𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎
                                                                  -𝚁𝚞𝚖𝚒
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NAINA:

 
 
“No I won’t talk with you both. You are so bad, you forgot my birthday..!!” a little 8 year old Naina cried to her Mom Dad. It was her 8th birthday and her parents apparently forgot to wish her.

“Sorry princess!! Look I am holding my ears. Please don’t cry baby !! I don’t like those tears in your eyes...” her papa said wiping her tears and holding his ears.

“Yes baby!! We are so sorry don’t cry... I have your birthday gift ... do you want it ??” her Mom said kissing her cheeks.

Naina’s eyes lit up in the name of gift. Her sobs died down and a sweet, cute smile broke into her lips. She bobbed her head up and down.

“where is my gift Mom ? Please tell me I want to see it..!” she said excitedly.

“Umm! Remember you told us that you want a little brother... so we are bringing a little brother...” Her father said holding her hands.

“Aaaa!! Reallyyyyy!! Thank you mom Dad!! Where is he?? I want to meet him... please tell me!!” Naina exclaimed in joy.... She was 9n cloud nine.

“ You cannot meet him now.” Her mom said.

Her smile faltered . “why...??” she asked throwing her legs.

“ Because he is in your mom’s tummy right now. After few months he will come out. But it can be your sister also..” Her papa made her understand..

Her smile came back. She placed her hand in her Mom’s tummy and said ,” Hey bro or sister. I love you..  please come out quickly, we will play together” she said placing a kiss on her tummy.

Both her parents chuckled.

She then said , “ I love you Mom , I love you papa” then she placed a kiss on their cheeks. “ we love you Naina” and they shared a group hug.

“okayyy who wants to have cola ..??” her Mom asked.

“ Meeee!!!!” Naina said showing her teeth. “ and me too “ said her papa....

“ okay lets gooo” said her Mom.....

 
A piece of memory flashed in front of my eyes. Its 7 in the morning and I am currently at the beach. Well !! Today is my parents death anniversary.  18 years to be exact they left me, or to be exact god took them away. This was the last memory as a family of them. Exactly after one month of my birthday my parents died in a car crash along with my unborn brother or sister. It took me days to sink in the fact that my parents are gone. I was waiting for them at the doorstep for two days thinking that they will come, but ......

 
Sometimes I think that why God always takes away the people’s I love. Why is it always me ? The question still prevails.. The cool sea water was hitting on my feet . Tears were flowing from my eyes. I cut my buzzing cell for nth time now , I don’t know I have lost the count. It was Ammu calling me . From last four years this place is the one where I come whenever I feel restless. It has some sense of serenity which calms my mind.

 
I was returning for my home. My phone buzzed again and I picked up the call and switched on the speaker and kept it in the dashboard..

“Hello Nannu !! Where are you ? Why didn’t you tell me when you went out? Do you have any idea how much worried I am right now and you are not picking up my calls !!” she rambled out angrily.

“I am coming home... and I wrote a sticky note in the fridge door... Have you seen it. And I didn’t wanted to wake you up “ I ended...

“A sticky note doesn’t explain your absence for the last two hours. Geeta told me that you went out at 5 in the morning.  Are you out of your senses?” she said...

“Okay I am sorry....! It will not happen again....I came to the beach I will be back in 15 minutes... bye..”I said and cut the call.

I cannot blame her for worrying about me. She is with me for the last 18 years. She became my Mom Dad everything.  Her world now revolves around me. I have to make it up to her.

I drove back to her. Entering in the living room I saw Geeta maasi preparing for the breakfast in the kitchen.

She came to me and said , “Naina bete , sorry maine bata diya aunty ko ki aap bahar gayi ho. Voh apne room mein hain. Aapse bohot gussa hain.(I told her that you went out. She is very angry with you)” I heaved a sigh and nodded.

“Thik hain aap breakfast lagao main Ammu ko lekar aati hu.( ok you plate the breakfast , I am coming with you)”  I told her and went towards her room.

Entering her room I saw her sitting in the chair and looking outside through the window.  

