of last night when he asked her wish. She actually couldn't answer anything but just looked at him with her big clueless eyes and then closed her eyes and cuddled in him giving an excuse of tiredness and sleep. He sighed and tried to shrug off all these thoughts once again and decided to concentrate on present.

*********************************

"Wo... Actually mujhe....",she hesitated a bit to reply when gobbling up his favourite chhole bhature he asked about her plan of the day.

"Kya hua sweetu... Bolo... Kya kya karna hai aj...",he coaxed her to say further.

She furrowed her brows on his cute endearment again and smiled, but then replied thinking something,"umm... Mujhe pta hai ki aapko nhi pasand, lekin wo college ka kuch jaruri kaam hai... Kuch classes miss huyi hai to notes bnane hai aur ek assignment bhi hai... Wo mamiji ki wajah se kar nhi payi to..."

He exhaled a relieved sigh as may be unknowingly but somewhere connected her hesitation to that dreaded invitation once again. But then relieved finding the other reason and replied softly," kya yaar tum bhi... Itni chhoti chhoti si baat pr hesitate karti ho... Of course I know ki mamiji ki wajah se tumhara kaam miss hua hoga... Infact mujhe bhi office ka thoda kaam hai...",he quickly thought something, draw a plan and added further,"Ummm, ek kaam karte hai ki breakfast ke baad tum apni studies kar lo aur mai bhi apna kaam karta hu... Lekin lunch tak complete kar lena please...",he said like requesting and she immediately nodded in agreement and he again continued," fr lunch ke baad movie dekhenge... Mai cassette mangwa lunga Kamal se..."

Her smile was instantly wide listening about the movie. Somehow these in house movie dates with him were most alluring time for her always, and they missed their this weekend movie, so this plan worked on her straightway.

Sameer was also very excited, as for him too this movie time was always very special. And now seeing her wide smile his heart was on peace too. Though it looked like casual but he thoughtfully laid the plan of movie. Obviously it always played an important role in their life. Ofcourse he loved the way they cuddled everytime, the way she moved her hands on him, may be unknowingly, the way she played with buttons of his shirt, the way she sneakily glanced him on some romantic scenes, the way she snuggled in him in some action sequence and most importantly the way they both always ended these movie session. Though they were enough close now and absolutely not needed any excuse to get closer, but one more thing was there. He loved that soft dreamy expression in her eyes and somehow it always helped him to solve a mysterious riddle of her personality and he felt a need for that today also.

After that they both quickly done with their breakfast. And as per plan, Sameer went to Kamal with his long list of movie names and an address of his some associate, from whom he asked him to bring some files. Meanwhile, Naina gave some instructions to Radhe and Kanchan di to clean garden and porch area, as the last night's storm left enough messy evidences back.

******************************

Unlike the bright morning, the day started to get dull. Grey carpeted the sky so completely that even at noon they needed full tubelights to luminate the room. There was absolutely no sky now, only a rough woollen blanket of mottled grey to cover all and block out the sun. The air was heavy with the dampness of upcoming hurricane or may be a bygone storm. They both looked at the sky on sudden thundering howl of clouds, but definitely the view was different. He frowned at first but then smiled thinking something, of course not so masoom, but she trembled and inhaled deeply thinking, of course not so pleasant.

Sameer was doing his office work but didn't headed to his study for that, infact carried his files in their very own nest of love and doing his work there only stealing her glances in between. It was his dark gaze or the culprit was her pink dupatta, but wrapped in a dark blue and pink suit, his wife's glowing beauty was spilling the pink color in the whole room. Unknown to the fact that not only him but she too kept stealing his glances, he was mesmerized seeing those pinkish flames on her face, that was only a after effect of his intense orbs that enchanted so many desires and mischiefs to her every time she looked at him. And now this new turn of weather gave a new direction to his thoughts. He smiled remembering her love for rains that he witnessed some time back. He grinned wide remembering their time while seeing the movie mohra and smirked dreaming her dancing on the tune of water droplets in a yellow sari, just like Raveena.

Imagining her, drenched and dancing on the beats of nature, wow... even the thought was so full, so enticing in itself that he felt the blood rushing in his veins and a arousing whirl of passion seeping in every pore. He groaned softly, inhaled deeply and leaned back on couch and mumbled,"Naina.... ab aur dur nhi rha jata meri jaan... Ye duri mita do please..."

He was so lost in his dreams that missed the anxiety that seared in her every move after the growls of clouds became louder. He missed the fidgeting of her fingers, he missed the frowned curve of her lips, he missed the increased pace of her breaths that totally went out of rhythm. Even he didn't noticed when she slipped out of the room. But now he frowned when saw her empty chair and fluttering pages of open note book. He got up keeping his file aside, walked to her table to close that notebook and rushed outside in search of his lost wifey.

Sameer heaved a deep breath seeing her in kitchen giving some instructions to Radhe while herself busy in peeling an orange. He tried to understand her sudden need of escape from room only for that fruit peeling and those instructions, but couldn't understand any of these and asked softly,"tum achanak yha q aa gyi... Mujhe to pta bhi nhi chala..."

