26.2.2021

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Change is part of life. Sometimes the change is positive that fills our life with moments of joy and happiness. Then there are also times when the change suffocates you but you can do nothing about it except for enduring it and waiting for it to come to an end itself.

Your home is your small world - a dream that you have manifested devoting your time, energy and emotions. And no one has the right to enter your territory without your permission! Likewise even you don't have the right to create disturbance by entering into someone else's territory without his permission!

Every house during its designing and construction is visualised getting occupied by a happy and sound family. It is foreseen as a dwelling where the sound of laughter of the members of the family, especially the children will vibrate in every nook and crook of the house. The aura of happiness reflected by the members of the family will create a shield around the house that will protect them from any evil eye that might try to destroy the peace of the family. But what if instead of laughter and chatters, you get a reason for the silence to prevail there?

Just like no one else has the right to enter your territory, even you don't have permission to disturb the peace of others by entering their territory without their permission! If they enjoy the peace the silence at their place provides to them, you have no right to invade their territory and screech through the silence!

And if you dare - knowingly or unknowingly, get prepared to deal with the dire consequences of it!

With the festive vibes filling the air, people indulge in buying properties. This Diwali Rajveer and Naina too have shifted to their new residence. Not many people reside around them, this fact remains unsettling for Naina even after five days of their shifting here and that too when Rajveer has stayed by her side throughout this period, helping her in arranging everything.

More than Rajveer it was Naina who was excited to shift to this place. But Rajveer could sense since last few days that Naina has lost her appetite; she is not in best of her moods. This disturbs Rajveer. He has asked her the reason for the shift in her mood but Naina has managed to stray away from his question.

Sometimes it becomes difficult or rather impossible to put it into words that why you are feeling hollowness inside you. Try how hard you might but you fail to pull yourself out of that current mood of yours.

Rajveer remembers how they had cuddled and spent a passionate night on their first night here. But gradually everything changed. Stress took a toll on them since then. Stress about what exactly they fail to understand. But this constant tiredness, lethargy that they would feel they don't understand how to get rid of it!

Beating the coffee into the coffee mug, Rajveer says,

"Raat ko kitni baar to karwatein badli tumne."

That comes as a surprise for Naina. Turning to look towards Rajveer she asks,

"Aapko kaise pata? Aap to so rahe the!"

Smiling a little, looking towards Naina, Rajveer teases,

"Kahan?! Meri patni mujhe chain se sone hi kahan deti hai."

Smile comes on Naina's face effortlessly.

"Ulta chor kotwal ko dante!",

teases Naina, smiling, rolling her eyes.

Rajveer laughs a little, without turning to look towards her.

Naina presses her forehead lightly with both of her hands, sitting at the dining table.

Walking to her, forwarding the cup to her, Rajveer says,

"Ye lo strong coffee."

"Thank you!",

she smiles and holds the cup.

Despite staying conscious of what she is doing she doesn't realise that the cup is hot and as a result of it she loses her hold on the cup immediately and it smashes on the floor with a loud thud, smashing the cup into pieces and the coffee spills on the floor.

"Naina! Tum theek ho?",

asks Rajveer, concerned, raising his voice.

Naina who could feel her heart thumping inside her chest, looks towards Rajveer in horror and says,

"Haan... haan main theek hoon."

"Tum hilna mat wahin baithi rehna main abhi isey saaf kar deta hoon.",

orders Rajveer and walks away.

•••••

Naina keeps staring the spilled coffee, without blinking her eyes.

Her heart skips a beat and makes her to turn in a state of surprise when she feels someone resting his or her hand on her shoulder as if someone is standing behind her.

This happens so quickly - her feeling the touch and turning that for a brief moment she almost forgot that this could not be possible, owing to the fact that only Rajveer and Naina are the occupants of the house and Rajveer, he just now walked to the kitchen. She gets shocked upon discovering no one there except for herself. She focuses, rewinds her thoughts, feelings and realises that it was a touch of a female!

She looks around in search of anyone at her sight but finds no one.

"Kon?",

she calls out, just in case she missed witnessing the presence of someone. But unluckily she gets met with only silence!

Silence! The word itself speaks volume! Silence if tried to be heard can speak to you, so loud! All you need to have is the presence of mind and every sense of yours working properly and in proper synchronisation.

Silence, if given permission has the power to destroy your mental peace more than the sounds and the noise that ring constantly in your ears. It has the power to hyperactive your every sense. Hearing the silence is a craving! And cravings, they have the ability to control your mind even without your permission.

When your valid question gets met with silence, it irritates you. With an agenda to get relief from this irritation you unconsciously let the anger control your rational thoughts. This is the moment when you give permission to an outsider; to the unknown entity; to the dead one - to get under your skin and affect your life!

It destroys you not in a jiffy but step by step, slowly. The slower the process, the more you get affected. The more you get affected, the more you lose your mental stability! It then begins to contaminate the relationship you have with your dear ones.

"Kya hua Naina?",

Rajveer's touching her, resting his hand on her same shoulder where she has been touched earlier by the unknown entity makes Naina to jerk Rajveer's hand away.

Her rude gesture comes as a surprise for Rajveer but he doesn't scold her, he rather gets concerned.

"Naina! Tum theek ho?"

Naina stares him in shock for a brief moment, unable to comprehend what all just happened.

"Rajveer Sir... mujhe... mujhe aisa laga jaise koi tha.",

Naina tells him, her throat drying up gradually as the fear crawls under her skin all the more.

She instead of feeling protected in Rajveer's presence turns all the more concerned about his and her well being.

Rajveer smiles a little and says,

"Kon hoga Naina yahan, tumhare aur mere siwa?"

Naina realises that she is acting and sounding stupid.

"Kon ayega humare ghar mein humare ijjazat ke bina?",

asks Rajveer, cupping her face with both of his hands, forcing her to look towards himself.

They stare each other, while Rajveer stares her out of love and compassion, Naina stares him perplexed, nervous. The weird feeling that she gets from this place doesn't leave her body.

Rajveer rubs his left thumb against her right cheek in slow succession, drawing circles, staring her passionately, smiling seductively, trying to untie the knots of tension inside her. Naina lets herself to sink into the feeling. Closing her eyes, she smiles.

•••••

Rajveer was working on his laptop when he hears the sound of the blender. He smiles feeling comfortable, at his ease realising that Naina is keeping herself busy. He knows she has lately got a knack for cooking. Not only does he love the mouth watering dishes that she prepares for him but feels proud on her upon witnessing the growth in her cooking ability.

"Aa!!! Rajveer Sirrrr!!!",

Naina's shout skips Rajveer's heartbeat.

Keeping the laptop aside, he runs to the kitchen.

"Kya hua Naina?",

he asks in his state of horror.

Naina slowly turns towards him. Rajveer gets shocked witnessing her face all messed up by the batter.

Initially he stays in his state of shock but gradually as the shock sinks, lightening his body, giving way to his feeling of amusement, he laughs out loud, clapping his hands once, throwing his head backwards.

Even in her messed up face, Rajveer could see or rather feel her fuming with anger. The way she takes her hands towards her waist to hold it from both the sides but thinks the better of it, thanks to her messed up hands, gives Rajveer yet another reason to laugh out loud further.

"Rajveer Sir!",

she scolds, stomping her foot on the floor.

"Haan... haan ek minute...",

he tries to calm her down, whilst laughing without filter.

"Tum janti ho Naina tum kitni pyari lag rahi ho?",

he asks unable to control his fit of laughter.

Naina retorts, mirroring his tone,

"Aur aap jante hain aap ye keh kar mujhe kitna gussa dila rahe hain?"

"Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat agar aapko mere haathon pitna nahi hai to stop laughing aur face wash kariye mera!",

she orders, irritated.

"Yes Ma'am!",

laughs Rajveer, widening his eyes initially upon hearing her words and tone.

"Sambhal kar aiyega, warna phir mujhe aap par hansne ka mauka mil jayega.",

teasing him Naina purses her lips, looking anywhere but towards him.

Rajveer narrows his eyes on her, understanding her tease.

Rajveer deliberately slips taking Naina along. Naina who stays unaware of his plan shouts in horror,

"Aa.... Aa....!"

