Naushad drives in anger, so many thoughts running through his mind.

Meher looks towards him every now and then, afraid on witnessing is eyes filled with hurt and anger, she chooses to remain quiet.

She gets an urge to ask him something, but refrains, out of fear of his anger. She understands his anger isn't towards her but towards Irfan and Shifqat and slightly towards himself too that he is unable to mend this situation.

She avoids asking him a lot, but unable to resist herself any longer, she asks him, hesitantly,

"Ek baat puchun?"

Her voice, drags him out of his thoughts. Closing his eyes, taking a deep breath, he opens his eyes and says,

"Pucho!"

"Apko to meri baat par bharosa nahi tha. Fir achanak aisa kya hua ke apne Irfaan ko giraftar karwa diya?",

she asks.

"Kyunki main jaan chuka tha ke wo hi tumhara gunhegar hai!",

replies Naushad, blazing with anger.

"Kab? Aur kaise?",

asks Meher, eagerly.

Naushad looks towards her, staring her for sometime, he says,

"I don't think main iss baat ko abhi karna chahta hun. Mere dimag mein waise hi bohot kuch chal raha hai."

Meher accepts and lowers her eyes. Then again looking towards him, she asks,

"Dr. Sharim Afzal ke clinic mein apko Dr. Azam ka call aya tha, kya keh rahe the?"

This skips Naushad's heartbeat. He turns to look towards her for fraction of seconds, then turns back to look in front. Taking a deep breath he confesses,

"Uss waqt mujhe police ka call aya tha ye inform karne ke liye ke unhone Irfan ko giraftar kar liya hai. Aur ye bhi ke agar uska gunhegar hona prove ho gaya to uska doctor hone ka license usse cheen lia jayega!"

This shocks Meher.

"Kya????",

she exclaims!

Naushad turns to look towards her, understanding her emotions.

"Main... main zarur uske giraftari se khush hun, par... par main kabhi ye nahi chahti thi ke wo... giraftar ho.",

says Meher earnestly.

Naushad understands her. Politely he asks,

"Kyun?"

"Kyunki isse Ammi Abbu ki izzat mitti mein mil jayegi. Aur mere qualifications par sawaal khada hoga.",

saying so Meher holds back her tears.

Naushad knits his brows, understanding her emotions.

"Sirf iss darr se kisi gunhegar ko saza na dilwana bhi to koi samjhdari nahi na Meher?",

asks Naushad politely.

Meher looks towards him with sorrowful eyes.

"Aur jahan tak apke Ammi-Abbu, apke parivar ki baat hai, to yakeen maniye Meher, I'll make sure ke unn ki izzat par kabhi koi aanch na aye.",

he assures her.

Meher looks towards him, her eyes filled with tears. How can someone be so much understanding?

"Aur ek baat...",

says Naushad.

Meher looks towards him.

"Aap kal se wapas hospital aa rahi hain..."

Meher intervenes, pleading him,

"Nahi Naushad.... main..."

Naushad intervenes,

"Main kuch nahi sunna chahta.",

states Naushad, clearly.

"Naushad....",

Meher trails off, unable to understand what to say. And tired of anxiety.

"I'll make sure ke aap ko exhaustion na ho. Apse zyada kaam bhi nahi karwaunga. Lekin aap hospital aa rahi hain that's final.",

declares Naushad.

"Main... wahan subse nazrein nahi mila paungi.",

pleads Meher.

"Mujhse mila payengi na?",

he asks.

This skips Meher's heartbeat. She goes numb.

Naushad looks towards her and prompts her,

"Hmmm...??"

(NAUHER tune begins)

Meher lowers her eyes hesitantly.

Driving with one hand, Naushad takes the index finger of his left hand towards her and places it under her chin, forcing her to look towards him.

The sudden touch makes her heart to beat frantically.

Making sure that he is driving on a lonely road, he stares Meher. Meher stares back.

Meher slowly lowers her eyes. Smiling a little, Naushad takes back his finger and focuses back on driving.

"Jab tak aap mujhse nazrein mila sakti hain bina hesitation ke, apko kisi aur ki; kisi aur baat ki fikr karne ki zarurat nahi hai.",

states Naushad, confidently.