"Areyy.. aap...",she jerked at first as didn't notice him earlier but then replied when he crooked his eyebrows to ask,"hmm.. wo mausam achanak se kharab ho gya naa.. to dekhne aayi thi ki khi koi khidki ya darwaja khula naa ho... Aisa na ho ki ye tufan hamare ghar me ghus aaye...", He looked sharply at her, looking deeply in her eyes he tried to see the traces of anxiety in her, if any, but couldn't guess anything and just then she completed her work and extended her hand to him with a plate full of fruits and added further,"aayi hi thi to socha ye fruits kaat du aapke liye... abhi lunch me thoda waqt hai, aap ye lijiye tab tak..."

"Hmm...", he took the plate with a humm,, still lost in thinking about her fear, but said quickly seeing her turning to do some other work,"tumhara assignment ho gya kya... Chalo tum bhi upar..."

"Haa aap chaliye.. mai bas 5 minute me aayi...",she softly replied.

"Nhi abhi chalo...",he thought about her proposed idea, but something or someone from his heart was absolutely not ready to leave her alone even for a moment. She too looked at him, nodded and with a quick instruction about lunch menu headed with him to upstairs.

On their way to room, at one side she was trying her best to hide her anxiety, there his eyes were busy scanning her every breath now. Her slow moves, fidgeting fingers, slumped shoulders, rapidly blinking eyes, everything means everything was screaming her agitation. For once, he cursed himself to lost in dreams so deep that overlooked her condition. He cursed himself but couldn't do anything now, even he was not understanding that extreme anxiety of hers, but knew what she needed most. And as soon as they reached in room, he pulled her in soft hug keeping the plate aside. She sighed as a streaming relief prevailed in her heart and wrapping her arms around him snuggled some more in his caring warmth.

"Kya hua hai jaan... Itni restless q ho...
Tumhe to baarish pasand hai naa...",he softly careressed her hairs and asked.

"Haa, lekin Ye mausam... Ye tufaan...",she replied or tried to reply.

"Idhar dekho sweetheart...",he softly cupped her face and said her to see in his eyes. For one moment only, she lifted her lashes, but he didn't let them bow down again and said keeping her captive in his orbs,"koi tufaan nhi aayega... naa hamare ghar me naa hamari zindagi me... Dhyan se dekho jaan, tufaan ka mausam jaa chuka hai... Ab aur kuch nhi hoga...",though he tried his best to brush away her fears, but himself didn't know why felt a fear piercing its claws in his heart.

"Chalo yha baitho aur karo apna assignment... Aur ye itne sare fruits kya mai akele khaunga... Tumhe bhi khana hai, samjhi naa...",he tugged her hand and made her sit on her chair and himself settled pulling a chair on other side of that table only and said with firm decisive tone.

She smiled but eyes brimmed with mist of his love everytime when he fed her a wedge of orange or apple or grapes. Every slice was satisfying her hunger of love some more.

*********************************

"Kya hua Madam... Hum yha aise q baithe hai...",he asked taking her in his embrace.

Naina was extremely stressed sometime back, but slowly talking and listening to his light talks, somehow a bit composed and calmed now. Though he didn't understand the reason, or perhaps not wanted to understand. But he didn't missed her sneaky glances at clock, didn't miss whenever those indecisive but hopeful eyes laid on him and didn't missed that gloomy smile that failed to reach her eyes. She was all disoriented that he noticed on dining table, but softly holding her hand kept feeding her without giving words to his doubts. But he himself took the morsel only when she extended her hand with. The forgotten pink color again made a way on her silky smooth cheeks and didn't fail to allure him even under the sky of melancholic clouds. He kissed her fingers with every morsel and the colour of her cheeks played with strings of his heart deepening to the every possible shade of pink.

Sameer, infact with his mischievous talks and antics, she too kinda enjoyed the lunch at some extent. After lunch, she started to clear the table and he opened the packet of cassettes, as according to their plan, now it's time for movie. But after cleaning, when she came to him, he asked excitedly,"arey, achaa hua, aa gyi tum... Ab bolo kaun si movie lagau...dekho kitni sari movies laya hai Kamal..."

She looked at his excitement for a moment and said softly,"kuch der ke liye terrace pr baithe... Movie thodi der baad dekh lenge please..."

He looked at her, she was a little gloomy but not that restless. He nodded to his proposed idea and soon they were on terrace, settled on big white swing, when he asked the reason pulling her in his secured embrace and she replied snuggling in his warmth, "bas thodi der, fr chalenge neeche..."

He stared at her deeply again. Struggling for a comfortable posture, she scrunched her nose and rested her face on his chest tightly wrapping her arms around him. There was a different calm on her face this time. Her eyes were closed but lines of affliction were disappeared from forehead, but lips still frowned. She tightened her hold as if seeking more comfort. He lovingly adored the view, and tightened his hold too, but then thinking something said,"pta hai Mrs Maheshwari... Waise to hamesha lagti hai, lekin aj aap kuch jyada hi khubsoorat lag rahi hai..."

He said to see that precious smile and enamouring blush of her cheeks. And her cheeks flamed up against his husky deep voice, but she reacted quite different to his thoughts. She pulled back from his arms and said with narrow brows and a little fury"tchh.. aise q kah rahe hai..."

He didn't understand her reaction at all and asked softly again,"kya hua sweetu.. maine kuch galat kha kya..."

