Part 5
A few more days passed by and Naina didn't hear anything about Sameer, she even had a feeling that MP were avoiding her and if they met accidentally, they couldn't look her in the eye. The edginess increased with every passing day, but now every passing minute. The flow of letters, although formal, was also dwindling (since Amrita was on the verge of exhausting the letters, she spaced them out further) and this increased her anxiety even more. She didn't know what to do and how to get hold of Sameer or at least feel a little close to him and know that he was ok and everything was fine at his end. She prayed night and day to her Shivji to help her, show her way, give her some news of Sameer. After several such anxiety-filled, sleepless nights, finally one afternoon she got the most awaited opportunity.
All the elders had to leave to Indore for a distant relatives wedding for 2-3 days. Rakesh and Arjun were already away to Baroda for cricket summer camp. Taiji didn't want to leave the girls alone fearing lest they crossed some limits and brought shame to Agarwal family.
Taiji: Are aise kaise ladkiyon ko yahi chod de 2-3 dinon tak. Kuch unch neech ho gayi toh khandaan ka naam mitti mein mil jaayega.
Chachaji: Par Bhabhji, unke college ke admissions ka samay hai, lists lagne kabhi bhi shuru ho sakte hai, agar wo yahan nahi rahengi toh admission ka samay nikal jaayega. Ek shaadi mein jane ke liye hum unka ek saal barbaad nahi kar sakte. Yeh galat hai.
Taiji: O bai, padh likhar kya collectry karvani hai. Arre 12vi toh padh li, baaki kisi bhi chote mote college se graduation kar lengi, aur kya chahiye... waise bhi wahan shaadi mein bahut log honge...ho sakta hai, kisi na kisi ki nazar hamari ladkiyon par pad jaaye...rishte dekhna shuru karenge tabhi toh saal-do saal mein baat banegi...waise bhi ek kaali hai aur dusri bin maa ki...rishta hone mein toh samay lagega hi...
Chachiji was expasterated but kept his cool: Nahi bhabhiji, mujhe apni betiyon ki shaadi ki koi jaldi nahi hai, we jitna padhna chahe padh sakti hai. Mujhe toh yakeen hai meri betiyan hamare khandaan ka naam roshan karengi. Pooja ka toh bachpan se hi shaadi ka sapna tha, so uski shaadi kara di, par Naina-Preeti ki shaadi tabhi hogi jab we chahengi.
Taiji: O bai...Yeh kya keh rahe ho devarji...ladkiyon ko itni chutt doge toh bhaari padega...
Bela: Bhagwan jhooth na bulvaye bhabhiji, aapse bhaari toh hamare khandan mein koi nahi hai!
Taiji: Ne vah Bela...Mil gaya mauka tujhe meri burayi karne ka...sab sunayee deta hai mujhe...bhaari hoon behri nahi...
Bela: Bhabhji... mein toh keh rahi thi ab hame nikalna chahiye, bus ka tem ho raha hai...aapki pasand ki seat nahi mili toh dikkat hogi naa.
Taiji: Tumhare bhaisab ne AC bus ki booking karavyee hai, Rakeshji tarah bus mein latakkar nahi ja rahe hum... ab chalo sab log... and she hollers Pralay to get ready soon...
A while later all left and after ensuring that enough time had passed and everyone would have sat in the bus, Naina came to Preeti who was busy peeling some last mangoes of the season before monsoon set in.
Naina: Preeti, mein Sameer ke ghar ja rahi hoon. Thodi der mein aaungi.
Preeti: Kya? Tu Delhi ja rahi hai? Abhi? Fir thodi der mein kaise aayegi?
Naina facepalmed: Delhi nahi...Uske Nanaji ke ghar ja rahi hoon.
Preeti: Par kyon? MP ne kaha tha na ki wo yahan nahi hai, Delhi mein hi hai.
Naina: Pataa nahi...mujhe jane kyon aisa lagta rehta hai ki Sameer mere aas paas hai...shayad mein galat hoon aur wo Delhi mein hai. Par mein ek baar jakar tassali karna chahti hoon...aur kuch nahi toh uske kamre mein uski cheezen dekhkar uski parchayi ko mehsoos karoongi toh shayad mere bechain dil ko thodi rahat mile.
Preeti: Tu ruk, akele kaise jaayegi, mei bhi chalti hoon.