This swells Meher's heart. Her heart beats frantically. She blushes, but doesn't smile. She is too touched to smile!

Next Naushad stops his car in front of a row of markets. Meher wonders why did he stop there?

Meher gives him a questioning look, never asking anything.

Understanding that look, Naushad brings out the doctor's prescription and puts it between them in the air. This makes Meher to blush and smile. In return Naushad blushes and smiles too. Just to make this moment to persist a little longer, Naushad jokes,

"Agar pata hota ke aap prescription dekh kar smile karengi, to being a doctor main apke liye hazaron prescription likh daal ta!"

This makes Meher to laugh soundlessly and blush all the more.

"Naushaaadd!!",

she scolds him lovingly, blushing, her eyes lowered.

Naushad laughs all the more, silently, as he finds her calling him by his name too adorable and romantic!

"Thank you!",

his sudden words skip Meher's heartbeat. She widens her eyes a little, smiling still, then looks towards Naushad.

"Thank you? Kis liye?"

Lowering her eyes, she adds,

"Thank you to mujhe apko kehna chahiye."

Looking towards him, her eyes twinkling out of faith, trust in him and something more, she says,

"Ek pal ke liye to mujhe laga tha ke maine apko kho diya."

This skips Naushad's heartbeat; touches his heart. Staring her he smiles then and asks politely, his voice low, making the moment all the more intimate,

"To kya hota agar main apse durr ho jata to?"

Now that makes her heart to beat frantically. She stares him pouring all her feelings through her eyes.

Lowering his eyes, Naushad sarcastically says, smiling,

"Waise bhi apko to bus iss baat ki fikr thi ke main apko Aliya se durr na kar dun! Ke aap Aliya se durr na ho jaye! Ke Aliya apse durr na ho jaye!"

Meher feels apologetic. Her heartbeat picks up pace. She lowers her eyes. His words make her cheeks to warm up.

Naushad stares her for sometime, smiling sweetly, secretly at her sweetness and innocence.

Taking a deep breath, he says,

"Khair thank you iss liye ke mera aap par distrust dekhne ke baad bhi you trusted me enough to come with me."

They keep staring each other.

(NAUHER tune begins)

"Because frankly I was wondering ke main apko kaise convince karunga.",

blushes Naushad.

Meher doesn't say anything and keeps staring him, smiling, her eyes twinkling, her heart beating frantically, she softly says,

"I trust you!"

At this Naushad looks up towards her, they stare each other. Their smiles vanishing gradually as the magnetic pull towards each other heat up their bodies, it becomes difficult to maintain the smiles on their faces. Meher could feel the blocking up of her ears due to the height of her emotions; her blush. It makes her all the more restless. She presses her thighs together to control her ill mannered juzzbaatt. Naushad understands perfectly what juzzbaatt is culminating in her heart at this moment. Because it mirrors his juzzbaatt!

Smiling, he says,

"Ab main ye medicines le aata hun, warna Jannat sochengi ke hum kahan reh gaye."

This makes both to laugh soundlessly.

Giving her a last warm look, indicating her to take care of herself until he returns back, he leaves for the pharmacy.

Reaching the pharmacy, he shows the prescription and buys the medicine.

Falling into a dilemma, getting nervous, despite this not being his first time to ask that, he asks for something more!

Buying it, he makes it sure to put it into his pocket and not with the other medicines!

Getting into the car he looks towards Meher nervously and smiles a little.
Meher smiles back. He extends the packet of medicines to her.

"Prescription mein details di hui hain kab konsi medicine leni hai and kitne amount mein leni hai. Make sure that you adhere to the prescription.",

says Naushad, sternly.

Blushing, Meher lowers her eyes and nods, smiling.

Before resuming his journey he calls Jannat,

"Hello Jannat main Meher ko apne saath apne ghar le ja raha hun. Baad mein ghar chor dunga."

He gets a reply from Jannat.

"Please Jannat sambhal lena na.",

requests Naushad, softening his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Jannat accepts.

"Theek hai. Aap Meher ka khyal rakhiyega.",

saying so Jannat ends the call.

Azi stares her knitting his brows, waiting for Jannat to say something.

Looking towards him, she asks him, doubtfully

"Azi... main sahi kar rahi hun na Dr. Rizvi par trust karke?"

