Pranati: Sameer tu akele aaya, Naina kahan hai?

Sameer furrowed his eyebrows and looked at the three women confusedly.

Sameer: Naina toh tum teeno ke saath thi na, mere saath kaise hogi?

All the ladies were busy with carefully observing the goods presented infront of them by the local shopkeepers, when the men decided to take a breather from the tiring and uninteresting job of following your wife from one shop to another, and watching her argue over the faded color or uneven work, with the cunning shopkeepers.

Anjali: Haan, thodi der pehle tak humare saath hi thi. Phir usse ek suit set pasand aagaya toh tumhare paas chali gayi. Tum uss dukaan mein the jab.

Anjali pointed out towards a small shack 4-6 cabins away from them, and near to the entrance of the Hawa Mahal.

Pandit: Hum log wahan the hi nahi. Hum gaadi tak chalke gaye, soda pi aur wapas aagaye.

Sameer: Main Naina ko phone karta hun, yahin aas paas hogi....

Sameer dialled her number to find her phone ringing in his jeans pocket. Realising that she was lost in the vast market of an unknown city, among unknown people and on top of that without her cellphone, Sameer's heart hammered rapidly. Sweat beads started forming on his forehead, and his breath hitched.

Sameer: Mu...mujhe.....mujhe usse dhundhna hoga! Anjaan sheher hai, anjaan log aur Naina...

Pralay was equally tensed, he didn't want the evil thoughts to come inside his mind but the heart didn't allow it. He suddenly felt incompetent as an elder brother. If something happens with Naina, what will he reply to Rakesh and other elders?

Pralay: Pranati, tumne Naina ko akele kyun aane diya? Tum saath aa jaati.

Pranati: Usne kaha ki woh beige shirt wala Sameer hai. Aur jisse woh dikha rahi thi, woh lag bhi Sameer jaisa raha tha.
I am sorry Sameer, I am sorry Pralay.

Sameer didn't pay any heed to Pranati's apologies, his eyes were searching through the shops in his clear vision. But couldn't find his wife. He ran towards the direction, Pranati had pointed earlier. He couldn't find her in the shops in that line. So he started asking people around.

Sameer: Hello Ma'am, mera naam Sameer Maheshwari hai. Main apni wife ko dhundh raha hun.

He unlocked his phone and showed Naina's picture which was on his home screen to the lady.

Sameer: Yeh hai unki photo, light blue aur yellow color ki saree pehni thi, floral print wali. Lambe baal aur bronze gold streaks honge, aur gori. Kariban, itni height hogi unki....Aapne dekha hai kya unhe?

Lady: Nahi! Nahi dekha hai Sir. Sorry.

Sameer continued asking other people around them. With each NO, the dread was gripping his heart more. Tears started forming in his eyes, and he broke down in the middle of the road.

Sameer: Hey bhagwan, Naina ko please kuch maat hone dena. Agar usko kuch hogaya toh main khudko maaf nahi kar paunga. Main marr jaunga.

The other couples were searching for Sameer, and finding him sitting on the road with his face buried in his palms, approached him.

Munna: Sameer, humne uss taraf wali dukaano mein pucha. Kisine Bhabhi ko nahi dekha.

Swati: Sameer, hume maaf kardo. Hum shopping mein itna kho gaye the ki, humne Naina pe dhyan nahi diya.

Sameer: Tum logon ke sorry se, Naina mil nahi jayegi. Usse dhundhna hoga. Aur woh main kar lunga.

Sameer stood up, and hailed an auto rickshaw. He explained his situation to him, and the driver being a good nature man, agreed helping the broken husband.

Sameer first decided to check in the haveli. In case, Naina asked someone to drop her there. And was constantly looking around the streets, in case he spots her roaming , and was checking his phone too. Even though, he knew she doesn't remember his phone number. But in the time of distress, all we hope for is, the imposible to happen.

Halting infront of the Haveli, he ran into the main lobby.

Sameer: Jaydev Ji, meri wife, Naina aayi hai kya yahan?

Jaydev: Nahi hukum. Maine unhe akhri baar kal aapke saath hi dekha tha. Purvi bai sa se milate waqt.

