Mere Saathi#2(RN):link to 3 thread,pg.149(21/05) - Page 67

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After dinner, they first dropped Shubhankar at the Airport and then Keerti dropped them home.

After changing in the night clothes given by Keerti, Naina came out in the living room as she was not sleepy. She saw Raj sitting on the couch and pressing his temples.

" Sir, aap theek ho? Are you having a headache?"

" Don't worry Naina. It's just a mild headache...I've taken painkiller,theek hojayega."

" Ohk.."

" Umm...Sir, I hope aap mujhse gussa nahi ho...woh I played that prank on you..."

" You know what your problem is Naina? Tum sochti bahot ho. Itne chotese dimaag par itna zyaada zor daalna bandh karo.Pata nahi kya kya sochti rehti ho ! Main tumhari wajehse problem mein fas raha hoon...mera career, meri life tumhare kaaran barbaad hojayegi...mujhe TUMHARE bhaai ki case mein ab involve nahi hona chahiye...huh !"

" Kya aap uss baat keliye ab bhi mujhse naraaz ho? I'm...I'm extremely sorry sir...par main kya karti? I had always made you land in problems every time...even shot you..."

" Naina, tum uss baat ko itna kheench kyun rahi ho? Us waqt tumhari jagah koi aur bhi hota, toh shayad wahi karta. Main uss baat ko kabka bhool chuka hoon...tum kyun nahi bhool jaati?Tum kyun uss cheez ko baar baar yaad karti ho?"

" Sir, galati sehne waalese, karne waala zyaada suffer karta hai. Aur phir, maine toh gunaah kiya hai."

Raj sighed.

" Naina, if this will make you feel better, then let me tell you, I have forgiven you for what you have done. Now, will you please close that chapter?"

" Thank you sir...", Naina said as her eyes turned moist.

" You're welcome. But iske badle mujhe ek promise chahiye."

" Kya?"

" Yeh ki tum yeh baat phir kabhi nahi dohraogi aur nahi kabhi mujhe Naveen ki case se hatne keliye kahogi aur naahi tumhara saath denese rokogi!"

" okay."

Raj smiled and stretched out his hand, " Friends, Naina?"

Naina looked at him surprised.

" You know Naina, Naveen mera Best friend tha...", he paused for a while and his gaze turned soft as he continued, " Hai." ,

He looked at Naina, who was teary too.

" Par ab woh mere saath nahi. Toh kya kehti ho? tum banogi... meri Best Friend?"

She smiled and shook his hands , " Friends."

Then she quickly wiped her tears and said, " So my new Best Friend, I think you should rest now."

Raj smiled," But I'm not sleepy. Kya tumhe neend aa rahi hai?"

She shook her head.

" Kyun na baith kar baatein kare?" , Raj said.

" Good idea!!! How about some coffee?"

She went to kitchen and he too followed her.

He watched as she was making coffee and blabbering god knows what not...as if her topics changed with every blink of eyelid...

All the while Raj was smiling to himself.

They came out in the living room.

" Naina, aaj pehli baar maine uss Naina ko dekha, jiske baare mein Naveen hamesha baat karta rehta tha...that mischievous and bubbly girl ! Stay this way Naina. I know, it's not that easy. But Naveen tumhe aise hi dekhna chahega...aur main bhi."

She smiled.

" Aaj itne dino baad woh sab karke bahot maza aaya! Thanks ! Par ek baat kahu? Jitne efforts mujhe bhaiya aur akki ko bakra banana mein lagte the, uske saamne toh aapko buddhu banana kahin jyaada aasan hai..!"

Raj laughed aloud.

" Well...i really was shocked!"

" Sir... ek doubt hai...puchu?"

" Cadet Singh, I guess we are friends now. So, aap bejhijhak puchiye."

" Sir, aap itne din yaha rahe. Aapko...aapko kabhi aisa nahi laga ki aapki zinda hone ki baat...KMA mein atleast kisiko toh...aapko batana chahiye...I mean...we all were...", she asked staring at her cup.

" Agar nahi lagta toh main tumhe B'day wish nahi karta. I was going to call you, but Keerti confiscated my phone."

