Safar mein mushkilen aayen toh jurrat aur badh jaati hai

Koi jab rasta roke toh
Himmat aur badh jaati hai.

The incessant noise from outside confirmed that the unwanted guests had arrived. Naina sat in her room, wrenching her hands and biting her lips. Preeti paced around, fisting her hands each time taiji's fake laughter resonated in the house.

After few minutes, chachiji called out from the door, "Preeti, beta Naina ko le aa."

Preeti gulped and looked at her sister.

Nervously, she pulled her hand, "Chal behen, bula rahe hain."

Naina got up like a robot, as Preeti held her elbow and led her out of the room.

Since Naina did not look up even once, she could not understand why Preeti flinched.

The boy sitting in their living room was none other than the one Naina had collided with... at Swati's engagement.

"Yeh champu", Preeti muttered under her breath.

Chachiji held Naina and made her sit on the swing in front of the boy and his parents. All eyes were on her... she herself did not lift up her gaze.

When taiji asked her to serve tea, she mechanically held the tray in front of everyone, without noticing who she was serving.

"Kya karti ho beta?" The lady, boy's mother, asked her in excessive sweet voice.

Seeing no response coming from Naina, taiji quickly spoke up, "College mein padhti hai... doosre saal ki pariksha di hai abhi."

"Konse college mein?" The boy wanted to know.

Taiji cleared her throat, giving an angry look to Bela, "Mumbai mein."

The lady widened her eyes, "Mumbai mein akeli padhti hai... rehti kahan hai?"

"Wahan college mein hi hostel hai... scholarship pe gayi hai... bohot hoshiyaar hai", Tauji chipped in.

The guests looked at each other.

The boy looked at his mother and signalled something. She nodded lightly.

"Dekhiye Bina behen, humare ghar ki bahu college vollege toh nahi jayegi... aur Mumbai mein akele rehne ka toh sawal hi nahi uthta",  she said in a firm voice, then looked at tauji, " aur bhai sahab, ladki kitni bhi hoshiyaar ho, sambhalana toh ghar hi hai na... ab isse padhai chod ke ghar ke kaam seekhne chahiye."

Preeti could feel her blood boil as her nails caused wounds in her tightly fisted hands.

Chachiji looked at tauji and taiji in panic, not happy with the mentality of the people sitting here, "Woh, behenji, ek hi saal toh bacha hai college ka... iske chachaji bhi chahte hain ki yeh apni padhai poori kare."

Taiji gave a threatening look to her, "O bai, Bela, Anand babu se bade baithe hai yahan... agar sasural wale nahi bhejenge toh kaise college jayegi... aur behenji theek keh rahi hain... sambhalna toh ghar hi hai... phir faltu mei  itna padh ke kya karegi."

She looked at the lady, "Aap chinta mat kijiye, jaise aap log kahenge, Naina waisa hi karegi."

The three people looked at each other in satisfaction.

The boy nudged his mother again and she briefly looked at him, blinking once.

"Bina behen, hamein toh aapki beti ussi din pasand aa gayi thi... bas ab zara ladka ladki aapas mein baat kar lein toh hamare Sharad ko bhi usse samajhne ka mauka mil jayega",  boy's mother gave a big smile, looking at Naina.

Taiji adjusted her pallu and looked at tauji. He nodded.

"Haan... haan... kyon nahi... Preeti, Naina aur Sharad babu ko apne kamre mein le jaa." Taiji instructed a fuming Preeti.

Naina, who was sitting throughout like a dummy, quietly got up when Preeti tapped her arm, walking with her head lowered and eyes fixed to the ground.

As Sharad occupied one of the chairs kept near the table, Preeti made Naina sit on the other one.

"Tu darna mat... main darwaze par hi hun",  she whispered in her ear before giving a stony look to Sharad.

As the door closed behind Preeti, Sharad observed the girl sitting stifly in front of him.

"Tum aaram se baith jao... tumhara hi ghar hai", he laughed at his own joke.

Naina didn't move.

He bent a little, "Dekho, jaisa tumne bahar suna, mujhe aur mere ghar walon ko tumhara college jaana pasand nahi hai... toh tum ab wapas Mumbai mat jaana... baaki tumhe toh pata hi hoga shaadi se pehle saare ghar ke kaam aur khana banana seekhna hai... woh mummy ko bohot intezaar hai ki kab unki bahu aaye aur sab kuch sambhale."

He looked at her downcast eyes.

"Tum ek baar mujhe dekh sakti ho... kahin aisa na ho shaadi ke samay pata hi na chale mala kiske gale mein dalni hai",  his laughter had no affect on Naina.

"Bohot sharmati ho... achha ye lo chai to pee lo", he forwarded the cup kept on the table.

When Naina did not move, he shifted in his chair and tried to hold her hand, to place the cup in it.