Sameer: Agar woh wapas aati hai, toh please mujhe phone kar dijiyega.

Jaydev: Zaroor hukum, yeh koi kehne wali baat hai! Aap kahe toh main police mein missing complaint register karwa dun?

Sameer: Woh log manenge thodi! 24 ghanta nahi hua hai....

Jaydev: Humari jaan pehchan hai Police mein. Aap fikar na kijiye. Madad kar lenge woh.

Sameer: Ji thik hai, aap bas apne pehchaan wale police officer ka naam aur station bata dijiye, main jaake complaint likha dunga. Aur aap bas unhe inform kar dijiyega ki main aa raha hun.

Jaydev: Ji! Main aapko unka naam, number aur station ka address message kar deta hun.

Sameer: Shukriya!

Sameer ran and asked the auto driver to take him to the police station that Jaydev Ji sent him, and meanwhile inform Pralay about where he was heading to.

Sameer and Pralay Pranati reached the police station almost at the same time. They were asked to sit for a while, as the Inspector was on an important call.

Sameer: Baaki sab kahan hai?

Pranati: Pandit aur Anjali, Hawa Mahal ke aas paas hi hai. In case Naina wahan aa jaaye. Aur Munna Swati car mein dhundh rahe hai, yahan wahan.

Pralay: Sameer, himmat maat haaro. Naina mil jayegi aur usse kuch nahi hua hoga.

Sameer: Chahta main bhi nahi ki usse kuch ho, par Pralay anjaan sheher hai, aur Naina abhi abhi toh hum karib aana shuru kiye. Aur abhi hi.....

Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he started cursing himself for letting her be alone.

Constable: Suniye, Sir free hogaye. Aap unse mil sakte hai.

Sameer nodded and followed the constable with Pralay and Pranati.

Sameer: Namaste Inspector. Main Sameer Maheshwari. Ah...Jaydev Singh Ji ne aapko call kiya hoga. Galotiya palace wale....

Inspector: Haan haan, unhone call kiya tha. Namaste, main Inspector Samrat Chauhan.
Toh batayiye, kya complaint hai aapki?

Pehle toh baith jayiye....

Sameer: Sir, main, meri wife, mere do dost, unki wives aur meri wife ke bhaiya bhabhi, aaj Hawa Mahal gaye the ghumne. Wahan ghumne ke baad ladies aas paas ke bazaar mein ghum rahi thi aur main aur saare gents soda peene chale gaye. Jab wapas aaye, meri wife nahi thi baaki ladies ke paas......

Sameer couldn't control his tears, and his throat choked, restricting him to speak something further.

Pranati: Darasal, gents ke aane se kuch time pehle, Naina, inki wife ko kuch dikhana tha Sameer ko. Toh woh isse aas paas dhundhne lagi. Usse thodi dur par ek aadmi Sameer ki height ka aur same color ki shirt pehne huye dekha. Usse Sameer samjhke woh chali gayi.

Inspector: Aur aap ladies unhe jaane di? Unke saath nahi gayi?

Pranati lowered her head in shame, and slowly nodded.

Inspector: Kahin aap sabne jaan bujhke toh nahi jaane diya Mrs. Maheshwari ko?

Pralay: Aap yeh kya bol rahe hai Inspector? Pranati aur baaki ladies kyun jaane dengi Naina ko jaan bujhkar. Unki kya dushmani hogi meri behen se, infact kisi ki kya dushmani hogi meri behen se?

Inspector: Jurm rishta dekhke nahi kiya jaata Sir! Humne aisse cases dekhe hai jahan bacche Maa Baap ko aur Maa Baap bacchon ko jaan se maar dete hai, phir yeh toh dur ka rishta hua na.

Sameer was sceptical and he was looking at Pranati's reflection on the Rajasthan Police frame behind the chair of the Inspector. Even though he didn't want to be suspicious about Pranati and the other two female friends, but his mind was continuously sending him the signal that anything could happen.

Inspector looked at Sameer who was visibly distressed, and his red puffy eyes were the proof of his pain and agony.

Inspector: Mr. Maheshwari, aap pehle mujhe basic details batayiye apni wife ki. Aur unki ek picture bhi dijiye. Aaj ki agar hogi toh aur accha hoga.

