Samaina Milan OS Part 2 on page 3

Naina had had enough. Today she was going to get some answers. She hid herself behind a tree near the entrance of the college, waiting for Munna and Pandit to come. She will not give in till she gets all her answers. They have been avoiding her for about a month now since the college started. They had not come by her house during the vacation as well. She had expected them to come and give her some news, some letters from Sameer. But they didn't show! Once, Preeti had seen them in the market by chance. But they had avoided her and ran away from her. Naina didn't even have their phone numbers.  She had last seen them and talked to both of them at the last day of their school, on their farewell day. 

She still remembered each and everything about that day. Everyone was sad to leave their school and their friends. Naina had also spent her last day remembering all those sweet moments of their school. All the awards she had received over the years, all the times she had topped her exams. And a most beautiful memory of her life was meeting with her Sameer. Everywhere she went around the school, she remembered the time spent with Sameer. Sameer, his name still creates flutter in her tummy. She had also felt Sameer's presence that day as well. She tried to look for him all around the school but couldn't find him. And when Preeti and Swati came looking for her, she knew she had to go home. How could Sameer be here, Ahmedabad? She questioned. She was being silly wasn't she? And when Preeti started to tease her that she keeps day-dreaming about Sameer all day everyday, she decided that she to give up here search and go home. But the feeling of uneasy was still there. 

But things had changed lately, hadn't they? First, he hadn't come to meet her in Delhi when she went for the competition. He said that he didn't receive her letter, which was strange because she had sent the letter quite early. Then slowly, he started sending shorter and shorter letters. That too not often like before. They didn't have any shayerees or any thing about missing her. Then he stopped calling her and when she called he never came to the phone. She had called Amrita as well, but she too had no idea why Sameer was never home when she called. Naina started to feel sadder and sadder day by day. She tried to come with excuses why Sameer was so busy, either he was busy studying for his 12th exam or that he might have had a part time job or something. Everyday she tried to think positive but somewhere deep in her heart she felt that something, somewhere wasn't right. 

Preeti too had started to feel that. And that's why she had followed Munna and Pandit at the market, to try and talk to them and ask about Sameer. It was strange that at the last day of school they had all promised to be friends forever. They used to call her bhabhi and used to take care of her, make sure to make her smile when she got sad thinking about Sameer. Then what had changed? Today was the day, she thought. She looked at her watch; they should be here by now. Their first class for commerce wing will start in 15 minutes. She had chosen Arts, even though with her marks she could have done Science. But she wanted to be a writer, so she chose Arts and Literature. All three wings were in same college, just the timings were different. Arts and Science started at 11 am and commerce started at 9am. 

It was just about 9 now, Naina peeked out of her hiding spot. Her heart was beating loudly today. For some reason she had the feeling that today she will know what's going on with Sameer. Finally, she spotted them.  She couldn't stop herself from running to Munna. He got dropped off by some guy with helmet over his head, which was strange because not many people wear helmets.  It seemed like the guy had raced off seeing her approaching. But he didn't even know her. Or did he? And Pandit had come by his own bike. 

Munna got shocked seeing her. "N N N Naina, tum? Yahan? Is waqt kya kar rahi ho yahan? Tum tumhari class to 11 baje shuru hoti hai na?  

Naina: "kyun? Mujhe dekhke chonk gaye? Aur ab tum mujhe bhabhi nahi bulaoge? 

Munna : "k k k Kaisi baat kar rahi ho tum bhabhi? Baat kya hai ? tum itni gusse mein kyun ho?

Naina: "Munna, sach sach batao, kya hua hai? Tum mujhse  aankh chura kyun rahe ho? Sameer to thik hai na? bolo na? plz mujhe Sameer ki badi fikr ho rahi hai. Usne kayee dino se chitthi nahi beji aur phone bhi nahi karta mujhe. Naina had now lost all the control she had and her tears started flowing... "Munna, plz plz meri Sameer se baat karado , nahi to main mar jaongi! She had now started sobbing. She was so desperate to see Sameer, or talk to him or ever know that he is ok. She also had a fear deep down that Delhi had changed him. That he realized that she was too Bhenji for him, and that there were prettier more stylish girls out there for him. Although, she dismissed these thoughts as soon she had them, there was still that inkling in her heart. They kept creeping up from time to time in these past months, mostly when Tayiji would taunt her which was almost everyday.  Although she didn't voice these concerns to Munna.

Munna: "Naina, sambhalo apne aapko. Sameer theek hi hoga. Hamari bhi baat nahi hui hai usse

Pandit had come till then and seeing Naina in this condition he couldn't stop his own tears. He felt so guilty that he was keeping a secret from her. He just wanted to blurt it out to Naina but one eye from Munna and he stopped. They had promised Sameer they wouldn't say anything.