The moment his fingers touched Naina, she got a jolt. Pulling back her hand, she stared at it in disgust and ran to the washroom, to clean it.

Sharad waited for a while, then got up and went out.

Everyone looked at him with curious eyes. He sat next to his mother and whispered in her ear.

She nodded and straightened, looking at taiji, " Achha Bina behen, ab chalte hain... baad mein phone karenge."

Taiji tried to stop them but they left in a hurry.

"Nainaaa",  the anger in her voice was clear indication of danger.

When Naina did not respond, taiji stormed inside her room, looking around.

"Kahan hai woh karamjali?" She roared at Preeti.

"Bathroom mein hai"

Taiji banged the door of the washroom, "Bahar nikal, Naina".

The door opened... Naina stepped out slowly.

Taiji pulled her to the center of the room, " Itna achha rishta layi thi tere liye... kya kiya tune jo woh log aise bhaag gaye?"

Naina stood mum... not complaining about the pain on her wrist where taiji held her in iron grip.

"Ab muh mein dahi jamaya hai kya... bata kya kaha tune Sharad babu se." Her anger elevated at the silence.

She pinched hard on Naina's waist... increasing the pressure till she winced in pain.

"Ab dard hua? Hamein bhi tujhe dekhke aise hi dard hota hai... kab tak hamare yahan manhusiyat failayegi?  Achha bhala rishta tha... sarkari naukri hai ladke ki... bade daftar mein clerk hai... isse aage tujhe kya milega?" Her words were more tormenting than the pain she was inflicting with her hands.

Chachiji and Preeti could not see the torture.

"Chodiye na bhabhiji, yeh bechari kya kahegi unse... subah se ekdum gum hoke baithi hai... unko hi kuch kami lagi hogi", chachiji tried to pull taijj away from Naina as Preeti held Naina's shoulders.

"Chup Bela, aaj iska dimag thikane lagana zaroori hai... kya samajhti hai khud ko... hoor pari hai... kahin ki maharani hai... kya lagta hai isse, koi rajkumar aayega iske liye... arre woh toh meri wajah se itna achha ladka mil raha tha, warna iski shakal dekh ke toh koi dur se hi bhaag jaaye... aur upar se jali hui kundali leke aayi hai... hamare ghar se pata nahi kab iska kaala saaya hatega." Taiji's anger spilled venom.

Tears flowed down Naina's eyes as she stood motionless.

Chachiji and Preeti were crying too, trying to pull Naina away.

Finally, taijj decided that she had given enough lesson for today. Jerking Naina's hand away, she stormed out of the room.

Preeti immediately held Naina, who almost collapsed... along with chachiji, she made her sit on the bed.

"Jaa Preeti, jaldi se paani leke aa", her mother comforted Naina, holding her close to her chest.

Preeti ran to the kitchen, returning a moment later with a glass of water. They made Naina have a few sips, in between her sobs.

The silent tears had turned into uncontrollable weeping. Pain caused by the upheaval since morning flew out in the form of tears.

Preeti and chachiji sat with her for a long time, neither speaking anything.

All the tension and crying made Naina drift off to sleep. Preeti placed her head delicately on the pillow and pulled a cover on her as chachiji left the room.

The shrill sound of phone made Preeti run and grab it before it woke up Naina.

"Hello"

"Hello, Preeti?" Swati spoke up from the other side.

Preeti let out a deep breath, "Haan Swati, bol."

"Mujhe Munna ka phone aaya tha... Sameer subah se koshish kar raha hai par Naina se baat nahi hui... bohot pareshan hai woh... sab theek hai na?" Her voice was tensed.

Preeti narrated everything to Swati, who listened with astonished gasps.

"Main tujhe thodi der mein phone karti hun... waise kya abhi Naina se baat ho sakti hai? Main bolun Sameer ko phone karne ke liye?" Swati was worried for both of them.

Preeti glanced at the sleeping form of her sister, "Abhi toh Naina so gayi hai... subah se bechari ke saath kya kya hua hai... abhi nahi uthaungi usse... sone dete hain."

Swati said she would call up shortly, after informing the boys.

The phone rang again in a few minutes and Preeti listened keenly, nodding in between.

When Naina woke up, it was already dark outside. The room was quiet. She looked around. There was no one. The light from electric pole outside their window that usually filtered through the curtains was missing today. She peeped out and realised that the bulb was out of order.

Looking down at herself dressed in a saree, the events of the day came rushing back... and her eyes filled up with tears. She looked around for the phone... Sameer needed to know. The search in the room proved futile. She rushed out.

Chachiji was in the kitchen. Seeing her, she immediately came out, "Naina, uth gayi beta... chal kapde badal le... main khana laga deti hun."

She unsuccessfully tried to smile, "Chachiji, mujhe bhookh nahi hai."

