Naina was all chirpy again since that night and it has been just two days since that night they spent making love to eachother. Everything was back to normal and Aditya made assured her that he wouldn't be leaving her again. The next day, when they returned home late, they spent rest of the day with their family. Watching movies, playing games and baking. Amidst all of these, Aditya couldn't stop stealing kisses from his wife. Once they were caught making out in the kitchen by Archana. Naina's face turned to beet and blamed Aditya for putting her in this situation while he stood as if nothing happened.
The following day was Sunday which they spent lazing around and mostly playing with Nia and in the night, the couple slept peacefully. And the next day, Naina woke up to find herself tangled in his arms. It took lot of energy to push him aside and when finally she was out of the bed, she got ready for her running.
On the way, she met one of Aditya's colleagues. Though she didn't wanted to make any conversation, she had no one to save her from him as he was the most chatty person according to her husband and that she had already witnessed it in the new year party.
The party. It brought up all the memories back. The dance. The first possibly kiss. The quiz. The rain. Locked up in the jail. His care. Everything and it made her smile.
"Hey? I am talking to you. Where are you lost?"
The man, whose name she didn't remember but only knew as Aditya's colleague brought back from her thoughts. Frowning, she looked at him and asked.
"What?"
"I asked, why Aditya has been taking so many leaves? Is everything alright?"
Thinking of the weekend they spent together, she coughed.
"You alright?"
"Yeah..... This Saturday, we had somewhere else to go"
"Naina, I am not talking about this Saturday. I am tal- wait! You don't know?"
"Don't know what?"
Understanding that she didn't knew anything about Aditya's leaves, he thought that it would be wise not to let her know at all.
"Oh, nothing. I forgot, he was on tours right? Yeah! So, I will just get going. Bye"
Leaving Naina perplexed, he left. But Naina couldn't stop herself from thinking what he was talking about. Shrugging off the thoughts, Naina ran back to her home.
As soon as she reached home and entered inside, she was welcomed with the same chatters and banters between Nia and elder Sen couple while in-between Aditya joined in too. This was so surreal. Their laughter, brought back her to the reality and she couldn't help but think what happened in the park.
"Hey, you are back!"
Aditya excitedly made his way towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You are late today..... Did an extra lap?"
"Y-yes..."
"Okay, get ready. Today I will drop you off to your office and then I will go to mine"
Aditya said smiling at her, while she just nodded her head.
Nia's exams were already finished and from this day onwards, her summer vacations began.
Naina went to get herself ready for work and when she was finally ready, she saw that Aditya had already finished his breakfast and was waiting for her outside.
She saw him getting his bike ready and neared to him but stopped herself with few feet away from him, when she heard him speaking in phone.
"I have clearly told you not call me"
"But you could have texted"
"Okay, go to city hospital. I will be there soon"
Naina rushed back inside before he could turn around and when he did, he sighed and went back inside to see Naina having breakfast.
"Uh....Naina, actually I cannot drop you today. I need to go to hospital."
"Hospital?" Naina asked, raising her head up to look at him.
"Yes, a-a colleague is admitted there. So, I need to rush"
"So you won't be going to office today?"
"I will go in the noon"
"Okay, don't worry. I will go by myself"
Once Naina was done with the breakfast, she kissed him on his cheek and grabbing her bag and keys, she left for the work while Aditya too left after her.
Naina stopped riding and parked her vehicle aside and she couldn't help but think again and again whatever happened since she met his colleague in the park. She called her boss and requested for leave and she was relieved that she was granted with one.
Deep inside her heart, she felt pathetic to feel the suspicions about Aditya even though she tried to explain herself. She shoved her mobile out from her bag and she searched the address of the city hospital which Aditya was speaking about.
There were many addresses of different branches of same hospital. She thoughts that if Aditya was hiding something, he wouldn't go to ones which are near to their locality or the ones which are nearby his office.
