"Woh... Main puch raha tha ki... Tum mujhse..."
Suhaan was trying to tell. Suddenly Naaz saw Sidharth coming out of the school building.
"Suhaan tum please zaldi bolo. Mujhe abhi ghar jaana hoga." Said Naaz.
"Oo accha. Phir main tumhe kaal baataunga. You can go now." Said Suhaan.
"Kaal main school nahi aaungi. Main Delhi jaa rahi hoon kuch dino ke liye."
"Ohh! Accha tum wapas aao, main phir tumhe baataunga."
"Thik hai. Bye." Said Naaz smiling.
Suhaan also smiled and said, "Bye."
Naaz gave him a quick hug. Before he could hug her back, Naaz broke the hug and went to Suhana.
She hugged Suhana as well and bid her goodbye. Then she went to Sidharth and they both left from there.
Suhaan kept looking at Naaz with a smile on his face.
"Kya kaha Naaz ne?" Asked Suhana excitedly.
"Main puch nahi paaya." Replied Suhaan. "Woh Delhi se wapas aa jaaye, uske baad puchunga."
"Gadhe tujhe abhi puch lena chahiye tha. Ab bekaar mein wait karna padega."
"Arrey do yaa teen din mein wapas aa hi jaayegi. Utna toh wait kar hi sakta hoon."
"Waise accha hai jo humein time mil gaya. We can plan something to propose her." Said Suhana in a teasing way making Suhaan blush.
Next Day...
It was early in the morning. Sidharth and Naaz were leaving for Delhi by road.
Rita Maa was packing Naaz's bag.
"Maine saara saaman pack kar diya hai aur khana bhi. Raaste mein bhukh lage toh khaa lena, bahar ka khaane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aur garam kapde bhi pack kar diye hai. Zyada thand lage toh pehen lena." Said Rita Maa.
"Maa, hum toh kuch hi dino ke liye bahar jaa rahe hai. Aap mera saara saaman kyu pack kar rahi ho?" Asked Naaz being confused.
Rita Maa didn't reply and continued doing her work.
Suddenly she remembered something and went to the kitchen. Then she came back with a container of pickle. She started packing it as well.
"Ab yeh achaar kyu?" Asked Naaz.
"Tujhe toh pasand hai nah mere haath ka achaar?"
"Haan lekin yeh pack karne ki kya zaroorat hai? Yeh toh main wapas akar bhi khaa sakti hoon." She said innocently.
Rita Maa controlled her emotions and said, "Zaroorat hai yaa nahi woh main samjhungi. Tu zyada bak bak mat kar."
Naaz became quiet.
After sometime Sidharth came out of his room getting ready.
"Saara saaman pack ho gaya?" Asked Sidharth.
Rita Maa nodded in yes.
"Humein chalna chahiye."
Before leaving Naaz hugged Rita Maa. That was it. She broke into tears.
"Meri Bacchi. Delhi jaa ke apna khayal rakhna, haan?" She said in a crying voice while kissing her whole face. Sidharth looked at another direction to hide his tears.
Naaz couldn't understand why she was crying.
"Maa aap ro kyu rahe ho? Sidharth hai naa mera khayal rakhne ke liye? Waise bhi hum kuch hi dino mein wapas aa rahe hai. Abhi aap rona band karo."
Saying that Naaz wiped her tears and kissed her cheeks.
"Aur aap time se apna dawai lena. Bhulna mat." Said Naaz being a little strict.
Rita Maa laughed and said, "Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai tu meri Maa hai."
"Woh toh main hoon."
Then they both giggled.
Rita Maa kissed Naaz's forehead for one last time.
Then she bid her goodbye and left home with Sidharth.
"Bhagwan, meri bacchi ko khush rakhna." Prayed Rita Maa.
They got inside the car and Sidharth started driving.
In the way, Naaz was blabbering continuously and asking questions.
"Delhi seher bohut bada hai nah?"
"Waaha ke log kaise hote hai?"
"Hum waaha kaun kaunsi jaga ghumenge?"
"Delhi ka khana tasty toh hota hai nah?"