Naina: Nahi, tu yahi reh...agar galati se kisika phone aa gaya, aur hum mein se kisi ne nahi uthaya toh unhe chhinta bhi hogi aur taiji ko shaq bhi hoga... Fir O bai O bai kehkar hamari jaan hi le lengi...
Preeti: Achcha theek hai, mein yahan sambhal loongi par tu dhyaan se jaana aur jaldi wapas aana.
Naina nodded and hurriedly went out before anyone spotted her. She took an auto and reached his house.
At Sameer's house:
Ramdhari received some telegram and was in tears.
Sameer: Kya hua? Kiska taar hai?
Ramdhari: Bapu ki tabiyat kharab hai, unhe Surat ke huspatal le gaye hai...
Sameer: Tu chinta mat kar, kuch nahi hoga unhe, tu abhi nikal toh shaam ki bus mil jaayegi.
Ramdhari: Par bhaiya, aap akele...aur aapka khana peena?
Sameer: Tu fikr mat kar, mein manage kar loonga, thoda bahut banana seekh liya hai, warna pizza order kar loonga. Tu aaram se ja, bapu ke theek hone ke baad hi aana. Meri chinta mat kar.
He gave some money for immediate expenses and ushered him to leave soon.
When Naina reached there, the sky was gaining the color of dusk, the sun hid in the clouds and the twilight enamored the heaven. Sameer was already alone. He was feeling hungry and went in search of food in the kitchen. He found that Ramdhari had already made the aata for rotis. He fondly remembered how Naina had taught him to make rotis in Mt. Abu, he had also helped in cutting vegetables and onions and also observed people cooking some veggies. He thought he could manage a few rotis and a basic vegetable. Determined, he started rolling out the rotis, but they came out in all shapes and sizes and were also almost more than burnt. He then tried chopping some onions and potatoes but ended up chopping his fingers repeatedly. Finally, he gave up, and altogether abandoned the idea of food as he was in no mood to order also. How much he craved having Naina next to him, the time spent with her in Mt. Abu, cooking, eating, wandering, talking, boating, taking pictures, romancing by eyes...how he wished he could at least hold her hand once, these days the more he decided to go away from her, the more he yearned to be closer to her, even hug her... Nooo, what was he even thinking...he had to stay away from her, forget physically, he should not be even breathing the same air as she...Defeated, he slumped on his bed.
The moment Naina stepped in the garden, she could feel the familiar breeze surrounding her, a happiness somewhere deep in the heart begin to grow. She saw his bike parked and caressed it...remembering his wish to give her a ride and spend some alone time.
She was about to ring the bell but found the door slightly ajar. With great confidence she pushed it open and stepped in. This was the third time she came to his house, but this time it was much more different than the previous two times, first when she came with her papa, who accused Sameer of running away leaving Arjun and second when she had come to know of Nanaji's demise and Sameer had already left for Delhi without her knowledge.
This time she felt as if she belonged here...a feel of own and belonging gripped her heart... yes she had seen that dream long ago, Mr. and Mrs. Maheshwari...the thought brought a smile on her always sad face. She cautiously took small steps inside and made her way to Sameer's room. A form was slumped on the bed facing away from her, but there was no mistaking, she could recognize her Sameer even in a crowd of millions. But more so she was startled to find him there, that means her gut instincts about his presence in the city were right. She called out: Sameer...
He heard that beautiful voice that was so love-laced whenever she called out to him. He couldn't fathom how she got to know about him, but here she was. He instantly looked up and their eyes met, followed by an intense eye-lock. Two hearts were so overwhelmed with emotions, there were a million things to say to each other but no words came out and none were required, their eyes always did all the talking.
Sameer was the first to break out of the trance, he stood up, turned away, and asked in an indifferent tone: Naina, tum yahan? Tumhe kaise pataa chala mein yahan hoon.
Naina smiled and came forward and stood before him: Tumhare baare mein jaanne ke liye mujhe kisise puchne ki zaroorat nahi hai, mera dil hi mujhe bata deta hai. Tum kitne dinon se yahan ho? Aur mujhse milne kyon nahi aaye? Phone bhi nahi kiya...
Sameer: Naina, tum jao yahan se. Mujhe tumse toh kya kisise nahi milna.
Naina was astonished but confused at the same time. How come Sameer would tell her to leave, show no excitement after seeing her?