Cupping her face, chachiji spoke softly, "Beta, main janti hun tujhe kitna dukh hua hai bhabhiji ki baaton se... par tu chinta mat kar... maine tere chachaji ko phone pe sab bata diya hai... woh jaldi aane ki koshish kar rahe hain."

Naina looked at her with vacant eyes, then turned and went back to her room. She took the white kurta from her cupboard and went to change.

Preeti was waiting for her when she came out, "Behen, chal khana khate hain."

With great difficulty, she made Naina eat a few morsels. After food, Naina brought the cordless to her room and dialled Sameer's number. There was no response. She tried several times but no one picked up.

Preeti came in when Naina was on her seventh attempt, "Main aaj baahar so rahi hun... mujhe pehle kuch kaam karna hai toh light jalani padegi... tu aaram se soja."

Naina was surprised as Preeti was not the one to sacrifice her sleep for some work. But she was not in a state of reasoning much.

After another few attempts, Naina gave up trying to call... maybe he was out somewhere with Munna Pandit.

Naina sat on the bed, staring into darkness as Preeti had switched off the light before going.

Recollection of whatever had happened brought tears to her eyes again... and the frustration of not being able to talk to Sameer added to her helplessness.

She was so lost that the thud sound from balcony went unheard. A hand on the shoulder made her jump and look up.

Sameer stared at her... with red eyes.

It took her a moment to realise... and then she leapt from the bed... into his arms.

Sameer held her close... his one hand comforting her head while the other stroked her back.

Naina clutched his t-shirt, letting the tears wet his chest as her body rocked with fresh bout of crying.

Sameer could not control his tears either.

Both stood for a long time, holding onto each other... one seeking comfort and the other seeking assurance.

When he felt her sobs die down, he slowly moved... cupping her face, he looked down.

Her eyes were puffy, her nose had gone red at the tip, her cheeks were wet with tears and her lips had small marks due to constant biting.

Bending down, he kissed her forehead.

"I Love You", his voice choked.

Few tears spilled on her cheeks, as she bit her lip again.

"Main tumhe kahin nahi jaane dunga... mujhse koi cheen nahi sakta tumhe",  he wiped the tears with his thumb.

"Nahi Sameer, main kabhi kisi aur ki ho hi nahi sakti... sirf aur sirf tumhari hun",  she smiled for the first time since morning, raising her hand to wipe his tears.

He smiled too.

Making her sit on the bed, he went to the door of her room and locked it. Coming back to the bed, he knelt in front of her and took her hands in his, "Main bohot dar gaya tha, Naina."

She shivered, recalling the moment in the morning when she was told about it, "Dar toh main bhi gayi thi."

"Agar woh haan bol dete toh...?" The thought had been eating him since he came to know.

"Toh... toh main bhag ke tumhare ghar aa jati... hamesha ke liye", the determined look in her eyes was enough for him.

He slipped his hands around her waist... and Naina flinched.

He got up immediately, "Kya hua?"

She shook her head, "Nahi... woh bas... zara lag gayi thi."

He narrowed his eyes... then switched on the lamp on her study table.

"Dikhao."

Her eyes went wide, "Sameer... zyaada nahi hai... aur tum... kaise... "

He held her face, "Naina, jab tum sab chod kar mere ghar aa sakti ho, hamesha ke liye, toh kya main tumhari chot par marham bhi nahi laga sakta?"

She bit her lip again, "Par... Sameer... woh chot... matlab... samne nahi hai."

"Jahan bhi hai... mujhe haq hai dekhne ka", his voice was soft,  but firm.

She lowered her eyes and shifted to the side, slowly reaching the slit of her kurta.

Her hand trembled as she clutched the kurta... not able to move.

Sameer placed his hand on hers, lifting the side of her kurta.

Few inches of skin later, he could see two huge blue bruises... his jaw clenched.

He looked at her face... her eyes were hidden behind the veil of lashes.

He lightly touched the marks with two fingers... and she hissed.

"Dawai kaha hai?"

"Huh?" She looked at him.

"Dawai, Naina... lagani padegi",  he said softly.

She pointed to the drawer in the cupboard. He got up to fetch the first aid box.

Kneeling again in front of her, he took some ointment on his fingers and rubbed lightly on her waist... holding the kurta up to get proper access.

Once done, he pulled down the kurta, looking at her face, " Kisne kiya?"

Naina felt the suppressed anger in his voice, she kept quiet.

"Taiji ne?"

She nodded.

"Aur kuch bhi?"

She held her wrist to him, the marks of taiji's fingers clearly visible.

Sameer held her hand delicately and stared at the marks... his eyes flashing with anger...

Then he lifted her hand and placed his lips on the marks... kissing softly all around the wrists.

Naina sat lost in the sensations his touch was awakening in her.

Suddenly, she leaned and kissed on his head.