Naina lay in bed fretting over Nanaji's health. Nanaji had mentioned something in her Chachaji's house about feeling unwell since yesterday. She wondered how had she missed it? He had probably not eaten as much as usual at dinner last night... but she had not noticed anything alarming. Or had she just not been paying enough attention?

The day before, she had been in her own world. Sameer had cooled down and not only that... but had suddenly become so loving and romantic, that she had felt completely swept off her feet. She had been in a happy fuzzy rose-tinted bubble. Everything had been wonderful! He had clasped her hand for well over an hour... all the while teasing her and gazing at her with eyes that made all her insides go funny. The evening was spent first shopping with him, and then remembering every moment of the shopping and his various comments as she had modelled at least two dozen sarees for him. She had been really surprised to see him taking so much interest and pleasure in selecting sarees for her. A few times his slightly darkened eyes had held a faraway look, which for some unknown reason had set her heart racing.

This evening too she had been completely engrossed in her husband and what she viewed as a proclamation from his side of her acceptance in his life. Her fingers automatically moved to touch the black beads. Even now, she blushed to remember that moment in her child-hood room, when they had hugged. He had put his arms around her to start with, but she had been the one to first cling to him. She could vividly remember the exact spot where she had buried her face against his chest, the feel of the slightly coarse silk against her right cheek. The now familiar fragrance of Park Avenue had enveloped her along with his arms. His thundering heart had seemed to croon a lullaby that seemed strangely familiar. She had wanted that moment to last for the rest of her life. She wondered suddenly, Saat mein se kaunsa janam hai yeh humara? Pehela toh nahi lagta...

Coming out of her musings, she now questioned her preoccupation and worried if she had overlooked something with regards to Nanaji. In fact, she started recalling various moments since she had arrived in the house and analysing them in detail.

Sameer couldn't fall asleep either for a long time, but in an attempt to not disturb Nanu's sleep tried not to toss and turn. Since they had to send for Dr Shah, his heart had been gripped with a fear that he didn't even want to contemplate on. He had almost been paralysed by that fear and was thankful that Naina's family had been around to set things in motion. Once Dr Shah announced that it was alright to take Nanu home, he had felt a lot better, but then his heart sank again when Pradhan Uncle had mentioned that Nanu had gone to see him the previous month too and had been a little unwell.

He had been desperately trying to remember when Nanu had seemed unwell. Had he said something?? The bigger question was, if Nanu had not mentioned anything, why was that? Did he not want to worry them? Or did he not think that they would care? And should he not have noticed it, even if Nanu did not say anything? Nanu had always recognized the agitation in his heart, the only one in the past who had seemed to understand his moods and feelings without him ever voicing them. So how had he failed Nanu so miserably?

He gently touched Nanu's forehead and tried to draw some strength. He will okay and now I will watch him like a hawk, he decided.

Naina peeped into Nanaji room when she woke up with a start some time after three in the morning. They were both asleep. She went back to sleep, her heart and head full of resolutions.

The next morning, Naina brought Nanaji's tea to his room a little after seven. She informed him that she had added only a spoonful of milk to the tea as the doctor has ordered a fasting blood test. Sameer had already helped him to the bathroom and then stood outside tapping his foot impatiently. Nanaji kept insisting that he was much better now and did not need any babysitting, but all his protests were completely ignored by his beta and bahu. As they were finishing the morning tea, Chachaji had called to enquire about Nanaji's health this morning and informed Naina that some of the Agarwals would be dropping by a little later that morning to check on him.

In the Agarwal household the men talked about the necessity to call on their Samdhiji that morning and a plan was finalised. All through breakfast as they talked about the visit from the previous evening and how it had ended on a scary note, Taiji made some repeated comments on the lines of "O Bai... main toh bilkul darr gayi thi ke kahi unhe yahi kuch ho na jaye... Bidai ke baad bahu ke maike mein peheli baar khana khane aaye aur bimar ho gaye. Woh bhi Diwlai ke din! Iss ladki ko apne ghar leke gaye hai, toh kuch toh bura hona hi tha! Aate hi maa ko..."

