Next few weeks went by peacefully... the atmosphere at home remained calm, except occasional bantering by taiji, who had recovered and started storming in their house just about anytime... demanding something or the other.

Naina could find ways to meet Sameer often... Preeti's parlour classes had started again  so it wasn't very difficult to go out. At times, Swati helped by taking her along.

One morning, Naina was sitting in front of the mirror, combing her wet hair and thinking about previous night's phone conversation with Sameer.

The shrill ring startled her.

Quickly, she picked up the cordless, a knot of fear forming in her abdomen.

"Hello"

Swati's voice made her breathe easy, but only for a moment, "Naina... sun... kya abhi Munna tujhe phone kar sakta hai? Kuch zaroori baat karni hai."

Her heart started thudding with some unknown fear, "Kya hua, Swati?  Sameer toh theek hai na?"

"Haan, theek hai... bas Munna kuch baat karna chahta hai, bolun usse phone karne ko?"

Naina said yes and quickly disconnected, waiting for Munna's call. Within a few seconds, the phone started to ring. She picked it up instantly.

"Hello Munna, kya hua Sameer ko? Woh theek hai?"

Munna's voice was tensed, "Bhabhi, Sameer waise toh theek hai par bohot gusse mein hai... subah uski mummy ka phone aaya tha... tabse uska dimag ekdum garam hai... maine aur Pandit ne bohot koshish ki par hamse sambhal nahi raha... itna gussa usse pehle ek do baar hi dekha tha... tab toh nanaji ne sambhal liya tha... ab sirf tum usse sambhal sakti ho... kya tum yahan aa sakti ho?"

Naina's heart sank.

"Main... main bas thodi der mein aati hun." She assured him in a shaky voice.

Preeti, who had just come out of the bathroom, saw her sister's white face and ran to her, "Naina, kya hua? Tu itni ghabrayi hui kyon hai? Sab theek hai na?"

She looked at Preeti, her lost eyes pooling up, "Mujhe Sameer ke ghar jaana hai... usse meri zaroorat hai."

On hearing the reason for her condition, Preeti asked her to get ready quickly. She herself dressed up and went to the kitchen to tell her mother that she and Naina have to go to the parlour early as a makeup demonstration was to be given on a client who was coming in the morning.

Bela asked them to at least have their breakfast but Preeti said they were already late.

The sisters rushed out of the house and hailed a rickshaw to Sameer's house. Preeti accompanied her as she could not go to the parlour so early.

They found Munna and Pandit in the living room, pacing nervously.

Seeing her, Munna quickly gestured to Sameer's room, "Jaake dekho bhabhi, pagal ho gaya hai yeh ladka... kya haal banaya hai kamre ka."

She could hear the sound of things crashing on the floor, Sameer's angry voice booming in between.

Naina ran to his room... opening it a little.

Her jaw dropped at the condition of the room... clothes and books lay strewn everywhere, pieces of broken glass were on the ground, cupboard was open wide... amidst all this Sameer stood with his back to the door, hands fisted...

"Woh kya samajhti hain... main unke ishaare pe chalunga... aaj yaad aayi hai... Munna Pandit, tum chale jao yahan se... mujhe kisi se baat nahi karni", he screamed without turning, thinking that the door was opened by his friends.

Naina shivered at his voice... she had never heard him talk like this.

"Sameer... " her soft voice made him stop midway in the action of throwing another book that had escaped his wrath.

He brought his hand down and turned abruptly.

Seeing her standing at the door, the book slipped from his hands.

Naina saw his dark face, his disheveled hair, his clenched teeth, the veins standing out on his neck, red threads of anger visible in his eyes ... this Sameer was new to her.

"Tum yahan kyon aayi ho, Naina? Abhi tum jao... ", he said in a voice which had turned hoarse due to shouting.

"Sameer, yeh sab kya hai?" She asked in a low voice.

A sound of bitter laughter, which was more of pain, rose from his throat, "Yeh meri maa ka pyaar hai."

She stepped in, avoiding the stuff lying on the floor.

"Ruk jao, Naina... main nahi chahta tum yeh sab dekho... abhi chali jao yahan se", he said in a constricted voice, turning his back again to her.

She continued to walk in... reaching where he was standing.

Slowly she placed a hand on his back.

He jerked, yanking off the bedsheet from the bed, he screamed, "Maine kaha na jao... samajh nahi aata tumhe?"

Naina stood rooted, stunned by his anger.

"Main kisi se baat nahi karna chahta... kisi se bhi nahi." His loud voice boomed again.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself... and walked back to the door.

Sameer watched over his shoulder, seeing her going away.

She stopped at the door and looked back at him...

Then she closed the door, latching it from inside... and turned towards him.

"Main kahin nahi jaa rahi hun, Sameer."

He turned around to look at her, eyes flashing again with rage, "Tumhe bhi kuch nahi sunna... kisi ko nahi sunna main kya chahta hun..." he said with clenched teeth.

"Mujhe sunna hai... isiliye aayi hun", she walked back to him and held his wrist, dragging him to the couch.