Sameer nodded and sent him the picture he took of Naina this morning before leaving for Hawa Mahal.

Sameer: Meri wife ka pura naam Naina Maheswari hai. 24 saal ki hai. Sir, please jaldi se usse dhundh dijiye.

Inspector: Maine aapki wife ki picture patrolling teams ko bhej di hai. I am sure koi na koi clue jaroor mil jayega.
Tab tak aap yeh batayiye ki, aapki aur aapki side ke equations kaise the? Love marriage hai ya arranged? Aap yahan kyun aaye hai?

Sameer: Meri aur Naina ki shaadi ek hafte pehle huyi hai, amm.... arranged marriage samjh lijiye. Actually mujhe Naina humara rishta hone se pehle se pasand thi. Mere aur Naina ke beech ke equations thik waise hi hai, jaise ek newly married couple jinki arranged marriage huyi ho, ke beech hoti hai. We are not that close as of now. Hum dono apne doston ke saath trip pe aaye hai yahan.

Inspector: Hmmm, jaisa ki aapne kaha ki aapke aur aapki wife ke beech zyada closeness nahi aayi hai. Par aissa kyun? Mera matlab hai, humare time par ladka ladki ka rishta pakka hua aur jhat se shaadi ho jaati thi. Par aaj kal ki modern generation, shaadi tay hone ke baad courtship period rakhte hai na. Toh aapke beech bhi huyi hogi courtship period. Uske baad bhi close nahi hai.
Kahin aissa toh nahi hai Mr. Maheshwari, aapki biwi aapko nahi, kisi aur ko pasand karti hai. Aur ussi ke saath chali gayi yahan se!

Pralay: Yeh kaisi baatein kar rahe hai aap Inspector! Meri behen koi shatir dimaag wali conspirator nahi hai.

Inspector: Dekhiye, aap ki wife ya jo baaki aapke ladies friends thi, unhone nahi dekha tha inki wife kisse Sameer ji batake chali gayi. Ek Naina ji hi hai jinhone ek anjaan aadmi ko Sameer ji samjha. Aur agar jaisa ki aapne kaha aapki behen conspirator nahi hai, toh koun hai conspirator yahan?

Sameer: Dekhiye Inspector, maana mere aur Naina ke beech ek husband wife jaisa comfort nahi hai, par main itna zaroor janta hun ki Naina kuch aissa waisa nahi kar sakti.

Inspector: Kya pata unhe aissa karna pada ho! Aapki koi baat ya harkat unhe out of the line lagi ho. Aur woh chali gayi.

Hearing this, Sameer started to ponder. It has been just two days to their conversation about Naina's delusion and her planned departure from his and his family's lives.

Sameer(in his mind): Kahin aissa toh nahi, ki Naina ne kabhi apna decision change kiya hi nahi. Woh bas mujhe convince karne ke liye baatein baana rahi thi. Par aissa bhi ho sakta hai na ki woh sach mein woh sab bhul ke aage badh rahi thi mere saath. Aur usse sab much confusion huyi market mein. Usne kisi aur ko Sameer samjh liya aur chali gayi uske peeche.

Par, kya aissa sach mein hua tha. Pranati aur baaki dono ne uss aadmi ki shakal nahi dekhi thi. Shayad bas bluff kar rahi thi Naina. Usse mere absence se mauka mil gaya. Aur woh chali gayi....Woh ab bhi mere chunne se sehem jaati hai. Dikhati nahi, par uncomfortableness hoti zaroor hai usse.

Sameer rubbed his palms on his face, and gulped the glass of water kept infront of him.

Sameer(to himself): Nahi nahi, Naina agar mujhe chodke ke jaane ke baare mein soch rahi hoti, toh mujhe ehsaas ho jaata. Woh mujhse dur nahi bhag rahi ab aur, mere paas aane ke bahane dhundhne lagi hai. Bina mange aur bina wajah ke gaale mil rahi hai, haath pakadne lagi hai. Nahi, Naina jaan bujhke nahi gayi hai.

