Na Jaane Kyon...

Beh jayega... tinka tinka kal ka silsila

Title is the song 'Dhoop ke makaan sa' from movie 'Break ke baad'

Nanu looked up in surprise when Sameer told him next morning that he would be going to Naina's house with her, "Beta, kya yeh theek rahega? Jaisa tumne bataya, uske padosi bhi koi bohot achhe nahi hain. Kisi ne Naina ka dil dukhaya toh? Aur Ayush ke sawal..."

"Ayush nahi jaa raha hamare saath, nanu." Sameer said immediately, making nanu give him a questioning look.

He explained, "Naina ko lagta hai Ayush ke liye woh yaadein dhundli pad gayi hain. Woh naye rishton se judd gaya hai. Aise mein phir se ussi jagah ko dekh ke usko confusion hoga. Naina chahti hai Ayush ke mann mein sirf unke parents ki yaad rahe, baaki iss jagah se judda sab kuch mit jaaye. Jisse kal ko uske liye hum sab hi uski family hon aur hamara ghar hi uska ghar."

Nanu nodded in understanding, "Yeh baat toh theek sochi Naina ne. Bachhon ka mann bohot komal hota hai. Ayush ke liye yehi theek rahega." He was worried for Naina though, "Lekin Sameer, Naina ka khyal rakhna. Uske liye akele wahan jaana kaafi mushkil hoga."

"Naina akeli nahi hai nanu. Main hun uske saath." Sameer smiled assuredly.

Nanu stroked his head lovingly, a gentle smile erasing his worries, "Tere saath ki wajah se hi Naina ne wahan jaane ki himmat jutayi hai. Khush raho."

As they approached the lane, Naina stiffened in her seat. Sameer glanced at the nervous wrenching of hands in her lap.

He didn't have to ask for the exact address. The huge, imposing house stood apart from other smaller ones around it. He had seen its picture on Naina's insta page. The mansion looked even more impressive as they stopped in front of it. He placed his hand on her wringing fists as she stared out of the window at the place she called home till a year back.

After opening the heavy metal gates, they walked in. What was once a beautiful garden now lay withered and unkempt. Naina recalled how much her mom used to love the flowering plants, insisting on planting different ones for every season.

When she spoke, it was more to herself than telling Sameer, "Nanu ki tarah mumma ko bhi gardening bohot achhi lagti thi. Koi mausam ho, hamare yahan phool zarur khilte the."

Sameer wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving a little squeeze.

The heavy lock opened easily as she twisted the key. They entered into a big hall, which had two seating areas. Compared to them, dining area had a smaller table, with just four chairs. Sameer noticed the door beside it, probably leading to kitchen. A passage at the end meant there were more rooms on the ground floor. The stairway wasn't visible, but he could see the passage on the floor above. Closed doors meant more rooms. Presently, all furniture was covered with white sheets, walls had some pictures, but some faint marks as well, of the frames that had been removed. Even in this state, the house felt lived in. He could feel the warmth it must have been enveloped in once.

Sameer looked around. Everything was white... pure and serene.

Naina looked around. Everything was white... frigid and lifeless.

When he turned his gaze to her, the lost frantic look in her eyes reminded him of the days when he used to visit her house in Delhi, and found her lost in similar manner quite often.

He wondered what he could say to ease her pain. He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes, "Naina, kisi ko takleef mein dekh ke kehna bohot aasan hai ki 'I understand what you're going through'... lekin aisa nahi hai. Jiska dard hota hai, uske siva koi doosra nahi samajh sakta ki uspe kya beet rahi hai. Main bhi nahi jaanta tumhe iss waqt kaisa mehsoos ho raha hai, tum kya soch rahi ho, tum kitni takleef mein ho. Main bas itna keh sakta hun ki mujhe tum hamesha apne saath paogi. Tum kuch bhi share karna chaho, achhi ya buri yaadein, dard, gussa... kuch bhi... main sunne ko ready hun."