The day at office began with Munshiji giving Sameer an update on the previous week. Things went by smoothly. There were no important meeting scheduled in last few days. He asked for the files to be sent to him so he could take a look at the progress on all orders.

Munshiji went away after apprising him with all necessary details. The office helper delivered the files shortly.

Sameer spent the morning reviewing the status. By lunch time, his back started to feel the strain. Getting up from the chair, he loosened his tie and twisted his shoulders. Then he walked to the cabinet that had his and nanu's picture.

The toddler in the picture was up in the air, unsupported... yet he was secure... in the confidence that reflected in his eyes and his gleeful, cherubic smile.

"Nanu, aapne jo yeh yakeen mujhe diya tha, yehi main Naina ko dena chahta hun... khud pe, mujh pe, aur hamare pyar pe... main chahta hun ki woh jab udaan bhare toh bina kisi darr ke apne pankh faila sake... main woh mazboot haath banna chahta hun jo usse apne paas hone ka ahsaas hamesha karwate rahenge... jinke bharose woh kabhi hichkichaye nahi... nanu, iss photo mein aapke pyar ne jo khushi meri aankhon mein bhar di thi woh baad mein jaane kahan kho gayi thi... aapse aur mummy se door hoke jaise main har muskurahat se door ho gaya tha... itne saal bina pyaar ke rehne ki wajah se jab main wapas aaya toh apne dil se unn kaale baadlon ko khatam karta isse pehle hi aap fir se mujhe chod ke chale gaye... sach keh raha hun, nanu... mujhe laga meri zindagi wahin khatam ho gayi... fir bhi kisi tarah apne pyar se door, aapki yaadon se bhare iss shahar se door le gaya khud ko... aur woh jagah mere liye aisa ujala leke aayi ki mere andar ke saare kaale baadal khatam ho gaye."

Pausing, he picked up the frame, lovingly stroking the picture. He could feel the affability from nanu's benevolent personality seep through the glass, through his fingers to his soul. He smiled... the mind might find this feeling absurd and implausible but his heart believed that nanu could still send him the warmth of his love... and guidance.

And he needed nanu's assurance today, "Naina ne mujhe toh kal ki kadwi yaadon se azaad karwa diya... par kya main uske liye woh ujala ban paaya hun? Naina mujhe jitna pyaar deti hai utna pyaar main bhi karta hun usse... par kya woh pyar uss har dard ko mita paaya hai jo usne zindagi mein kabhi bhi saha hoga? Main uske har andhere ko mita dena chahta hun... main jaanta hun, nanu, woh mujhse kahin zyada mazboot hai, kahin zyada himmatwali hai... tabhi har baat ko dil mein daba kar bhi khush reh sakti hai... mujhe kabhi koi pareshani na ho iske liye kisi bhi hadd tak jaa sakti hai... par main bhi toh uske dukh ko apna maanta hun... kya mujhe haq nahi ki uske dil ke har kone se ek ek buri yaad ko mita ke uski jagah apne pyar ki mithaas bhar dun?"

"Tumhe poora haq hai, Sameer."

He turned sharply... to see his wife standing at the open door... with a tiffin in hand.

"N... Naina... tum yahan?" He suddenly felt guilty.

She closed the door silently behind her, putting the latch and kept the box on the table before walking up to him. He put the frame back on the cabinet.

"Khana layi hun... chalo kha lo." Placing her hands around his arm, she flicked her brows at the tiffin.

Without a word, Sameer took a few steps towards the couch, his eyes not moving from her. Her eyes were moist... so were his. He had not realised until now that while talking to nanu, her pain had pooled up in his eyes.

He wasn't sure how much she had heard... but her face was serene, in spite of the moisture in her eyes.

His eyes remained glued to her as she opened the tiffin, uncovered the dishes and tore off a bite of chapati. Adding the vegetable to it, she brought it up to his lips.

He opened his mouth, taking the piece... and the tears that brimmed on the edge slipped on his cheeks.

She lifted her other hand to his face, rubbing his cheek with her thumb. Few more drops trickled down at her soft touch.

After she fed him another bite, Sameer picked up one piece, offering it to her. As she lowered her head to take it, his hand felt the warm drops that fell from her eyes as well.

He wiped her tears with the back of his fingers.

Lunch was eaten in complete silence... but they could see the searing pain in each other's eyes.

After she packed the tiffin and cleaned her hands, she turned to him.

"Sameer, tumhe aisa kyon laga ki main tumhe haq nahi de rahi? Kya maine aisa kuch kiya jisse tumhe chot pohonchi ho?" Her eyes were not accusing, just puzzled, as she held his hands.

He lifted her hands to his lips, planting soft kisses on both, "Tumne aisa kuch nahi kiya, meri jaan... lekin main shayad tumhare liye woh nahi ban paaya jo tum aaj tak mere liye banti aayi ho."