Together they fall on the floor with Rajveer resting under Naina. He flip-flops on the floor, embracing her tightly by her waist, with a motive to mess their clothes.

While Naina stays in her state of shock, her eyes opened wide; Rajveer laughs freely enjoying her expressions.

After a brief moment, getting out of her state of shock, Naina beats Rajveer lightly on his upper arms; on his chest, out of irritation wrapped by her love and affection for him. Rajveer laughs further, enjoying teasing Naina.

Even in her state of irritation, Naina couldn't help herself from kissing him at the middle point of his neck as he tilts his head backwards, laughing freely.

Rajveer shuts his eyes, feeling the kiss, smiling freely.

"Ek aur do!",

he demands, his eyes still closed, smiling.

Naina smiles too, forgetting their messed up state and kisses him again deeply. Licking his neck. Biting it lightly.

Rajveer rolls over, getting her under himself. They stare each other intimately, smiling out of love. The way he stares her tells Naina of his intention. She softly says, smiling,

"Yahan nahi. Room mein."

"Yahin! Abhi! Aise hi!",

declares Rajveer.

And with the declaration of Rajveer, Naina smiles in acceptance, letting herself to flow freely with him as per his wish.

Sometimes in a relationship it feels good when your partner doesn't seek for your permission to do something to you! Sometimes it feels good when you stay in control of someone, someone you trust explicitly; someone who gives respect to your trust and never betrays you. Someone who takes you as his responsibility; holding you tenderly and delicately. The silent permission that you give to him and only him without his asking for it verbally, not only strengthens your bond but increases your faith and trust in him manifolds too. Not only yours, but his trust and faith in you increase too! Trust and faith about that fact that the bond you both share is pure. The bond you both feel isn't forced by either of you but comes naturally and enjoyed by both of you.

Even in their messed up state they enjoy the passionate lip lock. The passion flows freely. They care less about their state; the place where they are. Everything around them ceases to exist, all they could focus is on each other and what they are doing to each other. They moan in pleasure - sometimes together; sometimes at different interval, whenever their passion and desire for each other reach the zenith point. Rajveer takes his left hand under her dress, holding her firmly with his right hand. Rubbing her back slowly, sensuously, he forces her body to raise its temperature - which is not only a result of his touching her intimately but staying in her such close proximity.

The endearing words that Naina takes the moment they end their passionate lip lock for a brief moment, heighten up Rajveer's desires for her. He encourages her by talking to her dirty. Warning her to stay at her place, Rajveer gets up and roughly cleans the place with the mop. Naina laughs a little and says,

"Rehne dijiye main kar dungi.",

and she twists a little to get up but Rajveer immediately pointing towards her warns her,

"Waise hi raho!"

Naina smiles and slaps her forehead.

Rajveer returns back to Naina and continues their game of love. They don't realise when their clothes get shed partially. Naina turns restless and orders him to make it quick already the brief pause had caused her frustration, which got released out of her body with the laughter she enjoyed earlier. Rajveer surrenders to her desire and enters her swiftly.

•••••

As the night grows dark Naina turns one last time in her bed, sleep seems to be having some war with her this night. She looks towards Rajveer and smiles discovering him sleeping soundly. She then turns to look at the opposite side and out of the window. She gets lost in thoughts as her eyes rest on a tree standing high just in front of the window at a distance. She doesn't realise when unconsciously she begins to imagine the tree in different human forms. And when she does realise, she finds herself crazy and laughs a little, silently.

Getting out of the bed as if someone is attracting her towards himself but who exactly she cannot see, Naina slowly walks towards the window, hypnotized by that unknown entity. Not for once does it cross her mind that she hasn't left her side of bed unoccupied, it stays still occupied although not by her but by another woman!

The way she glares Naina could confirm anyone about her disappointment upon finding her here in this house. Her hair left untied.

Naina focuses at the tree, knitting her brows lightly. She could feel her rate of heartbeat and breathing increasing slowly. Something about the tree gives her negative vibes and sets her mood upside down.

Even though our senses grab the fact within a moment but our logical thinking refrains from accepting the truth. Not everything that we see holds the truth that's true but at the same time not everytime when we think our mind is playing games with us, it actually does. Sometimes what seems impossible to us gives us a reality check! This is nature! This is life and death. Not everyone who dies are indeed dead! Sometimes may be their journey of life ends but the journey after death.... begins!

Naina looks around the tree in search of someone, but whom, she has no idea. Why is she even searching, she stays clueless. Why would anyone strand there at this hour of the day, not for once crosses her mind. Her desperation to rest her eyes on the one she is searching for gets the utmost importance by her subconscious mind.

"Naina!",

calls out Rajveer, waking up from his sleep.

Naina feels dizzy for a brief moment upon hearing Rajveer's voice as if it took her energy more than normal to drag her mind out of the place where it was stranding. She turns to look towards Rajveer.

Rajveer who was still feeling hangover of the incomplete sleep opens his eyes wide suddenly as he witnesses the sudden change in Naina's expression. She definitely is not in best of her moods! To Rajveer she seems pissed off, as if he has offended her by calling her out.

"Kya hua Naina?",

asks Rajveer in desperation, as if trying to drag his Naina back to himself.

Naina again feels the dizziness for a brief moment and asks him,

"Kya hua Sir?"

Rajveer now could feel and hear his Naina! He sighs in relief, inaudibally.

"Aap kyun jag gaye?",

asks Naina, smiling.

Rajveer stares her skeptically. Gauging her mood and each reaction.

Stretching his right hand in her direction, Rajveer calls her out in concern,

"Idhar aao. So jao."

Naina smiles and walks back to Rajveer.

Rajveer gives her a side hug in desperation. His brows stay knit together as he remembers the change in her expression again. He makes sure that she is sleeping close to him and keeps his right arm wrapped around her. Together they drift back to sleep.

••••

Next morning Naina gets busy in different household chores. Rajveer too gets busy in getting ready to go out for some official work. He notices how Naina has been working continuously. He feels concerned about her.

"Naina...",

Rajveer calls her out standing next to her while she stays busy in arranging the breakfast at the dining table.

"Sir ye lijiye jaldi kha lijiye garam garam parathein. Jaise aapko pasand hain na bilkul waise hi.",

smiles Naina.

"Sorry kuch dino se aapki taraf dhyan nahi de pa rahi thi.",

apologizes Naina, still busy and not looking towards Rajveer.

Rajveer stares her silently. When she still doesn't stop talking, Rajveer holds her by her upper arm, taking her by surprise; forcing her to look towards himself. Naina looks towards him, wondering what does he have to say.

"Tum theek ho?",

he asks out of blue.

Naina knits her brows lightly, smiling in confusion, she says,

"Haan Sir. Main theek hoon. Kyun kya hua?"

Rajveer stares her deep into her eyes for reassurance. He shakes his head, his face expression serious. Getting up he embraces her into a warm hug. Naina smiles resting her head against his chest. He prays silently for her well being.

"Chaliye jaldi kha lijiye aur jaiye.",

smiles Naina, setting him free.

Knitting his brows, faking his disappointment, Rajveer complains,

"Main romance ke mood mein hoon aur tumhe koi kadar hi nahi."

Naina laughs and teases,

"Aap jabse academy wapas aaye hain apko chaubiso ghante romance soojhne laga hai to mujhe thoda to control mein rakhna hoga na apko?",

she bites her lower lip, controlling her laughter, looking away from him.

"Waqt aur saans ki keemat kya hoti hai main ye achi tarah jaan chuka hun Naina!",

says Rajveer, suddenly turning serious, staring her innocently.

Naina looks towards him, serious. His words hit her deep. Her eyes reflect her love for him. Cupping his face with her hands Naina says,

"Jo waqt kho diya hai uske barey mein soch kar; baat karke hum humara aaj kharab nahi karenge Sir!"

Rajveer stares her further, without blinking his eyes.

"Balki saath rehkar; ek dusre ka saath dekar, aane wale kal ko khoobsurat banayenge!",

smiling, Naina nods her head, as if asking 'Am I not correct?'

Rajveer smiles and nods his head in affirmative. Naina smiles back at him.

