SS: Tu rooh ka humnava hai. Yeh jismon ka rishta nahin. Update Page 67 - Page 42

Hellow my lovelies,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving this story so much. Makes me so happy every time I read your comments, the compliments and the love you shower on the story.

Maria, Neil's mother, sitting on the edge of the bed in the guest room was crying. Since the news came to the ears about her son being a victim of the attack, she tried to show her strong side in front of her children. Only she knew how she was feeling inside. The fear of losing her child was a feeling that no mother deserved to go through. Knowing that her son was emotionally vulnerable, she wanted to be his strength not his weakness. Isaac, her husband, came to get her for lunch but he found her in tears. Married for thirty six years and in love with her for fourty years, he knew her inside out. Now that their son was with them alive and safe, she was fearing about his mental condition. No matter how strong one could be such incidents always leave one scarred for life. He gave her his shoulder to cry and gave her the strength to stay positive. All their five children and their respective spouses came to get them for lunch but they found the two emotional. Maria wiped her tears away not wanting to show her weakness to Neil.

« You can cry, mom. », he sat down on the floor next to her. « It won't make me weak. On the contrary, it will give me strength. », he rested his head on her lap.

Still on her lap he hugged her by the waist like a scared kid who needed to be comforted by his mother. No one dared to break this beautiful moment. After some time leaned against the bed he hugged his legs and looked into space.

« We witnessed four people getting killed in front of us and at that time you wonder why not you ? Why were you saved by God ? Were you more worthy than them ? Did you do something good in your life for which you were rewarded ? Or God was giving you a second chance to be a better person ? », Neil said thoughtful.

The entire family listened to him with welled up eyes. They knew that the disturbing experience he went through would stay forever in his mind. It wasn't easy to shake him up but if he was now then it was only because of the intensity of the trauma. He didn't deserve it. No one deserves it.

« When I thought I was dying, I had four things in my head. I didn't want to die without a proper goodbye with you all and I wanted to tell you that I love you. Then Naira came in my mind. I realized that we bonded naturally but I never told her that she was very special to me. I also realized that there are so many promises and wishes we forget as we grow older. It's time to fulfill a few of them. », he continued with a smile.
« And what is the fourth one ? », Lara, his older sister asked.
« That if I survive I will eat mom's hand made aloo ka paratha. », he lied with a broken heart.

He stood up and felt the urge to go outside. Lara held his hand and stopped him from leaving. She pulled him for a hug and whispered in his ear that she knew it was a big fat lie. The rest of the siblings followed her for a group hug.

Saira's parents, Shelly, Samir and his parents paid her a visit at the hospital. She appreciated the attention she was getting but her eyes were still looking for one person. She wondered why didn't he come to see her. It was Sunday, he can't give the excuse of being busy at work. Neil wanted to give her space so that she can spend time with her family and would be in-laws. He met up with Naira in the evening and both went to the hospital together. As soon as they entered the room, her smile automatically brightened seeing her two best friends. They walked up to her bed. Naira came with Saira's one of her most favorite desserts, an eclair au chocolat. Neil gave her a bouquet of her favorite lilies of the valley which she gladly accepted with a huge smile. She smelled it and realized that the bouquet was made with artificial lilies of the valley. She pouted and hit his shoulder with it.

« Violent I see. », he looked into her eyes attracted to her as never before and amused as he always loved her like this.
« Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I still don't get it how you let him fool you so easily. You know that you can get lilies only between mid April to mid May. », Naira sighed while Neil laughed.

Naira explained to Samir and his parents that Saira is a huge lily of the valley lover and Neil takes advantage of her love for the flower to fool her by offering articial ones. Like an idiot she too forgets that it's not the season. Neil who was hiding a real flower bouquet behind his back took it out and handed it to her. She got her smile back and accepted it. Her father looked at him. Neil avoided eye contact with him. Saira looked from her father to Neil and felt the tension surrounding them.