Suddenly Tauji's voice boomed in the room "Beena! Chup karo yeh bakwas! Baar baar ek hi baat ki rat lagake baithi rehti ho... pata nahi Bhagawan jab akal bant rahe thay, tab kaha thi yeh aurat! Aur hum jab waha Jaiprakashji ko dekhne jaaye, galti se bhi sath mat aana! Ab tak toh woh log koi Naina ko iss bimari ke liye dosh nahi de rahe honge... par tumhari baate sunne ke baad shayad unke mann se bhi aise behuda khayal aane lagenge!" As Taiji gulped nervously to hear this outburst from her husband, he turned to Bela and said "Bahu, tum humare sath chalna aur Naina ko zara samjha dena ke kaise unka khayal rakhe." Bela nodded muttering "Ji Bhaisaheb."

Sameer took Nanaji to the Pathology lab about Nine, as soon as the lab opened for the day. They were back about half an hour later, post which they had some breakfast. Nanaji complained to Ramdhari "Aare aaj khane mein zara bhi taste nahi hai.. namak dalna bhool gaye kya?!" Ramdhari replied sounding apologetic "Bhabhi ne kaha hai aaj se aapke khane mein bikul namak nahi dalengi."

Naina called from the kitchen "Nanaji, Dr Pradhan ne kal mujhse kaha hai... ke aapke BP ne liye namak bikul acha nahi. Kum se kum jab tak doctor uncle aap ke sare reports dekh ke aaj naya treatment nahi bata dete humme bahoot careful rehna chahiye. Aap log lab gaye thay tab maine Mummyji ko bhi phone kiya tha. Unhone bhi kaha hai ke diet ekdum strictly follow karna hai." Nanaji muttered something about everyone getting worked up over nothing and finished his breakfast grumbling a bit.

Sometime later all the three Agarwal men and Bela arrived. As everyone enquired how Nanaji had slept the previous night and how he was this morning. Bhagwanji was thanked a number of times for ensuring that Dr Shah had been readily available, and the insulin had been administered on time.

Tauji advised him "Bhaishaeb, doctor chahe jo bhi kahe, ab aap ko kuch din ekdum full rest karna chahiye! Sameer dekhne laga toh hai ab factory ka kaam." His grandson strongly agreed "Nanu, Tauji bilkul theek keh rahe hai. Main sab sambhal lunga... aur Munshiji aur Parmar uncle toh hai hi na. Aap kissi bhi baat ki koi chinta mat kijiye." Nanu mumbled "Aare tum sab toh aise hi itne pareshaan ho rahe ho... theek hu main." Looking fondly at Sameer he remarked "Factory ki koi chinta nahi hai beta mujhe."

Bela handed over some polythene bag with fruits to Naina and then drew another small packet from her bag and said "Naina, ye Kala Namak hai. Woh Megha ki maa keh rahi thi unki saas ko yahi deti hai. Khaane mein swaad bhi rehta hai, par BP nahi badhta." As Naina nodded, Rakesh added a little brusquely "Naina, Bhaisaheb ke doctor ko pehele dikha dena kya hai. Megha ki maa koi vaid ya hakeem nahi hai jo unki kahi baat aise hi maan li jaye, samjhi?!" For once, everyone around nodded in agreement.

Once the Agarwals left, Nanaji prodded Sameer to head to the factory too. Naina spent most of the time hovering around Nanaji, offering him only food and drinks as per Dr Pradhan's advice from the night before. Vishakha called around lunchtime and spoke to her father, issuing both Naina and him instructions over the phone. Sameer arrived home about half past five, picking up the lab reports on his way back.

Dr Pradhan arrived a little after Six and reviewed the reports and re-examined the patient. He then went on to share his observation "Sugar thoda high hai, par bina insulin ke hi manage ho jayega. Bus thoda khane pe dhyaan rakhna hoga. BP tumhara current prescription ke bawjud high hai. Diet toh thoda monitor karo hi... but I think we should try changing the dose a little bit." He went quiet for a bit pondering on something and then wrote a new prescription "Lets try this for a few days and see. Do goliya iss naye alag-alag dose ki likhi hai. Pehli wali raat ko sone se pehele 10:30 ko dena aur dusri subhe chai aur biscuit ke sath 6:30 ko dena." He turned towards Naina assuming she would be responsible for giving the medication "Time ka dhyaan rakhna. If we feel his BP is not stabilising even after a few days, I will try changing the dose."

Naina nodded and then showing him the Kala Namak asked for his recommendation. He replied "Dekho beta, apne table salt se toh yeh better hai, par hai toh namak hi. Toh thoda kum hi dalna." He than again turned to his friend and tried to impress upon him the importance of good rest, diet and not worrying about things endlessly.

