Shehnaaz was standing there wrapping her arms around him trying to hide him from the world. She was trying to protect him, protect him from every evil eye. She could feel the pain he went through. She could feel what he must felt at that time. She herself went through the same pain. The pain of being away from him. The pain of him being not there with her. Both had went through the worst time of their life. She was in pain without him but he was in much more pain than her. He had face the most worst phase of his life. She was crying and was continuously kissing his chest, his heart to sooth his pain, to somehow give him relief from his pain. Her arms were tightly wrapped around him clutching his jacket from behind. Sidharth was also holding her close into himself. He needed her the most at that time as she was the only one who could give him sukoon and indeed he was feeling that sukoon with the every kiss she was placing on his chest. They both were wrapped in warm clothes but still he could feel her every kiss as she was touching his heart directly with her every kiss. He was trying to control himself but still tears were rolling down his eyes. Comforting each other. they slowly broke the hug. Shehnaaz wiped his tears looking at him lovingly whereas her own eyes were still filled with tears ready to fell down any moment. A small smile came on his lips seeing her love for himself. He wrapped his one hand around her waist pulling her into himself and kissed her eyes to take away her tears and wiped her cheeks with his fingers. Shehnaaz gave him a soft smile and holding his hand she asked him...

sana- tum theek ho na sidharth...... sidharth smiled a little at her and spoke......tum mere sath ho.....mujhe strength de rhi ho apne pyaar se.....to m theek hoon... don't worry lekin m sab batana chahta hoon ab.....tum theek ho na baby....he asked as he knew it was affecting her as much as him. She nodded and pressed his hand with her baby hands assuring him to continue. Sidharth loosened his grip on her and moved a little away to speak further.

sid- Us din k baad i used to spend all day with aarush. Hum dono din bhar sath rehte the...saara kaam sath sath krte the.....vo mujhe hamesha bhai keh k hi bulata tha aur pta hai shehnaaz mujhe kitna achha lagta tha jab vo mujhe bhai bolta tha aur m bhi use bilkul chhote bhai ki trah hi treat krta tha......bhut alag sa bond ban gya tha uske sath. Vo mujhe hamesha positive rehne m help krta tha....khud itna positive tha na vo k uska aas paas k rehne se hi m theek rehta tha.....poora poora din vo mujhe kuchh na kuchh batata rehta tha.....apni baaton m engage rakhta tha mujhe.....usne apni 12th complete ki thi lekin college join hi nhi kar paya tha vo jail m jaane ki vajah se....m apni degree complete krna chahta tha aur maine use bhi kaha tha k vo apni studies complete kre vahan reh kar.......bhut intelligent tha vo....bhut knowledge thi use....hum dono ne apni studies ki saath....mera to last year hi rehta tha to meri degree jldi complete ho gyi thi....aur vo mujhse help leta tha studies m.......chhoti se chhoti cheez puchhta tha....bhut sincere tha studies ko lekar.......usko dekh kar hi lagta tha k vo kuchh bda ban na chahta tha aur mujhe bhut confidence tha uspe k jail se nikl kar vo kuchh bhut achha krega.....maine use promise bhi kiya tha k m use help krunga bahar jake....hum do o ek doosre ki family hi ban gye the vahan.....do bhai jo ek doosre k liye khade the...ek doosre ka sath de rhe the us difficult phase m....

