Aag Barasti Hain Saawan Mein, Paani Ka Hain Naam (One-Shot)

3 years ago

PangaNaLe

@PangaNaLe

It was a lazy Sunday evening. “Looks like it’s going to rain,” said Naina, looking out of the window. As she turned around, she saw Sameer sleeping on the couch. Naina smiled looking at Sameer. He looked really cute. Naina sat in front of him, resting her head on the palm of her hand, observing that Sameer was in a deep sleep. Suddenly, the sound of thunder echoed and scared Naina. She jumped on Sameer to hug him, waking him up.

“Uff Naina, it’s only a thunder. Why do you get so scared? See, you woke me up!” complained Sameer as he woke up.

Naina felt annoyed with Sameer’s complaint. She broke the hug, and sat beside him.

“Wow! You are saying as if I did this intentionally. What can I do if I get so scared? I can’t do anything about it,” grumbled Naina.

“Naina, why are you getting so angry?”  said Sameer as he got up and sat properly.

“So what should I do? Before marriage, you used to be so happy whenever I hugged you. And now? It always happens with you men. Y’all always get bored with your wives after marriage.” complained Naina, crossing her arms and legs.

Sameer replied, “God, Naina, you are completely crazy! Why are you making a mountain out of a molehill? You know I’m so tired these days because of office work. Mamaji has made my life hell. Even on a weekend, he gave me a project to complete. I completed it just now. And finally when I wanted to take some rest, you woke me up.”

Naina went silent hearing Sameer’s plight. It started raining outside.

They both turned their heads towards the window. Another sound of thunder came, which made Naina latch on Sameer’s arms. She hugged him tightly. Seeing that, Sameer’s anger vanished, and he smiled. He put his arm around Naina, embracing her. Despite being a married couple, they were still kids at heart. They would fight and make-up in an instant.  After a moment, Naina separated herself from Sameer.

“I’m sorry Sameer. I shouldn’t have woken you up. You’re so tired these days. I should’ve understood,” apologized Naina, holding her ears. 

 Sameer looked at her and smiled. How could he not forgive someone so adorable, he thought. 

“But why were you sleeping on the couch?” asked Naina.

“Actually, I didn’t want to sleep. I wanted to talk to you. But I fell asleep,” said Sameer.

“Talk to me? About what? Well, whatever it is, we can talk later on. You should rest now,” replied Naina.

 She got up, holding Sameer’s hands to make him get up as well, but he stopped her.

“Naina… Naina, I’m okay. I don’t need to sleep right now.” assured Sameer.

“But Sameer, you only said you’re feeling tired, and now you don’t want to sleep? You’re so weird!”

Sameer made Naina sit again on the couch.  He held her hands and said, “Yeah Naina, I was tired. But whenever I see you, all my tiredness goes away. And anyway, my duty as an office employee is over. But my duty as a husband is not. I know Naina, that I don’t give you enough time nowadays, and nothing can justify that if its making you feel bad. ”I’m fine Sameer.” lied Naina.

“No, you’re not. Tell me. What’s going on?” he said.

Naina thought for a moment about whether she should tell him or not.

“Sameer, ever since you started going to the office, I’ve started feeling lonely and bored in this big house. You stay in the office from morning to evening, and even after you come home, you are so tired that you have no time to talk to me. I understand why you’ve buried yourself in your work. I know that you want to prove to your family that you’re independent, that you’re capable of taking care of yourself and me. But that shouldn’t cost us our marriage and relationship.” sobbed Naina as she finished. Seeing her cry, Sameer held her face with his hands and wiped her tears before it fell to her cheek.

“Naina, I can’t see you crying like this. If you want, I will stop going to the office and always stay with you in this house.” comforted Sameer.

Hearing that, Naina chuckled and joked, “Yeah sure, and what would we eat if you don’t go to the office?”

“Now you speak like a typical wife.” Sameer teased.

