Naushad enters after parking his jeep. He is still angry. He doesn't like all this snow ball and stuff. It seems so childish. Moreover her curt and sharp replies made his mood worse.

He slams the door shut. Nobody to come inside. It should be he...Only he alone. More people more indulgence and then more problems.

He sits on bed. He has not changed his boot nor his uniform.

He had taken Saira and her out just after he returned from the base.

and the tour turned out to be a disaster. He had initiated things for Saira but Naina ....She is...

She ruined the momwnt. She ruined the trip. She ruined....everything.

But did she? Did she ruined the trip which was a day out originally for not Saira?

There are sudden responses inside.  He has many things to say. He can prove that what he did was for hee daughter only. So Her happiness should matter.  She was happy..wasnt she?

So why he is angry? He doesnt know.

Perhaps Naina is childish. And it doesn't suit her?

Or she talks back to him right at his face though no one has ever done so?

Or Captain Naushad Rizvi did something out of his character?

No...He doesn't know.

This is so messed up. And all because of her. She is soo childish. The way she talks, the way she behaves, Its all so nonsense.

He punches the adjacent wall.

Everything is damn entangled. He is unable to think straight. He doesnt know why he is so angry. Because Naina is crossing limits or because Saira is suddenly more her daughter than his or because he himself has not come together with things...Or suddenly he has accepted things which he never dreamt of or he cant cope up with challenges.

He is sitting on the bed Looking outside..The Sun is setting. So does his rationality.

______________

Saira is sleeping next To Naina. She was pretty much tired so the moment she hit the bed she slept. Kids are like this. If they consume their energy in day they are more like to sleep sooner at night. And this way Saira is not keeping her mom awake with her...

But Naina is still awake.

They returned in evening and since then The big door of a particular room is locked.  Person has not come outside nor any noise.

And when saira has slept and Naushad has not still showed his face..As he usually does. He comes late even then he comes to saira and kisses her good night. He tries to wake her up..and tell her that he has brought this toy for her. Earlier she used to get up but now she refuses. She barely gets up and humms only. Sometimes giving him sleepy kisses. She sometimes pushes him back to his room asking not to disturb her sleep. But still Naushad comes daily to see his little princess.

But today He has not.

Suddenly Naina feels herself guilty. She made him angry. She is guilty for Saira missing her goodnight kisses..

She gets up abruptly and leaves the room..

Because somehow it was her fault that Naushad got angry and skipped dinner.

She forgot that Naushad has really bad temper. She in flow of moment just irked him. She had fun at his cost.

was she hoping he would come out of shell amd enjoy?

Whatever it is. She owes him an apology..

A sincere apology.

___________

He hears constant knocks. Its around ten in night. He is not in mood of getting up and leave the bed and open the door. He is aware who could be the knocker.

and finally the person calls him out..

'naushad..please open the door.'

He turns his back to door and tries to focus somewhere else.

But...

'naushad...Saira...Saira..She is..'

In a minute he is out of bed. He leaps to door and throws it open.

'what happened to her? How is she? Hold on. where is she?' He is looking outside for her..

'She is fast asleep.' She tells him with eyes down. Suddenly this man has started to appear gigantic.

He slams the door. and turns to her..

'Is this a joke to you? Is every damn thing a joke to you? And I...I look like an idiot, right? What do you think of yourself Naina? Just because of momentary weakness I somehow opened up my past to you, You have suddenly become authority here? We still are two different individuals who had to share a relation because of circumstances. I had told you the first day. Your my responsibility. Only responsibility. Naveen' sister. So why dont you behave like one? I let you come close to Saira because she cant take your absence well. And I dont want to see her hurt. I cant. She is not only part of my body but soul. But you....Your taking advantage of things.....

...You dont have any right..Neither to pull me out of my room nor to throw snow on me. I dont like childish things. I dont like it..Not at all. So stop messing with me. It can entertain my daughter but not me. I am not any clown. Do you hear? I am not a damn clown. I do have a conscience and that demands solace. We are not family. We are acquaintances only. I can let Saira call you mother but other than that everything is not for you. Do you hear your still stranger here? still stranger! '

She is listening him silently..Standing close to a wall, she is silently looking at her feet. Her head down..

When Naushad stops, she looks up. His face is still furious.

She spots jug at table..She goes to it and pours some water for him. Then sje offers it to him.

'I dont want anything.Just leave me alone...Get out of my room.'

Instead she is still at her place..offering Him water.

His anger increases and he throws the glass which breaks and scatters on carpet.

She silently goes and picks the pieces. Neatly and carefully...Then she throws them in dustbin.

Naushad is watching all this.

And then again she pours him one more glass..Offers him. He is taken aback...But..

He takes it and sips it.

One. Two. Three. Four.Five.Six.Seven.Eight.Nine.Ten.

