Kabhi to nazar milao

Saath

Sorry friends, I've not been able to reply to your comments on last few updates... little tied up at the moment... but will get back to each one very soon. Thank you all for your love and motivating words.

Chachaji entered the room to see Bela busy with folding clothes and placing them in the cupboard. He lovingly smiled, thanking God for giving him such a pure and simple person as a life partner. She was always smiling... taking care of the house, worrying about children, listening to her sister-in-law's harsh words, happily accepting the extra work load bhabhiji dumped on her... she never complained. It was all because of her that his house always had a happy atmosphere, where he felt his tiredness and worries vanish in a moment.

He walked to her and held her shoulders, "Ab bas karo Bela, har samay kaam karti rehti ho... kabhi aaram bhi kiya karo."

She gave a bright smile to her husband, "Arre kuch kaam nahi kar rahi... aaj toh shaam se aaram hi kiya hai... khaana bhi aap itne achhe hotel mein khilake laaye."

"Tumhe pasand aaya?" He made her sit on the bed, himself sitting in front of her.

"Bohot pasand aaya, khana bhi aur hotel bhi", she remembered the opulence.

"Aur woh bachhe? Munna ko toh ab jante hi hain... uske dost kaise lage?"

"Kaun, Sameer aur Pandit? Bade hi pyare bachhe hain... Pandit ne toh hansa hansa ke pet dard kar diya... aur woh Sameer, bada samajhdar sa lagta hai... thoda chup rehta hai... par bada shareef ladka laga", she found both boys to be very good.

"Bela, tumhe sach mein Sameer achha laga?" He asked very seriously.

She was suddenly worried, "Aap aise kyon puch rahe hain? Koi baat hai kya?"

He held her hands, "Dekho, meri poori baat sunna... dhyaan se... agar gussa karna ho toh kar lena... par baat khatam hone ke baad... bas ek cheez ka khyaal rakhna... iss baat mein meri marzi shaamil hai."

She nodded, waiting for him to begin.

"Sameer Naina ko pasand karta hai... aur Naina bhi... mujhe kuch din pehle hi Naina ne bataya... main mila tha Sameer se... mujhe bhi woh bohot suljha hua laga... apne nanaji ki badi izzat karta hai... uska bachpan bina kisi ke pyaar aur apnepan ke beeta hai... isliye usse pyaar ki bohot kadr hai... hamari Naina ko jaisa jeevan saathi milna chahiye woh bilkul waisa hi hai... har kadam pe uske saath chalne wala... har faisle mein uski himmat badhane wala... mujhe woh har tarah se Naina ke liye pasand hai... aur main chahta hun ki college khatam hote hi hum unn dono ki shaadi karwa dein." He did not take his eyes off from his wife's face even for a second throughout the monologue.

Usually very expressive, today she sat with a blank face as he narrated the whole story.

"Ab bolo tumhe kya kehna hai", he looked expectantly at her.

"Aapko aisa nahi laga ki Naina ne hamara bharosa toda... hamein dhoka diya?" Her voice was pained.

He took a deep breath, "Bela, hamari beti ne khud aake hamein apne aur Sameer ke rishte ke baare mein bataya... woh chahti toh humse chupa sakti thi... usne hamein bata ke hamara bharosa kayam rakha hai... aur isme dhoke wali kya baar hai... pyaar karna galat nahi hai... woh toh hamara abhiman hai... mujhe uski ankhon mein kuch aisa nahi dika jisse lage ki woh iss baat se sharminda hai... dekho, maa baap ke samne aisi baat karna badi himmat ka kaam hai... aur Sameer kaisa ladka hai yeh toh tum bhi dekh chuki ho... usne bohot dukh saha hai apni zindagi mein... mujhe khud bataya usne ki kaise Naina ne usko unn andhero se bahar nikala jaha uske gharwalo ne phek diya tha."

Her eyes widened, "Woh toh itne bade ghar ka ladka hai, usse kya dukh tha?"

Chachaji went on to tell her all about Sameer's childhood and abandonment... his hostel days... sudden death of nanu... his insecurities...