Naina: Kya hua hai Sameer? Aise kyon bol rahe ho? Mujhse milna nahi chahte? Kya mujhse koi galati hui hai? Kya meine kuch galata kaha ya kiya?
Sameer: Though he felt bad that he talked to her such, he continued: Nahi Naina, tumse koi galati nahi hui. Galati toh mujhse hui jo tumhare pyar mein pad gaya, aisa nahi hona chahiye tha...par ab sab theek karoonga mein...tum jao yahan se aur aajke baad na mujhse milna, na hi phone karna.
Naina was devastated hearing such words but was adamant to find the reason behind it: Nahi Sameer, mein yahan se tab tak nahi jaungi jab tak tum mujhe batate nahi ki kya hua hai? Zaroor koi baat hai. Suddenly something struck her. Matlab MP jaante hai ki tum yahan ho par unhone mujhe nahi bataya...aur iski wajah yeh badla hua bartaav hai...Now she was even more determined to find the reason for his strange behavior, which MP knew but had purposely kept it from her, and hence, were avoiding her since several days. Her feeling was right, something was wrong with Sameer, they knew it but didn't want to hurt her and so, hadn't shared it with her.
Naina: Zaroor koi badi baat hai Sameer, ab toh mujhe jaanna hai. Tum mujhse aisa bartaav kyon kar rahe ho? Kitne dinon se koi phone nahi kiya, meine phone kiya toh kabhi phone par nahi aaye, chiththiyon ka jawab bhi theek se nahi dete aur ab mujhse milna bhi nahi chahte. Aur agar tum bahut dinon se yahan ho toh tumhari chiththiyaan Delhi se kaise aa rahi hai? Matlab tumne jaan bujkar nakli chithiyan bhijwayi, isiliye un mein Sameer wali baat nahi thi...aisa lagta hi nahi tha ki tumne meri chiththi padhne ke baad jawab mein likhi ho. Aisa lagta hai kisi standard chitthi ki xerox copies aa rahi thi.
Sameer: Dekho Naina, mujhe tumse koi behes nahi karni aur nahi kisi baare mein baat karni hai. Hamare beech mein jo kuch bhi tha, use bhool jao, aaj se sab khatam. Mein toh sirf Ahmedabad mein tha isiliye tumhare saath time paas kar raha tha. Ab Delhi jaane ke baad mera mann badal gaya hai, ab tumse dosti karne mein mujhe koi interest nahi hai.
His heart ached to say such things to Naina, he wished his tongue would slice in a thousand pieces before uttering words that would break her heart again. But he had to say these words and be rude to her or else, she would never relent and let him go from her life, which according to him was the only way to ensure her safety and well-being.
Naina couldn't believe what she was hearing. After their love confession, Sameer had never gotten angry on her, lest yell or be rude and here he was saying such hurtful things. How dare he say their relationship was time pass. Some strong emotion welled up inside her and she came forward and gave him a tight slap.
Sameer was aghast and Naina was super angry.
Naina: Tumhe yeh thappad mujhe usi din maarna chahiye tha jab pehli baar tumhari shart ke baare mein pataa chala. Tum hamesha sab kuch khud hi kaise decide kar lete ho? Time pass? Mein tumhare liye time pass hoon? Hamare rishte se tumhara mann bhar gaya hai? Ab tumhe hamari dosti ki zaroorat nahi hai? Yeh sirf dosti nahi hai Sameer, hamare rishta usse bahut aage nikal gaya hai. Hum pyar karte hai na ek dusre se... toh aise rishte mein, do log hote hai, toh saare faisle tum akele nahi le sakte. Tum khatm karna hai par mujhe nahi. Mujhe jaanna hai ki achanak iss badlav ki wajah kya hai kyonki mujhe tumhari aakhon mein abhi bhi apne liye pyaar dikhta hai, isliye yeh toh taiy hai ki tum mujhse pyar karte ho, aur itna bharosa hai tumpar ki chahe hamare shehron mein kitni bhi duriyan ho, dilon mein duriyan nahi aa sakti. Mujhe pura yakeen hai ki koi aur ladki bhi nahi hai tumhari zindagi mein, kyonki tumhare dil mein sirf mein hoon.
Sameer was jubilant that she knew him in and out so well and her unshakeable faith in him. She didn't need his words to read his heart but he kept this feeling to himself. He wasn't angry that she had slapped him, he deserved much more for what he was making her go through, but this short-lived pain would bring her future happiness, and so he decided to use the slap as the final straw to end their relationship. He put up his angry faade.