" Sir you are lying, agar aisa hota toh aap itna discrete note nahi bhejte."

" No Naina. Aisi baat nahi hai. I was not fit, and I couldnt take any risk, as Naveen's innocence was most important and I could afford to endanger my life again and endanger the mission in turn. Aur sach kahu toh mujhe darr tha ki tum kaise react karogi...you being impulsive...main...but you know what, kahin na kahin main chahta tha ki tum mujhe pehchaano...and see, you recognised! Chaubey told me about that."

" What do you mean by impulsive, Sir?" , she asked annoyed.

Raj let out a laugh.

" Hey bhagwaan, har word ko pakadti hai! "

" Haan toh? And for your kind info, I behaved with great patience. you can ask shalini maam."

" Yeah...yeah. Woh saare kisse sune maine...par jabse main aaya hoon, mujhe toh kahise bhi tum changed nazar nahi aati! You are the same stubborn and impulsive Cadet Naina Ah' Singh."

Naina smiled , " So?? it's all your fault!"

" Mine?"

" Hmmm. Because now I know , that whatever mistake i commit, you are there to correct me!"

Raj smiled affectionately.

" Sir, main aapke life ke baaremein kuch nahi jaanti. Aap toh sabkuch jaante hain mere baare mein. Apni family ke baare mein bataiye na..."

Raj grew serious.

" I'm sorry...I didnt mean to hurt you Sir. It's okay if you..."

" No Naina. I have never shared this with anyone except Naveen. But now, I would like to share this with you. "

And he narrated whatever little he knew about his parents...him being orphaned in the very childhood...how he is left with just one or two photographs of his parents as memory...

"Then Lalaji became my guardian. He supported my living. When I came to KMA, I met Naveen. "

" Sir, aapke aur bhaiyya ke baaremein bataiye na ! I mean about your academy days...about your friendship."

He smiled at the memory.

" Naveen aur main the toh bilkul opposite, par pakke dost. Dosti, rishtey iske maayine hi maine uss se seekhe. I really miss him a lot..."

Behti hawa sa tha woh
Udti patang sa tha woh
Kahan gaya usse dhoondo

Behti hawa sa tha woh
Udti patang sa tha woh
Kahan gaya usse dhoondo

" I was sensitive, calm, reserved, while he was full of life ! Joyous, mischeivous, always upto something! Pata nahi kahase uske dimaag mein yeh saari shaitaaniya aati ! You know, he was an apple of suriji's eye! Pranks hum sab karte par, jaise ki tumne kaha...woh apni bholisi shakal ke wajehse hamesha bach nikalta !"

Hum ko to raahein thi chalati
Woh khud apni raah banata
Girta sambhalta masti mein chalta tha woh

Naina laughed, " Iska matlab sirf aap logo ko punishment milti...aur woh bach nikalte the?"

Raj smiled, " Nahi...woh saala humlogo ke liye yaa toh bach nikalne ka koi raasta nikalta, ya phir khud surrender karta. Apne doston ko akele chodnewaalo mein se woh nahi tha."

Naina too smiled at that.

" Hamein kabhi kabhi BC se ya Maj.Nair se darr lagta tha, par woh...Darr Naveen ko chu bhi nahi sakta tha. Tension , dukh, darr, dard, yeh sab cheezein Naveen ke hote huye mere aas paas bhi nahi bhatak sakti thi."

Hum ko kal ki fikar sataati
Woh bus aaj ka jashn manata
Har lamhe ko khul ke jeeta tha woh

Naina saw a certain pain in his eyes.

" Kyun chala gaya woh? Kya woh nahi jaanta tha ki uske bina uske Veeru ka koi nahi hai?"

Kahan se aaya tha woh
Choo ke humare dil ko
Kahan gaya usse dhoondo

" Sir...", Naina whispered.

But Raj was lost in his memories...

" You know Naina, he was the first one to not show me any sympathy. He was like ' Raj, mushkile har kisi ki life mein aati hai. Jeet ta wahi hai jo unka datt kar mukabla kare aur apne raaste se na bhatke. Aur mere dost, you are a winner. I'm proud to be your friend !'..." , he smiled as he recounted his words.

Naina's eyes turned moist at the tender memories of Naveen and Raj.

