'Naushad. Ye dekhiye...Hamari pahli date ki tasveer. Kitne cute lag rahe ho aap!'

He stares at her. Trying to find something familiar, a feeling that felt homey years ago....and the hell if he finds it!

Fifteen days six hours and perhaps thirty minutes.

He has been counting minutes and seconds the moment he has brought Arwa back to this house. And the same amount of time this house has taken to feel empty.

Arwa is talking. Reminiscing old days, walking down that alley of their memories.

No doubt the alley is brisky, warm and fuzzy but...it is twilight. The dawn he last felt was with Someone else. Someone who has not been in this house lately. Someone who disappeared on him...

Arwa talks on. And he keeps looking on. The game goes on. And Naushad has every idea how he is going to feel in the end.

*******

Day goes as before. Arwa trying her best and he never giving even his one ounce. It is not like he doesn't want to. It is just that he cant. His mind and body both doesn't follow suit.

He has felt alone on dining table. He has felt isolated in drawing room. And the bedroom...it has become hell for him. He barely sleeps. He barely feels the comfort.

Arwa is trying her best as he sees. She is trying. She is making effort. But he can not.

When arwa tries to talk with him and initiate a conversation suddenly he loses interest. If Arwa makes bed and sleeps without nosing in he still feels intruded. Even If Arwa makes him coffee and waits for him daily which she does actually he still feels ignored.

Arwa tried to apply balm two days back and her touch was so alien. He didnt let her touch him.

Saira is happy with her but the moment Saira asks for Naina Naushad feels like he has achieved something. He feels rejunavated. Suddenly he feels like a family.

Arwa bought a shirt for him last week. But the shirt was not up To his taste. The navy blue he wears was not the navy blue Arwa bought. Not only this the shirt didnt feel good.

Arwa every night waits for him to come and tell her what he did his whole day. She tries to make him feel good. A support she wanna become. A support anyone would long for. But he can not share his burden with her. He sees her as Arwa...

Plain simple Arwa

And...

Arwa is not his home.

Even if Arwa cooks the best Kahadi chicken it is not how he likes it. Even if arwa listens him and never intrudes it is not how he wants to spend his evenings.

Arwa is not old Arwa. She has become what they call as dream wife. She is changed and better Arwa but still the longing and distant he feels daily, being with Arwa doesn't bring an end to it.

He is with arwa but he is not with Arwa. He smiles with Arwa but it is not his smile. He sleeps with Arwa but sleep never comes. He eats with Arwa but he still feels famished. He drinks tea with Arwa but his body is still hungover. Caffeine and evenings with Arwa still have to have their old impact.

He cant say it but he knows. He feels alone with Arwa.

The same Arwa...his one true love. For her he spent not days but years crying. The same Arwa whom his male ego wanted to have back at any cost.

Suddenly her presence and devotion doesn't matter. Arwa Siddiqui or Rizvi...Naushad Rizvi has no attachment left to this name.

**********

He is sitting at his desk. Glaring at a file.

Coffee, lilies, evening movie shows.

Each thing flashes in front of his eyes. Trying to tell him what he has been through. What he did there...years ago.

But when he looks at himself now. It all seems so distant. The feel itself has been lost.

Suddenly parent teacher meet, fever and cough day out is able to make him smile..

Naushad puts his finger on it.

The same old feeling in new branded way....

*******

AT HOSPITAL.

'Why are you here for last two weeks?'

'What?' Naina is reading a file while pooja has just entered.

'Phir se tum miyan biwi me koi jhagda huya? Abhi kuch din pahle hi tu wapas gayi thi. Ab kya ho gaya?'

She doesn't reply.

Pooja snatches file from her hand.

Naina is glaring.

'Spill the beans.'

She sighs.

'Arwa...Arwa is back. He himself brought her back.'

Pooja has fallen from the desk.

