Avoiding to make any noise shehnaaz quietly pulled a stool closer to his bed and set there silently.

Her gaze was fixed on his face. His eyes were still closed. She kept looking at him with moist eyes, the moistness she herself didn't realise in her eyes.

She couldn't see that strong manly face of his today. Her man looked tired with all the colour of his face drained out. Her chest felt heavy inside again.

Her stomach churned to see him like this. Pressing the pads of her fingers in corner of her eyes she wiped those tears before they could trickle down her eyes.

She waited for him to open his eyes and look at her the way he always do. He hadn't open his eyes since the moment he breathed her name before loosing his conscious.

She knew he had just gone through a crucial surgery. It will take time for him to gain his consciousness back yet her heart craved to look into his eyes right then.

She had to wait and the wait seemed difficult for her after what she had gone through in last few hours.

Her eyes then moved down to his chest. His wound! His body was covered with a thin sheet keeping his chest bare. The stitches just closer to his heart could be seen.

Her lips parted as she inhaled a deep breathe to calm her heart which felt the restlessness back inside seeing his wound.

The moment in the car when her sidharth was struggling to breathe flashed in front of her eyes. He looked so vulnerable and helpless to breathe in those moments.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as the visuals haunted her deep inside. Those negative thoughts in those moments were making her feel suffocated.

Him unable to breathe had taken her own breathes too. She could never see him in such situation ever. It was just too much for her to take.

She understands that he had been operated. The wound will take time to heal but he will be fine yet her heart dropped into her stomach for him.

Why did he had to go through this? What was his fault? He had never done anything wrong with anyone. Though he punishes cruel people in his own way but he never harmed an innocent.

He himself was an innocent too. The life he chose, it was the circumstances which made him choose this life.

He was just a small kid in this giant body. The kid he only let her to see, the kid which only comes out in front of her.

He deserved only happiness. He deserved live, unconditional love. God has given him enough pain to take any more tests of his.

Biting her lower lip she pushed her tears back while her hand moved closer to touch his face. Realising something she pulled her hand back before she could touch his face.

He had just gone through a surgery, they were still in OT. Though she came inside after sanitising her hands yet her heart didn't let her touch him.

She could wait instead of causing any infection to him. If anything more happens to him because of her negligence, she will not to be able to take that.

She should not have entered inside on the first place but the need to see him once made her come in the OT.

Getting up she looked at him longing in her eyes for him. Sending a silent prayer to God for his well being she stepped back going away from her.

She didn't want to but she had to. Walking back towards the door she turned to look at him once.

The urge to look into his eyes made her look at him with hope again wanting him to open his eyes even knowing he won't made her wait near the door but he was still the same.

With a painful yet relieved smile on her face with eyes getting moist again, she moved out of the OT.

Her sidharth was strong, very strong. He will be fine very soon.

________________________________________

"Papa aapke paas aapka mobile hai?" shehnaaz looked at her father as the three of them stood in the corridor.

"Haan puttar mere paas hi hai mobile to" rajbir ji took out the mobile from his pant pocket and passed it to her.

She quickly dialed her number from her father's mobile. Her mobile was in her room. She expected payal to answer the call.

"Hello" payal said from the other side. She could feel the worry in her voice as she and dadi were yet not informed about sidharth being out of danger.

"Haan payal shehnaaz bol rahi hun, sidharth theek hain abhi..dadi ko bhi bta dena unko tention ho rahi hogi" shehnaaz informed easing out the worry of both the ladies at home.

"Shukar hai bhagwan ka, sidharth bhai jldi bilkul theek ho jayengi tu tention mat lena sanu" payal said relieved keeping the mobile on speaker as dadi was sitting beside her.

She didn't know how shehnaaz must have dealt with the situation. In these days she had seen how sensitive she was and tonight the situation was very tough for her. Listening her calm voice she understood that shehnaaz was fine now.

"Payal ek kaam krna hai tumhe" shehnaaz said softly making payal confuse as what could she do being at home.

"Haan bol na sanu, kya karun" asked payal looking at dadi who looked stress free now. Since the moment they had taken sidharth dadi was extremely worried for her grandchildren and just kept praying for their well being.

