6.

They were sitting by the lake at there usual spot, watching the sunset peacefully, in close proximity.

"Aaj kuch puchogi nahi" he asks her.

"Hmm... Puchna to bahot kuch hai, magar kya aap jawab denge?" She asks with uncertainty.

He held her hand looking at her face "jo puchna hai pucho... Tumhe sabhi hak hai".

She smiles at first then becomes serious "aap ke.... Aur....  Abhimanyu ke  beech kya problem hai" she saw his face getting hard "wo to apke bhai hai na".

He left her hand and turns his face away "bhai nahi hai wo mera" his voice getting stern "aj ke baad kabhi bhi usey mera bhai mat kehna...".

"Huh...." She was confused "magar academy me sab... To unhe apka..." She was interrupted in between.

"Mere baap ki bewafai ki nishani hai wo, unki aiyyashi ka nateeja.... najayaz aulaad hai unki wo" he said shivering in anger, she felt scared feeling his intensity.

"He and his mother was the reason of my broken family.... Un maa bete ki wajah se.... Ajj" his eyes started to moist "aj meri... Meri maa zinda nahi hai...... Meri maa ne.... Zindagi bhar, khoon ke ansu bahaye hai...... Mere baap ki bewafai ko bardasht kia hai .... Unhi ki wajah se mein aisa hu.... Cold and brute" he said gritting his teeths.

Naina puts her hand on his shoulder, he looks at her with defeat... She blinks her eyes at him in assurance, he wrapped his arms around her holding her tight trying to hide himself in her embrace.

"Let it all out Rajveer, am here for you...." She soothes him.. rubbing his back with all love.

He gets apart from her but still holding her "mein 7 saal ka tha jab... Jab ek din achanak baba Abhimanyu ko ghar le aye the.. uss aurat ke sath. Abhimanyu or mein same age ke hi the.. Mein bahot khush hua ki mujhe ek bhai mil gaya.. tab samjh nahi aya bacha jo tha, lekin waqt ke sath sath sab samjh ata chala gaya.... Abhimanyu ka har waqt baba ke sath rehna.. unko khush karna mujhse compete karna... Maa ka.chup chup ke rona... Uss aurat ka baba ko dekh kar baar baar muskurana .. sab samajh ane laga" his eyes started to turn red.

"baba to jaise andhe hi ho gaye... Unhe nazar hi nahi ata ki wo maa bete bechare ban ne ka natak karte hai unke agey mujhe nicha dikhate hai, my so called father use to say to my mother ki Abhimanyu was a mistake which he did once when he was posted on a mission... wo apni responsibilities se bhagna nahi chahte the isiliye unhe Barmer le aye..... that man claims to love my mother or dusri taraf uss aurat ke sath..." He couldn't complete his words, naina was feeling his helplessness.

"Maa ki bebasi dekhi nahi jati thi... Aur na hi un maa bete ki man marzi.... Or mujhse meri lachari bardasht nahi hoti thi... Isiliye I found the best route... And that was an escape... Meine sharab ka sahara liya apni..  apni maa ke dukh ko bhulane ke liye... Fir meine ladai jhagda shuru kar diya un maa bete ki frustation nikalne ke liye... Uske baad the ultimate step, I surrendered myself I'm the arms of other women's to forget everything... Lekin kuch kam nahi aya naina... Kuch bhi nahi, mein jaha tha wahi ka wahi reh gaya.. kuch bhi nahi badla" he wipes his tears, Naina's heart was break seeing him getting shattered like this.

"Din par din badtameez hota gaya mein... Jo mein khul kar nahi kar pata tha wo mein sareaam karne laga... Abhimanyu or uski maa ko nicha dikhane laga.. mann ki bhadas nikalne laga.. baba ki nazro mein bigdail ban gaya or iss baat ka fayeda Abhimanyu ne uthaya baba ki nazar me chadhta chala gaya... Or mere rawaiye ka blame unhone maa ko diya, ki unki wajah se mein aisa bana... Kyunki wo sirf apne aap me gum rahi or mujhpe dhyan hi nahi de payi" he chuckled sarcastically.

"Kal tak maa ke dukh ka karan unke pati the or aaj mein bhi ban gaya tha... " He looks sadly at sky " Mein apne nashe or aiyyashi mein dhut tha... Ki mujhe dikha hi nahi ki meri maa kitne dukh or takleef mein hai...she was fighting cancer from last two years alone..... All alone" she gasped at this revelation, he cried.

"Kisi ko unki takleef nahi dikhi... Mujhe bhi nahi... Unhone kisi ko batane layak bhi nahi smajha, lekin mein unke sath rehna chahta tha...unhe ek akhri khushi dena chahta tha... Maa ne mujhse waada liya, ki mein sab kuch chhod apni zindagi ko naye tarike se jeeyunga... sabhi buri adate chhod dunga... Or uss wade ko lene ke baad she left, she left me alone...." He closed his eyes in pain "or sabse maze ki baat janti ho kya hua" she urges him to continue.

