Unlike the last two cold and dull days, the day was brighter and sunny... Between the crisp cold winter, that day was like a blessing for everyone... And feeling the coziness of the weather, Naina Maheshwari took a deep breath, while again ran her eyes to find an auto... Dressed in a simple sky blue suit, and white cardigan, with minimum makeup and accessories, she was looking very beautiful, but This was an hell hectic day for her... Running in the administration block of her college from desk to desk, to renew her admission, she got very tired... But feeling really happy and satisfied that finally succeeded... And now could restart the college... Also she was very happy after meeting her old friends and collegemates and lectures and professors... She recalled the time when all her friends classmates and professors too came to congratulate her for marriage... She blushed when recalled the teasings of her bestfriend Kamya... She felt overwhelmed when recalled the moment when principal mam summoned her and not only congratulate for marriage but to get a such an understanding and nice partner, who not only allowed her to complete her studies but helping her out in every manner he could... She felt a surge of peace and happiness when recalled that praisings that principal mam gave her husband without even knowing him personally... It was like a emotional roller coaster day for her, she got very emotional when saw Preeti, and just ran to hug her... She too hug her back but that warmth was missing... For once she wanted to ask her and tell her too, but thought something and remained silent... And now after a hectic day, that not only drained her physically but emotionally and mentally too, even she didn't know why but wanted to go home infact straight in her man's arms... Though they didn't that close physically, she somehow missing his warmth so much... Since last two days, something had changed between them, and now he called her many times while getting ready, demanding to choose his cloths and even that blazer moment became a routine now, his demands were the same, but the talks were increased... Everything seemed normal but she was feeling restless... The feeling of waking up in his arms, the soothing rhythm of his heartbeats, she was missing... Yes she was missing him badly and decided to talk to him in night itself...

"Are Naina..", she was lost in her zone when someone called her... She jerked and looked the caller.. she was none other than but Kamya... And she calling her coz she succeeded to halt an auto and smiling she too joined her and headed towards her paradise...

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It was late afternoon almost when Naina finally reached her mansion... Tired, exhausted and with a long list of works to be done... She gratefully thanked Radhe when he served her a hot cup of tea and snacks instantly... While having the tea she enquired about his tiffin, or any call from him or anyone else... And after being satisfied that tiffin had been sent on time and gobbling up her snacks and tea, she too headed towards her room for some rest... But then thought something and smacking herself, she quickly pulled the receiver and called nanaji... First enquired and being satisfied about his health and, then she excitedly talked some more about her first day of college... After 5 minutes she was in her room, just rested her head on pillow to catch some sleep but the ring of phone didn't let her lay properly even... But somehow she felt the ring very soothing and sensed him other side... Thinking about him, she excitedly received the call and her said in her sweet voice,"yes dear patidev... "

Other side Sameer first surprised that how she knew that it was him and then jerked on her weird but cute endearment and couldn't help but asked,"kya... Kya kha tumne... Aur tumhe pta kaise chala ki Mai hu.."

His soothing voice melted like warm honey in her ears and she felt all the cold shiverings fled out of window... But then chuckled, thought something and said," q.. Mai Apne dear husband Ko aise nhi Bula Sakti.. aur Rahi baat pta chalne ki to aapko pta nhi Lekin mere Jasoos ne mujhe bta diya..."

Sameer raised his eyebrows and sweet smile played on his lips instantly as facing her teasing side for the first time and liked this side of her so much... But this time he was in a hurry, so unable to cherish more he asked softly," Naina... College me sab ache se ho gya..."

Naina replied happily," haa.. sab ho gya... Aur aapko pta hai..", she was definitely very excited to share every little detail with her dear patidev.. but interrupted and his voice again echoed behind the receiver,"Naina suno... Ye baate Baad me karenge... Wo maine ye btane Ko call Kiya tha ki AJ raat Mai thoda late ho jaunga aur haa mera dinner bhi bahar hai.. tum please kha Lena, mera wait mat karna... "

Naina was so excited, but suddenly her smile vanished and she hummed only in response... And of course her sadness was not hidden from him and he said again," Naina... Please... Samjho Naa... Baki Mai tumhe raat Ko btata hu.."

