When someone is struggling themselves and they still help you
It's not help.
It's called love

It's been a week almost
And he is not behaving himself
No charm on face
No glittering smile
No sparkling eyes.

Anyone who pays attention to him or is closely associated to him can tell that he is so opaquely melancholic....
His lost look.... His detached classess
Skipping meals
And visible dark circles due to lack of sleep

Is nonchalantly noticable not only to Naina but to her friends, Shalini, suriji and abhi.

But he has gone in a shell
With a tight time table throughout the week Naina was unable to approach him
And he himself avoided her for some reason which made approaching him more difficult for her.

He was being out almost every night
And they even noticed few officers marching in and out of her room a couple of times.

She felt like atleast she can ask him through gestures that what's wrong
But even for that one need to look up...
And not just on the book and blackboard or your tea cup

-----

It was Sunday finally and she excused herself from movie plan with her friends
Telling them honestly that she would like to see if she can talk with captain rajveer
Maybe it's something regarding his brother's case...
As it seems something huge that is bothering him so much.

______

She knocked the door .. and anticipation if he is there or not as it seems dark inside.

He answer the door with a look of surprise on his face

"Tum....
Tum gayi nahi "
He asked as he knew about the movie plan from Shalini.... As she was the one who signed it.

"No actually I wasn't feeling like
Can I step inside".
She asked as he was standing at the door... Haven't invited her in yet...

"Wo...
Darsal.... I am not feeling good .. I have a headache
I just wana rest...
If you don't mind .."
He was kind of stagnant...

"Absolutely sir.....
I am sorry... You should rest...."
She turned disappointed....

And he saw her stepping away when he called her to stop her ....
He felt like she is the person he should be with right now
She turned immediately and he with an uncertainty asked her to come in ..

She stepped inside and he closed the door

She saw his room was almost a garbage bin
He never keeps his room so messy... He is always the neat and tidy type

"Any particular reason you are here "
He asked softly

She turned to look at him..
"What is bothering you "?
She asked with almost maternal affection

"Whole week you were so burned out....
Are you in some trouble..."
She saw him reluctantly looking left and right
Getting anxious with her question

"You don't have to tell me if it's confidential or something
I get that...
But say something.... "

She added

"I am ....
I wana tell you.... I have to tell you... But not now .... I am gonna tell you everything
Just not right now...."
His suspense was making her anxious

"Is it about bhaiyya
Is it bad "
She asked taking a step towards him and he copied her.

"Kind of"
He replied......

"I am sure you will do your best...
I trust you"
She said with eyes full of hope... And he felt a relief looking at her ....

Her presence is healing....
It feels good around her...
As if she cleared all the negative air of the room....

"I get scared sometimes when you say that
Sometimes I feel that maybe I am not worthy if it"
He was so vulnerable.... That his eyes were almost wet.

"I have no idea what's going on with you
But i want you to know that I am here....
To listen .to help.... Whatever you need
And not just me.... My friends also.... They are also worried for you....
And they all can do anything for you...."
She said with so much faith.

And finally she saw his lips tilting a bit... Trying to smile...

"Only you are enough "
And he immediately regret saying that... That's too much .... He shouldn't have said that....
Naina saw some unknown emotions there in his eyes
She is seeing this particular emotion very often now days....

It flicker her heart when he looks at her like that...
It make her feel special

And his words touched a few chord....
She is enough
It's a huge compliment one can get
He depends on her too just like she does on him....
It's a good news to receive.

"I should leave you to rest sir...."
She was about to turn when he stopped her again

"Maybe you can stay...
I mean if you don't have to be anywhere else
I can really use a good company right now"
He asked and she smiled with all her heart

"Ofcourse sir...."
She accepted the invitation

They both got settled on sofa
She saw a book on Subhash Chandra Bose resting on table

And she picked it up ...

"I believe that he gave the major contribution in our freedom....."
She knows he likes talking about history of Indian freedom movement.
He has some interesting perspective himself on the matter.

"Me too.....
He is my favourite freedom fighter..,"
He took a bit intrest

"I know....
I mean.... What he did was so intellectual
He broke the spine of Britishers by turning the Indian British army against them...
What a smart move...."
She gets on fire when she explains her point
One more attributes that he loves about her

"You like history"?
He asked perplexed by her talk

"Ofcourse
Waise do you believe that Gandhi ji was kind of to be blame for bhagat singh 's death....
Like he could have not sigh the treaty"
She puts the most controversial question on table
And saw him getting prepared to explain "

And then she sat there for straight 20 mins listening the lecture about the famous Gandhi and bhagat singh debate....

He got so absorbed in the conversation that he almost forgot that he was devastated a few hours before.

She was amazed with his vast knowledge about the topic.
His views his angles.... His intelligence is the next most attractive attribute after his  chivalry.

"It's time Naina
You should go for the dinner warna mess band ho jayega."

"And you won't eat"?

"I am not that hungry "

She thought for a sec

"Can I use your kitchen to fix something quick for you"
She asked making him astonished

Did she just offered to cook for him....
He was not sure about it....

To cook for someone is an intimate gesture..
And he doesn't want to give his heart any fancy idea
And besides he highly doubts her cooking skill...

"Naina that's fine
I will manage
You don't have to take trouble "

"Are it's nothing
You must be having noodles right "?

She asked as she took the liberty to search the cabinets

"I don't have any ready to eat stuff it's unhealthy "
He told her shrugging a bit

She made a pout that was absolutely kissable he thought....   Giving himself a mental slap.

She checked the mini fridge and saw a brown bread packet....
"Here.... You have Butter atleast....
I will make a sandwich....

She stood there in his counter applying butter on bread.... And sprinkling some sugar

While he got overwhelmed with her gesture.
Almost choking on his feelings in chest

She came with the plate with two double decker sandwich....

"Here ..."
And she sat adjacent to him

"You are not gonna eat"

"Nope I will have proper dinner
Suriji ne aj maa ki dal banai hai"
She smiled

"So go na "

"Nope
You are gonna finish the sandwich first"

"And you are gonna what sit here and watch me wat"
He mocked her

"Ok fine
I will not stare at you... I will read this book .
Now eat "

She folded her legs up on sofa and got comfortable with cushion to read
As he suppressed a happy smile as he took a bite

"It's amazing
You got to give me the recipe "
He made a joke finally

Laughing as he ate ...
And she finally felt better

His laughter his happiness his peace is so important for her
She hasn't realised untill now
Something seems wrong when he is upset

She silently made a prayer for his eternal happiness as he completed his dinner....

Bread butter never tasted so good before.