"He asked for my autograph...saying Winners ka Autograph lena to banta hai. I was so touched. "

Sulagti dhoop mein chaaon ke jaisa
Raigistaan mein gaaon ke jaisa
Mann ke ghav pe marham jaisa tha woh

" All used to make fun of me as I was reserved, not so outspoken...and Naveen unknowingly acted as my shell. I felt secured under his protective cover.He too used to tease me for my shyness around girls and all, but if anyone else tried to say a word about me and then they have to face Naveen's wrath. Even Abhimanyu was not spared.Jitni detentions Naveen aur mujhe Maj.Nair ne di hai na, usmein se aadhi hume ek dusre ke wajeh se mili hai."

Hum sehme se rehte kooein mein
Woh nadiya mein gotey lagata
Ulti dhara cheer ke tairta tha woh

She smiled.

" Tumhe pata hai, freshers ball par mujhe koi date nahi mil rahi thi, toh woh apni date mujhe dene keliye taiyar hogaya tha...pagla..." , he laughed slightly, " Tum jaanti ho, Naveen was my inspiration in a way. His perfection, made me strive to achieve perfection too. Woh pehla insaan tha jisse mujhe sachcha apnapan mila..pyaar mila...aur..." , he hid his face in his palms.

Baadal awara tha woh
Yaar humara tha woh
Kahan gaya usse dhoondo

" Sir...", Naina hesitantly put her hand on his shoulder, to comfort him.

He looked up and took her hand in his.

" Main usse ek pal ke liye bhi nahi bhoola sakta...koi apni saansein lena kaise bhool sakta hai? Uss din se lekar aaj tak, har raat main sirf roya hoon...sirf roya hoon, Naina.", tears were rolling down his cheeks.

" I know Sir. Par aaphi sochiye, kya bhaiya aapko aise dekh sakte hai? Aaphi kehte hai na, ki woh mujhe hamesha khush dekhna chahte hai, so same goes with you too sir. Woh aapko bhi dukhi nahi dekh sakte."

" Uss din ke baad main ek pal keliye bhi chain se nahi raha.Apne aap ko kaam aur Naveen ke case ki study mein immerse kiya..par...aur phir I came to KMA and met you.Tum ek nayi umeed lekar aayi. Tumhara josh aur tumhara determination dekhkar mujhmein bhi ek naya confidence aaya ki haan...I can prove my Best friend innocent ! You know Naina, tum bilkul Naveen ki tarah ho...uski parchaayi ho."

Naina smiled.

" Naveen ko begunaah saabit karneka tumhara determination...maine aisa junoon pehle kisi mein nahi dekha... "

" Sir, Naveen bhaiya sirf mere bhaai nahi the. The earliest memory I have is of him only...feeding me, pampering me...Emotionally I was not that close to my parents then...cause I had my bhaiyu,all the way through.He was my guardian, my brother, my friend...he gave me every relation. Aur jab maine unhe khoya toh...", she bit her lip , " I lost everything..."

Raj held her hand tightly, to console her.

"Aapko pata hai, bhaiya toh har kisiko apna bana lete the, par meri life bhaiya se shuru hoti thi aur unhi pe khatam. Maa Baba se bhi jyaada main bhaiya se close thi. Unhone mujhe apni behen nahi, beti ki tarah paala hai. School me bhi, Maa Baba bas formality keliye parents meet attend karte the...meri saari shikayatein sab kuch teachers bhaiya ke paas hi karte the ! Meri har kaamyabi par sabse jyaada khush aur excited bhaiyu hi hote the. "

" Haan. Naveen tumhari achievements ke baare mein bahot baatein karta tha. Kehta tha ki meri behen jo chahe woh haasil kar sakti hai. Uski har baat mein bass Naina...Naina...Naina.."

" Phir aapne mujhe pehchaana kaise nahi?"

Raj laughed, " WOh sirf tumhari baatein karta tha. Galatise bhi kisiko tumhari photo nahi dikhayi ! Mujhe tak nahi batayi ussne. Mazak mein bhi tumhare baarein mein kisine kuch kaha and then...all hell would break loose. He was very...he was very protective of you ! "

" I know... colony , school ya college ke boys...woh toh mujhse door hi rehte the! Kisibhi ladke ko mera friend ban ne se pehle ek thorough interrogation se guzar na padhta tha..."