Till then Naina had composed herself and replied slowly but sweetly," thik hai... Koi baat nahi... Aap bhi time pr kha lijiyega.. " and they both hang up the call bidding a good bye..

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Though she got a little sad but tried to understood his problems too... She knew that he had a heavy responsibility of this big empire on his shoulders and she shouldn't be a problem for him. Thinking this and arguing herself, she slowly slipped into a slumber but not with that big wide smile... She somehow wanted to be his support but couldn't help herself to get that faded smile back... But after a relaxing sleep of sometime, she really felt fresh... After freshening up, she came out of the room and gave Radhe some quick instruction about her dinner and thinking something brought some files in living room, which she borrowed from some of her friends... These were notes that she had to cover herself, though her lectures assured her for every possible help... she sat before centre table and started to make a list of books, notes and other things which she needed to do asap... And then soon sank into her studies so much that couldn't keep a check on time...

It was already 9 pm, when Radhe finally came to ask for her dinner... She checked the time and smacking herself first bid a good bye to Radhe for the day and then went to have dinner... After so many days she was eating all alone, and the silence of the house was haunting her... She switched on the music player and somehow finished her dinner as music laid a positive effect on her... Thinking about him and listening slow soft songs she again submerged herself in notes... And it was around 10:45pm when finally bell rang, announcing his arrival... Her eyes beamed like sparkling stars and adjusting her dupatta she ran to welcome her busy patidev... Her excitement to see him and talk to him was on top that day, and she opened the door already chirping in her sweet voice," kitni der laga..."

But her voice slowed down as soon as her eyes fell on him, coz he was not alone but with two more persons... They greeted her and he introduced them as his subordinates... She slowly took the jacket and bag from his hands and walking slowly they reached in living room... But her notes were spreaded everywhere there in room... Naina cursed herself and said quickly lifting everything," sorry... Wo Mai padh rhi thi... Aap log baithi ye Naa.. ye Mai Abhi utha deti hu..."

But Sameer said softly," koi baat nhi naina... Hum to waise bhi study me baithenge... Kuch kaam hai... Tum bas ek ek coffee bhijwa do please.."

She nodded a yes and he hurriedly walked for his study along with his subordinates... After sometime Naina served them some snacks and coffee... After one more hour, he appeared in their room to freshen up and change in a comfortable wear... Naina wanted to ask something and also tell something but before she could, he said in his hell tired voice now," Naina... Mujhe kuch time aur lagega, tum so jao..."

Naina wanted to say something but couldn't and just nodded in reply... But then thought something she asked," aapko kuch chahiye... I mean coffee ya snacks kuch..."

Sameer replied hurriedly leaving the room," nhi kuch nhi... Tum rest karo..."

And after one more hour, when he finally came back to the room it was already 1 AM... He smiled when his eyes fell on her... She was sleeping resting her head on the back rest of bed and a book was still in her hands... Carefully he took the book and keep that aside and make her sleep properly... Tired as hell he too laid beside, hold her hand and pulled the blanket... Looking at her angelic face and serene smile he too soon drifted off in a deep slumber...

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The morning was almost same like yesterday... Naina woke up on her usual time, arranged for his lunch and made breakfast, got ready in a black and red embroidered suit with a red cardigan, and yeah also ran between kitchen and room nth times whenever he called to choose his cloths, then in search of his wallet and socks and finally slipped the blazer over his broad shoulders... In between breakfast time and then in the way of her college they chatted and she got to know that he grabbed a golden opportunity to participate in a very big trade event held in Mumbai, and that's why became very busy all of a sudden... She also gave him her list of books and some other things, which he promised to brought before evening... She wanted to talk some more but couldn't as college was there, but consoled herself thinking that she would do this in evening... But the rest of the day, infact the next two days went just same and their talks had been huddled in breakfast and drop of time only... He was skipping his dinners, coming not only late but always with someone along... Now both were restless... But at one side Sameer was habituated of all this and the presence of Naina, even for a second, was only adding a pinch of pleasure, there for Naina, this was a very sudden and unexpected situation and the absence of him by her side was not only adding the panic but actually the loneliness was haunting her... She was getting more restless day by day... And in between all this, when she was just trying to understand and cope up with the situation, the shrill ring of phone shook the air of the room but whatever he said, had Shaken her soul... Throwing the blanket aside, she almost ran to pick the phone as very sure it's of him, and said a hello...

