....... "friend... Aap kya kar rahe ho....."

Her soft fingers touched his.....tugging his leg.... She asked in a curious voice....

And as he gazes down.... At this little angel..... Looking at him..... Curiously...... His hands start trembling...... His legs.... Turn weak..... And could no longer support his body....
And he was down. On his knees..... Facing her......
While. She asked him with a. Smile...

"aap kya kar rahe ho"
By now. The gun in his hand had fallen down..... And his. Hands shivering.......

He kept looking at her..... And his courage evaporated.......

He hugged her tight..... In his arms...... And cried with all his might .......

"friend.... Aap firse kyu ro rahe ho....
O
She sat on his lap..... Wiping his tears..... Yet another handkerchief spoilt.... Sighing in dismay.....

" Friend please mat ro.... Mene mamma ko bol diya... Ke mai aap ke seat ke neeche aa kar beth gayi. Thi....aur aur wo aapko na daante..... Please don't cry..." she said.... Worried about him....

He kept looking at her innocent face..... Wondering.... What if she comes to know... That he is the person.....who left her and her mother in misery... When. They needed him the most....

He was the one to ignore their existence......

He kept muttering.... Sorrry for the countless times...... Hoping... she would forgive him....

"aap mujhe sorry ku bol rahe ho..... Meko gussa nai aaya..... Mumma ne bhi data .. Tab bhi nai...." she said reassuring him.....

Her love... Gentle and innocent...... Like the way her mother once loved him...... Healing him..... Making a lifeless person... Feel something....

She was a reflection of her mother...... Same eyes.... Same innocence......

He hoped atleast she would forgive him..... For he has lost a chance.... To apologize to. Her mother ......

.........

While jiya was. Away.... Naina was busy packing her stuff... As they were due to leave.... The following day......
......
"hum log mumm ke sath germany chale jayenge... Aap ko pata he...where it is....??" she asked...

"nahi.." his heart breaking....
"aap hamare sath chaloge.... Waha pe..... Aap waha pe. Left right left sikhana" she asked innocently....

"mai aap ke saath nahi. Aa sakta na. Jaan.... Yaha mere students he...." he pouted....

"ohh.. Saad..." she pouted and frowned....... At the thought that she would no longer be able to meet him.......

........

She went off.... An hour ago... And he started suffocating at the thought of never being able to see her again.....

His mind.... Capturing every images of them.... As the mother and daughter walk around the corridor..... Bidding a goodbye to. Every one.......

In a small time... Jiya had befriended loads and loads of people....... In the academy....... And she insists on. Bidding a goodbye to each one of them.....
Including mess uncle.... (suriji) who would secretly sneak a little hot chocolate her.... Saving her from food monster......

Cadet ghai... Cadet. Aalekh.... Who would give her loads of chocolates after she saved them from boring drills....... And so on... List of never ending people.... Whose hearts were Stolen by her.....

Of all the places... She had travelled... Academy was the most memorable... And fun...
And she sadly bids a goodbye to raj too.... And he kisses her... Accepting the fact that he has no place in her life and naina's accepting the truth...... Even as it kills him... Slowly.......

But there is someone gazing at him with deep sad eyes....... From afar.... That he doesn't know.....

....

Rajveer is in his room... As a panicked jiya... Comes running and howling to him......

Crying and hiccuping.... As she could
barely make up the words.....

"friend.... Mumma... Wo mumma ko...." the little one is so panicked.... That she is barely able to make up words....

"jiya kya hua aapki mumma ko..." he asked..... Startled......

She said nothing and drags him to her room... Running as fast as she can....... ..

They rush to. Her room... To find naina..... Lying on the floor.....unconscious ..... Bleeding off her nose and ear......

Multiple spidery patches on her skin.... And bruising

........

His heart trembled with extreme fear..... As it was 12 hours since there was no news from the dr..... Who had admitted her to the icu..... In the military hospital

Jiya was trembling..... And fidgeting in his lap....
"kuch nai hua he baccha.... Wo garmi me mumma ko nose bleed hua he..... Dr uncle he. Na.... Jald hi theek kar denge.." he kept reassuring her.... While she kept crying.....

His heart was thumping.. As. If intuitive about. Something bad... That's going to happen....

After a few hours...... Dr. Naik... Came out....

" aap aur patient ka aapas me. Kya rishta he.... "..
He did not answer for a second....
And the next moment.... Blurted....

"i am her husband"
He called him inside....

"your wife's blood reports are back.... Her complete blood picture reveals.... Elevated amount of basophils.. And eosionphils.... White blood cells..."

He stared at the dr confused....

"we. Suspect that your wife is suffering from leukemia...."
Dr broke the news. And earth slipped off beneath his feet...
"severity of her symptoms show that its the advance stage........... For her symptoms this severe..... Would not have started now..... She must be having them for quite a while.... Like easy bruisablity..... Nose bleeds.... Breathlessness... Palpitations... And tremors... And recurring hip and back pain.... "

Dr asked... Assuming..... But. The fact was.....that he was paralysed..... To listen... To the news.... He sat there..... Not able to react.....

" major sheekhawat.... I know this is very difficult time for you..... .. But there is also something else.. .."

He remarked...

"... Her toxology screen reveals. Excess amount of antidepressant medications. In her blood.." he revealed.....

He kept looking at the dr. With a shocked expression....
While dr passed him a sympathetic look and left...

"would she be okay.... Dr... There could be something..... Chemo.... Or radiotherapy..... To cure..her.."

"well we need to. Perform a. Few more tests.. To detect the exact variant of leukemia. She is. Suffering from...
. Only then can i tell you.... Till then.... Her current symptoms need to be addressed .... Also her liver function tests . Need to be done.... Immediately... I need you to sign. This consent form"

He signed the consent form without once the fact occuring his mind... That he is not her husband.....