Azi smiles sitting adjacent to Jannat and hugs her embracing her by her shoulder.

"Mirza, maine jitna bhi Dr. Rizvi ko jana hai, mujhe wo ek ache insaan lagey.",

tells Azi.

Hugging him tight, Jannat says,

"Mujhe bhi."

Smiling, Azi tightens his hold on her and says,

"To ab tu zada soch mat."

Jannat smiles and sighs.

~*~*~

Reaching home, Naushad asks Meher to go to his room, casually, whilst placing the keys at its place.

This skips Meher's heartbeat, she asks in disbelief,

"Main akeli jaun apke room mein?"

Her words brings a naughty smile on his face, arching a brow he asks,

"To aap chahti hain ke hum dono saath mein jayein bedroom mein?"

This skips Meher's heartbeat, she quickly lowers her eyes. She of course didn't mean it that way! And of course Naushad understands that, but why should he leave any chance to tease her, especially if she is providing it to him so easily?

Understanding her situation, Naushad smiles and makes her comfortable,

"Relax! Aap jaiye, main abhi aata hun. Do you want water?",

he asks her politely.

It's then she realizes that she is thirsty.

She looks towards him, smiling a little, nervously, she nods into affirmative.

Smiling, he says,

"Aap room mein jayiye, I'll get it for you."

They both smile looking towards each other and turn to leave for their respective rooms. Suddenly Meher remembers, turning she says,

"Ahmm... kya main Aliya se mil sakti hun?"

Naushad smiles, understanding her eagerness to meet her.

"Wo apne room mein hogi. But Meher I would suggest abhi aap usse na miley because agar usne ek baar aap ko dekh liya to wo apko choregi nahi akela. And right now you and me, we need to sort out a lot of things.",

he tells her sincerely, smiling politely.

Meher gets serious, she realizes this is serious! She lowers her eyes and slowly nods her head into affirmative.
Then looks back towards him. Smiling, looking at her, Naushad leaves. Meher leaves too.

Making sure that she has reached to his room safely, Naushad heads towards Aliya's room. Finding her asleep, he gets relaxed. Walking to her he bends down and kisses her forehead lovingly. Placing the quilt properly on her, Naushad tip toeing leaves the room, shutting the door properly.

(NAUHER tune begins)

Naushad goes to the kitchen to fetch water for Meher and himself.

Walking into his room, Naushad closes the door, while facing Meher throughout, his one hand holding the tray containing glasses of water and other hand behind him pushing the door noiselessly. Meher who is standing facing him, stares him. Never ending the eye contact Naushad slowly walks towards her. Meher too doesn't try ending the eye contact. As he reaches closest to her, Meher starts taking back steps never ending the eye contact.

"Dr. Rizvi main....",

begins Meher hesitantly, unable to look away from him.

Naushad doesn't try to stop her from speaking. This is what he wants - her to communicate with him. This is where they lacked earlier! Had they been communicating more often, more freely, she would have opened herself in front of him much earlier and they together could have avoided the fateful incident that took place.

"Main sunn raha hun Meher...",

he encourages her, speaking softly.

"Main ye nahi kar paungi!",

she says, lowering her voice.

"Kya nahi kar paogi?",

asks Naushad, smile twitching on his lips.

Meher gives him a knowing look, taking small backward steps still.

"Aap kyun kar rahe hain ye? Kalke aur aaj ke Naushad mein itna fark kyun?",

she asks, looking into his eyes, holding back her tears, as the remembrance of that Naushad hurts her to the core.

"Pani? Apne hi to kaha tha apko peena hai. Mujhe bhi pyas lagi thi to main apne liye bhi le aya.",

he replies, smiling infectiously.

Meher glares him. This makes Naushad to laugh.

"Kayi ghante beet chuke hain uss baat ko Meher, farak parhna to laazmiya hai. Nahi?",

jokes Naushad.

Meher gives him a knowing look.

"Stop it Naushad!",

she scolds him mildly, whispering, lowering her eyes.

Smiling, Naushad teases her, his voice low, making the situation all the more intimate,

"Kamal hai Meher pehle aap chahti thi ke main aap par bharosa karun. Aur ab jab main bharosa kar raha hun to apko mere bharose par shaq ho raha hai."

