A fear like impending death surged in all over his body and snuck in his heart harder than an icy cold knife. He stood frozen at his place as if a snowy strong wave hit his legs, and refused to move ahead. His vision was blurring and with his vague senses, all he could see her coming to himself, panting and running screaming his name. Perhaps he would collapse, but suddenly he felt his arms being shaken, with his hazy eyes he saw her screaming, saying something… Something that perhaps he never wanted to listen to. Luckily he couldn’t listen to anything.. he thought this. He didn’t want to shake himself and get his senses back that would make him listen that he never could. No, he wouldn’t… He decided, bit his lips, clenched his fists.. only thing he wanted this time, that, this everything turned out a nightmare. But he was shaken again, and reluctantly but he pushed himself to hear and heard her saying restlessly, “Sameer… Jaldi kijiye… Nanaji ko hospital le jana hai… Nanaji ko hospital…”

“Hospital… Matlab woh nahi jo mai soch raha tha… Means there is still chance…”,he gasped, sighed and thought positively for the first time.

Suddenly, he was dragged. Naina saw him behaving strangely and she had no time to ask, she just held his arms and pulled him towards nanaji’s room. His heart gave a physical lurch, when saw Nanu doubling in pain.

Nanu might have a cardiac arrest. His teeth clenched hard, palm held the other arm tightly and he was sweating badly. Perhaps he tried to get up or struggled with pain when a jug on the table stumbled and fell on the floor. Sameer immediately held him, but deep inside the scars of losing his family were so dark, that his body was reacting exactly opposite to his brain. The psychological pressure surpassed his will power, all he could do was staring at nanu with wide bewildered eyes, neither dared to call him, nor sane enough to carry him to hospital.

There was no time for cajoling him, or shaking him or even to hold him and Naina understood this very well. For a moment, she was at loss too, but soon regained her senses. Coming to senses, she knew that she had to do this. Till now, perhaps of her wailing, Kanchan and Radhe too gathered there.

Naina saw them and immediately said,” Radhe bhaiya.. jaldi kijiye… Aap car nikaliye… Aap driving jante hai naa…”

Radhe nodded and hastily left picking up the key from the living room.

Here, Naina again said to Sameer,”Sameer, uthiye… Chaliye nanaji ko hospital le jana hai… “,She shook him once again.

“Hospital… Haa, hospital… Nanu…”,he slowly murmured and got up.

Somehow, with Naina, Radhe and Kanchan’s help, he succeeded to bring nanu to car and made him lay on backseat, even he himself sat with him keeping his head on his lap and holding him tight. He didn’t know how they would reach hospital, nor thought about it, but just not wanted to leave nanu’s side even for a moment.

Naina was anxious too, but for them, she had to be strong. She exhaled a long breath, and gestured to Radhe to drive. And while sitting in the front seat, she said to Kanchan,”di, aap Munna bhaiya ko phone kar dijiye… Wo hospital aa jayenge toh inko bhi himmat rahegi…”,she didn’t mention her own name, but knew that she couldn’t handle everything single handed, and Sameer was absolutely not in senses.

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

As Maheshwari industries was a big prestigious name, it was enough to accelerate the sluggish system, and awaken the whole hospital in those wee hours. Calls were made, specialists were called and soon nanaji got the best available service. Though not stable, but under keen observation of experts now. That one or one and a half hour, was probably the most difficult time for Naina. She was not habituated to do everything independently. Infact after marriage, she looked at Sameer for anything required, but that time he was completely lost, standing up before the ICU, peeping on nanu through a round glass window only. It was like he was in some kind of daze, and not able to register the surroundings.

An explicable fear started to spread in her heart seeing his condition. He seemed to be in a deep dark pit, where endless darkness was covering him and tearing his heart apart. She was a little worried for him too. Now She badly wanted to hold him, talk to him, pull him back from that nether world and somewhere now being held by him too. She heaved a long breath, saw nanaji from a glass window, and looked at him, perhaps gathering courage to talk to him, but interrupted just then.

“Ma’am, is form pr sir ke signature chahiye…”,a nurse came and said to her.

Naina helplessly looked at Sameer, didn’t know how to awake him from his haze and sighing looked at the nurse again. Perhaps the nurse understood her dilemma and said softly,”ma’am aap bhi signature kar sakti hai…”

Naina heaved a long breath, looked at the admission form and signed quietly.

“Naina…”,just then someone called her, a palm crossed on her wrist hold and soon she was engulfed in a warm embrace.

“Swati… “,She sighed sobbed finally finding a familiar shoulder.

It was not until then she realised the shiverings reeling in her whole body. Swati held her tight, made her sit on a chair, tried to calm her, but the suppressed pain accumulated and the grievances flowed out of her eyes carelessly.

Munna and Swati both saw her helplessly. Swati sat with her, and Munna went to Sameer. First, he glanced over Nanu through the window and then said to him,”Sameer… bhai, ghabra mat… Nanaji thik…”

Before he could complete, Sameer looked at him and the hollow in his eyes trembled him. He knew his sorrows, his griefs, and was also aware of his vulnerable side, but this was a long time ago, since he behaved this permeably, but that night, he was exceptionally feeble. Munna couldn’t say anything more, but just kept his hand on his shoulders as a gesture of support in this hard time.

Munna looked at Naina and blinked his eyes, perhaps tried to calm her, but it was more for Sameer. All this time he could understand that if something bad happened to nanaji, it would be next to impossible to hold him, but somewhere all his hopes lied in Naina now.

Naina shivered feeling the heavyweight of responsibility on her shoulders suddenly. She heaved a deep breath, tried to stay strong for him, for nanaji, for themselves.. she had to.

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

“Mr. Maheshwari…”, suddenly a doctor approached him, and he was startled.

It was already 4-5 hours, since they were in hospital. They were waiting for some information now impatiently. Doctor only told them to wait patiently, as the condition was unstable, and they couldn’t say anything now. And now, after 5 hours, the doctor called him in his cabin.

Those 5 hours were the scariest nightmare for him, infact for both of them. His heart thumped, feet trembled and throat dried, as he stepped in a chilled cabin and sat before the doctor. Naina too followed him. Her condition was no different, still trying to remain sane, she sat in the chair next to him.

“Mr. Maheshwari, aapko unki heart conditions ke bare me malum hai naa… “After a momentary pause, the doctor asked calmly.

They both nodded together.

