Now that all misunderstanding are cleared Naushad and Meher sigh in relief coincidentally together. Realization of it makes them to blush and laugh.

Naushad mustering all his courage says,

"Ye to hui meri story! Ab tum par atey hain!",

saying so he stares her.

Meher gets tensed. What is he about to ask now? Naushad senses her nervousness. Smiling lovingly, he nods his head, indicating her not to get nervous about anything.

"Mere barey mein?",

she asks hesitantly.

Naushad nods in affirmative, smiling, staring her.

"This is going to be personal! Too personal Meher! Meher main ek doctor ki tarah bhi puch raha hun aur....",

saying so, his stare on her turns more possessive.

Meher's heart skips a beat. Her breath hitches as she gets that look and she somehow understands what he is about to say or where this conversation is leading towards!

Staring her constantly, finding her nervousness adorable, Naushad continues,

"Ek dost ki tarah bhi!"

Meher understands dost isn't the apt word!

Meher staring him, blinks her eyes. They stare each other. His possessive look, creating havoc. Her heartbeat picks up pace. She could feel the warming up of her skin all over again. This is the effect of his mere look! What would be the effect of his upcoming words, which she somehow is sure won't be easy to reply to, she wonders!

But then earlier he assured her not to get nervous, right?

She nods her head slowly staring him throughout nervously.

Naushad understands that she is nervous about his question.

"How did you feel when it was being done to you?",

he asks her, staring her throughout to gauge her reaction.

Her heartbeat picks up pace. She stares him. She isn't shocked because somehow she could see it coming! In fact she is somewhat glad that he asked! But the magnitude of her nervousness is so high, that she couldn't exactly acknowledge her being glad about it. But the silent sigh makes Naushad to understand her situation perfectly! And he is glad that she didn't feel offended! He sighs in relief. Meher then wonders what took him this much time to come to this topic? Then she silently concludes - nervousness!

They both are shipping in the same boat - nervousness! Yet helping each other to get out of nervousness, that's the purity, the simplicity of their relationship.

Taking a deep breath, she takes her time to get into the situation once again, feel it! Till now she was trying to get away from the incident as much as possible. She was refraining to think about it. As each time she would think - her heartbeat would increase; she would go through anxiety; she would cry; she would feel the pain inflicted into her afresh! But when Naushad asked her about it; she of course got nervous initially about the fact that she'll have to torture herself again, but the fact that the end result of the torture would be a great relief; a mental satisfaction that he knows everything now, gave her all the courage she needed to open up in front of him. The fact that someone would know everything about it, gave her immense mental satisfaction already; a sense of security. Her mental trauma by the mere realization that she would share a secret, a dirty secret of hers with Naushad, she doesn't understand why gives her mental satisfaction. Finally she takes a deep breath ready to pour her heart out regarding the situation in front of him.

"Main jabse wahan gayi tabhi se mujhe sub kuch galat lag raha tha!",

she begins to share, shiver building up inside her gradually.

Naushad looks towards her, hearing her calmly.

Her voice shakes,

"Nahi rehna chahti thi wahan. Par ye bhi samjh rahi thi ke usse baat karna mere liye kitna zaruri hai, ye sub khatam karne ke liye. Isliye himmat karke wahan gayi. Wo jagah, wahan ke log... mujhe kuch acha nahi lag raha tha."

Naushad keeps his breathing rate under control, staring her throughout.

"Jab uske uss ghar ke ander gayi to wo bohot khush tha. Bohot ache se pesh aa raha tha.",

she says.

"Par main uske ander ke janwar se wakif thi. I didn't trust him much by then."

"Fir usne mujhe ek chair par baithne ko kaha aur mujhe.... mujhe drink offer kiya!",

she says, spitting venom through hee last four words, feeling disgusted.

Naushad knits his brows but remains quiet.

"Shuru mein theek se baat kar raha tha. Maine usse pucha ke usne kyun bulaya tha mujhe wahan. Usse mera usse theek se baat na karna pasand nahi aa raha tha, usne bataya mujhe."

Naushad's breathing rate increases a little.

"Fir usne kaha ke wo mujhse pyar karta hai....",

Meher lowers her voice at this, scared about his reaction to this line of hers.