"Jo diye humne decorate kiye the na aaj raat ko jagane k liye, vo diye saare ghar mai jaga do..kahin bhi andhera nhi hona chahiye..jo lights sidharth aur raghav ne lagayi thi vo bhi jaga do" instructed shehnaaz making dadi smile listening to her grand daughter's wish. She was happy with her decision. It was a good sign.

Shehnaaz didn't want to have darkness in their house tonight. It was still some hours left for the Diwali night to end.

Though they couldn't celebrate diwali as they wished but they could light up the whole house fading away all the darkness from their house.

For sidharth this festival got ruined years back and the same repeated this time too but this time he fought back winning this battle of life.

His naaz was there with him this time. She didn't let him lost himself like before. She fought this battle with him for him. He had to come out victories for her, for them.

"Sanu puttar, tu chinta mat kar bache...hum saare ghar mai roshni kar denge, sidharth puttar theek ho gya hai, ghar to roshan hona hi chahiye.. tention na le puttar, hum jaga denge diye aur ghar mai bhagwan ki koi murti nhi hai bache, jab bhi ghar aao Ganesh Bhagwan ji ki murti sath le k aana, vighanharta k ghar hote hue koi vighan nhi aayega zindagi mai bache" dadi made her understand making her agree with dadi's thought. She didn't realise this before but now will definitely bring Ganesh ji at home.

"Pkka dadi, jab bhi ghar aayenge Bappa ko sath le k aayenge" shehnaaz smiled with the thought.

Though Shergills were Sikhs but they always respected every religion from their heart. The thought to bringing Bappa at home made shehnaaz happy.

"Kisi bhi dharm mai vishwas rakho par respect har religion ki kro. Bhagwan to ek hi hain bass unko bulane k naam alg alg hain"

"Chal ab tu wahan dhyaan rakh aur hum yahan sab kar lenge" payal said hugging dadi who patted her head lovingly. They two had made a great bond in this one day.

"Haan theek hai aur mai papa ko bhi ghar bhej deti hun...wo bhi thak gye honge yahan" shehnaaz said and soon ended the call a while later.

"Papa aapka mobile, aur aap ab ghar chale jao..hum hain yahan" giving the mobile back to her father who was now sitting on a chair feeling tired shehnaaz said sitting beside him.

"Koi baat ni puttar, mai ruk jaunga yahan..koi dikkat nhi hai" even being tired he didn't want to gi home atleast not before meeting sidharth once.

Never in his life he had thought that one day sidharth would become such an important part of their lives. He was still unaware that how much sidharth had craved to have a family which he sees in them now.

"Uncle shehnaaz is right..aap baithe baithe kaafi thak bhi gye hain...aap jayiye ghar, mai shehnaaz k sath ruk rha hun yahan..jo bodyguards aap ko aur dadi ko Raichand mansion mai le k aaye the unka number hai aapke pass?" asked raghav standing beside rajbir ji.

"Haan hain number" nodding his head at him rajbir ji dialed one of the guard's number and passed the mobile to him.

Raghav took the mobile from him and called them in the hospital to take rajbir ji back home.

The guards were in the city only as raghav had sent them back right then. Obeying to raghav the guards assured him that they will reach soon to the hospital.

"Thodi der mai guards aa jayenge to aap to unke sath ghar bhej denge" raghav said giving his mobile back to him while rajbir ji nodded his head unwantedly as he didn't want to go.

"Papa aap tention mat lo..abhi ghar ja k rest kar lo aur payal aur dadi k sath diwali ka matha bhi tek lena.. morning mai aa jana sidharth se milne" sitting on her knees in front of her father she said lovingly holding his both hands in hers making him give her a slight smile.

"theek hai puttar, tu bhi dhyaan rakhna air raghav koi bhi zroorat lage to mujhe call kar dena" patting shehnaaz's head rajbir ji made her sit beside him and made raghav nod too.

The three of them set there on the chairs silently lost in their thoughts. Half an hour later the guards reached in the hospital. Raghav went with rajbir ji to leave him till parking while shehnaaz stayed there.

"Raghav mujhe aapse baat krni hai kuchh" shehnaaz said being serious as raghav came back there after sending rajbir ji with the guards.

"Haan shehnaaz bolo, kya baat hai" sensing the seriousness in her tone raghav was alert.

