Raj ran behind them shouting at them to stop as they carried away Naina in their arms. They stopped their track as they reached an area, small huts around, it appeared to be group of people staying in that area. They dropped Naina down as she started shouting at them, "kaun ho tum log?.. mujhe yahaan kyun laaye ho?..". Raj came running there and immediately went near Naina to make her get up from the ground. Naina stood up and brushed off the dirt, she saw a lady coming towards them with few people behind her. Naina frowned and looked at Raj who was also standing there and looking at them.
"tum log yahaan kya ka rahe ho?..", asked that lady looking at Raj and Naina.
"matlab?..", asked Raj wondering.
"ye jagah humara hai.. tum log yahaan kya kar rahe ho..", asked that lady again.
"ohh.. hum.. rasta kho gaye the.. hum bus rasta dhoond rahe the..", replied Naina. That lady looked at Naina, nearing her and looking at her from top to bottom which made Naina a little frightened stepped back and caught Raj's hand.
"bade ghar ki beti lag rahi ho.. tumhara kya kaam hai yahaan?..", asked that lady. Raj tried to speak, but that lady stopped him and asked Naina to continue.
"oh kya hai na.. hum dono ko kisine kidnap kiya hai.. aur hume yahaan laaya gaya hai..", said Naina frankly. Everyone around her were looking at her weirdly, while few started whispering something in others ears discussing about them. Naina was scared and looked at Raj who signaled her to be calm.
"toh tum dono bahar ka raasta dhoondte dhoondte yahaan tak aagaye?..", asked that lady, "tum logon ko pata bhi hai ki tum dono ulti disha aagaye hai?..", continued that lady which made Naina and Raj look at themselves in horror.
"main keh hi raha tha ki hum ulta jaa rahe hai.. tum meri baat sunte kahaa ho..", Naina fumed in anger at Raj.
"arey mujhe kya pata.. main iss jungle mein pehli baar aaya hun.. main bus guess kar raha tha ki yahaan se rasta hoga..", replied Raj.
"main tumhe warn bhi kiya tha.. ", Naina started shouting at Raj, while Raj tried to explain himself to her. The people around them were looking at them as they started fighting.
"chup..", shouted that lady, Naina immediately stopped keeping her hand on her mouth. That lady looked at both of them seriously, feeling they were not any intruders, believed that they were genuine, she said, "humara log tum dono ko baahar ka rasta dikhayenge.. tum dono wahan se ja sakte ho..", replied that lady and turned to go. Raj heaved in relief.
But Naina stopped her saying, "suniye.. hume bahut bhook lagi hai.. khane ke liye kuch mil sakti hai..". Raj cursed Naina under his breath as he wanted to escape from them as soon as possible.
That lady looked at their people and signaled them to provide food for them. Naina smiled at that.
"tumhe unke saat ye sab bolne ki kya jarurat thi.. ye log kitna dangerous lag rahe hai..", asked Raj in low voice.
Naina looked at him seriously and said, "mujhe ye log dangerous nahi lag rahe hai.. aur mujhe pata hai ye log hume khaana denge.."
"khaana.. khaana..", Raj repeated and looking at her furiously he said, "hum inn logon ka khaana banne se pehle hume yahaan se jaana chahiye.."
"Raj.. shut up..", said Naina and moved further to follow that lady.
"Aunty..", said Naina as that lady looked at her sternly, Raj was horrified, "maaf kijiye.. main aapko aunty bula sakti hun?..", asked Naina. That lady just nodded her head as Naina smiled.
"aap kab se yahaan reh rahe hai?..", asked Naina, while Raj was signalling Naina to stop talking to her.
"bachpan se..", she replied.
"main khaana banane mein aap logon ka madad karu?..", asked Naina who were cooking food for them. Naina went near them and sat there looking at them watching the way they prepared food and she started talking to them.
After sometime, Raj and Naina sat on the floor to have food. Raj looked at Naina worriedly while Naina said, "aise kya dekh rahe ho.. khao na.. ". Raj took a bite and looked at Naina in amazement, "bahut acha hai na?..", said Naina. Raj smiled at her, they started eating food as they were very hungry. Once they were finished with eating Raj looked at Naina and said, "ab jald se jald hum yahaan se nikalna hoga.. warna hum late honge.."