'You have not had food. come. I'll heat it.'

And Suddenly Naushad is following her..outside of room. without uttering any word

She heats up food for him. Serves it. and sits opposite to him...away on the other side of table.

He is eating slowly slowly as if something is on his mind. Naina watches him keenly....Observes him.

The moment he is done with food, she before him picks his plate and places it in sink. She turns off Lights and heads for her room where Saira is sleeping.

Naushad watches her leaving..

He is surprised and astonished...but more than that he is again surrounded amongst whirlwind. 

Its again so messed up.

______________

When Next morning Naina leaves for Hospital, he finds Naushad standing on door.

Saira is coming running in her direction and she collides with Naushad.

'Abbu hatiye na. Saira ko Naina ko bye bye kissie deni he. Hatiye aap jaldi se.'

And she suddenly jumps on Naina. smothers her cheek and reminds her that she has to bring something for her while returning home. Naina nods and kisses her back. She puts her down and turns to leave.

'Bye bye Naina..' Saira shouts...

She is on the gates when she turns, Naushad is watching her..along saira.

_______________

In evening when she returns, SHe finds Saira learning alphabets with Naushad with her. She goes straight to her room and comes after changing and freshening up.

'Abbu. Ye kya he?'

'Xmas tree. Christmas Ke time isko sajate he.'

She nods like she gets it but the next moment she shuts the book down and runs to Naina.

'Naina. Chalo ghoomne. Jaise kal gaye the. Abbu utho. Aaj bahar khana khayenge hum sab log.'

Before Nausjad can say something, Naina is pulling Saira in her lap.

'No. Aaj Naina aur Saira milkar cooking karenge. Chalo.'

And she has disappeared in kitchen. though sometimes later she brings him strong coffee.

'Naina.'

He calls her out when she leaves.

'I...I..'

'Nahi rahne dijiye. Maafi mat maangiye. But I have something to say. If I am Saira' mom, I do have some kind of relation with her father. I know I behaved childish but With Saira thats the only side I have. With her I cant be the Big matured woman. And...Thats the reason i trouble you. In fact I am sorry.'

and she has disappeared again.

Dinner is disaster first time. When Naushad eats he almost pukes it out. But looking at his daughter's enthusiastic face he only smiles.

Later when Naina joins table she spits her hand made chicken out.

'Damn! It tastes like sh...I mean It is burnt.' She looks at Saira hoping she has not caught the word she missed ......and her burnt food too.

'Saira.Ye mat khana. Khala has slept. Unke sar me dard ho rha tha..Ek kaam karte he..Order kar lete he.'

Saira jumps with the mention of something from outside.

after half an hour trio is having KFC. When Naina goes to throw the wrappers and boxes, Naushad holds his daughter. He pulls her to his lap and messes her ponytail.

'Aapki ammi naraz he kya saira?'

'Kyu abbu? Aapne daanta Naina ko?'

'Shayad ha.'

'Aap bahut gande ho! Naina ko kyu daanta aapne? Ab Saira aapko ddantegi. Chalo kaan pakdo.'

He holds her ears..and she giggles. Then he holds his. When naina arrives, saira proudly tells her that she is punishing Naushad for scolding her.

'Galat baat Saira. Apne abbu ko aise pareshan mat karo. chalo..utho. Abhi brush karke aao. Phir sone jana.'

But she runs away with mention of brushing her teeth..and Naina has no other option than catching her.

Once again he silently watches her leaving.

Suddenly she has gone quiet. And He feels this silence cold. So cold.

___________________

Naina hears Khala leaving for city.

Khala has been so helpful with food as well as Saira. Now when she will not be at home for two days, She wonders how she will take care of things.

Fortunately Saira is busy with her books which she had bought on way back to home. She is not going to cause havoc with her naughtiness.

She is so active child. She cant sit still at one place. When Naina had arrived here, she was all quiet and hesitant. Though she showed her mishchivious side but it was just a peek a boo. Now she is so naughty.

Her questions, her talks, her activities everything is getting diverse these days. And As a doctor she knows she has responsibility of her diet too. With Khala it was easy but now...For whole two days she cant keep track of food, job, Saira and ...her abbu.

Naushad.

This man is so difficult to understand. Sometimes he is so soft to her. He witnesses her crying for her brother. He takes her out. But there he gets angry.

It was because of her.

But he is a good man. A very good man. Who has a child' heart. He can shield it among bars or claim to cease its tenderness. But he do have a heart. And he proved it.

that makes Naina respect him. And she tries not to interfere in his life anymore. He will come along one day. But...as she tried to talk into him and push him, it worsened the matter. The way he opened himself up simultaneously, he will understand things eventually.

and things they are mystery for her. Exactly what things she wants him to understand she doesnt know herself.