Doctor again continued,”hmm… Dekhiye, abhi unki condition thodi stable hai, but this was a major attack and I can’t say ki hum kab tak unko stable rakh payenge… Unki surgery…”

Doctor was about to say something, when Sameer interrupted,”doctor, unki surgery already 3rd feb ko scheduled hai… It’s just three days…”

“No… Mr. Maheshwari, it’s not just  three days… It’s 72 hours… Aur abhi unke liye ek ek pal keemti hai… I recommend ki unki surgery prepone karni chahiye… Also I need to talk to his regular doctor, so that I can understand his treatment pattern… I think it will be a great help…”.

They both nodded and seeing their scared eyes doctor again said,”Don’t worry Mr. Maheshwari… Even after this major attack, unki willpower kafi strong hai, tabhi itni jaldi hum unhe stable kar paye hai… Agar unhone himmat nhi haari, toh why would us… Please stay strong…”.

Sameer and Naina came out of the cabin, slightly scared, shook but something in hand to do very urgently. Hastily Sameer reached to phone and call the doctor in Delhi.

Again calls were made, and soon Nanu’s regular doctor talked to the doctor in-charge in Ahmedabad. Treatment pattern had changed a bit and given this, Nanu was slightly better now.

Munna asked to call Vishakha, but Sameer lost all his composure listening to her name and refused completely. Seeing his temperament Naina too secretly shook her head in no.

In six hours, everything seemed a little settled and now when everything else was little sorted, Munna and swati urged them both to eat something. But they both were reluctant.

Seeing their reluctance, slowly Munna tried to make Sameer understand,” Sameer… Bhai meri baat sun… Abhi hum sabko strong rehna hai… Jung abhi khatam nhi huyi hai… Abhi asli sangharsh baki hai… Agar tum dono bimar pad jaoge to nanaji ko kaise sambhaloge… “

Though not much, but his words affected them both. They both had tea and coffee with biscuits. Later Naina went to call at home to Kanchan di and also made a call to his office, Nisha di.

Ironically, being together all the time and thinking of everything, Sameer and Naina couldn’t talk to each other this whole time. Sometimes their courage failed and sometimes they were interrupted by something. But perhaps their being together was enough… Hopefully.

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

Time seemed stopped that day or too slow moving like an extremely slow tortoise. They were now joined by Pandit and his wife too. All their eyes were either on the clock or on the door of the ICU, but Sameer’s eyes were only on the window of the ICU. Neither he moved from there, nor his eyes blinked even… Lost in his thoughts, he was just standing there all silent.

Finally after two more hours, the doctor gave them permission to meet nanu but it was loaded with lots of instructions and restrictions.

Sameer and Naina went in slowly, trying hard to suppress their anxiety and look normal before him.

“Sameer…”,nanu called him meekly but smiling as he saw them entering and extended his hand to him.

“Nanu… Aap…”,he immediately reached for his hand, tried to say something but couldn’t complete.

Seeing his restrained, painful expressions, Naina quickly held the other hand of nanaji and asked slowly,”nanaji… Ab kaisa mahsoos kar rahe hai aap… Aap bilkul fikar mat kijiyega… Doctor ne kha hai ki aap bhut jaldi ache hokar ghar aa jayenge…” She herself didn’t know whom she wanted to console, to nanu, to Sameer or to herself.

But nanu smiled and replied,”haa beta, mai thik hu… Pehle nhi chahta tha, lekin ab jine chahta hu… Jabse tum dono ki khushiyan dekhi hai, pyar dekha hai.. mere dil me wo ghar wale ehsaas ko fr se jine ka laalach aa gya hai, fr se ek ichhchha jaag uthi hai… Tum dono bilkul mat ghabrana, kuch nhi hoga mujhe… abhi toh tumhare bachho ke saath bhi khelna hai mujhe… Unhe iske bachpan ki khaniyan sunani hai…” Nanu seemed better now and said though slow and feeble, but smiling all the time.

Both Naina and Sameer couldn’t help but spurt out a soft snigger, listening to his talks. But, soon the doctor came and they had to leave.

Everything was going smooth until those reports didn’t come. Doctor Sinha, in charge in Ahmedabad has done some tests on nanu, and reports weren’t looking good. He consulted with doctors in Delhi and summoned Sameer in his cabin.

This time Sameer had a very bad hunch. He quickly went into the chamber of the doctor, but his courage failed, when it came to ask about reports. But the doctor himself explained to him slowly. “See, Mr. Maheshwari, please don’t feel distressed, but the news is not very good. Actually aapke nanaji already heart patient hai, and ek attack pehle bhi unhe aa chuka, ye attack unke liye kaafi dangerous tha. And as his surgery is already scheduled, I think we should prepone that. Abhi jo condition hai usko dekh kar yahi kahunga ki jitni jaldi ho ye surgery ho jani chahiye, we can’t wait more.”

“But Dr. Richardson toh…” Sameer tried to say something, but the doctor interrupted.

“Yes, he is already in India. Delhi me Dr. Ahuja seeri baat huyi hai, he is trying to contact him. Aj shayad kisi conference me hai wo, toh shayad kuch ghante lag sakte hai unse baat hone me… Lekin filhaal problem ye nahi hai Mr. Maheshwari…”, Sameer was trying to intake the information, perhaps going to sigh in relief, but his breaths stopped again.

“Fr kya problem hai doctor… Koi aur complication hai kya… Nanu, nanu thik toh ho jayenge naa…”, Sameer stuttered.

“No, Mr. Maheshwari, dekha jaye toh abhi aisi koi problem nhi hai… Jab tak wo yha hai aur stable hai… Lekin problem ye hai ki unka operation Delhi me hai, and mujhe samajh nhi aa rha ki aisi haalat me mai unko travelling ki permission kaise du, in fact mujhe toh filhaal koi raasta hi mhi dikh rha hai… Abhi unki condition aisi nhi ki ambulance me by road itni lambi journey kar sake…”, slowly the doctor tried to explain the problem of the moment.

“Lekin by road q doctor, hum nanu ko flight me lekar jayenge…”, Sameer immediately interrupted him.

“No, Mr. Maheshwari, right now, his heart is not strong enough to bear air pressure. Aur fr flight me koi medical facilities bhi nahi hoto, like ambulance. Ambulance me atleast artificial breathing and basic facilities available hoti hai patient ke requirements ke hisab se… Aur for general passenger flights me toh waise bhi permission nahi milegi, iske liye kuch aur hi sochna padega… Anyways, pehle Dr. Richardson se baat ho jaaye, and hopefully tab tak Mr. Maheshwari bhi thode aur stable ho jayenge, toh we will think about it…”, Doctor softly gave him courage and strength before leaving.

