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Naina walked ahead, her footsteps slow, echoing in the silence of the deserted street. Clueless and aimless...where to go and what to do. Rajveer followed her.

Rajveer came behind her running "kaha ja Rahi ho.." Rajveer called out, his voice tinged with concern, but also frustration.

She keeps on walking "pata nahi..." The evening sky, once clear, was now painted in shades of grey, mirroring her thoughts.

"Ye koi film nahi hai Naina, be serious, this isn't a joke" he said in frustration.

Naina paused, her shoulders sinking with a resigned sigh. She turned to him, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "joke...joke hi to hai meri zindagi..." She looks at him with a sad smile "apne nahi dekha kya... Kisi TV serial mein bhi itne twist aur turns nahi hote honge jitni meri zindagi mein hai....My life has turned Sinuous".

She stopped and looked at the sky,. wondering, what must be the purpose of her life? Why was she even born?  Her real parents abandoned her, she was unwanted for her husband, her in-laws do not want her in their life, she was framed as the murderer of her husband and his mistress. why her fate was like this?

Rajveer’s eyes softened. He had seen her broken, had witnessed her quiet suffering. And now, standing beside her, he couldn’t help but feel an ache for her, a desire to do something, anything, to help.

Rajveer thought of something then with determination he asked her "bharosa karti ho mujhpar?".

Naina saw him in surprise then smiled lightly "apke itna sab karne par bhi agar jawab Na mein dungi to mujhse zyada bada ehsaan faramosh koi nahi hoga..."

Rajveer smiled and said "mere sath, mere Ghar mein reh sakti ho? Akele?" She was shocked to hear such a proposition from him "itna bharosa karti ho mujhpar?".

Naina is too much in shock to reply, how can he..? And why?She stood frozen for a moment, her heart racing. His words were simple, but they cut through the haze of her confusion

Rajveer understood her dilemma "ghabrao mat, kisi galat niyat ke sath nahi keh Raha hu..."

"Nahi..meine aisa nahi socha" she lowers her eyes. "App par shak karna, bhagwan par shak karne jaisa hoga".

Rajveer was overwhelmed with her answer "sirf kuch dino ki baat hai, Rekha apni beti ko hostel chhodne gayi hai...jaise hi wo ajati hai, wo tumhe apne sath le jayegi...she is more than happy to help you". He adds "tab tak mere sath reh sakti ho tum..waha mere Ghar tum safe bhi rahogi....tumhari saas aur nanad ka koi bharosa nahi hai.."

Naina was looking at him silently "kyu kar rahe hai app ye?" Her question startled him "kitne waqt se jante hain app mujhe....kya lagti hu mein apki?".

He questioned the same thing to himself, why is he helping her beyond his capacity? What is she to him?

--mann mein kuch hai to, bol Dena chahiye bacche... Samne wale ko bhi acha lagta hai Jaan kar ki wo apke liye kitne important hai..try karke dekh, sukoon milega---

He remembered his mother's wise words. He got all his answers in her one statement.

He steps closer to her and says directly looking in her eyes without any filter this time "pata nahi par tumhari takleef dekhi nahi jati..." She was shocked hearing this statement. "Apni si lagti ho..... Tumhe takleef mein dekh kar mujhe pareshani hoti hai, bas itna hi bata sakta kyunki itna hi jaan paya hu"

She had a doubt unconsciously about his feelings but never thought that he could voice it out like this considering his nature.

But the question is, can she trust this man? Can she live with him alone in his house, day and night?

Why not. He is the man who stood up for her safety and who fought for her dignity when her so-called husband and family failed to do so. Naina looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of insincerity, but found none. Something inside her fragile, aching part of her, allowed her to believe in him, just this once

Getting no reply from her, he said "yaha se 1 km meter woman welfare centre hai, tum waha ja sakti ho...aur agar tumhara jawab haan hai, mujhpar bharosa hai...to mere sath chal sakti ho....mere ghar" saying this he hopped in his Jeep waiting for her in anticipation.