Holding her hands in his hands, Rajveer shares his earnest feelings with Naina,

"Naina, main tumhe kabhi kisi baat ke liye force nahi karna chahta. Main janta hoon ke main ab kuch zyada hi bechain rehne laga hoon; especially humare rishte ko lekar. Agar kabhi tumhe lagey ke main kisi baat ko lekar jaldbaazi dikha raha hoon, ya... ya jane-anjane mein main kabhi kuch aisa keh doon jisse tumhe lagey ke main over protective ho raha hoon, tumhe pura haq hai ke tum mujhe rok do."

Naina smiles back at him and shows her deepest affection for Rajveer and her trust in him by saying,

"Main janti hoon. Apne haq ko bhi samjhti hoon.",

smiles Naina.

"Aap chinta mat kariye, mujhe aap par pura vishwas hai Sir ke humare iss rishte mein aap kabhi bhi apne faisle mujh par thopenge nahi."

Naina shows her confidence in him, smiling.

"Aur phir aap ye kaise bhool sakte hain ke main kitni ziddi hoon?!",

teases Naina, laughing a little.

Rajveer laughs a little too.

"Agar kabhi aisa hua bhi to hum mil kar uss situation se deal kar lenge. Bus apko itna bharosa rakhna hai ke...",

bringing her hands out of his hold, Naina cups his face and says,

"Hum dono jab itne mushkilon se larhte hue aaj yahan pohnche hain; ek saath hain; khush hain, to aagey bhi hum ek dusre ka saath kabhi nahi chorenge. Humare rishte ko ab koi tod nahi sakta; khud hum bhi nahi!",

Naina shakes her head into negative.

Rajveer smiles wide as his heart swells with love and pride hearing Naina.

Taking his seat Rajveer enjoys his breakfast.

"Tum bhi khao na.",

says Rajveer, looking up towards Naina.

Naina prepares a bite from his plate, smiling she says,

"Nahi, baad mein.",

and takes her hand towards his mouth to feed him.

Rajveer opens his mouth and takes the bite, staring Naina.

"Ye galat baat hai. Phir tum baad mein bhi naashta skip kar dogi mujhe pata hai.",

he says. His filled mouth makes him to sound so adorable.

Naina laughs and bends to kiss Rajveer on his cheek and assures him,

"Nahi karungi skip baba!"

Rajveer rolls another paratha, putting one end into his mouth he gestures Naina through his eyes to take the other end in her mouth. Naina slaps her forehead in shyness and scolds him mildly,

"Sir!"

Rajveer arches a brow, waiting for her to do as she is asked.

Laughing a little, shaking her head, Naina bends into him and takes the other end into her mouth. She tears the roll with her hands into two parts from the centre, sitting on his lap. Rajveer stares her in disappointment. Naina laughs after bringing out her portion of the roll off her mouth.

"Ho gaya romance aapka? Chaliye ab kha lijiye. Mujhe aur bhi kaam karne hain.",

laughing in victory, Naina gets prepared to get out of his lap but Rajveer wraps his left arm around her waist, arresting her at her place.

Bringing out his share of the roll out of his mouth, Rajveer shakes his head into negative, smiling, staring her. Naina laughs witnessing his flirty side. She bends down towards his neck and begins to kiss him there. Rajveer laughs closing his eyes and says,

"Naina abhi nahi abhi kaam par jana hai."

Naina gets a good opportunity to tease him in a seductive voice, her eyes twinkling with naughtiness,

"Kyun abhi to bohot mood ho raha tha romance karne ka?",

she traces his face beginning from his forhead then moving towards his nose; his lips; his chin, with her right index finger.

Rajveer laughs silently enjoying being teased by her.

"Tum janti ho na mujhe? Mujhe khudko kaboo mein rakhna aata hai. To kyun aazmati ho mujhe?",

asks Rajveer, laughing and teasing her.

Naina fumes with fake anger hearing him.

Naina tries to push him to get out of his hold.

Rajveer laughs further and says in between his laughter,

"Acha... acha... kaam kar lun... phir raat ko ye sub...",

he looks into her eyes, his own eyes twinkling with love and naughiness.

"Ji nahi tab bhi nahi ab to!",

scolds Naina, narrowing her eyes on him.

"Pakka?",

he teases her further, laughing.

Shutting her eyes Naina smiles and blushes and hugs him tight. Rajveer tightens his hold on her.

•••••

Rajveer leaves for his work and Naina gets busy in arranging everything properly, putting the covers on the cushions at the sitting area. Her bangles chime as she continues with her work. Initially she doesn't realise anything abnormal but suddenly she notices that despite stopping of the chiming of her bangles for a brief moment, she could hear the chime!

Not every chime of bangles sounds same. Our brain has the power to differentiate between the sounds even if they are produced by two objects made up of same material. And once have had the experience of feeling or witnessing something against the normal stuff, your senses tend to go hyperactive without even your having the knowledge of the same.

Her hands stop working on the cushion abruptly and the sound manages to drag all of her attention. She rotates her eye balls slowly towards the right corner to check for the presence of anyone behind her, but to her shock she discovers no one there, if she could trust her peripheral vision.

In her state of fear when her mind gets completely focused on working out who it is who created that sound - intentionally or unintentionally, she doesn't pay heed to how goosebumps crawl through her skin. Every hair tendril of her nape stands erect. She finds herself impossible to move even an inch. She begins to take slow and deep breaths in and releasing them slowly. With her each intake of air she at this moment could feel the value of her life!

Sometimes we take our life for granted! It takes adversities to enter our life and make us realise how precious our life is - not only because we want to explore our life further and not reach our end yet but also because of the people we are emotionally attached to! They get the utmost importance by us. Our concern zeroes on to them.

In her state of terror, apart from how she can save herself, Naina's mind gets clouded with thoughts of Rajveer.

Rajveer, the one whose thoughts have the greatest power to relax Naina at any moment, for the first time along with the sense of relaxation also gives her a sense of loss! Relaxed for the fact that at least he is safe away from this place at the moment and the sense of loss comes as her mind gets filled with the thought that this might be the final moment of her life! That she might not be able to see or meet Rajveer again!

She again moves her hand, this time deliberately to notice the sound and the frequency of it. She gets assured that there is indeed someone who is trying to play mind games with her. She turns immediately to check for the one who is trying to cause her trouble.

"Kon hai?",

she asks, measuring her each step as she moves forth.

She gets met with an eerie silence. She could feel her ears getting blocked gradually by the eerie silence. Despite knowing her state of loneliness already, it gets deep into her skin. She suddenly craves to get surrounded by her near and dear ones even if it means getting surrounded by Major Nair, someone she doesn't share a good equation with.

Gradually the sound of the chiming of the bangles begins to get more frequent. Naina begins to lose the consciousness of her surroundings. All she could focus is at the sound. The set rhythm and frequency of the sound begin to hypnotise her. Her steps begin to follow the sound at their own accord. Her heart does no more beat at a high pace, totally in control of the sound and the one who is creating it. She doesn't even get the urge to follow the sound - hypnotised completely, it is rather as if she is meant to follow the sound. Everything else cease to exist except for the sound. Her eyes turn soft out of hypnotism, but who is there to notice and drag her out of it?

In her current state Naina doesn't realize when the end of her duppatta catches fire as she passes by a ignited deeya set at the temple of their house. It gets dropped on the floor thankfully and hence saving her from getting burnt.

Although she doesn't realize of the caught fire but the one hypnotizing her did! The frequency of the sound of the bangles along with the sound of the anklets get higher than earlier, before they die gradually, giving Naina a sense that someone just ran away, dragging her out of her hypnotised state. Naina feels dizzy again as if something got extracted out of her brain and body. She loses her equilibrium! Thank god for the table lamp standing by her side which she holds immediately in order to save herself from a fall.

She feels like floating in the mid air, in her state of dizziness. She rests her behind against the wall to get a proper control over her body. Her left hand presses the left corner of her forehead and her right hand rests on her right knee to give support to her limbs or else she would have collapsed on the floor, although her limbs too lose their strength. How she manages to somehow remain standing, she knows not! The numbness of her body leaves her at a slow pace. It takes her every ounce of the little strength which was left in her to kill the numbness of her body and gain back her equilibrium.

