Monday 23 December 2013

Whispers of Spring......Chapter 16



Chapter 16



Raj felt Naina make a choking sound and withdraw. He tightened his hold a fraction to prevent her from moving away, and absorbed within him the tremor that coursed her body. As he drew her inexorably closer to him, Naina froze, sucked in a maelstrom of fear, abject agony, and sheer hopelessness along with a yearning so profound and powerful that she thought she would happily drown in it. Raj loved her…Raj loved her….the words resonated in her mind. Her heart rejoiced…and danced…and then a shudder rippled through her as the reality pierced through, causing her to stumble back. It couldn’t be. It could never be. What was she doing?

Naina found her hands gripped in Raj’s as she looked at him in misery and confusion, “Raj, please…don’t joke about this.”

“I am not joking, Naina,” his deep voice was as honest as his eyes were, “I love y…”

“NO! You don’t. Don’t say it. You just…you just are so mistaken.” In desperation, she tried to brush it off, her eyes pools of grief, “Raj, I am your friend…the only friend here. Obviously you are fond of me. But don’t misjudge those feelings as something else. You…”

Raj clasped her shoulders and halted her rant, bidding her to look at him, “Naina, stop. I know what I am saying, and how I feel about you. I love you…in every manner a man can love a woman. When I came to Palampur, I had no idea I could ever trust a woman, leave alone love her…but you entered my heart and my life so fast that before I realized you had become a part of my soul.” There was a calmness about him that belied the turbulence that was raging inside Naina.

“Please Raj. Be rational. You don’t know all about me.” She was pleading now.

“Then tell me Naina. Trust me with yourself. I don’t know how you need me to help you, but I want you to know that I am not going anywhere. I am not asking you to love me back sweetheart. I will wait as long as it takes.” He stepped closer as Naina stood numb and said gently, “Don’t you get it?”
“What?” She whispered.

He cradled her beautiful face in his hands and rested his forehead against hers, “Making you happy, seeing you smile, and keeping you safe has become a matter of self-preservation. I don’t want anything else...at least not right now. You are stuck with me, my love. I am not letting you go…ever.”

“Why me Raj? I am not good enough for you. How do you know you are right?”

“Shhssh!! Sometimes when something feels right, you just know. And I knew that night when we met that I was a goner. It’s as if my life began anew in that very moment. There’s not a moment in the day when you are not in my mind.”

“But Raj…I don’t love you. I can never love you.” Lying through her teeth, she moved to the window, praying for something…anything…that would make him change his mind. He was an honorable man, heir to a legacy that was looked upon with admiration and respect. People held his family in high esteem. Ranima was revered and adored by everyone here. Naina looked at her hands, as if looking for some hidden smears. Her tainted self could only bring disgrace to them.

“That’s because you are scared Naina. You are scared to move on.” She was brought back from her self-castigation by his soft voice. She turned as he neared, the limp hardly visible, yet there. She stared at him and then turned her back again. “Dear God, forgive me for this?” She fisted her hands tightly in a bid to gain strength for what she was going to do.

Taking a deep breath, Naina turned and looked at Raj with a cold resolve, “No Raj. I am not scared of love. But I do have my dream of a man….a physically perfect man. You see, the man I married had a physical imperfection. After him, I promised myself that I will never get involved with…with a di..disabled man. Sorry Raj. It’s not personal. You are my friend and very dear to me. I respect you, but I cannot bring myself to love you the way you want me to…I just cannot.”

“Hmm! So you cannot love me because I am a cripple and not a whole man.” Naina flinched visibly when he put it so bluntly

“Yes.” She lowered her head and whispered, her eyes shut tight in shame and pain. At that moment she hated herself to the core. She had targeted him where it hurt the most, and by doing that she had surely killed all that connected them.

Lost in her melancholy, Naina felt his fingers cup her chin and lift her face, “Look at me Naina.”
She shook her head and tried to pull away.
“Naina!”

Fearfully, she opened her eyes, bracing herself to look into his accusing and wounded eyes. Her eyes widened a little when she saw his eyes twinkle with amusement and love, “Raj?”

“Nice try, my love. But you don’t fool me…not one bit. You might keep a part of your past from me and a few others might know more about what happened all those years back. But I wager that I know you better than you know yourself…heart and soul. I know you inside out Naina. I have told you I am letting myself in, even if you won’t let me. So quit trying to push me away. Shall I tell you a secret of yours?”

