Broken is beautiful too.
It carries stories of everything that has been.
Like a weathered rock.
And an autumn leaf.
And the journey of life lived.

"How is it possible, Doctor?" Sameer questioned the Doctor sitting in front of him.

"Exactly, I...I can't. I am dying." Naina too said with disbelief.

"This wouldn't be safe for Naina, right?" He reveals another concern.

"It wouldn't be safe for anyone, Doctor. How can I put another life in risk?" Apprehensively, she said.

In the meantime, a nurse called the Doctor for an Emergency, leaving behind two agitated souls alone in one room with their own uncertainties and dilemmas.

After dwelling for few minutes, Sameer keep his hand over her palm and assured her. "Naina tum Please ghabrayo mat. We'll certainly find some solution."

"Solution?" Detaching her hand from his touch, she looks at him with disbelief.

"Tumhari life aur risk mein nahi daal sakta main. Iske liye agar kuch bhi karna padega toh karege...chahe woh Abort..."

She yells at him before letting him complete his statement, "Sameer...Don't. Yeh word bhi mat kehna kabhi. It's a life that is breathing within me. Ek jaan hai mere andar. Tum aisa khayal apne mann mein la bhi kaise sakte ho. Baccha hai woh mera, tumhara, humara." She said, tears soaking her eyes. While caressing her abdomen, something have been sensed that she had never felt before.

"Janta hoon, mera bhi toh hissa hai aakhir woh. Magar tumhari life se badhkar kuch nahi hai mere liye, aur na hi kabhi hoga." Determinedly, he declared.

Hours passed, but no one talks to each other. Standing next to the window, Naina was viewing the sun to set in anticipation of a new day. Because with the sun's last rays peering out from the horizon comes the fulfillment that tomorrow holds endless happiness for her life, for her love's life, and for a new life as well.

Sameer comes up to her and wraps a woolen shawl around her. The next minute, as she turned, saw him sitting on his knees before her.

"I am sorry. Main kabhi nahi chahta tha aisa kehna aapke baare mein. Trust me. Magar aapki Mumma se badhkar kuch nahi hai Papa ke liye. Na tha, aur na hoga." He whispered and broke down in small sobs, while stroking his fingers over Naina's stomach that was holding his baby, their baby.

"Toh yeh kaise bhul gaye Sameer ki yeh jo mere andar hai, yeh bhi toh meri hi nishaani hai.""Par yeh sirf nishaani nhi hogi Naina, balki nishaan hoga jo kal ko ghaav banke dard dega tumhe, mujhe. Tumhari zindagi ko aur kum kar degi yeh aane wali zindagi. Meri zindagi ko mujhse shayad waqt se pehle hi cheen legi yeh aane wali zindagi."

"Jante ho tumhare aane se pehle mujhe apni zindagi se koi khaas umeed nhi thi. I knew there is no cure of this. I knew that I am slowly dying. Aur main toh chahti bhi yehi thi, kal ki jagah aaj hi khatam ho jaye meri yeh zindagi. Phir tum aaye, meri zindagi mein phir se shaamil hue, tumhare saath kuch hi dino mein itne pal beeta liye ki yeh mann aur chahne laga tumhare saath jeena. Tumhare saath bitaye har pal ko main ek khoobsurat yaad banake sajana chahti thi, aur aisa kiya bhi. Tumhare saath, tumhare haath se jab jab khati thi tab bas yehi chahti thi is moment ko loop mein play kar du...humesha ke liye. Har shaam jab tumhari baahon mein, tumhare dil ke pass apna sir rakhke soti thi tab bhi bas yehi maangti thi ki agli subah bhi yuhi tumhe apne kareeb khud ko payu. Tumhare saath woh beparwaah hassi, woh dher saari baatein, woh chutkiyon mein beet jane wala din, woh humara ek dusre ka roothna-manana...in sab guzarte lamho ko har aane wale lamhe mein jeena chahti thi main...tumhare saath. Roz bas yehi chahat rakhti thi ki meri zindagi bas thodi si aur lambi ho jaye. Aisa hi toh hota hai na yeh mann...thoda aur paane ki khatir bahut kuch pa leta hai."