Of course it was Sameer other side, he said in his usual soft and warm voice, "Naina... Wo Mai.... Actually..."

She wondered that why he actually fumbled at words, and asked gently," kya hua... Aise q bol rahe hai... Btaiye Naa kya baat hai.."

Sameer took a deep breath, thought something and said slowly gathered his courage," Naina... Please 4-5 dino ke hisab se mera saman pack kar do...." Sameer's dilemma was how to broke the news on her... And now this was not easy for him too... But couldn't help as he had to go...

His half completed news was like a bomb for her... She felt herself numbed, closed her eyes, and clutched the receiver with both hands... She wanted to ask but words seemed frozen in her mouth only... but Her lips shivered and slowly somehow controlling herself she asked fumbled, numb, and trembled," kha... Kha jana hai.... Aapko.."

The tremble and restlessness was not hidden from Sameer and he was about to say something, but just then a his account manager knocked to come for some discussion, and might he got his distraction so replied softly and calmly," Mumbai... Wo event hai Naa... Actually koi aur Jane wala tha Lekin uski tbiyt kharab ho gyi to mujhe Jana padega... Tum packing kar dogi Naa... Mai do ghanto me aaunga fr ek ghante me nikalna hai... Baki Mai Aakar baat karta hu..."

"Hm... Aakar baat karta hu..", she repeated his words in whisper and saw the receiver in her hand with a disbelief... First it seemed like a nightmare to her, but the receiver in hands was telling her that it was not a nightmare but a bitter truth... She sat on the bed with a thud, feeling so clueless that didn't even registered when her eyes welled up and started to flow vigorously... With one hand cluthed the bedsheet tightly but in actual wanted to clutch the moment very tight in her hand... At once she didn't even understand that what was effecting her most, his tour leaving her alone, a tension of living alone in this big mansion or it's that unknown but strong feeling that she couldn't see him for next some days.... Amid in all this tension her heart was sinking, craving but consoling her too... Suddenly her eyes fell on a photo frame of him on side table, and in next moment her some questions got their respective answers... She knew that his trip that too leaving her alone was making her condition miserable, and just a thought of living in this big house all alone was actually scaring her heart but the fact that she couldn't see him for next some days was actually not only scariest in itself but somehow she was not at all ready for this... To live alone is scary but to live without him was like to live without oxygen and she knew that it was impossible... She was so lost in her thoughts, when again some answered questions made their way in her mind that," why... Why he became so important for her and when he became so important for her, that it seemed like impossible to take a single breath without him now..." But before she could find answers for herself, the tic-tic of clock brought her in reality and somehow composing herself, she started to prepare herself with the task in hand to pack his belongings....

She stood collecting her crashed self and first went in washroom, wash her face and eyes mentally making a list of things that she needed to pack... She called Radhe and told him to bring his suitcase from storeroom and clean that, as they were temporarily shifted in guest room and the extra bags and luggage were in store room... And assigning Radhe his work she quickly started to collect his things somehow keeping a check on herself... But she wanted to scream, when she pulled out his shirts, her heart cried when she was choosing his suits, she found herself in tears again when packing his toiletries in small travel bag, she felt herself weakest when collected his socks and hankies, her hands shivered when she was stacking his nightsuits on bed, her heart sank when she went in kitchen and quickly pack some snacks and asked Radhe to do some preparations for a quick snack before he left and also some for his dinner, and she numbed completely when Radhe brought the bag and she started to arrange his bag... wiping her tears carelessly with the back of her palm, she was arranging his bag...