There were five such hospitals and then there was one which was neither near to their locality or his office but it wasn't even too far. So Naina decided to go there. But the problem was that her anxiety of being inside the hospital was still somewhere there and she feared of that.
But then she thought that she would just go there and look out for his bike in the parking lot and just leave. But when she reached, Naina couldn't stop herself from going inside the hospital and managed to reach 1st floor and then 2nd and when she reached 3rd floor, she was almost caught up him. Fortunately, he had his back to her and she hid behind the wall. He heard him speaking with the doctor along with some aged woman.
Just when she thought that she shouldn't have been here and was about to walk away from there, she heard him speaking about the person who was admitted, refering as "she" which stopped her from moving forward.
"Yes, you can visit her now. I have already mentioned this before and even now, I can only say this. Whatever is bothering her, should be sorted out as soon as possible. Or else, the next time she won't be as fortunate enough as this time. Please, take care of her. You already know how critical her condition is."
"Yes, doctor"
As the doctor left from there, Aditya and the woman rushed inside the ICU. Naina tried to focus on her breath and tried to calm down. She felt like running away from that place but also wanted to know what was happening. She knew that the patient's name would be written on the notice board along with the reason for admission. She walked towards the ICU hoping that Aditya wouldn't come out soon.
With each dreading step, she wanted to go away and not doubt him. But then she couldn't stop herself. Like a magnet, she was drawn towards the ICU. Standing in front of the notice board, she stood stunned as read familiar name on the board. She felt like she was going to pass out any moment.
As she felt suffocated, Naina ran away from there with tears in her eyes. She didn't believe what she saw there. Hiding behind the same wall as earlier, Naina controlled herself from breaking down.
"N-o. No. It c-an-'t happen"
Wiping tears off her cheeks, Naina hurried towards the exit. When she was still in 1st floor, she bumped into someone.
"Hey, Naina?"
Hearing her name, Naina turned around to see her colleague Anita who worked in the same school as she used to.
"Anita"
"Hey? What happened? You don't look fine"
"I am fine"
Naina whispered wiping the tears which wouldn't stop rolling down from her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Naina smiled and asked Anita.
"What brought you here?"
"Oh, my father is admitted in the ICU. He had concussion"
"Oh, how is he now?"
"He's conscious as of now. But the doctor said that he needs to be observed and if he's fine by tomorrow morning, he would be shifted to ward"
"Oh, okay. I hope he gets well soon."
Saying, Naina hugged her.
Breaking the hug, Anita asked her the same question as her.
"So what about you?"
Naina couldn't speak anything. How could she say that she was here to spy on her husband?
"I..... Your father is still in ICU right?"
"Yes..."
"Can you do me a favour?"
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And after half an hour, Naina had worn hospital gown and mask over her face. While, Anita helped her to get permission to go inside the ICU as a visitor of her father's relative. As she was walking towards the ICU, she saw Aditya and the woman who was also familiar to her. She felt like her heart would jump out of the rib cage but she managed herself to get inside the ICU and took a deep breath.
Inside the ICU, she felt cold. Naina saw that there were only three patients. One was a child who had multiple fractures, then there was an old man whom she assumed to be Anita's father and then the last one was a woman whom she wished to be not the same person as she thought she was.
The woman was asleep or was unconscious. Naina stepped near her breathing heavily. As was finally standing in front of the sleeping woman, Naina gasped.
The woman looked fragile and one could say that her condition was really critical. She stretching her shivering hand to touch her but stopped herself and clutched her gown instead and tried not to make any sound.
Not able to stand, Naina stormed out of the ICU and ran which caught Aditya's and the woman's attention. But Anita had already stepped in front of her and hugged her. The people who saw this, thought that they were family which was far from the truth.
Anita helped Naina to get her out from the hospital. Once they both were in the parking lot, Naina broke down in front of her while Anita just held her in arms.
"I-i need leave"
"But Naina, the condition you are in it is not safe to go by yourself"
"Thank you Anita, but I can go by myself"
"You know, you can ask me any favours?"