I strode towards her and said , “ Ammu”

No reply!

I kept hand in her shoulder and said , “Ammu !!”

She shrugged my hand off from her shoulder , still no reply.

I took a stool from in front of the dressing table and sat in front of her. I took her hand in mine and said , “ Ammu I am sorry.. I won’t go out without telling you any more...please forgive me..” I said holding my ears.

She looked at me , her eyes glassy.

She started , “Why do you do this everytime Nannu ? You don’t care for this 70 year old grandma of yours right. “

“No ammu its not like that ... you are not understanding,  I was missing them, So I decided to go to the beach..” I tried to explain her...My voice started to choke.

“After your parents death its only you. I am alive only because of you, otherwise by this time I would have di..” I didn’t let her complete.

“No ammu please don’t say this.. I have no one except you. I am sorry. Please “ I started crying hugging her.

“Shhh !! Beta !! Don’t cry... Both Aahana and Vihaan are in a better place now. They must be very proud of you. You have become a good human being just like how they wanted . Don’t cry..” she said wiping my tears and kissed my forehead....

“chalo let’s have breakfast “ I said.

“beta.. we have to go to the Singhania’s place in the evening... come quickly ok”  Ammu said while having breakfast.

“ Yeah! I remember” I said.

My stomach started churning. I started feeling giddy... in the mere mention of the name of Singhania’s 

Well ! Not Singhania’s.. Its Kabir. My subconscious mocked me....

No its not Kabir. I am going just because Pallavi aunty invited me. Just shut up! I tried to stop my stupid subconscious...

Ha ha! What keeps you satisfied... Again!!

“can you please shut up!” I said.

“What happened Naina ? Who are you telling to shut up ?” Ammu asked..

Shit!! Did I just say that loud..

“ nothing Ammu!”  I replied ....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KABIR:

 
 
It was 7 in the morning..... I went for workout and was coming back when I heard Mom and Dad talking in hush hush voice that

“Adi we shouldn’t have invited everyone today. Its Vihaan and Aahana ‘s death anniversary.. I called Aunty she told me. “

“Its okay.. Aunty told that Naina will feel good here meeting everyone.. Don’t worry everything will be fine.” Dad said.

I overheard their conversation.  How did she cope up with all this ? She must be very strong. She grew up all alone in these years. I didn’t know what happened to me but I had that sudden urge to protect her , to share her sorrows to take away her pain everything.

What is happening to me.

I went to take a shower. After dressing up, I was wearing my watch when Mumma came inside my room with my black coffee.

She said , “ Cheeku , here is your coffee. Drink it and come quickly for breakfast. “ . She was in a hurry but I needed to know this.

“Mumma ! How did Naina’s parents died ?” I asked.

Mumma stopped in her tracks. She turned and asked me ,” why are you asking this ?”

“I heard you and papa talking downstairs”  I replied.

Her eyes started filling with tears.

She wiped and started , “ Naina was 8 then. They both went for a checkup in the hospital. While returning  a truck hit their car. Aahana died immediately on the spot. Vihaan died the next day. And the worst part is that, Aahana was 5 months pregnant.”

I was numb. Why am I feeling like this. Should I feel like this. Its like that I am sharing the same pain which Naina must have felt. I stood there frozen.

She continued,  “ That little girl didn’t even think of the fact that her parents were no more. From then she is with aunty.”

We sat there in silence. After few minutes we both went down . After having my breakfast,  I went to office. I couldn’t concentrate on my work. This is happening from last few days. Before yesterday I was fighting with the fact that I feel something for her. I don’t know what is it ? But there is something.
 

 
I started winding up my work and went to home... It was 6.45 when I entered in my house. The view in front of me brought  a smile in my face. Naina , Mumma , and bhabhi were in the kitchen working together and bhabhi cracked a joke which made both of them laugh. Her laugh is addicting.

I was standing there watching her when a voce from beside me said , “ Isn’t she looking beautiful..”

“Yes , sinfully beautiful” my voice said automatically.