Once the work done, she sat on bed, took some deep breaths and tried to calm herself down... Her heart was sinking with every breath, and she was feeling so restless, so helpless... She was looking around the room, might be in a hope to find something that exactly made her understood her own self, and her eyes fell on mirror and shockingly she saw her image, her hair messed up, eyes went red and puffy and nose too went reddish... She saw herself and didn't know why but had a strong feeling that he shouldn't see her in this devastated state... Wiping her tears, and taking deep breaths, she quickly gulped some water, sat and thought... She recalled her talks with principal mam on her first day of college,

"Naina, you are actually very lucky ki tumhe Aisa husband Mila hai jo Sahi mayno me tumhara Jeevan Saathi hai... Jeevansathi, jo jindagi ke har mod pr tumhara saath deta hai, tumhari strength banke... I wish ki tum bhi hamesha uski strength Bano aur uska saath do har struggle me.."

And though she didn't get answers for her questions but now knew that what she had to do... Never in life she wanted to be his weakness and as much as she understood him, she knew that if he saw her in this state, it would be very difficult for him to leave... With firm determination and strong heart, she gathered her lost spirit and stood to change and get freshen up...

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Other side Sameer's condition was no less than hers... He was also sulking and feeling lost... It was not at all easy for him to go and live without her even for a day, forget about a week... He told her to pack his bag, but now feeling so restless... His heart was missing it beats whenever he thought about leaving her behind... He was not only tensed for himself but about her too... She had to live all alone for a week and this was the thought that making him more unsettled and restless... He didn't know how she would react to this... He could sense her sadness on phone but now that seemed not enough... He was tensed, sad, restless and in a deep grief as knew his responsibilities too... And he knew that he had to go.... He had went for numerous trips earlier too but now the thought only giving him chills... He couldn't see her beautiful face, couldn't see her magical smile for a whole one week and couldn't hold her hand while sleeping, everything about her, her Cooking, her endless talks, her carings, everything he was already started missing... He couldn't help himself as he had to go but worried about her too... She had to live alone and a tension of her safety and well-being was now eating him... He just didn't understand what to do, and this kind of situation only one person was there who could help him, and he quickly dialled a number to talk with him...

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"Naina... Tum akele... I mean tumhe dar to nhi lagega Naa... Umm tum chaho to kuch din ke liye Apne Chachaji ke yha Chali jao, I promise nanu kuch nhi kahenge...", He taking her leave and perhaps asked this to her nth times... And like earlier she too assured him once more smiling," maine kha Naa, Mai thik hu... Aap fikar mat kijiye... Mai yhi ghar me rahungi..."

Sameer had called nanu from office, and ended up with his scoldings... Nanu was very angry to him and scold him alot... He was not at all in favour of leaving her alone at home, but even in this situation not once he approved of her a trip to her maternal house... Sameer tried to calm him down but all went useless... And for the first time Sameer got more restless after talking to his nanu... But like a bliss, he had enough distraction to control himself and he was already in a habit of forgetting himself in work.... Though he was not feeling this enough but somehow  composed himself and drowned in work... and reached home before 45 minutes of leaving... But when he entered the house, one surprise or a shock would be a better description,was waiting for him...

In office, he was imagining Naina sad and gloomy and prepared himself to console her and to make her understand... He was fantasizing her to come in his arms running and cry her heart out.... He was already imagine all the emotional lines and talks that Naina might say him and even prepare with answers too... He was day dreaming to squeeze her in his arms before taking a teary leave... But much to his surprise, he found nothing like this... She was behaving normally, talking normally and infact when he inquired about his belongings, she had told him that she had already packed his things and even some extra cloths for some emergency... Seeing her smiling and normal, a part of heart got very disappointed... He thought as couldn't help to," she is all normal, but why... Why is she all fine... Kya use mere rahne ya nhi rahne se koi fark nhi padta... Won't she miss me..." Thought just a thought and he felt himself drowning in a pool of restlessness... Now he wanted to know her feelings more than ever... He was thinking about this only when other part of his heart cursed him and so wanted to kick his ass... Cursing himself more and more he again thought," Sameer... Tu pagal ho gya... Kya chahta hai ki wo roye... Tujhe acha lagega use rota dekh kar... Dekh use... Uski aankhe kitni red hai... Shayad royi hogi... Kitni mushkil se sambhala hoga shayad tere liye aur tu fr se rulana chahta hai use... Are you a saddist.."