“Kaash yha bhi air ambulance ki facility hoti…”, the doctor couldn’t help but mumbled seeing him leaving in a dejected and worried state.

“Kya matlab doctor…”,he turned around like a lightning bolt and asked.

“Maine… Mai toh bas soch rha tha ki kaash videsho ke jaise hamare yha bhi air ambulance ki facility hoti toh itna sochna nhi padta…”, doctor explained.

“Kya hota hai doctor usme…”, Sameer asked.

“Mr. Maheshwari, it’s a chopper, basically with amenities like an ambulance… “, Doctor tried to explain.

“I can arrange it.” Sameer thought quicker than the doctor took next breath and continued,”doctor, aap nanu ko dekhiye, mai ye sab sambhal lunga..”

“Lekin Mr. Maheshwari…”, the doctor tried to say something to him, but he was not there to listen.

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

Perhaps his stars were not in the right direction, when he left the hospital in a hurry. Naina ran behind him, but for now, he didn’t see her, or perhaps his mind was in such a mess that couldn’t register her worries. In his heart, he was assured of her presence around Nanu and that’s why he could leave, but on the surface, he behaved strangely indifferent. Naina wanted to ask, to hold, to talk and to be held too, but he left without a single word.

Even Munna and Pandit got worried and about to follow him, but thankfully the doctor came and explained the situation to them. After understanding the situation, Pandit followed him, and Munna stayed in hospital with Naina and nanu.

Sameer went straight to his office and called some top officials in government immediately, not only in Ahmedabad but Delhi too. Arranging a reserved chopper was not a problem, but arranging all the medical facilities was a real headache. He called to arrange the chopper, and instantly rushed to meet officials in the medical department of the government. All they didn’t need medical facilities only, but required some special permissions too. Just when he was about to start the car, pandit reached to him and sat beside him hurriedly.

Sameer saw him, but didn’t say anything as knew his friends very well, in fact sighed in relief in his heart and drove away.

Since the time Sameer was busy arranging the air ambulance, Naina started to feel uneasy. She hadn’t recovered completely from her painful periods yet, and this sudden rush and hassle left her dizzy. Her head suddenly had a splitting ache, and stomach also began churning and twitching. She felt extremely uncomfortable in heart, and her first reaction was to instantly clutch the cold chair in the corridor, and she opened the water bottle to drink water. Her hands were trembling badly that she can’t even have water properly.

Suddenly, Swati noticed her condition. She held her immediately and said softly,”Naina, teri tabiyt thik nahi lag rahi… tu chahe toh thodi der ghar chali jaa…”

“Nahi Swati, ghar nahi jana… mujhe bas meri medicine… tu ek minute ruk mai abhi aayi…”, Naina replied and before Swati could ask anything she rushed to the medical store in hospital.

Naina feebly asked for her pain killer to the shopkeeper, but the shopkeeper was startled. He stared at her with a strange gaze and then slowly replied,”stock nahi hai madam… khatam ho gayi hai..”

Naina was feeling extremely uncomfortable till now. She helplessly looked at the big medicine shop, and sighed slowly in her heart. With one hand she tightly pressed her temple and her other hand clutched on her stomach. She was so unsteady at that time, that might have collapsed the very next moment, but just in time Swati held her tightly.

“Naina, tu thik nahi hai, chal tujhe doctor ke pass lekar jati hu…”, Swati was slightly worried about her condition now.

“Nahi Swati, mai bilkul thik hu… “,she feebly replied, as never wanted to add one more worry in her beloved husband’s account.

“Acha chal kuch kha le…”, it’s not that Swati was convinced, but she understood her.

Though she had no appetite at all, she still gave a nod. At this moment, she missed Sameer most. Since the first moment of their marriage, he was by her side always, and suddenly he was silent. She wanted nothing but crying in his embrace, though very well aware of his situation now, but still wanted him even if just for a moment. She tried to remain sensible but couldn’t help herself to some tears slipped away on her face.

God knows these tears triggered, or those biscuits that she somehow swallowed a few moments back, but her throat choked and she gagged up uncontrollably and ran towards the washroom clasping her palm on mouth.

“Naina, khi tu… I mean good news hai kya…”, Swati asked, seeing her vomiting her lungs out.

“Nhi Swati, pagal hai kya… mujhe periods me aisa hota hai Kabhi-kabhi…”,she blushed slightly then replied wiping her face with her dupatta.

“Naina, mere khayal se thodi der tujhe ghar jana chahiye… Ghar pr teri medicine le lena, aur agar abhi Delhi jana hai toh packing bhi toh karni padegi… baad me waqt nhi milega… Abhi idhar sab thik hai, tu thodi der ke liye jaa sakti hai… chal mai bhi chalti hu tere saath, teri help kar dungi packing me…”, Swati patiently explained to her all the matters.

Though Naina vigorously shook her head at first, but then eventually gave a serious thought to it. It was true that she needed to pack their things, and even if she left these matters on Kanchan, she felt an extreme need for medicines. This time her thoughts were really ambiguous. But As She never wanted to be an extra burden on Sameer’s head, she slowly nodded and agreed to Swati.

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

“Sameer…”,she softly sighed his name and rushed up to his side to ask about the preparation, but just when she was about to touch his shoulder, she was stunned.

It was no more than 60 minutes before she returned to hospital, but it seemed like these 60 minutes were gonna be hard on her. She reached home, gulped medicines, and entered the washroom taking her clothes, leaving everything behind. She asked Swati to pack for her and Sameer, and didn’t even bother what she packed, but still it took them a whole 60 minutes, and Sameer reached the hospital before 20 minutes of them.

Naina badly wanted to talk to him now, but just as she was about to touch his shoulders, he turned and looked at her.

There was something very raw, very different in his eyes, that she took a back. Her hand stopped in mid air, and she instinctively took two back steps. The resentment and disappointment in his eyes was something she never expected. For once, she instantly wanted to step ahead and clarify his misunderstanding, but wait, misunderstanding.

“Why is there even a misunderstanding? Does he really need her explanation?” Out of nowhere, she suddenly felt it a little awkward and remained silent. Although her heart protested, her mind reprimanded her, but she couldn’t bring herself to explain anything to him.

However, it took them 3 hours more with paper work, permissions and preparation, then finally they could take Nanu from the hospital. Although, it was not a rule, since it’s become one of the first cases of it’s type, along with a skilled nurse, an assistant doctor also accompanied them in the chopper.