"Uff oh.. ye kya laga rakha hai subah se... Kabhi sweetu, kabhi sweetheart, kabhi madam... Mai Naina hu Naina... Ye nhi samajh aata aapko... ",Her eyes spitted rage and words fussed in that fury.

Though everytime he adored her fierceness, but seemed like it didn't sit well with his system this time and he himself felt a streak of heated furiosity rushed in his veins and he seathed and said,"what... Matlab kya hai tumhara... Aisa kya kh diya maine jo itna bhadak rahi ho... Chhutti ka din hai, subah se try kar rha hu tumhare saath thoda acha time spend karne ki, lekin tumhe to har waqt sirf muh bna ke baithna hota hai... Just leave it.. mujhe baat hi nhi karni tumse..."

"Baat nhi karni...",she mumbled to herself then again spitted fire,"haa sahi hai... Mujhe bhi nhi karni aapse baat... Chhodiye mera haath, jaa rhi hu mai...",she said eyeing her hand that was still in his grip, jerked her hand to get free and stepped to leave.

"Jaa rhi hu....", something stirred inside him and he mumbled looking at his empty hand. The feeling of emptiness shook him. And suddenly he smacked himself being so impulsive with her as knew that it's not just those endearments that stressed her so much, but something else. "When she is offending casually.. she meant nothing but just a tight hug...", A quote he read sometimes back made a way in his mind and he cursed himself some more,"oh god.. fr se use daata... May be i don't know that what is bothering her so much, but I know what she needed most... And when everything could sorted out just with a hug, maine fr se....",he mumbled or rather thought audibly and rushed behind her. She had just reached one floor down and about to enter in their room, when he tugged at her hand, pulled her and locked her in himself.

"Umar kaid ki sazaa hai, aise kaise jaa rhi thi mujhe akela chhod kar...",he muttered nuzzling in her hairs.

His words hit hard on her. She flinched remembering his fear about loneliness. First he complaint about her malign mood on a holiday, though impulsively but he was right, and now this. She cursed herself, pulling back from his arms tilted her head looked at him and about to say something when he cupped her face and said,"sorry Naina... Mai janta hu tum Naina ho, meri Naina, sameer ki Naina, is ghar ki naina, is dil me rehne wali Naina, bas bhul gya ki iske alawa bhi...",he couldn't complete as she kept her palm on his lips and said,"I am sorry... Mujhe aise react nhi karna chahiye tha... Sorry ki mai...",he too didn't let her complete as pulled her in his arms again.

She sighed, shut her eyes tight and clutching his shirt said softly after some moments,"aj subah se mummy papa ki bhut yaad aa rhi hai...",a pain inflicted in his nerves listening the mist of her voice, but knew couldn't do anything about it, so just hold her tight to himself and rubbed her back gently, and she continued,"mere pass mere mummy papa ki jyada yaadein nhi hai... Bas kuch tasveere... Jab bhi unki yaad aati thi, un tasveero se baat kar leti thi mai... Lekin ab toh woh bhi nhi... Shadi ke waqt taiji ne wo album bhi mujhe nhi lane di...",she took a breathing pause but increased moist shook her voice and the name of taiji set his soul on fire. He raged on his helplessness and her pain, but didn't interrupted her as wanted her to spill her heart out.

"Itne dino se... Itne dino se sab acha chal raha tha... Mai wha jaa toh nhi sakti thi, par wha se bhi kabhi kisi ne ek call tak nhi ki, is baat pr kabhi kabhi taklif jarur hoti thi, lekin... Lekin aapke pyar ne sab bhula diya tha... Lekin aj...",she again paused, but her every word was piercing through his heart and he couldn't suppress his questioning heart and asked,"aj kya naina... Tum wha jana chahti ho naa..."

She looked at him but his heart teared in multiple pieces seeing that wet glassy layer. Before he could ask again, she shook her head in no and said,"mujhe nhi pta... Kuch samajh nhi aa rha... Shaadi ke waqt jo bhi hua.. jaise us ghar me aapka aur nanaji ka apmaan kiya gya, uske baad mujhe shayad wha nhi jana chahiye... Wo sab ilzam, us waqt maine seh liye the, lekin ab shayad seh naa pau, ya fr ab wo chuppi sahi nhi hogi is ghar ki bahu ke liye, aapki patni ke liye... Aur nanaji... Nanaji bhi to nhi chahte ki mai wha jau... Mujhe wha nhi jana chahiye....... Hai naa...",she said more to convince herself and took a long pause before freezing her hopeful eyes on him.

He sweated badly as felt a sudden weight of uncounted responsibility on himself. For one moment he didn't know what he should say. Nanaji, her or himself, all of them a different opinion and here a responsibility to keep everyone's heart fell on him. He looked at her, she was still looking at him only. He heaved a deep breath, hold her hand and asked keeping her palm on his heart,"Naina... Mrs. Maheshwari ya Mrs Sameer Maheshwari nhi... Sirf ye btao ki Naina ka dil kya chahta hai.."

She looked at her palm resting on his heart and he was asking about her heart, but no, this didn't matter, as they both loved each other deeply. She lifted her lashes for a moment looked in his orbs and said lowering her eyes slowly,"pta nhi q, aisa lag rha hai ki mummy papa mujhe bula rahe hai, meri raah dekh rahe honge..."

He sighed as got his answer and said softly,"jao jakar ready ho jao... Mai nanaji se baat karta hu..."