“so have you asked her out ?” another voice said.

“No , not until now..” I said.

“Do it quickly... looks like you are whipped!!” the voice said again

“yeahh !! What ???!!”  I turned my head  and saw Shreyas and Bhaiya looking at me and grinning like a fool..

“what are you guys doing here !! You don’t have any work ??”  I said trying to hide the embarrassment which I blurted out few minutes ago.

“No we don’t have any work. Finally it feels so good to see your brother looking at a girl like she is the most beautiful girl in the world..”  bhaiya said dramatically.

As I was going to reply mumma said , “  cheeku go freshen up and come down...”
“okay..” I said then I saw Naina looking at me. She smiled and waving her hand mouthed a “Hi “

“ Hello !” I waved back.

Bhabhi then said something in her ear and she blushed and looked away.

I went in my room and probably 1st time in my whole life I took the fastest bath.  I came out and wore a pair of casual black t-shirt and pants. My hair was messy and I kept it that way. I sprinkled my deo and I was ready. Then I came out of my room and bumped into bhabhi , Nisha and Naina.
I saw Naina looking at me with a piercing gaze. She gulped and I was lost in her green orbs.

It was after few minutes bhabhi cleared her throat and she looked away.

Bhabhi asked , “ Cheeku will you please give Naina a house tour. Actually mumma is calling us both”

Suddenly Naina interrupted,  “Its ok bhabhi... its not that important and I am sure he must be tired..”

“No I am not tired ... come I will show you the house.. you go bhabhi , I will handle it. “ I said.

“okay!! Enjoy guys !!” bhabhi said  and winked at me . So it was their plan. I didn’t mind it.

They left and I asked her , “ come.. “

“After you ..” she said.

I took her to every corner and room , I was feeling so good talking to her. There was no sense of uncomfortableness not that I was talking to her for the first time. It seems like I know her for a long time. We shared a dance together still. I don’t know how does she feel about me , about us.

Everybody is downstairs. There is a wall in the upstairs where there are pictures of our family at various occasions. There were pictures of mine and bhaiya’s when we were toddlers, when we went to school. It was like going through a memory lane  .
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
I was getting a call continuously, I was cutting it still it rang for the 3rd time when Naina said , “ Pick it up, maybe its important"

Better be its important I thought.

It was a call from my Pa. After talking I walked towards her and saw her looking intently at those pictures.

She was touching those frames and was in a deep thought when I asked ,” penny for your thoughts !”

She chuckled and said “ Its beautiful...”

“yeahh!! It was Bhabhi’s idea....”  I said .

We then started going towards the terrace.We went in the terrace and stood there in an elevated playform. She started asking me , “ you guys must have lots of fun during occasions right ?"

“yes , we do. Bhaiya bhabhi Mom Dad everyone is crazy.... I mean when they are near you can never be sad . They have the solution of all problems. I love for them you know they are the greatest blessings. “  I ended..

She was looking at me intently. Her long hair was flowing intently due to the cool sea breeze. A tear drop fell from her eyes and she wiped it immediately.

“I am sorry.. its just...” she said..

“Are you fine ? Did I say something wrong !!”

I asked, why is she crying.

“No no I am fine !! its nothing... You haven’t said anything wrong. Its just I am missing Mom Dad nothing else.”  She smiled.

I didn’t know what to do , so I did what I felt right at that moment  I hugged her.

She was shocked. She didn’t hug me back instantly but after few seconds she wrapped her arms around my torso.

It felt right . This felt so soothing, so good , it felt that she belonged just in my arms, everything vanished and it was just me and her. Her warm tears has wetted my T shirt but I could care less.

After few minutes she left me and wiping her tears said ,  “ I am such a cry baby !!” ...

But I was thinking some thing else. She was saying something but I was contemplating between whether to ask her or not and finally I blurted out

“Naina !! Let’s  Date...”..
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 Hi guys !!! Here’s the 7th chapter for you guys. Tell me which one is your favourite part..
Do vote and comment. Love you all....