SaIna FF: Aakhir ho gaya na..; Last part on Pg 44 - Page 21

Sameer was spending his entire time towards his mission...he had really quietened down...not talking much with his friends or anyone else...Nanu could see him working so hard and was really feeling proud to see his dedication. But at the same time, he was worried for his health as he was ignoring his meals many times and he wasn't having lunch in school also as told by Munna. He became worried for his health and decided to take care of his health on his own now. He came to his room where he was studying...

Nanu: Sameer chal jaldi se yeh haldi wala doodh pee le...dekh kitna kamzor ho gaya hai... tujhe zukaam bhi hai...yeh doodh pee le...iske baad main tujhe dawai de dunga...

Sameer: main theek hu Nanu...aap chinta mat kijiye...

Nanu: chinta kaise nahi karu? Dekh beta...tu mehnat kar raha hai...bahut achhi baat hai...lekin apni health ka dhyan rakhna bhi to zaroori hai... aise to aur beemar pad jayega...

Sameer: theek hai Nanu...par mujhe padai ke saath saath guitar aur cricket practice bhi karni hoti hai...time hi nahi bachta... aaj mujhe bahut saare topics khatam karne hain...exams tak mujhe achhe se prepare karna hai...

Nanu: jaanta hu beta...tujhe kuchh karke dikhana hai...tune khud se promise kiya hai...  main tere saath hu... par ab yeh doodh pee le... aur fir dawai le le...main chalta hu... theek hai...tera time bahut keemti hai...

Sameer: jee Nanu...le lunga...ab aap bhi aaram kijiye...mujhe abhi time lagega...

He did as Nanu told him and then kept on studying the whole night and hardly slept for 2 hours. Next day in class he wasn't keeping well and because of his tiredness and illness... He dozed off in the class. Rakesh sir came to the class as Sameer had not returned a library book on time and he wanted to charge fine from him and punish him for being so irresponsible. He came to the class and told the teacher that he wanted Sameer to come and meet him and pay the fine along with the library book. But he saw Sameer sleeping in the class and angrily, he threw a chalk at him and he woke up and was shocked to see Rakesh Sir in the class.

Rakesh sir: yeh dekhiye...yeh hain humare pujya trustee ke naati...bigde nawaab... Yahan class mein sone ke liye aate hain... library ki kitaab wapas nahi karni aur yahaan so rahe hain janaab...yahaan aao... Arey yahan aao tum... tumhe kya lagta hai ki kitaabein tumhare Nanaji laakar dete hain... Jee nahi...yeh school ki property hai...aur iska dhyan rakhna mera kaam hai...samjhe... ab seedhe seedhe yahan aao...

Sameer was still having dizziness because of his fever although he had his medicines but he needed good rest...which he wasn't having. Sameer went to Rakesh Sir and he asked him to return the book along with the fine the next day and Sameer agreed to do that. But still Rakesh sir wanted him to be punished for sleeping in the class and he hit his knuckles with a scale thrice despite the other teacher being reluctant to do so. With each hit, Naina felt as if she was being hit... So helpless she was at that point... But couldn't do anything in front of her father and the whole class. Sameer silently took all the punishment and didn't say anything. He saw Naina's expressions when he was being punished and he forgot all his pain when he thought about the pain he had given her. He quietly went back to his seat with a lot of pain in his hand. Rakesh sir went back to the library with a reminder to bring back the book the very next day.

After the class ended...Munna and Pandit asked him why didn't he tell Rakesh Sir about his fever and kept on being punished quietly. He could have asked for permission to go home early as he wasn't keeping well. But Sameer told them that he would not do anything that hurts Naina...if Rakesh Sir feels happy to punish him, he would face all his punishment without uttering a word... he felt this as a punishment for what he did to her. He had tears in his eyes and a smile on his face looking at his hand which was still hurting a lot.

But today Munna decided to go with Sameer to his home and would make sure he takes some rest. He couldn't  see him ignore his health like this. At home Nanu made sure he had his lunch, medicines followed by sleep... as Munna told him what happened in the school. He wanted to talk to Principal as Rakesh was being unreasonably strict with Sameer and he should be told to restrict himself but Sameer asked him not to do that. Sameer agreed to take rest only if Nanu promised him that he won't talk to the principal and Nanu had no choice but to agree to his wish.

On the other side Naina was feeling bad for him and wished her father understood that he was really trying to improve himself...but he behaved as if he had closed his eyes and didn't want to see how much Sameer had changed. Maybe he realises once he proves himself and completes his promise. She was praying everyday that he proves himself and she can proudly say that he is her friend... a special friend.