“What secret?” In spite of herself she couldn’t resist asking. She was completely taken aback by his nonchalance. Anybody else would have taken offence at her cruel words. She didn’t know whether to kiss him or shake him for his foolish tenacity for trusting her so much.
“Oh, just that you love me too.” He smiled and moved to the door.

“No, I don’t.”

“Yeah…yeah. Keep denying to yourself if you have to, but I see the truth in your eyes. Plus there is the other matter as well.” He paused with his hand on the door.

“What matter?” Now she was parroting his words.

He leaned against the door and kept a hand on his chest, “The fact that it’s not possible that I feel such deep love and you don’t feel the same…It’s just not possible.”
Naina staggered, her breathing fast and shallow. He had voiced her exact thoughts. It’s as if she saw her soul accusing her from his eyes. Oh dear God! She was in trouble…deep trouble.
****************************************

Raj straightened up to leave, because if he didn’t, he would go across, grab her in his arms, and kiss her till she gives in to her heart. His stubborn Naina…fighter to the last. For some strong reason, she was fighting this…and he will find out why.

“Raj?” Her voice quivered with apprehension, stopping him.
“Yes Naina?”
“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have…. I mean I didn’t…”
“Forget it Naina. I know you didn’t mean to. I also know how much it must have pained you to say something like that.”
“Are we still friends?” She voiced her misgiving, something so forlorn and naked reflecting in her eyes that he wanted to hold her and hide her within himself. But he needed to restrain. Naina was not ready yet.

He took a couple of steps and stopped, “Of course, we are! Look Naina. I didn’t mean to rattle you with disclosure of my feelings. It just happened. You are my forever…it’s that simple. There’s nothing that I won’t do for you. Having said that, I assure you that nothing will affect what we already share. OK?”

She nodded, “Thank you. That means a lot to me Raj. I don’t want to lose my friend.”

“You won’t. I promise.” He smiled gravely, “Naina, we both have scars from our past. The only difference is I bear them on my body and yours are etched on your heart. You taught me not to be ashamed of my disfigurement. Now I ask you not to be ashamed of yours. Neither of us is perfect my love, but together we are exactly that….perfect. Have faith. Believe in my love. I am not going anywhere.”

Raj inched closer. His hand lifted to caress her face, his fingers lovingly stroking her brows down to her flushed cheeks over her slightly parted lips, along her delicate jaw line to her nape. Naina closed her eyes and savored his touch, a part of the coldness in her heart diminishing like winter snow in spring thaw. Her eyes flew open when he withdrew his hand and stepped back. A deep sense of loss engulfed her.
Raj didn’t take his eyes of hers. His chest tightened as he saw her soulful eyes staring at him swirled with pain and sorrow, the stress of repressed emotions clearly visible. “Naina, you need to rest awhile. I’ll be down in the living room working on my laptop and making some calls. We’ll talk about Adi’s and your security after you have napped. I’ll take you to the mahal later. Nanisa wanted you to take out some silverware from the store for the party. She says you know about them as you had packed them after they were used the last time. Pack an overnight bag for Adi and beeji also. I’ll feel better if you all stay the night there.”

“OK.” She murmured, and then, “Raj!”
“Yes Naina.”
“You won’t leave without me.”
“Never.”

Raj checked on her after twenty minutes to see her fast asleep clutching her family’s picture. He knelt beside her bed and whispered, “You will soon have a family of your own Naina. I promise. The four of us will make new memories.”
**************************************

In the next few days Raj increased the security around beeji’s house and in the school as well. He assigned a car with a driver and bodyguard for Adi to commute to school. He had wanted all three of them to shift to the mahal indefinitely, but Naina refused. “I am not going to be driven out of my home once again Raj. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. As long as we keep Adi’s identity from them, we are fine. They cannot do anything to me here, away from their fiefdom.”

On Saturday morning Raj waited for Naina in the library. She was due to arrive to oversee the final décor for the party that night after her appointment with Dr. Sujata Sinha, the psychiatrist with whom Naina had already had a few sessions. She had refused to divulge anything about the sessions to anyone, not even beeji, and they respected her privacy on the matter. Raj was worried and edgy, but he had to let Naina know about Manmeet. He had asked his friends in the Intelligence to make inquiries regarding her husband and in-laws. Early morning there was a call that Manmeet had taken a flight to Delhi last night. They were still trying to find out where he went after he landed. Raj had called up the Palampur police and told them to be on alert. They had promised they would look into all the buses, taxis, and private cars that entered Palampur. He had mailed them Manmeet’s picture that he had taken from Naina’s phone.

