Na Jaane Kyon...

Jiski khwahish hai humko... woh panah tumhi ho

Title is the song 'Bakhuda tumhi ho' from movie 'Kismat Konnection'

Naina lowered her eyes, enamoured by her easy acceptance, but a small guilt still nagged her, which was evident from her voice when she spoke, "I'm sorry mummy. Mujhe yeh sab aapko pehle hi bata dena chahiye tha. Maine sabse chupa ke galat..."

Not letting her finish, Vishakha patted her cheek, "Naina, maine kaha na, tumhe kisi baat ke liye khud ko responsible nahi manna hai warna mujhe lagega tum meri baat samajh nahi paayi."

Naina shook her head to convince Vishakha, but before she could say anything, Vishakha continued, "Jab main apni maa ko batane mein hesitate kar rahi thi, toh tumhari ghabrahat samajh sakti hun. Uss din hospital mein doctor se suna... that you cannot..." She paused, then looked back at Naina, "Jhoot nahi bolungi, mujhe bohot bura laga... khaaskar yeh sun ke doctor ko yeh baat khud Sameer ne batayi. Socha ghar aate hi Sameer se baat karungi,, lekin usse tumhare liye itna pareshan dekh ke maine kuch nahi pucha. Doctor ne tumhe bhi stress na lene ke liye kaha tha isliye tumse bhi baat nahi ki. Lekin teen din se aur kuch soch hi nahi paa rahi thi. Aaj kitchen mein Preeti se baat karke laga tum better ho, toh bas... aur nahi rakh paayi iss baat ko apne mann mein."

Before Naina could feel the burden of hiding truth from her again, she smiled, "Ab mere mann mein koi gussa, koi naarazgi, koi tension nahi hai. Aur main chahti hun tum bhi apne mann se yeh bojh hata do. Beete hue kal ko bhool ke aane wale kal ke baare mein socho. Tum saari khushiyan deserve karti ho Naina, kisi baat ke liye apne aap ko mat roko. Na tum pehle kasoorvaar thi, na ab galat ho. Ek bura sapna tha... lekin subah hote hi raat ka andhera khatam ho jaata hai, aur jaise jaise roshni badhti hai, sapne ki yaad dhundli pad jaati hai. Ab yeh tumhara sasural nahi, tumhara apna ghar hai. Preeti ko maine hamesha se apni beti maana hai, Deepu ke paida hone se bhi pehle se. Abse unn dono ki tarah tum bhi meri beti ho. Aur hamesha rahogi."

Naina looked at her gratefully, "Jab main Delhi aayi thi, toh office ka mahaul dekh ke mujhe laga tha aisa toh duniya mein kahin nahi ho sakta. Girls ke liye itni acchi soch rakhne wale log maine kahin nahi dekhe the. Lekin dheere dheere samajh aaya ki yeh sirf office mein hi nahi, iss ghar mein bhi hota hai. Mummy, agar fifty percent log bhi aap sabke jaise honge toh shayad kisi ladki ko aisa kuch face nahi karna padega."

Vishakha let out a weary breath, "Yeh kehna toh mushkil hai ki hamari society mein har baat ke liye aurat pe ungli uthana kab band hoga... par main jin charitable aur welfare institutions mein jaati hun, aurton ko confidence dilane ki koshish karti hun, jisse woh apni life better bana saken."

A knock made both of them turn towards the door.

Sameer pushed open the door, "Mummy, Naina ko aapne..." His eyes landed on Naina, and he reached her quickly, "Tum theek ho na?"

She nodded, but before she could say anything, Vishakha spoke up, "Tujhe kya hua? Itna pareshan kyon hai?"

Sameer gave her a harried look, "Meeting ke baad room mein gaya toh Naina wahan nahi thi, Ayush ke room mein bhi nahi, aur nanu se pucha toh unhe bhi kuch nahi pata tha. Main... main darr gaya. Neeche aaya toh Preeti ko dekha. Tab pata chala Naina yahan hai, aapke paas. Mummy, koi kaam tha toh aap mujhe bol deti. Naina ke liye neeche aana... I mean, stairs pe dangerous ho sakta hai."

Preeti cleared his fears as she entered the room, "Main laayi thi Naina ko."

Vishakha got up and came to him, crossing her arms, "Naina sirf teri biwi hai kya? Humein uski fiqr nahi hai?"

"Nahi... mera woh matlab nahi tha." Sameer fumbled, but he was actually a little worried about what his mom would have been talking about to her... since he had also felt some stiffness in her behaviour in last few days.