Chapter 19

EPISODE-19

 

She saw him lying on the Hospital bed.  His eyes were closed. There was a bandage over his head and his left arm was on sling.  She was so relieved to see him. He was hurt but at least he was alive. She quietly entered in the room making sure she makes no sound. Naina ran her fingers in his hair and he suddenly opened his eyes. Naina retreated. He wasn't asleep. He was shocked to see her. He wasn't expecting her.

"Naina tum yahan?"

"Haan woh Army Head Quarters se pata laga tum yahan Srinagar ke hospital mein ho so I came here to see you."

 

A smile came on his face. He tried to get up. Naina helped him and adjusted the pillow behind his back. There was a silence. They were looking at each other but none of them said anything. Finally he broke the silence.

"It's good to see you here Naina." Saying this he kept his hand on hers. She smiled.

"You know Naina... woh war....those deaths, all that bloodshed aur uske baad yeh hospital...things were so negative. It feels good to see a warm, familiar face after all of this."

Naina took his hands in her own and held it tightly.

"Even I am so happy to see you safe Raj."

Both of them were looking in each others eyes. All their pain and their sufferings somehow lessened. Naina could feel something inside her. A feeling which was alien to her but it felt nice. Naina was wondering what actually was that but Rajveer's voice broke that thought.

"Navin kaisa hai?"

She was stunned. Even he was clueless about Navin's whereabouts. He was there with him in the war but now.......

 

Her grip over his hand loosened. A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Tum nahin jaante Bhaiyya kahan hain?"

"Naina how would I know?  Ceasefire declare hone se pehle main hospital main tha. Haan bas itna yaad hai ki Navin ke shoulder mein bullet lagi thi. But before I could go help him I, myself, was shot. Lekin baat kya hai?"

 

Naina's silence was scaring him. "Naina answer me....kya hua hai Navin ko."

Finally after a long pause she said,

"Pata nahin.... Kuch pata nahin chal raha hai Bhaiyya ka. Bhaiyya war ke baad wapas nahin aaye. Army Head Quarters ki kisi bhi list mein Bhaiyya ka naam nahin hai...Na injured soldiers ki list mein, na martyr's ki list mein aur na hi POW's ki list mein. He's gone missing. Pata nahin woh kahan hain." Saying this Naina broke down into tears and started sobbing resting her head on his shoulder. Raj held her and then ran his hand over her head.

 

He was himself taken aback after hearing the news.

"Don't cry Naina. Sab theek ho jaayega. We'll do something. One week mein mujhe yahan se discharge mil jaayega and then I will myself find him out. Don't worry...main hoon tumhare saath."

 

Naina got up. Her face was completely drenched with tears.

"I'll find him out. I promise you that. Trust me."

"I trust you Raj."