Din to uske sath nikal jata tha.....vo hamesha mera dhyaan kahin na kahin lga k rkhta tha taaki m theek rahun, m tum sab ko miss na krun....... lekin raat ko jab us cell m jata tha....vahi ghutan hone lgti thi phir....phir aisa lagta tha k raat khatam hone se pehle mar jaunga.....phir aisa lagta tha k saans ni aayegi....tum sab ki yaad aati thi bhut...bhut tadpta tha tum sab se milne k liye......jab bhi tumhara chehra aankhon k saamne aata tha aisa lagta tha k kaise bhi bss kaise bhi vahan se bhaag jaun...kaise bhi krke tumhare paas chla jaun......us chhote se kamre k ek kone m beth k rota tha m shehnaaz..rota tha m roz....itna dard hota tha na dil m k har pal saal jitna lamba lgta tha.....aisa lagta tha k raat kabhi khatam hi nhi hogi aur m vahi mar jaunga......vo time meri zindagi ka sabse worst time tha......har ek raat marte marte bitayi hai maine.......har ek raat tumhare baare m soch k rota tha aur rote rote hi pta nhi kab usi kone m so jata tha....

Har din m khud ko strong krta tha k jaldi hi m vahan se nikal jaunga...tum sab k paas aaunga lekin hamesha ye bhi dar lagta tha k kya tum sab log mujhe dekhna bhi pasand kroge......maine jo kiya uske baad....bhut dar lagta tha k agar sab mujhse door chle gye....tumhare baare m sochta tha to hamesha yahi baicheni c hone lgti thi k agar tum mujhse door chli gyi....agar tum mujhse nafrat krti hui....agar tum mujhe dekhna bhi na chaho...yhi sawal chlte rehte the man m aur bhut ghabrat hoti thi soch soch kar k m tumhare bina kaise rahunga.....tumhari aankhon m nafrat kaise dekhoonga apne liye.....tumse door nhi reh skta tha m shehnaaz aur na hi rehna chahta tha.....

Shayad sab ye sochte hon k ek mahine m kisi ko kisi se itna pyaar kaise ho skta hai lekin mujhe to tumse usi pal pyaar ho gya tha jab pehli baar tumhari aankhon m dekha tha.....tumhari aankhon m itni innocence thi k vo innocence mujhe sukoon de rhi thi....tumhari vo innocence mujhe apni taraf kheech rhi thi....aur sath hi dil m ek dam se na.....ek dam se aise ho rha tha k jaise...jaise mujhe vo innocence ko protect krna hai...tumhe protect krna hai......ek dam se aisa lga k..k.... tumhari aankhon m dekhne ka haq sirf mera hai....tum sirf meri ho.....aisa lag rha tha k tumhe apne paas rkhna hai hamesha...tumhe sambhal k rkhna hai....tumhe protect krna hai....us time to samjh nhi aaya k mujhe kyun aisa feel ho rha tha lekin jab tumhe library m us haalat m dekha na aisa lga k mujhe saans hi nhi aayegi.....mere dil m bhut dard hua......tumhari chot dekh kar mujhe khud ko dard ho rha tha....tab mere dil m ek hi khyaal aaya k m tumhe takleef m nhi de skta......nhi dekh skta tha tumhe kisi takleef m.......jab tumhe tumhare ghar lekar gya...tum behosh thi....mujhe itni restlessness ho rhi thi k tum bas jldi se uth jao......m tumhe dekh loon k tum theek ho bilkul......tumhari un innocent si aankhon m dekh loon.....mera sukoon tha vo aur us pal ehsaas hua k mujhe tumse pyaar ho gya hai........tum meri zindagi ban gyi thi usi pal aur maine khud ko promise kiya tha k tumhe hamesha protect krunga.....tumhari iss innocence ko kabhi marne nhi doonga....tumhe hamesha pyaar krunga...bhut pyaar krunga........tumhe bhi mere liye same feel ho rha tha....m feel kar skta tha vo...tumhari aankhon m tumhara sach dikhta hai shehnaaz....tumhari ye innocent aankhen sach bolti hain aur tumhari aankhen sab sach bol rhi thi k tumhare dil m bhi mere liye feelings thi lekin tumhe bhi meri traah realise nhi hua tha.....mujhe to jldi realise ho gya tha lekin tumhe nahi hua tha........ m chahta tha k tum khud realise kro isiliye tumhe poora time de rha tha.....tumhare sath vo chhoti chhoti moments jee rha tha m.....meri zindagi ka sabse beautiful time tha vo aur vo moments jeete jeete mujhe realise ho rha tha m tumhe hamesha k liye apni zindagi m chahta hoon....hamesha tumhare sath aur beautiful moments create krni chahta hoon....tumhe zindagi bhar bhut pyaar krna chahta hoon.....bhut pyaar.......tum mere dil m bas gyi thi shehnaaz hamesha k liye......aur tum pehli aur aakhari ladki ho meri zindagi m jisne mere dil m apni jagah bnayi hai...tum pehli aur aakhari ladki ho jis se mujhe pyaar hua hai shehnaaz....