"Sach...",a small smile played on her lips like sun shone brightly in between the clutters of cloud.

He nodded with a soft smile and kissed her forehead. She hugged him excitedly and leave to get ready running like a kid.

"Ek ladki ke liye maayka bhut bada maan hota hai...",he remembered words listened some days back and got up to talk to nanu praying to God for his approval.

*******************************

"Naina... Sambhal ke jana aur jaldi aana...", he loaded her with a number of instructions, specially 'jaldi aana...',and smiling on his concern she smiled and nodded, this was for umpteenth time.

Draped in a off white dola silk saree with big red embroidered patches and banarasi weaving border of jari paired up with a contrast red blouse she looked asthetically beautiful. Neither she over accessorized herself nor she added any artificiality to her face, but just matching bangles, her regular jewellery, red lipstick and kajal did all the magic that his eyes refused to leave her sight. He literally drank her through his eyes all the time she was packing gifts and sweets for them. At last before bidding a bye he hugged her tightly and kissed on all her face and said,"bhut jyada pyari lag rahi ho... Naina ab toh surprise ka wait karna aur bhi mushkil bna diya hai tumne...", She blushed to match the shades of her sari and muttered an assurance to him for an early return while he smiled playing with her bangles and listening to that crinkling.

"Kamal whi rahega... Tum jaldi hi wha se nikal jana..."

"Ye camera... Agar abhi bhi wo pics naa mile to isse unki pics le lena.. hum develop karwa lenge, bas pics lekar jaldi se aa jana..."

"Ye jo smile lekar jaa rahi ho, ise wha chhod kar bilkul mat aana, bas jaldi aana..."

"In aakho me unki wajah se aur aansu nhi chahiye mujhe, aur jaldi se aa jana..."

"Apna khayal rakhna Naina aur please jaldi aana..."

She smiled listening to his long list of instructions and promised for a quick return, but asked suddenly remembering something,"nanaji sach me maan gye..."

"Hmm...",he hummed slowly but carefully avoiding her eyes asked Kamal to be there all the time.

"I love you Naina...",he said when finally she sat in the car and engine started, which she responded mumbling a reply with her shy smile and pink cheeks.

He sighed a long breath as somehow succeeded to hide that he couldn't talk to nanu. Though he dialled him but kaanji informed him that nanu was busy with his daily yoga session and got free after 40-45 minutes. Meanwhile she got ready and and asked him nanu's response. And he couldn't let that bright smile fade, so just nodded in approval.

*******************************

Though he himself allowed her go, but now an restlessness, anxiety, loneliness, fear, means every gloomy expression of world started to grip his heart. Most prevailing the emptiness of that big white mansion started to eat him. An anxious sigh of fear pierced its sharp claws in his heart. He tried to concentrate in files, deviate himself in music and even tried to soak himself in newspaper, but nothing worked. For once he got perplexed thinking that how she passed her time when he was in office, but neither he had any answer nor her to answer. This feeling of loneliness was not new for him but seemed absolutely unknown as for the first time after marriage she was away when he was home.

Sameer tried to think positive, but god knows why the restlessness grew to an extreme extent. It was just 25 or 30 mins since she left, and he found his every pore praying for her well being. "Stop behaving dramatically Sameer... Wo apne maayke hi gyi hai... Aa jayegi kuch der me...",he retorted to himself or perhaps tried to convince more. But then it was quite difficult to stay like this, so he got up and get ready thinking to take a round in near by market or a quick meeting to munna pandit. He got ready and about to leave, when thinking something laid a surprising menu of her favourites for dinner, instructed kanchan di for the same and stepped ahead picking up the keys of her car, as she went in his, but the phone rang and he received it first.

"Hello... Sameer beta... Kaisa hai tu...",it was nanu other side calling him getting free of his yoga.

He shrieked in tension, for once cursed himself to receive the call but then greeted him normally.

Nanu affectionately asked for their well being and after some more casual talks, asked him for any specific reason to call and simultaneously asked for Naina too.

His voice faltered in indecision, but he slowly muttered,"nanu.. wo Naina..."

"Kya hua beta... Kha hai naina... Baat kra de usse bhi...",nanu asked as couldn't guess anything.

"Nanu... Wo Naina... Naina apne... Naina apne chachaji ke ghar gyi hai...",he somehow completed stammering squeezing his eyes shut.

"Kyaa...",it seemed like a nanu just went through an explosion but then asked raging in mixed emotions of tension and anger,"Sameer... Ye kya kiya tune.... Maine mna kiya tha fr bhi use..."

"Nanu... Nanu aap paresan mat hoiye...",he immediately tried to calm him and said further,"Naina thik hai... Jaldi aa jajyegi... Umm, wo bhut yaad kar rahi thi sabko, aur uski chachiji ka call bhi aaya tha... Mai... Mujhse use udaas nhi dekha gya... Lekin wo thik hai nanu..."

"Chup kar Sameer...",nanu said scolding him,"tujhe kya mai uska dushman lagta hu... Agar maine kiya to uska koi reason hoga naa... "

"Lekin nanu...",he tried to say something but he was not in mood to listen anything and asked this time a little impatiently," kitna time ho gya use jakar..."