Sameer: Dekhiye Inspector, hum yahan baithe baithe assume karne se behter yeh kare ki, Naina ko dhundhe. Agar woh marzi se gayi hai, toh thik hai. Milne ke baad main usse jaane dunga. Lekin agar woh kisi musibat mein ho toh? Aapke liye shayad yeh ek normal missing case hoga par mere liye meri puri zindagi ka sawaal hai. Isliye Inspector please meri biwi ko dhundh lijiye.

Inspector: Mr. Maheshwari, main aur meri team puri koshish karenge aapki wife ko dhudhne mein. Aur mera aapko extra tension dene ka koi iraada bhi nahi tha. Main bas aapko ek fact bata raha tha.

Pralay: We respect your concern Inspector, par aap aisse bluntly ek husband ko kaise keh sakte hai ki uski wife usse chodke deliberately ja sakti hai. This is wrong.

Inspector: Dekhiye......main aapko jhoothi ummid nahi dena chahta tha. Khair, aap log jayiye. Kuch lead milne se main aapko call karunga.

Sameer nodded and went out.

Pranati: Sameer.....Mujhe maaf kar de please. Meri wajah se yeh sab hua. Mujhe dhyan dena chahiye tha ki Naina sahi se tere paas gayi ki nahi.

Sameer: Haan Pranati! Tujhe dhyan dena chahiye the. Lekin tune diya nahi. Ab tere sorry se Naina mil nahi jayegi. Usse dhundhna hoga. Jo main karne ja raha hun.

He sat inside the rickshaw, and asked the rickshaw driver to drive, before Pranati and Pralay could stop him.

Pralay: Agar Naina ko kuch hua, toh main ghar par kya kahunga? Rakesh Chachaji ki jaan hai Naina, jeene ka iklauta sahara. Hey bhagwan! Please meri behen ko sahi salamat Sameer se aur hum sabse milwa dijiye.

Pranati: Pralay chinta maat karo. Naina mil jayegi. Aur usse kuch nahi hua hoga.

Pralay looked at her with red eyes which were red not only because of his tears but also because of fury.

Pralay: Agar usse kuch hua toh main tumhe aur Swati Anjali ko zindagi bhar maaf nahi karne wala.

With that being said, Pralay hailed an auto and both of them left to search for Naina, but where to search was unknown.

Meanwhile Sameer was anxiously looking at the streets with a hope that he would spot Naina somewhere, aimlessly walking.

Driver: Sahab, aap chinta na karo. Aapki bindhni jaldi mil javegi.

Sameer: Bhaiya, aas paas kahin Krishna Ji ka mandir hai? Ya koi bhi mandir?

Driver: Sahab, aas paas toh na hai. Par 8 KM dur Garh Ganesh Mandir hai. Par, woh pahad ke upar hai. Aur kariban 100 seedhiyan hai.

Sameer: Bhaiya gaadi rokiye.

Driver: Kya hua Sahab? Aapki bindhni aapko dikhi ke?

Sameer: Nahi bhaiya, Naina toh nahi dikhi, par uski salamati ka rasta zaroor dikha. Aap yahan mera intezaar karenge? Main aata hun thodi der.

The rickshaw driver was perplexed as he couldn't understand what Sameer was saying. And he didn't have the heart to abandon him in midway and go away, so he nodded his head in approval. His gaze was fixed on the retreating figure of Sameer who was walking straight.

Sameer wasn't an agnostic, but wasn't a regular visitor of Almighty either. But he knew, Naina was. She was an ardent believer of Him, and in all adverse situation, she remembered Him and asked Him to give her confidence and strength. And today, Sameer decided to pray for confidence and strength for himself and Naina, as both of them were facing a phase which is equally tough and agonising for both the husband and wife.

He made a resolve of walking barefoot till the Garh Ganesh Mandir, and climb the hundred stairs too.

Sameer: Hey bhagwan, maine kabhi bhi aapse kuch nahi manga. Aaj mang raha hun, please mujhe itni shakti dijiye ki main aapni biwi ke liye uthaya hua mera yeh kadam, pura kar sakun. Aur woh sahi salamat ho, aur jaldi mujhe uss tak pahunchne ka rasta mil jaaye.