But Naina had decided that until they didn't tell her she will not leave them. She also realized that it will be easier to get Pandit to say it than Munna. 

Naina: "Pandit, tum hi batao na plz. Dekho main vaada karti hoon ki tum jo kahoge main vo karungi. Lekin plz mujhe bata do ke Sameer kaisa hai aur kahan hai. Kya vo mujhe bhool gaya hai? She couldn't help but say it.

Pandit: "Munna, ab main yeh nahi seh sakta. Naina vo...

Munna: "chup kar ponga Pandit. Humne vaada kiya hai... he stopped himself but the damage was done... 

Naina: "kaisa vaada? Mujhe batao... Please mujhe bata do.. She pleaded. Now her heart was beating wildly. And she couldn't think straight. Were her worst fears coming true...???? She had to know... "agar tum mujhe nahi bataoge to main to main...kuch kar bethungi... she sobbed. She was feeling so helpless and anxious. "please mujhe pe taras khao. Please Pandit .. Please ... She just couldn't control anymore and she slumped on the ground on her knees... 

"Achha theek hai , main batata hoon , Munna said. "Sameer... yahin hai, Ahmedabad mein Naina looked up .. shocked.. 

Naina: "Kya??? Lekin phir vo...????

Munna: "pehle meri puri baat sun lo Naina. Darasal vo farewell ke din hi aagaya tha. Lekin vo hum me se kisi se nahi mila tab. Vo to hum uske nanaji ke ghar jate rehte the to vaha humne use achanak dekh liya.. humse chhup ne ki koshish kar raha tha.. jab humne poocha to bahane bana raha tha... par hum samajh gaye ki kuch to gadbad hai... phir usne hamari savalo se tang aaker bataya... Uski Dadi badi hi kharab hai.. unhone use yeh yakin dila diya tha ki vo mahoos hai... paida hote hi uske pitaji chal base, phir uske nanaji aur phir uski maa bhi bahot bimar pad gayi thi. Jab tum delhi gayi thi na usi din use tumhari chhitthi mili thi. Lekin usi din dadi ne yeh sab bola usse ... to vo aaya tha tumse milne... lekin mila nahi ... kyun ki us din jaise hi vo aaya to tum stage par gir gayi thi.. hai na? " 

Naina was shocked... Yes she fell down on stage.. that means he was there? He was watching her... 

Munna continued...dadi ne yeh sab bol bol ke uske dimaag mein yeh bitha diya ke vo sab ke liye manhoos hai aur jab vo tumhare kareeb hota hai to tumhare saath kuch galat hota hai...isiliye vo tumse door ho jana chahta hai... Isiliye vo tumse mil nahi raha hai naina... humne use bewakoof ko bahot samjhaya... par uske dimaag se yeh baat jaati hi nahi.. roj samjhate hain use... thak gaye hain hum dono... 

Naina couldn't believe it! She didn't understand how her Sameer can think such things... He was always asking her to stay positive, to stay strong... and now he is thinking these things????!!!! She also couldn't believe that his dadi can be so mean... and why????

Munna: "roz roz khud bhi tadapta hai tumhe dekhke aur tumhe bhi tadpata hai... "

Naina's eyes widened... "Sameer roz mujhe door se dekhta hai???? Aur mere saamne nahi aata??? Naina couldn't understand how he could be so cruel to her.. she was so sad all the time without him.. did he see that??? How could he still stay away from her??? Did he not love her enough???

"Kahan hai vo she said wiping her tears. "main usse abhi miloongi 

"Lekin Naina... Pandit started... but Naina looked at him with firm resolve and Pandit knew that now no one can stop her, not even Sameer... Besides, they had always wanted this.. to tell her.. may be Naina can make him understand... 

Pandit: "vo tumhe dekh liya tha usne Munna se baat karte huye.. vo bike mein helmet vala... Naina understood, that that's why he had sped off... that was her Sameer... he was so close to her...  

Pandit: "ghar chala gaya hai vo . tum chaho to vahan jaa kar mil sakti ho... before he could say anything else, Naina had already started running towards the rikshaw... 

As soon as she reached Sameer's nanaji's house, she threw the money at rikshaw wala and ran inside. Her heart was beating so hard... but she was also angry .. how could he? How dare he??? She rushed to his room... Sameer on the other hand was sitting on his bed thinking about Naina... That's all he thought about now a days! His Naina... and today when he saw her approaching Munna and him.. his heart had stopped... he couldn't believe it! Had she found out???? He couldn't  show her is face.. Thank God for the helmet he had started wearing for precisely this reason... he didn't want Naina seeing him ... So he told Pandit that he was going home.. and also made him promise again about not telling anything to Naina... They will keep their promise, won't they? But he was feeling weirdly scared and excited today... he has to ask Munna and Pandit what she wanted... 