« Why did it take so long for you to come ? », she asked to Neil.
« I was with my family and you were with yours. », he replied finally looking at her father.
She looked at father again and asked, « Did anyone tell you anythig ? Did anyone blame you for the accident ? »
« No ! », Neil lied shaking his head.
« You know that I will fight the entire world for you. I will even fight with you if you dare to blame yourself. », she warned him.
Neil laughed looking lovingly at her, « Oh yeah I know that. I am a dead man if I don't bow down to you. Don't worry no one said anything to me. »

Everyone watched their deep connection. She couldn't accept anyone blaming him, not even him blaming his ownself. And he was ready to lie for her good. He didn't want to hurt her by telling her that her father misbehaved with him nor create any fight between them.


During the following two days, Saira got pampered by her parents and Samir. Shelly also canceled her flight and extended her vacation for one more week. If she was grateful for everyone's efforts, she was also disturbed by all kind of emotions. She tried so many times to remember what exactly happened that day but all she knew was that they were in the middle of a terror attack. Through her nightmares she remembered that she and Neil were hiding somewhere fearing for their lives. And that fear she could still sense it without knowing about the entire incident. She was getting haunted by the image of Neil pressing her against the wall to protect her every time she closed her eyes. And every time she was forced to open her eyes abruptly restless. She knew that at that moment she wanted to return to her parents and live. She didn't want to die without confessing her love to Neil. More she was trying to get her memories back more she wanted to free herself. She didn't want to die with regrets. All these mixed emotions made her also wonder why was Neil so distant. Was he just disturbed with what they went through or was he hiding something ? Or was he distancing himself because she was getting married ? It was a universal truth that things change after marriage. But she always said that she would keep her friends close just as before then what was he afraid of ? In the last two days he showed up only half an hour before the ending of the visiting hours and today they were having a public holiday but still he couldn't take up a few hours for her.

Neil was on a medical leave since the incident and his mother was staying with him. He was more than happy to spend some time with her and eat her hand made dishes. While his mother was busy in the kitchen to bake his favorite gingerbread cookies even though it wasn't the season, he was trying to paint in his atelier. Unable to channel his inner emotions he couldn't paint anything. He poured some black color on the painting palette, took a deep breath and started to paint with his eyes shut. Even if something abstract comes out of it, still venting out his emotions will do him good. Finally relaxed and relieved, he opened his eyes to see what came out of his heart. Shocked by the outcome, he sat down on the floor hugging his legs. He watched the painting for some time before lying down on his stomach and fell asleep. Meanwhile his father came to so see them. He wanted to go to his atelier but his wife stopped him. She didn't know in which state he was. Would he like someone invading his privacy specially now when he was emotionally so vulnerable ? Neil's phone kept ringing in the living room. Naira was trying to contact him. After three missed calls, Maria went to his atelier to give him the phone. Her eyes fell on the painting and couldn't stop from admiring it. Isaac joined her and after a brief glance at the painting looked questioningly at his wife. It was an abstract eye. Vaguely recognizable though.

« Just an eye or someone's eye ? », he whispered at his wife.
« The one's who he is in love with. », she replied.
« Oh... OHHH ? », he was first normal then astonished.
« Your son is in love with Saira. », she said with a smile.
« Saira ? Really ? », he asked amused. « Wait, wasn't he looking for a French girl ? », he asked with a chukle.
« His mind wanted a French but his heart wanted an Indian. Heart always wins. Like father like son.», she laughed.

She bent down and woke him up. Once he stood up she informed him that Naira was trying to reach him.

« Dad ? », Neil was surprised to see him there. « Were you missing mom ? Can't you stay away from her for more than two days ? », he teased him.
« My lovely son, don't tease me because now I can do the same. », Isaac said patting him on the back and showing him the painting.
« I don't know what you are talking about. It's just an abstract art. », Neil tried to act ignorant.
« Yeah yeah ! », Isaac shook his head.

