Part 3

As Naina asked why he had gone to the hill top, a nervousness gripped in his heart and he was trembling to listen her question, as he knew this question would arise when he narrated her everything. He was prepared for it earlier but now he shuddered how to tell her why he had gone there.

"Naina...Wo.. mai ... wo..wo....." He fumbled, his gripped loosen from her shoulder and his hands slipped down.

Naina sensed his trembling, she hold his hands between her palms and squeezed it giving assurance that she is with him. "Sameer kya baat hai, agar aap nahi batana chahate to koi baat nahi."

As he did not want their relationship to start with any conceal, he wanted to clarify everything before starting a new life. So he finally mustered up courage and spoke.

"Wo Naina main us din... us pahadi ki choti... par...Su... Suicide.. karne gaya tha...Mai apni zindagi khatam karne gaya tha..." And he shut his eyes as he finished the sentence. He opened his eyes when he felt Naina left his hands from her hold.

"Kya??... lekin kyun Sameer?." She panicked and screamed while staring him.

He immediately lifted up his face to see her as his face down when he had told. But when he saw her shocked face and miostend eyes. He did not know how to explain further.

As Naina was shuddered to know that he had attempted suicide. Her heart had broken into picese like a broken mirror as she had never expected anything like this. She was not in a condition to ask anything but she wanted to know the reason as when she had known him, he always seemed to be a happy person, then what was the reason that he had taken a such big step in his life. She wanted to know everything right now.

"Sameer aapne kyo liya tha itna drastic step...I want to everything because I am your wife and my rights to know everything." She said rightfully with chocked voice.

Sameer heart swelled up that she had accepted him as her husband. He again scooped her in his tight embrace.

"Ye baat aaj se do months pahle ki hai...Papa ka ek dream project tha, jiski sari jimmedari unhone mujhe di thi. Maine us project ke liye presentation ready kiya tha aur papa ko meeting ki ek raat pahle dikhaya...unhe kuch points me mere ideas thik nahi lage kyunki wo hamare project ko weak kar rahe the aur change karne ko kaha... mujhe bhi unka point of view sahi laga kyonki iss presentation se investors ko feel karana tha ki wo ek safe project me paisa laga rahe hai, unhe isse koi loss nahi hoga.... aur dinner ke baad mai wo presentation change karne hi wala tha, tabhi Sunaina ... meri girlfriend ka call aaya aur uss se baat karte huye mai kab so gaya pata hi nahi chala aur presentation me kuch changes karne ki baat mere mind se nikal gayi... " Sameer stopped and his face turned gloomy to think about his folly.

Naina saw his sulk face and asked him in a soft voice. "phir kya hua Sameer."

And Sameer remembered his dreadful day of his life.

Flash back.

The Next morning when Sameer reached in the office late, his father Vivek Maheshwari informed him, the meeting would start within 15 minutes as the investors had rescheduled their meeting in late night. So Vivek had not informed him in the night. Earlier meeting was scheduled in the evening.

Hearing this news Sameer was panicked as he had not changed the presentation. He quickly came to his cabin and opened his laptop for changing. He could only few words changed, his father called him for meeting in the conference room. When he entered the room all committee members and investors were sitting. He started the presentation nervously and he began showing the presentation to everyone. Vivek was shocked seeing nothing in change that he mentioned to Sameer last night. Vivek once looking at him and gave a stern look. He was shivered by his father's deathly glare but controlling his fear, he tried to give his best to show the presentation.

As the presentation ended, the investors announced that they would not invest any money in this weak project. As they don't see any future for this project and they found that it is not a profitable deal. The committee members also advised not to start the project.

After meeting Vivek did not say anything to Sameer. He was sitting quiet the whole time. In the evening when both of them reached home, Vivek went straight to his room.  Sameer was frightened of his cold behavior as he wanted to apologize for his negligence and fault. But he could not do it.

At dinner time when Vivek was sitting on the chair, Sameer knelt down on his feet and apologised. "Papa sorry... main kal bhool gaya tha presentation change karne ke liye aur aaj subah meeting time change hone ke karan sab gadbad ho gayi... par agli baar se aisa kuch nahi hoga...Ye aap ka dream project zarur pura hoga, bas aap ek mauka aur de dijiye." He pleaded in a heavy voice.