"Kaise bhi pta kro k ye kisne kiya hai, sidharth par goli kisne chalayi mujhe vo insaan mere samne chahiye" she looked at him with extreme calm. The came felt as dangerous as her sidharth in his calm.

For a moment raghav could see sidharth's reflection in her. The way she talked he felt that vibe of sidharth in her. He was seriously surprised listening to her words. What would she do of that person who shot sidharth?

"Shehnaaz are you sure?" raghav asked not aware of what was going in her mind. He couldn't understand what she wanted to do.

"I need to know who did this raghav" she looked into his eyes with her eyes totally emotionless this time. He felt scared seeing her like this but nodded his head at her.

"Rana ko bhi chot lagi thi..i am not sure but i think usse bhi issi hospital mai laya gya hai..i need to arrange a mobile for myself first aur reception pai bhi pta krta hun rana k baare mai, ussi se pta chal skta hai k ye kiska kaam hai" raghav said forgetting that she didn't know about rana's kidnap.

"Rana bhai ko kaise lagi chot? sidharth sach mai unhe lene hi gya tha na raghav? I want to know the exact truth" shehnaaz said sternly thinking she was told a lie about sidharth been gone to get raghav home for diwali.

"Rana ko kisi ne kidnap kar liya tha, ussi ko lene gya tha sidharth" raghav said telling her the actual truth this time.

He himself didn't know more about the case that who was the kidnapper or what did he want.

"theek hai aap pta kro rana bhai ka bhi aur agar vo issi hospital mai hain to mujhe bhi milna hai unse" declared shehnaaz with calm yet the sternness was there in her voice making raghav nod his head again.

She didn't like that sidharth still keep hiding things from her. Though his mind works differently and she understands that but she will not tolerate his this thing anymore.

"Okay then mai ye sab kaam krte aata, will you be able to manage here alone till then?" asked raghav concerned.

He wasn't sure if he should go leaving her alone there or not. The way she was getting so serious about this matter, he doubted if she would do something herself in this matter.

"I'll manage, aao jao" shehnaaz kept her voice polite this time. Obeying to her raghav went away from there.

Taking a deep breath shehnaaz set back on the chair. Resting her head back on the wall she closed her eyes.

_______________________________________

Pacing restlessly in front of the room shehnaaz kept waiting for the door to get open. It's been 10 minutes since sidharth has been shifted in a normal room from OT.

Doctor has been examining him and no one was allowed to go inside until doctor doesn't assure that everything was fine.

Another 5 minutes passed and finally the door opened. Doctor came out along with a nurse.

"Dr. sidharth is fine na? anything to worry about?" shehnaaz looked at doctor with hope to hear that her sidharth was completely fine and they didn't need to worry about anything.

"Sidharth is fine.. though his case was very crucial but he was strong enough to go through this..he did not give up on himself and that's what made this operation successful..thodi der mai unhe hosh aa jayega par thodi der k liye.. strong medication di jayegi unhe because he needs to be relaxed and stress free" doctor informed her politely making her nod at him understanding every thing carefully.

"Atleast for a week he needs to be admitted here.  jitna zyadan rest krenge vo utna achha hai unke liye..unke stitches par bilkul bhi pressure nhi padna chahiye means no hand movements..nurses will be taking care of everything and i will be on round too" doctor explained her everything in detail.

The moment doctor said that nurses will be taking care of him, irritation could be seen taking over her. She didn't like the fact that any other woman would be taking care of her sidharth.

Why anyone else? She was there to take good care of him. Why would any other woman touch her husband. Her lips twisted in annoyance even before her own knowledge that how did she react.

"Doctor i myself will take care of my husband...aur jo bhi bandage change krni hogi or anything such, vo aap khud hi kren ya phir kisi aur dr. ko appoint kar dijiye yahan"  shehnaaz demanded keeping her tone polite.

A smile came on doctor's face seeing her possessiveness for her husband. Though the fact that sidharth and shehnaaz were married was still difficult for the doctor to digest as these two belonged to two totally different worlds.

The way she had threatened doctor to not to stop sidharth"s operation, dr. could understand sidharth's importance in her life.

He was curious to know about these two but chose not to interfere in someone's personal life. He was a middle aged family man and understands well that one should not take interest in someone's family.