Isiliye dar lgta tha jail m k agar tum mujhse door chli gyi to m kaise jiyunga ya mujhe pata tha k shayad tumhare bina jee hi nhi paunga.....Aarush mujhe bhut achhe se samjhta tha....vo mujhe hamesha samjhata tha k jab aap kisi ko dil se pyaar krte ho na aap uske bina reh hi nhi skte....aap uske galti krne se use chhod kar nhi jaate but aap use sahi krne m help krte hain.......aur vo mujhse kehta tha k tum mujhe kabhi khud se door nhi krogi.....vo kehta tha k tum mujhe zroor samjho gi....tum mera sath nhi chhodogi kabhi.....kabhi kabhi use dekh k mujhe lagta tha k koi itna positive kaise ho skta hai aur vo bhi jab aap jail m ho.....aapne kuchh kiya nhi hai....apni family se door ho lekin phir bhi man m itna yakeen k sab theek hoga......usne mujhe bhut help ki hai shehnaaz uss jagah m survive krne m aur hamesha mujhe ye yakeen dilaya k humara pyaar hume hamesha saath rkhega....tum mujh se door nhi jaongi kabhi bhi....mujhe smjhogi....mujhe pyaar krogi hamesha.....hum sath rhenge hamesha.......

shehnaaz was so overwhelmed listening his confession. That was the first time he was confessing his love for her and she couldn't control her tears....she just buried her face in his chest wrapping her arms tightly around him with happy tears flowing from her eyes. sidharth also hold her tightly. That was it. He had confessed his feelings to her. Moving away from her he spoke again.....

Do saal aise hi nikal gye.....hum dono ek doosre ka sahara ban gye the vahan.....hame ek doosre k baare m sab pata tha.....m usse tum sab ki baatein krta tha aur vo mujhe apni family m baare m sab batata tha roz....kabhi kabhi bilkul bacha ban jata tha aur kabhi itna mature......m use apne chhote bhai ki traah pyaar krta tha....agar vo na hota to shayad m survive nhi kar pata shehnaaz aur ya phir khud ko kho deta m lekin usne hamesha mera sath diya....tumhe pata hai hum dono ki bail bhi saath hi honi thi....sirf 10 din ka difference tha aur usne mujhse promise liya tha k bahar niklne k baad m uske sath uske ghar chalun....vo mujhe apni family se milvana chahta tha infact hamesha ye baat p itna excited ho jata tha bachon ki trah....umeed k sath jee rhe the hum dono k jldi vahan se bahar honga.....do saal nikal gye the...ab sirf ek saal bacha tha....hum bhut khush the k bhut jaldi hum bahr honge.......aur phir kuchh din baad vahan do naye criminals aaye.....unse ek dam se hi ajeeb si negative vibes aayi mujhe but maine ignore kar diya...after all vo jail thi to vahan kaise bhi log aate hain....lekin weird pta kya tha jaise vo mujhe dekh rhe the infact ghoor rhe the vo mujhe but i just ignored them....vaise bhi m aur aarush aapas m hi rehte the....kisi aur se zyadan baat nhi krte the......