"Meri maa ko mare ek mahina bhi nahi hua tha.... Or uss admi ne.... That so called sperm doner of mine, married that witch.. jaisi isi intezar me baithe ho ki kab maa unke raste se hate aur wo unki jagah le ley....." He punched the ground in frustation.

"Lekin uss din meine ek aur waada kiya, apne aap se.... Ki chahe jo bhi ho jaye, mein apne hak ki ladai ladunga... Jo mera hai usey mujhse koi nahi cheen sakta.... I am the only and legal prince of Barmer, wo jagah meri hai or meri hi rahegi... Usi din meine army join karne ka faisla liya.... Un maa bete ko laga ki maa ke jane ke baad mein tut jaunga...or shayad sab chhod kar kahi dur chala jaunga.. lekin hua unki soch se ulat..." His eyes blazing fire which she never saw before.

"Meri maa ki maut ne mujhe todne ki jagah mujhe aur takat di... Baba mere faisle se khush the, or ye dekh un maa bete ka plan kharab hone laga isiliye, Abhimanyu ne bhi mere sath army join karne ka faisla kiya to impressn baba, like always he wanted to compete" he was getting back to his self, the arrogance and confidence were reviving in him.

"Yahi meri zindagi ki sacchai hai...ab  Na kuch sach baki raha na hi koi jhut... Mein yahi hu.. all naked from soul in front of you" he said gazing at her, she can feel his pain and misery, it was hurting her too in the process... Without replying anything she came near him and places her lips on his, Letting them linger them on his. He felt stress leaving his body.

***O Humnava mujhe apna bana le
Sookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de, hmm.. hoon akela, zara haath badha de. Sookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de****

She parted back after giving him a peck "mein hamesha apke sath hu" she  took his hand in hers "like rock solid" he smiles at her and hugs her back getting overwhelmed with her response as he could see honesty and respect in them and not pity, finally he found his peace in her arms.

***Kab se main dar dar phir raha
Musaafir dil ko panaah de
Tu awaargi ko meri aaj thehra de
Ho sake toh thoda pyaar jataa de
Sookhi padi iss dil ki zameen ko bhiga de****

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Rajveer and naina were talking sitting on stairs when he saw Nandini Passing from there without giving them a look.

He turns to Naina " naina mein hamesha tumhare sath hu" he held her hand she smiled "magar insan ko apne hak ki ladai khud ladni padti hai... Agar kabhi aisa waqt aya.. to piche mat hatna, jo tumhara hai uske liye apni jee Jaan Laga kar ladna".

She places her hand on his "jo mera hai usey mujhse koi cheen hi nahi sakta hai, duniya ki koi takat usey mujhse alag nahi kar sakti hai jispe mera hak ho..." She assures him, he smiled.

"Saturday ko mere sath chalogi bahar..? Date par" he asked bluntly.

She was surprised "aap bhul rahe hai mein first year ki student hu.. hume itni freedom nahi jitni final year ke students hai ..".

"Or tum shayad ye bhul rahi ho ki mein Rajveer hu, jo chahta hu wo karke hi rehta hai... Tum bas Haan kaho, baki me dekh lunga" he said getting back into his orignal self.

"Meine kabhi apko naa kaha hai jo aj kahungi..." He smiled at her reply.

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

She was sitting against a tree his head laying on her lap. Her fingers tangled in his hairs.. massaging them softly, His eyes closed.. relishing the moment of peace.

***Murjhaayi si shaakh pe dil ki, Phool khilte hain kyun, Baat gulon ki zikr mehak ka, acha lagta hai kyun, Un rango se tune milaaya, Jinse kabhi main mill na paaya***

"Mere bare me to tumne sab kuch jaan liye magar Tumne kabhi apni family ke bare me kuch nahi bataya" he asked still lying.

"Chota sa parivaar hai mera... Bahot hi normal or simple si life jeete hai hum.. just like any other normal middle class family.... Baba Government employee, maa house wife or bhaiya.. wo army officer hai.. unhi se inspire hokar to mein army me ayi, jaise koi bhi typical behen apne bade bhai se hoti hai" she said feeling proud.

"Tumhare bhaiya bhi hai....wo bhi army officer" his eyes snapped open.

"Kyu... Apko dar lag raha hai, mere bhaiya se... Jo ki apke senior bhi huye" she said teasing him.

