Update 15

Narrator’s POV

“Agar apko koi problem nahiin hai toh kya aap mere saath chalenge please” Naina asked with a hopeful eyes.

“Kaha” Sameer asked.

“Apne aap samaj jayenge” Naina said.

Sameer was confused, he thought Naina would shout at him for telling her friends everything but she was behaving totally different. ‘Is this what depression does to a person? Behave opposite of what is expected from you?’ Sameer thought.

Sameer smiled and both of them walked out of the house.

During the entire journey Naina didn’t tell anything to Sameer just guided him the direction. Sameer was totally confused, where was naina taking him and most importantly why? He tried guessing the destination while he was crossing certain known roads and with it tried guessing the possible reason but he failed miserably to guess it. After certain time, he gave up and thought it was better if he stopped guessing and let naina announce that destination has arrived only then he would guess why she wanted to take him there where she was taking him now.

Finally naina announced that they have arrived at their destination. Sameer searched for parking space. Both of them came out of the car after sameer had parked the car. Sameer looked at the building in-front of him. To say sameer was shocked would be an understatement.

His brain started working at double speed, he was trying to gauge all the possible reasons, why naina must have brought him here? He couldn’t believe naina brought him here out of all the places he guessed while driving, he never imagined in his wildest dream that naina would bring him here.

“Naina yahan” sameer asked, his curiosity was making him impatient he wanted to know why naina brought him here out of all other places that she could have taken him.

“Yeh mera school hai” naina said while looking at him.

“Yeh toh mera” sameer started speaking in daze but stopped. This was second time in span of one hour that he was shocked and again to say he was shocked would be an understatement.

“Janti hoon aap bhi isi school main the” Naina said while smiling. Sameer looked at Naina with confused look.

Sameer thought ‘she knew we were from same school then why she didn’t tell me this? But sameer even you never asked her about her life may be if you would have asked her she would have told you. Yeah but that doesn’t change the fact that she didn’t tell him that she was from same school as his. If she would have told me then’ before he could think further naina’s voice brought him back to reality.

“Yahi soch rahe hain na ki mien apko yahan kyun layi hoon well uska jawab apko boht jaldi mil jayega aaiye andar chalte hain” Naina said while trying to smile.

Sameer was spellbound, he looked at naina and thought ‘is she some sort of mind reader? How did she know what I was thinking?’

“Sameer Kaha kho gaye? Andar chale?” naina asked in a soft tone.

Sameer came out of his shocked mode. Both Sameer and Naina walked inside the school. Since it was evening time the school was empty. Naina took Sameer to the nursery and KG classes. Naina was looking at these classes with longing eyes whereas Sameer was looking at Naina with confused face.

After starring the class for few minutes Naina said “pata hai Sameer yeh meri nursery ki classroom hai jahan miene kayi sare pal guzare or yadien banai hain yeh baat alag hai ki vo yadien achi nahiin hai.”

Naina half-heartedly smiled and then started walking towards her other classrooms while Sameer followed her with confusion. Naina kept showing sameer her other classrooms such as KG, 1^ST standard etc, after showing few classrooms she entered one of her classroom and sat on one of the chair.

“Sameer pata hai mien hamesha iss seat pe betha karti thi yeh meri favourite seat thi. Swati hamesha mere saath betha karti thi or hum kabhi kabhi class ke beech masti kiya karte the mien na thoda serious type thi toh hamesha jo bhi class main padhate the na vo mien dhyan se sunti thi. I used to concentrate in class and swati used to try and distract me which happened rarely” Naina said excitedly. Sameer was totally confused, he didn’t know what to say so he, kept quiet and kept listening her.

Naina knew by the look of sameer that he was totally confused with the happening so, she took a long breath and said “apne mujhse poocha tha na ki mien uss din papa se kyun nahiin mili or miene kuch jawab nahiin diya tha”.

This gained sameer’s attention and he asked her “yes, I remember you stopped me from entering your house that day. I even asked you but you gave a very weird answer which left me more confused”

Naina sighed and said “Sameer sach toh yeh hai ki I wanted to meet him that day but he doesn’t want to see my face. He thinks I am the reason why mom died.”

Sameer looked at naina with shock and asked her “kya? Per kyun?”

Naina in low tone said “Kuch complications ho gaye the jab mien paida hui. Pata hai sameer papa ne kabhi mujhe pyar nahiin kiya kabhi mere saath baith ke batien nahiin ki. Pata hai sab apne bachon ko school chodne aate the or phir pick karne bhi per mere dad vo kabhi bhi mujhe drop ya pick karne nahiin ate the bas driver bhaiya ko bhej dete the ramu kaka ke saath. School main koi bhi function ho ya parent teacher meeting hi kyun na ho vo kabhi nahiin aye mien hamesha unka intezaar karti thi lekin vo kabhi nahiin aye or mien intezaar hi karti reh gayi. Apko pata hai miene yeh kyun kaha ki yeh meri favourite seat hai?”

