Naina had tumbled down quite a few stairs before Sameer caught her. The sound brought Ramdhari running.

"Hey bhagwan, yeh kya hua Naina bhabi ko?" He was horrified, bending down to see the cut on her forehead and a wound on her hand.

"Phone... phone kar doctor ko... jaldi." Sameer found his voice with difficulty.

Ramdhari hastened to the main hall.

Sameer picked up Naina in his arms, walking down the stairs carefully to avoid tripping on the clothes that lay strewn everywhere.

He had lifted her in his arms innumerable times... but the only memory that hit him now was the first time he had similarly taken her frail, unconscious body to the medical room in college three years back. She looked as vulnerable now as she looked then. He was awashed with a fresh pang of guilt... he had wanted to protect her even when he didn't talk to her in college, and now, when he should have taken care of her, all he had done was to bring his Naina back to the same condition.

"Mujhe maaf kardo, Naina... tumhare har dard ki wajah main hun." He mumbled, entering the door where he had left her in the morning.

After gently putting her on the bed, he stroked her hair, speaking in a choked voice, "I'm sorry, Naina... meri galti ne tumhara yeh haal kar diya... par main waada karta hun ab se kabhi aise gussa nahi karunga... pata nahi kaise main bhool gaya ki tum mere liye kitna kuch karti ho... main bohot bura hun, Naina jo tumhe samajh nahi paaya... lekin ab main samajh gaya hun... nanu bhi jaante the ki tumhe rishton ka kitna khyal hai... unhone kaha ki main hamesha tumhari baat maanu... main manunga abse Naina... hamesha... aur gussa bhi nahi karunga... tumne hi toh mera gussa khatam karwaya tha aur inn do dinon mein maine wohi gussa wapas laake tumpe hi dikha diya... mujhse bada bewakoof koi nahi hai jisse tum jaisi pyar karne wali biwi ki qadar nahi hai... par tum toh samajhdaar ho na, Naina... tum maaf kar dogi na mujhe? Wapas pyaar karogi na mujhe? Please Naina, mujse pyar karna band mat karna."

He held her hand, only to realise that it was still bleeding. He had wiped her forehead and hand with antiseptic by the time the doctor arrived.

"Arre Sameer, tumhari wife ke liye toh Dr Shaila ko bula lete... mujhe laga tumhari tabiyat kharab hai." Doctor was surprised.

Ramdhari had not mentioned the patient, just calling up the doctor who always visited their house for Sameer or nanaji.

"Aap nahi dekh payenge? Woh Naina... woh seediyon se gir ke behosh ho gayi hai." Sameer panicked.

"Main dekh leta hun." Doctor dragged a chair near the bed.

He checked her eyes, pulse and wounds on her forehead and hand

"Lagta hai bohot weakness hai... itne vrat wagerah rakhne se mana karo, Sameer... kitni kamzor hai yeh... kabse khana nahi khaya?" Doctor checked her with the stethoscope.

Sameer felt he had again been taken back in time, to the same moment... had she fainted for the same reason?

"Haan, doctor saab, Naina bhabhi ne subah nashta nahi kiya tha aur abhi bhi mana kar diya khane ke liye... lekin agar aaj vrat hai toh kal raat ka saara khana kyon fridge mein aise hi rakha hai? Sameer bhaiya, kya kal bhi vrat tha?" Ramdhari pondered innocently, looking at Sameer for answers.

He gulped. He was the reason for Naina's condition. She didn't eat last night because he refused to have dinner. His behaviour in the morning did not let her have breakfast either. But she made alu paranthas for him which he ate to his full.

Burying under guilt, he looked at the doctor, "Woh shayad Naina ne... shayad kal se... woh vrat nahi... main..."

"Arre haan doctor saab, Naina bhabhi ki chachiji bohot bimar hain... shayad isliye woh pareshan thi aur khana nahi khaya hoga." Ramdhari remarked, recalling how tensed she had been since last two days.

"Oh, lekin khud bimar padne se toh chachiji ke liye kuch nahi kar payengi na. Sameer, inhe zara healthy khana khane ko kaho, theek samay pe... itni kamzori achhi nahi hai sehat ke liye. Abhi toh koi problem nahi hai par aise hi karti rahi toh body mein immunity kam ho jayegi aur koi bimari lag sakti hai. Maheshwari ji hamesha khane ka bohot khyal rakhte the isliye unki sehat hamesha itni achhi rahi... woh toh kismat ki baat hai ki achanak heart attack aa gaya warna unhe koi taklif nahi thi. Main chote mote bukhar, pet dard ke alava kisi wajah se nahi aaya yahan." Doctor pressed Sameer's shoulder as he stood up after putting the bandage on her hand and a small plaster on her forehead.