Holding back her tears, she continued, "Jis zindagi se mujhe koi umeed nahi thi usi zindagi se pyaar hone laga tha mujhe tumhare aane ke baad. Lekin isi mann mein ek darr bhi kahin baitha hua tha...tumhe ek din akele chodkar chale jane ka darr, tumhara haath beech mein chaod dene ka darr, tumhara saath humesha ke liye chodkar ek alag hi duniyaa mein chale jana eka darr, mere marne ke baad tumhare aansuyon ko na ponch pane ka darr. Har ghante yeh khayal jarur aata tha ki mere baad aakhir tum kaise jeeyoge. Ki mere bina aakhir tum kaise rahoge. Bahut darti thi Sameer, har woh yaad banate waqt jo yahan is waqt is Hall mein in frames mein qaid hai. Jo mere jaane ke baad bhi tumhare saath rahegi. Par aakhir hai toh yeh yaadein hi...saath reh sakti thi, par saath toh nahi nibha sakti.
Lekin jante ho pichle chaar ghanto se aisa koi darr mujhe nahi sata raha hai. Na yeh mann ab tumhare saath aane wale waqt ko maang raha hai, aur na hi mere baad jo waqt tum bitayoge uske baare mein soch raha hai. Yeh mann pichle chaar ghante se sirf apne aaj mein jee raha hai. Aur jante ho wajah kya hai...wajah hai yehi aane wali zindagi jo mere andar dhadak rahi hai abhi. Jisne ek pal mein hi mera har darr khatam kar diya hai. Kyuki yeh jo choti si jaan hai na mere andar is waqt...yeh na toh khud ko is duniyaa mein laye bina mujhe marne degi, aur na hi mere marne ke baad tumhe kabhi akela padne degi. Yeh toh woh nishani hogi Sameer jo mere baad bhi tumhara saath nibhayegi. Un yaadon ki tarah na toh tumhe rulayegi aur na hi tumhe rota dekh kabhi chup baithegi. Yeh humare bitaye lamho ka koi ghaav ya uska koi nishaan nahi hoga, balki humare pyaar ki jeeti jagti ek nishaani hogi. Meri nishaani hogi. Meri parchayi hogi jo sabka saath chutne par bhi tumhara saath kabhi nahi chodegi. Yeh meri zindagi ko kum nahi karegi, balki har din mujhe jeene ki wajah degi. Tab tak degi jab tak main ise tumhari zindagi se na jod du. Aur ek din mujhe sukkon se marne bhi degi. Tumhara yeh hissa, mujh mein nau mahine seench kar, mere baad tumhari zindagi ka hissa banega aur dekhna meri tarah tumhe beech safar mein nahi chodega. Balki tumhara haath itni kaske pakdega ki tumhe meri kumi bhi nahi khalne dega. Humare pyaar ki sabse badi nishaani mere baad tumhe jeene ki har wajah degi, humara baccha...Sameer."

He encircled his arms around her stomach and buries his face there. Slowly, she also intertwines her fingers in his hair locks, and both cried their heart out.

"Galat tha main...poori tarah galat, Naina. Jo ise tumhara mujhe diya hua koi nishaan samajh raha tha, balki yeh toh woh nishaani hogi tumhari, jo tumse bhi zyada pyaari hogi mujhe. Tumhari is parchayi ko kuch nahi hone dunga main. Balki ise tumse bhi zyada pyaar karuga. Itna pyaar jitna tum bhi nhi kar paati. Apne Papa ko maaf kar do..Please. Aur apni Mumma ko bhi keh do ki Papa dobara aisa kabhi kuch nahi karege aur yeh bhi bata do Mumma ko ki main Best Papa banuga. Mera baccha, humara baccha...Naina." Listening this from him, she smiled.

***

"Mrs. Briganza ab aap mujhe Kitchen mein aane se mana mat kijiyega. Sameer kum hai kya pehle. Agar usne mujhe yahan zyada der tak kaam karte dekh liya na toh pata hai kya kahega; Naina tum ek baat bhi nahi maan sakti meri. Kaha tha na last month chal raha hai Pregnancy ka toh thoda rest karlo. Pati hoon tumhara, koi dushman thodi hoon. Par theek hai tumhe jo karna hai karo. Mat suno meri. Uff...pichle nau mahino se maine uski is emotional blackmailing ki wajah se na jane kitni na manne wali baatein bhi maani hai, par ab main thak gayi hoon aaram kar karke." Naina said softly, while walking slowly and cautiously with her protruding belly.

"Lekin yeh jaruri hai na aapke liye is waqt, aur phir dekhiye isi wajah se aapka chehra kitna khilkhilaya hua hai."

Naina giggles, and told Mrs. Briganza "Sameer pata hai kya kehta hai, ki yeh Pregnancy Glow hai. Pichle kuch mahino mein woh Pregnancy par itni books, videos, experts ki baatein aur na jane kya kya padh, dekh, sun chuka hai ki ab tak toh woh is par PhD kar leta. Aapko pata hai Mrs. Briganza ek din Sameer ne kya kiya." She reminisces the past times.

***

One morning, after looking for Sameer in the whole house, Naina finds him in a small outdoor garden talking quietly to someone. Spotting his back only, she couldn't decipher, however listening to his talk, she was dumbfounded. "Aap meri jaan ban gaye ho. Kyuki meri life ki sabse badi khushi ho aap. I Love You. I Love You so so much."

"Yeh Sameer kise I Love You bol raha hai. Aur hai kon jisse aisi baatein kar raha hai," she wonders. And, moves towards him. There he was standing with a baby wrapped in a little soft blanket, swaying within his arms.

"Yeh kiska baccha utha laye ho." She asked in distress.

Rather than answering her, he affectionately places his lips on the tiny bundle of joy he was holding in his arms. "Mumma ko batayo ki aap kisi aur ke naho ho balki humare apne hi baby ho." The next moment, he shows off the face of the baby.