"30-35 minutes huye honge nanu... Lekin usne mujhe...",he again tried to calm him, but he didn't listen and said restlessly,"jaldi jaa Sameer... Uske pass jaa... Wha agar use kuch ho gya toh.. toh tu..."

"Kuch ho gya...",he mumbled as this was his turn to shiver and he asked,"Naina ko kya hoga nanu...",he himself felt his voice coming from some deep pit.

"Abhi sawal mat kar Sameer... Bas uske pass jaa.. use teri jarurat hogi... Anand bhi wha nhi hai... Wha kuch bhi ho sakta hai...",he felt his fingers went lax feeling the tremor in his voice, the strength to hold the receiver flew in air and that receiver slipped from his hand. The explosion that he felt nanu went through some moments back now exploding in his ears multiplied by thousands or perhaps more. He himself slipped on the sofa,"naina ko kuch ho gya toh...", nanu's words rang in his ears and he felt his sight blurred. But then her smiling face gleamed in his eyes, her name escaped like a sigh from his lips and he gathered his courage as someone said from his heart that his naina needed him.

*******************************

"Naina...",he screamed seeing her condition as a heart wrenching situation welcomed him as soon as he entered in that flat.

Sameer didn't know how he reached to her society safely as however he rode the bike was definitely not advisable. At one side where his mental state was not right to even sit on a driving seat properly there he reached there riding a bike on a lightning speed. He himself didn't know how everything was happening, but the way his heart was hammering in ribcage he was all prepared for some severe damage in his system. As soon as he reached there, Kamal saw him as he was waiting for Naina outside of building and reached to hold him or the bike as without bothering for anything he just left the bike and rushed to get her. But then stopped and asked the number of floor and flat to someone passing by, as himself was not sure about it.

Sameer impatiently barged in the flat without giving a heed to knock. And He saw her sat on the floor on her knees, holding her stomach doubling in pain, while her arm was still in tight grip of a fat old lady. He screamed her name and reached her to hold her. A man in white dhoti kurta, a wierdly colorful overdressed middle aged woman and that fat lady, all looked him with shock. But nothing mattered this time. He looked at the tight grip of that lady on her arm, he jerked that tight hold glaring at her, while she herself stepped back sensing the fire in his eyes and muttered some 'o bai..', but it also didn't matter this time.

Naina stared at him with shocking surprising eyes as holding her arm he pulled her to himself. The pull was strong enough to get back her on her feet and her palms rested on his chest. He looked at her in utter shock, while she smiled and sighed his name,"Sameeeer... Aap... Wo file..", God knows what she wanted to convey but seemed like her strength of struggle gave up and her whole body went sloppy. Closing her eyes she slipped on the floor and with bewildered wide eyes he stared at her going out of senses helplessly. Her hands slowly slipped from his shoulders staining his shirt and her bangles crinkled and some broken ones scattered around. He hold her hand but startled seeing her wrists badly pricked and cut. He didn't bother till now but now being aware of his shirt stained with her blood. 'oh god...' More than quickly his brain worked and pulling out his handkerchief he tied on her hand.

"Naina...",he took her name, slipped on the floor holding her but eyes brimmed in pain seeing red bruises on her creamy cheeks. He softly touched the side of her forehead where a trail of blood almost dried. His fingers shivered while touching her lips where a cut on the corner of her mouth peered on him widely. He didn't know what happened in this one hour but the way she was bruised his heart screamed pain, his eyes spilled tears but brain fused with a number of emotions in one time and totally went out of function or could understand only one emotion or two as pain and fury. For a moment he went all numb seeing her fainted, his heart pounded violently, he gasped, shook her and said very slowly,"Naina... Utho naa... please Nai...",he was actually not know what to do, and couldn't even complete as his voice choked up due to rush of mist in throat.

Sat on the knees in some flat of a mediocre apartment, he was helplessly looking at his lifeline in his arms. "Sameer...",she sighed his name before closing her eyes. God.. how much he waited for her to take his name and here it was happening like this. For once he wished this for a nightmare, but clearly it wasn't. "Naina...",he again sighed her name and hugged her fragile frame tightly, but shrieked again when her arms didn't go around him like always and stayed lousy on her sides, he couldn't help but tears spilled vigorously from his eyes.

God knows how much time he would wasted staring at her, if Kamal wouldn't came as a savior as he saw him downstairs and sensed something wrong.

"Sameer sir... Sir jaldi kijiye... Bhabhiji ko hospital...", Kamal came, at first shocked with the view, but then collecting his concious shook him by shoulders.

"Hospital...",he mumbled and said as now felt his brain again reaching in working condition," haa hospital... Hospital jana hai... Gaadi nikaal jaldi...",he collected himself before lifting her in his arms and rushing towards lift.

Kamal collected her purse, camera and some more things scattered on the floor but belonged to his 'bhabhiji...' before rushing towards stairs.

*********************************

"Sameer... ",She kept taking his name all the way of hospital and everytime it squeezed his heart in fist.

"Haa.. jaan... Mai yhi hu Naina... Yhi hu, Tumhare pass hu...", though it was paining him like anything, but everytime he assured her with soothing words.

"Naina ki pain tolerance power bhut kam hai.."

"Naina bhut weak hai..."