Walking eight kilometers plus climbing 100+ stairs barefooted, would sound impossible to anybody.

But was not impossible for Sameer. Yes, it was painful. He felt drained at a point of time. As the distance and the heated temperature took a toll on him. But his resolve of completing his invocation was more strong and he overlooked the physical pain.

In the midway, Pandit called Sameer to ask where he was, and got to know about the resolute of Sameer. He was very much surprised and immediately informed the others, and within a time span of 15 minutes, they were infront of Sameer. Whose face was paled, his silky always set hair was messed up, his eyes were swollen and devoid of any other emotion other than hope and pain of his missing wife, his nose little bit red and his shoulders were little slumped.

Munna: Sameer! Mandir zyada dur nahi hai, par 100 se zyada seediyan hai yaar. Maana mannat lena galat nahi hai, par agar isse pura karne mein teri tabiyat bigad gayi, toh bhabhi ko kaise dhundhega?! Meri baat maan! Aage ka rashta humare saath car mein karle. Mandir ki seediyan toh chadhni hi hai.

Sameer: Agar meri jagah tu hota, aur Naina ke jagah Swati hoti. Kya tab bhi tu yeh sochta aur karta?

Munna went silent, and looked at Sameer blankly. Of course he would have done the opposite. He would have combined all the power he had with his determination, and would have got busy with searching his wife, and doing everything possible and impossible for her well being.

Sameer: Tum log nahi samjh sakte mere andar kya chal raha hai! Kaisa lagta hai jab ek pal mein aapki puri zindagi aur saari khushiyan aapke saath ho, aur agle pal woh sab kahin gayab ho jaaye. Tum log apni biwi ke saath ho, ghum meri biwi huyi hai. Isliye, uske liye aur apne liye, main woh sab karunga jo koi soch nahi sakta. Main khud bhi nahi.

Anjali: Sameer, hum tumhe kuch karne se rok nahi rahe. Bas, apna dhyan rakhne kaha ja raha hai. Taki Naina ko tum aaram se dhundh sako, aur uske milne ke baad usse aur khudko sambhal sako.

Sameer: Agar tum teeno ne meri biwi pe dhyan diya hota, toh iss waqt woh mere pass hoti aur hum Hawa Mahal ke light and sound show dekh rahe hote. Yahan pagalon ki tarah main usse dhundh nahi raha hota.

This hit the three ladies hard. It was indeed due to their carelessness, Naina was missing. Yes, Naina wasn't a kid. But the world isn't very much decent either, and on top of it, Naina was naive and was maybe absconded by some stranger. She was in an unknown city, between majority of unknown people and was maybe going to some unknown place through an unknown route. If something wrong takes place, neither of three could forgive themselves, as they know Naina was heartbeat and oxygen supply of Sameer. Pranati and Pralay were worried thinking about what to answer at home to the unstoppable questions of both Maheswari and Agrawal clan.

Munna: Pandit, mujhe Sameer ko aisse dekhke darr lag raha hai. Sameer itna toota hua aur lachar kabhi nahi dikha.

Pandit: Munna, jis insaan se uska sab kuch baar baar chinha gaya ho, woh ek point mein bikhar jaata hai. Aur uski lachari saaf nazar aane lagti.

They didn't continue with their conversation, as Sameer had walked quite a long distance from them. And they couldn't take risk with him.

When Sameer found them again around him, he sighed in annoyance. And walked faster ignoring them.

Finally, he was infront of the unending stairs to the Garh Ganesh Mandir which was on top of Aravali hills, close to Nahargarh hill. And wasn't visible from the first step. Taking a deep breath, Sameer took his first step and continued climbing all 100+ stairs along with chanting "ओम गं गणपतये नमः ".

Finally, he reached the temple. And by that time, his feet and knees were hurting. He was feeling dehydrated and was little dizzy. But the glowing face of Naina came infront of his vision, and he went in.

He rang the temple bell, and sat down with a thud in front of the steel railing, which separated the Puja gruha from the area where the devotees were sitting and praying.