Raj looked at her in disbelief.

" You know sir..mere high school farewell party mein mere ek friend ne mujhse poocha ki kya main uske saath jaungi? I agreed. Woh evening me mujhe pick karne aaya aur jabtak main neeche pohochti,bechare ke sar se pasina tapak raha tha! Bhaiya ne uska pura family history, uska address,ghar ka telephone no., uske papa ke office ka telephone no., uska cell fone no, yaha tak uski gaadi ka no bhi! On the top of it, bhaiya ne usko dhamki bhi di! Bola ki agar me ghar 10 baje tak nahi aayi to fir wo uski wo haalat karenge ki uske parents bhi use nahi pehechanenge! Woh toh Baba usse pacify kar rahe the aur bhaiya ko control mein rakh rahe the, nahi toh bechaare ko heart attack aana hi tha. "

Raj was laughing heartily.

" You know what was the most embarassing part?"

" What?" , Raj managed to ask while laughing.

" Usne mujhse kaha ki Naina, main tumse flirt karne keliye maafi maang chuka hoon, tumhara chata bhi khaya, fir ab bhi tum mujhse gussa ho? Aur tumhe mere saath aana nahi tha, toh seedhe na bol deti, tumhare bhaai se milwane ki kya zaroorat thi?"

Raj was still laughing...

" Maa toh kehti thi , pata nahi jo ladka mujhse shaadi karne aayega, uska bhaiya kya karenge.", Naina was talking in a flow, but Raj stopped laughing at once !

" Bahot pamper kiya karte tha na tumhe? I remember, tumhare birthdays pe gift keliye kaise mujhe bhi apne saath daudaya karta tha."

" Really? You know sir jab main 6 yrs ki thi...toh zidd kar baithi ki mujhe gift mein ek elephant chahiye!"

" What??? Naina..tum..you were really impossible! You wanted an elephant? But why?"

" Pata nahi...but I wanted it. Maa Baba samjha ke chale gaye aur main bhi samajh gayi ki mujhe woh nahi mil sakta. Bhaiya couldnt see me sad na...you know what he did? Unhone circus ke owner ko pataya and rented an elephant for few hours...Then he asked me to take my gift inside...I was in fix...ab itne bade elephant ko kaise andar lekar jaati?municipality toh usse road pe nahi rehne degi... I was in great confusion! bhaiya ne kaha ...'chuhiya...aise karte hai iss aadmi ko( circus owner) elephant sambhalne keliye appoint karte hai..kya kehti ho?'.."

Both of them laughed together at that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometime later when they were having their second round of coffee...

" Naina, agar main kuch puchu toh , gussa toh nahi hogi na?"

" Aisa kya poochna chahte ho aap?"

" Pehle promise karo, naraaz nahi hogi. Agar tum answer na karna chaho, toh it's okay...but..."

" Okay. Promise. Main gussa nahi houngi!"

" Shantanu...you..you used to like him, right?"

Raj couldn't control himself from asking...

Naina cocked her eyebrows, " Phir aapko mujhe Nandini maam ke baare mein batana hoga!"

Raj took a deep breath. He thought it's better that he told her everything rather than anybody else.

" Kya janna chahti ho tum Nandini ke baare mein?" , He asked straight.

Naina shrugged, " Well Sir...I already know a lot, you know that. I just want to hear your side of the story."

Raj smiled at her honest and straight forward reply.

" Nandini was in our group, you know that. Me and Naveen were like stuck with a glue stick...always together! Abhi and Nandini used to be together. As a friend I was open in my ways with her.But never had any feeling other than friendship. I never knew she had feelings for me. Then one day, everyone was irritating Naveen, using your name..."

" My name?"

" Yeah...you know he always used to flaunt his ability to patau girls...so Abhi was teasing him like what if I ...ahm...I show interest...in you..and I was engrossed in my work so didnt pay attention to what they were saying. But Nandini got mad on me. She confessed her feelings and I was shocked. I didnt know what to say. I asked for sometime. I didnt want to hurt her, at the same time i was confused about my feelings and somewhere i was aware of Abhimanyu's feeling's for her...Few days later Nandini's parents came to meet her...They took all four of us for dinner. There Nandini found a ring in her drink ! She announced to everyone that I had proposed her..."