Sameer thought and said “kyunki tum yahan baithke swati ke saath masti karti thi shayad”

Naina smiled and in a sad tone said “swati toh bachpan se mere saath baithti thi per ye seat iss liye favourite hai kyunki yeh vahi classroom hai or yeh vahi chair hai jahan mujhe pehli baar realize hua tha ki papa mujhse pyaar nahiin karte. Pehli bar ahsaas hua tha ki mien chahe kitna bhi karlu vo mujhse pyar toh door baat bhi nahiin karenge. Pehli baar ehsaas hua tha ki papa ke pyaar ke liye mujhe hamesha hi intezaar karna padega”.

Tears fell down from Naina’s eyes. Sameer saw her tears and he too could feel her pain. He was shocked after hearing the reality that he didn’t know how to react or what should he say because honestly whatever he would say would not ease her pain off. Before Sameer could give her his handkerchief so that she could wipe her tears Naina herself wiped her tears and said “mien bhool jati hoon ki mujhe rona nahiin chahiye ye ansu ache nahiin hai mere liye. Anyway chaliye yahan se”

Sameer immediately asked her “ab yeh bhi bata do ki iska kya matlab hai ‘ansu ache nahiin hai mere liye’ ansu toh ansu hote hain na”

Naina said “mere liye nahiin or isko agar asaan shabdon main samjhao toh jab bhi mien roti hoon toh kuch bura hota hai ya jab bhi mien hansti toh bhi bura hota or aisa kyun hota hai yeh mat poochna iska jawab sach main nahiin hai per hain ek do baar ho toh coincidence ho sakta hai per har baar ho toh coincidence nahiin bol sakte na isko. Per ye sab chodiye or chaliye yahan se”

Naina took a confused Sameer to an auditorium. Naina forcefully smiled seeing the auditorium and Sameer noticed her reaction this time.

“Pata hai Sameer aap shayad mujhse nafrat karenge jab apko pata chalega ki miene apse jhoot kaha tha. I am really sorry for that. Mujhe na jhoot bolna pada uss din, kuch sooja hi nahiin ki kaise mana karu toh jo dimaag main aya bol diya” Naina said in low voice.

Sameer on the other hand guessed it that she might be talking about dance and movie. He remembered how her friend’s swati and munna told him about this. But he kept quiet because he wanted to hear from her.

Naina looked down towards the floor as if searching something very precious there and said “vo mujhe dance ka boht shauk hai or movie dekhne ka bhi. (Naina then looked towards the stage and continued speaking) Pata hai Sameer miene iss stage pe boht baar dance kiya hai award bhi jeeta hai per yeh sab dekhne mere papa kabhi bhi nahiin aye. Miene socha ki agar mien top karoongi toh papa khush honge or phir mujhe pyaar karenge per na hi vo kabhi khush huye or na hi kabhi mujhe pyaar kiya”. Naina said while trying hard to control her tears.

Sameer saw her eyes were getting moist and she was trying hard to control her tears but above all was trying hard not break down.

Naina looked at an empty space and said “pata hai Sameer sab parents apne bachon ko cycle chalana, ghoomane le jana yeh sab karte hain or mien bas unhe dekhti thi door se. Mujhe cycle chalana na ramu kaka ne seekhaya or jab mien seekh gayi toh vo baith jate the bench main or mien park ka chakkar lagati. Park main kayi baar parents picnic bhi karte the or mien bas door se unhe hanste muskurate dekhti thi, sochti thi kash meri bhi family aisi hoti kash mummy hoti toh shayad papa mujhse door nahiin hote or hum bhi yeh sab kar rahe hote. Log bandh ankhon se sapna dekhte hain or mien khuli ankhon se dekhti thi. Imagine karti thi ki mom hai dad hai or mien hoon or hum picnic kar rahe hain jaise baki sab kar rahe hain mien bhi hans rahi hoon phir ramu kaka bula lete the or sapna vahi toot jata tha. Honestly kayi baar jealousy bhi hoti thi un sabko dekh kar, na toh unke paas itni achi cycle thi na games, per jo unke paas tha na vo anmol tha or vo tha ‘Pyar, family’ bas isi cheez ki jalan hoti thi dill rota tha yeh sab dekh kar. Ulta boht se bache mujhse jalte the or mujhse dosti bhi nahiin karte the jab mien unke paas dosti karne jati thi kyunki mere paas bada ghar tha, latest cheese thi, mehngi cycle latest games etc. Lekin unhone kabhi yeh nahiin dekha ya yeh janne ki koshish nahiin ki, ki mere paas sab kuch hokar bhi kuch nahiin tha. Unke paas unke parents the khelne ke liye mere paas koi nahiin tha unn cheeson ka kya faida jab khelne ke liye koi tha hi nahiin. Logo ko vahi dikha jo samne tha vo kyun nahiin dikha jo reality thi? Kya log reality dekh kar bhi andekha kar dete hain ya unhe sach main reality nahiin dikhti”

Sameer was confused why Naina was telling him all this and that too here instead of home.