Sameer was silent throughout the whole process, just talking to the officials and doctors about the arrangement, but no-one else, not even when they were seated in choppers and Munna hugged him. Swati too hugged Naina to assure her, to console her, to give her courage and lastly promise her that they all will be there at the time of operation.

Still, Naina was very anxious. Now with Nanaji’s health, Sameer’s silence was worrying her too. She thought for a moment, held his hand kept on his knee, and said softly,”Nanaji’s thik ho jayenge, Sameer… aap bilkul fikar mat kijiye…”

Sameer looked at her, couldn’t say anything, but just nodded slowly and held her hand tightly.

Although she craved for more, most for his kind words, but at the same time felt a little calmed too.

It was not like Sameer didn’t want to or not understand her grievances, but at this time his mind was too occupied for anything. Though he was reliable and promised himself to be by her side always, his own emotional obstacles relied on her.

On their way to Delhi, he suddenly felt something and looked at her side. She was a bit sleepy and dozed off, that made her head sway in the air uncomfortably, he quickly spread his arm to her side and pulled her in his warm embrace. Sameer looked deeply at her. In the matter of some hours, she looked extremely tired, frowns were so deeply visible on her forehead that his heart sank. He exhaled a long breath, his hand around her tightened instinctively and softly he leaned and kissed her hairs.

Though she was in sleep but seemed like her heart felt the concern. Frowns dissipated and she snuggled a bit, finding a better posture. Her nose shrank a bit and she made a cute pout next moment. Even though he was sorrowful, his heart calmed down seeing her for a moment. Perhaps the feeling of companionship made him a bit stronger than earlier.

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

In Delhi, at first everything was in chaos. Nanu’s regular doctor Dr. Vishwas had already done with all the preparations and Nanu quickly shifted to ICU for observation. Before leaving Ahmedabad, doctors gave him a mild sedation, that he was sleeping all the way. And after reaching the hospital safely Sameer and Naina both were relaxed a bit.

Since nanu was stable for now, still he needed an operation and for that everyone was hastily trying to reach Dr. Richardson. Sameer too tried to contact him, but he was busy in a conference, almost unreachable.

Anxiety was running like blood in their vessels now, it seemed like the last step of falling in a dark abyss that had no bottom at all. As the time was passing, the feeling of sitting on a timebomb was getting evident.

Munna, Swati, Pandit and his wife Anjali, all had arrived taking the next flight. Rohan and Amrita were there in hospital. In spite of strict rules of only one attendant inside, Mr. and Mrs. Somani were also there and all they had to do was wait in the waiting lounge.

As only one person was allowed inside, Sameer didn’t want to leave his side, but to reach and talk to Dr. Richardson, he needed to stay out most of the time.

This is a kind of indecisive situation for Naina. Yet she wanted to stay inside with Nanu, but for her Mrs. Somani, her mother-in-law was more qualified for this. She didn’t know what to do, but stayed quiet and stared at Sameer helplessly.

Sameer frowned, looked at Vishakha taking steps towards nanu’s room, and suddenly roared,”wait… Mrs. Somani, aap waha nahi jaa sakti…”

“Sameer… papa hai wo mere…”, Vishakha refuted in anger.

“Aur mere mummy aur papa dono… dhyan se sun lijiye Mrs. Somani, aap unke aas-pass bhi nhi jayengi… aapki jaisi beti pr mujhe bilkul bharosa nhi… acha hoga aap yhi rahe aur chup rahe, warna mai dekhunga ki aap is hospital me kadam bhi naa rakhe…”,he bursted out of rage.

Munna, Pandit, Rohan, all quickly grabbed him. Naina held his arm tightly. Even if in their heart, they all were slightly against his decision and thinking to give him a piece of mind, but Naina could understand him. She quickly said to him,”Sameer, aap yha ki chinta mat kijiye… mai rahungi pura waqt nanaji ke saath… aap bas kisi tarah doctor se baat kijiye…”

“Naina tum…”,he wanted to say something, but was interrupted.

“I promise… mai ek pal ko bhi nhi jaungi unhe chhod kar kahi… aap bharosa kijiye…”,she softly tried once again.

This time he understood and calmed down. Though he didn’t say anything to her, but nodded, and she hurriedly went into Nanu’s room.

Here Vishakha and her husband infuriated seeing her going in, and this time Vivek Somani shouted on him unsatisfactorily,”Sameer, tumhe kya haq hai Vishakha ko andar jane se rokne ka… wo maa hai tumhari, is baat ki ijjat nhi kar sakte toh kam se kam umar ka lihaj hi karo… waise bhi hum hai bade sab decide karne ke liye, tumhe ye sab…”

“Mr. Somani, as the legal heir of Mr. Jaiprakash Maheshwari, I, Sameer Maheshwari, have all the rights of deciding about the safety of my guardian. You better stay away, or don’t blame me for being rude, okay…”,he said in a cold indifferent tone, that sent chills in everyone’s heart. And completing himself, he left without looking back and all sighed seeing his retreating back.

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

Naina sat on the couch in ward and looked at the drip, at the slanting lines on the monitor and concentrated at the feeble breaths of nanu. She knew Sameer trusted her with his life and she was resolute not to let him down anyway.

While she was swearing on her life, Sameer was running to different officials and trying to reach at that top-notch conference. Yet he couldn’t fully succeed, but somehow succeeded to contact ‘Laura’ the assistant of Dr. Richardson.

Laura understood their problem, took a look at the recent reports, and talked to Dr. In charge and promised to send all these to his boss immediately.

Sincerely, Laura sent over all the reports to Dr. Richardson soon after, he climbed down the stage. Dr. Richardson took a look, and he knew the need for the immediate operation. He quickly talked to Dr. In charge, asked for required preparations, tests and other preoperative care, and promised to come for surgery in the next two hours. Finally Sameer took a deep breath, but of course couldn’t relieve completely before operation, but at least one step had crossed.

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

Either Sameer, Naina or anyone else, they all couldn’t even breathe properly until the red bulb before operation theatre went switched off. Though the breathing was still difficult, they all ran towards the doctor, but Sameer and Naina. They both were almost frozen in their place, couldn’t even dare to go ahead and asked.

However, Rohan and Vishakha stepped ahead and asked to doctor,”doctor, papa… “

“See, we have done our job, now we will have to wait for 24 hours…”, Dr. Richardson replied in a very calm and professional tone and he left.