She smells the burning cloth. Immediately she turns to look towards her burning duppatta resting on the floor, in horror! Naina quickly goes and extinguishes the fire by stepping on it ones! twice! thrice! careful, not burning herself in the process. She sighs in relief after extinguishing it. She gets tired doing only this much!

The bell chooses to ring right at that moment. Naina looks towards the door, which to her eyes appears blur. She controls herself, giving herself as much strength as was possible for her to give and slowly walks towards the door, holding the walls and other decorative pieces that could help her to stand erect.

The bell rings again constantly at irrigular frequency which irritates Naina. She shuts her ears tight with both of her hands. Shutting her eyes tightly too; wrinkling her forehead; knitting her brows and shouts,

"Chupppp!!!!"

But with that little strength that he has in her it hardly sounds audible to any person if standing around her at a certain distance, let alone the one standing far away from her and on the other side of the closed door.

But miraculously may be the one ringing the bell could hear her almost silent shout!

The current situation stays at an immediate contrast to the earlier silence that was prevailing in the house! Suddenly as if to Naina 'silence' turned more friendly than the noise that the constant ringing of the bell was creating. This way at least she could focus on the rhythmic beating of her heart which is an assurance that she is alive!

Sweat beads get collected on her forehead. Her throat turns dry. She tries gulping her saliva every now and then but to no avail, such is the level of her terror.

A person's home is the place where he finds the ultimate mental peace. After a hectic day when a person returns from his work place and steps into his home, the importance of his house is felt utmost at that moment. The final steps that take you towards the door of your home and the moment when you ring the bell, the rate of heartbeat when turns a notch higher than normal no one ever tries to give heed to it! Nirvana is felt when you get the familiar smell of your house; the environment of your home, the moment you step into it. This is why one requires his home. The joy of reaching back safely to your family and finding them sound and safe, no other feeling could be better in comparison to this feeling!

But what about the suffocation one feels at his or her own house?

The thought itself has the power to send shivers running down one's spine! It's like feeling insecure even after depositing your earned money into the bank!

Not a single moment spent in your house in such a situation can give you mental peace! It rather would surge through your veins deteriorating your mental as well as physical health. Mood swings will become a common nature of yours and no one or nothing could help you to gain back your sound health!

The sound dies down completely. At least it doesn't succeed in hitting Naina's eardrums. Now all she can hear with her covered ears is the accelerated rate of her heartbeat. Although accelerated but it sounds better than that annoying sound of the doorbell for sure. Afterall any sound can turn annoying if heard repeatedly except for maybe your own heartbeat!

Naina slowly dares to open not only her eyes but removes her hands too, only a little, assuring herself that the sound indeed has come to an end. The moment she uncovers her ears a little, the bell rings again, this time once and slowly as if the visitor has all the world's time to wait for Naina to open the door. But what doesn't let her rate of heartbeat to calm down even a little is the fact that the ringing of the bell that she heard just now - the last one, it sounds as if someone has brought the doorbell real close to her ears for her to hear! As if the doorbell had whispered into her ear than shouted like it was moments ago! Naina finds the sound of the doorbell mocking at her!

Sweat trickles down her forehead, rolling down towards her cheeks which she wipes immediately.

"Ma'am!",

calls out a lady, standing outside the door.

Naina gets out of her state of fear. In her state even the voice of a stranger sounds like a blessing!

Wiping her sweat and tears with her hands, staring the door throughout, Naina walks towards the door to open it for the stranger.

Naina peeps out keeping the door ajar and hiding herself behind it and discovers a lady smiling at her. When Naina doesn't react back with a smile, the lady turns serious and says,

"Main wo... kaam karne ke liye aapne bulaya tha. Sahab ne bola tha jatey waqt ke aapse mil loon."

Naina nods her head a little, still unable to completely get out of her state of fear. Even this appears to her as her hallucination that the maid is standing in front of her.

"Madam aap theek hain na?",

asks the maid, knitting her brows in concern.

Naina finally gives herself the liberty to appear properly in front of the maid, gradually getting back to normal as her mind gets shifted from what had happened to what is happening at the moment.

The maid introduces herself as Shanti.

Naina turns and walks into the house whilst beginning to explain everything to Shanti about her work, expecting her to follow.

Shanti's sudden word forces Naina to turn around and look towards her,

"Ma'am..."

When Naina looks towards her, Shanti asks for her permission to let her in,

"Ijjazat hai?!"

Naina stares her for a brief moment. Smiling, she permits her to enter her house,

"Haan haan ijjazat hai!"

Shanti smiles back at Naina.

Naina's smile fades when someone reveals himself coming out from where he was hiding - behind Shanti.

Getting out of her zone of surprise, Naina smiles wide; her eyes twinkle and she asks, looking and pointing towards the boy of age around nine,

"Ye?"

The boy stares Naina, his expression serious. His eye balls rolled up towards her as he stares Naina without blinking his eyes. His aura reflects negativity, which Naina fails to realize.

The lady turns her face to her right and looks behind her towards her son through her peripheral vision and introduces him to Naina,

"Ye Shlok hai, mera beta."

Turning to look towards Naina, Shanti asks her,

"Isse bhi ijjazat hai na agar ye mere saath rehna chahe yahan?"

The motherly feeling; the warmth of a mother inside Naina get activated right at that moment and she immediately gives her permission that even Shlok can stay here at Naina and Rajveer's home,

"Bilkul hai!",

Naina smiles wide, staring him.

Shlok, who was staring Naina until now, turns to look towards his mother for assurance that he really has got the permission to enter in. Shanti smiles at him and nods her head in affirmative. Shlok finally smiles wide and enters into the house. He runs forward in enthusiasm as he enters. Naina turns to look towards him, beaming with joy witnessing him excited.

"Bohot pyara hai Shlok.",

says Naina, still staring Shlok.

Shlok stares at the messed up state of the living area.

Smiling, staring Shlok who is busy noticing everything around himself, Shanti adds,

"Aur shaitan bhi."

Naina laughs a little and turns to look towards Shanti, her heart filled with joy.

She notices how Shanti is looking around the house and her brows are knit in shock and surprise.

Naina's cheeks turn hot out of embarrassment and also out of her earlier feeling of fear. Her rate of heartbeat again picks up pace as her each nerve ending yet again stands erect gradually as the feeling crawls back under her skin. How good it was to get dragged out of her state of fear and terror. And how terrible; heart wrenching it feels to return back to the same feeling from where you desperately wanted to escape and had escaped too, but may be just to return back to the feel, though maybe it affects you less than it had affected you earlier.

Naina feels like shutting her eyes tight as if doing so would turn all of it to a nightmare which will give her hope that this would end the moment she opens her eyes. But hell it is no nightmare but a terrifying truth of Naina's life which has been written in her fate in black ink!

Her rate of heartbeat again sets on a higher pace but she realizes that she needs to explain to Shanti and save the situation from getting all the more messed.

"Ahmm... wo...",

Naina begins to explain hesitantly, unable to understand from where to begin explaining.

But to her relief Shanti focuses back on Naina and smiles at her, asking nothing about the state of her home but replying calmly,

"Main ye sub theek kar deti hoon."

Naina lets her held breath to release in relief getting an understanding and calm reaction from Shanti. She nods her head, smiling, looking towards Shanti.

Silence prevails between them for a brief moment.

"Aaj se iski saari shaitani tumhare saath-saath main bhi dekhungi aur enjoy karungi.",

smiles Naina focusing back on Shlok, ruffling his hair, trying to end this awkward silence between herself and Shanti, which was there although for a brief moment but was affecting Naina deeply.

Shanti's face expression changes suddenly. She knits her brows lightly as if Naina's words triggered her emotion of pain and sadness. That disturbs Naina.

It feels as if Naina and Shanti have suddenly exchanged their moods!

Naina slowly rests her left hand on Shanti's left shoulder, holding her lightly and asks her,

"Kya hua Shanti?"

"Rooth jata hai Shlok mujhse jab isse main shaitani karne ki ijjazat nahi deti.",

says Shanti, staring Shlok. Her eyes reflect her sadness.