"As you wish shehnaaz. I am a surgeon so can't be just here checking your husband but a doctor will be appointed for him..and you can go inside now..take care" bringing relief to her senses doctor excused himself and went away from there. 

Standing in front of the room she looked at the door with a slight smile on her lips. Finally she could meet her sidharth.

Taking in a deep breathe she opened the door and went inside. Moving closer to the bed she could see him laying there with his eyes still closed.

Taking the stool placed beside his bed she set there looking at him. When will he open his eyes and look at her? She couldn't take this more of him still not opening his eyes.

Though doctor had told her that he will be up soon but the time felt going too slow for her. She just wanted to see herself in his deep oceanic eyes to relieve her restless heart.

Getting up from the stool she moved closer to him. Looking at him she bent on his bed leaning her face closer to his.

"Sidharth" closing her eyes she breathed his name while placing her lips on his forehead.

A deep breathe he took in as if he felt her touch. Her lips on his forehead, he could feel that. His subconscious mind could make him feel her presence, her soft touch on himself.

"Naaz" a soft mumble left his mouth making her gasp softly. He breathed her name though he was still not up.

Her face was closer to his which made her listen to his almost inaudible mumble.

Opening her eyes with hope to look into his she could see his eyes were still closed while restlessness could be seen on his face.

The restlessness to see her, his naaz took over him.  His subconscious mind felt the need to make him open his eyes feeling her touch, her feel.

His eyes flickered slowly bringing a soft smile  her lips while the moistness in her eyes made her vision blur.

Finally her sidharth was coming back in his senses. She felt herself getting her senses back.

"Sidharth" keeping her palm softly on his cheek she whispered again wanting him to open his eyes if he could hear her voice.

The more she made him feel her touch, the more his need to see her,to feel her got intensified.

Moving his eyes restlessly he slowly opened his eyes looking directly into hers getting a loud sob from her. Her sidharth was back.

His lips curved into a slight smile seeing his naaz in front of his eyes. It felt inside as if he was seeing her after ages.

Closing his eyes he inhaled a soft breathe. The surrounding felt uncomfortable for seconds to him as he just got back into his senses.

Worry took over her again seeing him closing his eyes again. She was about to shout for the doctor in panic but got relaxed seeing him opening his eyes back.

"theek ho na?" holding his face in her hands she looked at him with her moist eyes which showed her worry, her restlessness for him.

"Hmm" a soft hum left his mouth in her response making her kiss his forehead again.

She didn't have the strength to see him in any more pain. All she wanted was him to be all fine soon.

"kahin dard ho rha hai? dr. ko bulaun?" her thumb caressed his cheek softly while her eyes were soft now yet worry could still be seen in her eyes for him.

"theek hun naaz, don't worry..." he managed to say slowly but a wince left his mouth as him speaking put pressure on his stitches.

"Sidharth kya hua, ho rha hai na dard tumhe, tum bta ni rhe na" her eyes filled with tears again just listening his slight wince.

The incident happened few hours ago had made her lot more emotional than before. An unknown fear had gripped her heart for forever which they were yet to realise.

In extreme worry for him she turned to go out and call the doctor but his slight grip on her wrist didn't let her move from her place.

Turning her face back towards him she looked at him ready to cry. Sighing he pulled her hand with all his strength letting her know that he wanted her to come closer.

Getting his silent demand she leaned closer to him bringing her face closer to his as he gestured her through his eyes.

"theek hun mai, bass bolne se takleef ho rhi hai" sidharth whispered slowly closer to her ear so that she could hear him properly.

"to mat bolo sidharth, koi zroorat nhi hai baat krne..tum bss chup chap lete rho..mai hun tumhare pass yahin" getting his words she instantly denied him to talk.

If it was hurting him, he didn't need to talk.

"Sit" looking at her he demanded her to sit beside him on the bed. She set beside him making sure not to hurt him.

Entangling his fingers into hers he held her hand firmly making her look at him. His eyes looked deep into hers, the pain to see him in such condition was clearly visible in her eyes.

The more he looked into her eyes, the more he could see how much it affected her to see him hurt.

Realising slowly that how he went home all drenched in blood, it must had been very difficult for her to take.

His naaz was so sensitive, how did she manage him and herself? She must have felt more pain to see him in pain.

They has been known to each other to such depth that they could understand the reactions of each other in every situation.

