Update 13

(NARRATOR’S POV)

The sun rose and so did Naina. It has become a habit now to wake up early. As soon as she woke up she looked towards Sameer and it reminded her off her promise. The promise that she made yesterday night, of helping him. She kept starring at sameer whereas he was totally oblivion to her stares.

Naina thought “boht pyare lagte hai sote huye ekdam masoom say, vaise masoom toh hai. Pata nahiin kyun kal jab sameer pareshaan they toh mien khud ko rok hi nahiin payi poochne se ki vo pareshan kyun they. Jab un hone apni pareshani batayi toh pata nahiin kyun mien Sameer ko pareshaani main rehne dena nahiin chahti thi unki madat karna chahti thi. Jo kuch bhi ho rha hai uske hisab se toh mujhe unki madat nahiin karni chahiye per phir bhi dil keh raha tha ki madat kar do. Bachpan main jab bhi museebat main phasti toh yahi sochti ki kash koi samne se ake ek baar keh de madat chahiye? Jab sabse zyada zaroorat ho madat ki aur madat na mile toh kaisa lagta hai yeh shayad vahi jaan sakta hai jo isse guzarta hai shabdon main bayaan karna mushkil hai. Agar mien unhe nahiin kehti ki madat kar doon toh saari raat pareshaan rehte or phir subha sir dard karta. Vaise toh inke boht se dost hai koi na koi madat kar deta per raat bhar toh pareshaan hi rehte soch soch ke ki kya karein. Miene promise toh kar diya hai pata nahiin mien nibha bhi paongi ki nahiin agar nahiin nibha payi toh kya sameer mujhse nafrat karne lagenge? Nahiin nafrat nahiin sehan kar paongi kuch bhi karke vada poora karna hi hoga”.

Naina started thinking of few ideas. After thinking a lot she thought “pata nahiin Sameer ko yeh idea pasand ayega bhi ki nahiin, kahiin vo gussa na ho jaye isse per iske alawa kuch or sooj bhi toh nahiin raha hai mujhe. Waqt hota toh shayad kuch acha sochti per ab jo hai so hai kuch aur sochne baithi toh boht waqt lag jayega or waqt bilkul bhi nahiin hai jo karna hai jaldi karna hai. Sameer ko samjhana padega per waqt nahiin hai abhi baad main samjha doongi mujhe pata hai vo samjhenge mujhe”.

Naina stood up and quickly freshened up and left the room. She walked towards the kitchen and found vishakha already there. Naina smiled, then sighed and walked towards her.

“Namaste aunty” Naina said and then bend down to touch her feet. Vishakha gave her blessings and then hugged her.

“Ab tumhe mujhe aunty bolna band karna hoga kitne waqt se keh rahi hoon mien yeh, call me either ma or mamma ab Sameer ki tarah tum bhi meri bachi ho samjhi”

Naina paralyzed, for a moment Naina thought she would finally get a mother and mother’s love for which she was craving for years. She never said that word to someone who’s alive. She used to talk to her mother’s photo call her ma or mom or mamma but never got the reaction she had seen mother’s giving when their child used to run to them calling mumma. Whenever she used to go to park instead of playing she would observe children with their mother’s and used to dream she along with her mother and father enjoying picnic. That dream used to make her smile, for few seconds only but it used to and then she used to come back to reality.

Today, when vishakha said naina could call her mother she thought finally her dream of having a mother would come true. She would finally witness mother’s love and care but then her smile faded as soon as reality stuck her. She realized that mothers love, affection and care wasn’t in her destiny.

She nodded her head meekly and said with difficulty “m.. ma.. mum mumma vo mujhe apse kuch baat karni thi”

Meanwhile Sameer woke up though quite late than his usual time. He was getting ready for the office in a hurry thinking that he was late that’s when his eyes fell on the bed which was on floor. It reminded him that his mother was in the house. He then remembered he had taken an off from work today not because he wanted it but because his mother had asked him to do so. Like always, he had agreed to his mother’s wish.

Sameer came out of his room and saw Naina and his mother were sitting on sofa and were happily chatting. He stared at them. He had never seen naina smiling like she was doing now. He agreed they have not spent much time together to witness such thing but whatever time they had spent he had never seen her smiling. She always had a blank face due to which he always failed understand her, not that he wanted to understand her but something about her always intrigued him to know more about her. He always felt she was not what she portrayed, there was more to her than she portrayed but what?

“Good morning mom” Sameer said to gain their attention and then went and sat down in front of them.