Neil took his phone from his mother's hand and called Naira. She told him to get ready as she will be there within fifteen minutes to pick him up.

Saira was alone in her hospital room. Trying to take a nap, she couldn't stop from thinking that during the worst moment of her life the thought of her wedding nor Samir didn't come even once. She was so unfair to him. He deserved a wife who would love him for the wonderful man he was. All this while she wanted to compromise and accept the best she was offered but she wasn't happy. It needed her to be in a deadly situation to understand that to be happy she had to live her life the way she wanted not how her parents had planned it for her.

Samir's entire family decided to pay a visit to Saira by using this bank holiday in their advantage. Both the families let Samir and Saira have their alone moment while they waited outside.

« I have spoken to the doctors, you will be discharged by tomorrow and then everything will get back to normal. », he said.
« Samir we need to talk. », she said while he kind of sensed what she wanted to tell him just by reading her eyes. « You are a nice guy that's why I had chosen you. You were my perfect match and despite that I know that I won't ever be happy if I get married to you. Not because of you but because I don't want to get married to anyone. I don't want to get married because I am forced to do so. I want to get married because that's what I wish and currently that's not my wish. I had to almost die to understand that I am not happy but was pretending to be. », she finally said what was in her heart.
« If it's just that then we can delay it. I can wait till you feel like it's the right time. But if it's something else then tell me. », he said.
« I can't be unfair to you nor to your family. You deserve so much better. You and your family are wonderful people and very understanding. I am abusing your kindness. I want to free you because I don't know how long it will take me to be ready. I am sorry. I hope you will understand me one last time. I am so sorry. », she said.

She took off her engagement ring and gave it back to him. He froze for a moment then with a half smile left the room. She let her tears stream down. She never wanted to hurt him but by calling off the wedding she was herself hurt. She broke the heart of a wonderful person like him for a man she will never get. She was destined to have a perfect life but she opted for the path which will led her to a miserable life. Samir leaned against the wall and went numb. His entire world came to an end, the one he had created in his head with Saira. He wasn't in love with her yet but it was still hurting like if he was stabbed straight to the heart because he had already started to imagine his future with her. Nassiha walked towards him and greeted him. She just came a few minutes ago. Too shocked he couldn't react to anything. Seeing his restlessness and his tears she understood that something must have happened.

« What happened ? Tell me Sam. Is Saira ok ? Did she say something ? », she shook him by the shoulders.

The engagement ring fell off his hand to the ground. She looked at it then back to him.

« I knew it. I told you she can't be trusted. She left you for him, didn't she ? B*tch. », she screamed in anger.
« Stop Nass, please. », he requested her.
« Don't defend her now. You should have listened to me when I told you not to trust her. », she said.
« CAN YOU STOP IT, PLEASE ? You said this, you said that... damn Nass. I am broken can't you see it. Instead of consoling and comforting me you are busy instigating me. There Saira, Neil and Naira support each other and give each other their shoulders to cry and here you are making me feel even more awful than I am already. », he lashed out at her.

He picked up the ring and rushed outside. Nassiha shocked by his anger ran behind him. Both the families looked at each other and sensed that something went wrong. Neil and Naira who just reached the hospital also looked at each other confused. Why did Samir storm out and Nassiha followed him worried ? Everyone rushed outside and found the two best friends having an argument in the green area of the hospital.

« What happened ? », Samir's father asked.
« Saira called off the wedding. », Nassiha informed.
« What ? », everyone said in unison.

Naira and Neil talked through their eyes to know if the other one knew what was going on.

