She was changing the handkerchief on his forehead when suddenly Neil got restless and moved his face side to side in sleep.
Mini: (keeping her hand on his cheek and neck) Bukhaar to itna nahi hai... Achanak kya hua?
Mini was confused about what happened all of a sudden when Neil's face got tensed lines.
Neil: Mini... Mini... Kahan ho tum?.... Mini?...
His fists clenched on the blanket and his body stiffened. His hands started to shiver a bit.
She realised he is having a nightmare maybe. She held his hands and slowly rubbed on the dorsal side of his hands.
Mini: Neil... Neil main yaheen hu... Relax...
Neil still was stiffening his body and his breaths were getting slower with his deepening frown of worry on his forehead. He started sweating also. He inhaled his next heavy breath but it got stuck and he couldn't breath out. Mini got worried and immediately patted on his cheek.
Mini: Neil... Neil main hu tumhare saath... Calm down... Breath out....
Neil: M..Mini... (breathed out slowly)
Mini: (caressing his cheek) Main hu... yaheen hu... tumhare paas hu... I am here with you....
His shivering hands also calmed down. Mini bent closer to his face and dabbed her dupatta on his face and neck, wiping off his sweat. She slid her palm on his face to relax him and saw his frown lightened.
Mini: Yeah like this... calmly.... tumhari Mini hamesha hai tumhare saath Neil...
His stiffened body relaxed too eventually as she ran her fingers through his hair.
Neil slowly opened his eyes and saw Mini's face close to his. He couldn't see anything else than her face because of waking up just now.
Neil: (keeping his hand on her cheek) Mini tum theek ho na?
Mini: (patting on his head) Main bilkul theek hu Neil.... I am perfectly fine.... With you... I am with you.... always.
Neil looked around, realised it was a nightmare and left a deep sigh.
Mini: Phir koi bura sapna dekha tumne?
Neil nodded.
Mini: (to comfort him) Dekho iss baar subah nahi hai... Kuch nahi hoga....
Neil was looking at her, staring blankly. He sat up and his hands were still clutching and loosening his grip on the blanket.
Mini: (keeping her hand on his shoulder) Neil... tum theek ho na?
Neil now lowered down his gaze as his eyes got teary and his breath again stuck but he breathed in slowly.
Mini was noticing his every move and understood there is something which is troubling him and he's still stuck in the nightmare phase.
But then Neil closing his eyes took a deep breath and while opening his eyes again, raised his head to look at her. Just as Mini looked into his teary eyes, he enveloped his arms around her.
Mini: (caressing his back) Relax.... Main hu tumhare saath...
Neil cried out, holding her tighter and Mini was confused seeing him breaking down in tears. He sobbed hard and his breaths fluctuated.
Mini: (swaying her hands on his back) Neil?... Kya hua?... Kuch baat hai?
Neil closed his eyes tightly and took deep breaths to calm himself.
Mini: (worriedly) Neil!... Relax yaar.... Everything is fine....
Neil: Hmm...
Mini tried to part and look at him but he tightened his hold and rested his head on hers, she felt as if he's covering her protectively.
Mini: Kya hua hai Neil.... Kuch bataoge?
Neil: (heavy voice) Thodi der aisehi baithi raho na plz... Bina koi savaal kiye... Bina kuch bole.... thodi der bas...
Mini: Hmm...
She rubbed his back while Neil calmed down himself eventually. Some time later, he sighed and parted.
Neil: (opening his eyes) Thanks.
Mini: Neil... Kya hua hai?... Kya dekha tumne sapne me?..... Kyu dar gaye the itna?
Neil: Don't worry..... Ab theek hu main...
Mini: Khaana kha lo tum pehle warna sar dard ho jayega...
She fed him food herself but saw him lost in thoughts.
Mini: Neil?... Paranthe acche hai?
Neil: Hmm... Acche hai.
Mini kept her hand on his cheek and patted lightly.
Neil: H?
Mini: Kaha khoye hue ho?... Khichdi kha rahe ho aur bol rahe ho paranthe acche hai.... Tell me na.