Sameer again jerked her hand away, "Naina, main abhi bohot gusse mein hun... kahin tumhe chot na pohoncha dun... tum... tum... samajh nahi rahi ho... Naina, tumhare liye achha hoga tum mujhe aise na dekho."

She pulled him again, forcing him to sit on the couch. She herself kneeled in front of him, holding both his hands, "Tumne aaj tak mujhse apne saare dukh aur darr bante hain... fir aaj kyon nahi... Sameer, batao mujhe tumhe kis baat se itna dard hua hai."

He got up and walked to the window, pulling away his hands.

She stood up and waited.

Few minutes passed in silence... suddenly he took two long steps towards the cabinet and swept everything on the floor... crashing the glass bottles of lotion and aftershave.

Naina ran to him, holding his arm.

"Chodo mujhe, main iss layak hi nahi hun ki koi mujhe pyaar kare... arre, main toh shuru se hi aisa hun, sabko khud se dur bhaga deta hun... fir tum abhi tak kyon ruki ho?" His pitch was high again, the veins in the neck bulging as he spoke.

Naina did not speak, fighting the tears that filled up her eyes.

"Woh chahti hain main unki marzi se chalu... ab unhe meri yaad aayi hai... beta hai toh maa ki baat manni chahiye... maa... woh hain maa kehlane layak?" He screamed.

She kept her hold on his arm tight.

"Kehti hain shaadi karayengi meri... kisi Dilli ki ladki se... kyon?... kyonki unke pati ko business deal karni hai... main unki deal ka hissa hun... insaan nahi hun... unka kuch nahi lagta kya? Beta mana hi nahi kabhi toh ab kyon haq jata rahi hain", his fury seemed to be rising along with his pitch.

Naina felt the ground beneath her feet slip away... she tightened her hold on his arm... this time to support herself.

"Kehti hain main chota hun... kuch nahi samajhta... aur woh kya badi hain toh sab kuch samajhti hain? Mujhe kab samjha unhone? Hoti kaun hain mera pyaar mujhse cheenne wali." His voice choked as the emotions started to take over the rage.

Naina tried to push back her own fear... he needed her at this moment... she had to be strong for him.

Suddenly, Sameer slumped on the ground, not able to control anymore. Covering his face with his hands, he broke down.

Naina quickly kneeled next to him and held him close to her chest, her hands on his head, soothing him.

His tears made her own fall uncontrollably.

"Shh... Sameer... sab theek ho jayega... daro nahi... hum dono saath hain toh milke hum sab sambhal lenge", she tried to comfort him.

Sameer circled his arms around her and buried his face more, "Naina, woh tumhe mujhse chinna chahti hain." His voice was hardly coherent.

She patted his face, "Aisa hum hone hi nahi denge... hamein koi alag nahi kar sakta, Sameer."

He shifted closer, holding onto her like a kid, "Main nahi reh paunga tumhare bina."

Fresh tears started to fall from his eyes.

Naina kissed his head, "Main hamesha tumhare saath rahungi... tumse alag toh ab ho hi nahi sakti... tumhare bina meri saansein ruk jayengi."

He cried even more, all anger, all frustration, all bitterness flowing out.

Naina kept him close, keeping her chin on his head, rubbing his back, brushing her fingers in his hair, wiping off his tears repeatedly.

They sat in the same position for a long time, till she could feel his sobs die down.

Sameer took a deep breath and straightened, his face still wet with tears.

Naina came closer, cupping his face and turning it towards her... she started to dab his cheeks with her dupatta. Sameer saw her tear stained face and lifted his hand when she stopped him and shook her head. He was confused.

Naina bent her head and rubbed her one cheek first and then the second one against his shirt, near the heart.

She managed to bring a smile on his face.

As she straightened, his gaze fell on the big wet patch on her chest... he realised with a shock where he had been resting his head till now... his eyes darted back to her... there was no discomfort or annoyance in her expression... in fact her eyes were full of love... for him.

Taking a deep breath, he took her into his arms, finding solace in her warmth. She pressed her palms flat on his back, moulding into him.

When his breathing became normal, she moved back, keeping his hands in her hold.

"Ab batao kya hua?" She asked gently.

He lowered his eyes, "Sorry Naina, maine tumpe gussa kiya."

"Sameer, tumhe sorry bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... main janti hun tumhara gussa mere liye nahi tha," she consoled him.

He looked at her, "Par mujhe aise dekh kar tumhe bura laga hoga na... nafrat toh nahi karogi na mujhse?"

Naina held his shoulders and kissed both his cheeks, "Tumse nafrat toh main agle saat janam tak nahi kar sakti".

He held her hand and planted a kiss on it, "Thank you, mujhe itna pyar karne ke liye."

She rolled her eyes, "Nafrat nahi karungi yeh kaha hai... par gussa kar sakti hun... aur pitai bhi", she slapped him lightly, "agar fir kabhi thank you bola toh."

He smiled at her cuteness.