They were know to every deep layer to each other to understand how much they care for each other, to which extreme intensity they love each other.

A tear drop fell on their joint hand making him look at her. She was crying silently.

It made him feel pain inside seeing her tears. The tears were for him, because of him. She had to go through all this.

The sudden urge to take her in his arms, to hide her in his embrace took over him. He wanted to keep her protected in his arms like always.

"Don't naaz" sidharth uttered slowly as another tear drop fell on his hand. His words made her realised that she was crying.

She was too lost in him to feel her tears falling down her eyes. Wiping her tears instantly she pushed the moistness back in her eyes making him inhale a soft breathe.

"tumse bhut kuchh bolna hai sidharth, bhut dantna hai tumhe, par abhi nhi..jab ghar jayenge tab dantungi" a soft smile came on his lips seeing her glaring him cutely.

The smile vanished soon as he saw her turning her face to other side to hide her tears from him. How could he not see her tears?

Tightening his hold on her fingers he made her look back to him. Nodding his head in no he demanded her not to cry.

Nodding at him she looked up trying to push her tears back making his heart drop into his stomach.

A thin layer of moistness came in his eyes seeing his naaz trying to control her tears so hard.
Seeing tears in his eyes too she bite her lips not to cry.

Moving her both hands closer to his face, she pressed her fingers in the corner of his eyes wiping those drops before they could fall down his eyes.

A knock on the door took their attention. Getting up shehnaaz stood beside him while a doctor entered in the room.

"How are you feeling sidharth? feeling any kind of pain?" the doctor asked with a polite smile. It was another doctor in his 30s.

"Dr. sidharth ko bolne se takleef hui thi" answered shehnaaz for sidharth not wanting him to feel pain again while speaking.

"That's normal, abhi kuchh ghante hi hue hain operation hue, aap koi bhi movements avoid kren taki aapke stitches par koi pressure na pade..abhi i will give you a injection..jitna zyadan aapko rest milegi, utni jldi u will be fine" the doctor explained politely while sidharth just nodded his head.

After injecting sidharth, the doctor went out leaving the two alone again.

Holding her hand he demanded her to sit beside him again and she did. Her hand moved to his cheek and she started caressing his cheek softly making him lean his face on her palm.

His eyes never left hers while her fingers played with his softly. Their eyes talked in the silence.

Within next few minutes his eyes started to get heavy. The need to close his eyes took over him but he didn't want to close his eyes.

"So jao sidharth, u need to sleep..yahin hun mai" leaning her face closer to his she kissed his forehead making him close his eyes.

Soon he was asleep holding her one hand and leaning his face on her other hand looking like a small kid. Smiling softly she brought his hand closer to his lips and kissed it.

The door opened again and this time raghav entered inside. Waking closer to his bed he saw sidharth asleep keeping his face on shehnaaz's palm.

"theek hai ab ye?" asked raghav looking at sidharth with a smile. Turning her face towards him shehnaaz nodded her head at him making his smile grow big.

Kissing his forehead one more time shehnaaz slowly took her hand back from beneath is cheek. Getting her other hand free too she stood up without disturbing his sleep.

"We need to talk raghav" shehnaaz moved out of the room followed by raghav.

"Ma'am ye aapke husband ka samaan hai" a nurse handed her a plastic hand bag which had sidharth's clothes.

"Thank you" taking the bag shehnaaz thanked her politely. The nurse nodded her head and went from there.

Keeping the bag closer to her chest shehnaaz fely something hard in the bag. Looking at the bag keenly she realised it was his belt.

His belt! Something came in her mind.

______________________________________

Early morning it was. The next day has started.
The car stopped in front of an old house.

Opening the passenger door shehnaaz came out of the car followed by raghav from the driver's side.

"Shehnaaz are you sure?" raghav asked one more time and the emotionless look on her face was his answer.

Turning back towards the car shehnaaz opened the back door while raghav stood there confused thinking what was she doing.

Seconds later she moved out and closed the door. Her hand had a belt this time. Sidharth's belt.

Raghav widened his eyes understanding what she must be going to do with the belt. He was scared now seeing her all calm just like sidharth.

Sighing he led her towards the old house while she chose to walk ahead holding the belt in her firm hold.

Raghav feared, how sidharth will react when he get to know about this!