« This must be a misunderstanding. », Saira's father said.
Samir showed the ring, « No, it isn't. She doesn't want to get married. She is apparently not ready yet. »
« Please Sam cut the crap. », Nassiha rolled her eyes and walked towards Neil, « How does it feel to break someone's heart ? All the while he was dreaming about his new life, you both were cheating on him. »
« What are you talking about ? », Neil asked confused.
« Don't act so innocent now. She left him for you. », she said.
Neil looked at everyone, « That's not true. I don't know what's going on in Saira's mind but she definitely didn't leave Samir for me. »
« Nass stop. », Samir begged her.

Saira walked up to the window and spotted everyone crowding the area. They seemed in the middle of an argument. She immediately walked out of the room.
While Samir's family was busy blaming Saira and Neil claiming their innocence, Naira played a video that grabbed everyone's attention.

Saira was walking towards the exit of the hotel in which they were staying in Lisbon, focused on her phone. She tripped on the chair and crashed against the automatic vending machine like a tsunami. « What the hell ! », she screamed. Naira who caught the scene with her phone burst out laughing. « Don't tell me you just recorded this ? Naira delete it. », she said. « Nope I will use it on your wedding. », Naira laughed. The last packet of skittles that was hanging out dropped down by the power of the shake. Saira took it out and both the girls cracked up. They were joined by Samir and Neil. « I see. Someone just can't wait for the breakfast. », Neil teased Saira who was trying to open the packet. « Who doesn't like some free skittles. », she replied. « She is a thief. Everywhere she goes, she steals something. », Naira said. « You mean to say every time I go somewhere with you, you force me to steal something ? », Saira replied. « Liar ! Put the blame on me now. », Naira faked being shocked. « Last time you put that lipstick in my hand and distracted me with your stupid stories which made me put it in my pocket instead of putting it back in it's place. And on that other trip, I told you that I forgot my bag in the car. I thought you paid for the coffees. So indirectly you are the one who make me commit sins apart from this time. It was just my luck. », Saira said proud that she finally could tear off the packet. « You see how much I have to endure with these two clowns. », Neil sighed while Samir chuckled. « Naira stop recording or else I will break your phone. », Saira said and both ran outside behind one another. In between their giggles Nassiha's voice could be heard. She was on a call with one of her friends, « I love Samir but he doesn't love me. »

This was a memory recorded by Naira during their Lisbon trip. At that time they weren't aware of the truth but later that night when the two girls watched the video again they were shocked.

« There is a saying Nassiha. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I told you don't push me into becoming the bad girl. I had sensed it from the beginning that you were a disgusting person but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt because you are Samir's friend. He is a nice guy so his friend can't be that bad, right ? But God I was so right. », Naira was pissed at her. « Do you want me to replay it or have you all heard it ? This is the difference between you and Saira. She never questioned you despite knowing everything but you kept tarnishing her image. », she added.
« What ? Saira knew about it ? Since when and why didn't she tell anyone about it ? », Neil asked.
« In the hotel room when Nassiha went to take a shower we were watching the videos and pictures. I told her to confront her and Samir but she said that she trusted him. If it was an one sided love, she didn't want to be the reason of their fall out. », she explained.

Neil was angry and shocked. Samir was lost in all of this but then when he saw Saira standing behind her friends he panicked. At his « Saira », everyone turned their heads towards her.

With this chapter, I tried to show you the bond Neil shares with his family. As I wanted to make it sound real, I didn't want Neil to be just worried for his lady love but also be disturbed by the experience. Like any normal person, he is affected and shaken by it even if he is mentally strong.

I loved writing on the emotional storm inside Saira. She knows that she has chosen the wrong path which was going to complicate her life.

My heart broke for Samir while writing their breakup. How he left without saying a word, how broken he was just after that and how he lashed out at his friend for instigating him instead of offering him a shoulder to cry. I think I was more sad for Samir's heartbreak than Saira or Neil's probably because more they will get hurt more it will be better for them while Samir is basically just the victim. Listening to "O Aasman Wale" by Jubin while writing that part worsened the thing. 😭

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and will love the upcoming ones.
Will SaiNeil find each other or will Samir stay back in their lives ?