As Sameer accompanied him to his car, he asked "Uncle, Nanu kab aaye thay last check-up ke liye aap ke pass?" Dr Pradhan tried to recall and then said "Date toh mujhe exactly yaad nahi... records check karne padenge, par ha mujhe yaad hai humari kuch baat hui thi ke Vishakha bus un dinon hi Delhi wapas chali gayi thi. Bahu ko ghar lane aayi thi na... That's right uski waqt ki baat hai!" Seeing Sameer looking very worried he said "Itna darr mat jao. He will be fine. Just needs a little rest!" Then smiling fondly, he said "Aare, tum yaha uske pass jab se aaye ho... waise hi bahoot khush hai. Aur ab toh tumhari wife bhi aa gayi! Seems like a sweet girl. Dekh lena ghar mein ek aurat ke hone se pure ghar ka atmosphere ekdum change ho jata hai." Then he added in a joking manner "Of course, acha ya bura yeh toh samjho lottery hoti hai!" Sameer smiled a little too and thanked him for coming.

Just about five minutes later, as Sameer was talking with Nanu, Munna-Pandit arrived. Heading to Nanaji's room directly, Munna exclaimed "Nanaji, theek hai aap?" As Nanu nodded, he continued turning to Sameer "Ajeeb ladka hai yaar tu... kal raat ko turant phone karna chahiye tha! Hum tabhi poohunch jaate." Nanaji grumbled "Aare bhai, tum sab toh aise ghar sar pe utha rahe ho jaise pata nahi mujhe kaunsi badi beemari ho gayi ho! Bus BP aur sugar hi toh thoda high hua hai. Aare bus thoda thak gaya hu... do din zara aaraam kar lunga toh bilkul fit ho jayunga!"

Seeing Sameer still looking rather anxious, Pandit tried to lift his mood "Sameer, Nanu na bilkul theek keh rahe hai! Dekh lena abhi char din baad agar panja ladhya toh yeh hum teenon ko cheet kar denge! Hai na Nanu??" Nanu chuckled softly "Bikul theek keh raha hai Pandit! Jao ab tum teeno practice karo panja ladhane ki aur main thoda aaraam kar leta hu." Sameer smiled a little too and the three headed to the lounge.

Naina served them all coffee and some of the Sev/Chivda prepared for Diwali. The four of them sat chatting mostly about Nanu's health and what the doctor had advised. Naina suddenly muttered "Mujhe na Chachiji ka kaha kuch sunna hi nahi chahiye tha! Khamokham itne khaane bana rahi thi... pata nahi aur kuch hua ke nahi... bus Nanaji ka sugar aur BP, aur inka pet badh gaya!" Sameer looked at her in shock "Pet badh gaya? Kisska??!" Just then the phone rang, and she walked away to answer it.

Munna-Pandit giggled as he looked down at his belly and patted it lightly to see if it had indeed grown. Munna added fuel "Waise Bhabhi theek hi keh rahi hai, lag toh raha hai..." Pandit smirked "Yaar, pata hai teri shaadi ko dekh ke meri ek bahoot badi galatfaimi dur ho gayi hai! Mujhe hamesha shaadi ke baad dulhe ki achanak sehet badhti dekh kar lagta tha, ke shayad yeh biwi ke sath pyar ka asar hai... tujhe dekh ke pata chala hai sirf biwi ki cooking ka asar hota hai!" As Sameer looked annoyed, Munna laughed "Aare toh Naina bhi toh pyar se hi khaana pakati hai iske liye. Bus uske pyar ne humare bhai ke dil ke sath sath iske pet mein bhi kuch jagah bana li hai!" Both Munna and Pandit continued teasing him for a bit. And though he feigned irritation, he felt light-hearted for some time.

Nanaji sat out in the porch as his bahu lit the diyas that evening and insisted that Sameer and she light some of the fireworks that had arrived that morning. Ramdhari too joined them. Naina lit a few sparklers and a couple of Anar with the young men, but then retired to the porch while Sameer and Ramdhari set off the lavangi and sutli patakas.

They had an early dinner that evening and Ramdhari left a little early as he had plans to meet up with some of his friends. The dinner consisted of bajra roti, some leafy vegetable and dal. When Sameer looked at his plate a little confused, his wife announced "Aaj se khaana ekdum satvik hi banega!" Nanaji objected "Aare beta, ek main patient ban gaya toh tum isse bhi yeh diet food khilaogi kya?!" She asserted "Aisa khaana sirf aap ki hi nahi, sab ki sehet ke liye acha hota hai!" The two men surrendered and completed the meal with a little less gusto than usual.