Anita said, nodding her head.
Naina looked at her for a minute and wiping her tears, she spoke.
"Can you help me?"
"Just tell me what is it"
"The man, you saw in the lobby? With an aged woman? Can you tell me as soon as he leaves? I will be just nearby in hotel room"
Anita nodded her head.
"Thank you"
Whispering, Naina left from there leaving Anita with many questions.
As promised, Anita kept an eye on the man who she had no idea who he was and informed Naina that he had left the hospital saying that he would be going to office and return back in the evening.
Soon after fifteen minutes, Naina reached the hospital again and made her way towards the ICU on the third floor. Stopping at the turn, she peeped to see if the old woman was there or not. But she found no one. Closing her eyes, she breathed in relief. But jumped upon feeling a hand on her shoulder.
Opening her eyes, she stood appalled as the woman she was looking for just now was standing right in front of her.
"I knew that you were going to find out. But, this soon? I am surprised at your intelligence"
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Naina returned home as usual at the same time she arrives, at 6:30. Before getting inside her home, Naina took time to forget what happened today and bringing the smile which she always carried on her face, stepped inside.
She was welcomed with an aroma of coffee and fritters.
"Mumma!"
Nia came running towards her and hugged her hips.
"My baby? What did you do today?"
"Mumma, I, dadi and dadu......"
Nia went on with her never ending story while Naina was lost in her own thoughts to which Nia was unaware.
In between, she checked the time. It was already seven and Aditya hadn't arrived yet. Even though she knew that he was going to be late and where exactly he would be, Naina called him.
After the third ring, he picked up and spoke.
"Hello"
"Adi, when are you going be home?"
"I will be late today. I came back to check up on my colleague"
"How is he now?"
"He's in ICU. Under observation. Will get to know tomorrow about his recovery."
"Okay, come soon"
Saying, she hung up the call.
Around nine, when they were having dinner, they heard the door bell ringing.
"I will get that"
Saying, Naina made her way to open the door and when she did, she found her husband standing in front of her all worn out.
She took his bag and let him inside. Aditya tried to smile but he failed miserably but Naina smiled back at him as usually as if she had no idea of his whereabouts.
"Freshen up, I will be waiting for you"
Nodding his head, Aditya made his way inside their room while Naina took the lunch box out of the bag and placed it in the basin and the bag on the table in the hall. Then she went back to eating.
Nia and elder Sen couple had finished eating while Naina waited for Aditya to have dinner with her.
After few minutes, Aditya was out dressed in fresh clothes and sat next to Naina.
"How's your friend now?"
Naina asked while serving him to which he looked at the plate and answered.
"He's still the same as I told you earlier"
And looked at her to which she nodded her head and placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered.
"He'll be alright soon. Hmmm"
"Hmmm"
After the silent dinner, everyone retreated back to their rooms. Inside the room, Naina changed herself into her comfort night dress which was nothing else but his shirt.
Switching off the lights, Naina laid beside him by placing her head on his chest and caressed his chest softly.
"Adi?"
"Mmm?"
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"No, I just don't feel like it is. Few days back whatever happened and then all of a sudden it is back to normal.
It just scares me"
Aditya ran his hand over her head and whispered.
"You don't have to worry about anything, Naina.
You know that I wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt you, don't you?"
"I know and I trust you, Adi"
"Then trust me. Trust me when I say that I wouldn't want you to get hurt in any way."
Nodding her head, Naina whispered.
"I love you, Adi"
"I love you"
Soon, both drifted off to sleep.
_________
Heya guys!
I hope you all are safe at home. Please, do not go out unless it is really important to go. Your lives are in your own hands now.
Take care of yourself and your family.
Please, do check out my new story "Yeh Kaisa Rishta Hai....?" On my profile. I hope you will like it as much as you liked this one.
Thank you
Stay safe :)
Dated - 25 April 2021
Edited - 20 June 2021