Meher stares him,

"Mujhe ye samjh nahi aa raha ke koi insaan apne parivaar par yakeen na karke kisi gair par yakeen kaise kar sakta hai?"

That makes Naushad to knit his brows. Staying quiet for sometime, staring her, he asks,

"Kaun hai gair yahan Meher?"

This skips Meher's heartbeat. She lowers her eyes out of embarrassment and hesitation.

"Bataiye?",

prompts Naushad.

"Main...",

says Meher softly, never looking towards him.

Naushad stares her, hurt, his brows knitted.

"Ye baat meri ankhon mein dekh kar bolo Meher!",

he challenges her.

This skips Meher's heartbeat. She slowly, hesitantly looks towards Naushad.

"Naushad please...",

she pleads, lowering her eyes.

Naushad keeps staring her, thinking.

"Paani!",

he offers her, staring her with knitted brows.

Meher looks towards him nervously. Slowly she accepts the water.

"Tumhe kya lagta hai ke mujhe tum par yakeen nahi tha?",

asks Naushad, after staying quiet for sometime, staring her for sometime.

Having finished drinking the water, she places the half filled glass onto the tray.

"Apne jo baat subke samne kahi, wo to yahi kahani bayan karti hai!",

says Meher, avoiding to look towards him, out of hesitation.

Naushad stares her seductively, Meher keeps her eyes low but doesn't miss witnessing his looks through her peripheral vision. Her breath hitches. It becomes difficult for Meher to control her juzzbaatt. But she manages to keep them under control somehow.

Naushad slowly takes his hand towards her face and wipes off the wet corner around the right side of her lips. Wet because of the water she drank.

A shiver runs down Meher's spine. She converts her hands into fists, controlling her emotions. She is hesitant about the male touch now. No denial Naushad's touch heals her but despite that whenever they are alone she gets super conscious about his touch. But on the other hand, when they are amongst others, she finds Naushad as her escape. As if no one knows her better than him. Her juzzbaatt seems to change with the change in the circumstances. How hard might she try to make herself understand that this is so wrong that she is doing to him - she is using him, as if he is a puppet to dance in accord to her wish, but she fails to do otherwise! She needs time.

Holding her by her shoulders, Naushad makes her to sit on the bed. At first his touching her, tightens the muscles of her tummy, making her nervous of his touch. But gradually she gets familiar to his touch and her muscles relax.

Bringing out the medicines, Naushad gives her five tablets one after the other. Having done that Naushad sits next to her, his eyes lowered, trying to understand from where should he start.

Slowly he looks towards her and smiles a little, hesitantly.

"Kya hua? Apko kuch kehna hai?",

asks Meher, sensing his nervousness.

"Meher hum dost hain! Aur kahin na kahin main iss case mein tumhara doctor bhi hun! And you said that you trust me immensely right?",

he asks, looking towards her, without rushing his words, taking it slow.

Meher nods into affirmative, slowly, nervously.

Next he asks,

"Aliya se tum durr nahi reh sakti tumne kaha... par main tumse puchna chahunga.... aur mujhse?",

asking so, he stares her.

Meher's heart skips a beat! They stare each other. Meher's breathing turns shallow. Meher fails to answer, out of hesitation.

Lowering his eyes, he asks,

"Meher.... hum dono jab kisi aur ke samne hote hain, tum mere paas rehti ho. Mere paas reh kar tum khudko secure mehsus karti ho... par jab hum akele hote hain....",

saying so he pauses and looks towards staring her possessively.

Meher's heartbeat picks up pace. She lowers her eyes. She feels uncomfortable sitting there but to her utter surprise, she doesn't even want to go away from him. She feels frustrated about her dual feelings for him!

"Tum kyun mujhse durr chali jati ho?",

he asks softly, pain evident in his voice.

"Kya ye isliye hai ke main ek mard hun?",

asks he, his own words pierce his heart. His eyes bearing his hurt.

Meher's heart skips a beat. A knot forms in her throat.

"Naushad please.... aap... aap ye....",

she shuts her eyes out of anxiety, unable to understand what to say, where to start from.

Opening her eyes, she looks towards him, pleading through her eyes to understand her juzzbaatt.

"Naushad I need time....",

she requests politely, looking towards him.