He got up to move outside to check the lawn arrangements when his phone rang. It was Adi.
“Uncle!”
“Adi, hasn’t mumma come to pick you up yet from the academy?”
“She will come at 11. I called her. But her phone is switched off.” Raj looked at his watch. Ten minutes to go. He heard a shuffle over the phone and then a soft “ouch.”
“Adi! What happened? You OK?”
“I am fine. Just got scratched by a thorn,” Adi was whispering now, “Uncle, that man is here again. He is peeping through the gates.”
“Where are you?
“Behind the bush next to the gate.”
“Where is the watchman?”
“I saw him go to the canteen, probably for tea. Uncle, I am sure the man is waiting for mumma. Should I throw a stone at him?”
“No Adi. Don’t do anything. You did right by calling me. Now go inside. Pronto. I am on my way. I’ll reach before mumma does. Don’t worry.”

Raj was already pulling out of the driveway as he made a call to the police station. Next he tried Naina. But her phone was still switched off. Obviously she hadn’t remembered to switch it on after her session.

Raj took the turn toward the academy and saw Naina get down from her jeep. And then he saw a tall, hefty man with the body of a wrestler cross over the road toward her. Raj stepped on the accelerator in a bid to cover the last couple of hundred meters as fast as possible. He parked the car and jumped out with a run, as he saw the man say a few words to Naina before reaching for her arm.

“STOP! Don’t you dare touch her.” Raj shouted.

The man looked surprised and then he smirked as he looked who it was. He looked at Naina with a sneer, “Look who is here. Your cripple lover trying to play the hero and coming to save the damsel in distress.”

Naina stared right back and scoffed, “You got the Hero part right. I suggest you make a run for it.”

“You have quite an acid tongue for a woman. Thakur sahib will enjoy cutting it off when you come back to the village.”

“I told you not to touch her.” Raj had reached and was looking pointedly at where the man had gripped Naina.
“Why? What will you do? Break my hand.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“Big words mister. Let’s see what a langda can do.” He left Naina and pushed Raj with both hands. Raj took a step back. Before Naina could shout “Raj” she saw a whirl of lightening moves and the man was down on his back, holding his wrist and moaning, with Raj’s prosthetic foot pressed on the crook of his neck.
As the man squirmed below holding his broken wrist, Raj said calmly, “Stay still. It’s for your good health. You stand to lose your voice if you move even a little.” The police siren sounded as Raj looked at 
Naina, who was leaning against her jeep for support, “You OK Naina?”

Naina felt a wave of emotions sweep over her as she saw Raj’s angry eyes turn to concern and love the instant he looked at her. She hadn’t felt so protected in a long time. She nodded with a tremulous half smile.

The police reached them the next moment and took over, requesting Raj and Naina to come to the station later to lodge a formal complaint. As he was being handcuffed, the man turned to Naina, “You did not heed my warning. Now be prepared for the consequences.”
*********************************

As the police dragged the man away, Raj took Naina in his arms, rubbing her tensed back. Slowly, her arms circled his waist and held him. After a long silence when they let their heartbeats comfort each other, she mumbled against his chest, “Thank you.”

Raj spoke against her hair, “I would have never forgiven myself if….”

Naina’s arms tightened instinctively as she interjected to alleviate his tension, “I am fine Raj. The man was all words…empty words. They don’t scare me.” She raised her head and leaned back, “I have an idea.”
Raj released her but kept a hand on the small of her back as they walked toward the gate of the cricket academy, “What idea?”

“I think I should go to the village and confront them…have a closure you know.”
“NO! Absolutely not.” Raj stopped midstride and turned, “Promise me you won’t do any such thing Naina.”
“But Raj, I cannot live in a limbo like this. I realize I’ll have to take precautions. In fact I can approach the law and get a restraining order or something.”
“Naina…No. For once, don’t argue. Apart from roadside harassment and phone messages, there isn’t enough to apply for a restraining order. Also, what if they trap you there and make it look like an accident? You yourself said how they are the law there. Who will believe you or anyone who accompanies you? No Naina, we can tackle Manmeet better on our turf…here. We will have to wait for him to make a mistake.”
“Manmeet?” Naina clutched Raj’s shirt, “What are you not telling me Raj?”
Raj took her hands and kissed her knuckles, “Naina, I was going to tell you when you got home, but….”
“Tell me what?” She whispered, somehow knowing what he was going to say.
He told her about Manmeet’s recent traveling, and concluded by voicing his apprehension, “Naina, I believe Manmeet is on his way here.”
“Oh my God! Adi! Raj, that man should not get to meet Adi at all.”
Naina jerked her head as she heard a loud “mumma” and saw her son running toward her.
*******************************
*langda = lame; cripple


To be continued……………..