 Naina acted offended and hit Sameer playfully but he stopped her with his hand. Naina tried to hit him a few times and then suddenly stopped. Again, drops of tears come out of her ears, but she wiped them herself. Seeing Naina sad once again, Sameer held her hands tightly. 

“Naina, I know you feel lonely. Even I feel very lonely since the day mom left me. You know, I want to prove to everyone that I am capable of taking care of us, and we didn’t do a love marriage without thinking. You don’t know Naina, how many people are waiting for our marriage to fail to point fingers at us? Mamaji, Mami, Mr Somani, your tauji and taiji, they all are waiting for our marriage to fail,” told Sameer.

“I know Sameer! I know. But we didn’t get married to prove anything to the world. We got married because we loved each other, and if after marriage we’re feeling lonely despite having each other, doesn’t that prove their opinion right?” cried Naina as Sameer looked on.

She continued, “A successful relationship is not just where the husband earns and fulfils every need of his wife. A successful relationship is one where both husband and wife share everything and tell all their feelings and thoughts.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Your turn,” said Sameer.

Naina paused and then said, “I feel really bad that because of us, the relationship between chachaji and tauji ended. So much so that chachaji and chachiji had to leave their house. I would never be able to forgive myself for that.”

Sameer went silent for a moment. He had no idea what to say to her to make her feel better.

He again held her face gently with his hands and slowly went close to her. Naina, feeling extremely shy, closed her eyes. Sameer was about to kiss Naina on her lips, but the sound of another thunder made her again hug him tightly. At the same time, the lights went out and their room became dark. Talk about bad timing. Looks like she would only make me hug her all our life, thought Sameer.

“Sameer, how did the lights go out?” asked Naina.

“I don’t know,” replied Sameer.

Naina looked around. Since it was still evening, they could see around the room even if it was dark. The rain had got heavier.

“Would you do something?” asked Naina rhetorically.

“What can I do?” asked Sameer.

“Okay, don’t do anything. I’ll go and get the candles,” she replied, getting frustrated.

“Be careful Naina. It’s dark,” he alerted her.

Okay,” she replied.

Naina lit up a candle in the kitchen and returned to their drawing room. Sameer wasn’t there.

“Sameer? Where did you go?” she shouted, looking for him.

“Naina, I’m upstairs. Bring the candles here,” he replied.

Naina climbed the stairs, holding the candle in one hand. The darkness was now making her scared. She went upstairs and didn’t find Sameer. She saw their bedroom closed. She went inside, opened it and whispered his name. 

She slowly entered the room. The room was dark. “Hey,” a voice came from her left that made Naina scared. She screamed but as she turned around, she saw it was Sameer. He laughed, seeing her scared.

“Sameer, are you crazy?” she scolded and started hitting him, which made him laugh even more.

Seeing him laugh, she continued hitting him. But to stop her, Sameer wrapped his arm around his waist. Naina stopped and became completely still. He looked at her, but Naina felt shy looked down and avoided eye contact. He touched her head with his. Naina kept looking at the floor with her head down. He held her face with his hand, lifting it up and making her look at him. But she was looking down, her cheeks flushed. 

Sameer came close and was about to kiss her when she exclaimed in pain as some candle wax fell on her skin. Sameer’s bad luck continued.

“Naina, are you okay?” he asked.

He took the candle from her hand and put it on the table.

“Sameer, I’m okay. You don’t have to worry,” she assured.

But Sameer forced her to show her hand.

“Naina, just keep quiet, okay?” he told sternly. “Where did the wax fall?” he asked.

Naina pointed out at the burn with her finger. Sameer blew air with his mouth at the burned area. Seeing Sameer doing that, Naina giggled.

He asked, “Why are you laughing?”

Naina couldn’t stop giggling. Instead, she started laughing hysterically.

“Tell me,” said Sameer, getting frustrated.

Naina stopped laughing and replied, “Sameer, you’re so cute! I’m completely fine. Stop worrying so much.” Naina pulled her hand away.