"You take as much time as you need Meher but there is another thing that I would like you to have of mine....",

he says.

Meher knits her brows unable to understand what did he mean?

"Mera saath!",

he tells her.

"Patience I have immense! I promise. But the road of life you are to lead henceforth, I would like to request you, to take me along with you!",

he says, sincerely, looking into her eyes.

Meher gets all the more emotional but controls her tears. She keeps staring him as a means of consentment.

"Meher maine tumse pucha tha ke kya tum kisi aur ko chahti ho? Tab tumne mana kar diya tha. Yakeen mano mujhe tumhari baat par aitbaar ho gaya tha ek hi pal mein. Tab mujhe kuch nahi pata tha. Par aaj sub kuch janne ke baad.... main firse tumse agar wohi baat puchun. To tumhara jawab kya hoga? Kya ab bhi tum mujhse waqt mangogi apna jawab dene ke liye?",

he asks her.

"Kya ab bhi apne juzzbaatt mujhse chupa kar rakhogi?",

he asks her, knitting his brows.

With teary eyes, staring him throughout, Meher shakes her head into negative, in slow motion.

"Main apse kabhi koi baat nahi chupana chahti thi...",

she says, crying.

Naushad understands.

Taking a deep breath, he stares her intimately. Now what he is about to discuss with her, would be difficult to talk about both for Naushad as well as Meher, he knows. But it's important. It's necessary.

Before he could say anything further, Meher nervously puts strands of her hair behind her ear, as she does that, her bruises floats in front of his eyes again. Naushad turns his hands into fists as anger surges through him. His going numb makes Meher to look towards him. She knits her brows finding him tensed.

"Kya hua?",

she asks.

He doesn't answer and slowly takes his index finger of his left hand towards her right cheek and slowly removes a tendril of her hair, to checkout the wound, knitting his brows. In the process his finger rubs against her skin, softly. Even the minute touch sends shiver down her spine. Naushad ignores to give his attention to her shivering and closing of her eyes and his whole concentration lies on the bruised cheek. Meher feels touched by his gesture, how much he cares. She keeps staring him.

"Amaal ne dawayi laga di thi!",

she assures him, softly.

"Thoda time lagega, fir theek ho jayega!",

she adds further.

Naushad keeps glaring the bruise. Whilst doing so he keeps tracing the part of her cheek up to down; down to up, in succession, unaware of how his this unconscious gesture is affecting her!

She shuts her eyes after moments as it heightens up her emotions. In her current state heightened emotions, even if a little, makes it unbearable for her. She tries to keep herself away from anxiety, as much as possible. But his this gesture is doing exactly that to her - making her anxious! And to her utter surprise, she is not evening refraining him; stopping him from doing so! She is ready to endure this anxiety, for him!

Slowly, he moves his face towards her, towards her bruised cheek. Meher's heartbeat picks up pace not out of fear but out of excitement. Naushad understands that this could be the cue to move forth! This might help her as well as him to open up. Meher clenches the sheet of the bed tight. As he gets more closer to her, Meher puts her hand on his chest, as a gesture of stopping him to move forth with this. Naushad understands this is not fear but her hesitation because had it been fear she would have pushed him hard by now. But she is not doing it! Her soft push is just out of hesitation, which she must have done had everything been normal between them.

Getting closer to her cheek, while Meher shuts her eyes out of heightening of her pleasure, Naushad whispers into her ear,

"Tumhe mujhe khone ka darr tha, isliye tum uss din bina hichkichahat ke subke samne chillayi!"

While he speaks these words, his warm breath touches her skin in irregular rhythm and makes the feeling all the more intense. Shutting her eyes tight, she tries to control her emotions.

Whispering so, Naushad gets back and stares her, smiling. Meher opens her eyes slowly and finds Naushad smiling challengingly at her. Meher out of hesitation, lowers her eyes.

"Mujhe tab hi tum par bharosa hone lag gaya tha Meher. Ya yun kaho ke ho gaya tha!",

he confesses.

Meher stares him, her eyes filled with tears.

"Fir apne jo kuch bhi kaha....",

she asks.

"Presence of mind!",

replies Naushad.

"Meher ye mat sochna ke main Irfan ko janta nahi hun. Main Irfan se bakhubi wakif hun!",

he confesses.