Raj looked at that lady and said, "kya app hume iss jungle se baahar jaane ka rasta bata sakte hai?.."
"iss jungle se baahar jaane ka rasta itna asaan nahi hai..", said that Lady and turning towards her son of around 12 years old, she said, "inn logon ko jungle ke baahar tak chod ke aana..".
"ye mera beta hai.. ye tumhe raasta dikhayega.. ", said that lady to Raj and Naina. Naina appeared dissapointed. Raj noticed that. Naina went to that lady and said, "shukriya.."
That lady placed her hand on Naina's head and said, "tum dono ki jodi bahut achi lag rahi hai..". Naina smiled at that and looked at Raj. Raj tried to ignore her.
"ab hum chalte hai..", said Raj and both of them started following that boy who was showing them the way. After walking for sometime, Naina said to them, "aur kitna dur chalna hai.. main tak gayi hun.."
"abhi toh dus minute pehle khayi ho.. itni hi dur chalne mein tak gayi ho?..", asked Raj. Naina glared at him and started walking again. Raj started walking in front of them, while that boy and Naina lagged behind. Naina removed her necklace and giving it to that boy she said, "ye lo.. ye tumhari maa ko de dena.. aur ye bolo ki ye meri taraf se unke liye thofa hai.. aur ab tum yahaan se chale jao.. "
"par didi..", that boy tried to say something, but Naina stopped him and said, "hum yahaan se khud chale jaayenge..", Naina insisted and that boy did as she said.
After few minutes, Raj turned around to see only Naina walking behind him. He was shocked to see that and asked, "woh ladka kaha gayaa?..".
Naina trying to be innocent looked behind her and looking back at Raj she said, "pataa nahi.. mere piche aa raha tha.. pata nahi kahaan gaya..". Raj tried to find that boy but he could not he came back to Naina and said, "achanak ye ladka kahaan ghayab hogaya..", Raj wondered and as he looked at Naina, he found her necklace missing on her neck.
"tumhari necklace kahaa hai?..", Raj asked her. Naina kept her hand on her neck and said, "pata nahi.. kahin niche ghir gayi hogi..". Raj notice her fumbling while saying that and he immediately found that it was Naina who sent that boy away.
"ye sab tumhe mazaak lag rahi hai?..", asked Raj fuming at her. Naina remained silent as Raj found it out.
"kyun kiya tumne aisa.. haan?..", asked Raj holding her shoulders tightly. "tumhe pataa hai ki tum kitni bewakoofi harkate kiya hai.. ab hum baahar jayenge kaise?.. bolo.. chup kyun ho..", Raj was shouting at her with anger.
"mujhe wapas nahi jaana hai.. yahaan mujhe tumhare saath acha lag raha hai..", replied Naina with a low voice. Raj stared at her for a minute and his anger rose beyond.
"kyun acha lagta hai tumhe.. huh?.. shayad tumhe mere saath acha lagta hai.. par mujhe nahi..", said Raj almost squeezing her shoulders. Naina looked up at him in shock.
"haan.. theek se suna tumne.. I don't want you in my life..", said Raj. Tears started flowing from Naina's eyes.
"ek taraf tum mujhe miss karte ho aur dusre taraf tum mujhse dur rehna chahte ho.. kyun Raj.. aisa kyun kar rahe ho..", asked Naina. Raj turned away from her.
"aaj tum mujhe batana hi padega.. mujhe pata hai ki tum Nandini se pyar nahi karte ho?.. tum kisko dhoka de rahe ho.. Nandini ko ya khud ko?..", asked Naina.
"ye meri personal mamla hai.. I don't want to talk about it..", Raj replied.
"Nahi.. tum mujhse batana hi padega..", said Naina facing him.
"shut up Naina.. mujhe gussa mat karo..", said Raj and turned away from her. Naina held his hand again to make him turn towards her and to Raj's surprise she placed her lips on his and started kissing him. Raj tried to separate himself from her, to push her away but he could not, because he never wished to do that. He tried to stop himself from kissing her, but his heart denied. Her soft body against him made him loose control over himself, his hands held her face while kissing her back. After sometime, Naina stopped, her eyes still closed.
Raj stood there his hands still holding her face, he closed his eyes and bending his forehead over her, he said, "ye galat hai Naina..", he said as if he committed a sin. Naina opened her eyes to look into his eyes, which were wet with tears.
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