Though she was badly beaten, and it looked more serious considering the previous diagnosis of Dipti aunty. And that kept scaring him to an extent and like an additional torment she was fainted and there was an unavoidable blood loss too. He was praying for not any internal injury or anything serious to happen. But Everything was getting on his nerves. A scare rearing through his veins and surging in every pore. He patted her cheeks, urge her to get up once again, but it didn't work this time too.

Sameer didn't know when Kamal asked and he answered but looked at the Dipti aunty's nursing home only when kamal informed that they reached. Though it was a maternity nursing home, but then she could get a better and quick treatment here, and also it wouldn't attract any media attention. So it seemed a good decision to bring her here.

Carrying her in his arms, he entered in her chamber without any pre formalities or anything. There was a pregnant couple with Dipti aunty, but he didn't pay any attention to them even, and placed her on the dispensary bed and called aunty. Though she was busy but their condition shackled her. She thought that they must met some accident as till now his shirt too logged in her blood, as her wrists were still badly bleeding. Quickly she muttered an excuse to existing couple, thankfully they understood the need of the moment and leave soon.

"Sameer.. ye Naina...", Dipti aunty reached to him and about to ask, but he didn't let her complete, hold her hand and dragged her to the dispensary bed, where Naina was lying and a nurse already started with first aid and he said to her,"aunty... Naina... Naina ko thik kar do please... Naina ko...",he couldn't complete voice choked with tears.

Dipti aunty looked shockingly at the bruises and as a doctor it was not difficult for her to understand that what kind of accident she met with. She quickly instructed something to the nurse, then hold his hand and pulled him out of the curtain and said with all fierceness,"Sameer Naina ki ye haalat... Tera gussa janti hu mai... Bta mujhe... Kahi ye tune to..."

These words fell like nuclear bomb on his head. He was craning his neck to get a glimpse of her, but then suddenly it seemed difficult to breath even. He couldn't say anything but his condition made dipti a little considerate and she patted his shoulders. "Aunty... Naina ko thik kar do please... Mai use... Uske bina... Please aunty, mujhe bhut dar lag rha hai...",tears again made a way in his eyes and he almost clinged on her arms.

"Kuch nhi hoga teri Naina ko... ",She gave him a soothing assuring hug, left and lost behind the curtains, while he stood still there all motionless or senseless.

After some time he exhaled and clutched the back of a chair as really felt his knees went limp and unable to hold his weight.

*********************************

God knows, how much time passed, but there was no update of her condition. He was all tired of waiting, must be barged in the room or collapsed on the floor, when suddenly a hollering of his name caught his attention and in the very moment he was engulfed in a tight hug.

"Munna... Naina... Naina... Wo...",he tried to say something when munna dragged him and made him sit on a chair and said wiping his face,"Sameer... kya bachho ki tarah kar rha hai bhai... aisa mat soch...kuch nhi hoga teri Naina ko... Dekhna abhi aa jayegi bahar muskurate huye..."

He heaved deep breaths and tried to stay positive, blew air in order to calm himself but tapped his feet impatiently. 5-10 or 15 It again passed some time, when a nurse arrived and handed him a packet. His eyes went wide seeing the contents of the packet, her bangles, her anklets, her mangalsutra and pendant...oh god... He gasped, touched the bangles with shivering fingers and suddenly panicked,"munna.. ye chudiyan... Ye... Ye to Naina ki favorite hai... Ye payal.... Aur ye mangalsutra... Ise to wo kabhi nhi utarti.. ise q nikala... Mujhe milna hai... Abhi milna hai Naina se... Meri Naina...  Naina se.... Wo.. ye... Ye sab q nikala..."

Munna tried to calmed him or controlled him, but it was difficult for him to hold him. Just then, dipti aunty appeared, sighing and calmed but dismayed seeing his condition and rushed to hold him.

"Sameer.. sambhal khud ko... Baat sun meri... Sameer...",she screamed his name holding his shoulders and jolted him.

Sameer looked at her and asked trembling,"aunty, Naina... Naina... Ye chudiyan...",he hide his face in his palm as found himself unable to complete.

"Sameer... Naina bilkul thik hai... Kuch der me use hosh aa jayega fr usse mil lena bachhe...",She said softly holding his hand and added further,"beta uske haath me chot lagi thi naa to ye chudiyan utarni padi... Warna bandage kaise karte... aur ye to nursing home ka rule hai ki jo bhi lady admit hoti hai uski jewelleries nikal ke admit karte hai, bas isiliye nurse ne ye sab bhi nikal di... Don't worry beta, kuch serious nhi hai..."her soft voice worked positively on him and he sighed a relief. But it didn't long lasted as suddenly remembered something and asked,"admit... Matlab... Matlab naina ko yha rehna padega..."

"Nhi bachhe... Lekin ye baat nurse ko to nhi pta thi naa...", Dipti aunty again tried to softly brushed away his fears while careressed his head with motherly affection.

He closed his eyes, trying to get himself calm  and breathed long breaths.

********************************

"Sameer... Bhai... Nanaji... Nanaji fikar kar rahe honge... Unhe khabar kar de...", suddenly Munna asked and he recalled the talk with nanu. Before he could think or reply anything, Munna added again,"mere pass nanaji ka hi call aaya tha ki ghar jau, wha kuch hua hai... Paresan saa jab mai ghar pahucha to wha to kuch pta nhi chala, fr Naina ke maayke ki taraf gya to wha pta Chala sab..."