This comes as a shock for Meher!

"Aisa pehli baar nahi ho raha hai. Irfaan aur main ek hi college mein the. Jab main first year mein tha, tab Irfan fifth yani final year mein tha!",

he confesses.

Meher listens to him patiently.

"Tab bhi Irfan ladkiyon ke beech kafi mashhur rehta tha. Mera ladkiyon se zyada taluqat nahi tha. Lekin ek din Irfan ne mujhse dosti karni chahi. Mujhe kafi ajeeb laga. Main normally bohot kam bolne walon mein se tha. Aise mein koi mujhe notice karega wo hi badi ajeeb baat thi. Khair dekh kar mujhe Irfan theek insaan laga to maine dosti kar li. Dosti gehri hui. Main usse ghar tak laya apne. Aapi uss din ghar ayi hui thi. Uss din Aapi aur Irfan ki pehli mulaqat hui aur ye mulaqat dosti mein kab badal gayi mujhe ehsaas hi nahi hua. Ek din hum phone par baat kar rahe the ke usne mujhse Aapi ka number manga. Aapi darasal meri muh boli behn hai. Par rishta itna gehra hai ke kabhi iss baat ka ilm hi nahi hua.",

smiles Naushad, as he cherish his bond with his Aapi.

Then his face expression changes to that of melancholy as he remembers his current chemistry with his Aapi!

"Mujhe pehle gussa aya, kyunki main janta tha ke uska nature kaisa hai. Main usse lada bhi. Par usne mujhe yakeen dilaya ke wo Aapi se beinteha mohobbat karta hai."

Sighing, he says,

"Aur tum to janti hi ho agar kisi ko milna ho to puri kaiyanaat unn dono ko milane mein lag jati hai. Tab hum insaano ki kya majaal ke hum kuch karein!",

smiles Naushad, sarcastically.

"Irfaan mere samne itna shareef pesh hone laga ke kuch waqt baad main khud bhul gaya ke main uske aur Aapi ke milne ke khilaf tha.",

he confesses.

"Aapi ke liye mujhe Irfan ko accept karna parha. Aisa nahi hai ke maine bina bharose ke inn dono ka nikah karwa diya. Irfan itni izzat se pesh aata tha subse ke dheere dheere mere doubts uske liye khatam hone lagey. Aur dekhte hi dekhte Aapi aur Irfan ka nikah ho gaya."

Meher stares him, knitting her brows.

"Waqt beet ta gaya, main apne zindagi mein mashruf ho gaya. Kabhi unke ghar bhi jana hota to zyadatar wo paye nahi jate the. Mujhe lagta tha ke teacher hain, wo bhi MBBS ke, zimmedari to zyada hogi hi. Isliye maine kabhi mind nahi kiya.

Ek din main Aapi se mil kar wapas aa raha tha jab raste mein maine usse ek aurat ke saath dekha. Mera khoon khaul utha. Mann kar raha tha ke jakar abhi uska muh tod dun. Par main janta tha uska koi faida nahi hoga. Usne Aapi ko iss tarah apne vash mein kiya hua hai ke Aapi kuch nahi manegi.

Par shayad wo maani.... wo tab maani jab unhone tumhe Irfan ke saath rangey haathon pakda!",

saying so he looks towards her, sympathetically.

Meher's eyes fill up with tears. It hurts Naushad, seeing her crying. His own eyes well up. He focuses on her tears and rubs them off. Unable to control herself any longer they both hug each other tight. Meher gets relaxed by his touch. Naushad could feel her pulling him towards herself. This makes Naushad to tighten his hold on her.

"Fir apne meri baat maani kyun nahi subke samne?",

asks Meher, crying on his chest.

Taking a deep breath he tells her...

"Jab Aapi ne tum par ilzaam lagaya, such kahun to ek pal ke liye mera aitbaar tum par se dagmagaya tha. Main manta hun ke maine kabhi khul kar tumse apne feeling ka izhaar nahi kiya. Par kahin na kahin hum dono ye jante the ke hum ek dusre ke liye kya mehsus karte hain!"

At this Meher looks up towards him. Their eyes flooded with so many emotions for each other, look towards each other.