"Tum itne laparwah kaise ho sakte ho Sameer... tumne aaj mera aur tumhari maa dono ka sapna tod diya, batao mai kaise vishwash karu tum par." Vivek reprimanded to Sameer looking at his wife.

Sameer tried to convince him umpteen time that he would be all thing settled. But Vivek did not trust him. After dinner he called Sunaina as he needed someone to whom he could share his grief and calm his mind. But she did not answer his call and message him saying that she was busy with her friends so she couldn't pickup the call. Sameer frustrated of her behaviour and threw his mobile on the bed.

One week later Vivek called Sameer in his cabin and addressed him. "Sameer tumhe ek mauka chahiye tha na... to thik hai uss project ki nayi presentation ready karo jaisa maine tumhe bataya tha... Investors phir se do din baad ki meeting liye ready huye hai, please is baar koi gadbad mat karna."

"Thank you Papa is baar koi gad bad nahi hogi... aap dekhana ye project zarur start hoga..." Sameer delighted as his father had trusted him again and he thought, he will not break his believe this time.

The day had come, Sameer had checked the presentation in his laptop for the last time before going to the meeting. He took out his pendrive from the laptop and put it in his drawer and went to the washroom to freshen up. After coming out from the bathroom he took some files and the pendrive leaving for the conference room.

Before starting the presentation he looked at his father face and satisfied to receive a smile from him. Then he attached the pendrive to the big screen and started showing the presentation while addresing everyone. But he confused seeing everyone's wide eyes and shocked face. He turned to look at the screen and he froze at his place and the tiny sweat beads formed over his forehead. He did not dare to look anyone, he immediately discarded the pendrive and reattached but nothing changed. He watched the entire presentation in fast forward.

One of the investors got up and spoke rudely. "yeh kya battamizi hai Mr. Maheshwari... Aap ne hame yeh, monkey elephant jaise jangli janwaro ke photo dikhane ke liye bulaya hai...Shayad aap ke paas ye sab dekhane ka time hoga par hamare paas nahi hai." And all investors stormed out of the hall. As the pendrive was showing the wild animals and forest pictures.

Vivek couldn't meet his eyes all commitee members and left for his cabin without say anything. He embarrassed of his son act and after half and hour he left for the house.

Sameer was sitting on his cabin, he couldn't understand that how the pendrive changed. He was angry at himself why he didn't recheck before going to the meeting. He threw all the stuff from his table as embarrassed face of his father flushed in his mind. When he knew that his father had gone home, he too left for home as felt some uneasiness.

As soon as Sameer reached house, asked his mother about Vivek. She looked at him worriedly and informed that he was in the study room. Sameer immediately staunterd to the study room and started to bang on the door.

"Papa please ek baar meri baat sun lijiye, jo bhi hua usme meri galti nahi hai." He pleaded.

Vishakha panicked to see his worried face and his requesting. "Kuch hua hai kya Sameer, maine bahut puchha par tere papa ne kuch nahi kaha... Koi problem hai kya?"

"Mammy wo... aaj ki meeting fail ho gai." He replied with a sadish voice.

"Lekin kaise?.... tumne to puri taiyari ki thi?." She asked in a stern voice."

Sameer did not an answered and looking down.

"Sameer kya hua hai?... aise chup kyo hai tu?" Vishakha was shocked.

Just then there was the sound of the door opening and Vivek came out of the study room.

"Ye kya batayega... ise to har baat mazak lagti hai... puchho iss se... kyo isne sabke samne mera mazak bana diya, jab tumse handle nahi ho raha tha, to sidhe mana kar dete aise sabke samne beizzati to nahi hoti." Vivek brusted out at Sameer and entire matter narrated to his wife Vishakha.

Vishakha anger was on the peek knowing the reason. She lashed out of her anger to Sameer.

"Tumhe pata tha na Sameer ki ye tere papa ka dream project hai phir bhi tune aisa kiya... kyo Sameer?" Vishakha yelled.