 While Sameer was sleeping, he overheard Nanu talking to someone...he woke up from his sleep and realised that his Mom had come there and she was talking to Nanu. He heard Nanu telling her that Sameer needs her support and he was trying to change himself...but Vishakha wasn't able to believe what her father was telling her. She believed that Sameer wasn't good for anything and his changed behaviour was temporary and he must be doing all this for some favour from her or Nanu...that's why he was behaving so nicely since few days. Nanu tried hard to explain everything to her but she couldn't ever believe any such thing for Sameer. Sameer overheard their conversation from the corner outside the room and felt disheartened to hear that.

Sameer: theek hi to hai Nanu...meri Maa ko mujhpe vishwas nahi hai to aap kyun force kar rahe hain... Main to hu hi is layak... inke liye to sab kuchh inka doosra beta Rohan hi hai... main na to pehle inke liye kuchh tha aur na hi ab hu... aap kyun keh rahe hain inse kuchh bhi... kyun aayi hain aap yahan? Aapko kis ne bulaya hai? jayiye na...apne Rohan ke paas...

Vishakha: dekha...mujhe pata tha... yeh kabhi nahi change ho sakta... aap ke kehne pe main yahan aayi thi... aur ise dekhiye...

Nanu: Vishakha wo beemar hai...use tumhari zaroorat hai...

Sameer: nahi Nanu... inhe meri chinta kyun hone lagi... mat karo aap meri chinta... koi zaroorat nahi hai... par yeh sach hai ki fir bhi aap meri Maa hain...aur humesha rahengi... yeh sach aap bhi nahi badal sakti... Maa (after a pause and with tears in his eyes)...kya kabhi aapko meri yaad aati hai? kya aapko kabhi mehsoos hota hai ki mujhe aapki zaroorat hai... ya fir meri awaaz aapke kaano tak pahunchti hi nahi? Aapne meri Maa hokar bhi kabhi mujh par trust nahi kiya... lekin meri dost ne kiya... usne mere liye wo sab kiya jo aapko karna chahiye tha... aur ab main uske liye khud ko badalna chahta hu... aapko to koi fark nahi padega na... agar main beemar hu...ya fir main exam mein kaisa perform karta hu... hai na... aapko sirf Rohan ki fikr hai... meri nahi... jayiye Maa...apne doosre bete ke paas... main aapke bina bhi theek hu...main agar mar bhi jaau to bhi aap ko koi fark nahi padne wala...

Saying this Sameer went inside and started crying...after so many days he let his tears flow which he had been controlling since the time they came back from Mt Abu... he threw his things around in frustration and along with the other things, an envelope fell down from the book shelf and all the photographs got scattered on the floor out from the envelope. He recalled that Nanu had asked him to see the Mt Abu photographs as the rolls had been developed but he refused to see them and told him that he would see them only after he completes his promise.

But seeing them scattered on the ground, he bent down on his knees to pick them up. Still having tears in his eyes he picked them one by one and he got lost in the memories of Mt Abu which he was trying to avoid since so many days. All the memories came back to him and he again felt weak  and guilty for hurting Naina who was the one who did so much for him... She trusted him while he himself never trusted his own self... He had been so harsh with her...tears kept on dropping down from his eyes onto the photographs and his vision blurred because of uncontrollable tears. Today again his Mom didn't trust him and left him alone when he needed her. He took that photograph which was taken outside the bus while the trip was starting and went and sat on the window as always and thought of conversing with the moon who had been her companion in his loneliness.

He kept on staring at the pic along with the moon shining bright in the sky. He was trying to find out the reason why he was left all alone to face everything... was he so bad that no one cared for him... The only girl who cared for him...he himself was the reason wfor her sorrows and tears... He was full of guilt for being involved in the bet and that was the worst decision of his life. He just wished the moon conveyed his feelings to Naina as no one else would do this for him. Vishakha left from there and Nanu came to his room and found Sameer sitting there and shedding his tears in isolation. He went up to him and placed his hand on his head. Sameer looked at him and hugged him immediately and burst out crying.

Sameer (still sobbing): main bahut bura hu Nanu... Koi bharosa nahi karta mujh par... sab ko hurt kiya maine... Bahut bura hu main...

Nanu: Sameer... Aise nahi bolte... tu bura nahi hai... tu to bahut achha hai... bas tere kuchh faisle galat the... dekh beta...agar insaan koi bhi galti na kare... To wo bhagwan nahi ban jayega... Lekin insaan se to galti hoti hai... par sachha insaan wo hai jo apni galti se seekhe aur use dobara na kare...aur yeh main bahut achhe se jaanta hu ki tu badal gaya hai... tu himmat mat haar...main jaanta hu ki yeh tere liye bahut mushkil time hai...par tu soch...jab tu is pariksha mein pass ho jayega... To kitne logon ko tujhpar garv hoga...tu bas yeh soch...

Saying this he embraced him and asked Sameer to give him a smile. After this both of them had dinner together and later Nanu decided that both of them would play chess today so that his mind is diverted and he feels refreshed to start all over again. Naina was lying down on the bed after having dinner and was recollecting her conversation with Swati in school .