But Nanu’s regular doctor, more like a friend now, understood the dilemmas of the patient’s family, and mostly the sameer’s condition. He slowly came to him, kept his hand on his shoulder and said softly,”Don’t worry Sameer, ye pehli aur sabse badi mushkil humne paar kar li hai… abhi tak sab kuch bhut acha hai, bas ab 24 ghante unko observation me rakhenge… Dua karo ki ye 24 ghante ache se nikal jaye, fr samajh lo mushkilo bhara waqt khatam… “

Sameer and Naina both sighed, but didn’t know how to exhale the next breath. Though all other people were mostly relaxed now, but they couldn’t. All others congratulated each other but they couldn’t. Slightly nervous, flabbergasted, and yet scared, they both just stared their family and friends celebrating the moment cheerfully.

Perhaps their chilled attitude raged Sameer, and he took a step, about to shout on them, but just on time Naina hold his hand. Sameer looked at her and she shook her head in no slowly, but just patted his hand as a gesture of assurance. Sameer exhaled a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

As the celebration slowed down, Munna reached to Sameer and hugged him tightly. Sameer too tried to relax and hugged him back.

After getting the first good news,  everyone around slowly started to disperse, and this time suddenly Munna remembered something and said to Sameer,”bhai, subah se kuch nahi khaya tune, chal ab kuch kha le…”

“Lekin nanu…”, finally Sameer said something and thankfully did not reject the idea in a first-time.

“Nanaji ko abhi ICU me le kar jayenge, thoda time lagega… tab tak chal kuch kha le…”, Munna responsibly answered.

Sameer silenced for a moment, seemed like thinking upon the suggestion, and stepped ahead with Munna next moment. Naina sighed in relief seeing him finally acting sanely, and thinking something she went near reception. Swati saw her leaving and she followed her thinking to persuade her to eat something.

There just beside the reception, there was a lord Ganesha idol. She joined her hands perhaps to thank, perhaps to ask for more strength and perhaps to see everything becoming normal in her small world. But all of sudden at that time, she stumbled badly, and Swati held her just in the nick of time.

“Tujhe kya hua hai Naina… ab toh mujhe teri bhi bhut jyada fikar ho rahi hai… chal hum doctor ko dikha lete hai, chal uth…”, Swati held her tightly, helped her sitting on a chair, and said.

“Nhi Swati, kuch nhi hai… mujhe periods me aisa hota hai… is baar thodi bhaag daud ho gyi toh shayad isliye ho rha hai… tu fikar mat kar, aj akhiri din hai, kal tak thik ho jaungi…”, Naina softly explained to her.

Though Naina explained, Swati refuted and said softly,”jo bhi hai, doctor ko dikhane me kya harz hai… chal tu uth, warna Sameer ko bolti hu abhi…”

“Nhi Swati…”,on the name of Sameer, she vehemently shook her head and said quickly,”Swati samajh naa, already wo bhut pareshan hai, aise me unhe aur pareshan nhi kar sakti naa… tu fikar mat kar, ek do din dekhte hai, agar fr bhi thik nhi huyi toh bolungi unko dikhane… tab tak nanaji bhi thik ho jayenge…”, Naina again reasoned her and slowly made a deal.

Though Swati was not very convinced but still she remained silent, as understood her side being a girl, wife and daughter-in-law.

“Hmm… chal kuch kha le tu bhi…”, Swati held her and helped her to get up. and both left for the canteen.

There, Sameer, just after taking two steps, he realised something, looked back and hailed her name,”Naina…”

“Naina lagta hai Swati ke saath chali gayi… canteen me hi hongi, chal whi milengi…”, Munna didn’t know anything, but saw Swati following Naina just a minute ago, yet replied thinking about everything.

Though Sameer too wanted to take her to eat, hearing this, somewhat he felt slightly disappointed in his heart. More than disappointment, now after the whole day, he was missing her too, but at the same moment seemed like nature conspired against them and he felt angry yet pained.

However, Naina was actually there in the canteen, when Sameer reached there with Munna. Munna pulled his hand and joined them. Although Sameer, and Naina both didn’t eat anything since morning, but, they still had no appetite. Munna ordered some snacks and chai for them, but Naina quickly added,”bhaiya, Sameer chai nahi peete, coffee lenge wo… “

“Arey haa, mujhe toh dhyan hi nhi rha…”, although Munna knew about Sameer’s preferences more than anyone else, but perhaps, due to exertion and tension, this thing already vapourized from his mind, but she knew him.

Such a small sentence, but Sameer’s mood instantly lifted up. His lips curled up slowly as he looked at her once again and felt happy secretly.

Here, Naina tried and ate some snacks, but she was feeling uneasy all the time. Somehow she took some bites and gulped the tea in one sip. The pain was getting worse in him, and quickly thinking of an excuse, she went in a corner saying them for washroom. There she took out a pill from her bag and quickly gulped down.

Though Sameer noticed her anxiety, but as she went to the washroom, he couldn’t decide whether she was really anxious or in a hurry to use the washroom.

After having a small snack, Munna and Swati too left for nanu’s flat, saying that they would be back with their dinner from home, but Sameer didn’t think much about it. He bid them a quick bye and went into the nanu’s room, as wanted to see him. Here in ICU, only one person was allowed inside, and Swati persuaded Naina to come home with them, but reluctantly Naina replied,”nhi Swati, chahe jo bhi… main nanaji aur Sameer ko yha chhod ke nahi jaungi… mai yahi baithungi… andar nahi jaa sakti toh kya, ghar pr jaake bhi kaun sa chain mil jana hai… yha kam se kam inke saath toh rahungi…”

Swati sighed a long breath seeing her stubborn reluctance, and both nodded and left.

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

“Aa gyi tum… akele kaise aayi…”, Sameer asked Naina as he stepped out of the room and saw Naina sitting there quietly.

“Sameer, mai toh…”, Naina wanted to reply but he interrupted.

Though Naina was sitting there all the time, but God knows only what conspiracy nature was weaving, as once when Sameer came out of the room for something, she went to the washroom, and he thought that she left with Swati and Munna, and instantly a despair spread in his heart. What a misfortune it was, but he felt that disappointment coming back.

However, as now he had seen her sitting in corridor, and asked her, but before her reply added again,”Naina, thodi der nanu ke pass baitho, mai abhi aata hu… “

She didn’t ask anything, but simply nodded and stepped ahead. And Sameer walked out of the room mumbling,”ahh, pta nhi ye sar me itna dard q ho raha hai…”, he muttered and pressed his fingers on his temples.

“Sameer, kya hua aapko… dawa li aapne… kha jaa rhe hai abhi… mai sar daba du aapka…”,as soon as his mutterings fell in her ears, she restlessly showered him with her concern.