Naushad places the tips of his fingers under her chin and forcing her to look into his eyes, he prompts,

"Kya kaha?"

Meher's heartbeat picks up pace. Why does he have to do this? Dictating all this is already too much for her and his forcing to say all that looking straight into his eyes is making it all the more difficult for her. After all she is not habitual to discussing such matters with you everyday Naushad, have some mercy on the poor soul!

She knows how it might affect Naushad, she herself is getting affected again, but in a different way this time. This time more than her hatred towards Irfan; it is her worry about how it is affecting Naushad and what might he end up doing if his anger increases!

"Kya kaha?",

he prompts again, looking straight into her eyes.

Meher nervously, looking into his eyes, dares to repeat her words,

"Ke wo mujhse pyaa...",

but before she could complete the line, his warm lips seal hers! It comes as a total surprise for Meher. At first she feels the pressure on her lips, this was because he was expecting a denial from her side. But her taken aback by the surprise freezes her body and mind for the first few seconds. Hence she neither denies; nor accepts. But as her mind starts accepting what's happening with her, she actually discovers that this is exactly what she had been craving for, for so long! As she starts enjoying it properly, reciprocating it, with her first moan, Naushad ends it! Making her to linger.... craving for him to complete what he started, what they started!

Meher's mind spins as his withdrawal comes as a surprise! Why did he do that she wonders? Her wet lips go dry within moments. Frustration fills her mind! Her skin cells tight. Her adrenaline rush high! But she is helpless here because she doesn't have guts to ask him to continue what he started, what they started!

Then suddenly she remembers how he doesn't deserve to be loved by a rape victim! Her mind turns 180 degrees! She starts scolding him silently, why did he touch her? He deserves much better than her!

"Ab karega?",

he asks her, challenging her.

Raising a brow he prompts her.

"I am sure ab nahi karega!",

smiles Naushad big, looking straight into her eyes.

"Par main... jo kuch bhi tumhare saath hua.... uske baad bhi karunga!!!!",

he declares, looking straight into her eyes.

They haven't confessed ever, he hasn't exactly confessed even yet, but they both know what they are talking about. And as long as they both understand their unuttered words, they need nothing else. No lovey-dovey words, no hundred assurances about how they love each other, nothing. All that that matters to them is their presence with each other. Their being together!

Slowly Meher nervously takes her hand towards his face but stops just around his right cheek out of hesitation.

Naushad understands her juzzbaat that she wants to touch him, but is nervous about the same. He never looking away from her, takes her hand and slowly places on his cheek, just where she craves to touch. He feels her hand. That's the first time she is touching him, mostly it is the other way around. She at least opening up gradually, that's a good sign, notes Naushad mentally.

She adjusts her hand properly on his cheek, her eyes constant on his cheek and his eyes constant on her, gauging her expressions and reactions. What is she up to, he wonders.

Her eyes gradually well up! And softly she asks, her eyes still transfixed on his cheek,

"Ammi ne bohot tez mara tha? Bohot dard hua?"

Her questions touch his heart. No many care to ask about his well being!

Smiling, staring her, he shakes his head into negative,

"Nahi. Kaho to abhi chalein tumhare ghar ek aur maar khane ke liye?"

Meher glares him jokingly.

This makes Naushad to laugh, throwing his head backwards. Meher laughs too silently.

Soon their laughter ends and they keep staring each other. Their smiles vanishing gradually. Their stares turning all the more possessive. Meher slowly bends into him and places a slow and sweet kiss just where he got slapped. Naushad feels it with his eyes closed. He doesn't move an inch to hold her; or get closer to her. He understands she is progressing, she is opening up slowly, he needs to have patience.

Doing so, she gets away a little and in a hushed voice, requests him,

"Hug me Naushad!!! Mujhse mere juzzbaatt aur nahi ruk rahein!!!",

her eyes well up.

"Pleaseeee....",

she pleads, looking into his eyes.

Her consent was all he needed, he enveloped her into a bone crushing hug. He knows that she has wounds throughout her body, but at this time he really needs this as much as she needs it! And he somehow knows that she wouldn't mind even it causes a little pain! And then he is a doctor, medicines are always at an arms length for him, isn't it?