But this time Sidharth didn't ask her to stop. He was loving and enjoying it. Her sweet voice, silly talks all had become his addiction. His day doesn't start until he sees her cute face. From waking her up in the morning to making her sleep at night everything had become a part of his life. If she goes, what will happen to him? From now whose shoe laces will he tie? Whom will he feed with his hands? Who will tell him funny stories whenever he will get upset? Who will disturb him showing tantrums? How will he be able to live without her?
Tears filled Sidharth's eyes. He looked at Naaz who was busy playing with her dress. He never expected that the girl whom he once saved from getting married to an old man, would become so important to him. And sending her away from himself would be so difficult for him. As now she was not only his responsibility, she had become his smile, his peace, his heartbeat.
Aashiyana mera saath tere hai na
Dhundte teri gali mujhko ghar mila
Aabodaana mera haath tere hai na
Dhundte tera khuda mujhko rab mila
"Sidharth! Bhukh lagi hai." Said Naaz after sometime.
Sidharth stopped his car and took out the packed food.
He was giving it to Naaz when she said making puppy eyes, "Aap khila do na please."
Sidharth chuckled and kissed her cheeks making Naaz smiled cutely showing her bunny teeth.
Sidharth started feeding her with very much care.
Tu jo mila lo ho gaya main kaabil
Tu jo mila toh ho gaya sab haasil
Mushkil sahi aasan hui manzil
Kyunki tu.. dhadkan mai dil..
After sometime they stopped near a Mandir as Rita Maa told him to give Puja in Naaz's name.
Sidharth gave Puja. They both prayed in front of Lord Shiva.
"Main jo kuch bhi kar raha hoon, sirf apni Naaz ke liye kar raha hoon. Ab se main toh uske saath nahi reh paunga. Aap humesha uski raksha karna." Prayed Sidharth.
After their prayer was done, Sidharth asked Naaz, "Kya manga tumne Shiv Ji se?"
"Main toh unn se ek hi chiz maangti hoon. Ki main humesha aap ke saath reh saku." Said Naaz.
Sidharth smiled sadly.
"Tum ne ek chiz manga, lekin woh bhi pura nahi ho sakta. Ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar dena." Said Sidharth in his mind.
They again went inside the car and Sidharth started driving while thinking about the moments they spent together.
Ruth jaana tera, maan jaana mera
Dhoondh te teri hasi
Mil gayi meri khushi
Raah hoon mein teri
Rooh hai tu meri
Dhoondh te tere nishaan
Mil gayi khudi
Soon they reached Delhi. In the way Sidharth bought Naaz everything she asked for as he didn't want to say no. This was last time he was doing this. He wouldn't be able to see her for many years. He bought her Barbie dolls, teddy bear and some hairclips. Naaz was very happy getting all these. But she didn't know that soon she would get the biggest shock of her life.
They soon entered the school. Sidharth came out of the car and helped Naaz to come out. He started walking holding her hand. His heart ached thinking that it was the time to say goodbye.
Tu jo mila lo ho gaya main kaabil
Tu jo mila toh ho gaya sab haasil ha…
Mushjil sahi aasaan hui manzil
Kyunki tu.. dhadkan main dil…
Oh Oo..
"Hum yaaha kyu aaye hai?" Asked Naaz looking at the school.
Sidharth suddenly left her hands.
"Yeh tumhara naya school hai. Aur aaj se tum yaheen rahogi." Said Sidharth controlling his tears.
"Matlab?" Asked Naaz. She couldn't understand what he said.
"Yeh boarding school hai Naaz. Tumhe yaaha rehke hi padhna hoga. Main bas tumhe yaaha chhor ne aaya tha."
Naaz was shocked hearing that.
"Matlab aap mujhe apne saath ghar wapas nahi le ke jaayenge?" She asked.
Sidharth ignored the question and called a care taker. He told him to show Naaz her room.
Then he looked at Naaz and said, "Acche se padhai karna."
He was about to leave but Naaz grabbed his hand.
"Kaha jaa rahe hai aap? Mujhe nahi rehna yaaha. Mujhe ghar jaana hai." She said.
"Naaz yeh possible nahi hai." Said Sidharth without looking at her.
Naaz started crying.