"Mujhe laga tum bhi unn ladkiyon mein se ho jo Irfan ke saath reh chuki hai.",

he says, apologetically, lowering his eyes. Then looks back towards Meher.

Meher lowers her eyes hesitantly.

"Mujhe fansaya tha unhone apni baaton ke jaal mein.",

confesses Meher, hesitantly.

He places his hand on her chin and forces her to look towards him, looking into her eyes, he says,

"I trust you Meher!"

"Uss din maine subke samne jo kuch bhi kaha tha wo bus Irfan ko ye yakeen dilane ke liye kaha tha ke main uss par aitbaar karta hun. Kyunki mujhe iss mamle ke teh tak janey ke liye uske bharose ki zarurat thi."

Meher stares him, her eyes filled with tears.

"Par iss dauran maine tumse aur tumhare khandan se badsuluki bhi ki. Ho sakey to mujhe maaf kar do.",

he requests her, feeling ashamed of how hr behaved with her and her family.

"Naushad please aap aisa mat boliye...",

she says, cupping his face with her hands.

They both stare each other.

"Chah kar bhi main apne juzzbaatt ko kabu mein na rakh paya. Aur main uske liye behad sharminda hun.",

says Naushad.

Meher cries with him.

"Nahi Naushad, main samjh sakti hun jab koi apna yakeen todey to accept karna mushkil ho jata hai. Humare juzzbaatt humein khud samjh nahi aatey tab. Ek ajeeb si kashmakash mein funs jatey hain hum tab.",

says Meher, understanding his feelings and his dilemma.

"Aur jab Irfan ne phone call ki baat ki, tab mera shaq yakeen mein badal gaya. Maine dekha tha tum kitni disturbed rehti thi. Aur uss din to maine tumhe gusse mein phone fekte hue bhi dekh liya tha. Main ussi din se samjh gaya tha ke koi hai jo tumhe pareshan kar raha hai."

Looking towards her, he asks,

"Tum kaise soch sakti thi ke wo dekh kar bhi main tum par yakeen nahi karunga?"

Meher stares him, getting emotional, unable to understand what to say!

"Jab mujhe ye malum hua ke Irfan tumhare professor the tab kuch pal ke liye mera vishwas tum par se dagmagaya. Par jis tarah tum yakeen dila rahi thi mujhe, mujhe zada waqt nahi laga such samjhne mein."

"Tum par yakeen na karne ka natak karna mere liye zaruri tha kyunki mujhe Irfan ko yakeen dilana tha ke main uske bunne hue jaal mein fans chuka hun."

"Uss waqt jab tum hospital mein behosh ho gayi thi, dekha tha maine wo nishaan, haath par, tumhare chehre par!"

Shivers run down Meher's spine.

"Aapi aur Irfan ke nikah ke kuch mahino baad unn mein ladaiyan hone lagin jaise normally har couple mein hote hain. Shuru mein maine ignore kiya. Socha ye normal hai. Par dheere dheere baat hathapayi par utar ayi. Ye especially tab zyada hone laga jab Irfan ko pata chal ke Aapi can't conceive!"

Meher's heart clenches. Her hatred for Irfan increased manifolds.

Staring Meher, Naushad says,

"Aliya ke hone ke baad wo over possessive ho gaya tha Aliya ko lekar. Arwa ke janey ke baad to usne mujhse ye tak keh diya tha ke main Aliya ko Aapi aur usse saump dun kyunki main akele Aliya ko bada nahi kar paunga!",

Naushad's heart starts throbbing inside his chest even at the mere thought of sending Aliya away from him.

Holding her hands out of desperation, Naushad looking towards Meher asks her,

"Kya ek baap ke juzzbaatt ki koi value nahi hoti Meher? Kya ek baap apni beti ko akele bada nahi kar sakta?"

Meher lovingly wipes off his tears, crying herself.

"Ek bachey ka rishta jitna paak apni Ammi aur Abbu ke saath hota hai utna kisi ke saath nahi ho sakta.",

Meher tells him, smiling, wiping off his fresh tears.

"Aur agar Ammi aur Abbu ki mohobbat ek bachey ko aap jaise Abbu se miley, usse behtar to kuch hai hi nahi!",

she tells him lovingly, softly, smiling.

They hug each other tightly.