"Mammy maine kuch nahi kiya... mera yakin karo." Sameer tried to convince his mother that it is not his fault.

"Tu janta hai ye project Vivek kiski yaad me shuru kar rahe hai?... teri bahan ki yaad me." Vishakha voice got chocked.

Sameer was shocked to hear Vishakha relevation and did not understand her meaning as he had not a sister, he had a single child of his parents.

Vaishakh saw his shocked face and replied the same angry tone. "Haa tune sahi suna... teri ek bahan thi, tujhse badi thi..." She stopped as a few tears dropped her eyes. Sameer felt a sharp pain in his heart as realised that she was no more.

When she drew a deep breath and found his questioning gaze on her, she started. " Jab woh do sal ki thi... ek din achanak se uski sansein tej chalane lagi aur do din tak hospital me uski health me koi progress nahi hua, teesare din she was died... meri bachchi chali gai hame chod kar." And Vishakha slummed on the floor. Vivek got up her and made her sit on the couch, give her a glass of water.

Sameer just rooted on his place as he took a long time to ponder on this new information that was biggest loss of his parents life.

"Aur tune hamari beti ke liye dekha... hamara salon ka sapna tod diya Sameer...Iss se to achha hum beaaulad rahte, aisa din to na dekhana padta... teri bahen ke jane ke baad tujhe paane ke liye kitne mandiro me pooja karayi, mannate mangi, kahan kahan nahi gaye... lekin kya mila hame dekhane ko to bas complain, pahle school phir college aur ab office me bhi ye sab... Maine hi Vivek se kaha tha ki tujhe ye project karne de..." She turned her face to Vivek. "sahi kaha tha aapne shayad main galat insaan se ummeed laga baithi thi, par ab mujhe samajh aa gaya hai ki na kabhi hamari tumse rakhi ummeedein puri hogi aur na hi hamare sapne."

Vishakha broke down in the Vivek arms. Sameer looked at his parents with tear stain face. He was not a state to console them as he too had broken knowing about his sister. And now he was stunned as his own mother questioned his life and too much hurt by his mother addressing him not a good son and cursed his life.

Vivek was frightened seeing Vishakha state and shouted him. "ab khade kyo ho yahan, aur kuch bacha hai bigadne ko... jao yahan se... hamari nazaro se dur..."

But Sameer did not move of his place and Vivek anger raised. "Suna nahi tumne kya kaha maine.... jao yahan se." He folded his hands. "tumhari bahut meherbani hogi hum dono par, hame hamari bachchi ki yaadon ke saath akela chod do... aur jao apne dosto ke saath masti karo."

Sameer was feeling much guilty but when he pondered of everything and he felt he was rejected by his parents. His heart ached to think he was the main reason of his parents pain.

He left the house immediately and roamed on the roads aimlessly. His heart was wrenched again and again recalled his mother and father cursing words for him. And in this process he had not known when he reached Sunaina house and was about to enter her house but a guard stopped him saying that Sunaina was busy with her friends and ordered do not disturb her. He requested and insisted to inform her about him.

After ten minutes, Sunaina came out and her face got dropped seeing Sameer, then she replied honey coated voice changing her expression.

"Sameer tum yahan... what a surprise." Sunaina asked while touching his face.

Sameer downed her hand from his face and holding her hands, requested. "Sunaina mujhe tumse bahut zaruri baat karni hai, ek important baat batani hai aur uss se bhi jyada mujhe tumhara saath chahiye abhi... Please chalo na mere saath."

Sunaina jerked out her hand from his hold and repiled in a very harsh tone. "mai nahi aa sakti Sameer, andar mere friends mera wait kar rahe hai." And she was dragging him. " Why not you join us, mere friends to tumhe dekh kar jealous ho jayenge... my boyfriend is hot and dashing ... hai na best idea... chalo unhe hum jealous feel karate hai." She pulled him inside the banglow with evil smile.

Sameer was furious of her selfish thought and abruptly jerked his hand out of her hold. "tum hi enjoy karo, mujhe iss se bhi jyada important kaam hai... mujhe apni numaish nahi karni tumhare cheap friends ke samne." He left her house without looking at her.