Naina slowly looks towards Shlok and smiles a little.

"Magar ye samjhta nahi hai ke iske bhaley ke liye hi mana karti hoon main. Warna konsi Ma apne bachche ki khushi ke aadey aana chahegi?",

asks Shanti, knitting her brows in sadness and disappointment.

Naina nods her head in affirmative, cascading her eyes.

"Kya umr hai tumhare bete ki?",

asks Naina, looking towards Shlok, smiling.

Shanti turns to look towards Naina and stares her, there comes a sudden change in Shanti's expression, she turns serious. Her eyes remain glued to Naina, silence prevails for a brief moment before she finally replies,

"Saat saal!"

The short and crypt reply sounds like a challenge to Naina, as if Shanti isn't pleased by Naina's asking of Shlok's age.

Naina looks towards Shanti and smiles a little, but the sudden change in Shanti's voice as she tells Shlok's age, Naina feels as if she has committed some offence by asking her of her son's age.

Getting out of her state of gloom, Shanti smiles and looks towards Naina to ask,

"Chhoriye ye sub. Aap chaye piyengi?"

Naina smiles looking towards Shanti and nods her head in affirmative.

"Abhi banati hoon.",

smiling, Shanti leaves for the kitchen.

Naina calls out Shlok gesturing him to come to her, smiling politely,

"Idhar aao!"

Shlok stares Naina innocently, blinking his eyes.

"Aao!",

Naina calls him once again, smiling.

Shlok turns to look towards his mother and finds her staring at him. She blinks her eyes and nods her head, giving him ijjazat to go to Naina.

Shlok turns back to look towards Naina and slowly walks to her.

Naina holds him lightly by his right lower arm, smiling at him lovingly.

Shlok feels the touch of Naina, staring towards her hand that is holding him. He slowly looks back towards Naina, staring into her eyes to check for her sincerity and genuine feelings towards himself.

"School jaate ho aap?",

asks Naina.

The grief she witnesses in his eyes upon being asked the question clenches Naina's heart. She notices how his eyes reflect his longing to go to school.

Naina looks towards Shanti and asks her in utter disbelief,

"Shanti tum isse school kyun nahi bhejti?"

Shanti, who was staring Shlok, looks towards Naina and says,

"Iske Papa iske school jane ke khilaf the. Unke guzarne ke baad mere paas itne paise nahi hain ke main isse school bhej sakun."

Naina gets deeply touched by her words, understanding her state.

"Tum chinta mat karo Shanti. School mein iska admission main karwaungi aur iski parhayi ki zimmedari bhi main lungi.",

assures Naina, smiling.

Shanti gets tensed and tries to persuade Naina,

"Nahi Ma'am ye jaisa bhi hai theek hai. Main isse ek pal ke liye bhi apni nazron se durr hone dena nahi chahti."

Naina could feel that Shanti is getting anxious and tries to calm her down,

"Ahmm... ahmm... theek hai... theek hai Shanti. Koi baat nahi."

•••••

Relaxing on her bed, Naina's mind wanders towards everything that had happened before Shanti's entering the house. She again turns restless.

Meanwhile outside Shanti arranges the living area.

Walking to a locked room Shlok stands in front of it, staring it without blinking his eyes even for once.

In order to kill her anxiety, Naina decides to leave the room and stay in the presence of Shlok and Shanti.

It depends on person to person how he heals from the memories of an adverse situation of his life. For some staying all the more active and around people help them to get out of those situations and silence haunts them while for others silence works as a healer. Accepting the situation in silence without forcing yourself to stay extra active - doing household chores more than one normally does or working extra hard on professional level just to keep your mind occupied and steered clear of those haunting memories, for some doesn't go right and affects them all the more adversely.

One must not judge someone's emotional strength by the option he chooses from above mentioned two. Both require equal strength, which sometimes people fail to understand.

Naina happens to notice Shlok standing outside the closed door. She knits her brows in confusion. Eager to know the reason of his standing there in silence, Naina walks towards him.

"Shlok, yahan akele khade hue kya kar rahe ho beta?",

asks Naina, standing at a distance from him.

Shlok doesn't react to her words as if her voice has hit deaf ears.

She tries dragging his attention again,

"Shlok, kuch chahiye apko?"

"Mujhe ander jana hai!",

says Shlok, pointing towards the locked door, never turning to look towards Naina.

His serious voice sends shiver to run down Naina's spine. She finds her reaction to Shlok's words weird. But something about the way Shlok says that; his expression, Naina finds unsettling.

Naina looks towards the closed door for a brief moment, then looking back towards Shlok, Naina says,

"Beta ye room to band hai aur chaabi Uncle ke paas hai. Wo jaise hi aate hain kaam se main unse chaabi mangti hoon aur phir aap ja sakte ho iss room mein. Theek hai?",

smiles Naina.

Shlok doesn't react, he just keeps staring at the closed door constantly.

Naina's smile vanishes gradually upon not receiving a good response to her words from Shlok.

"Mujhe ander jana hai!",

he repeats again after staying in silence for a brief moment, as if trying to accept Naina's words but failing in doing so.

"Darwaza kholo!",

he orders calmly.

Naina tries to persuade him.

"Haan beta to baad mein chale jana. Main khud apko le aungi yahan, theek hai?",

smiles Naina.

But nothing seems to sound accepting to Shlok. He remains adamant.

"Ander jana hai!",

he repeats, never blinking his eyes or tearing his gaze from the door.

"Zid nahi karte Shlok.",

Naina explains again sweetly, but gradually getting at the verge of losing her patience.

Shlok begins to bang the door turning his right hand into fist. Constantly banging the door! Increasing the frequency of his bang, letting the sound to increase and screech through the silence which is otherwise prevailing inside the house.

"Ander jana hai! Ijjazat do!",

he shouts, banging the door continuously.

Naina could feel her heart thumping inside her chest as she turns anxious again.

Never ending the bang, Shlok says,

"Ye mera kamra hai, ijjazat do!"

His words come as a surprise for Naina. She looks towards him in utter shock.

She stays in that mood for a brief moment when his words repeat in her mind on loop. She stares him in shock as she realizes something.

The loud commotion hits Shanti's eardrums and she comes running towards the room, realising from where it is approaching her.

"Tumhe ye kamra chahiye?",

asks Naina.

Shanti stares them reaching there, holding her breath.

Shlok glares Naina in silence.

"Shlok!",

shouts out Shanti, scolding him.

Her shout drags the attention of both Shlok and Naina making them to turn to look towards Shanti.

"Kya badtameezi hai ye? Kyun zid kar rahe ho ander jane ki?",

she scolds him, walking to him.

Shlok breathes in quick succession out of anger.

"Jab darwaza band hai to kya matlab hai ijjazat mangne ka?",

she scolds further.

Naina feels bad for Shlok.

"Ahmm... Shanti... please... rehne do... mat danto usse...",

Naina tries to persuade Shanti, gauging Shlok's reaction every now and then.

"Nahi isse iss baat ki saza milni chahiye. Jab ijjazat nahi hai ander janne ki to ye zid kyun?",

scolds Shanti, angry.

Shlok stares his mother out of anger and runs away towards the room that they have been allotted by Naina to stay in.

"Shlok! Shlok!",

calls out Naina but to no avail.

"Jane dijiye Ma'am. Kuch der akele rahega to khud theek ho jayega.",

says Shanti in anger, staring towards the retreating figure of Shlok.

Naina turns to look towards Shanti in helplessness.

•••••

Time elapses!

Naina gets curious to check on Shlok. Walking out of her room she walks towards his room. The eerie silence that surrounds her all over again sets her pace of heartbeat a notch higher again.

It feels that all over again she is all alone in her home. As if Shanti and Shlok have disappeared suddenly, leaving Naina all alone to deal with the loneliness and silence without taking her permission.

"Shlok?!",

calls out Naina, but instead of getting an audible reply, silence mocks at her!

Her breath turns heavier out of fear.

"Shanti?!",

she calls her too, hoping to get a reply.

"Kahan ho?",

she asks, turning every now and then to save herself from intruder, if any.

All she could hear is her footsteps; the clicking of her heels on the marbled floor and the eerie silence.

Fear of being alone all over again grabs Naina! Her mind gets filled with the experience she had earlier when she was alone. The feeling of loneliness haunts her to such an extent that she gets an urge to shout out loud but her throat chokes! Her eyes begin to turn teary out of suffocation.

Naina slowly climbs the flight of stairs that connects her house to the next floor and the terrace both of which too belong to Rajveer and Naina and are left unoccupied.

The mere fact that no one resides on the next floor and the terrace also is not used by Rajveer and Naina as such, gives Naina a sense of forbidden area whenever she thinks of these two places. The floor and the terrace stay either dimly lit or in complete darkness. But her desperation to search Shanti and Shlok get the better of her fear! She slowly climbs the flight of stairs, holding the railing tightly just in case some unwanted and unexpected event takes place, she could run away.

Reaching the terrace, standing around the entrance, Naina finally takes an inaudible sigh of relief upon witnessing Shlok and Shanti there. She smiles when through her every nerve the sense of relief runs through, making her heavy heart to feel light finally.

Resting her left shoulder against the opened door of the terrace, crossing her arms against her abdominal, Naina enjoys witnessing the mother and son duo enjoying there time where the mother - Shanti is trying to feed the food to her son - Shlok. Holding the plate filled with food, in her left hand and her right hand holding the bite she has prepared for her son, Shanti runs after him just like any mother does to make her son have the food.

"Shlok, khale beta.",

Shanti tries to persuade him.

Shlok laughs and runs here and there, in no mood to listen to his mother.

"Mera pyara bachcha hai na tu? Khale.",

Shanti tries again running after him but to no avail.

"Acha tu ye kha lega to main tere liye kheer bhi bana dungi. Pasand hai na tujhe?",

Shanti tries yet another tactic.

Naina laughs in silence, not wanting to disturb them and become a hindrance in their private time.

But Shlok seems to be in no mood to listen to her.

"Ja! Nahi karti main tujhse baat!",

Shanti shows her fake anger and turns away.

She remains clueless that Shlok has climbed the railing, which is wide enough for someone to stand on it but anyways dangerous and must not be climbed especially by a child.

Once he stands there he begins to walk forth slowly, counting the number of steps he takes to walk from one end to the other, stretching both the arms free to his sides, as if he is some bird ready to fly. His eyes twinkle with joy and he laughs enjoying the game.

She keeps staring him for a brief moment in horror.

Standing at her place, witnessing Shlok, Naina widens her eyes in shock! She straightens up; her earlier smile and expression of joy vanished!

Naina shouts his name in shock and with an intention to save him,

"Shlok!!!"

But it feels as if Naina's voice has hit deaf ears!

Shanti seems to remain unaffected as if she is living in her own world where Naina doesn't exist.

"Shanti... Shanti peeche dekho... Shlok... kya kar raha hai...!!!",

shouts Naina in horror.

Not for once the thought crosses her mind that even she can run to Shlok and save him. Her feet jam at their spot. Her mind gets clouded with the thoughts of how Shanti should turn and save Shlok before it gets too late! Her heart pounds inside her chest in a way that it has never pounded ever earlier than this moment. The feeling of losing a child, when she herself doesn't have one and got that motherly feeling first time because of Shlok and in such a brief period she feels deeply connected to him, the thought of not being able to see Shlok again, all of it together and a lot more fill her mind and turn her restless and desperate to save him but at the same time her brain seems to have stopped working as it becomes impossible for her to decide what step should she take next.

Hearing his laughter Shanti turns bearing a smile on her face which immediately dies upon witnessing her son in such a dangerous state.

Once Shanti turns, Naina feels relieved to a great extent.

Shanti stares Shlok in horror. But she doesn't shout, which anyone in such a situation would do quite naturally.

Silence prevails for a brief moment.

But soon Naina's sense of relief gets exchanged with the state of shock and disbelief when Shanti instead of shouting at him asks him in frustration, knitting her brows,

"Aur kitni baar Shlok?"

Naina stares Shanti in shock! Why would she say that at this moment? No mother would utter anything other than shouting in shock in such a moment. This is a but natural reaction of any mother or anyone who happens to get stuck in such situation. Brain ceases to work to create a coherent sentence. But Shanti somehow seems at her cool. As if she is tired and decided to remain calm!

But Shanti's words give Naina a sense of something unusual and amiss! It gives her a feeling; a sense as if this situation has repeated itself quite a lot of time!

It feels as if her throbbing heart hasn't pumped itself this much ever, as much as it has been pumping since the moment Naina has reached the terrace. Pace might have changed every now and then but it has remained mostly at the higher side throughout, since the moment she began climbing the staircase to reach the terrace. But the pace her heart has set at this moment has to be the highest! It feels it might burst any moment!

"Kis baat ki saza deta hai mujhe tu ye karke?",

asks Shanti in frustration and sadness.

Naina feels as if she is hallucinating all this. She gets desperate to end this situation. She gets an urge to open her eyes if she is dreaming! But hell, she is not! She feels suffocated and gets an urge to shout and cry in order to vent out her suffocation.

At one end Naina deals with her feeling of helplessness, anxiety, suffocation all at one time and on the other end Shlok takes her by yet another shock as his foot slips and he falls off!

Even with her dried up throat, Naina shouts out loud,

"Shlokkkkk!!!!",

and runs towards him, but too late!

She peeps down, resting her hands where Shlok was standing and walking moments ago; her chest partially resting against that portion to help her to peep down in utter shock and disbelief! Sweat prickles throughout Naina's body. Tears of helplessness and regret roll down her cheeks. She shouts and cry in helplessness,

"Shlokkkk!!!! Helppp!!!"

She could feel a tension building in and around her shoulders as she gets filled with the feeling of regret, helpless and loss fill her all the more. She cries... and cries... and cries...! This was not meant to happen! This loss would create a void in her life which no one would be able to fill throughout her life, subconsciously she knew!

Getting out of the moment of loss briefly, Naina turns to look towards Shanti, keeping her eyes wide opened out of shock and disbelief. But what shocks her further is the fact that Shanti stands there in complete silence as if the loss of her only son hasn't affected her. She keeps staring towards the infinity without blinking her eyes as if she is some lifeless object!

"Shanti?!",

addresses Naina in shock.

Shanti ends up crying. Her cry soon changes into weep! She falls down on her knees on the floor crying loud after losing her only son.

Naina whilst crying gets down to Shanti and hugs her to comfort her; to give her strength. Shanti continues crying, louder than before.

•••••

Naina runs down to Shlok. She finds his body with his chest turned against the ground, blood oozing out of his head. Naina cries out for help; shouting her lungs out.

Shanti reaches her, standing at a distance from Naina, Shanti glares Naina. Naina stays unaware of her glare. Together they get him into the house. His dead body gets laid down.

They both sit around Shlok's body in silence. Naina keeps staring him without blinking her eyes and Shanti glares her.

Change is part of life. Sometimes the change is positive that fills our life with moments of joy and happiness. Then there are also times when the change suffocates you but you can do nothing about it except for enduring it and waiting for it to come to an end itself.

The first change that Naina felt in the recent few days was when she entered this place. The vibes of this house was very different from the vibe she used to get at Rajveer's room in KMA after their marriage. It was all positive. But nothing about the vibes of this place felt positive to Naina. It has now started suffocating her, mostly because unconsciously she has started comparing her life she had during her stay in KMA and the life she is leading now that she is here. The vibes that evolve from family strength when you are staying with your whole family has its different kind of aura and power which help the entire family to deal with any adversity and any evil eye. For Naina KMA is her family. The initial happiness of shifting to a new place lasted for a brief period in Naina and soon she turned gloomy.

The second change she felt when gradually the reason of her getting negative vibes from the home started unfolding. There could be more than two occupants of their home especially when they cannot see them literally - this thought not for once had crossed Naina's mind when they planned to buy this home. Was this the reason why they were sold this house in much less value than it should have been?

The third change was felt by her when she got to meet Shanti and especially Shlok. She might not have conversed with him much but his presence around herself was enough for her to feel happy. This was the kind of happiness that she hadn't felt earlier. May be it was a cue that she wanted to enter into the phase of motherhood and feel blissful. She felt good staying around him.

Now she is undergoing through yet another change!

Sometimes it takes years to get attached to someone. Sometimes it happens in a jiffy! Getting attached to someone in a brief period although feels surprising and miraculous but is easy to accept but the sudden exit of that person from life creates a void in us, dealing with which requires a lot of effort; presence of mind and determination. The voice gets missed! The words uttered are missed! The moments spent in each other's presence are missed!

•••••

Rajveer returns. Opening the door for him, Naina throws her arms around his neck, hugging him she cries out loud.

Rajveer gets shocked and desperate to know the reason of her crying.

"Naina... Naina kya hua?",

he asks in desperation, widening his eyes, his all tiredness after a hectic day forgotten in seconds.

He tries to free himself from her hold to look down at her to gauge her mood and reactions, this would help him to understand the scenario and her feelings better.

"Meri taraf dekho!",

commands Rajveer in desperation.

Naina finally looks towards him, ending the hug. Her puffed up eyes tell tales to Rajveer about how she had been crying for hours now. This increases Rajveer's tension and frustration all the more especially because Naina is delaying from letting him know all about what he doesn't know yet!

"Kya hua hai?",

asks Rajveer in desperation.

"Wo... wo Shanti...",

Naina tries to tell him in between her weeping.

"Shanti?",

asks Rajveer, knitting his brows.

"Haan... uska beta Shlok...",

Naina speaks further.

"Shlok!!",

she fails to speak further as emotions grab her.

"Shlok?",

asks Rajveer, knitting his brows tighter.

"Shanti! Shlok! Tum... tum ye kinki baat kar rahi ho? Kon hain yein?",

asks Rajveer, puzzled.

Her non stop cry was already giving a reason to Rajveer to get tensed, now the unfamiliar names are fuelling his worry, frustration and helplessness. His brows knit tighter.

Naina stares him in utter shock! She could feel her throat turning dry.

"Rajveer... yaad kariye... aaj subah aapne bheja tha usse yahan kaam karne ke liye!",

Naina focuses on reminding him.

Her heart sinks in shock before accelerating at a higher pace as she waits for his reply. Even the brief wait increases Naina's anxiety. She gauges his reaction in desperation to get even a minute hint that he did send her.

"Maine? Maine kisi ko nahi bheja Naina!",

Rajveer replies immediately, taking her by further shock, his brows knit tighter.

Naina couldn't believe her ears. She feels as if she is hallucinating all over again. Tears roll down her cheeks non-stop. She clenches Rajveer's collars and jerks him in desperation to hear the desired reply from him. Her heart thumping inside her chest.

"Rajveerrr!!!",

she shouts in helplessness as her mind already accepts what her heart doesn't.

An internal war begins between her mind and heart. Sweat beads get collected on her forehead. Rajveer gets tensed by her reaction.

"Naina.... kya hua? Tum... ye kya bol rahi ho?",

asks Rajveer, unable to believe whatever she is saying.

He wipes her tears with both of his hands, trying to calm her down.

"Acha... acha pehle tum shant ho jao. Shanti se kaam lo!",

Rajveer tries to calm her down.

"Shanti!",

the word clicks Naina.

Holding his hand Naina pulls Rajveer with herself towards the place where she had left Shanti and Shlok.

"Ye dekhiye... ye dekhiye ye hai Shanti aur ye hai uska beta Shlok...",

says Naina whilst walking towards the place.

Rajveer walks with her in desperation, eager to meet Shanti and Shlok whom apparently only Naina has met!

"Ye dekhiye ye...",

Naina stops abruptly upon discovering no one there except for herself and Rajveer. Her left index finger remains pointed towards the floor where it should have been Shlok's body resting. She stares the empty floor in utter shock! Her eyes wide opened! She turns speechless! She again feels as if she is hallucinating all this.

"Kon hai? Kahan hai?",

asks Rajveer in desperation, looking around in search of anyone there other than themselves.

Naina turns to look towards Rajveer slowly in horror!

"Yahin... yahin the wo...!!",

she tries to convince Rajveer that she isn't lying.

"Yahan the to kahan gaye?",

asks Rajveer, getting out of her hold, walking ahead and looking around, searching for them.

"Kahan hai? Yahan?",

he asks indicating towards the sitting area.

Naina keeps staring at the empty sitting area, her eyes never blinking. Her body losing her little strength left in her, gradually.

"Batao Naina kahan hai?",

shouts Rajveer.

His shout gets intermingled around the end with Shanti's voice when Shanti walks out of her room whilst asking,

"Kya hua Ma'am?"

Rajveer and Naina immediately turn to look towards her.

A smile of relief stretches on Naina's face for a brief moment upon witnessing Shanti, hoping that she would clear out the situation in front of Rajveer; and Naina would get to know where is Shlok's body!

Naina runs to Shanti in desperation, holding her by both of her upper arms, Naina jerks her a little and asks her,

"Shanti... Shanti Shlok ki body... uski body kahan gayi?"

Shanti knits her brows tight hearing her. A lump forms in her throat.

"Shlok ki body?",

she asks, staring Naina as if she has hurt her feelings by asking that.

"Haan! Haan Shlok ki body! Kahan hai?",

asks Naina, her breath turns all the more shallow.

Rajveer holds his waist from either sides, staring Shanti, keeping his brows knit out of anger and frustration.

"Ye aap kaisi baatein kar rahi hain Ma'am?",

asks Shanti.

"Maine aapse apne juzbaat baattein to aap kya iss tarah mazak udayengi unka?",

asks Shanti, staring Naina, tilting her head a little towards left.

Rajveer waits for them to clear out everything, noticing everything that unfolds in front of him.

It feels as if Naina again has been transported to some other world.

She shouts at Shanti,

"Ye kya keh rahi ho tum?"

Shanti stares her in shock.

Rajveer too stares Naina, gauging her reaction.

"Jhoot kyun bol rahi ho?",

shouts Naina.

"Ma'am main jhoot kyun kahungi?",

asks Shanti, innocently.

"Koi Ma apne bachche ke barey mein aisa jhoot... aisa jhoot kyun kahegi?",

asks Shanti, getting emotional.

"Bachcha khoya hai maine apna!",

she cries a little.

Wiping off her own tears, calming down her nerves Naina again asks trying to be polite,

"Haan... haan Shanti main janti hoon. Bachcha khona kisi bhi Ma ke liye kya hota hai main samjh sakti hoon. Magar.... magar please tum Rajveer ko batao... abhi... abhi thi na Shlok ki body yahan?"

"Uski body yahan kyun hogi Ma'am?",

asks Shanti, frustrated.

"Usse marey hue to paanch saal ho gaye hain!",

Shanti takes Naina and Rajveer by shock.

Naina shouts at Shanti,

"Ye kya keh rahi ho tum?!",

jerking her, holding her by her upper arms.

Rajveer after listening to Shanti, turns to look towards Naina. Holding her by her shoulder he forces her to turn towards himself and asks her,

"Naina tumne dekha hai na Shlok ko? To batao kaisa tha wo dikhne mein."

Naina describes Shlok.

Rajveer turns to look towards Shanti and asks,

"Kya tumhara beta aisa hi tha dikhne mein jaisa Naina keh rahi hai?",

his voice deep and strict.

Naina stares Shanti, holding her breath.

After a brief moment of silence Shanti replies,

"Ji nahi Sir!"

Shock after shock hits Naina!

She starts to feel hatred for Shanti.

"Ye jhoot keh rahi hai Rajveer!",

shouts Naina, indicating her index finger of right hand towards Shanti and staring Rajveer.

Rajveer tries to calm Naina down but to no avail.

Rajveer again turns to look towards Shanti and asks her,

"Tumhare paas uski koi tasveer to hogi?"

Naina's face beams with a hope and relief upon hearing Rajveer's demand. Being a mother she surely must be having at least one picture of her son.

"Ji! Ek minute!",

saying so Shanti excuses herself and walks towards her room.

Walking back to them Shanti forwards the picture to Rajveer turning it upside down. Rajveer slowly turns over the picture to check it. He then looks towards Shanti skeptically.

Revealing the picture in front of Naina such that Shanti can also see the picture, Rajveer asks Naina, looking towards her,

"Kya ye Shlok hai?"

Naina stares the picture in shock. She slowly takes the picture from him, staring it constantly. After a brief moment which felt like eternity, Naina shakes her head into negative in slow motion and announces,

"Nahi! Ye Shlok nahi hai!"

"Ye Shlok nahi hai!!!",

shouts Naina looking towards Shanti in shock and disgust.

Rajveer stares Shanti in shock!

"Such-such batao kon ho tum?",

warns Rajveer in his deep voice.

Naina glares Shanti.

"Main Shanti hoon. Yahi mera beta Shlok hai.",

Shanti tries to make them understand; accept what she is telling them.

"Tumse main abhi pehli baar mil raha hoon. To phir tumne aisa kyun kaha ke maine tumhe yahan bheja hai?",

asks Rajveer, eyeing her skeptically.

Naina gets desperate to get reply to Rajveer's question. She stares Shanti.

Shanti begins to cry and tries to seek apology as she begins explaining,

"Mujhe... mujhe paison ki bohot zaroorat hai Sir. Mujhe kahin kaam chahiye tha. Aap logo ka pata chala ke aapko koi chahiye jo aapke ghar ka kaam karde. Pata nahi mujhe kya soojha, maine yahan aatey hi ye keh diya ke aapne mujhe bheja hai. Main to aapse abhi mil rahi hoon.",

she weeps and apologises,

"Please mujhe iss ghar se mat nikaliye. Main kahan jaungi? Maaf kar dijiye mujhe."

Rajveer and Naina look towards each other. Turning back to look towards Shanti, Rajveer asks,

"Chalo theek hai iss baat ke liye tumhe maaf kiya. Magar jo Naina keh rahi hai... Shlok..."

"Yahi hai Shlok!",

says Shanti whilst wiping her tears with her hand.

"Main nahi janti Ma'am kiski baat kar raheen hain.",

says Shanti, looking towards Naina.

"Shanti kyun kar rahi ho tum mere saath aisa? Shlok aya tha na tumhare saath? Tumhare peeche khada tha? Tumne ijjazat mangi thi usse saath rakhne ke liye iss ghar mein? Yaad karo!",

Naina tries to remind her, desperately.

Staring straight into Naina's eyes, Shanti in a serious tone says,

"Main bina ijjazat mange kisi ke ghar ke ander nahi jati!"

Her tone and her words succeed in sending shiver to run down Naina's spine. Naina realises that Shanti is not what she seems to be! She gets away from Shanti, shocked.

A challenging smile comes on Shanti's face. Her stare turns Naina speechless. She immediately understands that even if she tells Rajveer about what she feels Shanti is, he won't accept. Rajveer doesn't believe in supernatural stuffs, Naina knows it well!

●●●●●

Rajveer holds Naina by her shoulders and turns her towards himself. Naina turns almost lifeless upon getting proved almost a psycho. Shanti stands there staring Naina knitting her brows, trying to understand why is she reacting this way?

"Naina meri taraf dekho. Meri taraf dekho Naina.",

says Rajveer.

Naina slowly looks towards Rajveer.

"Mujhe lag raha hai ghar change karne ka, shifting wagerah ka tum par asar hua hai. Tum thak gayi ho. I guess you need rest. Aur kuch mat sochna. Chalo.",

says Rajveer and takes her to the bedroom.

Naina doesn't give any reaction to his words and quietly walks with Rajveer.

Shanti stares them leaving. The moment they leave, Shlok who was hiding behind a pillar of the sitting room peeps out laughing, as if playing hide and seek.

Shanti looks towards Shlok. Smiling she puts her finger on her lips and says,

"Shhh....!"

She smiles further.

●●●●

Rajveer puts Naina into bed.

"Sir... Sir main jhoot nahi keh rahi. Ye sub mera veham bhi nahi hai!",

says Naina in desperation.

"Shanti jhoot keh rahi hai.",

Naina tries to explain, feeling helpless.

Rajveer lovingly rotates his hand on Naina's right side of the face and says,

"Theek hai Naina. Magar wo jhoot kyun kahegi?"

Inside even Rajveer doubts Shanti, but he is just trying to know Naina's thought about it.

"Usne ye bhi to jhoot kaha na ke aapne usse bheja hai yahan?",

says Naina, her eyes twinkle as she finally is being able to give Rajveer reason and explain herself to him.

The same thought was going on in his mind as well.

"Naina bhale hi usne kaha ke maine usse bheja hai uske baad bhi tumhe ek baar mujhe phone karke pooch lena chahiye tha. Tum aise kaise kisi bhi anjan ko ghar mein ghusne de sakti ho?",

scolds Rajveer, mildly.

Naina feels guilty and lowers her eyes.

The knock at their door makes Rajveer and Naina to turn towards the door. Rajveer keeps his brows knit. Naina stares towards the door in horror.

"Ma'am khana ready hai.",

says Shanti.

They keep staring at the door, wondering about Shanti.

"Chalo Naina khana kha lete hain.",

says Rajveer, sighing, getting up and extending a hand towards Naina.

Naina looks towards Rajveer, her expression tells Rajveer how she is still tensed. Rajveer shuts his eyes briefly - a gesture to ask her to trust him.

Sitting at the dining table, Naina and Rajveer gauges Shanti as she serves them.

"Shanti tumhara khana?",

asks Rajveer, looking towards Shanti.

"Sir main kha lungi. Pehle aap log kha lijiye.",

says Shanti, smiling.

"Kyun tumhe humare saath khane mein kya problem hai?",

asks Naina, suspeciously.

Shanti stares Naina blankly.

Rajveer too stares Shanti to gauge her reaction.

"Ahmm... theek hai.",

smiles Shanti.

She sits to have the dinner.

The three of them begin with the dinner.

Naina suddenly feels that someone just touched her feet briefly like someone is walking his or her fingers left-right-left-right. Naina widens her eyes out of fear. She quickly takes her feet back and waits for whoever it is to make another move, holding her breath.

After a brief moment of silence, two elbows rest on her thighs as if someone is resting his hands on either sides of his face and the elbows are rested on Naina for support.

Shocked, Naina slowly looks down, pushing the table cloth a little which was acting as a curtain between her and the under side of the dining table. To her horror she finds Shlok sitting there in the same position as expected, smiling at Naina.

Shlok and Naina stare each other - Naina with her eyes opened wide out of shock and Shlok smiling at her.

●●●●

Naina understands that Rajveer won't be able to see him hence she chooses to stay quiet. She slowly gets back to sitting normally and looks towards Shanti whom she finds staring her already. Shanti smirks challenging Naina. Naina glares Shanti.

"Kahan se ho tum Shanti?",

asks Rajveer whilst having his food.

"Yahin rehti hoon main!",

says Shanti, whilst preparing a bite.

Rajveer and Naina pause in the process of having their respective food and look towards Shanti. Naina's rate of heartbeat increases as her anger and fear both rise on hearing Shanti.

After a brief moment of silence Shanti realises that she has to elaborate in order to escape this situation. She looks towards them, smiling she says,

"Ah... yahin kuch hi duuri mein ek chawl hai wohin rehti hoon main."

"Oh!",

Rajveer smiles a little.

Naina stares Shanti serious.

Shanti and Rajveer resumes with their food when Naina staring Shanti, without blinking her eyes asks, all serious,

"Aur tumhara beta?"

Shanti halts in the process of her having the food and slowly looks towards Naina. Rajveer too looks towards Naina, his eyes wide opened out of shock.

"Batao Shanti kahan rehta hai tumhara beta?",

asks Naina, resting her elbows on the dining table and entwining her fingers resting the web hence created with her hands, under her chin, giving her full attention to Shanti.

Shanti stares Naina, inside boiling with rage.

"Wo yahin hai. Mere saath!",

Shanti takes Naina and Rajveer by surprise.

Shanti continues glaring Naina. Naina stares back out of shock.

Rajveer waits for her to continue and explain.

"Mere dil mein!",

continues Shanti, glaring Naina still.

Naina knits her brows and wrinkles her nose out of anger. Shanti smiles victoriously at her.