Sameer: Naina...tumhari himmat kaise hui mujhe thappad maarne ki. Tumhare inhi mood swings ki wajah se mujhe tumse irritation hoti hai, kabhi galati se haath pakad liya toh thappad (the time when he first tried to hold her hand after Romeo Juliet play and she wriggled free accidentally slapping him), kabhi chu liya toh gussa, aur aaj fir thappad. Tum samajhti kya ho khudko, sati Savitri ho toh apne ghar mein bandh hokar raho. Mein modern type ka ladka hoon, agar ladki ke saath dosti karoon toh rishte mein kuch chuth chahiye hoti hai, tumhare jaisi behenji se bore chuka hoon. Ab jaao yahan se.
Naina smirked coz she knew he was lying through his teeth, more than half the girls in school drooled over him, the most famous was Kamya who had thrown herself at him during the friend's movie date at her place and he had waded off her advances, another was Varun jijaji's sister, who buzzed around him during the whole wedding but he had eyes only for her.
Sameer saw this: Tum aise nahi manogi, ab tumhe apne ghar se nikalna padega. He moved forward, held her wrist, pulled her with him, and jerked her outside the door in the garden. Ab tumhe samajh aa gaya hoga ki mujhe tumse koi rishta nahi rakhna. Dafaa ho jao meri zindagi se. He turned to go inside when he heard her.
Naina: Tum chahte ho ki mein tumhari zindagi se chali jaaon? Theek hai, dekhte hai! Ab yaa toh jaise mera haath pakad ke mujhe bahar fenk diya, waise hi haath pakdakar andar le jaaoge ya fir yahan khade khade meri jaan nikal jaayegi, fir apne aap hi mein tumhari zindagi se chali jaoongi. Agar Sameer Maheshwari ziddi hai, toh tumhe ab tak toh yeh samajh mein aa hi gaya hoga, ki Naina Agarwal bhi dheeth hai!
Sameer knew her well, he wanted to take her back, hug her and never let go but was sure, she would get angry eventually with his rude behavior and leave in a short while. This anger would help her to overcome him and move forward.
He went inside and shut the door leaving Naina standing in the garden. He came to his room, sat on his study table, with head in hands and cried his heart out. He had managed to pull his worst behavior infront of the one he loved the most dearly in the world. After Nanu, she was the only one left for whom he could move heaven and earth to bring a smile on her face and today he had filled her heart with desolation and eyes with tears. But her safety was worth a life time of his heartache to live without her love and care, her essence engulfing him whenever she was close, basking in the glory of her deep-rooted feelings only for him. He banged the table and his diary fell down, in which he wrote poems. He picked it and read the one that Naina had read first time in Mt. Abu, the pride for his talent evident in her eyes. He hugged the diary to his heart as it had Naina's touch on it and bent his head and cried more. He lovingly picked up a pen and fondly remembered how she had wanted to share her good luck with him during exams but he hadn't taken it, rather left it on the desk to convey that he was angry with her, but no one knew that he had later picked it up and placed it in his bag. Even Naina was unaware of it, how much he was humbled by her gesture. Then, his eyes fell on something jutting out from under his Almirah, a bright speck of color. He wiped his tears, got up and went to pull it out. After tugging some, it came free in his hands and he was pleasantly surprised to see "Sameer sang Naina card, which he had made for her long back. He opened it and all those memories came flooding back, the time he spent with her, in her house, during Pujadi's wedding. He wanted to drown in those memories forever as now only those were going to be his solace for the rest of the life. He immediately got up and rummaged in his almirah drawer and pulled out three ladies handkerchiefs. One she had given him to clean his shirt when she accidentally splashed ink on him, the other one was in Mt. Abu to wipe his tears when he was cutting tons of onions, and the third when she had bandaged his hand in school. He had never returned either of those. Then, he also pulled out the sweater she had made for him. Out of everything he got from her, this sweater was most special, since she had woven it for him painstakingly and that was when he realized the depth of her love and his own overwhelming feelings for her though he had voiced them much later.
He was unaware of the passage of time, when a shrill phone ring jolted him out from his journey down the memory lane. He was deciding whether or not to attend the call as now all those he wanted to hide from already knew he was here including Naina. If she was calling he would slam it hard conveying his disinterest or his mom might be calling to check on him too. He wiped his tears and got up to pick the phone and said Hello.