Sameer felt he was not a good person that  he has not given happiness to anyone. He cried his heart out remembering his mother's words and thought he was the responsible of his mother's pain. He had made cry her today. He had also spoiled his father image and had broken his parents dream. He was thinking he was a burden of his parents. He dejected as his own girl friends did not consider him above her friends and he was for her only a things to show off her status.

He finally made up his mind that he was a completely worthless person and no one liked him so he decided to end his life. Then he went to the top of the hill where he saw Naina. After hearing her pain he realized that her condition was same to his.

Flash back end.

"Aur tumhara pain dekh kar bhul gaya ki mai vahan kyo aaya tha, aur tumhare dard se jud ke pata hi nahi chala ki kab mai tumhara pichha karte karte ghar tak pahuch gaya tha..." Sameer told her his past and became silent.

Naina was speechless and she couldn't understand what to say Sameer, how to react, how to console him. She just pressed his hands, just then a tear drop fell on her palm. She looked up him with pain filled eyes and wiped his tears.

"Sameer main bhi na bilkul pagal hun, bina soche aap ko kitna suna diya, aap ke side se kabhi socha hi nahi bas apna hi dard dikh raha tha aur use se bahar nikal kar kisi ki bhi taklif samajh hi nahi pai... Please mujhe maf kar dijiye." She was mortified to say him lier some time ago in the room.

Sameer cupped her face while looking into her eyes. "Naina in sab me tumhari koi galti nahi hai, vaise bhi tumhe kahan mere baare me kuch pata tha...  tumhara is tarah mujh par gussa hona jayaz tha."

"Lekin phir bhi mujhe aise react nahi karna chahiye..." But he kept his fingers on her lips. Naina shivered by his mere touch on her lips.

"Shhh...Ab  iss baare me koi baat nahi..." And he looked in the sky and screamed. "Naina... wo dekho tutta hua tara." And he immediately shut his eyes and prayed, Naina did same. 

He opened his eyes and saw her praying. He asked her when she opened her eyes. "kya manga tumne." 

"Mangi hui wishes nahi batate, kahte hai puri nahi hoti." She replied.

"Ohh." He pressed her close to him, after a while he voiced "Naina."

"Hmm." She just hummed.

"Maine to tum se apna dard share kar liya, ab kya tum bhi mujhe apne dard ka hissa bana kar apne dard kam nahi kar sakti... kya mai iss layak hun ki tum mujhse apna dard bant sako." He sounded low.

"Kya janna hai aapko?." She asked simply.

"Yahi ki Arjun bhaiya ke saath kya hua, jisse tumhari life badal gai...us din maine suna tha tum bhagwan ji se kah rahi thi unhone kyo kiya ye sab.... aakhir baat kya hai Naina... maine mahsoos kiya hai tumhare aur Arjun bhaiya ke relation normal nahi hai like a sister and brother." He asked as he wanted to know all about her.

"Pahle sab aisa nahi tha, bhaiya mujhse mujhse bahut pyar karte the...bina mange meri favorite chocolate aur icecream le aate the jab bhi market se aate aur mere har birthday par meri liye mummy se special cake banwate the." She said in a happy voice but soon her face dropped.

"To phir aisa kya hua... Naina." He asked.

Naina loosened his hands, parted him and stood up from the swing. Then she walked towards the railing and hold it, her gripped tightened as she inhaled deep breath. After a moment she turned her face but surpised as Sameer was standing behind her with maintaining the proper distance.

She started with hesitation. "wo Arjun bhaiya ko ek ladki se pyar ho gaya tha, bhaiya ki job Mumbai me thi. Ek din bhaiya ne use propose kiya lekin usne ye kah kar mana kar diya ki... uske dil me unke liye koi feeling nahi hai aur wo ladki unki ek sal ki dosti ko tod kar chali gayi... ye baat bhaiya bardasht nahi kar paaye aur us raat unhone apni haath ki nas kat kar suicide karne ki koshish ki, lekin usi time bhaiya ke ek friends unse milne aaye the, jab bhaiya ne door nahi khola to unhe shaq hua aur phir neighbour ki help se darwaza toda aur unhe hospital le gaye... unki vajah se bhaiya ki jaan bach gayi, phir unhone hi papa ko phone kar sab bataya aur papa Mumbai ja kar Arjun bhaiya ko vapas le aaye."