Thursday 12 December 2013

Whispers of Spring.....Chapter 15



Chapter 15



The phone slipped through Naina’s lifeless fingers. Before Raj could gather himself and go to her, she had rushed past him toward the restrooms. He picked up the phone, glanced at it, and followed her inside the restroom, regardless of the decorum. He heard her throwing up and hurried to her, holding her by the arms and rubbing her back. Once she was done, he wet a towel and gently wiped her face. She was cold and shivering and he quietly gathered her into his arms. She clung to him as if her life depended on it. Raj didn’t say anything, silently offering his strength and warmth. They stood there for a long time till Naina calmed down and clarity seeped back. She suddenly realized where she was and lifted her head and then stepped away, immediately feeling the loss of the warmth of his secure arms.

She looked away from him, “Sorry Raj. I…it must have been something I ate. I am sor…”
He lifted her chin, “Never mind that. Are you OK?”
“Yes,” she nodded, “I am fine. Please take me home.”
He put an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him before turning toward the door. She looked up in defiance, “I can walk Raj. I am fine…really.”
“I know you are, but I am not taking any chances.”
“Raj!”
“Naina!”
“Gosh, why are you so stubborn? I am not some delicate China doll. I can take care of myself. I….” Before she continued her tirade, Raj put a finger on her mouth, “Sshh! You talk too much. For your information, if you were any worse, I would have carried you to the car. So just shut up and walk. I am not letting you away from me an inch. So don’t even try.”

He heard her mutter something under her breath. He smiled sadly down at her bent head before heading for the parking lot. Very gently he glided her into the car. Naina did not speak all the way home. There was a blankness in her eyes and rigidity in her posture. That’s when he realized…that the time to push had come. He couldn’t let her go through the pain and fear alone anymore. He knew she was holding back the part of her that was scared of her past…scared that it would somehow harm her present. It was time she felt herself fortified. It was time she felt the security that he was offering. It was time she felt empowered and let him in on her secrets.

Raj patted his trouser pocket and felt her phone. He recalled the picture he had briefly glimpsed…a picture that had triggered off such a violent physical reaction from Naina….a picture of her with a man in their wedding fineries. Clearly, it was a picture of her wedding and the man was her husband. Raj’s mind was playing around with innumerable questions…Who had sent it? And why did it terrorize Naina? Because that’s the condition she was in at the moment: completely terrorized…even though she tried to put up a brave front. Raj was filled with an impotent rage against the people who had scarred her so deeply. He had to know what happened to her, and what had her running so scared. There was no denying that someone was playing mind games with her….testing her strength and psychologically weakening her.
**************************************

In front of the main door Naina rummaged through her purse for the keys, at the same time glancing at Raj, “You may leave now Raj. Thanks for all the help and the ride home.”
“I am not going anywhere.”
She suddenly got angry, “For heaven’s sake Raj, I don’t need a babysitter. I am fine.” Her voice sounded shaky and weird to her own ears. She needed to be alone. Why can’t he understand that? And why the hell were the keys as elusive as a sea nymph when you needed to find them soon in the depth of your purse. So frustrating!

Through her peripheral vision she saw Raj reach for her purse and take out the traitorous keys in a jiffy and open the door.
“Raj!” She protested feebly as he ushered her inside. She stood like a mule inside the door as he turned to close it, “I want you to leave Raj.”
“Not before I make you a sandwich and make some calls.” Nonchalantly he crossed her and walked toward the kitchen.
She stomped her foot in annoyance and mumbled, “Suit yourself. I am going to take a shower.”
That stopped him, “A shower? Now? Why?”
“Because I want to.” She ran upstairs before he could say anything.

Inside the room Naina tore her clothes away from her and rushed inside the bathroom. She turned on the cold shower and stood under it, breathing heavily, trying to cleanse herself and wash the memories away….memories that had surged back like a giant wave the moment she saw that cursed picture. This won’t do. She had to think. She had to plan. She had to leave. She stepped out and toweled herself. Yes, she had to leave. She had to go to them before they came here and wrecked everything. For a moment fear for Adi paralyzed her into immobility. She allowed the fear to consume her so that she remembered exactly how it was, and then she straightened up. She reined in her fears and let them freeze inside her. This was not the time to weaken. She let her body tune into battle mode just as she had all those years back when she had made her escape, blocking out all weaknesses. Changing into a pair of jeans and a T shirt, she opened the bedroom door to find Raj with knuckles on the air. His other hand was holding a tray.