But suddenly, something in the air changed... he felt it in his guts... He felt peace in his heart suddenly... he couldn't place the feeling... but he got up from his bed and walked towards the door... But stopped midway as he saw her... his angel... the most beautiful sight in the world... he just got lost in her for a sec... her hair were open today... her salvar was a beautiful light blue ...but his thought process got interrupted when she rushed in. Anger in her eyes... and tears... She Knew...

As Naina reached his room, she saw him standing staring at her... as though he knew she was coming through that door... but Naina didn't want to get distracted... she was angry .. angry at him... 

"How dare you Sameer Maheshwari? Tumhari himmat kaise hui? Tum itne swarthi ho sakte ho , yeh maine socha nahi tha... 

"Naina, yeh tum kya...

"chup raho tum... Aaj main bolungi... aur tum sunoge... she couldn't help but tears had started again... But she went on "tumne yeh kaise soch liya ke tum apne aapko mujhse door kardoge??? Yeh kya sirf tumhara faisla tha?  Isme mujhe bol ne ka haq nahi tha.??? Aur tum ... yeh faisla le kar bhi mujhe dekh sakte ho... aur mujhe saza de rahe the... tum janto ho ki main kitna tadap rahi thi ? din raat roti thi tumhare liye... kitne vrat, upvaas kiya tumhare liye.. bhagwaan se roz sirf tumhari salamati ki prarthna karti thi.. she said between sobs... "Naina, suno to... Sameer tried again...

"Nahi Sameer... Aaj nahi... tum kitne patthar dil ho gaye ho... tumhe meri takleef dikhayi nahi di???? Aisa pyaar tha tumhara...? " She was slowly coming close to him... Sameer was so spell bound... He couldn't understand what he could say to make her stop crying... he felt so guity.. he just thought of leaving her but didn't think how she will take it... He had done this to protect her, to make sure she remains happy and healthy always... but she wasn't happy...

"tum ne yeh mere liye kiya na? mahan banna chahte the tum?.. haan ??... she held his collar. "mere bare mein ekbar bhi nahi socha? Tumhari yaad mein main khana nahi kha pati thi, theek se so nahi pati thi... Na kisi se has pati thi na bol pati thi... yeh nahi dikha tumhe?... haan ... Bolo na... bolo Sameer...bolo... tumne kyun kiya aisa? Meri kya galti thi Sameer? She sobbed while hitting him on his chest. Sameer stood there, his eyes full of tears, not being able to bear Naina's pain... How could he have done this? That too to his Naina??? He had promised to bring smile on her face always... then how did he do this??? And for what?? For something his evil dadi said??? Had he ever paid attention her before???? Then why had he let her get to him now?? His mom had malaria and now she was better... And Nanaji had died of old age ... and his dad.. he died in an accident... none of it was his fault... Then why had he done this to the person who had loved him the most???? His Naina was in pain now and he had to make it right... His mind was still processing all this... when suddenly it seemed like Naina had lost all her steam... and she collapsed on to his chest... She hugged him tight ...

"I love you Sameer... Plz aisa mat karo mere saath... Main tumhare bina nahi reh sakti... she held him tight and sobbed on his shirt... Sameer was too shocked to react at first... he had always dreamt of this moment but suddenly he felt rooted to his spot, unable to move... then slowly, he gave in and hugged her ... slowly he pulled her in more and more... until there was no space between them.  How long had they stayed like this, no one knew... Naina's sobs had quieted... she was now lost in Sameer's arms... She had found peace after a long long time... just like when a person finds water after walking long distance in a desert... Sameer was also not moving... He just wanted this moment to stop right here... Where everything was right!  

Slowly, after what felt like eternity or was it a moment, can't tell which, Naina raised her head and looked into Sameer's eyes... She still had questions...

"Sameer, kya tum abhi bhi mujhe se pyaar karte ho na? Sameer smiled through his tears... "Naina, Main tumse is duniya mein sabse zyada pyaar karta hoon. Mujhe maaf kardo Naina. Main ne tumhe bahot dukh diya, apna vaada bhi toda... tumhe hamesha khush rakhne ka vaada...I love you Naina... I love you and he hugged her again... Naina too had fresh tears in her eyes but this time they were tears of happiness... 

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Thanks

Pinal😲