'Bhai. Kya tv drama chal rha he? Ki abhi tum ladoge phir patch up bhi nahi hoga ki wamp aa jayegi! What the hell is going on with you two?

Now..I have a quick question. He brought Arwa back and you left his house. You shifted here. Why? You know you still have right to ask? If you forgot, I need to tell you this.'

Naina listens her calmly.

'Seriously! Why the hell are you so calm about this? And for God sake why dont you leave this venomous relation, yaar! Kabhi uske nakhre, uski complains, uske doubts and insecurities phir ab uski pahli biwi...Matlab...Kya he uske dimag me! He is simply troubling you to make himself feel good. He is some kind of psycho.

Do one thing. Usko ek din idhar lekar aa. Shock therapy deti main usko! Iski harkate dekh kar lagta ki ye us se niche nahi maanega!'

She takes deep breath....

'Nainaaaa....I'll die of your problems!'

'He has fathered a kid with Arwa.'

'So? So what? He slept with you.'

'Because I gave him a way for this..

Pooja...He brought his first wife back. He brought Saira' mom back. Do you think I have a right to complain?

Even if I complain, what'll I have! An answer which I know already. He must have his reasons. He brought Arwa back. It is what he wanted to do. It is what he had to do. So what now! I dont have an issue with it.

And even if I have, he cant solve it. Our relation is platonic...simple. I looked after his kid. He treated me better. I cant force him to do things again.'

'I am still not getting you. Why is the need of being so great Naina? Be selfish and ask questions. Ask for your rights.. you do have your right on him. He cant bring his first wife back whenever he wants. He cant sleep with you and then make you feel like some kind of....

I get the part that he has his reasons. But isnt this relation becoming toxic! Simple and platonic....What the fuck! Leave this. Leave this and live your life. Get out of this simple and platonic.'

'You yourself said...Naushad is only family i have. I should give this family a chance. Thats what I am doing.'

'On what cost!'

'It is simple pooja. I can not leave Shimla. You know when he shoved those transfer letter on my face, I was so scared as a kitten. The mere mention of being alone scared me.

I can claim to live alone...but the truth is I can not. Human is a social creature and thats what makes it weak. Sooner or later I'll seek a shoulder to cry on, sleep on and hold on. And...I am not ready to go out and look for a new support.

Naushad us ghar me Arwa ke sath he. Lekin Us ghar me ek kamra Mera bhi he jaha Arwa ka koi haq nahi he. Saira Arwa ko ammi bolti he lekin Abhi bhi uske school se phone mUjhe  aate he.

I am scared to be Alone. I am sacred to be the big brave girl. I cant. I dont want to.

This relationship is as simple as I told you. Ha mujhe bahut bura laga jab Naushad Arwa ko lekar aaya...lekin Mere pass koi sawal bhi to nahi tha. Arwa us bed par Naushad ke sath soyi jaha....
Lekin wo bhi Naushad ki biwi He Pooja.

Arwa Naushad ki biwi he...Theek Waise hi Jaise Main hu. Naushad in dono rishto ko jaise chahe nibhayega.

Wo Naushad Rizvi he Pooja...Naina Ahaluwalia nahi. Uski jindagi me uski beti he..Uska ateet he. Aur us ateet me Arwa he...Naina nahi.

You see...its as simple...'

Pooja keeps staring on..

'Tum dono chutiye ho! Ek number ke. Bhaad me jaao. Agar Chai peena ho to mere cabin par knock kar dena...aur please...Thode din mujhse door rah. Ye simple philosophy mere samajh me nahi aati.'

Naina smiles...

Pooja leaves.

But returns after fifteen minutes with two hot cups of tea.

Naina looks at her...

'Dosti ka pahla lesson...

Chutiye dost ko akele nahi chhodte.'

Both laughs...and sips their tea.

Pooja wondering how insane Naina is at the same time being so mature and understanding. Cursing naveen...for he is the one who began all this. And planning something for Naushad cause Naveen is already dead. 

And dead are bad for revenge.