Naina stirred a little, opening her eyes slowly. Doctor looked at her with a satisfied smile as her eyes moved to him after staying on Sameer for a few seconds.

"Lo, hosh aa gaya. Beta, aap bilkul theek ho, tension mat lo... bas khana pina mat chodo kisi bhi baat pe... aap khud itni kamzor ho jaogi toh iss bewakoof ka khyal kaun rakhega? Jai Prakash ji toh hamesha kehte the ki iski biwi hi isko sambhalegi... aapko apne nana sasur ki baat ka maan toh rakhna padega na." Doctor said in a tender voice.

She moved her head slightly, and felt a pain on her forehead. Her hand reached out to touch the bandaged part over the brow.

"Maathe ki chot gehri nahi hai, maine dawa laga di hai, do din mein theek ho jayegi... haath pe shayad kuch chubh gaya hai toh thoda time lagega... lagta toh nahi hai kahin aur lagi hai par fir bhi agar dard mehsoos ho ya kisi tarah ki ghabrahat lage toh phone kar dena... aur Dr Shaila ko bula lena... Naina ko unke saath zyada comfortable lagega... abhi inhe thoda juice pilao aur kuch halka khane ko do... dhyan rahe ki har do ghante mein kuch kha lein." Doctor briefed Sameer.

"Main... main dhyan rakhunga." He lowered his head, unable to look at anyone.

"Aaiye hum aapko chod dete hain." Ramdhari picked up doctor's bag.

He paused at the door, looking back, "Arre haan Sameer, aise karo, inka blood test karwa lo jab thodi tabiyat theek ho jaye... agle hafte le aana... mujhe lagta hai shayad anemic hain."

Sameer nodded, the tension lines on his forehead getting deeper.

He didn't know how to face her now that they were alone in the room.

"Sameer." She pushed herself up on the elbows, trying to sit up.

A wave of dizziness made her sway.

"Naina tum utho mat." He was next to her in an instant, sitting near her pillow as he wrapped his arms around her.

She looked at him. His eyes were moist as he stared back.

"I Love You, Sameer... please mujhse gussa mat ho." She pressed herself into his chest, holding his shirt in her fists.

"Naina, I'm so so sorry... please mujhe maaf..." His constricted throat tightened more, making it impossible to speak.

He felt her body go limp again.

"Naina, Naina?" Moving his head back, he checked her in alarm.

She had not fainted, just sighed in relief to find him with her again. After the confusion of day before... his impassive, restrained attitude last night... and his outburst in the morning... she had been a nervous mess. Unable to comprehend his mood, and discern between his concern and temper, she had been frantic at his curt responses. Last night was a sign which she failed to decipher, thinking that probably he wasn't sharing his problem with her. It had hurt her but could not make her see that the physical distance he had created between them was lesser than the distance that had seeped in his heart. The ultimate realisation that he was livid specifically at her came only in the morning when he screamed at her.

And it had shattered her.

All she wanted was to talk to him... to listen to him... to find solace in his arms...

"Tum kahan chale gaye the, Sameer? Itne door kyon ho gaye?" Her words brought a sharp, piercing jab to his heart.

"Main yahin hun, meri jaan, tumhare paas... apni Naina ke paas." He tightened his hold, careful not to crush her.

He felt her tremble... even felt the quivering of her lips against his chest as she asked in a shaky voice, "Sach mein paas ho na?"

The pain and fear in her question rendered him speechless.

"Tum abhi bhi gussa ho? Kya kiya maine?" His lack of response made her apprehensive as she parted, looking at him.

The tears that were somehow repressed till now won against his control.

He held her hands, bending his head to touch his forehead on her fingers, uttering a single word in contrite tone, "Sorry."

His body rocked with the gush of repentant tears, blocking his throat with a painful lump of remorse.

Naina leaned to speak to him when she could not free her hands from his grasp, "Sameer, tum ro kyon rahe ho? Please aisa mat karo... main... main tumhare aansu nahi dekh sakti, Sameer... suno na... idhar  dekho na."

Her vision turned blurry with the warm tears filling up her eyes... she could not see him like this.

"Please Sameer." She sobbed, resting her head over his when he didn't lift his head.