Naina had begun to get uncomfortable at that...but she didnt show it on her face...

" I was shocked !! Before i could react, everyone was rejoicing and clapping for both of us...Her parents announced our engagement in the entire academy...i didnt know what to do...Agar main tab inkaar karta toh Nandini ki bahot badnami hoti...But i had no feelings except friendship for her...phir..."

" Phir...???", Naina interrupted.

" Phir engagement ke ek din pehle mujhe pata chala ki woh drink mein ring ...woh sab ...woh sab Nandini ka hi plan tha...aur phir mere hichkichahat ki koi gunjaish nahi bachi thi..."

He took a deep breath... and looked at her, " Now, your turn."

Naina smiled, " We were just good friends,Sir!"

" Umm...Naveen said something like you liked him and all..."

she shook her head , smiling.

" Sir, it was nothing like that.Shantanu was my friend. Me, him and Kanishka...ours was a trio! He was not like a typical boy, who used to flirt and all...He was quite handsome, and also intelligent and all...we were kinda competitors.Meri aur uski khoob banti thi. Toh I just casually told bhaiya ki woh bahot achcha hai...ab yeh baat main Maa Baba ko toh nahi bata sakti na? Aur Akki ko batati, toh woh mere shaadi ke cards chapwata!"

Raj laughed.

" And as I said before, main bhaiyu ko sab kuch batati thi. Toh I told him about Shantanu. Infact... main day 1 se jaanti thi ki ishka...i mean kanishka ussmein interested hai and I was working towards bringing them closer...Aur woh banda hamesha ghar bhi aata tha...bhaiyu kuch kehte toh nahi the, par unhe woh pasand bhi nahi tha, I knew. "

" Phir Naveen ne aise..."

" Unhone kuch aur hi samajh liya. Aur jab maine unki misunderstanding clear ki, he sighed so loudly that hamare neighbours ko tak sunayi di hogi!"

He didn't know why? But he was very happy at that.

" Sir ,ek baat kahu?"

" Kaho Naina."

" Aap Nandini maam ko maaf kar dijiye. Unki dosti ko..."

" Naina,please..", Raj cut her.

" Kyun nahi Sir? Aapke man mein unke liye kabhi pyaar tha hi nahi, sirf dosti thi aur aaj Woh agar aapse sachchi dosti chahti hai, toh usmein harz hi kya hai? Mere ek letter par woh yaha aayi...aapko bachane. Sir, dost bahot mushkil se milte hai...and I think if she wants to befriend you again, then...usmein problem kya hai?In the end its your decision..."

" How about some coffee? Kaafi der hogayi nahi?I need some."

"okay.", she said, not pressing on Nandini's matter further.

" But iss baar main banaunga. "

" Par..."

" No par war. Tum chup chap yahi baithi raho, main abhi aaya."

When Raj returned with two mugs of steaming coffee ...he saw...

Naina was fast asleep in the sitting position, with her head on the couch. Raj sat on the couch and started having his coffee while gazing her innocent face...

Her head was dropping by the side, which was disturbing her sleep. He got up, and placing the mug aside, took a pillow and placed it supporting her head...

He sat back but could see that the position was still uncomfortable for her...

He shook his head and crouched beside her, to adjust the position of her head,without disturbing her sleep. While doing so, Naina placed her head on his shoulder and slept comfortably clutching his arm. Raj was shocked and was not getting what to do. He had no heart to disturb her peaceful sleep. And he couldn't deny that he was enjoying the feel of Naina's head on his shoulder and she sleeping comfortably clutching his arm...

He had no other option but...this...

He sat beside her and slept with his head leaning on hers and she clutching his arm...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunrays fell on her closed eyes and she stirred a little...

She rubbed her nose on the pillow and was bit confused...

It didnt seem like pillow...then what was it?

She opened her eyes slowly and then her eyes widened in shock finding herself so close to Rajveer...