A familiar voice rejoiced at the other end: Jijajiii...Toh Naina sahi thi, aapko pakad hi liya usne...Aap toh bilkul Eid ka chaand ho gaye the...chalo achcha hai, ab sab theek hoga... then she came back to why she had called. "Naina kab nikli wahan se? Andhera ho gaya hai aur baarish bhi tez ho rahi hai, kahi raaste mein atak na gayi ho?
Sameer in his usual habit was about to call her saaliji but stopped himself and said: Naina toh...just then his gaze followed outside the window as the rain and strong winds were thumping hard on the windowpanes. But the sight appalled him. Absent-mindedly he said, "Naina mere saath hai, baarish ruk jaayegi toh ghar chod dunga. He hung and hurriedly ran outside in the hall, threw the door open and rushed to the garden.
Preeti was surprised at his tone and behavior but she thought the couple wanted some alone time and if they were together, there was no reason to worry about Naina. She shrugged her shoulders and placed the phone back.
Sameer: Naina...tum ab tak yahi ho? Itni baarish mein yahan kyon khadi ho? Ghar kyon nahi gayi?
Naina was drenched completely and was now shivering due to the cold winds. The wet clothes were plastered to her body accentuating all her curves and rendering her more or less transparent. Sameer's gaze turned intense but he controlled his raging hormones as for now he had to first see to her well-being and then convince her to leave him.
Naina: Jab tak mein tumahre rukhe bartaav ki wajah nahi jaan leti, mein kahi nahi jaaongi and she hugged her arms to wade off some cold unsuccessfully.
Sameer: Naina, yeh kya pagalpan hai? Achcha ab andar chalo, puri bheeg gayi ho, beemar ho jaogi...baarish ruk jaaye toh chali jana.
Naina: Nahi Sameer, mein ya toh tumhari zindagi mein rahoongi ya to iss duniya se jaaongi.
Sameer: Naina, yeh kaisi zidd hai, andar chalo.
She shook her head and stood her ground. Sameer was exasperated that he had made the most tough decision of his life for her safety and here she was risking her health due to her stubbornness. Finally, seeing no recourse, he held her wrist the same way as before and pulled her inside with him. Naina gave a triumphant smirk behind his back and thought.
He left her in the hall and came back with a couple of towels and some clothes.
Sameer: Yeh towel lo aur ponch lo, bahut bheeg gayi ho. Aur yeh kuch kapde hai...mere! Iss ghar mein koi aurat nahi rehti na toh ladkiyon ke kapde nahi hai. Nanu ke kapde tumhe nahi aayenge, waise bhi kuch kurte aur dhoti hai, Mummy apna jyaada saaman yahan nahi rakhti, isiliye mere kuch shirts aur t-shirts hai, isi mein se jo pasand ho pehen lo...He was embarrassed to offer his clothes but she was drenched and shivering violently, so change was necessary before she took ill like his mom. He directed her to the guest room.
After a few minutes, he had changed and was waiting for her in the hall, when she came out wearing his peach colored full-sleeved shirt, which drew just below her knees. She had not worn his pants or trousers. Although he was used to seeing her in knee-length school uniform and house dresses, she looked ethereal in his shirt. Something tingled in his gut and a wave of possessiveness ensconced him. She was wearing his clothes and only she had the right to share his things and only he had the right to see her like this. He couldn't imagine that after she would leave from here, she would move on in life without him and then some day, she might be standing like this in front of another guy, her boyfriend or husband. The feeling scorched his heart and brain; he could feel himself going up in flames with the mere thought of some one else this close to her. He was fighting his confusing emotions, one moment he wanted to keep her far away from himself, but the moment, the thought of someone even remotely close to her churned his gut. Before he could reign his feelings, Naina came to him. She was slightly shy but comfortable in his clothes and a feeling of "My Sameer only washed over her. She knew she was not leaving here today without cementing their relationship for a lifetime, whatever she might have to face and endure for it now and later.
Sameer saw her walking towards him and turned away murmuring loudly: Tum baitho, mein chai laata hoon, thodi garmi aa jaayegi.
Naina caught his hand: Tumhe toh coffee pasand hai na... mere pyar mein tum chai peene lag gaye, aur mein tumahri wajah se coffee pasand karne lag gayi, aur tum mujhe jaane ke liye keh rahe ho. She tugged him and made him sit on the nearby sofa and bent down and sat on her knees and toes in front of him. She took his hand in hers.