Sniffing, he straightened.

The tear stained faces of each other stabbed at their hearts.

"Sab kuch meri galti hai, Naina." He said in a cracked voice.

"Tum... tum naraaz nahi ho na mujhse?" The angst in her voice had not gone.

"Nahi, jaan... bilkul nahi." He shook his head vehemently.

She crashed against his chest, assuaged by his answer.

Before they could talk more, a knock on the door made her straighten up. He placed a pillow behind her to make her sit comfortably before asking Ramdhari to come in while he remained seated right next to her on the bed.

"Hum juice laye hain aapke liye, Naina bhabhi." Ramdhari smiled brightly, holding out the tray.

Sameer picked up the glass, taking it to her lips.

"Main... main khud..." She held his wrist, tilting her face a little.

"Nahi, tum mere haath se piyogi aur mere hi haath se khana khaogi." He said firmly.

"Nahi Sameer bhaiya, dant ke mat kahiye... waise hi unki sehat theek nahi hai upar se chachiji ke liye alag pareshan hain... aap chinta mat kijiye, Naina bhabhi, aapki chachiji bilkul theek ho jayengi... humne aaj hi unke liye hanuman ji ko bata diya hai... woh do din mein sab theek kar denge." He said earnestly.

"Thank you, Ramdhari bhaiya." A feeble smile played on Naina's lips.

He grinned sheepishly, lowering his head, "Aap thank you kyon keh rahi hain... humne kya kiya hai?"

"Nahi kiya toh ab kar le. Jaa, jaake Naina ke liye kuch achha sa bana de fatafat... doctor ne kaha hai na usse har do ghante mein khana hai." Sameer was glad to see her smile.

"Hum abhi khichdi bana dete hain." Ramdhari turned to leave.

"Naina ko khichdi nahi pasand... tu pulao bana de." Sameer instructed.

Ramdhari nodded and left.

She looked at him fondly, as he made her take sips of juice till the glass was drained.

She leaned on him again when he had put it aside.

"Sorry Sameer, main tumhari..." She started to explain her side of the story.

He placed a finger on her lips, "Abhi nahi, pehle tum khana khaogi fir hum baat karenge... aise kaise kal se kuch nahi khaya tumne?"

"Tumne bhi toh nahi khaya tha raat ko... main kaise khaati?" She stated simply.

He pursed his lips, "Naina, main sach mein kha ke aaya tha... pao bhaji mangwayi thi Munshiji ne office mein jab humein kaam mein itni der ho gayi thi."

"Zyada kaam kiya toh zyada khana bhi chahiye tha na... thodi si pao bhaji se kya hota hai?" She chided him like before.

He dipped his head to the side, looking at her with damp eyes... how could he doubt her care and concern?

"Subah paranthe khaye the?" She questioned.

He nodded, feeling more guilty.

She flicked up her brows.

He bit his lip, giving her a rueful look, "Chaaron."

A short laugh spurted out of her as she shook her head, "Bhukkad."

All the darkness that surrounded him since two days lifted with the sunshine of her smile... the cold shell where he had locked himself melted with the warmth of her one word... his vision was clear now that the tears had washed away all false notions.

Ramdhari came with a steaming plate of her favourite pulao, along with raita and chutney, and another plate of salad.

"Sameer bhaiya, office se aapka tiffin aise hi wapis aaya hai abhi abhi... hum aapke liye bhi khana laga dein?" He asked after placing everything for Naina carefully on the bed.

She held his hand as he brought the spoon of pulao to her mouth, giving him a shocked look, "Khana kyon nahi khaya tumne?"

He raised his brows, "Achha? Khud kal se bhook hadtal pe ho aur mujhse puch rahi ho maine kyon nahi khaya?"

She lowered her eyes immediately.

"Mera bhi yahin la do." He directed Ramdhari.

Once they were alone again, he looked at her with pained eyes, "Aise hi taklif hui mujhe bhi, Naina... jab pata chala tumne kal se kuch nahi khaya."

She opened her mouth to speak... he raised one hand to stop her, "Pehle kha lo... humein bohot lambi baat karni hai."

He fed her with his hands, eating his lunch only after she had finished all her food.

She watched him with a satiated smile as he quickly finished what was on his plate.

"Sameer, tum gussa kyon the?" The question that he was dreading hit him once Ramdhari had cleared the dishes.

He knew it was time... time to accept his mistakes.

Next update tomorrow evening