“Aap yahi soch rahe hain na ki mien apko yeh sab kyun bata rahi hoon? Mien apko yeh sab iss liye bata rahi hoon taki aap samjhe ki aap kitne lucky hain. Hain Sameer aap boht lucky hai ki vishakha aunty or bobby uncle dono apse boht pyaar karte hain lekin unhone jab apke pyaar ki manzoori nahiin di toh aap ghar chodke alag rehne lage? Yeh sahi nahiin hai Sameer” Naina said.

Sameer was shocked hearing this and thought how she knew about it.

“Aap yahi soch rahe hain na ki mujhe yeh sab kaise pata chala miene aaj vishakha aunty ko hamare rishte ke baare main sab bata diya or phir unhone mujhe bataya ki aap kaise unse jhagda karke alag ghar main reh rahe hain. Miene unhe mana liya sameer, apke pyaar ki manzoori le li miene, vo apke pyaar ko accept karne ke liye tyaar ho gayi hain. Vo bobby uncle ko bhi mana lengi keh rahi thi. Per aap unse roothe yeh sahi nahiin hai aap lucky hokar khud ko unlucky kyun kar rahe hain” Naina asked.

Sameer was shocked, he wanted to say something but he was shocked beyond limits and his voice wasn’t supporting him. He stood there numbly not knowing how to react.

After gaining his strength Sameer said “what? I mean why today? I mean”. Sameer tried his best to put forward his point of view but sadly he was failing miserably.

Naina smiled and took out an envelope from her purse and handed over it to Sameer. Sameer looked at Naina with confused look and silently opened the envelope. Sameer was shocked for the third time in a day. It was nothing but his and Naina’s divorce paper and after seeing it carefully he was shocked for the fourth time, Naina had already signed the papers. He immediately looked at Naina only to get his fifth shock, she was smiling, and there were no tears in her eyes or sadness on her face.

Sameer thought ‘is she hiding her pain behind that smile, if she is then she is a brilliant actress and if she is genuinely happy then why doesn’t she feel any pain because any girl who is about to get divorced would feel sad but she, she is smiling’

Sameer’s thought were broken when he heard Naina “or ab apke sawal ka jawab mien apko yahan iss liye layi thi kyunki mien apki life se hamesha ke liye jaa rahi hoon or jane se pehle mien apke sawalon ka jawab dena chahti thi. Ek aur sawal tha na apka?  ki miene apse dosti kyun nahiin ki? vo iss liye kyun ki mere dil ke kareeb jo bhi ata hai ya hota hai bhagwaan usse mujhse hamesha cheeng lete hain pehle meri mamma phir papa, phir Munna Swati or phir”.

Naina immediately stopped speaking; she looked at Sameer who was looking at her with blank expressions.

“Jaane se pehle apko yeh samjhana chahti thi ki apke paas mummy or papa dono hai jo apse boht pyar karte hain or hamesha apse karte aye hain. Jab apka function hota tha toh vo dekhne ate honge apna sab kaam chodke, apko picnic bhi leke jate honge unhone ek cheez ke liye mana kar diya toh aap unse door ho gaye? Boht naseeb wale hote hain jinke mummy or papa hote hai or unse bhi naseeb wale vo jinke mummy papa unse boht pyar karte hain. Apko ghar vapas chale jana chahiye or ab toh vo apke pyaar ko accept karne ke liye bhi tayaar hain toh ab koi problem nahiin hogi apko. Kya mien apse ek last favour maang sakti hoon” Naina asked Sameer with hopeful eyes.

Sameer looked at Naina and nodded his head in “yes”. Naina smiled and immediately took out a diary from her purse.

“Yeh diary aap Munna Swati ko dedenge? Miene unse promise kiya tha ki jis din mujhe yeh yakeen ho jayega ki mien unhe kabhi nahiin miloongi uss din yeh diary mien unhe dedoongi. Isme aisi kayee batien hai jo mien unhe bolna chahti thi lekin kabhi bol nahiin paayi. Please yeh diary unhe dedijiyega or hain ek wish jo mien bachpan se mang rahi hoon please pray kijiyega ki vo poori ho jaye” Naina said and started walking.

Sameer who was lost suddenly looked at Naina’s retreating figure and he realized whats happening and immediately said “Naina stop tum kaha jaa rahi ho?”

Naina turned and said “pata nahiin per itna zaroor janti hoon ki galti se bhi apke samne nahiin aaongi pehle bhi nibhaya ye promise or aaj phir miene jo promise kiya hai usse hamesha nibhaongi or hain all the best for your future with your loved ones”.

Saying so Naina left the place, leaving behind a shocked Sameer. Before Sameer could register things and react Naina had left.