"Yeh toh toy hai, Sameer. Kya main jaan sakti hoon iske saath aap kya kar rahe hai, Mr. Maheshwari."

"Practice...Mrs. Maheshwari, Practice. Ab kal ko humara baby aayega, toh uske saath experiment thodi karege. Isiliye maine isi ke saath sab try kar liya hai."

"Try?"

"Of course...jaise bacche ko thapki deke sulana, godi mein use khilana, hawaa mein jhulana, blanket mein properly wrap karna, and most importantly baby ka diaper change karna. By the way, tumhe toh diaper change karna aata hai na." She innocently shakes her head and denies it. Afterward rest is history.

***

Both Naina and Mrs. Briganza laughs out loud recalling the instance. Though next minute hearing their loud chitchats, Sameer enters the kitchen. He looks at them, particularly at Naina, disappointingly. "Naina tum ek baat bhi nahi maan sakti meri. Kaha tha na last month chal raha hai Pregnancy ka toh thoda rest karlo. Pati hoon tumhara, koi dushman thodi hoon. Par theek hai tumhe jo karna hai karo. Mat suno meri."

Once again, a string of laughter echoes there, leaving Sameer perplexed. "Kya hua...maine aisa bhi kya keh diya," he naively asked. But no one answers him except the whistle of the Pressure Cooker.

Later, he takes both Naina and Mrs. Briganza along with him to make them see what wonder he did today. Displaying one colorful canvas, he showed them the painting he made, with his glowing eyes. "Yeh hoon main, yeh hai Naina aur yeh..."

Mrs. Briganza completed, "Yeh aapki Angel jaisi beti bilkul jaisi aapko chahiye...par agar beta ho gaya toh."

"Arey Mrs. Briganza, aap aur Naina humesha hi aise kehti hai par beti hi hogi...dekh lena aap. After all betiyaan zyada pyaari hoti hai. Kyu Naina?"

She didn't speak a word after seeing the painting he created. Sameer shook her, bringing her to the reality from her delusion. "Kahan khoyi hui ho?" He asked to which she slightly shook her head, and then went outside.

"Aap zyada soch rhi hai Madam. Who toh sirf ek Painting thi." Understanding the turmoil brewing inside Naina, Mrs. Briganza spoke to her.

"Mrs. Briganza...woh Painting ke sab rang kal ko berang ho jayege jab Sameer ki woh painting haqeeqat nahi ban payegi. Aap bhi janti hai aur main bhi ki uski yeh painting kabhi poori nahi ho sakti. Toh kaise bhul gaya who ki main, woh, aur humara baccha ek frame mein nahi aa sakte. Doctor ne kaha tha ki meri life bahut uncertain hai, meri zindagi mera saath kabhi bhi chod sakti hai. Haan agar kuch certain hai toh woh hai is nanhi si zindagi ka aana jise lye bina main nahi marugi. Mere damage ho rahe heart cells mujhe toh maar sakte hai, par mere bacche ko kuch nahi karege. Aur isi vishwas par vishwas karke hi toh ise is duniyaa mein lane ka faisla liya tha maine. Par is nanhi si zindagi ke aane ke baad kya hoga. Sameer ka kya kasoor hai jo uski yeh family picture kabhi poori nahi ho payegi. Is choti si jaan ka kya kasoor hai jise apni Mumma nahi mil payegi. Mera kya kasoor hai Mrs. Briganza jise khushiyon ke rang asliyat mein kabhi dekhne ko nahi mil payege. Aakhir kyu? I am Sorry Mrs. Briganza, main shayad kuch zyada hi keh gayi."

Keeping her hand over Naina's shoulder, Mrs. Briganza uttered, "I wish Jesus koi miracle kar de. Kaash aap, Sameer Sir aur aane wala yeh baby ek complete family bankar apni poori life spend kare."

"Miracle jaisa kuch nahi hota hai, aur na hi aapke yeh Jesus, Bhagwan sabki sunte hai. Yeh toh wohi karte hai jo inhe karna hota hai. Aur phir kehte hai na Mrs. Briganza...jo mil jata hai, woh aam sa ho jata hai. Khaas toh wohi hai jo kaash bana rahei." Naina replied with a weak smile and moist eyes.

Ek aisi aakhri mulaqaat ho,
Jis mein har woh baat ho,
Jo keh na sake ab tak bhi tumse,
Saath mere woh ehsaas ho.

Karke bayaa dard dil ka main,
Jo ho jayu chup zara sa,
Tum dekar sahara baahon ka,
Ashko ki phir aisi barsaat ho.

Yuh toh musafir mile hai kayi,
Magar ek teri chahat
har waqt hai rahi,
Chah manzil ki aakhir
kise hai yahan,
Safar ho jaye haseen
jo tera mera saath ho.

Rok lu lab jo yeh
shor karne lage,
Dekh tumko jab jab bhi yeh aakhein bharne lage,
Chum kar tum inko
kar do khamosh,
Phir reh jaye baat dil ki
dil mein hi,
Bheeg jaye hum tum..ishq ki ek aisi barsaat ho.

♡Never Belittle Love♡