Neil: Kuch nahi... tumhe to pata hai na I just overthink sometimes... just one of that kind.... I am fine.
Mini: (raising her eyebrows knowing he's lying) Are you sure?
Neil: (uncertainty visible in his eyes) Ha...
Mini: (kept the empty plate aside and held his hands in hers) Dekho Neil... I know I am away from here from some days... but you only say na ki we are together.... no matter how much physical distance is there...
Neil nodded.
Mini: To yeh hamesha yaad rakhna ki I am there for you... always with you... Hmm?
Neil nodded with a small smile.
Mini: (keeping her hand on his cheek) Kuch problem hai to tum mujhse share karo..... at least I will be aware of what's troubling you so much....
Neil: Mini... Shayad bukhaar aa gaya na achanak isiliye itna zyada affected lag raha hu main tumhe.... But I am fine... I really am... Tum chinta mat karo...
Mini: Main tin din baad Jordan ja rahi hu.... Tum khud ka dhyaan nahi rakh rahe ho.... Kuch health issue ho gaya to?.... Raat me so kyu nahi rahe?
Neil: Bas neend nahi aati... Man bechain ho jaata hai kabhi kabhi...
Mini: Main har roz Chutanki se raat me baat kar rahi hu na Neil... Tab tum usko sulaane ke baad mujhse yeh bol sakte the na?
Neil: Main tension nahi dena chahta tha tumhe.
Mini: Ab jaise hi Arya so jayegi... Tum apne room me bed pe let kar mujhe call karoge... Ok?
Neil: Ok.
Mini pecked him on his forehead and made him lie with his head on her lap, pressing his head gently.
Neil wrapped his arms around her waist and slept again.
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They played with Arya and enjoyed the day before Mini left again for Delhi.
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At night,
Neil as advised by Mini, called her after lying on the bed when he felt the same anxiousness not able to sleep.
Mini picked the call up.
Mini: Wait a min ha...
Neil: Hmm...
Mini: (after a min) Ha... Ab theek hai.... Bed pe let gaye?
Neil: Ha.... Kya kar rahi ho?
Mini: Bas ainvaayi... Aasmaan dekh rahi hu...
Neil: Lawn me ho?
Mini: Hmm... Chadar hi bicha rahi thi...
Neil: Kaisa gaya aaj ka din?...
Mini told him about her day and he was humming and chuckling at some instances.
A long talk later, both slept not realising their phone call was still going on.
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Next Morning, Penny saw Mini slept in the lawn with her phone on her ear with her fingers curled around it.
She didn't disturbed her and completing her chores was making breakfast.
Bobby came after getting ready.
Bobby: Mini nahi aayi abhi tak?
Penny: Didi uthi nahi hai.... Lawn me so rahi hai.
Bobby: Lawn me?
Penny nodded.
Bobby went to the lawn and saw her still sleeping. He took out her phone from her hand and saw Neil's call going on. He smiled understanding they call was going on from the whole night and he cut the call, then checked her forehead thinking if she's fine or not as the wind was cool and fast but she was normal, so he went inside not disturbing her.
But winds got very fast and the clouds blowed away eventually, making the sun peep in.
Sunlight fell on Mini's face and her face got a frown. She rubbed her eyes and got up. Yawning a little and stretching her arms she got up.
Realising the time, she was confused why Neil didn't woke her up yet and then called him.
Neil picked the call.
Neil: Hmm....
Mini smiled understanding he's in sleep.
Mini: Neend aa rahi hai?
Neil: Ha...
Knowing it was Arya's holiday today, she didn't wanted to wake him up.
Mini: Have a sound sleep.... Bye.
Neil: Bye.
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Two days later, Mini was leaving the office with Vaishnavi as usual. When in the basement, someone pulled Vaishnavi with a strong jerk behind the wall while Mini was looking in her phone while walking. She turned behind to see Vaishnavi vanished and was confused. She heard some whispers from behind the wall and peeped.
A person had caged Vaishnavi between his arms and the wall and Vaishnavi was shivering and trembling while crying and his hand was on her mouth.
Veer: Hairaani hui mujhe jail ke bahar dekh ke na... haina?