Naina: Saamer hum alag nahi ho sakte, hum toh kabke jud chuke hai, ek ho chuke hai! Agar koi pareshani hai, koi baat tumhe sataa rahi hai, toh batao...Mein tumhe apne mann ki saari baatein batati hoon, tum bhi bata sakte ho. Hum har mushkil ka samna milkar karenge.
Sameer had already started crying and tears ran down his cheeks. She loved him so much and she was his life, he didn't want anything to happen to her but now he was helpless seeing her so devoted to him. His resolve to stay from her was already crumbling, and when she placed both her hands on his and squeezed gently, he came undone and started weeping. She let him shed his unspent tears, couldn't stop her own, but controlled herself. She knew something was bothering him deeply, she had to help him get it out of his system, open up to her, so that he could let it go. She had to be his pillar of strength right now and could not afford to break down.
Sameer: Naina, mein tumse bahut pyar karta hoon aur tumse durr nahi reh sakta, par rehna padega. Mein nahi chahta ki meri wajah se tumhe kuch bhi ho jaaye.
Naina: Jab pyar kate hai toh durr kyon rahenge? Aur tumhari wajah se mujhe kuch bhi kyon hone laga? He couldn't utter another word but she wasn't going to relent. "Bolo Sameer.
Sameer: Naina, mein unlucky child hoon, mera saaya un sab ke liye manhoos hai jo mujhse pyar karte hai ya jinse mein pyar karta hoon. Wo sab iss duniya se chale jaate hai. Pehle mere papa, fir Nanu, fir Mummy ki tabiyat itni kharab ho gayi ki mein darr gaya tha unhe kuch ho na jaye, isliye mein Delhi se yahan aa gaya, taaki wo safe rahe. Meine MP se bhi keh diya ki mujhse durr rahe. Ab meri life mein sirf tum sab se important ho, isliye mein chahta hoon ki tum mujhse durr raho, agar tumhe kuch ho gaya, toh tumahar Sameer mar jaayega. And he started crying again.
Naina was confused and more so appalled that her strong and flamboyant Sameer, who had grown so much in love believed in such nonsense and was acting worse than a child.
Naina: Sameer, yeh sab tumse kisne keh diya? Aisa sab kuch nahi hota. Yeh sab bakwas hai.
Sameer: Nahi naina, mera saath yeh sab hua hai na... meine papa aur Nanu ko kho diya. Dadi sahi kehti hai, mein manhoos hoon.
Now Naina understood where all this garbage was coming from. She had to take a stand and act the matured one here. Sameer had assumed the role several times when situations called for, whether it was standing up to her papa, fighting with the bet guys, manaoing her, fixing her family issues or taking care of his siblings when his mother was ill (Munna had already given this as one the excuses for Sameer being busy that he was tending to his sick mother and caring for younger siblings in the absence of other family members, well at least that much was true). She had already disliked the Dadi when she had shooed her away not allowing to meet with Sameer. But now she lost the respect for her that she would have towards an elder. How could such an experienced elderly manipulate someone so young and vulnerable. She was determined to fix this. No one, absolutely no one was going to jinx her Sameer.
Naina: She wiped his tears. Dekho Sameer...zindagi ki na kuch sacchahiyan hoti hai, jo hum jitna bhi chahe badal nahi sakte. Tumhe pate hai, mere paida hote hi meri mummy guzar gayi, aur papa ne mujhse muh fer liya, shayad isliye ki mein ladki thi. Fir chachaji-chachiji ne meri zindagi mein maa-baap ki jagah le li, kabhi unki kami mehsoos nahi hone di. Par Taiji bachpan se kehti aayi hai, mein parivaar par boj hoon, jali hui kundali lekar paida hui hoon, paida hote hi apni ma ko kha gayi, mere papa ke paas meri shadi ke liye dahej nahi hai, toh kisi raah chalte ke haath mein mera haath de denge, mein badsoorat dikhti hoon, aur na jaane kya kya. Sameer was shaking his head vehemently denying all the accusations tayiji seemed to haul towards Naina at every opportunity or even without one.