The war of thoughts was on its peak, but her innocence and sweet smile didn't let him think something bad or indecent about her and he finally jerked every thought and decided to concentrate on whatever he had before him right now... And during a quick snack and coffee and some  preparations of his departure, just in try to ensure her well being he end up asking the same question numerous times and she given a assuring reply everytime... But something was there unsettling him and somehow he was not only feeling restless but not convinced with her replies... Lastly he thought something and again said softly," Naina.. tum wha nhi Jana chahti to koi baat nhi Lekin chaho to Preeti ya kisi Ko Bula Lena yha... I mean, agar koi friend Ko, agar problem na ho to.... Ya fr Mai Munna Ko bol dunga wo bhabhi Ko bhej dega ya wo dono aa jayenge... Ummm jaisa tumhe thik lage..."

Naina was again about to reply her previous answer but he suddenly hold her hands and said," Naina... Achi baat hai ki tum thik ho aur dar nhi LG rha, Lekin tum yha Akeli rahogi to mujhe bhut fikar hogi aur bilkul acha nhi lagega... Please mere liye.."

His hold, the concern and care, it was getting too much for her to control now, but somehow controlling the tears, lowering her eyes and biting her lips mercilessly she nodded a yes, but really unable to say anything...

He felt a knot in his heart, when suddenly feel her gloominess and cupped her face next moment while said," Naina... Idhar dekho... Dekho meri taraf... " He almost command her...

With utmost difficulty, she slowly lifted her shivering and now misty eyelashes and some mannerless tears spilled even after a thousand of barriers and controls...

" Oh, she is crying.. it means my leaving is effecting her... Means I mean to her... Means she definitely has some feelings for me..",one part of his heart danced mentally on his victory... " Shit... She is sad... She is crying... God, I made her crying.... Oh no... I am such a useless creature...", Again a war began and the second part of his heart started to cursing him already...

" Ahh... Mai pagal ho gya hu... Kya soch rha hu... Meri Naina itni udas hai, uski aakho me aasu hai aur mujhe ye sab sujh rha hai... I seriously need some help..", thinking this, he softly and gently wiped her tears... Though he thought about this scenario for a thousand time in office but suddenly forgot all the rehearsed lines, her tears could make him forget everything else and he somehow managed to say," please Naina... Aise mat karo... Mai sach me ja nhi paunga..."

Naina quickly control herself again and said with a gloomy smile," Mai sach me thik hu... Bas kabhi Akeli nhi Rahi to thoda ajib lag rha hai... Ap fikar mat kijiye... Mai Preeti ya Kamya Ko Bula lungi..."

He was about to say something when Radhe came to inform that driver had arrived and time to leave was here... He nodded a yes to Radhe and said him to take the bag, while he came in 5 mins... After Radhe left with bag and he again looked at Naina, she was also looking at him only... Both felt a knot in their hearts and he lifted his one hand slowly and said cupping her face," apna khayal rakhna... Aur please kisi Ko Bula Lena.. koi bhi problem ho to call karna..."

She nodded and slowly kept her hand on his hand on her face and replied," ap bhi khayal rakhiyega aur pahuch kar call kar dijiyega, Mai wait karungi... "

" Naina... Mai nhi jau kya.", He asked slowly, god knows what wanted to listen in answer, but somewhere this question soaked her soul with an unknown but unaltered pleasure...

She now replied sweetly," jaiye... Mai thik hu..."

Though it was not exactly that he wanted to listen but something was definitely there that made him smile and he quickly left bidding a good bye and promised to call...