During dinner Sameer and Naina informed Nanu, that they had decided that Sameer would give him the medicine dose at night, while Naina would give him the early morning dose with a cup of tea and biscuits as ordered by the doctor. Nanaji put up a few objections saying he was perfectly capable of taking the medication at the right time, but soon realised that neither Sameer nor Naina were likely to change their minds.

Sameer then hovered in Nanaji's room while he got ready for bed and updated him about few things that he felt worth sharing about work. Nanu gave him some instructions and suggestions, before he settled in bed. Sameer reminded him that he would be back at half past ten with the medicine.

Naina finished some of her tasks in the kitchen and headed to her room. Her husband was standing by the window, deep in thought. It had been hard to see him so stressed out since the night before. She watched him from the doorway for a bit before walking towards him. Surprisingly he did not sense her approaching him even when she stood close behind him. Maybe it was because of the radio playing in the background. She lightly placed her palm on his shoulder and asked "Kya ho gaya? Itna kya soch rahe hai??"

He glanced back, he eyes landing on her hand on his shoulder, in that moment it did not excite his body, rather soothed his soul. Almost like God was reminding him that he need not be afraid of being alone, she was with him and would always stand by his side. But a few moments later this thought only made him feel worse. She sensing his turmoil, asked again "Sameer, Nanaji ki chinta ho rahi hai na? Please aap itne pareshaan na ho. Hum unka pura khayal rahenge. Do-teen din mein dawai ka diet ka pakka asar ho jayega."

He just shook his head. She now continued in a faltering voice "Sorry... galti meri bhi hai... mujhe theek se sochna chahiye tha, ke kya khaana pakka rahi hu. Par mujhe such mooch andaza nahi tha, unhe BP aur sugar ki itni takleef hoti hai. Mummyji ne bhi aisa koi parhej karne ke liye nahi kaha tha..."

He half turning placed his hand her hand and muttered "Nahi, galti tumhari nahi hai. Saari problem meri wajah se hi hui hai!" As she looked puzzled, he continued "Naina, sochna toh mujhe chahiye tha... ke Nanu toh kabhi bhi mere liye kuch bhi bura chaah hi nahi sakte. Main aise kaise unka dil dukhane nikal pada?! Mujhe samjha kaise nahi ke unhe mere decisions mere behaviour se kitni takleef ho rahi hai?? Yeh sara stress jinse unka BP high hua hai, mera diya hua hai!"

She gently pulled him towards the bed and got him to sit down. She tried to shush him and get him to calm "Aap aise kyun soch rahe hai? Aap toh Nanaji ki kitni help karte hai... Factory ka itna kaam toh dekhne lage hai. Kalyan bhi gaye thay... ab pura kaam toh dheere dheere hi sambhal sakte hai."

He shook his head in disagreement and continued sounding agitated "Baat sirf kaam ki nahi hai aur yeh tum bhi jaanti hu!" She gulped a little nervously, as he went on "Naina, main jaanta tha ke Nanu mere humari shaadi ko leke kiye hue faisle se bilkul khush nahi thay and main phir bhi peeche nahi hata! Pata nahi kiss akad mein itna seena taan ke unke samne khada ho gaya?? Nanu hai woh mere... pura haq hai unhe meri zindagi ka bade se bada faisla apni marzi se karne ka. Agar tum mujhe pasand na bhi aati, toh bhi, unhe tum iss ghar ki bahu ke hisab se achi lagi, yahi baat kaafi honi chahiye thi mere liye."

He paused briefly and closing his one hand into a fist continued "Maine ek pal ke liye bhi yeh nahi socha ke unhe kitna tension hoga iss baat ka ke tum iss tarah iss kamre mein rehti ho. Agar kabhi bhi galti se yeh baat kissi bahar wale ko pata chal jati, toh woh kya jawab dete Naina? Kaise samjhate ke aise kyun rehti hai unki bahu? Nanu ko sab log kitna maante hai, aur iss ek baat se unka kya image reh jata?!

She started in a soft voice "Sameer, aisa kuch bhi nahi hua hai... aap kyun yeh sab negative baate soch rahe hai?" He interrupted her "Tumhe pata hai, Nanu doctor uncle ke pass kab gaye thay last month? Tumhari bidai ke baad... Mummy ke Delhi jaane ke kuch roz baad... Tumhe neeche shift hote dekh kar hi unka BP badha gaya hoga, right?"