“Kuch nhi hua Naina… thoda sa dard hai sar me… canteen jaa raha hu coffee pine…”,he softly replied, feeling the despair fading away slightly.

“Umm, Sameer… aap…”,she thought and hesitated slightly but then added slowly,” Sameer aap kuch der ke liye ghar chale jaiye… fresh hoke thoda rest karenge toh acha lagega… fir dinner karke aa jaiyega…”

Sameer pondered over her suggestion for a moment and then said,”lekin tum please pura waqt nanu ke pass hi rehna, aur jaise hi unko hosh aaye mujhe call karna… “

Naina nodded slowly and he left thinking to go home, freshen up and rest for sometime.

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

“Arey Sameer, tu akela aa gaya… bhabhi ko nahi laya…”,as soon as he reached home, Munna asked him bewildered of his nonchalance.

“Haa Naina ruki hai nanu ke pass, mai thoda freshen up hone aa gya… thodi der me fir se jaunga…”, Sameer replied as not understand his flabbergasted look at all.

“Lekin bhai…”, Munna was about to say something, but just then Sameer saw Kanji and said to him,”Kanji, ek achi si coffee bna de, aur ek dar dard wali tablet de de… bhut sar dard ho rha hai…”

Munna looked at his tired face and didn’t say further assuming it’s a mutual decision between the couple.

Finally after a relaxing one hour, Sameer again started to prepare to go to hospital. Kanji packed dinner and tea for Naina, while Sameer had dinner at home itself.

Here in the hospital, the doctor came for a check-up. Fortunately he was stable and everything was in control, and Naina quietly sat on the side chair looking at the monitor and nanu’s calm sleeping face. Though she was tired, praying every moment for his quick recovery.

Sameer reached hospital after a whole two hours and reached the room hurriedly. Slowly he entered the room, looked at Nanu sleeping under the effect of medicines and then Naina. Naina stood up seeing him and smiled softly.

Sameer took a deep breath, gave her the bag and said slowly,” Naina, isme tumhara dinner hai aur chai bhi… umm, yha ICU me toh allowed nhi, tum canteen me jaakar kha lo…”

“Aap…”, she asked softly.

“Maine toh ghar pr hi kha liya… yha nanu ko akela nhi chhod sakte the naa… waise Munna Swati bol rahe rhe aane ko, lekin fr raat ko yha allowed bhi toh nhi… aur haa, driver hai bahar, agar tumhe ghar jana hai toh chali jao, mai rukta hu yha, tum subah aa jana…”,he explained everything in detail to her.

“Nhi mai rukungi yha…”,she said firmly and walked towards the canteen slowly.

Somewhat her posture was strange that he couldn’t point out exactly how, but felt a bit different. Sameer suddenly felt a rush of restlessness in himself and looked at her retreating back thoughtfully.

The night was not easy for Naina though. Sameer didn’t want to leave Nanu’s side and Naina sat on the cold chair in the corridor to spend the night. Although she was tired too, but for her nanaji and Sameer was her whole world, and she didn’t want to go anywhere leaving her world behind.

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

Now, after a painful wait of whole 13 hours, finally the doctor announced that nanu was out of danger and could awake soon. At this time Sameer and Naina went home for some rest and morning chores and Munna was there with Nanu. After listening to this wonderful news, he quickly dialed Sameer and gave him this good news.

As soon as Sameer heard this, he just wanted to run to hospital. At this time, Naina was getting ready, and He shouted loudly to her,”Naina, mai hospital jaa rha hu… Munna ka call aaya hai… nanu ko hosh aa sakta hai ab kabhi bhi…”

“Sameer, mai bhi aaungi aapke saath… “, Naina replied loudly and joined him almost running.

That was indeed a blissful moment for them, when they saw nanu opening his eyes before them. In that moment, all the anxiety, restlessness, fears, and tiredness of these days dissipated in the thin air of the room. They both were very excited, and relieved in that moment. Though Nanu was weak and not allowed to talk much, he slowly opened his eyes, saw them standing on his side, smiled feebly and murmured something.

His voice was so low that Sameer bent, kept his ear near his lips trying to listen. Nanu mumbled, “mai thik hu… tum dono ko chhod kar nahi jaunga kabhi…”

This moment was so reliving that unwantedly but Sameer burst into tears. He nodded his head vehemently, tried to suppress the burst of emotions, smiled but tears kept falling like raindrops.

Naina was emotional too. She too shed tears, but smiling happily admiring the son and father duo before herself. They both were her world, and she had witnessed her world crashing down in a storm, and this moment was changing the definition of that storm in her heart. Everything was fine now, the operation that nanu was so reluctant about had been done like this and “he is fine now“, she murmured this line in her heart again and again and again.

Everyone was present there, when doctors declared nanu out of all the dangers hopefully. Everyone was relaxed and happy, but they both were overjoyed. Nanu was still in ICU, but now just for three days and after that doctor said that he would be shifted in a private room for post-operative care.

However, listening to this great news, when everyone was so happy, their lives also started to fall back to normal. Munna and Pandit started preparing to leave for their hometown. Mr. Somani and Rohan started preparing to resume their office for the next day, and Vishakha, most probably started preparing for her next kitty party. Though everything was falling back to normalcy, but not for Sameer and Naina.

Nanu was fine, but he still had to stay in hospital for a long time. And this obviously going to busy their lives, but remain busy was still tolerable if their hearts could stay connected.

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

“Sameer, mujhe…”, Naina tried to say something, when he interrupted her.

“Ah, acha hua tum aa gayi Naina… mujhe turant jana hai, ek jaruri kaam hai… umm, haa, Nanu ki drip abhi abhi change huyi hai, toh abhi time hai next drip me aur doctor ek ghante me aayenge check karne… tab tak tum aaram se baitho… mai nikalta hu…”, Sameer said quickly and picked up his bag and walked towards the door.

After three days, when almost everyone left and started their normal life, they were still juggling between hospital, home and office. Sameer had to work, but didn’t want to leave nanu’s side. This extra pressure was taking a toll on his health. He was looking terribly tired and stressed and even thin in three days only.

Seeing him so hassled she softly suggested to him,”Sameer, aise hum nanaji ka khayal nhi rakh payenge… aisa karte hai din me mai nanaji ke pass rehna aur aap ghar pr rehkar thoda aaram kijiye aur apna kaam bhi, fr raat ko aap nanaji ke pass rahiye, mai ghar pr rehti hu…”

Sameer didn’t convince easily and protested immediately,”lekin Naina, mujhe…”

“Sameer, please samjhiye… abhi nanaji ko hum dono ki jarurat hai… aise me agar aapki tabiyt bhi kharab ho gyi toh… please maan jaiye…”,she softly persuaded him.