"Hmm... Nanu ko ye sab mat btana... Sirf itna kehna ki Naina thik hai aur mai bhi... Baki nanu agar... Naina se... Tu sambhal lena yaar... Nanu ko ye abhi nhi bta sakte...",he didn't know how to tell this to nanu that he couldn't fulfill his responsibilities well, how to answer that questions when he would ask about his daughter, neither he knew nor in a state to think but just cursed himself and somewhere started to blame himself for everything. Tilted his head to one side, clutching that packet of her belongings closer to his heart, he said with eyes zeroed on something. His state was startling Munna. It seemed like he was in some other world. His voice laces with a hollow seemed coming from a deep pit, while tears got dried till now and emptiness of eyes was shackling Munna. It didn't seem like his Sameer, but just an statue, without any expression or emotion. He looked deeply at him but then left without any word as somewhere everything that happened puzzled him too. He too didn't how to console his friend cum brother but knew only Naina was his cure.

It was almost one or one and a half hours later, he was still waiting or dieing for a glimpse of her, when finally a nurse informed him that he could meet her. He didn't wait for another moment to come but his feet rushed solicitously to the said room. And when his eyes fell on her, everything around went blur and disappeared slowly. He stopped on the threshold and looked at her lying feebly. Her white sari stained in her own blood, a purplish blue mark near lips, cheeks swollen red, a bandaid on forehead while hands covered in white bandage, everything perforated him to intensify the tormentation he was going through. It was a sight he knew would haunt him for life. A lone tear broke from his eyes and slipped on his cheek.

"Naina...",He exhaled her name, but didn't get courage to cross the threshold. His heart pounded loud while mind argued. He wanted to reach her as soon as possible, but somewhere he didn't feel himself worthy to hold her. His heart protested again and somehow shutting up the mind and gathering himself he was about to step in, when slowly she opened her eyes and roamed her eyes to search something or someone or him.

Sameer's breath stopped in anticipation as he didn't know exactly what but had thought every worst possible scenario in these hours and now waiting for something extreme to happen, but that extreme never come. She saw him leaned on the door frame, smiled feebly and extended her hand to him. He looked at her hand and paced inside to hold her.

"Naina... Naina... Naina....",he couldn't say more than this and just wanted to hide her in himself, but her condition kept him doing this even. Sitting near her shoulders, softly he touched the bandage on forehead, gently he careressed the bandage on her wrist, unbelievably touched her cheeks and blew on her bruises, everytime felt a flow of pain seeping under his skin and rushed inside him like blood.

"Naina... I am sorry...",he said with difficulty holding her hand and lowering his eyes while she furrowed her brows, trying to understand the need of this apology, but couldn't think much as again an ounce of pain spilled from his eyes and fell on her hand.

"Aap...",she looked at him unbelievably, but then quickly tried to get up and sit, but flinched. He quickly came in action seeing her stumbling and asked her not to get up, but she didn't listen but sat up after a little struggle. He straighten the pillow on her back to give her a comfortable posture. But she didn't bother about that this time and enveloped him in a tight hug as soon as sat up. 

"Naina...",he inhaled and exhaled sharply as if found breathing air after so long and wrapped his arms around her. She was actually the air that he breathed with his every pulse of blood. Her eyes oozed pain, but seeing his condition she hold herself, while he couldn't hold back his tears and said murmuring in a misty voice,"ye sab... Ye sab meri wajah se hua naa Naina... Please mujhe...", A much needed emotional breakdown it was, as he badly needed this outburst that could only happen in her arms. The tears and fears that he was trying to fight with suddenly came in forth and he hissed with the pain that she was going through.

"Sshhh... Chup ho jaiye bilkul... Aisa kuch nhi hua hai aur jo bhi hua hai uski wajah aap to bilkul nhi hai... Balki wo file... Aap to... Aap to waqt pr aa gye the...",she said languishingly holding him as the pain and weakness taking over.

"Aur nhi aata toh....",a question that was eating him since start came on his lips, as he was continuously thinking of the outcomes if he didn't reach there on time, if he didn't receive that call.

"Kaise nhi aate... Mere dil ne bulaya tha to aana to tha hi... Acha ek baat khu...",she replied with love and asked later. He nodded and hummed in response and she added,"please mujhe ghar le chaliye... Yha mera dil ghabra rha hai...",she scrunched her nose and pouted and he smiled a little.

She demanded and thinking something he nodded and said,"hmm... Aunty se baat karta hu, lekin jo wo kahengi wo hi karenge... Koi zid nhi...", And now she nodded like a obedient kid.

Later, He talk to Dipti aunty and she agreed for her discharge though armed them with a number of instructions, specially about her diet this night, as she had done some tests doubting for an internal injury which she didn't share with them now, as didn't want to scare him, but just asked him to be alert and come next day for a follow up.

**********************************

"Mujhe nhi khana abhi kuch...",his eyes turned misty again looking at the dinner plate loaded with all her favourite items, but she couldn't eat any of them now, then how could he eat. So, he refused and asked Radhe to take back the plate.

They have reached Maheshwari mansion sometimes back. Munna was with them and wanted to stay for the night but he refused politely but just ensured him that he would call him in the very moment of any emergency. Naina too bid a smiling good bye and he left patting her head and wiping his eyes. He helped her to change in comfortable wears and himself too changed in tracks.

