Sameer jerked, bending over the little one as she howled non stop, "Naina, yeh ro kyon rahi hai? Isse kuch problem hai kya?"

"Itne chote bachhe roke hi sab batate hain. Iski neend khul gayi yeh batane ke liye ro rahi hai." Naina slipped both her palms under the baby and lifted her carefully.

She held her against her chest, moving to and fro, "Light off karke bas lamp jalne do." She murmured to him.

He quickly switched off the bright light, letting the warm glow of lamp fill up the room. He was surprised to see that the baby was quiet again in a few minutes.

"Main sula dun?" He held out his hands.

Naina smiled, indicating with a flick of her head that he needed to come closer to take the baby. He swiftly moved to her side, folding his arms to hold his daughter. Baby started to cry the moment he held her.

"Naina, isko mere paas aana achha nahi laga kya?" He was crestfallen.

"Buddhu, woh isliye ro rahi hai ki tumne usse khud se door pakda hai. Meri tarah khud se chipka ke rakho. Usse mehsoos hona chahiye." Naina helped him to put the baby against his chest.

Her crying stopped. Sameer grinned, exhilarated at being able to soothe her. Next instant, she started to wriggle, though not crying. He looked at her in alarm.

"Ab shayad usse khelna hai. Tum yahan sulao usse. Agar aankhen khuli hain toh matlab jaag gayi hai." Naina recalled what Bela had told her.

She helped Sameer put the baby back on the small sheets placed in the center of the bed.

What he saw was magical... he was spellbound.

The baby looked at him with big black eyes.

He forgot to breathe. This was the first time he was seeing her eyes... beautiful, doe shaped ones as Naina.

"Iski aan... aankhen..." He stuttered, unable to speak, or blink.

Naina dipped her head to rest on his arm, "Tumhare jaisi hain... ekdum gehri aur khoobsurat."

He drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes were indeed black, just like him. But shape was similar to Naina. She stared at him, moving under the wrap that covered her... and he felt she was trying to talk to him. He wanted to talk too. Because of her constant movement, the sheet wrapped around her loosened. Naina removed the soft fabric that was keeping her restricted, and her tiny fisted hands and arms made jerking movements. If Sameer was fascinated earlier, he was enchanted now... this was the first time he was seeing a baby of this size, from this close.

On the roads, in public transport and in other public places, he had seen small babies being carried by their parents, but it wasn't something that interested him so he didn't pay much attention. Even in movies, whenever a small baby was shown, he watched it without any change of expression.

But today, seeing his own daughter... the tiny, little creation that lay before his eyes filled him with awe and adoration. He bend over her and slowly placed a hand on her side. His palm covered her entire body, from shoulder to feet. As she felt the touch on her arm, she kicked wildly... and the feather like kick landed on his chest.

Naina chuckled, "Aise hi khelti thi jab andar thi. Ab dekh lo khud hi kaise badmashi karti hai."

His eyes drifted to her legs which were uncovered now, because of her furious kicks. He held her foot between thumb and two fingers since it was too tiny to wrap his hand around it.

The baby took out a gurgling sound when he placed a soft kiss on her miniscule, curled toes.

He looked sharply at Naina, "Kya hua?"

"Hans rahi hai. Shayad gudgudi hui usse." She was equally mesmerised.

They kept discovering more and more with each action and response of the little one till she finally fell asleep again after half an hour.

Naina properly wrapped her up in sheets, and put a small quilt over her. Bela had brought a few things for immediate use of the baby. She said she would bring more the next day.

"Naina, aise kaise soyegi baby... iss tarah baandh ke? Yeh hata do na." The tight wrap looked uncomfortable to Sameer.

Naina shook her head, "Aisa karne se bachhe ko safe lagta hai. Bua dadi ne bataya. Kuch din aise hi rakhna hoga fir usse hawa aur roshni ki aadat ho jayegi."

He shifted closer to Naina, "Jaise mujhe tumhari aadat hai. Agar thodi der bhi na dekhun toh lagta hai saans lena bhi mushkil hai. Aaj jab tum hospital mein thi... main... main darr gaya tha. Tumhari dard se behaal haalat dekh ke..."

He couldn't go further, his throat choking with the horrifying thoughts that filled him at that moment. She stared at him, shocked at the realisation that the fear which had seared her, did not spare him either.

"Sameer, tumhara darr samajh sakti hun. Mujhe khud aisa khyal bohot dinon tak darata raha." She lowered her eyes, finally letting out the only pain she hadn't shared with him yet.

It was his turn to be baffled, "Naina."

She let out a long exhale, "Sorry Sameer, lekin tum itne khush the... itne saare sapne chamak rahe the tumhari aankhon mein... unpe apne darr ka saaya nahi dalna chahti thi. Main sach keh rahi hun, yeh khyal apne aap aaya... achanak... ki agar main bhi apni mummy ki tarah..."

His heart stopped beating. He could not lose his Naina... NEVER.

With a fierce pull, he crushed her in his arms. She buried herself into his chest. The tears soaked both of them... but they didn't stop each other from shedding them. It was the pain, the fear which was flowing out of their eyes... it was the past that had again marred their present with its gloom so it needed to be washed off... the new life had to be rid of all the dark patches... it had to be as bright as the shining face of their sleeping angel.

The tears stopped on their own as their eyes fell on the baby. A smile appeared on their stained faces.