She slowly lifted her head, so as not to wake him or it will be very difficult to face him... Then her eyes fell on her hand and she quickly left his arm..

She understood what could have happen and blushed.

She hit her head lightly, ' main bhi na ! Abhi abhi dosti hui hai...Pata nahi Sir kya soch rahe honge mere baare mein? Meri wajehse bechare sir bhi waise hi sogaye !Par...woh ...unhone mujhe jagaya kyun nahi? ' , she was thinking.

She hesitantly adjusted his head perfectly on a pillow and made him comfortable.

She found Raj shivering a bit, as it was early morning and climate was cold..

She quickly got the shawl from her bag lying nearby rather than going inside the room to find a blanket and carefully covered him up with it.

She got up and went to freshen up...

Raj wake up later to find himself sleeping comfortably...

He saw the time and was surprised to find himself sleeping this late.

Then he noticed the shawl, and smiled getting that Naina must have covered him with it.

He looked around for Naina but she was nowhere.

Then he heard some noise coming out of kitchen...

She sure must be there, he knew...! May be...making breakfast for him??!!

Raj smiled to himself...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On returning back to academy, Naina was having breakfast with her friends in the canteen.

Raj too entered the canteen and headed towards table where Abhimanyu was having breakfast with Shalini and Nandini.

" Raj !!! aayiye ! Aaphi ka intezaar horaha tha !"

" Shukriya chauhaan saab..." Raj said ," Good morning Dr.Shalini.. "

Shalini replied with a bright smile.

Raj saw Nandini staring down at her plate.

" Good morning, Nandini."

Not only Nandini, but Abhimanyu, Naina and Shalini too stared at Raj in amazement.

" Veer...I mean...Captain Rajveer", Nandini stammered.

" Toh ab tum mera naam bhi bhul gayi ! "

"Huh ??"

Raj smiled.

" Kya hua? Chaunk gayi..."

Nandini soon realized that Rajveer was actually talking to her nicely...Now was the time to reform all the mistakes done in the past.

She too smiled.

" Veer... main bhi kitni pagal thi na? Pata nahi kis gumnaam rishtey ke peeche bhaag rahi thi... Aur in sab mein maine tum sabki precious friendship bhi kho di...Aaj main apni woh galati sudharna chahti hu Veer? Kya hum ek nayi shuruvat karsakte hai? Shuruvat ek pure friendship ki?", she put her hand forward, " friends?"

Raj smiled and shook her hand," Friends ! Waise bhi kisine mujhse kaha hai ki sachche dost badi mushkil se miltey hai..."

As Abhimanyu followed the direction in which Raj gazed as he spoke the last sentence...He saw Naina smiling happily and she gave a small nod of appreciation to Raj..

Abhimanyu was happy... things were falling into place...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TWO MONTHS LATER:

On the way to Ambala...driving his jeep...Raj stared at the person sitting besides him...

The person was in slumber...

Which wasnt a peaceful one, that he could makeout...

And he could very well see the lines of worry...tension...anxiety and...and sadness...on that face...

Yes...That face was reflecting Sadness, wasnt it? Atleast Raj thought so...

To getaway his thoughts from that person, Raj decided to concentrate on the road ahead for the umpteenth time in the drive...

He finally made a call...

" Chauhan saab ..."

" Raj !!! kaha ho aap?? It has been 3 days...and..leave that...aapko pata hai..Naina bhi gayab..."

" Chauhaan...", Rajveer cut in, " Main aaj raat tak Ambala pohoch raha hu...Aane ke baad baat karenge...But remember one thing...iss baat ka jikr kisise mat karna...KISISE bhi nahi...got it?"

"Ahh...theek hai...but Raj.. Naina...Woh pata nahi kaha..."

" Woh jaha bhi hai theek hi hogi..."

" What..? but Raj..", Abhimanyu was confused at Raj's lack of concern...but then , " Raj ! Kahi Naina aapke saath toh..."

" Abhi main phone rakhta hu chauhaan...baaki details, mere ambala pohochne ke baad...bye..."

and he hanged up...

Raj once again spared a glance at the person sitting besides her...

The person...

HIS WIFE...

MRS. NAINA RAJVEER SINGH SHEKHAWAT...