He closed his eyes praying that she doesn't turn down his offer, he really wanted her close to him, he wanted to understand her closely. After years of that betrayal he got from the love of his life... He was daring enough to take that chance again,.

He opens his eyes when he feels movement beside him. A wide grin spreads on his face as he saw her sitting on the passenger seat. He ignited the engine and drove towards his house.

The silence between them felt lighter now, filled with an unspoken understanding.  Rajveer couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.

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He opens the door of his house and lets her in first. She moves inside looking around.

His house was looking like any middle class persons. Minimum furniture. Walls were painted with whites, beige, and light wood tones. These colors create a serene and inviting atmosphere.

A comfortable sofa, a coffee table, and a bookshelf with his trophies and medals. A few photographs here and there. Small potted plants are placed near the windows of the living room.

"Yaha tumhe wo sari luxurious to nahi mil payegi Jo tumhare Ghar me milti thi but I'll make sure to make you feel comfortable". He said entering inside while observing her features.

"Ghar to wahi hai, jaha sukoon hai warna to bas ek makaan hai" She said looking around.

Rajveer nodded understanding her feelings "tum Aram kar lo, aj ka.din bahot stressful ho gaya hai tumhare liye.... Samne bedroom hai uske right mein Mera office come library, left mein kitchen aur right side mein ye washroom... Yaha ke gharo ki ek hi khas baat hai, chota hi sahi magar har Ghar mein garden milega". He smiles showing her garden.

Naina went near the garden. It was small like some veranda. She took a deep breath and smiled "bahot khubsurat hai".

"I know" he said gazing at her not hiding the admiration he was feeling for her.

She flushed finding his gaze on her going to the bedroom but stopped and turned to him in confusion "if I am not wrong, apke Ghar mein ek hi bedroom hai na" he nodded and could see her tensed face. "Toh fir...." She looks around uncomfortably.

He smiles seaing her cute reaction "ghabrao mat...Ghar share karunga...bed ya bedroom nahi"

She turned embarrassed a little at his teasing "to fir ap kaha?"

"Meri library mein" he said pointing towards the room beside the bedroom "ab iss se pehele tum kaho ki wo uncomfortable hoga to let me tell you waha sofa-bed hai, meri Maa ati hai to tab bhi hum aisi hi arrangements mein sote".

"Ab tum Aram karlo, mein market se kuch saman lekar ata hu"she nodded and went inside.

After an hour he returns back with groceries, fruits and vegetables. He quickly makes a plate of fruit salad and knocks on the bedroom door.

"Ajaiye.." she calls from inside. He enters giving her plate "iski kya zarurat thi".

"Tumhe ho na ho...usey to hai" he said pointing at her womb" she smiles seeing his caring attitude.

She starts eating silently "Naina tumhe agar kisi bhi chiz ki zarurat ho to mujhe Bina kisi hichak ke bata dena..."

She nodded "bilkul... Jab koi itni pyaar se apke liye kuch kare to usse sab bata Dena chahiye" he saw something different in her eyes "Vikram uncle ke Jane ke baad koi pehli baar dill se mere liye kuch kar raha hai...." She holds his hand "Thank you so much Rajveer, it means a lot."

Her eyes were misted as she was getting emotional, rajveer shakes his head and asks "Waise tum hamesha se hi aisi rotlu ho ya ye pregnancy hormones ka Kamal hai" he pulls her leg.

She gasped as he laughed seeing her. She slapped his arm playfully and he laughed some more.

"Waise, meine nahi socha tha ek bachelor ka ghar itna well organised hoga...I am impressed" she said taking back revenge for teasing her.

Suddenly his smile faded which made her stop from chuckling "kya hua? Meine kuch galat kaha?"

He shakes his head "Bachelor nhi, Divorcee hu mein". Now this was a shocker for her, she didn't know what to say in this situation "it's okay, takleef nahi hoti hai mujhe....ab".

"Am sorry" she was feeling bad for him.

He smiles looking at her "arey Bhai mutual consent se divorce hua tha mera..biwi bhagi nhi thi" he joked making her smile. "Jaldi khatam Karo isey" he said in a fake strict tone.