"Sameeerrrrrrr!!" she woke up screaming his name and panting badly. Instinctively her hand went to her tummy and she started taking deep breaths. It took her some time to register her surroundings. She wiped the sweat droplets on her forehead and gulped down a glass of water kept on the side table.

What was that nightmare?? Was it some message? What if it was true? No! It can't be! Her Sameer cannot leave and go! He would be safe. He would be healthy! She was manhoos right, so now that she's gone, he would be fine.. yes, Sameer would be fine.

But her restlessness and unease clearly indicated she wasn't convinced. That's when Divya's words from earlier echoed in her ears.

Log sahi kehte hain, zindagi ka koi bharosa nahi. Jab jo milta hain, use apna lena chahiye!

She reflected upon her nightmare, Sameer's words in the nightmare and Divya's words as well.

Zindagi ke har mod par, chahe kaisi bhi hamare haalat ho, kaisi bhi hamare saamne mushkilein aayein, hum hamesha ek doosre ka saath denge. Kabhi ek duje ka haath aur saath nahi chodenge!

Chahe koi bhi pareshaani ho, gum ho, mushkil ho, hum sab ek doosre se baatenge. Dil ki saari baatein ek doosre se kahenge. Ek doosre se kuch nahi chupayenge!

Hum ek duje ke liye bane hain aur hamesha ek duje ke saath rahenge. Maut bhi hume juda nahi kar sakti kyunki hamara pyaar saccha hain!

These were the vows they had given each other! Each word resonated in her ears.
Exactly at that moment, the baby kicked as if encouraging his/her mother to listen to her thoughts and go back to his/her father!

"Naina, jab humara baccha hoga na, tab main use woh sab doonga jo mujhe nahi mila! Main apne bacche ko kabhi khud se alag nahi hone doonga! Main usse bahut pyaar karoonga!"

Sameer's words from the day they were casually discussing about their future together played in her mind. And soon, her mind took her to one more moment they had shared

Flashback:

Sameer and Naina are in the library. While Naina is engrossed in the book, Sameer in engrossed in adoring her. After sometime, as she was completely in the book, Sameer randomly picked up a book kept nearby and started reading it.

Jab do yugmak( gametes) ek hote hain, tab woh ek yugmanaj( zygote) mein parivartit hote hain, jo maa ke garb mein pratyaaropit( implant) hote hain aur maa ke poshan pe badhte hain.
Chauthe(4th) mahine baad, bhroon(embryo) maa ke pet mein ghoomne lagta hain jisse maa ko woh ek laat ki bhaanti prateet hota hain!

Since the entire thing was in hindi, Sameer did not understand a single word except maa. So he decided to ask Naina.

"Naina! Mujhe yeh samaj nahi aa raha dekho"

Naina looked up from her book and was shocked to see Sameer holding a Jeevvigyaan( Biology) textbook.

"Aaj toh pakka zor se baarish hogi, The Sameer Maheshwari ne textbook uthake ek concept jo padh li hain aur upar se, doubt bhi pooch rahe hain" she said and chuckled at his expression.

He made a cute pout and Naina couldn't stop herself from pulling his cheeks.

"Dikhao"

He pushed the textbook towards her and she read the entire thing. Her cheeks coloured crimson as she dint understand how to explain this particular thing to him and also because, her mind started visualising her pregnant self!

"Textbook mein aisa kya hain Naina jo tum itna sharma rahi ho??" Sameer asked, not comprehending what was such in the textbook.

"Sameer woh...Hey Bhagwan! Kaise samjhau tumhe? See, there's nothing. Bas woh childbirth ke process ko explain kiya hain, kaise gametes fuse hote hain etc till how the baby usually starts kicking and showing movement during the 4th month of pregnancy!"

She immediately looked back into her book and pretended to read it. He leaned towards her, making her heartbeats go haywire and softly whispered,

"Jab humara time aayega na, tab main har waqt tumhare saath rahunga. Tab tum detail mein sab samjha dena!"

Her crimson cheeks turned a shade deeper and she looked away to hide her tomato red face, but he pulled her towards himself laughing. She hid her head in his chest and both were lost in visuals of their beautiful future ahead!

Flashback ends

A huge smile adorned her face as she recalled the library incident.

"Naina, ek baar yeh saari manhoosiyat waali baatein side mein rakhkar soch, kya tera Sameer tere bina khush reh payega? Jab woh uss raat lauta tha, tab usne pee rakhi thi aur kitna dard tha uske chehre pe! Kuch toh bahut bada hua tha! Use tere saath ki zaroorat thi aur tu use akela chodke bhaag aayi?? Iss judaai se kaun khush hain bol? Tujhe pata hain na ki Sameer ke kitne khwaab the apne bacche ko lekar? Tu woh saare khwaab tod degi? Kya haq banta hain tera ki tu uske sapne tode? Tu toh aa gayi yahan par kya tune ek baar socha Sameer ki kya haalat hui hogi tere peeche? Woh kitna akela ho gaya hoga! Tere alawa aur tha hi kaun uska?

Sab log use chodke chale gaye, use todke chale gaye. Tune vaada kiya tha ki tu use kabhi nahi chodegi par kya tune woh vaada nibhaya? Kya tumne bhi vahi nahi kiya joh sabne kiya? Aur tu use uske bacche se bhi door rakh rahi hain! Kya milega yeh sab karke? Agar woh sapna sach hua toh?? Agar woh kisi musibat mein hua toh??" Her inner voice said to her.