“But Naina,” Sameer protested.

“Sameer I’m fine,” reassured Naina.

“No, you’re not,” he denied.

Sameer went to the drawer and took out an antiseptic cream.

“Come here,” he said.

Sameer held her hand, and made her sit down on the bed, and applied the cream on the burn. Looking at him, caring so much about her, Naina smiled and became emotional. After so many days, they were sitting together and sharing a moment.

“Sameer, I’m getting bored. Let’s do something,” she said.

“But what can I do?” he asked.

Sameer was such an idiot. He always kept looking for a moment to come close to Naina. But when she gave him a hint, he didn’t get what she meant by "doing something".

“Fine,” he picked up the radio from the table and said, “Naina, now we won’t get bored.”

Naina rolled her eyes, seeing Sameer’s naivety. He turned on the radio. A song started playing:

Ye deewani shaam, yeh toofani shaam,

Aag barasti hain sawan mein, paani ka hain naam,

Ye deewani shaam, ye toofani shaam,

 Aag barasti hain saawan mein, paani ka hain naam,

Bas kuch bhi ho sakta hain,

Arre bas kuch bhi ho saktahain,

Darr kuchh aisa lagta Hain,

Chamak chamak ke lapak ke,

Ye bijli hum pe gir jayegi,

As soon as Naina heard the song, she remembered a sharp pain she felt on her cheek years ago.

“Naina, you know, I really love this song. Have you heard it before?” he said.

Naina couldn’t answer, as she was lost in the memories of the past.

“Naina!” Sameer snapped his fingers, which made Naina come out of her reverie.

“Yeah, umm, what?” she said.

“What happened? What were you thinking?” he asked.

“Sameer, you don’t know. I had heard this song when I was in school, and I asked its meaning to someone. Tayiji saw it and slapped me hard. After that I never dared to ask the meaning of this song.” said Naina innocently.

Hearing that, Sameer bit his lip, trying to hold back his laughter, but couldn’t control it anymore. He fell on the bed laughing loudly on hearing her story.

“Sameer, it’s not funny!” Naina shouted.

Sameer still didn’t stop. He continued laughing and lying on the bed.

“Sameer, you’re so mean. I would never talk to you,” she yelled and started hitting him with a pillow.

Seeing her hitting him, Sameer held back his laugh, and said, “Naina, I didn’t know you were so stupid.”

He laughed again, and Naina got furious.

“Fine! You keep on laughing. I’m leaving.” She got up from the bed and turned around to leave.

Sameer immediately got up from the bed and held her hand to stop her.

“Naina Naina Naina, please please please! I’m sorry,” he pleaded, holding his left ear with one hand and stopping her with his other hand.

Naina turned looked at him, and  smiled. Sameer’s cuteness was one thing which could always melt her heart.

“Naina, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed,” he apologized as he made her sit back on the bed.

“Now, tell me. Why did Tayiji slap you?” he asked.

“How would I know? You tell me. What is the meaning of this song?”

Sameer smiled upon hearing her question. He came close to her and said, “Naina, I can’t tell you. But I can show you.”

Naina blushed as Sameer came close to her, but she didn’t stop him. This time, no thunder or candle wax was going to stop him. His lips touched hers softly at first, and then he held her head with his hand delicately and kissed her passionately. This was the first time they had got so intimate with each other. After kissing her lips, he slowly came down and kissed her neck. Naina closed her eyes and laid on her back, as Sameer lay beside her on his stomach. He caressed her neck and her back and slowly rested his hands right on her hips caressing her waist.

Naina turned around and he pulled down the zip of her suit. There was another thunder but this time Naina wasn’t scared. She sat up and pulled the blanket lying on the other side of the bed, over them.

The stormy rain had brought out Sameer and Naina’s passionate feelings for each other. All their fears and insecurities vanished, as the lightning danced in the sky. 

                                                                                                                                                     -beta reading by tournesol (Tiara)