Though he was reluctant but thinking something nodded slowly, and it became a routine for them now. In the morning, around 8:30 or 9:00 Naina came to the hospital and Sameer left, and he came in the evening to accompany nanu.

Slowly it became a comfortable routine, they both agreed to this now after serving nanu for one more week.

This exactly happened that day too, Naina came in and Sameer left soon after telling her the details. And Naina remembered all these things happened before four days.

Naina sighed, nodded and kept her bag on the table. She wanted to tell him something, but like some previous days, he was again in a hurry, not bothered to listen to anything. She couldn’t help but again felt slightly sad. She was not well and wanted to tell her, but whether it was a situation or right now he was so busy, that like everytime she again failed to say anything to him.

Sameer stepped ahead, walked towards the door, suddenly looked back at her, sighed slowly in his heart and left. It’s not that he was not feeling this sudden distance, but he really couldn’t understand how to soothe this pain. It’s been a while since he actually held her in his arms, hugged her tightly, talked to her endlessly, not to say about kissing and loving her, but he got really very busy due to some mishaps in the factory back in Ahmedabad.

Well, Sameer was understanding this distance, feeling the void, and even missing her, but what he didn’t understand was that she was much more restless and haggard this time. Her pain was now a constant thing, she was bleeding even on the 11th day of her menstrual cycle and unknown to him and everyone else she was taking painkillers now at least four times a day.

After Sameer left, like every other day Naina folded his blanket, cleaned the table a bit and waited for Nanu to get up. Nowadays nanu was in senses, but sleeping most of the time under the effects of medicines. When he got up, Naina used to talk to him about something, read the newspaper for him and gave him medicines. As nanu was still not allowed to talk much, she was the only one to talk to him a little and made him listen more. In fact Just two days back doctors allowed him to eat some liquid diets, but only that provided by the hospital. Naina couldn’t cook anything for him, but slowly fed him soup that the nurse brought for him. She also had her lunch in the hospital only, and left in the evening when Sameer returned to the hospital.

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

Life was crawling slowly for Sameer and Naina. Rohan and Amrita visited Nanu every three four days. Vishakha and Vivek too came on every alternate day, but no one wanted to share the responsibility, and moreover they themselves didn’t want to share this with anyone. Now Nanu was fine, slowly started to communicate and eat, though in limit and with lots of precautions, but still he was slowly coming to normal life.

It was on the fifteenth day in hospital, when doctors allowed him to go home, but with lots of instructions and carefulness. He was not at all allowed to travel for at least one month more. Though Sameer and Naina were all prepared for these precautions, and even happy about getting the discharge from hospital, something bad happened in Ahmedabad that shook their life once again.

Naina was cleaning nanu’s room. She made sure everything double checked and sterilized for him, and Sameer came with nanu. He was not allowed to walk much and came to house with support of Sameer and two more ward boys. Naina quickly touched his feet and led them towards Nanu’s room.

As soon as nanu laid down comfortably on his bed, ward boys left, Sameer sat with nanu, while Naina lit a diya in a small temple in the home, offered a quick prayer to the almighty, and brought the puja thali in room. She put tilak on Sameer’s forehead, offered him prasad, aarti, and the same with nanu, but she didn’t  give him sweets.

Naina was happy that he came home fit and healthy, but this was not a single reason for her happiness. She was happy that finally, her and Sameer could spend some moments together. Perhaps now they could talk, hold each other and understand each other. Anticipations running wild in her heart, and aspirations giving thumps and pounds to her heart beats. But she didn’t know that nature was conspiring against them.

If this was not the same, then not so different for Sameer too. It would be a plain lie, if he said that he was not excited and looking forward to the time when he could hold her in his embrace and talk to her about everything. Well, he was unaware of games of his fate.

Naina was in the kitchen, cooking food for Nanu, and suddenly the phone rang. Sameer walked to receive the call, but they both didn’t know what this call brought for them.

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

“Naina, Nanu ka khyal rakhna… unko kam se kam akela chhodna… medicines wagerah ka dhyan rakhna… umm, mai janta hu akele tumhare liye ye thoda mushkil hai, lekin is waqt mai… mai jaldi se sab solve karke aa jaunga, I promise… tab tak tum…”, Sameer was agitated at the moment and softly tried to soothe her or perhaps both of them.

Naina couldn’t say much, but nodded and said softly,”mai janti hu sab… aap fikar mat kijiye… yha mai sambhal lungi, aap bas apna khyal rakhna aur jyada tension mat lena, sab thik hoga…”

Her heart was paining far beyond consolation, but her mind reprimanded her for not being his strong support in this hard time and she decided to be the one.

The phone call was from Ahmedabad, their manager in the factory. He informed them that there was an accident in the factory, and one worker was injured badly in that. Some machinery broke down suddenly and caused not only a financial loss, but now a life was on stake too. Thinking of this grave situation, some other workers ragged and called for a strike. Now when everything was messed up badly, only Sameer could handle the situation and reversed it back. He immediately had to leave for Ahmedabad. All the plans for each other failed miserably and he left in a hurry.

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

Three more days passed. Sameer was struggling to smoothen the situation in the factory and Naina was struggling herself to keep herself sane and strong all the time.

She had just finished a call from him, and like the last three days was disappointed again. He talked to her, asked about Nanu and his well being, but forgot to ask about her, and even hung up the call when she was about to say something, due to some interruption.

Naina sighed, looked at the receiver and kept it back. She came back in the kitchen, and found that the porridge she kept on gas had been burnt and now her disappointment turned into anger that lashed out on kanji and his wife.

They both were hassled and guilty, lowered their heads seeing her so furious.

“Kanji bhaiya, kya ho gya hai aapko… maine nhi kha to khud se khyal nhi rakh sakte the… har baat kya kah ke hi btani padegi, khud se koi ehsaas hai ki nhi… jitna kha jaaye, kya sirf wahi aapki jimmedari hai… “,she scolded him in a loud voice, that herself felt a little over.

She didn’t want to exaggerate the matter, but it seemed like someone else preoccupied her sanity.

