One more week passed. Tarika is happy 'cause Abhijeet is going to be shifted in his home soon. When? She didn't know. But it's soon. The gang was almost caught. Abhijeet was better. Tarika talked to him twice after that. But Abhijeet used to just listen to her, although he's able to talk.

"Tarika."

"Yes sir."

"Beta... wo tumse ek bat karrni thi." said Sakunke.

"Haan sir kahiye na."

"wo.. tumhe kuch dino ke liye Delhi jana parega. I know iswaqt..."

"Sir.. mai samajh sakti hu. Duty first sir." Tarika smiled.

"Abhijeet ke yaha ane se pegle hi wapas a jaogi tum. Bus 3-4 din ki bat hai."

"Okay sir..."

"Tarika.."

"Sir I am fine. Abhijeet bhi thik hai na ab."

"Tumne use ketne mahino se nahi dekha... or isbar jo hua uske baad..."

"Sir please... don't make me weak." Tarika tried hard not to cry.

Sakunke touched her head, " take care."

Tarika nodded and Salunke left

She went to Daya.

"Daya, ek bar Abhijeet se bat karwa doge?"

"Iswaqt?"

Tarika nodded.

"Kya hua? sab thik hai na. Wait kar lo.. kuchi din mei Abhijeet wapas a raha hai. Tumse bat karne ke bat wo bohot upset ho jatta hai.. uska BP fall karne lagta hai."

"I know... par... mai kal subha delhi ja rahi hu. Use bye bol du bas."

"Delhi! Oh acha... muje laga tum mana kar dogi."

"Nahi. Duty first na."

Daya nodded and gave her his cell phone.

"Abhijeet isn't expecting any calls."

"Phone uske pass hai?"

"Haan.. ab uske pass hi rehta hai."

"Thanks."

Tarika moved to a corner and dialed Abhiheet's secret number.

"Hello Daya." said Abhijeet.

Tarika closed her eyes in satisfaction hearing his voice.

"Tarika.." he whispered.

She opened her eyes with a jerk.

"Tumhari sanse bhi pehchanta hu."

Tarika didn't reply.

"Kuch bol nahi rahi hoo."

"Ketne din bad pure pure line bol rahe ho. Aj tum bolo.. mai sunti hu."

"A raha hu wapas... tab sunna or sunana bhi. When i reach Mumbai, the first thing i want to see is, your face. Ab or nahi raha jata Tarika tumhe dekhe bina "

"Mai bhi..." She cried.

Abhijeet listened her crying.

"Sorry.. wo bus mai.." said Tarika.

"Rote huyehi sahi bas tunhari awaz sunna hai. Tarika, I want you to be with me atleast for 24 hours when i reach home. Mere samne. Ek pal bhi kam nnahi."

"Abhi..." Tarika cried, "Mai... mujhe..."

"Kya hua? Tum thik ho na?"

"Hann.. woo.."

"Phir.. promise karo ki tum mere saath rahogi... promise."

"Abhijeet... mai..."

"Tarika.."

"I am sorry..."

Tarika cut the call and turned to face Daya. She handed the phone to Daya and left running.

Daya called Tarika..but she was gone. Daya's phone started ringing. It was Abhijeet.

Abhijeet: Tarika..

Daya: main Daya..

Abhijeet: Tarika ne aise phone kyon kat kiya...usko phone do jara..

Daya: wo chali gayi..

Abhi panicked. Abhi: Tarika thik toh hai na? Wo aise kaise..Daya plz tu use jaake dekh..

Daya:

Daya: Abhijeet relax. Tum itna hyper mat ho jayo..

Kuch nahi huya hai Tarika ko..wo baas upset hai!

Abhi: ha pata hai..mere wajah se!

Daya: nahi Abhijeet..baat kuch aur hai..

Abhi: kya huya Daya?

Daya: Abhi wo..Tarika ko kal subha *Delhi* jana parega conference k liye..

Abhi understood at once what has happened to her. Abhi felt sad too. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to control his overwhelming emotions. Daya felt him silent.

Daya: Abhijeet!

Abhi: haan..haan Daya..

Daya: wo wapas ajayegi kuch hi din mein..tum plz stress mat lo..tumhari tabiyat bigar jayegi..

Abhi: hmm...rakhta hoon phir..

Daya: take care..

The phone got cut. Daya went towards lab. She found Tarika crying silently alone as Dr. Salunkhe was out for some work.

Daya: Tarika..

Tarika looked up.

Daya: Tarika tumhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha..Abhijeet bohot pareshaan ho gaya tha..

Tarika mumbled: i'm..sorry Daya!

She asked him: Abhijeet thik hai?

Daya: haan..maine bata diya use..wo thik hai..

Per tum nahi ho..

Tarika: i'm fine too Daya. Don't worry.

Daya: baas 3-4 din ka hi baat hai..phir toh tum wapas ajayogi..

(teasing tone) Phir meri chutti bhai..tum khud apna Abhijeet ko sambhal lena...