Flashback

Swati: yaar Naina... Yeh tere Papa to haath dhoke Sameer ke peeche pad gaye hain... Kya zaroorat thi unhe use is tarah se maarne ki... Aur Sameer bhi to... Kuchh nahi bola... Chupchaap maar khata raha...wo jaanta hai na ki usne chori nahi ki aur asli gunehgaar wo nahi balki Arjun Bhaiya hain... balki sahi maano to tere Papa hain...jiski wajah se unhone...

Naina: tu theek kehti hai Swati... Mujhe aisa lagta hai ki wo har baat ke liye khud ko zimmedaar samajh raha hai... isliye wo har saza chupchaap seh raha hai... mujhe uske liye bahut bura lag raha hai... wo akele sab kaise kar payega?

Swati: tujhe uski madad karni chahiye na...

Naina: kya karu main? Papa ko to tu jaanti hai na... unke saamne kisi ki nahi chalti... Lekin main use moral support to de sakti hu... main uski himmat badane ke liye har koshish karungi... mujhe pata hai ki is waqt use sabse zyada zaroorat support ki hai...

Swati: haan...tu aisa hi kar... Main jaanti hu ki Sameer yeh sab tere liye hi kar raha hai... dekh lena...wo zaroor successful hoga... Wo guitar competition bhi jeetega aur cricket mein bhi best player hoga... main jaanti hu... tera hero tere liye sab kuchh karega...

Naina smiles at the thought of Swati's words and decides to provide him moral support. But she couldn't decide what to do? Suddenly an idea came to her mind and she went to the phone and dialled his number once... she cut the call after two rings and Sameer who was lying down after playing chess with Nanu and was feeling slightly better...was surprised to hear the ring of the phone at this time. It was only Naina who who used to call him at this time but she never called up after coming back from Mt Abu. The phone rang again and he immediately picked up the phone.

Sameer: hello... ( no response from the other side)...hello...Naina...tum hi ho na... please kuchh to bolo...tum hi ho na...

Naina played the song... "zindagi ki yehi reet hai...haar ke baad hi jeet hai...thode aansu hain...thodi hansi...aaj gham hai to kal hai khushi.... Sameer had a smile on his face to hear this song...

Sameer: Naina mujhe pata hai ki yeh tum hi ho... Thank you Naina...thank you so much tumne phone kiya... Mujhe bahut zaroorat thi... is waqt... Is gaane ki... Tumhare saath ki... Tumhare support ki... Main jaanta hu ki tum mere saath ho... har mushkil mein... chahe tum mujhse naraz ho...lekin tum mere saath ho...jaanta hu main... Main badal kar dikhaaunga Naina... tumhare liye... main sabse achha ban ke dikhaaunga... Mujhe pata hai ki tumhi ne mera naam cricket team mein likhwaya hai...aur koi yeh nahi kar sakta... Sab pata hai mujhe Naina...itna to main tumhe samajh gaya hu... Aur ...aur... aur kuchh nahi Naina... Thank you Naina... Tum sach mein bahut achhi ho... nahi best ho...

Naina understood that he was speaking his heart out without actually realising what he was saying...he was so overwhelmed with happiness that was evident in the continuous flow of words that he was speaking... He had no control on his emotions at this moment... So happy he was at this moment to know that she was on the other side of the phone ... what if she wasn't speaking anything... He knew she could hear him and he wanted to say everything in one go... Naina had smile along with tears to hear him after so many days...

Naina: Sameer...

Sameer: Naina...tumne mera naam liya... Aaj bahut dino baad yeh mera best day hai...kuchh time pehle mujhe lag raha tha ki aaj ka din mera worst day hai...humesha ki tarah meri Maa mujhe chhod ke chali gayi... Par tumne phone kiya to ab lag raha hai jaise sab achha hone wala hai... mujh mein nayi jaan aa gayi hai... tum really best ho Naina...

Naina: Sameer ... tum ab aaram karo...raat bahut ho gayi hai...main phone rakhti hu...aur haan maine tumhe maaf nahi kiya hai...yaad hai na...

Sameer: theek hai Naina...aur mujhe sab yaad hai... kuchh nahi bhoola hu... Tum aaram karo Naina...Good night Naina... and thank you Naina... thank you so much...

Naina felt relieved and she went to sleep...such was the impact of her one call...she could make out... there Sameer was beaming with happiness and Nanu who had come to give him his medicine...was very surprised and happy to see him elated. Sameer told him about Naina's call and he was happy to know that...at the same time he was full of appreciation for that girl who was supporting Sameer despite his mistakes... He was surprised to see the inner strength in that young little girl. He knew Sameer would definitely be successful as he had Naina's support.

End of this part😊