After enjoying the hug, they slowly let go of each other.

"Tumne kaha tha you took my name! When did you take my name?",

he asks what he wanted to ask her since the moment he heard her saying so.

Blood drains out of Meher's place. She stares him in horror! How can she say that when?

"Kya hua? Batao!",

prompts Naushad.

"Main... wo...",

Meher fails to put her juzzbaatt into words, nervous.

Naushad knits his brows, unable to understand why is she nervous!

"Kya hua?",

asks Naushad, tensed.

Meher stares him, blushing, but not smiling.

"Naushad... when all that was happening... it was too much to endure... so darr, pain, gussa, helplessness, inn sub ka mixture whatever it was... it was getting difficult for me to endure everything...",

says Meher, ignoring to look towards Naushad, out of hesitation.

It's now that the realization dawns upon Naushad and he widens his eyes, blushing, lowering his eyes out of hesitation. Then looks back towards her sheepishly.

"Mujhe pata nahi chala ke mere emotions itne high kab ho gaye and I... I shouted your name!",

confesses Meher, her eyes lowered out of hesitation.

Naushad keeps staring her, knitting his brows while Meher keeps her head bowed. Unable to control himself any longer, he bursts out into a fit of laughter, throwing his head back. And how hard might he try he fails to stop himself from laughing.

Meher feels offended, how can he do that? He is making fun of her emotions, sitting right next to her?

She keeps staring him, knitting her brows, why would he laugh?

"I... I am sorry... shayad mujhe ye baat apse kehni nahi chahiye thi...",

she says hesitantly, lowering her eyes, feeling offended.

Naushad gradually stops laughing, but the residue his laughter persists on his face.

"Bura laga?",

he asks politely.

Meher looks towards him on hearing that. The hell 'bura laga'!

"Hanso Meher...",

he requests, softly.

This skips Meher's heartbeat.

Smiling politely, he says,

"Jab tak tum khud koshish nahi karogi iss se ubharne ki, koi bhi taaqat tumhe iss situation se bahar nahi nikaal sakti!"

This skips another of her heartbeat and she realizes how right he is!

Taking a deep breath, Naushad looks towards her, he knows that what he is about to say, the effect of it could be either positive or negative! Positive might help her to get through this period; but negative might take him away from her, and they might be standing from where they started!

He chooses to start from the beginning!

"Acha ek baat batao Meher, tum filhal kis baat se subse zyada darr rahi ho?",

he asks, looking straight into her eyes, smiling politely to give her strength to speak up.

Meher's heartbeat picks up pace. Her breath becomes shallow.

"Meherrr!",

warns Naushad politely, to not get anxious in front of him. To calm down when he is there with her in this.

"Kisi mard ke mere paas aney se.... mujhey chuney se...",

she tells him. She could feel that she is healing gradually. She is more relaxed after having all these conversations with him.

Naushad smiles sadly, he already knew this is going to be her answer.

He asks then,

"Fir jo humne abhi kiya... wo kyun?"

"Nahi janti...",

she whispers, her eyes on the verge of welling up, her throat choked.

Naushad realizes that she is going through a face of dilemma. Her emotions are high - whether it's about acceptance or about resistance or may be about withdrawal! She is confused. At one moment she enjoys his company, his being there with her; and within moments she wants to push him away from her, to ask him to leave her alone. The withdrawal he does witness every now and then in her eyes. Only that she doesn't exactly understand how to put it in words.

Looking towards him, with tearful eyes, she says in broken voice,

"But it relaxed me... healed me...!"

Naushad knits his brows, how can a woman who went through all that, that she went through could feel healed by the touch of a male? He wondered! He has observed women going through these faces because he does know doctors dealing with such situations and has also got the opportunity to observe the women too. But this is the first time he is dealing with such a case.

"I am confused Meher... I am speechless...!!! I am lost!!!",

he confesses the truth, knitting his brows.

Meher smiles sadly, understanding him.

"Jab mere saath wo sub kuch hua, I took your name. Why?",

she asks softly.

Naushad slowly looks towards her, his eyes possessive on her, demanding the answer of the same question from her.