“Good morning beta, per tum kuch bhool toh nahiin rahe” vishakha asked and sameer gave a confused look.

“Arey budhu tum tayaar nahiin huye” vishakha asked seeing him not dressed properly. Sameer again gave a confused look to vishakha and she chuckled. “Naina tumne sahi kaha tha Sameer bhool jayega”

Sameer looked at Naina and she forced a smile.

“Arey budhu tujhe aaj Naina ko bahar le jana tha na uske kissi kaam ki vajay se ab jaa jakar jaldi se tayaar ho jaa varna late ho jaoge tum dono” vishakha said while smiling.

Sameer looked at Naina and she blinked her eyes saying to agree with her. Sameer nodded his head and went to get ready. Naina sighed atleast one task finished. After few minutes Sameer came back all dressed up.

“Mom aap kya karengi akele? Mera matlab hai ki hum ruk jate hain” sameer said without looking at naina. He knew she did this with great difficulty and he was spoiling her efforts but he couldn’t leave his mom all alone especially when she came to meet him, ok meet them he reminded himself. He was really confused what should he do spend time with mom or go with his friends plan?

“Mien vaise bhi soch rahi thi ki ayi hoon toh society main logo se mil bhi loon per phir laga ki sab ghar ayenge toh bechari ke liye kaam badh jayega… toh miene socha unhi ke ghar chali jati hoon tab tak tum log apna kaam khatam karke aa jao phir dher sari batien karenge theek hai per hain jaldi ana theek hai” vishakha said and both Sameer Naina nodded their head in agreement.

Sameer and Naina left and sat in the car. There was a complete silence in the car. No one knew what to speak, both wanted other person to start the conversation.

Naina wanted to clear few things with Sameer and she thought she shouldn’t wait so she spoke “vo apko bura toh nahiin laga ki mien apke saath aa rahi hoon? Vo aunty ko pehle miene kaha tha ki apka koi kaam hai toh aap karke aa jaoge per vo boli ki unhone apse pehle hi bola tha ki aap koi kaam nhn karoge vo maan hi nahiin rahi thi toh mujhe yeh bahana banana pada ki mera kuch urgent kaam hai or aaj na last date hai isi liye jana zaroori hai toh aunty boli mien bhi apke saath jaon miene kaha unse ki mere bina kaam ho jayega per vo mani nahiin toh phir miene hain kar di apko bura toh nahiin laga na”

Sameer looked at Naina and saw her playing with her dupatta and her face showed tension, ‘May she is scared of my reaction’ Sameer thought.

Sameer smiled and said “aap itne tension main kyun hai? mujhe bilkul bhi bura nahiin laga infact I am thankful to you for your help. Thank you for helping apki vajay se mien aaj bahar jaa paa raha hoon”.

Hearing Sameer Naina smiled and sighed, he didn’t misunderstand her. Sameer started his car and again silence prevailed in the car.

Suddenly Sameer realized something and said “vo hum sab movie jaa rahe hain mujhe pata nahiin tha aap ayengi isi liye apki ticket umm vo”.

Naina smiled as she understood what Sameer was trying to say “its ok mujhe kabab main haddi banne ka koi shauk nahiin hai aap movie enjoy kijiye apni lover ke saath”

Sameer instantly replied “nahiin mien or vo akele nahiin dekh rahe vo poora group hoga apki ticket arrange karne ki poori koshish karoonga”

Hearing Sameer Naina thought ‘sab matlab sirf Sameer or unki lover nahiin ja rahe yeh thoda weird hai mera matlab movie couples akele dekhte hain na? swati ne toh yahi kaha tha ki vo or munna movie dekhne jate hain or corner wali seat lete hain or baki kisi ko saath nahiin le jate or yeh movie sab doston ke saath dekh rahe hain kuch ajeeb hai yeh’. Keeping her thoughts aside she said “nahiin please itni takleef mat kariye mujhe vaise bhi movie dekhne ka koi shauk nahiin hai aap log movie dekhiye mien aas paas ghoom loongi”

“Lekin kaha” Sameer asked immediately.

“Kahiin bhi aap fikar mat kijiye” Naina replied.

“Per teen ghante aap kaise I mean aap akeli hai bore ho jayengi”

“Nahiin hongi mujhe toh adat hai akele rehne ki” Naina said and Sameer looked at Naina with confused look.