“I waited. You were gone long. You OK?”
Naina sighed. She didn’t deserve him and his concern. He had a life of his own and her messed-up life was messing up his life. She couldn’t allow that.
“Thanks Raj. I am sorry I was rude to you. You really must go. Tanu must be waiting.”
“Everything is under control Naina. Altaf chacha will pick up Adi and beeji and take them to the mahal.”
“Why there?”
“Because we need to talk….and I don’t want any distraction.”
“Talk? About what?”
“Later. You eat first.” He placed the tray on her study table and made her sit on the couch. Disregarding her sulky expression and stubborn stance of shoulders he thrust the plate on her lap.
“Eat.”
“Bully.” She grumbled indignantly before taking a bite of the sandwich.

He chuckled and made himself comfortable beside her. She glared at him and deliberately mumbled to herself. He heard “stubborn…tyrant…nagging” and a few other colorful words about pushy friends. He smiled affectionately. His woman was mad at him, and somehow that calmed him. At least she didn’t have that tormented look on her anymore. It also meant she had done whatever she did when she was scared to overcome her fears. Her anger didn’t bother him at all. It just made his heart ache for tenderness and love for the only woman who when it comes down to it really cared for him other than his grandmother.
His phone beeped and he switched it off. Naina was suddenly reminded of her phone. Her hands became clammy and wet and slowly she kept the plate away. Taking a deep breath she turned to Raj, “We have to go back to the hotel. I left my phone there.”
“I got it Naina. I picked it up.”
“Oh! May I have it please?” She stretched a hand, suddenly sounding distant and aloof, “Can we have the talk later? I have to do a few things, and I am already late.”
Raj took out the phone but didn’t give her….just stared at her. She gave him a cold look, “Raj! Please. I am not in mood for any teasing.”
Instead of giving her the phone, he pocketed it again. Naina’s eyes widened, “Raj, what are you up to?”
“Nothing. You will get the phone after we have had our talk.”

Suddenly Naina knew. He had seen the picture and connected the dot. She crossed her arms against her chest and looked away, “Fine. Keep it. I have nothing to say to you.”
Raj knelt in front of her and reached up to cup her face in his hands and made her face him, “Look at me, Naina. Talk to me. I want to help you. I am not like him. You must know that. I would never hurt you.”
Her eyes turned fearful. She whispered, “What do you mean?”
“He hurt you sweetheart, and even though I have half a mind to fly over to that town and take down the bastard, I want you to trust me and tell me what happened after your parents and sister died in the accident.”
“It was not an accident.” Her lips quivered and warm tears fell on his hands.
*******************************************

“What?” Raj’s hands fell to his sides, shocked.
“They were murdered.” She shifted as Raj sat next to her and held her hands.
“By whom?” Raj wanted to pull her into his arms and protect her from the pain that exuded from her bleeding heart. But she needed this…she needed to let go…she needed to talk. So he steeled himself for the worst. A deathly calm had settled over Naina after the initial tears, as if she was only voicing a conversation that she had had in her head several times.
“My uncle.” She looked down at their hands and tightened her grip.
“What was his motive?”
“The age-old one. Property. Papa was going to sell the land that was in his name in the village for my college education. Uncle wanted it for himself. Papa refused to give it to him. After papa that land would have come to my mother and us, so uncle wiped off the family.”
“But he spared you.”
“Yes. That’s because my grandfather had willed me a separate piece of land. My uncle needed me alive to sign it over to him. That’s why he took me to the village. He wanted me alive and well till the land was his.”
“Why didn’t you go to the police Naina?”
“That’s because I came to know about the accident being a murder after I was in village.” She looked at him with dull eyes, “You have to understand that I was totally numb and lifeless after papa, ma, and Milli died. I was completely zoned out for weeks together. I hardly have a recollection of my travel to the village.”

She closed her eyes and leant back clutching his hand. He gathered her to himself with his other hand and waited. Raj refused to process his own feelings at that moment. That will come later.

