Chapter 9

EPISODE-9

 

Naina returned home right after her show. It was Sunday...so no college for her..... Thankfully. It was also the last day of her Bhaiyya's stay. He had to leave the next day. Besides their parents were back. She wanted to spend the entire day with her family. Five of them had a ball. For the entire day they had nothing to do. They did all sorts of masti and fun. Gossips, discussions, games, leg-pulling, fights, everything. It was evening. Navin and Rajveer were busy in arm wrestling. It was 10^th round going on. For past one hour they have been doing this. Rajveer had won 4 and Navin had won 5 rounds till now. Naina was also there. She was putting up that moment on her canvas. This time Rajveer won. They decided to have a tie-breaker. Rajveer and Navin both were trying their best to win. They have always loved to compete. Naina was putting colors in her painting. She left that in between and went to them. None of them could lower the other's hand even a bit. It has been 5 minutes like that and Naina was getting impatient. She wanted to know the results. Finally she put her hands on Raj's hand and put all her force to lower Navin's hand. It almost touched the table.

"Naina yeh kya kar rahi hai? This is cheating."

Little more force by Rajveer and Naina and Navin lost the game.

"Who cares even if it's cheating... at least game over to hua... varna to aap dono saara din arm wrestling hi karte reh jaate and that too without any result."

"Hmmm....but in that case tune Raj ki help kyun ki...meri kyun nahin?"

That left Naina wondering. That was an impulsive decision without any logical explanation. But still........

"Good question Bhaiyya...but then meri marzi"
Navin kept staring at her while she took the canvas to her room. It was rather weird on Naina's part to do something like that. But Rajveer? Navin was wondering how come Rajveer also accepted her help without even a single word. As far as he knew him he would never do anything like that. He turned to Rajveer. He was with his mother. Navin could feel something odd but he chose to ignore.

 

Navin got up later that night and he found that Rajveer was still awake. He could see the light coming out from his room. He saw him writing something in his personal diary.

"Raj tu abhi tak soya nahin?"

"Arrey Navin." Raj hurriedly slipped his diary under the pillow. "Bas woh neend nahin nahin aa rahi thi."

"Raj tu kya likhta rehta hai apni diary mein?"
"Nothing much."

"What is it Raj? Tu upset bhi lag raha hai."

"Upset...No way. Infact I m very happy. You know jab tune mujhe tere saath tere ghar aane ke liye kaha tha, I was really unsure about it. But now I am so glad I came here."

"I didn't get you Raj."
"Mom ki death ke baad aaj pehli bar laga ki how good it feels to be with your family. Varna Dad apne business mein aur main apni life mein hamesha occupied rehte the. Mom ke jaane ke baad to humne kabhi saath mein baith ke dinner bhi nahin kiya. Thanks Navin. I'll never ever forget this vacation of mine"

"Raj I am glad you liked it here. Ab so jaa varna subah late ho jayenge. Sari packing bhi baaki hai."

"Yeah. Goodnight"

"Goodnight"

 

Navin and Rajveer had to catch their bus at 12. Naina came to drop them. She was unusually quiet.

"Ab tujhe kya hua hai?" Navin asked.

"Mujhe kya hoga?" came a curt reply.

"Then why have you made such a long face?"

"Kuch nahin."
They were nearing the bus depot. Navin opened his bag. He took out a big box that was neatly gift wrapped.

"Yeh le."

"Yeh kya hai."

"Tera Birth Day gift. Mujhe pata hai next week tere birth day pe main yahan nahin rahoonga isliye tu upset hai."

Naina stopped the car midway.

"Arrey car yahan kyun rok di?"

"Taaki agar aapka gift pasand na aaye to aapko yahin pe gaadi se neeche utaar doon."

Naina opened the box. It had the same dress she saw while shopping at CP that Navin didn't let her buy. Navin looked at Rajveer who was smiling.

"I guess ab hum chal saktein. We can't miss the bus."

"Of course. Thank you Bhaiyya." Naina gave a peck on Navin's cheek and started the car.

Half an hour later she was on her way back to home. Navin and Rajveer had left for academy.