She raised her brows in question, swallowing the lump that she felt at his painful admission.

Sameer pulled her in his arms... admonishing himself that in the effort to draw out her old anguish, he had hurt her more.

"Naina, please, aisa mat socho ki main tumhari kisi baat se dukhi hun... main toh khud se gussa hun ki tumhe itne din se apne dard ke baare mein batata raha par kabhi tumhari taklif ke baare mein nahi pucha... mere saare andhere leke tumne apne savere mujhe de diye par tumne toh kuch nahi kaha unn kadwi yaadon ke baare mein jo aaj bhi tumhe chubhti hongi." He kept her close to his heart.

"Kaunsi yaadein?" She was perplexed.

"Tumne bhi toh itne saal apne mummy papa ke pyar ke bina guzare hain... abhi tak taiji itna bhala bura bolti hain toh pehle pata nahi kya karti hongi tumhare saath... " He stopped abruptly as he felt her flinch in his arms.

Holding her shoulders, he moved back to see her face. The wave of agony that flashed in her eyes was indication enough that his notion was true.

He leaned to kiss each of her eye.

She drew in a deep breath.

"Kyon Naina, kyon bahar nahi aane deti kuch bhi... jab hum sab kuch baant sakte hain toh yeh dard kyon nahi?" His voice wavered.

"Sam... Sameer... dard nahi hai... aisa koi dard nahi hai jo hamare aaj pe asar daale... ab toh papa bhi badal gaye hain... aur taiji tauji yahan se jaa hi rahe hain... unn zakhmon ke baare mein kyon baat karni hai... aaj itni khushiyaan mili hain humein... unpe kal ki baaton ka saaya nahi laana chahti main." She tried to smile through misty eyes.

He cupped her face, "Hamari khushiyaan hamari hain, Naina... koi inhe humse cheen nahi sakta... na kal, na aaj aur na aane wale kal ki koi baat inhe kam kar sakti hai."

She nodded, pursing her lips.

He looked intently into her doleful eyes, "Lekin yeh bhi sach hai ki inn khushiyon ki mithas tab tak adhoori hai jab tak kuch kadwahat dil mein baaki hai... chahe woh tumhare dil mein ho ya mere."

She lowered her eyes.

He hooked a finger under her chin, making her look up, "Tum mere andheron se teen saal se lad rahi ho, Naina... aur ab tumne mujhe unn sabse bahar nikal liya hai... aankhen band karta hun toh tumhara muskurata chehra dikhta hai, sota hun toh tumhare sapne aate hain, har pal sirf tum rehti ho khyalon mein... koi dard ab mujhe raaton ko nahi jagata... aur yeh tumne kiya hai."

She held his hand that was under her chin, brought it in front of her, and softly kissed his palm.

A smile spread on his face. He opened his mouth to speak but a knock on the door stopped him. When he opened the door, the office boy asked if he wanted to have tea or something else. Telling him that he didn't want anything, Sameer realised that lunch time was over and anyone might drop in to his cabin... this wasn't the right place to talk to Naina.

He looked back at her. She stood up, holding the tiffin, ready to leave.

"Ruko ek minute." He swiftly crossed the room and picked up the intercom.

"Munshiji, ghar pe kuch kaam aa gaya hai... urgent hai... hmm... koi problem toh nahi hai na... theek hai... thank you." His monologue made it clear that he was ready to leave.

"Sameer ghar pe toh kuch nahi hai... tum itne dinon baad aaye ho... kaam baaki hoga na?" Naina held his arm when he picked up his bag.

He gave her a deep look, "Haan Naina, bohot dinon ka kaam baaki hai."

She furrowed her brows. Not giving her a chance to speak further, he walked out, holding her hand.

It was even more surprising for her when he dropped her in front of the gate, "Tum chalo main abhi aata hun."

She protested, "Itni garmi mein kahan jaana hai tumhe? Office mein kaha ghar ka kaam hai... ab ghar bhi nahi aa rahe ho."

He patted her cheek, smiling, "Ghar hi aa raha hun... tum andar jao main abhi aaya."

Reluctantly, she got off the car, watching as he sped away.

Naina had changed into a plain dress by the time Sameer came back.

"Yeh tumhare liye." He held out a bunch of red roses.

Pleasantly surprised, she took the pretty blooms, softly touching the velvety edges.

"Bohot khoobsurat hain." Her smile was as prepossessing as the flowers.

She took out a broad vase from the cabinet and went to the washroom to fill it with water. Sameer stood watching with crossed arms as she started to place each stem in the vase, in perfect arrangement.

As she pulled out the last bloom from the cellophane covering its stems, a shrill cry escaped her lips.

"Naina, kya hua?" Sameer quickly held her finger.

A drop of blood oozed out where the thorn had pricked her.