He rested his chin on her head as she pressed her face against his chest, listening to his heart beat against her cheek. She shifted in his arms and soon he heard her flat voice, “One evening I heard loud voices in the living room. I peeped from behind the window. A man was threatening my uncle. He said he had evidence and would tell the authorities if uncle didn’t do as he wished. I couldn’t quite catch what the stranger wanted of my uncle. But after he was gone, my aunt entered the room. That’s when my uncle told her that the stranger held proof that my uncle bribed a man to tamper with papa’s car and then ram into it with a truck. I was so angry that I barged into the room and blasted them and then tried to call the police from the phone there. My uncle stopped me and then he…he beat me till I was unconscious. When I came to, I found myself locked inside my room.”
She paused, breathing fast. Raj hugged her tight and rocked her. He then tried to get up but she held onto him, “Don’t go. Stay with me.”
“I am not going anywhere love. I’ll just get some water for you from the table. OK?”
She drank the water and then tugged at his hand to make him sit down. Raj brushed his fingers over the hair falling across her face, tucking them behind her ear. He pressed his palm on her cheek and said softly, “Naina, we can do this later. Why don’t you rest now? I’ll be right here.”
“No. You were right. We needed to talk about this. If something happens to me, I want you to be there for Adi and beeji and protect them. To do that you have to understand the background.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you. I will not let anything happen to you.”
“It’s not me I am worried about Raj…It’s Adi. He needs protection. And after that picture message, I know I don’t have time. Hear me out please.”
*********************************

Raj nodded and hardened his heart for what he was going to hear next. Naina searched his gaze for signs of pity and anger, but saw only repressed anger. She knew she would have found it hard to go on if he had shown pity, but there was no hint of the emotion. He didn’t yet know the whole story, but whatever had happened he seemed to have trust in her strength to have dealt with it. He just sat there, giving himself. Her eyes welled up with pride and love that she felt for this man. 

She kept her hand over his and brought it down to rest over her heart. She resumed haltingly, “I was locked up for days together. My aunt opened the door once in the day to pass on food and water. The windows were grilled and overlooked a ravine. Then one day, my aunt came in and told me I was to be married that day. The village thakur’s son wanted me as his bride. My wish or choice was never under consideration. Yet I was relieved in a way.”

She looked at Raj and saw the question, “You see I thought I would at last have an access to the outside world. I thought I would ask my husband’s help to get my uncle arrested. At that point only the thought of justice for my family was my sole motivation. But I was wrong…so wrong. I got married and the same night I came to know that my uncle had traded his liberty with mine. My in-laws held the evidence against my uncle. I also came to know that I was my husband’s second wife. The first wife stayed in the same house and was treated like a servant because she turned out to be barren.”
“What did they want from you?”
“A son. They are obsessed with a male heir of their bloodline. Manmeet is their only son. They would face huge property issues with others of the clan if there is no male successor.”
“That’s why you are scared for Adi.”
“Yes.” She whispered, “If they find out he has their blood running in his veins, they will take him away.” 

She stood up then and started pacing, her hands balled by her sides, “There is no chance in hell that I would let those monsters near my son. I will go to them before they come here.”

Raj stood up and halted her agitated stride with a hand on her shoulder, “Calm down Naina, and think rationally. They cannot just take Adi away. You are unnecessarily worrying. The law won’t let them have Adi’s custody. Especially after you tell them how you were physically tortured and how they tried to kill you.”

Naina stared at him, “You don’t understand. The law won’t figure at all. If they come to know that I bore a son, they will just take him. Once they are in their village, no law can touch them. Over there, they are law unto themselves. The family is powerful and highly connected. I cannot fight that.”
“Listen to me Naina,” Raj made her look at him, “You are not a helpless, lone woman fighting against an army. You never were. What you did all those years ago was simply amazing. Best of soldiers fail at what you did…escape from enemy. Whatever they did to you over there, you still had the courage to defy them and escape. That is not the portrayal of a weak soul. You are the strongest person I know.”
“Well I sure am going to need some of that strength now,” she sighed.
“You have it in you, Naina. Don’t give up. Stay. If you leave, that would mean those bastards have won. Why would you do that? Stay and fight. You have people here who love you and care for you and Adi. You have me. Let them come. We’ll face them together.”

Raj pulled Naina in his arms, even as she murmured, “Why Raj? You don’t even know half of it. Why do you want to involve yourself in my mess?”
He kissed her head and said in a thick voice, “Because I love you.” He felt Naina stiffen and then step back.
*******************************

To be continued…………