She closed her eyes. After about 5 mins, she opened them and said

"Main apne Sameer ke paas jaa rahi hoon! Mujhe nahi pata ki main manhoos hoon ya nahi. Mujhe kuch nahi pata. Mujhe bas itna pata hain ki main aur Sameer ek doosre ke bina adhoore hain! Ab yeh judaai aur bardaasht nahi hoti! Main kal hi aa rahi hoon tumhare paas Sameer!"

***************************************

Four days later

"Tum kaha chali gayi Naina? Please laut aao! Mujhe maaf kardo! Ab aur sehen nahi hota. Har din tumhare bina kaatna bahut mushkil lagta hain. Maine kahan- kahan tumhe nahi dhoonda par tum ho ke pata nahi kahan gayab ho gayi! Itna bura hoon kya main? " he said and broke down, hugging her photo to himself.

Tringgg!!! the bell rang.

Ramdhari wasn't at home so Sameer stood up to open the door. Wiping his tears, glancing at the mirror to make sure he was presentable, he walked towards the door.
He opened it and was shocked to see.....

Rok dun yahi pe ke aage padhna hain?

Chalo, aaj nahi tadpaungi. Read further!

He was shocked to see her at the door!

"Naina.." he whispered her name and she immediately side- hugged him tightly. It took him some time to believe she was real and take in the feel of her touch after ages. That's when his eyes fell on her protruding belly and he immediately broke the hug. Making her face him, having all the warmth and affection, he looked on at her belly as he softly whispered

"Baccha??"

She cupped his face and made him look at her. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she said

"Haan Sameer! Humara baccha! "

She then took his hand and kept it on her belly. Exactly at the same moment, the baby kicked and this brought a wide smile on his face, even as tears of joy continued to flow down his cheeks!

They both stood reeling in the moment for quite sometime, after which she said

"Mujhe maaf kardo Sameer! Main aise hi tumhe chodke bhaag gayi...unn sab logon ki tarah main bhi tumhe chodkar chali gayi. Main apna vaada nahi nibha payi! Meri vajah se tum apne bacche ke baare mein nahi Jaan paye. Tumhare kitne sapne they hamare bacche ko lekar aur meri vajah se sab toot gaye! Mujhe maaf kardo Sameer! Par main kya karti? Mere man mein yeh baat baith gayi thi ki main manhoos hoon, isiliye sabse door chali gayi, par tab mujhe nahi pata tha ki main pregnant hoon! Divya ke ghar jaane ke baad pata laga. Maine kai baar socha ki tumse milke sab bata doon, par phir yeh manhoosiyat waali baat yaad aa jaati! Mujhe please maaf kardo ki main tab nahi thi tumhare saath, jab tumhe sabse zyaada meri zaroorat thi! Main nahi thi jab tum hamare ghar se iss chote se ghar mein adjust hone ke liye struggle kar rahe they. Main nahi thi jab tumhe sabse zyaada ek sahare ki zaroorat thi! Mujhe maaf kardo!"

He dint say anything for a good 5 minutes. He just kept looking deep into her misty eyes.

Maybe she had hurt him so much that he wasn't ready to forgive her...maybe they weren't meant to be together....

And at that exact moment, he pulled her into a side hug, holding her tightly but being aware of her state. She could feel his tears on her head and she too shed her tears, wetting his shirt. He, without breaking the hug, gently took her in and closed the door. Making her sit on the sofa, he sat next to her, holding her hands and said

"Maafi mujhe maangni chahiye Naina! Galti mujhse hui! Pata nahi maine kaise tumhare middle-class nature pe ungli uthayi aur tumhare baare mein anab-shanaab baka! Gusse mein apna aapa khokar, maine hamara rishta hi nahi balki tumhara dil bhi tod diya. Maafi mujhe maangni chahiye! Par iss sabke baavajood tumne saara dosh apne upar le liya aur khudko sazaa di! Apne iss buddhu ko maaf karogi? Ek aur mauka dogi mujhe? Iss baar pakka vaada karta hoon, tumhare saath har problem share karoonga aur kabhi tumpe aise gussa nahi karoonga! Please mujhe chodke mat jao Naina. I love you!"

"Tum bologe toh bhi nahi jaungi! I love you too Sameer! Tumhe pata nahi par inn 7 mahinon mein maine tumhe kitna yaad kiya!" she said, resting her head on his shoulder, finally feeling peaceful.

They stayed silently in the same position, taking in the feel of having each other in each others arms!

"Tum kahan thi itne mahine?Kaun tha tumhara khayal rakhne ke liye? Tum yahan kaise aai? Tumhe kaise pata laga?" He started firing many questions at her and she listened to him, with a smile on her face. How much she had missed his concern, his talks, his warmth, only she knew!

She patiently answered all his questions. She also told him how she had gone to Chachaji's house when their Maheshwari mansion was locked. An emotional reunion had followed and everybody were happy to learn about her pregnancy. Anand had then told her about him and she had immediately rushed over.

They spent the rest of the time telling each other how they spent the 7 months. She also told him about her nightmare and how she was worried.

"She loves you so much and cares for you so much and you called this woman selfish??" His inner voice questioned him.

"I know I had gravely errred but this won't repeat. I will never let her part from me, ever again!" Sameer answered his inner voice.

He then looked at his Naina, who had drifted off to sleep in his arms. She had a peaceful smile on her face. He smiled and kissed her cheeks and forehead. Gently lifting her, he made her lie and on the bed comfortably and he lied down next to her.

Life would be like before. He would wake up, finding her either beside him or in his arms. His mornings won't be cold and his nights won't be sleepless again!

Hey guys!

So how was this? Any suggestions for the title, because somewhere I felt it wasn't so suitable!!

Rate out of 10

Lots of love,
Pratyu