TISHNAGI

CHAPTER 3: NAINA

I was tired of walking so much. We had been trekking for like 2 hours now and my legs were sore. "Oh c'mon Naina, We are young adults, we have the stamina that most of the older people want in their age." Mahir ji Tried to hype me up.

"Yeah but let me tell you, you married an old woman in her 20's" I remarked sarcastically.

"Is that so? Then I guess it would be easier for me to spend the rest of my life with an oldie."

"What? So you agree that I am getting old?"

"No no, I meant that we would get old together."

As I was about to speak I felt my ankle twist and suddenly I was on the ground rolling down the hill.

I felt weightless for a second and my hand automatically fisted a branch. I was hanging.

I WAS HANGING ON A FREAKING BRANCH!

I looked down to see nothing. No no no I was in the air, holding for my dear life.

"Naina! Naina!!" I heard his voice. A wave of comfort circulated through my system.

"I am here Mahir ji."

I heard footsteps and saw his face.

"Are you fine?!!"

"I am fine Mahir ji, just trying to grow a bit taller by hanging on this branch....ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ASKING ME THIS QUESTION RIGHT NOW WHEN I AM ABOUT TO PISS MY FUCKING PANTS MAHIR JI. GO AND GET SOMEONE TO HELP!!" Was this man stupid?

"I-I am sorry, wait wait hold onto my hand."

"NO! Don't even try to put your life at risk Mahir ji! It's dangerous!!"

"Are you MAD Naina!!"

I saw him pushing his hand forward to which I tried reaching his hand. As our fingers met he quickly grasped onto them. As he was pulling me, the branch cracked and both of us fell down. I felt a pull on my waist as I opened my eyes again to see his face.

Now he was holding the branch from one hand and me from the other one.

"Well now guess what, I would get taller too!" He exclaimed.

"You find this funny?"

"Yes."

"WHO TOLD YOU TO HELP ME, WHEN I CLEARLY STATED TO GET OUT OF THIS TROUBLE!" I was mad. Now we were going to die.

He pulled me from his hand to keep me in place. How could this man hold onto so much weight?

"I have said this multiple times and I am saying this again Naina."

"Jiss din se tum meri patni bani ho uss wakt se ye mera kartwaya ban gaya hai ki main tumahri surkasha karoon. Toh yeh janam kya, aane wale har janam main..main tumhe bachaoonga, aur agar tumahre liye marna bhi pade toh ek baar nahin hazar baar maroonga Naina."

(From the day we had married, It had become my duty to protect you. So not only in this life, I would protect you in every life and if it came with a possiblity of  sacrificing myself for you, I had die a thousand times for you Naina.)

I held onto him as the branch broke. He held my waist tightly bringing me closer to his embrace.

"In every life Naina. I would love you in every life."

-
I got up gasping for some air. The room was pitch black which didn't help me at all.
I grasped the phone from the side table and looked at the time.