Do din ho gye the un dono ko aaye hue aur mujhe kuchh suspicious lag rha tha unka behaviour dekh kar...vo humesha mere aas paas hi hote the...... mujhe pta tha kuchh gadbad hai lekin kar bhi kya skta tha jail k andar to i just ignored them everytime. On third day we had duty in kitchen. Unki bhi kitchen ki hi duty thi. M apne kaam m busy tha....aarush bhi kitchen m hi tha.........agle minute i heard aarush's scream.....usne mera naam chillaya....m pichhe muda and one of those two criminals was about to stab the knife in my chest but i was quick enough to get a hold on the situation....maine usse knife chhin ne ki koshish ki and the other person came towards me with another knife.....aarush tried to push him and soon they both got in a fight of snatching the knife.....m dusre bnde ko handle kar rha tha...he was too strong to deal with......aarush ko dekh kar mujhe ek dam se ghabraht hone lgi thi..... mujhe ek dam se dam se lgne lga tha...maine use. zor se chillaaya k hat ja....maine uspe baar baar chilaaya k uske sath mat bhid but vo meri baat hi nhi sun rha tha.....the jailer too came there with constables to stop them but unko dekh k lg rha tha k vo pkka soch k aaye the k mujhe khatam kiye bina nhi jayenge aur phir vo hua jo maine kabhi nhi socha tha......that person stabbed the knife in aarush's chest despite him holding by the constables.....aarush k continuously fight krne ki vajah se usne use hi mar diya...meri aankhon k samne i saw him falling on the ground with knife still in his chest......Jisne mujhe pakda hua tha he tried to do the same with me lekin aarush ko dekh kar mujhme itna gussa bhar gya tha k maine usko zor se dewaar se mara......and i was ready to kill him with that knife but the jailer stopped me with all his might. i was out of my mind at that time. All that happened in few minutes that nobody in jail understood what just happened?

I ran to aarush...i wasn't understanding what to do seeing him lying in blood of pool....he was still breathing but with difficulty. The knife was stiil in his chest and the constables were about to carry him but i stopped them and took him in my arms and we all ran outside......the police jeep was all ready to take him in the hospital. i was about to put him in the jeep as i couldn't go with him but he stopped him. he wasn't able to speak as his breathing was getting difficult. he pulled my shirt gesturing me to lay him down. i didn't know what should i do but i did as he said. m usko le k neeche beth gya....mujhe pta bhi nhi chla k kab meri aankhon se aansu gir rhe the....i just couldn't even imagine anything happened to him...i couldn't afford that...he was my baby brother... my buddy......i was just crying seeing him in that condition not able to speak a word. He smiled at me.....his beautiful smile which always gave me positivity and strength and with shaking hand he tried to wipe my tears . I hold his hand and kissed it and finally spoke....

sid- aarush don't worry..kuchh nhi hoga tujhe...tu theek ho jayega.....his voice was trembling.

aarush- bh....bhai.....his breathing was getting more difficult worrying sidharth more.

sid- aarush please please kuchh nhi hoga tujhe...hum hospital jayenge na abhi....please please don't give up aarush....

aarush smiled at him even after being in so much pain and spoke- b..bhai....i...i guess... it's.... it's....t..the... time....

sid- shut up just shut up...kuchh nhi hoga tujhe...bhai hai tu mera...aise chhod k nhi jaa skta.....m bol rha hun na kuchh nhi hoga....hum hospital jaa rhe hai abhi and tried to get up with him but he again stopped her....

aarush-..m...b..bhai....koi f...fayda..n. nhi hai.....i kn...know...m....m goi...m ....going......he spoke breathing with difficulty. sidharth couldn't stop the tears which were flowing from his eyes.

sid- please bro... don't do this.... don't...u don't deserve this..... please....he cried holding his upper body in his lap like a baby.....

aarush- bh...bhai....i wa...want....a .....pr.. promise...

sid was shaking with fear as if he was feeling him going.....he was holding him tightly and spoke trembling.....haan bol...bol kya promise chahiye bacha.....he said kissing his forehead.

aarush- me...meri..maa aur b...behn k kh......khyal rkhoge na......he asked with hope in his eyes.....he didn't fear of death but he couldn't go leaving his family behind in misery. he wanted to do so much in his life but God had his own plans.