He puts his hand behind her neck and brings her face closer "darta to mein duniya mein kisi se bhi nahi hu... Meine koi galat kaam nahi kiya hai... Jiska mujhe dar ho.. to fir tumhare bhai se ghabrana kaisa?" He said with confidence not even an ounce of fear was there.

She kissed his forehead "achi baat hai... But bhaiya na mujhe lekar bahot strict hai.. pata nahi kaisa react karenge" she wondered in nervousness.

"Uski chinta tum mat karo... Ache acho ko handle karna ata hai mujhe.. tumhare bhai ko bhi kar lunga... Tum bas mujhpe concentrate karo" he said closing his eyes again.

She laughed a little started ruffling his hairs, his heart fluttered hearing her laugh. It always gives him strange kind of strength to fight. She bring colours in his dull and meaningless life. He is in peace after years, all because of her, and he never wants to loose this tranquility.

***Dil karta hai tera shukriya, Phir se bahaare tu laa de, Dil ka soona banjar mehka de, Sukhi padi dil ki is zameen ko bhigade***

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

"Ye jagah.. bahot achi hai" she smiled sitting on her chair in an open restaurant, it was nothing extravagant but still it was beautiful.. fairy lights around them, they can enjoy natural air... She was feeling comfortable here.

"mujhe malum tha.. tumhe ye jagah pasand ayegi.. simple and sober, na ki koi 5 star hotel ka restaurant..." He said looking her.

"Or apko itna yakeen kaise tha ki mujhe yehi jagah pasand ayegi... Ladkio ko to high figh jagahe zyada pasand hoti hai..." She said testing him.

"Tum bahot simple ho naina just like my mother, or Zahir si baat hai tumhari pasand bhi simple hi hogi... Itna to mein tumhe jaan hi gaya hu.." he said intensely looking at her.

She looks down in shyness "meri har pasand simple nahi hai" she said looking at him from the corner of her eyes. "Kuch bahot keemti or khaas hai" her eyes glittered when she was looking at him. He was at the loss of words, his heart flipped at her statement, he never felt like this before...

***Waise toh mausam guzre hain
Zindagi mein kayi, Par ab naa jaane kyun mujhe wo, Lag rahe hain haseen***

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

He started the ignition of his bike she sat behind him... Clutching him from around his waist. He smiled, she was hesitant at first when she came here... Now look at her, she seems so comfortable as if she is habitual of it.

She was enjoying the cool breeze touching her face and the most importantly his company.. his warmth  in this cool weather. It started to rain now.. he stopped his bike in a corner and pulls her with himself under a shelter.

He was running his finger in hairs to dry out water from them, when his gaze fell on her, she was playing with rain water... Extracting them in her palm then throwing it away.. giggling like a child. His body felt calm watching her behave carefree. Wind was flowing away her hairs disturbing his view..

He went closer...near her. He keeps her hairs aside behind her ear. , she looks at him her heart racing faster then a mischievous idea struck her... She gathers water in her palm and throws it playfully on face... She started giggling.

He looks at her sternly with serious expression which was enough to make her stop laughing.. she felt nervous and cursed herself for doing so... Seeing her expression, he couldn't stop himself and started to laugh. She too joined him in his laughter.

He went out in rain and pulls her in it also making her shock. "Mein tumhari wajah se jeene laga hoon... Or ab har pal ko jiyunga...tumhare sath" both getting drench in rain from head to toe, she felt overwhelmed and hugs him tight he too hugged her back fiercely as if his life depends on her.

***Tere aane par jaana maine
Kahin na kahin zinda hoon main
Jeene lagaa hoon main ab ye fizaayein
Chehre ko chhooti hawaayein****

He pulls her apart and cups her cheeks.. looking in her eyes finding the sign of any objection. When he found none he placed his lips on hers, her lips felt soft and tender against his. Her  arms automatically went behind his neck, pulling him closer.

He took her upper lip in his mouth sucking it softly, handling her delicately, it was her first proper kiss, it has to be perfect. She opens her mouth instinctively giving him further excess. His tongue rolled inside, tasting every corner of her mouth. She felt thankful of him as her knees was giving up with this new found sensation.

He was towering her hiding her from the harsh rain droplets. Water of rain escaping from his hairs and falling on her face. He deepened the kiss, their bodies pasted against eachother that he can even feel the curves of her body against his. They can hear their hearts beating loudly along with the sound of rain making the atmosphere more romantic.

He broke the kiss as they were feeling lack of oxygen. He looks at her red flushed face. Her eyes glowing and lips swollen... She too saw him in eyes with new desire.

***Inki tarah do kadam toh badha le
Sookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de, O.. hoon akela, zara haath badha de
Sookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de***

"I love you" both said at the same time. Smiling at their confession. It was sweet simple and memorable moment... Their love confession. He looks up at sky, thanking the mighty for bringing this light of hope in his life.