Naina continued. Kuch baatein toh tumne bhi suni hai, par kya tumhara pyar mere liye kum hua? Nahi na...kya tumhe kabhi yeh darr laga ki jo ladki paida hote hi apni ma ko kha gayi, kahi tumahri zindagi barabaad na kar de? Tumhari Jeevan mein manhoosiyat na bhar de? He again shook his head. Nahi na? Agar yeh sach hota toh fir tumahre Nanaji ke jaane wajah bhi toh mein hi honi chahiye na, jis din meine tumhe I love you kaha, hum ek huye, toh kuch din mein Nanaji chale gaye.
Sameer gripped her hand tight as he could not accept Naina blaming herself for his Nanu's death. Nanu himself had accepted, loved, and blessed them as a couple.
Naina: Sameer, ek baar chachiji ke saath ek pravachan mein gayi thi. Waise toh bore hota hai, par kuch sachchi baatein ssekhi. Mrityu Jeevan ka atal satya hai. Jo bhi iss duniya mein aata hai, use ek na ek din jaana padta hai. Fir chahe wo meri mummy ho, tumahre papa ya Nanaji. Ek na ek din toh mujhe aur tumhe bhi iss duniya se jaana padega. Sabke aane aur jane ka waqt bhagwanji taiy karte hai, kisike grah nakshatra ya manhoos saaya nahi. Toh kya hum jeena chod de? Hansna chod de? Khush rehna chod de?
Chachaji kehte hai ki jab tak hum iss duniya mein hai, hume apne parivaar, rishtedaron, aur doston ke saath hansi khushi aur pyar se rehna chahiye. Insaan duniya mein akela aur rota hua aata hai par zindagi bhar mein kayi rishte bana leta hai. Uske jaane par, uski yaadein logon ki aakhon mein aansoon de jaaye, tohi uska Jeevan sarthak hota hai. Pyar aur parivaar ke bina koi nahi jee sakta.
Aur chalo maan lete hai ki tum aur mein manhoos hai...toh kya? iss duniya mein sabse zyaada hum ek dusre se pyar karte hai. Toh jitna bhi waqt hamare paas hai, use ek dusre ke saath Khushi se bitaye ya ek dusre se durr rehkar dukhi hokar, ro rokar bitaye...Bolo Sameer... Reh sakte ho mujhse durr, bina mujhe dekhe, mujhse mile, baat kiye? Mein toh nahi reh sakti...Humara rishta toh kabka jud chuka hai hamesha ke liye...agar alag hona likha hota toh kayi mauke aaye the, kabke alag ho jaate.
Socho Sameer...Tum convent mein padhe ho, itne bade sheher mein, iss Hindi medium school mein hi padhne kyon aaye? Tumhe Pehle din hi jhagda karta dekh meine hi tumhari shikayat ki, tum school se bhi nikale gaye, fir bhi wapas aa gaye, kyon? Mujhe vanasthali mein admission mil gaya tha par form hi nahi pahucha aur mera jaana cancel ho gaya, kyon? Kabhi jhooth na bolnewali Naina ne tumhe cigarette peene ki sazaa se kyon bacha liya? Paper chori ke samay bhi tumhe school se nikalne ke badle, sirf cricket pe ban laga, kyon? Jab shart wali baat khuli, tab toh sabse achcha mauka tha, mein khud tumse durr jaana chahti thi, par tum mujhse maafi maangne ke liye mere peeche pade rahe, kyon? Arjun bhaiyaa ko chot lagi, toh papa ne pura intezaam kar diya tha tumhe school se nikalne ka, par sazaa mein tum mere ghar mein aa gaye, kyon? Nanji ke jaane ke baad tum Dehi chale gaye, kayi baar koshish karke bhi hum nahi mile par hamare beech duriyan nahi aayi, kyon? Aur abhi, tum mujhse durr jana chahte the na, toh Delhi se Ahmedabad aaneke bajay tum wapas Nainital ya kisi aur sheher, kisi hostel mein nahi gaye, yahan aa gaye, mere paas, kyon?
Sameer...hamari kismet ne hume pataa chalne se pehle hi hume jod diya hai, aur mujhe hamare pyar par bharosa hai, ki hum hamesha saath rahenge...Aur tum toh apni Naina ko jaante ho na, jo than leti hai, jab tak use pura nahi karti, chain se nahi baithti...toh tum chahe jitni koshish karlo mujhse durr jaane ki, mein toh wapas aa hi jaaongi aur tumhare rehte mere saath kuch bura nahi ho sakta...Agar aisa hona hota toh aaj ki hi baat le lo, tumhari nazar khidki par nahi padti tou mein bahar thand mein thithoor kar mar jaati...