Sameer: Bappa, aapko toh sab pata hai. Aapse aur kya zyada bolun. Bas, itna hi kehna chahta hun ki mujhe meri Naina, wapas sahi salamat de dijiye. Uske bina main nahi jee sakta. Do saal pehle ki baat alag thi, aur aaj ki baat alag hai. Agar usne mujhse kal nahi kaha hota ki woh mujhe pasand karne lagi hai, toh shayad main maan leta ki woh mujhse dur jaane ke liye bahana banayi hai. Par maine kal uske aankhon mein dekha tha, mere liye uski parwah aur uski chahat. Main maan nahi sakta ki Meri Naina mujhe chodke apni marzi se gayi hai.

Please Bappa! Please mujhe meri Naina wapas de do.

Sameer broke down and rested his forehead on his joined hands. His sobs turned into soft mourns and his arms were shaking. Seeing it, the priest of the temple went closer to him, and gave a soft caress on his head.

Priest: Beta, koi pareshani hai tumhe?

Sameer looked up and saw the old man looking at him, in the same way as his Dadu does. And suddenly he felt the need to go and hide in the embrace of his Dadu and Papa. But it wasn't possible, so he hugged the priest.

Sameer: Panditji, meri biwi pata nahi kahan kho gayi hai. Mujhe mil nahi rahi hai....Main usse bahut pyaar karta hun, woh meri zindagi hai Panditji. Main nahi reh sakta uske bina.

Panditji smiled at him, and wiped Sameer's teary face with the gamcha on his shoulder.

Panditji: Tum Bappa ke saamne baithe ho beta. Aur Bappa vighnharta hai. Woh apne bacchon ko kabhi bhi dukh mein nahi dekh sakte. Tum chinta maat karo, Bappa tumhari biwi ko tumse jald hi mila denge. Aur usse kuch hone bhi nahi denge.

Sameer looked at Bappa and folded his hand once again. He closed his eyes and mumbled something incoherent.

Panditji: Beta, thodi der mein Bappa ki dopahar wali aarti hone wali hai. Aur yeh aarti bhakto ke haathon hoti hai. Tum chaho toh tum sabse pehle aarti kar sakte ho. Issi bahane Bappa se apni guhar jaldi swikar karwa sakoge.

Sameer nodded his head in approval immediately, and stood up next to Panditji. After the rituals, Pandit ji handed the aarti thaal to Sameer, who did the aarti diligently with the shivering hands, thumping heart and quivering lips and body. After the aarti, Panditji asked Sameer to distribute the prasad to the gathering.

He was doing the distribution job, and was gathering the blessings and well wishes from everyone, when his phone rang. It was an unknown number. He thought of picking it up as he didn't want to take risk if in case it was a call from the Inspector or from Naina herself.

Sameer: Hello?!

Hello! Sameer Maheshwari Ji bol rahe hai?

Sameer: Ji, Sameer Maheshwari bol raha hun. Aap koun?

Main Gaurilal Rawat bol raha hun. Meri dukaan hai, Rawat Mishthan Bhandar. Station Road pe. Polo Victory Hotel ke saamne. Kuch din pehle aap aur aapki Mrs. mere yahan kachori khane aaye the....

Sameer: Ji, main aapki kya madad kar sakta hun?

Madad main aapki karne ja raha hun. Aapki Mrs. meri dukaan main hai. Aap yahan jaldi aa jayiye.

This sounded like the voice of Nightingale for Sameer. Instantly, the shivering and quivering vanished. And his eyes filled with the tears of happiness. He immediately declined the call with assurance of his arrival within the next 30-45 minutes. And he asked Mr. Rawat to feed Naina properly until he comes.

Sameer ran infront of the railing, and touched his forehead on the ground after kneeling down.

Sameer: Thank you so much Bappa! Aapne meri Naina mujhe wapas de di. Thank you so much Bappa. Aap nahi jante aapne Naina ka pata deke mujhe kitni badi khushi de di.

Sameer touched Panditji's feet too, and left the temple after informing him about the phone call from Rawat Ji. He was so exhilarated that, his feet were not on the ground. He felt like he got wings, and he was flying in the sky.

On the way, he informed others too about the phone call, and called Inspector to inform the same too.

Sameer: Naina! Tumhare Sameer Ji aa rahe hain tumhe lene.