Naina smiled which gave Sameer an indication that she wouldn’t explain its meaning. They reached their destination. After naina’s reply, entire car journey Sameer and Naina were silent. Though Sameer wanted to ask what she meant by “mujhe adat hai akele rehne ki” but knew he wouldn’t get an answer so he stayed quiet whereas Naina was lost in her thoughts, thinking how she would spend three hours alone. Sameer parked his car and both of them stepped out of the car.

“Sameer aap jaiye mien apko three hours baad yahiin miloongi ya phir vahan pe jo cafe hai vahan miloongi” Naina said.

“Aap pakka nahiin ana chahti? Mien ticket ki jugaad kar loonga” sameer asked thinking she would have changed her decision.

“Aap apne doston ke saath enjoy kariye” naina said and Sameer nodded his head in agreement. He understood she wouldn’t listen to him so it was pointless asking her again. He left for the movie.

Naina saw the retreating figure of Sameer and tears dropped from her eyes. She was badly holding her tears as she didn’t want to break in front of him. Naina quickly wiped her tears and left to spend three hours alone. Naina kept roaming around the mall. She did window shopping, she sat on bench and watched people smiling and enjoying. How she wished she was one of them but then realized even she smiled but that did not mean she had a happy life. After that she played with few kids and then again sat on the bench.

Naina looked towards the sky and said “mumma mien aaj phir royi thoda hi sahi per ansu aye pata nahiin ab kya hoga dill boht ghabra raha hai ek ajeeb si bechaini ho rahi hai or aisa tab hota hai jab kuch galat hone wala hota hai. Mamma kya hone wala hai”

Three hours passed away and Sameer was coming out from the theater with his friends when he bumped into someone and quickly mumbled a ‘sorry’.

The person looked at Sameer and said “Sameer aap”. Sameer looked at the guy and gave a confused look.

The guy saw the confused look on Sameers face and said “lagta hai aap hume bhool gaye mien Munna or yeh Swati hum Naina ke friends hai”

Sameer then realized he had met them on their wedding day. He smiled and said “oh yeah now I remember how are you?”

Without replying to Sameer’s question Swati asked “Naina kaha hai? kaisi hai? apko pata hai two months ho gaye usne hume contact nahiin kiya apna number bhi change kar liya aap yahan movie dekhne aye hain na toh vo bhi ayi hogi na apke saath kaha hai vo”

“Swati calm down let Sameer speak” Munna said while stopping Swati in between.

Before Sameer could say anything a girl came from behind calling Sameer sweet heart and hugging him. Munna and Swati looked at Sameer with confused expressions.

Sameer forced a smile and said “apko Naina ne kuch nahiin bataya”.

Munna and Swati shook their head in ‘no’ and Swati asked “kya nahiin bataya munna mien keh rahi thi na naina ne hume contact nahiin kiya matlab kuch toh gadbad hai tum hi keh rahe the ki vo samne se karegi”

Munna looked at sameer and asked “Kya nahiin bataya usne hume? Vo theek toh hai na”

Munna and swati looked at sameer with pleading eyes. He stared at them not knowing what he should do, should he tell them the truth or hide it? Naina wanted the truth to be hidden what should he do now he was totally confused.

Naina was sitting in one of the silent corners of the cafe and was lost in her thought. All her pains were flashing infront of her and she didn’t know where her life was going to take her. She was so much engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t even realized that the time was over and she had to meet Sameer near the car.

Naina felt few eyes on her and this brought her back to reality and she looked up. Naina was shocked to see Munna and Swati with Sameer. She immediately stood up and starred at her friends.

“Naina tune hume itna paraya kar diya ek baar bata toh sakti thi” Swati said. Naina’s eyes widened with horror and she looked towards Sameer who blinked his eyes conveying he told them everything.

Naina started shivering and mumbled “apko aisa nahiin karna chahiye tha apne boht galat kiya”

Saying so Naina ran from there not giving anyone a chance to speak. Silence prevailed after Naina ran from there.

“Sameer do us a favour bring Naina here again tomorrow she is not alright” Munna said.

“What do you mean she is not alright and if you want you can come with me to our house” Sameer asked instantly.

“Nahiin ghar per nahiin vo jagah uski nahiin hai vo vahan vo naina nahiin hogi jisse hum baat karna chahte hain” munna said and sameer was more confused if possible.

“Probably you will never understand sameer anyway Munna I guess you are right I too feel Naina is not alright may be she is…. you understanding Munna what I am trying to say” Swati asked and he nodded his head in ‘yes’. Sameer saw them with utter confusion, he didn’t know what they were talking about.