"Because I feel secured in your presence. I feel like running to you each time I reach hospital! You are my escape!",

she says, in a hushed voice, her emotions high.

Naushad realizes she surely is healing! These are the kind of words he uses to get her back to normal self and now he is getting somewhat same words from her, she surely is accepting the fact and healing!

"Wo sub hone ke baad main tut chuki thi. Apse durr rehne ki koshish kar rahi thi kyunki I felt guilty!",

she confesses hesitantly, her eyes lowered.

"Guilty?",

Naushad knits his brows. Why would she feel guilty? It wasn't her fault.

"Main khud ko apke liye paq saaf nahi rakh payi Naushad!",

she confesses, her eyes well up, she avoids looking towards him out of guilt.

This contracts Naushad's heart. How stupid can she be to think that? How could she think that?

"Meher....",

he shakes his head in utter disbelief. He finds himself at a loss of word!

"Humare darmiyan ye sub kab se aa gaya Meher? Kaise aney diya tumne?",

he asks her, knitting his brows, staring her in disbelief.

Meher slowly looks towards him, nervously.

"Meri shadi ho chuki hai! For heavens sake meri ek beti hai Meher.... Kya inn baaton ne tumhe affect kiya?",

he questions her, knitting his brows, pissed off by her thoughts!

"That is a different thing, and this... is different!",

says Meher, timidly.

"Just end this topic right here Meher!",

orders Naushad, sternly.

"Meher main Arwa ko har roz subah yaad karta hun!",

he confesses, with no regret.

Meher stares him knitting her brows.

"Janti ho kyun?",

he asks, with no expectation of getting a reply from her.

Looking away, drowning into his thoughts and feelings, he says,

"Kyunki main nahi chahta ke main usse bhulun! Uss dhoke ko bhulun jo usne mujhe diya! Uss dhoke ne hi mujhe itne garam mizaj insaan mein tabdeel kiya."

Meher could feel his emotions perfectly, she knits her brows all the more as her heart contracts hearing him.

"Ye sub baatein kar ke mera tumhe hurt karne ka, tumhe unn sub baaton se firse guzarne ka mauka dene ka koi irada nahi tha Meher. Haan shayad guzarne dene chahta tha isliye nahi ke tumhe dard ho balki iss liye taki tum habitual ho jao iss baat ki!",

he says, earnestly.

Meher stares him, waiting for him to continue.

"Aaj koi bhi mujhe iss baat ko keh kar mujhe hurt nahi kar sakta ke main ek divorcee hun; ya maine apni biwi ka katl kiya hai; ya god knows aur kya kya afwahein hain mujhe le kar. Such kahun to main inn sub ko sunn kar unsuna kar deta hun. Janti ho kyun?",

he asks her, looking towards her.

Meher stares him, waiting for him to continue.

"Kyunki mujhe inn baaton se farak nahi parhta!"

Meher's heart swells hearing that.

"Uss din jab canteen mein tum sub baatein kar rahe the mere barey mein. Maine khud kaha tha ke maine apni biwi ka murder kiya hai!",

reminds Naushad.

Meher lowers her eyes, feeling ashamed.

"Jab tum mere cabin mein ayi aur wo kitab tumne dekhi, tab bhi I made fun of it. Because I don't care Meher! I just don't care ke duniya mere barey mein kya sochti hai! Main janta hun ke such kya hai. And that is it!",

he says, confidently, looking straight into her eyes, stressing on the word 'main'.

Meher's heart swells seeing his confidence.

"Par ab fark parhne laga hai...",

he says, looking straight into her eyes.

Meher's breath hitches. She stares him.

"Farak parhne laga hai iss baat se ke tum mere barey mein kya sochti ho.",

he tells her, softly.

Meher after staring her for sometime, lowers her eyes.

Hesitantly, Meher says,

"Apse ek baat puchun?"

"Pucho!",

says Naushad, smiling, knitting his brows.

"Apne aisa kyun kaha ke ab wo kuch nahi karega? I mean aap aisa kaise keh sakte hain?",

she asks hesitantly.

Naushad smiles, understanding her.

