At the time of dinner, Phulla bua noticed the missing spark in Naina's eyes. She sighed... the fear still lingered. She was sure it won't take Sameer much time to realize that something was bothering her. He could feel her discomfort even when she wasn't around... when Naina fainted in kitchen in Mumbai. Sameer had sensed it even though he was in the living room. Now that he was with her every moment, he would be aware of her state of tumult very soon.

She geared up to make her voice sound cheerful, "Arre waah Ramdhari, aaj tune Naina ki pasand ka palak paneer banaya hai."

Sameer picked up the dish to put some in Naina's plate. Dinner went by like other days, with everyone laughing over something or the other. Though Naina laughed along, even talking in between, Phulla bua was concerned about the direction of her thoughts.

After dinner, she made them both sit down before going out for a stroll.

"Aaj main teri doctor se milne gayi thi, Naina." Her direct words shocked Sameer more than Naina, since she had herself asked not to mention it.

Naina's heart sank.

There was a bright, contented smile on bua dadi's face, "Teri reports dikhayi unhone. Bataya ki Sameer ne kitna khyal rakha hai tera. Beta, mujhe itni khushi hui ki bata nahi sakti. Akele rehte hue bhi tum logon ne sab kuch aise sambhala jaise tumhe sab pehle se pata tha."

Sameer quickly chipped in, relieved at her disclosure, "Pehle toh nahi, bua dadi, lekin book se bohot kuch seekha humne. Aur fir doctor ne bhi jaisa kaha waisa hi kiya."

Seeing her puzzled expression, Sameer told her about the book that they had read many times over, learning about each stage of pregnancy and the care required.

Phulla bua was impressed with their efforts, "Shayad isiliye yeh samay Naina ke liye itna mushkil nahi tha."

She directed her gaze at Naina, her eyes turning softer, "Beta, doctor ne kaha hai ki teri delivery mushkil nahi hogi. Mujhe bhi bharosa hai iss baat ka. Yeh sach hai ki maine khud yeh sab kabhi anubhav nahi kiya lekin itni lambi zindagi mein bohot baar dekha hai... parivar mein, doston mein, pados mein... aur main keh sakti hun ki doctor ki baat sahi hogi. Tu bohot kismat wali hai, Naina, jo tere paas Sameer ka saath hai... usne har din tujhe khush rakha hai jisse tera yeh waqt aaram se guzar gaya... aur aane wale kuch hafte bhi aise hi rehne chahiye. Hone wali maa ke dil ki baatein bachhe pe bohot asar dalti hain. Yeh tere dil ka sukoon aur khushi hi hai jiski wajah se tu aur bachha dono sehatmand hain. Aur aage bhi aisa hi rehna chahiye."

She turned to Sameer, "Ab tujhe pehle se bhi zyada khyal rakhna hai. Aakhir ke din sabse gehra asar chodte hain. Agar kisi bhi baat se Naina pareshan hui toh baby ko takleef hogi. Ab woh badi ho gayi hai na, apni maa ke andar ke toofan ko mehsoos kar legi. Isliye Naina ko kisi tarah ka dukh, takleef ya uljhan nahi honi chahiye. Mujhe pata hai tu aisa kuch nahi hone dega. Aakhir Naina ki parehsani se tujhe usse kahin zyada dard hota hai. Main bas itna kehna chahti hun, dono ek doosre ka haath tham ke rakho... aur iss baat ka bharosa rakho ki jab tak tum dono ka pyar saath hai, kuch galat nahi hoga. Isliye... dono khush rehna... aur apne dil ya dimag mein koi darr mat aane dena."

Sameer held both her hands, reassuring her, "Bua dadi, aap fiqr mat kijiye. Naina mere liye sab kuch hai. Uss tak kisi dukh ko pohochane hi nahi dunga. Aap dekhna, Naina ko itna khush rakhunga ki hamari beti... aur uski mummy... dono ke chehre pe aapko kabhi shikan nahi dikhegi."

Bua dadi patted his cheek, "Mujhe tujhpe poora bharosa hai."

Naina pondered over bua dadi's words as they strolled in the garden. Her apprehensions were not yet known to Sameer. He had taken care of her throughout the pregnancy... his care and concern, not only now, but ever since they were together, had been selfless and complete. If he came to know that she harboured such thoughts in her mind, it would hurt him immensely. And if her turmoil reached the baby as Phulla bua said... her heart filled with panic. Was her gloom actually affecting their baby? Her hand instinctively went to rest on her belly.

"Main bhi iske baare mein hi soch raha tha." Sameer's hand covered hers.

She looked up at him.