Sameer immediately put his hand on her mouth and shook his head.
Sameer: Nahi Naina...mein tumahri baat samajh gaya, Dadi ki baton se man mein wehem baith gaya tha. Mummy ne bhi kaha that hi yeh sab bakwas hai, par mujhe laga agar unki baat mein thodi bhi sachchayi hui toh mein tumhe khone ka risk nahi le sakta...
Naina: Now firmly, maut ke darr se jeena nahi chod sakte Sameer. Pyar mein ek dusre ka haath thaamkar jeene mein hi zindagi ka asli mazaa hota hai aur mein tumahre bina nahi jeena chahti.
Sameer now finally convinced with Naina's logic, smiled through his tears. "Mummy ne sahi kaha tha ki Ahmedabad mein meri nayi aur achchi zindagi mera intezaar kar rahi hai!
Naina also smiled seeing him finally smile and his fears finally uprooted.
Sameer: Thank you Naina, tum hamesha mujhe kuch na kuch seekha hi deti ho...Thank you meri life mein aane ke liye, mujhe itna pyaar karne ke liye, meri itni parvaah karne ke liye, hamesha mera saath dene ke liye aur mujhe kabhi na chodne ke liye. Finally, he got up with a renewed vigor to face life with Naina by his side.
Naina was overwhelmed and with a sudden urge wrapped her hands around his waist and placed her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beating wildly as these feelings were new to him too. He was surprised as Naina almost never touched him, but she had grown so much in his love and came to trust him so much that she had no inhibitions hugging him. He too wrapped his hands around her and placed his cheek on her head. Time passed away while two lovers were cuddled into each other with the ecstatic feeling of finally being together.
Naina: Sameer...
Sameer: hmmm...
Naina: Delhi mein jo bhi hua, jo tumne chithiyon mein nahi likha, wo sab mujhe bataoge?
Sameer realized that finally he was not alone in life. Now someone cared about him and would always be there for him. God had finally granted him his personal miracle and he no longer needed to carry all the burdens on his own and fight his battles and inner turmoils. He could share everything with his angel without any reservations. Finally, he opened up about his life starting from the beginning of when his mom left him in the hostel for the first time, Nanu's death when she was away, all about Delhi and Dadi. He apologized for smoking, drinking, and getting involved with the wrong guys and promised that would never ever happen again. Then, he also told her about his improved bonding with mom and siblings and how his Nanu and mom wished that he take up the responsibility of business, prove his mettle as Sameer Jaiprakash Maheshwari and that he was scared and skeptical about it.
Naina lovingly held his hands and looked him in the eye: Mein jaanti hoon Sameer ki itne bade business ki zimmedari lena bahut bada faisla hai, padhayi ke saath saath business sambhalna aasan nahi hoga, mushkilon toh aayengi, musibaton ka samna bhi karna padega. Then playfully she added: Par mein apne Sameer ko achche se jaanti hoon...Sameer Maheshwari kabhi nahi haarta, fir chahe wo Naina se I love you bulvane ki shart ho, uska dila jeetna ho, uske bikhre parivar ko jodna ho, Safari suit se ulajhna ho, Delhi mein Dadi ki wig nikalna ho ya Keshav ko darana ho...Sameer sab kuch kar sakta hai. Sameer pursed his lips but smiled at the fond memories. Aur fir yeh toh Nanaji ki aakhri khwahish puri karne ki baat hai, Sameer peeche kaise hatt sakta hai...
Sameer with his usual swag: Sahi keh rahi ho Naina, mummy chahti thi ki mein waqt lekar sochu, par ab meine faisla kar liya hai... Mein Sameer Maheshwari se Sameer Jaiprakash Mehswari banke dikhaunga. Jab Nanu ka aashiward, Mummy ka saath aur meri Naina ka pyar mere paas ho, toh mein sab kuch kar sakta hoon.
Naina knew that finally her Sameer was back with a swag and she was always going to be by his side.
P.S. Phew!!! This was the longest one, took me almost four hours to complete it. This is the last part to this story, hope you guys like my point of view to the end of our not-so-favorite manhoosiyat track. & this was my first time writing anything intimate. Hope it came out ok!
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