"Meher, bhaley hi humare beech shuru se ek khichaw raha ho. Humare gusse mein; humari ladayi mein humesha se ek kashish rahi ho, jo humein ek dusre ki taraf kheenchti thi. Par hum kabhi ek dusre ke samne ye zahir nahi kar payein. Aur isliye main khul kar tumhari side nahi le pa raha tha. Ek hichkichahat thi!",

he says, lowering his eyes out of hesitation.

Then he looks back towards her and says with full confidence,

"Par ab... ab main kisi ke samne bhi apne juzzbaatt bayan karne se hesitate nahi karunga! And I'll make sure ke tum bhi apne juzzbaatt mujhse share karne se na hichkichao."

This swells Meher's heart, she blushes looking at him. Naushad smiles too with all his heart.

"Fir kya hua Meher?",

he asks, eager to know what all happened with her.

Hesitantly, she continues,

"Fir... fir usne mujhey mara...",

her voice chokes, as if she could feel the pain afresh.

Naushad grinds his teeth such that her jawline becomes perfectly visible.

"Yahan...",

she traces her face slowly with her finger, where he had applied medicine.

Naushad stares her bruised cheek, his eyes burning with anger. He slowly rubs around the bruised part of her cheek, careful, not touching the bruises as he doesn't want to hurt her by any means. Slowly, pushing her on to the bed he lays down with her, resting his body weight on the bed through his elbow. He stares her bruise, Meher stares him. Naushad slowly shifts his vision on to her eyes. They stare each other. Meher's heartbeat picks up pace. Out of nervousness and anxiety, she rubs her right foot on the left. The expanding and contracting of her chest in quick succession makes Naushad to laugh silently.

"Hansiye mat!",

she orders him, feeling offended.

He finds it all the more adorable,

"Arey juzzbaatt hain, rok ke kaise rakhun?",

asks Naushad, mockingly and purses his lips.

Rolling her eyes, Meher taunts,

"Jaise ki aap juzzbaatt rokna na jante hon! Itne dino se aur kar bhi kya rahe hain!"

Meher holds her tongue.

Naushad widens his eyes, smiling in astonishment.

"Kya... kar... raha... hun main itne dino se Dr. Mirza?",

he asks, teasing her, pursing his lips to hide his smile.

Meher lowers her eyes, blushing.

"Aur aap jo apne juzzbaatt mujhse chupati firti hain, wo sahi hai?",

retorts Naushad, playfully.

Meher looks towards him sheepishly.

"Agar aap mere samne apne juzzbaatt sahi waqt par bayan kar detin to shayad ye sub na hota!",

he taunts her playfully.

But he realizes what a blooper he made and slowly turns serious, mentally scolding himself why couldn't he hold back his tongue? Why is it that today his juzzbaatt is overflowing?

No denial his words affect Meher! She turns serious. Then suddenly something comes to her mind and with a new determination, she narrows her eyes on him, and accuses him,

"Agar aap mujhse zara aur ghul mil jatey to shayad main apne juzzbaatt asani se apko bayan kar deti!"

Getting closer to her he asks her,

"Kitna ghulna milna tha? Itna...?"

Meher's breath hitches, but she enjoys it.

"Ya itna...",

he trails off her face line with his finger.

Meher shuts her eyes, leaning onto his touch, smiling, blushing. Naushad enjoys witnessing her carefree.

Removing his finger, he asks,

"Fir kya hua?"

Shocked Meher opens her eyes!

'What... what is he??? Such a torture!!!'

She glares him and takes a deep breath, controlling her heightened feelings. Looking away out of anger! This again makes Naushad to laugh, but he purses his lips.

"Fir maine usse zor se dhakka diya... aur wahan se bhagne lagi...",

anxiety grabs her all over again.

She holds him by his upper arm tightly, but her mind is not there and wandering at the fateful incident.

"Par usne mujhe pakad liya... aur zor se chanta mara. Main floor par gir gayi, mera sir takraya kisi cheez se... aur..",

her heartbeat's pace reaches the upper limit.

Her hold on Naushad tightens. Naushad doesn't mind it at all. All he gets tensed about is Meher's mental state.

Naushad realizes that he needs to sooth this heart wrenching memory of hers. He asks her urgently, knitting his brows, anger surging through him,

"Kahan mara mujhe batao..."