He stopped, turning to face her, "Naina, hamari beti bhi kismat wali hai ki usse tumhare jaisi mummy milegi. Jis tarah tum har baat mein topper ho, mujhe pata hai, ismein bhi rahogi."

It was like a warmth of assurance that passed from his hand, through her belly, engulfing the baby, and spread over her heart... melting the fear that had been gnawing her for a few days. He was right. Life had taken away too much from them, but now it was payback time. They were each other's lucky charm... and their love was the protective layer around them. It was strengthened further by blessings of elders, and their faith that happiness could not elude them anymore. It hadn't... ever since they had come together. And it won't... because they would always be together.

The clouds of uncertainty and dread drifted away from her eyes, making them shine with dreams of their coming days, "Haan, Sameer. Kismat ab sach mein humein koi dukh nahi de sakti."

He cupped her face, his eyes sparkling with the dreams of future, "Jis kismat ne itne saalon tak raasta banaya ek doosre tak aane ka, jis kismat ne humein milaya, jis kismat ne hamari raah mein aane wali har mushkil se ladne ki taqat di, jis kismat ne mujhe apni mummy ka aur tumhe apne papa ka pyar dilwaya... woh kismat ab humein nayi duniya de rahi hai... jismein hamari beti ki hansi bhi shaamil hogi."

Phulla bua wasn't sure what worked for her, but she was relieved to see the shadows gone from Naina's eyes. Her ease and comfort as she talked about coming days was a sign that the darkness surrounding her heart had been cleared. She didn't know if Sameer had knowingly done it, or unknowingly... but it was his love that had pulled Naina out from the foreboding that she was slipping into.

"Sameer beta, main soch rahi thi aaj zara bazaar ho aaun. Kuch samaan lana hai." She mentioned one morning, after breakfast.

"Aap humein bata dijiye, dadiji, hum laa denge." Ramdhari offered as he cleared the table.

Phulla bua shook her head, "Nahi beta, main khud dekh ke laungi. Jab Naina apni gudiya ko leke aayegi toh uske swagat ke liye kuch cheezon ki zaroorat hogi."

Sameer beamed, "Theek hai, bua dadi, main le chalta hun aapko. Naina, tum bhi chalo. Outing ho jayegi."

"Nahi, Sameer. Main nahi jaana chahti. Aaj kuch zyada hi kha liya shayad. Pet bohot bhaari lag raha hai. Main aaram karungi." Naina struggled to get up from the chair.

Sameer was at her side immediately, helping her.

Bua dadi fondly looked at them, them smiled, "Tu yahin reh, Naina ke paas. Mere liye Ramdhari taxi le aayega."

Sameer stopped, "Aaj taxi nahi milegi. Koi strike hai isliye aaj na taxi hai, na rickshaw. Munshiji ka phone aaya tha ki aaj bohot log iss wajah se office nahi aane wale."

Phulla bua frowned, "Aise kaise sabki ek saath hadtaal ho sakti hai? Khair, koi nahi, main kal chali jaungi. Kal tak Naina ki tabiyat bhi theek ho jayegi toh sab saath chalenge."

Sameer helped Naina to their room, making her lie down in the bed. Though she did not have any pain, her forehead was covered with sweat beads.

"Naina, tumhe pakka koi dard nahi hai na?" Sameer was worried to see her state.

She wiped her face with dupatta, "Nahi Sameer. Bas ghabrahat lag rahi hai thodi. Aisa lag raha hai jaise pet bohot bhar gaya... saans lene mein bhi mushkil ho rahi hai."

He placed a hand on her stomach. As his palm moved to the side, he felt the smoothness marred by something.

He touched again at the same place, swaying his hand around to confirm if something really poked him. It did.

He was petrified, "Naina, yeh dekho. Yeh kya hua?"

He pulled her hand, placing it on the spot. The feel was gone.

"Kya hua?" She was perplexed.

He quickly put his hand, only to find her skin flattened under his fingers. Frantically, he felt all over her belly, wondering what was it that he touched. Same hard poke was at another point. He quickly placed her hand over it, before it was lost again.

"Yeh kaise hua?" He fretted.

Her face did not show any distress, "Sameer, baby badi ho gayi hai. Jab woh hilti hai toh kabhi kabhi aisa hota hai. Maine bataya tha na... ki humein uska hilna sirf mehsoos hi nahi hoga, balki dikhega bhi. Kal se ho raha hai yeh. Pooja didi ko jab aisa hua tha uske dus din baad Golu paida ho gaya tha."

Without another thought, he lifted the kurta above her stomach, her gasp not registering to him. His own breath got stuck in the throat as he saw the skin on one side of her belly slightly jutting out. His mouth fell open as it vanished while he watched... and appeared at another spot.