Sameer engulfed her in his embraced for soothing her pain and took her near the swing, then made her again comfortably sit on it and leaned to the one side of the swing. Then he was waiting for her telling as she was controlling her emotion.

After a while she continued. "Uske baad Arjun bhaiya depression me chale gaye, papa ye dekh kar bikhar gaye aur apna sara attention bhaiya par hi focus kar diya... ab unke liye sirf Arjun bhaiya hi rah gaye the, unhone school jana bhi chod diya tha...Bas bhaiya ko thik karne ke liye doctor ke paas le jate aur unki mehanat safal bhi hui...6 mahine baad bhaiya depression se bahar aa gaye... lekin unka behaviour puri tarah se change ho gaya tha... wo hasna bhul gaye, bahut kam baat karte aur koi hasi mazak to bardasht hi nahi karte... dheere dheere unhe mera kuch bhi karna achchha nahi lagta, kisi se bhi has ke baat karna, mere kapde, der se ghar aana... sab par objection uthane lage, mera us mauhal me dam ghutane laga tha... papa bhi kuch nahi kahte the bhaiya ko... balki mujhe hi sunate... Papa pahle meri har choti si achievement par appreciate karte the, mere sad hone par mera mood thik karne ke liye bahar dinner pe le jate the... aur mai bhi unki baat jhat se maan jati thi...mai unke bahut close thi.... lekin us incident ne sab change kar diya, mere haste khelate ghar ko barbaad kar diya."

She stopped as her voice choked and wiped her test back of palm carelessly. "Mai janti hun in sab me Arjun bhaiya ki koi galti nahi hai, unhone pyar me dhokha khaya... lekin aap hi bataiye Sameer kya ek ladki ke liye apne parents ke sapno ko tod dena aur apni jaan dena sahi hai..." She asked the with flow but she immediately stopped as recalled his attempt to suicide.

"Sorry... maine flow flow me kya kah diya pata hi nahi chala." She apologized to ask him about Arjun that it was wrong to commit the suicide.

He sat next to him and wiped her tears.
"Naina tum kyo sorry ho... Aur rahi baat Arjun bhaiya ki to unhone pyar me dhokha khaya tha, mai unki condition samajh sakta hun, kyonki maine bhi wo rejection saha hai.... lekin Naina tum bhi galat nahi ho... kyonki ek ladki ke liye hum apni life end nahi kar sakte specially uske liye to bilkul bhi nahi jiske dil me aapke sachche pyar ki koi importance na ho... hamari apne parents ke parti bhi kuch jimmedariyan hai jo hame puri karni chahiye... kisi ka pyaar hamare parents ke dedication se badkar nahi hota hai kyonki unke liye to hum hi unki zindagi aur puri duniya hai... aur agar hamne apne ko kuch kar liya to unki to jeene ki vajah hi chali jayegi... aur vahi galti mai bhi kar raha tha... lekin mai lucky hun ki mujhe sahi raah dikhane ke liye bhagwan ji ne ek angel mere paas bhej diya aur mujhe ye galti karne se rok liya... thank you bhagwan ji." He wrapped his arms around her petty figure.

Naina relaxed in his embrace, she was about to closed her eyes, then she heard his voice.

"Naina..... Tum apne ko kabhi akela mat samajhana main hun tumhare saath, har pal, har ghadi, har situation me... aur main yahi expect karunga ki tum apni har pareshani mujhse share karo." He said with caress her back and kissed top of her head. She nodded her head.

After a while Naina fell asleep in his arms as he engulfed her protectively. And remembered the moment when he saw her first time in the hill top.