Suddenly she realized something, and took a stumbled back step. Bhuri wanted to hold her seeing her unsteady steps, but she stopped her showing her palm to her and said again,”ab aap dono khade khade mera muh hi dekhte rahenge ki fr se khane ki taiyari karenge… jaldi se sari taiyari kijiye, nanaji ke khane ka waqt ho rha hai… daliya ke liye sabzi katiye, mai abhi aati hu ek minute me…”

Assigning them their tasks, she quickly moved into her room. Her steps were still some unsteady, breaths were ragging and hands were shivering. She sat with a thud on her bed, pressed her temples with her fingers, and opened the bedside drawer. Hastily she popped a pill, gulped it with water and pressed her temples again. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but still some mist shone on her eyelashes, she bit her lips badly to cope up with the pain and still couldn’t restrain the muffled sounds erupting from her throat. Her forehead sweated badly, and even the full body broke down in cold sweats. She opened her mouth, blew some air, tried to ease herself, but it still took a full fifteen minutes to get back to normal.

Naina sighed, wiped her forehead, changed her clothes and got up to prepare food for Nanu, unaware of the changes occurring in herself due to hard and continuous medication.

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

“Kya hua hai Naina… tu thik nahi lag rahi… pichhle kuch time se bhut kamjor si lagne lagi hai… kya baat hai beta, teri tabiyt toh thik hai…”, Nanu asked to her and she just looked at him sadly couldn’t reply even.

Naina had just finished a call from sameer. Like always he asked his rehearsed questions and she replied in a soft but monotonous plain tone. It’s been 10 days, since he left and he didn’t ask her well being, more than three four times in this whole time. Now, she had left the expectations even, and started to sink in her own bubble of darkness. There was responsibility, there was sanity, there was strength, but there was no hint of happiness but it was an abyss pit of darkness.

Here in all this situation, when Nanu asked her about her well being, she couldn’t help but feel more miserable. “Am I this transparent? And if yes, when nanu can see into her, why is he failing again and again? Meri zindagi me aapse important kuch nhi, lekin kya aapke liye bhi aisa hai… Sameer mai…”,she couldn’t help but thought and mumbled slowly.

Love has many aspects. When Sameer was struggling through a hard time in his career, he considered her as his strength and worked enthusiastically every new day to get everything solved and get back to her as soon as possible. Though he was not a man of more words, but never failed to show his concern and love for her, God knows why this time he failed miserably and caused a great harm to her, that was going to shake their future too.

Nanu was fine and for him nothing could be more relieving than this to him, but in his own happiness he overlooked a huge distance taking place between him and his Naina.

Naina was hassled, tired of fighting for strength and now left everything on fate. She used to do all the work in a robotic way, getting used to those medicines more and more, and having loud mood flips now.

Nanu noticed it, and tried to ask too, but she answered him in a rehearsed manner not wanting to worry him for anything and nanu guessed it too, but didn’t persuade her categorised it as a sadness due to sudden separation of the couple. Ahh, perhaps he could do something if he knew that his kids were not only separated by cities, but something was falling apart within them.

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

However the time was passing on its speed, and whether they accepted it or not, something had changed between them. In fact for Naina, her whole personality had changed and she was absolutely not acquainted with her new self, even sometimes despising herself.

On that day, when Rohan and Amrita came to visit nanaji, they were talking, laughing and in between she noticed them staring at each other affectionately. In that fraction of second, something pricked in her heart. She quickly excused herself and went to her room. She never wanted to but couldn’t help herself and envied them for that moment, and the feeling made her so disgusted with herself.

Naina lifted his photo frame from her side table, stroked his smile, stared at the chellished features and muttered,”ye sab kya ho rha hai Sameer… mai aisi nahi banna chahti… q mai ye… mujhe ab aapse baat karni hi hogi, pr aap mujhse baat toh karenge naa… kaash meri books yha hoti, kahi aur dimag lga hota toh shayad aisa nhi hota…”

Naina decided and kept staring at him for a long time. These days it was her habit to talk to his photo, and kept staring at him even for the whole night sometimes.

Here back in Ahmedabad, Sameer entered the house, which no longer looked like a home for him. He somehow managed to get down the strike, talk to all the workers assuring them an all around maintenance and all the hospital expenses along with a lifetime pension for the injured worker. He even offered a job to his any one family member and finally workers returned back to work. But now he had to work hard to restore the losses that occurred in the last few days.

Sameer was working hard and having very less time to talk to her, even about nanu. Somehow her presence around nanu assured him, and now he was only looking forward to getting the permission to get them both back home.

“I am missing you Nainu… I am really missing you alot…”, Sameer whispered looking at her photo and breathed heavily.

He came home late at night, and as per his instructions food was kept on the table. He sat and ate, but the loneliness haunted him. Even, He was not in good condition, but his work kept him sane, and there her idleness was filling her with negative vibes.

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

“Hmm, bol… “

“Nahi mat aana, abhi mai busy hu…”

“Janti hu… college se admit Card aaya hai…”

“Koshish karungi, lekin abhi kuch kah nhi sakti…”

“Hmm, dekhti hu…”

“Bas thoda thak gyi hu…”

Sameer frowned, hearing this one sided conversation and guessing the other side’s.

Finally, after a long month, the doctor permitted Nanu to travel and without any more delay, he brought his lifelines back in the house. Munna and Pandit came home to welcome home, that somehow created a jovial environment of a little celebration. Nanu couldn’t sit for a long time, so Sameer sent him back to his room, and walked out to talk to his friends.

As soon as Nanu left for his room and Sameer took him away, Naina excused herself and went into her room. Something was missed about her, that not only him but everyone noticed. Soon, thinking of giving a little private time to the couple, everyone left.

His heart pounded heavily, like the first day of their marriage, when he climbed up stairs. Finally after a long time, to be very precise around after 45 days, he was going to hold her. His heart actually thumped in anticipation.

Sameer stopped on the threshold, seeing her sitting on a swing in the balcony, looking at the horizon aimlessly. She was doing nothing but just sat on the swing and he felt the harmony returning in his life. He felt his room completed once again. He felt the house turned into home again, but he failed miserably to notice that the one making his house a home, had shattered completely. She was broken so badly in pieces that now her heart was scattered around and pricking her own eyes.

Sameer smiled, sighed in relief and about to go to her, but suddenly the phone rang and she picked up. Fortunately it was from Kamya and she started to chat slowly.

This time he frowned and noticed. Noticed her indifference, when she looked at him standing in the door frame but didn’t smile even, noticed her cold stern tone with no hint of any emotion. He remembered her wide full of life smile, and missed her smile, her jiggling like talks and her soft pink blush whenever he was around. For no reason he felt chill running down his spine and his heart pounded badly sensing the warmth dissipating from his heart.