She blinked anxiously recalling her talks with Nanaji around that time. She had been very upset and disheartened, ready to give up on any hopes for their marriage. Nanaji had understood her pain and tried to build back her confidence and hope. But had she been so lost in her own agony that she had completely missed how much anxiety she was causing him?

Trying to shake off what could not be changed now, she tried again "Sab theek hai... Kissi ko kuch nahi pata aur koi bhi Nanaji ko kuch nahi kahega. Aur ab peechli baate mat sochiye... ab hum unhe koi tension nahi denge. Hum unke samne sirf muskurange... aur unhe bhi bahoot khush rakhenge." She talked for a bit about how they would look after him and make sure he was relaxed. Maybe they could ask Nanaji to cut back on his work hours. She proposed talking to his Mummy and Rustom uncle and asking them for ideas on leisure activities he might enjoy. As Sameer listened, he felt some of his worries easing away a little. Some of her suggestions made sense.

Seeing him calm down, she relaxed too. Looking at the clock she realised it was just about 10 pm. She asked him to relax a little, while she finished filling a few boxes of the Diwali sweets that Nanaji had asked her to send to some of their close family friends the next morning, as it was Laxmi Pooja the next day. Sameer picked a magazine and started flipping through it half-heartedly. Five minutes later he gave up on trying to read and just lay there staring at the ceiling, talking to her and voicing all his angst to her had helped. Yes, what she had said made sense, rather than dwelling on the what could not be changed, he should focus on how to set things right. He started making some plans and a mental list of things-to-do-now.

Naina had asked him to stop thinking of the mistakes already made and how the consequences could have been worse. But she struggled to follow the same advice. As she went about getting the meethai boxes and some packets of nashta ready, she pondered on what she should have done differently.

What if, she had not moved her bags down that day while they were both away? Could Sameer have changed his mind?? Then going further down the memory lane, she wondered what if she hadn't mentioned Sameer's outburst and him forbidding her from visiting their home on Sundays to his grandfather? Had that really triggered Nanaji's insisting on an early bidai? Maybe, had she stayed quiet, Sameer would have cooled down over time... or just accepted the relationship in due course. She would have still been in her maika at this point, and had Nanu still become unwell, at least Sameer wouldn't have felt responsible for it. Her heart ached to see them both in their current states.

As she finished the task at hand, she noted it was almost half past ten. She turned the lights off in the kitchen and headed to her room, wondering if he was already with Nanaji. As she entered the room, her heart missed a few beats. He had fallen asleep and the magazine lay across his chest. For a moment she considered waking him, but then thinking he must be really tired, decided against it. She turned on the nightlight and turned off the tube light and then headed to Nanaji's room.

Nanaji was dozing too. She lightly tapped his shoulder and then said "Nanaji, dawai le lijiye." As he swallowed the pill, he asked "Sameer kaha hai? Uppar chala gaya?" She replied softly "Nahi, woh toh ruke thay neeche aapki dawai dene, par unki aankh lag gayi. Maine jagaya nahi... socha main hi dawa de deti hu." Nanaji nodded "Thak gaya hoga... bahoot pareshaan ho gaya hai do din mein... Pata nahi tum dono itna pareshaan kyun ho rahe ho?!" She smiled fondly at him "Aap bhi toh har waqt humare liye pareshaan rehte hai, hai na?"

Nanaji smiled slightly in acceptance and then assuming Sameer must have fallen asleep watching TV, he continued "Aare, par usse waise hi sofay pe sone mat dena... theek se takiya nahi leta hai toh uski gardan mein moch aa jati hai..." She blushed slightly and mumbled "Woh sofay pe nahi... bed pe hi soye hai... mere kamre mein." Nanaji went quite for a few moments as he absorbed this information and then responded "Acha? Toh phir jagao mat... sone do usse." She nodded and then said before exiting the room "Darwaja khula mere kamre ka... aapko zara bhi theek na lage toh please humme pukar lijiye." He mumbled "Ha beta... tum bhi so jao."

On returning to her room, she noticed that he was still asleep in the same position. She turned off the nightlight too. Casting some slightly nervous glances in his direction, she moved towards the still open window and stood there un-braiding her hair for the night.