Wiping his face, Sameer held Naina's shoulders and looked into her eyes, "Naina, tumne apni mummy ko khoya isliye yeh darr tha tumhe... maine apne papa ko khoya isliye wohi darr mujhe bhi tha. Jab tum dard jhel rahi thi tab achanak ek pal ke liye mujhe laga agar apni mummy ki tarah tumhe ya apne papa ki tarah mujhe..." He paused as fresh tears rolled down Naina's cheeks and her lips quivered.

Shaking his head, he cleaned them with the back of his hand, speaking in a soft voice, "Main tumhe aur hamari beti ko akele kaise chod sakta hun... aur na hi tum iss choti si gudiya se uski mummy ko door kar sakti ho."

She gulped, blinking hard, "Lekin yeh sab hamare chahne se toh nahi hota na, Sameer."

A faint smile appeared on his face, "Hamare chahne se hi hoga. Nanu, jo bhagwanji ke paas hi hain, maine unko keh diya hai. Na hum alag ho sakte hain aur na door. Bas hum dono ko apni gudiya ke paas rehna hai."

The practical side of her brain persisted that what he was saying was illogical... but her heart believed every word... appeased at the assurance that they would stay with their baby forever.

She went back in his arms, pushing away the rational mind voice. He closed his eyes, gathering her safely. There was no doubt in his mind now that nanu would take care of everything.

"Naina, abse hum ek waada karte hain ek doosre se... aur khud se bhi." He kissed her temple.

"Kaisa waada?" She tilted her head to look at him, not moving away.

"Ab se jab bhi hum apni purani zindagi yaad karenge, tum apne chachaji chachiji ka pyar yaad karna aur main sirf nanu ke baare mein sochunga. Jisse humne jo achhe pal jiye hain woh hum apni beti ko bhi de saken... apne pyar ke saath." He glanced at their daughter.

Her heart filled up with pride at his resolution.

"I Love You, Sameer." She pushed herself up and placed a kiss on his jaw.

His eyes sparkled as he realised he hadn't shaved since two days.

"Achha? Yeh pyar baaton ke liye hai ya iske liye?" He gave a lopsided smile, touching his jaw.

"Hato." She tried to move away from him, a blush settling on her face.

"Tumhe pata hai na mujhe tumhare iss hato ka matlab maloom hai." He leaned to bring his face at her level, looking into her eyes directly.

She pressed her lower lip under the teeth, releasing it next moment with a gasp.

"Kya hua, Naina?" He held her chin, pulling the lower lip with his thumb.

There were small wounds all over the inner edge. It wasn't bleeding but scabs indicated that there were a few deep cuts.

"Yeh kaisa ho gaya?" He was aghast.

She ran the tip of her tongue on inside part of her lower lip, feeling the abrasions.

"Woh Sameer, jab tez dard ho raha tha tab shayad... pata hi nahi chala." She had no idea when she had inflicted this upon herself, other pain being much more intense at that time.

He pursed his lips, gaze stuck on the wounds.

She held his hand that was stretching her lip, and kissed over his palm, "Itne pareshan mat ho. Kuch nahi hai. Ek do din mein theek ho jayega... yahan toh dawa lagane ki bhi zaroorat nahi hai."

He cupped her face, and placed his lips over hers, giving a gentle, slow kiss.

"Dawa ki zaroorat hamesha hoti hai." His eyes twinkled after he left her.

Her eyes had the same shine, "Roz lagaoge toh jaldi theek hoga."

He touched his forehead with hers, "Pakka lagaunga. Lekin ab tumhe sona chahiye. Bohot der ho gayi hai. Chachiji ne bataya tha tum jitna zyada aaram karogi utna hi achha hoga tumhare aur baby ke liye."

He helped her to tuck the quilt properly before going back to his side of the bed. Once he had settled, he adjusted the small blanket over the baby, eyeing her lovingly.

"Sameer, tumne mummy ko phone kar diya tha? Unse baat hi nahi hui. Unhe bataya toh hai na?" She recalled that all those who were not here had spoken to her on phone, congratulating her but there was no call from Delhi.

Sameer furrowed his brows, "Pata nahi woh log kahan hain? Maine teen baar phone kiya par kisi ne uthaya hi nahi. Shayad ghar pe koi nahi hai. Mujhe bhi ajeeb laga ki sab ek saath kahan chale gaye. Abhi raat ko office ka number dhoonda hai. Kal bhi agar mummy se baat nahi hui toh office phone karke puchunga ki aakhir kahan hain sab log."

She nodded, wondering about the reason for this sudden disappearance. She recalled how Sameer would similarly vanish during initial days of college. And also, once in their final year when munshiji asked him to come to Ahmedabad, he had gone missing, making her run from pillar to post in search of him.

"Lagta hai khandani bimari hai... gayab hone ki." She thought, stifling a smile.

"Kya soch ke muskura rahi ho?" He gave a mischievous smile, thinking that probably she was remembering something about him.

She was... but not what he had in mind.

She let out the smile she was trying to hold back, placing a hand on the baby, "Soch rahi hun tumhari beti kis kis baat mein tumhara jaisi hogi."

I got up today to the news of an ardent YUDKBH fan and a fellow writer passing away due to Covid 19, along with her husband.

It was a shocking and unbelievable. When Dr Anshika had posted that she had tested positive, there was faith in the message... that she would be back soon, hale and hearty. Never did it occur that we would read about her and not the next update from her.

Though we had never interacted but I was a fan of her stories even before I started writing. My brother's best friend was one of my favourite and I had recommended it to a friend just two days back.

It's shattering to know that we would not hear from her again. May she rest in peace... may she get eternal happiness in the place where she is now.

Please be safe everyone, and take care of yourself and your family 🙏