EPISODE- 44
Finally their life was back on track and things atleast appeared to be normal. Though Rajveer and Naina had sorted out things between them they could not restore the bonding they had. There was still an awkwardness between them thought it wasn't because of any hard feelings. Earlier they used to talk to each other endlessly but now they hardly talked anything after hi-hello and courteous smiles. Most of the time they found themselves at the loss of words. They themselves were wondering what's wrong with them.
After a week when doctors told them that Navin is absolutely fine and needs some time and proper rest to recover completely, Rajveer decided to shift back at his own place. He soon resumed his duty but whenever he visited Navin he felt choked from inside. He had a problem behaving normal with Naina. Her presence affected him badly. But atleast he knew the reason.
Naina's condition was worse. She had a problem getting back to her normal life. She didn't even resume her show. Something inside her constantly kept bothering her but she could not understand what exactly that was. She was missing that hand over her head whenever she was confused; those nice words whenever she felt low; that warm hug whenever she cried and those intense eyes that gave her courage. All those belonged to Rajveer. She was missing him.... terribly.
Naina was getting depressed and stress was taking its toll over her. Her best stressbuster has always been painting but today she couldn't even paint. To take out her frustration she started to draw some random lines on the canvas which in no way could make any sense. She didn't even realize that Navin was standing on the door watching her.
"Bas kar Naina. Yeh kya kar rahi hai tu?"
"Bhaiyya aap yahan. Koi kaam tha kya?" She was startled to see him.
"Haan."
"Kya?"
"Bas main yehi soch raha tha ki meri behen kitni badi ho gayi hai aur bahadur bhi. Itni mushkilon ka saamna kar ke mujhe wapas le kar aayi hai, phir achanak use kya ho gaya ki ab uske paas mujhse batein karne ke liye bhi waqt nahin hai."
"Aisa kuch bhi nahin hai Bhaiyya. Woh to main... woh..." She was at loss of words. Now only she realized that she hasn't spent much time with her brother for quite sometime now. "Woh doctors ne aapko rest karne ke liye kaha hai na... isliye main aapko zyaada disturb nahin karti." She made a lame excuse.
"To ab tu mujhse jhooth bhi bolne lag gayi hai."
"Nahin Bhaiyya."
"Naina sach bata kya hua hai tujhe... tu itna badal kyun gayi hai."
"Main kahan badli hoon Bhaiyya. I am still the same Naina."
"Really? Think again Naina. You are not the same. Tu badal gayi hai. Hamesha bak-bak karne waali Naina aajkal kisi se baat nahin karti. Saara din chup-chaap apne kamre mein padi rehti hai. Radio Station bhi nahin jaati... paint nahin kar paati. Jin cheezon ke bina Naina ki koi zindagi nahin thi ab tu un sabhi cheezon ke bina jeene lagi hai."
"Bhaiyya woh actuaaly maine socha ki itne din ho hi gaye hain to main ab next month se hi radio station join karoongi. Tab tak... Ammmm... Happy Holidays." She forced a fake smile on her face as she said this.
"Naina tu accept kyun nahin kar leti ki tujhe pyaar ho gaya hai... Raj se."
Naina looked at him in shock. Her eyes were moist. Something pinched her deep inside her heart. She could feel a pain.
"Bhaiyya?"
"Yehi teri problem hai aur problem ka solution bhi."
Navin left the room. Naina was left alone. She was wondering if what Navin said could be true and within no time she realized that it was. To her horror... she was in love.
************
As Naina returned from market that evening she went straight away to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. She had a terrible headache. She's been crying for the entire afternoon. Somehow it was not so easy for her to accept that she was in love with Rajveer. As she entered the kitchen, she saw her mother pouring tea in 3 cups.
"Arrey Naina tu aa gayi? Navin ki medicines le aayi?"
"Haan Maa. Maa I need a cup of black coffee."
"Theek hai main bana deti hoon. Tu ek kaam kar yeh chai Navin ke room mein pehuncha de."
"Fine Maa. But yeh 3 cup kiske liye." She asked as she lifted the tray.
"Woh Raj aaya hai na."
As she heard this tray fell from her hands. Cups broke into pieces and the entire tea fell on the floor and her legs causing her burns. Naina's father and Rajveer came running.
"Kya hua?" Her father asked. Navin and Neetika also came.
"Kuch nahin Baba. Bas woh chai ki tray gir gayi."
"Are you okay?" Rajveer enquired.
"Yes... I am fine."There was a hesitation in her voice as she answered him.
"What fine Naina... Saari chai tune apne upar gira li hai. Jaldi se medicine laga uspe." Her mother flustered.
She left with Navin and Rajveer to get medicine from Navin's room. Now only she realized that it was hurting her badly. She was limping. Rajveer held her by arm and helped her walk towards the room. Naina tried to tell him that she can manage but words didn't come out.
She applied ointment on her legs and got up to leave but Navin stopped her.
"Tu kahan jaa rahi hai?"
"Ammmm.... change karne Bhaiyya."
She wanted to leave the room. Rajveer's presence was making her uncomfortable.
"Ruk... baith yahan pe. I need to talk to both of you."
She knew what he wanted to talk about and she didn't want to discuss that.
"Bhaiyya can't we talk later. Mere sar mein bahut dard ho raha hai. Please."
"Nahin we need to talk now." He commanded.
"Navin... just let it be yaar." Even Rajveer wanted to avoid the topic. Naina was wondering if Navin had already talked to him about it.
"Kab tak avoid karte rahoge tum dono... ek doosre ko aur apni feelings ko."
"Navin tu....." Rajveer wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. Naina looked at him. In so many days, for the first time she wanted to know what was in Rajveer's mind. She wanted to know what he actually felt for her.
"Just cut it out Navin..." He snapped. That was all he could say to avoid being put into an uncomfortable position with Naina.
Naina got up and walked out of the room. She was not able to control her tears. Rajveer was quite upset and Navin was absolutely mad at him for behaving like that. Naina was hurt and they both knew it.
"What do you think you are trying to do Raj?"
"I wish I knew."
"Raj what's wrong with you yaar... Just now you told me that you love Naina."
"Bas yaar himmat nahin ho rahi hai. Even I donno what's stopping me."
"Raj I don't know and I don't care. You know Naina means the whole world to me. I can't see her like this. Main jaanta hoon ki agar koi hai jo Naina se pyaar karta hai and if there is someone who can keep her happy then it's you."
"Navin... I understand aur main bhi use hurt nahin karna chahta. But tu jaanta hai na use. Kab kis baat pe kis tarah se react karegi... kuch bharosa nahin hai uska. I just need...."
Suddenly the door opened. Rajveer could not even complete. It was Naina. They didn't know if she heard anything. There was no track of tears on her face though there wasn't any trace of happiness either. It was blank... devoid of every emotion.
"Bhaiyya main kal se hi apna Radio show resume karne jaa rahi hoon." She sounded resolute.
"Lekin tune to kaha tha ki tu show next month se resume karegi."
"I just changed my mind." Saying this Naina closed the door and went to her room. She didn't wait for anyone's reaction. She had to prepare for her comeback show.
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