She trails off the cheek where he slapped.

Getting down there he showers her with innumerable kisses, especially on the spot where she gestured.

She enjoys it and slowly starts blushing, giggling.

"Naushad... Naushad stop it...",

she mummers, but enjoys everything he does.

Naushad of course doesn't listen to her pleas as he could feel her relaxing under him!

Meher suddenly again remembers that her mother had slapped him, she gets a little serious and whilst he continues with kissing her, she takes him by surprise by kissing him right where he had been slapped by her mother. He stops abruptly. They look into each other's eyes, both serious. Then soon they both smile together and hug each other tight.

"Apne juzzbaatt ko apne doston ke samne bayan karna. Unse apne juzzbaatt batne mein koi burayi nahi hai Dr. Mirza",

says Naushad ending the hug, looking into her eyes.

"Dr. Mirza?",

laughs Meher, sarcastically and looks towards him.

Her words make Naushad to blush.

Laughing, she says,

"Mujhe laga tha ab main apke liye Meher ho gayi hun? Sirf Meher!"

Naushad could feel that she is enjoying on being addressed as Dr. Mirza again.

"Nazdikiyan mehsus ho rahi hain mujhe!",

says Naushad, smiling naughtily, narrowing his eyes on her.

"Aur aap koshish bhi nahi karenge inn nazdikiyon ki wajah dhundhne ki?",

asks Meher, raising her right brow naughtily.

This makes Naushad to laugh.

Tracing her face line, he says,

"Aap mujhe apne paas ana to durr... meri taraf aap dekh bhi nahi rahin theek se! Ab aap hi batayiye ke iss bartaw ka main kya matlab nikalun?"

Staring him for sometimes, Meher closes her eyes, blushing she shakes her head into negative.

"Naushad please ye line aap badal sakte the!",

she whispers, laughing silently, blushing.

"Mere line na badalne se apko problem ho rahi hai, to aap ye sochiye ke apka apke juzzbaatt mujhe lekar, jo aap mujhe nahi bata rahin, mujhe kitni bechaini ho rahi hogi?",

says Naushad, teasing her.

This attracts Meher's attention. She stares him, shocked! Did he really say that? A knot forms in her throat out of too much love for him. They stare each other, smiling seductively. Naushad waits for her to say something, hoping that she understands his emotions.

"Mujhe thoda waqt dijiye.",

says Meher.

"Kis baat ke liye?",

asks Naushad.

Meher stares him, with this question Naushad succeeds in triggering her emotion of hurt and frustration.

Lowering her eyes, controlling her emotions, she says,

"Apko sub batane ke liye!"

Naushad stares her quietly for sometime, his brows knit together. Meher hesitates to look towards him, aware of his eyes on her.

Knowing his answer, she waits for it. But he takes her by surprise as he changes his words yet again,

"Nahi de sakta! Mujhse ab mere juzzbaatt nahi sambhal rahe!",

he says, pursing his lips. As Meher's expression of shock on discovering the changes made in his words, makes her look so adorable.

Meher doesn't relax even a wee bit, knowing that this discussion hasn't finished yet! Suddenly his next question skips her heartbeat and takes her juzzbaatt to another level!

"Bus aap mujhe ek baat bata dein...",

he says.

Meher stares him.

Never ending the eye contact, he asks her,

"Will you marry me Meher?"

Tear rolls down Meher's cheeks. Naushad lovingly, knitting his brows, wipes off the tears and teasingly says,

"Arey arey agar abhi sarey ansu baha dogi to rukhsati ke waqt kya karogi? Ansu ki kami nahi ho jayegi?"

Meher beats him lovingly on his chest. Laughing, he hugs her tight.

"Bus ab ek baat ki tension hai!",

says Naushad.

Meher looks up at him to know what it is!

"Tumhare ghar walon ko to main asani se mana lunga, par...",

he says, knitting his brows.

"Par?",

asks Meher.

Looking towards her sheepishly, he says,

"Aliya tumhe apni Ammi banane ke liye maneygi ke nahi pata nahi!"

Meher's heart clenches at thought of Aliya. Her heart fills with love for her. Tears of joy roll down her cheeks. Controlling herself, she beats Naushad, lovingly and they both laugh out loud. Naushad wipes off her tears again and hugs her tight.