"Kuch nahi hai, zara sa kaanta chubha hai bas, main daba leti hun, theek ho jayega." She pulled her hand back, pressing the fingertip with her thumb.

He took the rose from her, searched for the offending sharp edge, and broke it off, leaving a smooth stem behind. Placing it in the vase, he held her hand, removing her thumb from the injured finger. Blood surfaced instantly. He blew on it and took it in his mouth.

She bit the inside of her cheek.

"Dekha tumne, sirf ek chote se kaante ki wajah se hamara saara dhyan unn phoolon se hat kar iss dard pe aa gaya jo usne tumhe diya hai." His voice was deep when he spoke up a while later.

Her eyes widened.

"Naina, main aaj tumse kuch maangna chahta hun." He kept holding her hand within his palms.

"Kya?" She uttered.

"Mujhe apne unn purane zakhmon ka hissa bana lo... mujhe apne dil ke har saaye ko mitane ki ijazat de do... mujhe apne pyar se woh daag mitane do jo tumne dil mein chupa ke rakhe hain." His voice was soft and low.

A few crinkles appeared at the corner of her eyes, along with a couple of creases on her forehead, "Yeh kya bole jaa rahe ho tum? Uss waqt bhi tum nanu ki tasveer se yeh sab baate kar rahe the... Aisa kuch hai hi nahi... main kahan kisi baat se dukhi hun... mere dil mein sirf tumhara pyar hai, Sameer... koi dard nahi hai... main toh bohot khush hun... itni ki sabko meri khushi mere chehre pe nazar aati hai... dekha na abhi shaadi mein, chachiji, bua dadi, sabne kaha ki main kitni khili hui lag rahi hun... woh sab tumhari wajah se hai, Sameer."

He wrapped one arm around her shoulder, making her face turn to the side by placing his forehead against her temple, "Khile hue toh yeh phool bhi lag rahe hain... dukaan mein jitne bhi log the woh inki tareef kar rahe the... mujhe bhi khoobsurat aur khushnuma lage isliye le aaya... tumhe bhi achhe lage... lekin kaante ka dard tha na inmein... Naina, agar yeh kaanta tumhari ungli pe nahi lagta toh iski taraf kisi ka dhyan nahi jaata... par jaise hi iska dard tumhe mehsoos hua, inn phoolon se zyada iss chot pe hum dono ka dhyan atak gaya... aise hi agar ek bhi kaante ki chubhan tumhare dil mein reh jayegi toh hamare pyar ki khushi ko woh dard kabhi bhi apne peeche chupa sakta hai."

She took a deep breath, "Tumhe aisa kyon lagta hai ki mujhe koi dard hai?"

"Kyonki jaisa bachpan mera tha waisa hi tumhara tha... hum dono ke mummy papa nahi the, ya na ke barabar the... mujhe apni mummy se aur tumhe apne papa se sirf tiraskar mila bachpan mein... agar tumhare paas chachaji aur chachiji ke pyar ka sahara tha toh mere paas paison ka saadhan tha... tumhare paas saadhan ki aur mere paas sahare ki kami rahi... upar se taiji ke taane... kadwi yaadein dene mein koi kami nahi rakhi hogi unhone... main hostel mein fir bhi apni marzi se bohot kuch kar sakta tha par tumpe toh sau bandishen rahi hongi... Naina, jab aise mahaul ne mujhe itna maayus kar diya tha toh tumpe bhi gehra asar choda hoga." He looked into her eyes.

A forlorn look covered her features, as she recalled the times he was talking about.

"Main sab janna chahta hun, jaan... kya sochti thi tum... kya mehsoos karti thi... kya kami khalti thi tumhe... kaunsa dard ab tak tumhe raaton ko jaga deta hai... kis baat se sabse zyada chot pohonchi thi... sab bata do, Naina... jisse tumhara dil bhi waise hi saaf ho jaaye jaise tumne mera kar diya hai... main nahi chahta hamare iss phool se khile hue rishte pe kisi kaante ki chubhan ho... uss zakhm ko tum abhi dabaa bhi dogi toh kal jab mauka milega woh taaza ho jayega... bilkul iss zakhm ki tarah." He again looked at her finger.

With a lost expression, she gazed up at him. There was a plethora of painful memories that she kept hidden in her heart... that did pierce her when some related thing happened in her life... that did bring a lone tear in her eyes sometimes when she was alone... that did fill her with apprehensions at times, of facing the same situation again...

She kept those memories under wraps... not ready to accept the fear they had instilled in her when she was younger.

But he was right... her happiness was impaled with the recollection sometimes.

All these past years, she had not talked about these things much, sharing only a few of her insecurities with him. But probably the time had come to deal with her demons... to set them free...

"Naina... bolo... kya tum mujhe yeh haq dogi?" His low voice was soothing on the turmoil in her mind.

She looked up at him... and nodded.

Next update tomorrow evening