"Please Sidharth! Main aap ke aur Maa ke bina nahi reh paaungi. Agar mujhse koi galti hui hai toh mujhe daantiye yaa maar li jiye. Lekin akela chhor ke mat jaiye." She said while crying.
"Tum samajhti kyu nahi Naaz? Tum nahi reh sakti mere saath." He said loudly.
"Kyu nahi reh sakti?... Sidharth main aap ko promise karti hoon, main aage se koi badmaashi nahi karungi, aap ki har baat maanungi, subah zaldi uth jaungi, khana bhi khud khaa lungi, apne shoe laces khud badhungi aur time se apna homework bhi kar lungi. Aap please mujhe apne saath le chalo."
Sidharth couldn't control anymore. He bent down and cupped her face.
"Aise mat bolo. Tumne kuch galat nahi kiya hai. Meri kuch majboori hai jis wajah se main tumhe apne saath nahi rakh sakta. Tumhe kuch dino ke liye yaheen rehna hoga. Promise karo tum ek good girl banke rahogi and acche se padhai karogi. Har exams mein top karogi. Promise karo?" He said.
Tears rolled down both of their eyes.
"Promise." She said. "Lekin aap bhi promise karo, aap mujhe yaaha se lene zaldi aaoge."
"Promise." He said and gave a long kiss on her forehead.
Then he started leaving. Naaz kept looking at him with teary eyes.
"Main apna promise sayad nahi nibha paunga. Lekin ek promise aaj main khud se karta hoon. Main humesha tumhara Pati rahunga. Wait karunga tumhare bade hone ka. Uske baad hum dono humesha saath rahenge, thik jaisa tumne pray kiya tha." Said Sidharth in his mind.
He left from there with a heavy heart.
Tu jo mila lo ho gaya main qaabil
Tu jo mila toh ho gaya sab haasil ha…
Tu jo mila aasaan hui mushkil
Kyunki tu.. dhadkan main dil...
______________________________________
Later that night...
Sidharth was having dinner with his mother. He was just playing with the food and he was not feeling like eating.
Rita Maa noticed it and asked, "Naaz ki yaad aa rahi hai? Paata nahi usne kuch khaya bhi yaa nahi?"
Sidharth suddenly stood up and left from there without eating.
He went to his room. The room was filled with their memories. He tried to sleep but couldn't as she was not beside him.
So he went near the window and stared at the moon.
On the other hand, Naaz was also looking at the moon.
The moon was reminding them of each other.
Flashback...
One night, Sidharth and Naaz was watching the moon.
"Naaz, tumhe moon pe kuch dikh raha hai?" Asked Sidharth suddenly.
"Nahi toh." Replied Naaz.
"Dhyan se dekho waha pe..." Sidharth pointed his finger towards the moon. "Do aankhein, ek naak aur ek kiss karta hua muh. Kitna cute hai nah?"
Naaz narrowed her eyes.
"Par mujhe toh kuch aur hi dikh raha hai." She said.
"Kya dikh raha hai?"
"Mujhe toh ek daravna sa chehra dikh raha hai. Gussa karta hua."
"Aankhein kharab hogayi hai tumhari. Mujhe toh ek cute chehra dikh raha hai."
"Haaye sacchi! Daravna chehra hai. Aur aisa lag raha hai main yeh chehra roz dekhti hoon."
Sidharth glared her.
"Arrey moon pe bhi aisa hi chehra dikh raha hai." She said excitedly looking at his face.
Then they both started giggling.
Flashback ends...
Naaz wiped her tears.
"Please mujhe zaldi lene aa jaana Sidharth." She said in her mind.
Days passed very fast. In these days Rita Maa used to call and check on her. But Sidharth never talked with her. Whenever Naaz asked about Sidharth, Rita Maa made some excuse.
Soon summer vacation came. Everyone's parents came to meet their children. But none came to meet Naaz. She felt like crying.
"Aap ne apna promise tod diya Sidharth. Aap nahi aaye mujhe lene. Aap bhi mere Mama Mami ki tarah hai. Unki tarah aap ne bhi mujhe apne ghar se nikal diya. Aap bhi mujhse pyaar nahi karte. Koi mujhse pyaar nahi karta." She said in her mind while crying.
______________________________________
Next part mein leap aayega.
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