Naushad remembers what he had bought, producing it in front of her, he gauges her reaction. Meher gets nervous.

"Meher mujhe please galat mat samajhna... but I want to erase all those feelings that's torturing you.",

he says, hesitantly yet earnestly.

Meher pleads him with her eyes, with a lowered voice, Meher requests him,

"Naushad main abhi nahi kar paungi. Mujhe thoda waqt de dijiye....please..."

Smiling, he says,

"Diya! Bus ye yaad rakhna Meher ab main tumse iss barey mein kabhi baat nahi karunga. Jis din tum chahogi, tum taiyaar hogi uss din hi hum agey barhenge. Mera ye khareedna iske peeche koi galat maksad nahi tha. Mujhe bus ye janna tha ke tum kis hadd tak uss baat se ubhar payi ho. I wanted to see your reaction to this! I am glad ki tum extreme tak nahi gayi! I have seen women going to such an extent that they literally start hating all this, they get anxious. You too are anxious for sure, but I am glad ki baat itni bhi nahi bigdi tumhare case mein.",

he relaxes, smiling.

Meher smiles and says earnestly,

"It's because of you!"

Naushad smiles assuring her silently that he is always there for her. Their emotions reach peak levels.

Then suddenly getting serious, he dictates her,

"Meher maine uss waqt subke samne kuch nahi kaha kyunki mujhe Irfan ke khilaf sabut ikathhe karne the. Aur iss baat ke liye mujhe usse ye yakeen dilana zaruri tha ke main uske saath hun aur tum par bilkul bharosa nahi karta.",

he tells her feeling guilty.

Meher smiles a little, assuring him that it's fine he doesn't have to feel guilty about it.

"Kyunki mujhe yakeen ho gaya tha ke uski fitrat abhi bhi waisi hi hai main samjh gaya tha ke koi jo iske saath rehta ho regular basis par, wo hi meri madad kar sakta hai. Coincidentally mere paas Irfan ke ek dost ka number tha. Wo isliye kyunki ek baar Irfan ne uske dost ko mera number diya tha, uska bacha beemar tha isliye. Maine usse baat ki aur jaise-taise usse baat nikalwayi. Usne mujhe bataya ke Irfan ko apne kisi ex-student se beshumar mohobbat ho gayi thi aur uske birthday par kya hua tha!",

saying so Naushad looks towards Meher, apologetically. Meher lowers her eyes hesitantly.

"Usne ye bhi bataya ke wo abhi hal hi mein tumse mila tha aur bohot kuch hua...",

Naushad's blood boils as he utters these words. Meher notices his reactions and her heart clenches.

"Usne of course mujhe ye to nahi bataya ke kya hua tha par uske bolne ke tehzeeb se main sab kuch samjh gaya!!"

"Usse baat karne ke baad maine police ko phone karke sub kuch such such bata diya aur keh diya ke usse jald se jald giraftar kar le."

"Tumhara resignation letter dekh kar such kahun to main darr gaya tha!",

he confesses, looking towards her sorrowfully.

"Par maine patience rakha."

"Police ne usse giraftar kar liya. Maine unhe request ki ke wo mera naam filhal disclose na karein. Aur fir baad ki kahani to tum janti hi ho!",

smiles Naushad.

~*~*~

In order to relax her anxiety, Naushad sighs and melodramatically says,

"Waise main jhoot nahi kahunga, sapne to maine bohot dekhe the isse khareedte waqt. Socha tha ke shayad tum bilkul comfortable hogi aur shayad mujhe encourage bhi karo...."

Meher stares him wide eyed, blushing profusely, beating him softly. Naushad laughs and places it at the bed side and hugs Meher tight.

"Take as much time as you want Meher bus mujhse durr kabhi mat jana. These are not important for me. What's important is tumhara saath; tumhara mujh par aitbaar.",

he lets him know.

"Kis juzzbaatt par kaise waar karna hai koi apse seekhe!",

Meher teases him..

This makes him to laugh out loud and he tightens his hold on her; Meher reciprocates the gesture.

-THE END-
(22.5.2018)