Tarika blushed slightly and wiped her tears.

Daya: now fine..

One week later, Abhijeet' s home:

Abhijeet woke up earlier than usual. As soon as he woke up, he turned his head towards the calendar hanging on the wall adjacent to him.

It had become his habit ever since he had been brought to his house... to look at the calendar... To count days... To silently wait for her... To involuntarily look towards the door... Hoping to see her even though he knew that she couldn't be there...

He smiled

Finally the wait was over... She would be here today.

He supported himself with his elbows and propped himself up against the pillows.

"Abhijeet ! Lete raho... Kya Kar rahe ho," Daya came rushing to his aid and made him lie down, "mein doh minute ke liye Gaya Nahi ki tum - "

"Nahi Yaar Daya... Aaj wo aane waali hai."

"Haan jaanta hu... Roz calendar ki taraf tum aise hi Nahi dekhte," Daya smirked.

Abhijeet tried to sit up again. He winced.

His elbows gave in to the sudden pressure and he fell back into his bed with a thud.

"Kya Kar rahe ho boss!" Daya was annoyed now.

Abhijeet closed his eyes.

Damn, he couldn't even sit up by himself.

He wished he could... To make her feel a little better...

He wouldn't mind bearing twice the pain if only his elbows would support him... If only he could sit up in front of her and say:

"Look ! I'm fine!"

"Kuch bologe?" Daya demanded.

Abhijeet opened his eyes.

"Nahi...kuch Nahi yaar... Wo bus"

"Sab samajhta Hu mein ! Tarika ke saamne baith Kar dikhana hai tumhe... Par ye mat bhulo Abhijeet ki wo ek doctor hai. Wo already tumhare reports mangwakar padh chuki hai...Roz subah subah meri neend kharab karke tumhare fresh reports WhatsApp karwati hai... Ache se Jaanti hai ki tum kya Kar sakte ho aur kya Nahi."

Abhijeet smiled at "meri neend kharab karke" and looked away.

'haan wo ek doctor zaroor hai,' he thought, 'But mere saamne...mere saamne toh wo bas Tarika hai - meri Tarika hai... Dil ke aage science ki Kabhi Nahi chal paati."

"Tagore Sahab... Ab ye philosophy chhod dijiye... Aapki Tarika bas aane hi waali hai."

"Phir se Tagore sahab!" Abhijeet pretended to be annoyed, "ab toh daadi shave Kar li na"

Daya laughed and was about to say something when he saw Tarika standing at the threshold.

"Lo aa gayi."

Tarika didn't respond. She was just staring at Abhijeet. She was going through a number of emotions.

Abhijeet was also looking at her without blinking.

Daya coughed and their trance broke for a while.

Daya: mujhe bureau jana hai..main abhi jata hoon..

Daya went towards Tarika and naughitily said: ab sambhalo apne Abhijeet ko..

Tarika blushed hearing apne Abhijeet. Daya went from there.

Tarika went towards Abhijeet. Abhijeet tried to sit again. Before he could fall, Tarika held him.

Tarika: lete raho...

Abhijeet nodded. Abhijeet looked into her eyes and she into his. Her eyes welled up with tears.

A tear dropped from her eyes. Abhijeet wiped that immediately.

Abhi: bohot ro liya..ab aur nahi..

Tarika couldn't hold back her tears. She hugged him placing her head on his chest. Abhijeet felt pain in his chest. But the pain in his her heart was more than the wounds of his body. He somehow managed to supress the *ahh* that wanted to leave his mouth and wrapped his arms around her.

Tarika buried her face in his chest. She had been waiting for longer than she could endure... To hold him... To feel him hold her... To feel secure in his arms - to feel that he was safe... That they were safe...To let go of all the emotions she had repressed...To let herself cry...

Abhijeet felt his shirt getting slightly wet by Tarika's tears. Her breathing was erratic. He ran his hand over her hair, his touch soft - overwhelming with love.

Tarika raised her head and looked at him.

He indicated that he wanted to sit up. Tarika nodded slightly and held him by his shoulders, gently helping him rest his back against the pillows.

As he sat up, Abhijeet winced due to pain.

A slight moan escaped his lips. It made Tarika jerk. Nonetheless, she moved close to him and unbuttoned his shirt.

As his first button came undone, Abhijeet held her wrist.

His eyes asked her to stop... To not open his shirt. Tarika shook her head... Saying that no... He mustn't stop her... It was her right... He mustn't snatch it away from her.

She continued unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his wounds.

She saw the deep cut that was their across his gut... It hadn't healed yet. The wounds that were made in front of her - in the video... She saw the scars they had left.

And as if these weren't enough - there were blood clots and blue bumps on his chest. Tarika placed her hand on one of the bumps... Her fingers barely touching it.

"Sss..." Abhijeet couldn't contain his gasp.

Tarika immediately pulled her hand away, tears continuously slipping from her eyes.

Tarika cupped her face in her hands and started crying. