19th of May....

Well a day.... as painful as hell.. for Rajveer and Naina both.....

Destiny is playing its cards again..

Today Rajveer has to leave for his new posting but why are they both shedding silent tears ... of .... pain.... loss.... regret...

Her parents have arranged everything at their house .. both are there...

Pundit called the family members to settle down as the puja is about to begin..

Mantras are echoing in the silent house.

Pundit ji asks,
Puja me kon baithega?

Rajveer keeps his head down, unable to look into their eyes.

Naina looks at her parents face. Mrs. Ahluwahlia puts her hand on Mr. Ahluwahlia's hand... giving it a slight squeeze.. She nods a little with tearful eyes to which Mr. Ahluwahlia too nods back.

Humara beta Rajveer baithega, Naveen ki barsi ki puja mein..
Says Mr. Ahluwahlia

Mr. N mrs. Ahlywahlia looks at Rajveer's shocked face..

Rajveer replies in a low voice,
Main??? ............
Mujhse nahin hoga baba... mai yeh nhi kr skta.... m nhi hu iska hakdaar....

A lone tear makes its way down his eyes...

Baba asks him lovingly,
Kya tum hume apna  nahin maante? Kya tum ye nhi maante ki hum tumhe maaf kr chuke hain?

Naina looks at them questioningly...

Rajveer beta... tumne humare bete ko azaad kia hai.... aur agar aaj kisi ka is puja pr hak hai toh vo sirf tum ho... sirf tum...
Mrs Ahluwahlia says politely.

Rajveer, gulping , looks at them.... gathers all the courage and hugs her...

Mujhe maaf krdijiye maa.... mujhe maaf krdijiye.....
He says, all guilty and emotional.

Tum fr maafi maangne lge.... tumne kuch glt nhi kia... tumne isey sukun dia hai beta.... pr shayad tum khud is bat ko nhi samajh paaye ho... nhi maan paye ho ki tum uske ya humare gunehgaar nhi ho.....
Her mothers say in a motherly voice..

He looks up at her... his teary red eyes... wet eyelashes.... tear stained cheeks... made her all emotional and she hugged her too tight to take his pain..

Meanwhile  Naina was just trying to understand what was happening there...

Her mind was spinning to know the fact that her parents knew about it all... they knew that... he killed bhaiya... that Rajveer sir, who is their son in law now, had killed their only son.. ... he had told them the truth... when?? Her parents never talked about it.. do they know that she too knows that her husband had killed her brother.... jave they forgiven him??? Is it so easy to forgive????

All are drenched in the memory of their  son... their brother.... their best friend....  

His smiling face everywhere in the ambiance...

Rajveer reluctantly accepted to do the puja.

The Ahluwahlia house which was always full of chatters and laughs is not witnessing a single sound.

Rajveer met her parents as they are all, he has as a family... to bid goodbye...

He then drives back home with Naina as he has to leave for his posting..

Naina goes to the room.  After changing, she sleeps on the bed.

Rajveer enters the room and see her sleeping. He starts dragging his luggage without making noise.

After packing and setting everything in his jeep, he comes back to her room.

Naina has forgotten that he will be leaving by tonight as she is so much drained out due to Naveen's barsi.

Rajveer drags a chair close to her bedside where she is sleeping.

He sits close to her... looks at her carefully... dull face... teary eyes... white pale skin... her white kurta... naveens pic in her hand...

Mujhme itni himmat nhi hai Naina ki mai tumhe himmat de saku... par mai humesha tumhare saath... tumhare bina jee nhi paunga... tum khush raho bs itna chahta hu... baki vo mera dost h na...Naveen... vo upr baitha tumhara khyal rakh raha h... vo kbhi tumhe akela nhi chodega.... aur yaha mai nhi toh kya hua... alekh h... sherry h... maa Baba hai.... tum apna dhyan rakhna... socha tha tumse milkar jaunga... tumhe ek bar jee bhar k apne paas mehsus karunga... taki ye aane wala waqt aasan ho jaye.... par shayad kismat ko ye manzoor nhi....

His eyes becomes moist.

Pta nhi bhgwan kyu aisakrta h... mere Jane ka din bhi aisa chuna, jaha mai thik se tum se nazre bhi nhi mila pa raha hu... shyd sza khtm nhi hui meri....

Tears mk their way dwn his eyes.. he, wipes them, says
Khair.... mai chalta hu Naina... tumhari bohot yaad ayegi.... pta nhi kaise jee paunga tumhare bina...

He bends a little and kisses her on her hair. She moves a little.

He wants to hug her tightly and kiss her soundly on her forehead... He fists his fingers and leaves, after clicking a few pictures and a small video of her sleeping peacefully in his room.

He reports to HQ and all are assembling here to leave together for the same mission.

Naina wakes up and finds the other side of the bed empty. She rubs her eyes and searches him. She walks down the kitchen and drawing and everywhere.. but doesn't find him.

She calls  him but to no avail.

She comes out to the garden area to see him as he sometimes comes here.. he is not here too.. her heart starts panicking ... she finds his jeep missing from the parking area..

She comes back to call him again... and then her eyes catches the sight of date n time.

The earth starts slipping beneath her feet. She finally gets it that he has left for  his next mission. She keeps her right hand on her forehead in tension.

She grabs her purse and takes out his personal car.

'Its still some mintues for him to leave HQ. I cn reach thère.'
She thinks to motivate herself.

She drives the car, fastly. For the first time in months, she has herself driven the car.. her fear is getting lesser as compared to the pain of not seeing him before he leaves for weeks....or may be months.. or may be yearss....

Rajveer and his team is all set in their jeeps to leave whereas Naina still needs 15 minutes to reach HQ(Head Quarters, Delhi).

She driving insanely and here Rajveer has already ......... left!

She reaches and gets to know that they have already left.

Unable to think rationally, she again runs to her car and starts driving to catch him.

'Mam sir ko nikle to kafi waqt ho gya'
These words still ringing in her ears and still she  is driving insanely to reach him, which is just impossible.

But God has his own way to make us smile. Perhaps, this is her gift from God's side... or from her brother Naveen.

She finds a military truck, parked near roadside. She feels hopeful. She parks her car too and comes out of the car. She runs towards the truck.

People sitting there, look at her shocked.

She reaches the back of the truck...all panting... heavy breathing n sweating making her impossible to speak... she tries to  utters a few words,
Rajveerrrr Sirrr

She shouts again....

Rajveer sir... Rajveer sirr....

All look at her, startled.

Nainaaa
She hears a voice..
A voice that has the power to heal her broken soul...

She moves from there and turns to go to the front of the truck.

Their eyes caught each other. Her brown ones meet his black ones.

He was helping the driver in changing the tyre, which was, God knows why n how got punctured.

He calls her in utter shock.. stands up in daze.

As soon as her mind sends her the signal of him being there, she runs to him and hugs him tightly.

At first he was shocked with her presence, but then fills her in his arms, securely. He hears her crying.

Naina kkya hua??? Tum ro kyu rahi  ho.... ? Naina bolo na kya hua???
He questions her out of fear.

Aap mujhe bina bataye... bina mile aa gye...mujhe kuch kaha bhi nhi... main kaise jee paungi ye b nhi socha...??

She complaints him, unaware of what she is speaking... which she will eventually regret... or... May be not...

He smiles at her complaint,
Shhh chup chup.... arey ... pr tum so rahi thi...maine socha tumhe uthana thik nhi hoga.... shh chup chup...

Fir bhi aapko sochna chahiye tha...,
She again scolds him mildly. Still in his arms... in his warmth ... enjoying his scent...

He removes her from his embrace and looks  in her eyes, says,
I am sorry Naina.. main bus ..

He gets interrupted by the driver who informs him that the tyre has been replaced and now they can continue their journey to the airport.

Ok .. mai aata hoon...
Replies Rajveer, half heartedly.

Naina looks at him with moist eyes, cringing to his uniform.. signalling him  not to leave her... here alone... that she wants to come along with him.. that she cant....live ...without him.

Soon, one soldier comes out from the truck and intervenes between them,
Bhabhi ji namaste...

Rajveer and Naina distance themselves, still holding each others hand.

The soldier continues,
Sir... vo mujhe kuch kehna tha... actually sab ko kehna tha ki...

Rajveer looks at him ..

Vo sir... bhabhi ji itni door tak ayi h.... aapse milne... aur ap aise bina mile chale jayenge....

Rajveer tries to understand him...

Sir hum keh rahe the ki aap bhabhi ji k sath aapki car me aajaye... waise bhi jana to hume airport hi hai... aise bhabhi ji ko bhi mauka mil jaega apke sath ka..

Rajveer looks at Naina to see her reaction and gets a positive response..

Thik hai... Naina tum gadi me baitho main aata hoon...

As soon as Naina leaves, Rajveer thanks them all for being so nice n thoughtful. They all know n understand  the feeling known as love.

The truck leaves and soon Rajveer n Naina too.

He is driving.. occasionally glancing towards her.. she being back to her original self, is not able to look into his eyes. She wants to talk... but  doesn't
Know what to speak... she want to hear him... but he is not saying anything..

She doesnt know what to do, she starts doing something in her phone... and then leave it aside... she asks him with all her might,

Aap kab tak wapas aaoge???

Listening to her question, his heart skips a beat.... Unknowingly a smile creeps up on his face.

Pata nhi...
He replies.

Aap?? Voh...main...
She tries to ask something but words couldnt form

Kya Naina ?
He looks at her with questioning eyes

Hmm... voh aapka fon thik hai na??

She blurts out.. and turns  away in embarrassment.

Hmm?
He looks at her, perplexed

Woh matlab... wo maa baabaa ko apse bat krni ho toh ho jaegi naa apke number pr....
She says... trying to frame the words

Rajveer stops the car and looks at her.. trying to understand what does  she actually want to say.

After a few seconds, he smiles and says..

Bilkul Naina... main yahi no. Waha b use krunga... ma baba ko kehna vo isi no. Pr fon  kr lein... balki mai khud unhe fon krlia karunga.. aur.... tumhe bhi...

She looks at him and gives a small smile and lowers her eyes knowing  that he has understood what She was trying to say.

Naina ... m chalta hoon...
He informs her.

Huhh???
She asks, raising her deep ocean eyes to meet his black ones.

Airport aa gya hai.. i need to leave.
He says looking at her.

Feeling his tears would spill out soon, he rushes out of the car and takes his bag with him.

She too comes out of the car.. he hands her the car keys..

Bye Naina... apna dhyan rakhna...
Her eyes again becomes moist.

He turns back to leave as he dont want to see her teary eyes, cause after he will not be able to go..

He walks a few steps and halts in his steps hearing her,
Rajveer sir...

He turns and finds her hugging him.. he too gives  a bone crushing hug to her. He kisses her hair. She pulls him to her, scared of losing him.. clutching his uniform shirt tightly, not allowing him to move back.

Naina... chalo ab ghar jao... mere samne... main tumhe chod k nhi jaa paunga.. isliye tum mere samne jao...

She nods in no.

Naina ... please... go...sherry chinta kregi tumhe waha na dekhkar..
He tries to make her understand

She leaves him and looks at him with longing,
Aap apna dhyan rakhiyega.. woh maa ne kaha tha aap ko bol doon..

He smiles and replies maa ko bolna chinta na kare.. ab tum jao..
Clearly understanding her motive of using maa's name.

After so much of saying, she leaves from there. Rajveer stays frozen there to collect her warmth, her scent her feel...to take it along with him... where these will be his only sahara to live.