"Haath hai? Ya pair?" He mumbled, eyes fixated on her stomach.

Her initial shock had subsided. Holding the kurta bunched up over the bump, she watched his fascinated expression, "Pata nahi. Par tumhari beti bohot masti kar rahi hai. Shayad isiliye itna bhaari mehsoos ho raha hai mujhe."

The movement stopped within minutes. Tired of playing, maybe the little one had slept. Sameer sighed as Naina pulled down her kurta.

"Ab mujhse intezar nahi ho raha, Naina. Lagta hai bas jaldi se woh din aa jaaye. Main apni gudiya ko apne haathon mein uthana chahta hun." He smoothed the kurta over her rounded belly, then leaned to kiss over it.

"Ab zyada din baaki nahi hain." She assured him, shifting a little as it was getting uncomfortable to sit in one position.

He made her lie down, stroking her forehead, "Main cushion laa dun bade waale? Unhe side mein laga lene se theek lagega."

She nodded. He sprinted out. When he came back, she was trying to sit up, covered in sweat.

"Naina, Naina... tum theek ho?" He threw the cushion on the bed, bending over her.

The baby kicked fiercely at his voice. She clutched her stomach as a wave of pain flashed through her body.

He was fraught with tension, "Naina, humein doctor ke paas jaana chahiye. Tumhari haalat kuch theek nahi lag rahi."

She held her stomach, squeezing her eyes shut as another wave of pain shot through her.

"Bua dadi, jaldi aaiye." He turned and hollered towards the door.

Phulla bua came rushing to the room, alarmed by the urgency in his voice. One look at Naina's pale face and she knew that the time had come.

"Sameer, hospital leke chalna hai. Abhi." She sat next to Naina, wiping her brow while she flinched in pain.

Sameer stood frozen, looking from one to another, "Lekin abhi toh... Naina ko dard bhi nahi..."

"Ho raha hai... bohot dard ho rahaa hai. Jaldi karo." Naina shrieked, fighting the pain that seemed to spread all over her.

"Ha... haan... main jaata hun... abhi hospital jaata hun." He moved around in panic, not sure which direction to go.

Ramdhari had come to the door by now, hearing the loud noises.

"Sameer bhaiya, chabi bahar hi hai. Chaliye." Holding Sameer's arm, he dragged him out.

Sameer stopped near the door as the haze in his mind lifted with another muffled scream of Naina.

"Tu car khol main Naina ko leke aata hun." He pushed Ramdhari, running back to the bed.

Holding her carefully, he walked her out after Phulla bua said it wasn't right to pick her up in arms. Once both of them were settled in the back, Sameer quickly slipped into the driver's seat and turned the ignition.

There was no sound. The car didn't start.

He frantically twisted the key again and again.

Nothing happened.

"Jaldi kar na. Kya kar raha hai tu?" Phulla bua gave him an impatient look as Naina's tears started to flow because of increasing pain.

"Car kharab ho gayi." His mind went blank.

"Ramdhari, jaldi se taxi bula." Phulla bua hollered, looking out of the window.

"Lekin dadiji, taxi ki toh..." The realisation hit everyone without Ramdhari having to complete his sentence.

"Sameeeeer." Naina's sharp cry of pain made him jump.

He was ready to break into tears, not knowing what to do, "Bua dadi, ab kya hoga?"

Phulla bua felt panic rising in her. Naina needed a doctor soon. And there was no way they could reach the hospital without conveyance. Naina's hard grip on her hand was a sign of the time of delivery getting nearer.

"Sameer, doctor ko phone kar. Usse yahin bula. Delivery yahin hogi. Ab time nahi hai." She donned the role of responsible elder.

Ramdhari ran inside even before Sameer could step out of the car. He had already dialled the number, handing the phone to Sameer as Dr Shaila picked up. She had her own car and agreed to come immediately.

Sameer dashed out again... to bring Naina back to their room. The pain had become more intense. She held her stomach, biting into her lip to bear the piercing flashes. Sameer could not stop his own tears from falling, helpless at his inability to do anything for her.

"Bua dadi, Naina ko itna dard kyon ho raha hai? Kuch... kuch problem hai kya?" He swallowed the hard lump in his throat, seeing her writhing in pain as she laid in bed.

"Maa banne ka dard aisa hi hota hai. Bas doctor aati hogi. Jaldi hi tujhe apni beti milne wali hai." Phulla bua stroked his head, aware of his suffering.

He held Naina's hand within his palms, "Naina, bas abhi sab theek ho jayega. Tum daro nahi, main yahin hun, tumhare paas."

They all waited...

Next update tomorrow evening