Sameer's pov

"Naina jab maine us din tumhe pahadi par bhagwan ji se complain karte huye suna aur tumhara dard jaan kar mere dil me ek tees uthi... aur laga ki main hi iss duniya me akela nahi hun jinki life me dukh hai aur jo apno ki nafarat sah rahe hai. Lekin tumhara itna sab hone ke baad bhi apne family ke liye khade rahna... Tumhari iss baat ne mujhe ye seekh di ki himmat kabhi nahi harna chahiye... chahe kitni bhi pareshani ho.. aur mai tum me kho kar apne sare dard bhul gaya ki mai vahan kyon aaya tha... pata nahi tumhara kya jaadu tha jo mai tumhare pichhe tumhare ghar tak pahuch gaya, us wakt tumhara chehara dekh kar meri dhadkan hi ruk gai thi... pahle to mai sirf tumhari dard se juda tha, lekin tumhe dekhate hi mai usi pal tumhara ho gaya tha... your pretty face, innocent smile and deep eyes had not leaving my mind...aur maine apne aap se promise kiya ki mai tumhari life ko khushiyon se bhar dunga... because I am connected to your pain and you have saved my life...So you are my angel...

Aaj maine ye puri decoration sirf isliye ki thi taki tumhe apne dil ki baat bata saku, tumhe bata saku ki tum mere liye kitna mayne rakhati ho, tumhe bata saku ki tum meri zindagi ho aur ab hum kabhi juda nahi honge... lekin aaj jab tumhari aankho me apne liye sawal dekha to pahle mai tut gaya tha, par apne ko sambhal kar maine tumhare har confusion ko dur kiya, bhale hi tumne mujh par trust kar liya hai phir bhi mujhe tumhari aankho me hamare rishtey ko lekar kuch hesitation nazar aayi... So maine decide kiya hai main tumhe abhi apni feeling nahi bataunga aur na hi force karunga... ab mai apna confession tabhi karunga jab tak tum apne dil se mujhe apna na maan lo aur khud se aage aakar apni feeling na batao... lekin iska matlab ye nahi ki mai apna pyar jatana chhod dunga...no way.... I will always show my love to my lovely wife.."

He looked at his sleeping wife in his arms and rested his head on her.

Kahte hai na dard ka rishta dil ke rishtey se gahra hota hai aur aaj dono isi dard ke rishtey se jude the...Sameer to pahle hi Naina ke dard se jud chuka tha par aaj Naina bhi uske dard se judi thi....Two painful souls united by a sacred bond.

Sameer had woken up whole night as staring his beautiful wife. Then he realized after sometime would be dawn. He slightly patted her shoulder for awake her.

She stirred and tried to recognize her surrounding.  She felt cold and shivered. Even before she could ask, his voice hit her ears.

"Naina ... dekho subah hone wali hai, koi hame aise dekhe iss se pahle hume room me chale jana chahiye." He softly woke her up.

Naina nodded her head and they go down stairs and enterned thier room. As soon as they inside Sameer said to her.

"Naina jao change kar lo, puri raat tum iss heavy dress me thi... Suffocation ho raha hoga."

Naina was glad as he was genuinely concern for her. She left to washroom after picking up her night wear. When she came out after 20 minutes, she surprised to see Sameer. He had already slept one side of the bed after changing in his night suit.

She sat down other side on the bed and adored his face that was looking very innocent but same time seemed very handsome and charming as his face was on her side. Her eyes fell on his soft silky hair and she could not restrict to herself touch it, she caressed his hair. When she satisfied, she laid down while brushing on his face lightly by her soft palm and switched off her side table lamp.

She was thinking about her life that had changed today. "maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki Sameer itne supportive honge aur bina kahe mera dream pura kar denge...Sameer sach me aap bahut achche hai, lekin... kya mai aap ke layak hun, kya mai aapki expections ko pura kar paungi... pahle ye shaadi mere liye ek samjhota thi, mere mummy ki khushiyon thi, but ab mai dil se ye rishta nibhana chahati hun...I pray to God give me strength to my every tough situations."

She again looked at his face that was glow from moon light, it was coming through the window and directly falling on his serene face. She noticed, his lips curled into smile that meant he was smiling in his dream. Seeing these she felt an unknown happiness in her heart and closed her eyes with a sweet smile.

***

This is the third part....I hope you all loved.

And the next part will be the last one.