The way he unpinned and unwrapped her saree, it was dreamy. The way he unhooked her blouse, it was enticingly glamorous, but seemed like her condition locked his raging hormones of romance in some corner of his heart that he was not reaching out. But it was not same for her, as she writhed and sighed when his fingertips touched her back to unhook her. Enchanting hormones started to play as she felt a tickle of passion rushing in her nerves. The room was dark but still she couldn't help but hide herself in her hands when he slipped the sleeves of blouse away from her shoulders. He was on her back when that blouse completely went out of her body. She closed her eyes, bit her lips and gasped as it wasn't actually happening but she was feeling his hands everywhere. The tingling sensation ran down in her spine and she breathed heavily. He tried to slip the night shirt on her arms nonchalant to her condition, but she moaned softly, turned and hugged him tightly. It was when it dawned on him that she was in his arms in just a innerwear. His hands wandered on her back feeling the silk of her back while her hands too run on his back urgently.

Suddenly he felt himself drowning in the dark heated pool of sensations. His eyes went close and he leaned some more letting his lips touched her shoulders. There she moaned and arched herself more into him, though his mind protested but body reacted on instant like had an mind of its own. After a dreadful day, the feeling of her being so close was something that he needed and kept craving for. He didn't know how to, but knew that he had to stop but for now just wanted to feel her close, feel her well-being, feel her scents filling his soul as the tormenting smell of hospital was still lingering on his breaths. His hands went further exploring curves of waist and hips pressing her in himself while lips explored the curve of shoulders.

Though it all started hot as fire, but soon turned into soothing as music of silent nights. Her hairs were open and he felt the fragrance of her thick manes gushing through his heart. He stroked her hairs and let his fingers lost in silk of her masses. He smiled a genuine one when she turned her head rubbing her lips in his chest and her hairs glided on his face like the very first day of their marriage.  She rubbed her cheeks on his chest as somewhere her too wanted to soothe him, heal him as understanding his turmoils, but hissed as her wounds registered their presence. His smile faded, hands around her shivered but he tightened his hold on her next moment preventing her to slip on the floor. He slowly picked up the night shirt that fell on floor in those moments and slipped that on her shoulders gently. She hold his shoulders, tilted her face and said softly cupping his face,"I love you so much..."

"I love you too meri jaan...",he smiled seeing her comfortable and helped her with buttons of shirts and then lowers and then made her lay down properly on bed.

After sometime he asked for their dinner with a number of instructions, though didn't feel like to eat, but knew that she wouldn't eat if he didn't. He asked but denied seeing the plate. She stared at his refusal but said Radhe to leave the plate there in room only.

"Kya hua... Khana q nhi kha rahe...",she asked softly.

"Aise hi.. abhi dil nhi baad me kha lunga... Pehle tum khao...",he tried to feed her the soup.

"Aapse pehle khaya hai kabhi maine...",she said keeping her hand on her chest and suddenly panicked feeling something,"meri chain... Mera mangalsutra... Kha hai... Kahi maine kho to... Hey bhagwanji, ye to... mera mangalsutra...",she asked rubbing her neck hastily.

"Naina... Naina..wait...",he hold her hand and gave her the packet of her chain and mangalsutra and other things.

Leaving everything aside she pulled out the mangalsutra and tried to tie it around her neck, but he hold her hands softly, took the mangalsutra from her and tied himself in her neck. She quietly gave him the chain, which he immediately wanted to protest but then seeing her so decisive hooked that too. And then she slipped in some bangles, which he protested but she didn't listen anything and wore those though not full hand like every other day but just two or three in numbers. He made her wear the anklets and toe ring too, as she was really stubborn in her beliefs.

After completing this important task in hand, she made him eat dinner also saying that she wouldn't eat if he didn't and helplessly he ate everything.

*********************************

"Naina.. aj mai bhut dar gya tha... Ek pal ko toh aisa lga ki jaisa tumhe hamesha ke liye kho dunga...", gently securing her in his arms he said when after dinner and medicine they both laid to catch a sleep for night.

"Ek pal ko to mujhe bhi lga tha ki aapse fr kabhi nhi mil paungi... Lekin fr bhi dil ko yakin tha ki aap aayenge...",she replied carefully wiping the corner of her eyes.

"Lekin ye sab hua kya aur kaise... I mean kyun...",after some moments of silence he asked a question nagging him for long.

"Wo file...",she couldn't say anything more, as under deep serdation of medicines and slept on him.

He hold her hand resting near his chest, tilted his head, looked at her like being assured of her wellness and kissed her forehead. A dreadful day ended and she slept calmly, but he couldn't. Lots of things running in his mind now. He mentally noted a list of to do's. He had to talk nanu about this and enquire about the file that she was mentioning again and again and above all had to punish those monsters who did all this to his Naina. He trembled again as kept looking at her again and again and kept kissing her hairs, forehead and hands, but couldn't close his eyes even for a second as her picture lying in a pool of blood not ready to leave his mind.

Sameer heaved a deep breath trying to list down the sources from where he could gather information about that file, and in a corner of the room laying with her white purse and camera, a blue file peered at him infact wanted to scream his name but just waited for his eyes to fell on itself.