The radio was still filling the room with some harmonious sweet tunes. Lataji and Manna Dey started crooning the evergreen number, Aaja sanam, madhur chandani mein hum tum mile, toh virane mein bhi aa jayegi bahaar from Chori Chori. One of the lines zindagi hai ek safar kaun jaane kal kidhar caused her a little unease, but she shook it off and focused on the melodious and uplifting lyrics that followed. It was going to be the New Moon the next night and just a barel- there sliver of moon sparkled in the sky. But the presence of her personal Chaand in her bed, made it feel like it was a full moon night as far as she was concerned.

She gently picked the magazine off him and putting it away covered him with a blanket. He wasn't laying completely on either side of the bed. She chose the side that was emptier than the other and slipped into the bed herself.

Sameer woke with a start. It took him a few seconds to make some sense of his surroundings in the dark. He was now covered with a blanket and he saw her silhouette getting into the bed. Still a little disoriented he asked "Light kyun band kar diya? Nanu ki dawa deni hai mujhe..." She felt a little startled, but then replied looking in his direction "Aap ki aankh lag gayi thi... toh dawai maine de di hai." He uttered "Oh... pata nahi kaise so gaya..." She smiled slightly "Thak gaye hai... aur kya? So jayiye." As she felt some uncertainly in him, she added with a very slight tremor in her vice "Maine Nanaji ko bataya hai ke aap yahi neeche so gaye hai... aur darwaja bhi khula hai... kabhi bhi humme awaaj laga de." He made a hmm sound and then put his head back on the pillow.

He watched her pulling another blanket over her and lay down her back towards him, just like she used to in his bedroom upstairs when she first arrived. They were quiet for about a minute and then he inched towards her and put an arm around her. As Naina almost forgot to breath, he asked still sounding worried "Naina, Nanu theek ho jayenge na?" She relaxed and placed her hand on his arm which was now encircling her. Gently caressing his arm, she tried to comfort him "Ha, bilkul theek ho jayenge. Aur woh bhi bahoot jaldi! Aap dekh lena. Aur abhi toh college ke bhi holidays hai... main toh pura waqt ghar pe hi rahungi. Toh aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye, main pura dhyan rakhungi aur aap ko sare updates deti rahungi. Aap bus kuch din ke liye unhe factory ke kaam se break lene ke liye manna lijiye." He murmured feeling a little relived "Ha, hum manage kar lenge." And yet he did not draw away from her. A minute later he tried to draw his hand away saying "Khidki band karna bhool gaya..." She unwilling to let him go, tightened her hold murmuring "So jayiye... aap yaha hai toh mujhe darr nahi lagega." He felt some solace for the first time since the previous night.

Naina was awake for quite some time, even after the rhythm of his breathing evened out indicating that he had fallen asleep. Her heart which had done some nervous somersaults on his coming close, needed some time to calm down. Though the circumstances were less than ideal, she was still happy to have him close to her. He needed her tonight. The weight of his arm made her heart soar, and though there was a thick blanket between them she felt some tingles where his arm rested.

She felt some movement and it broke her deep sleep. The first thing that registered was the room felt very cold and there was a bit of a draft coming through the window. She half wondered why was it not closed?? Suddenly she recalled telling him it was alright to leave it open. It was still rather dark outside, but a few birds could be heard. And then she felt him slip out of her bed and the room. She felt numb, remembering how he had slipped out of her bed, after spending that one night in her bed few weeks back, and had left her bereft of all hope. She didn't know what to make of it... did he not want to be with her now that the darkness was easing?

She heard him heading to the toilet and then a couple of minutes later walking towards the kitchen. Was he hungry, she wondered a little befuddled? But then within a minute heard him back in the corridor. Would he walk on upstairs, she wondered with bated breath?

Sameer entered her room again, carrying a bottle of water and drinking straight from it. After a few long gulps, he placed the bottle on her writing table and slipped back into the bed, very close to her. As he once again slipped his arm around her, she turned towards him and nuzzled into his chest, a few tears of relief spilling from the corner of her eye. The last time when she laid like this with him, her heart had happily claimed He is mine. She had learnt since that we cannot dictate who belongs to us, but can only decide who we belong with, and so she now accepted with her heart I am his, always.

(Thank you all for your fantastic response for this story. I am so happy to see you all enjoying it so much! 

Please note that I have just one more part ready now, which I will publish tomorrow, but after that the updates will be weekly. I have a full-time job and a family, so usually need a week to write a chapter. Just wanted to give you all a heads up!)