Sidharth felt he couldn't breath. his family....God......how could he forget that he had a family.....no...no...he couldn't go like that leaving them alone......no he had to survive....what would he say to his family.....he..he couldn't let anything happen to him..

sid- aarush tujhe kuchh nhi hoga .....mat ja bache please.....u have a family....vo tera wait kar rhe hain....tu nhi jaa skta aise......teri maa apne bete ka wait kar rhi ghar p aur teri choti c behn apne bhai ka...tu nhi jaa skta unhe chhod kar.....he was speaking angerily but was crying.

aarush gave him a faint smile and a tear escaped from his eyes.....his family....they were waiting for him....he couldn't see his mither, his sister ever again and more tears fell from his eyes.....but he knew he wasn't gonna survive. he hold sidharth's hand with trembling hands and spoke again but this time he was crying.....crying for not able to meet the two most important persons of his life........

aarush- m....ap....apni...maa ko....ek beta....aur behn ko.....ek b...bhai....de k ....jaa rha...hoon.....m....jan...janta hoon....aap....unka... khayal.....rkhenge........he smiled amidst tears and the next moment was crying miserably and spoke with difficulty..... pr...promise kro bh..bhai........?

sidharth hold his hand tightly and kissed it and spoke- i promise...teri maa aur behn meri zimmedari hain....i promise jab tak jiyunga unka khayal rkhunga.......making aarush smile. he was assured now. he knew he had someone now to look after his family. he could go without any worries now.....aarush was a kind of person who always believed in God. he had complete faith in God's every decision always. He believed there was always something good in God's every decision. God knew better about our good and bad. He was always happy in his life even after having so much problems in life. He was a true example for everyone to live happily always in life no matter what happens and today also he was proving that he was happy with God's decision of taking his life away too. He had only one regret that he couldn't meet his family but had a contentment that sidharth would look after them always and he was happy with the thought he was leaving his family to his brother...his big brother........

aarush- b....bhai...a....apna....kh..khyal....rkhna......aarush spoke as he felt that the time was coming close....he could feel his breaths leaving his body slowly....his last breaths.....

sidharth was looking at him.... restlessness was eating him from inside continuously......his inside was filling with more fear.......he wanted to say something to him...he tried to speak but before he could say something aarush just closed his eyes for......... FOREVER.......HE WAS GONE......

Sidharth was numb...he couldn't react.....his tears were stopped...his eyes went blank.....he was just sitting there numb with aarush's lifeless body lying in his lap.......

Maine use kho diya shehnaaz......maine apna bhai kho diya ........and saying so Sidharth fell on the knees on the road. He was crying....crying to no end. Shehnaaz herself was a crying mess....she herself had made a connection with aarush while knowing about him....she too felt him like a brother.......she couldn't believe what just he told her....she couldn't believe so much had happened with sidharth in the jail.....she herself set in front of him and hold his face in her hands......he was crying like a baby....she could feel what he must be feeling.....he had spent two years with him....she could feel how much he had cared for him.....she wrapped her arms around his neck hiding him in herself.......she herself was feeling like she lost someone.....just by listening about him from sidharth she had felt like that so she could understand what sidharth must be feeling but the next moment she had the biggest question in his mind.....

who wanted to kill sidharth? and why? and the mere thought horrified her making her grip more tight on him.

Note.....

I was crying while writing this.....i wanna say something jab m likhne lgti hoon na....i just completely get myself into that zone and aaj to i was just crying and writing and crying.....i felt each and every emotion while writing aarush and sidharth part....i believe brothers are just too precious and that part was too difficult to write but it was planned like that only.....please koi ye mat kehna filmy tha bhut and all.....maine bhut dil se likha he yrr.....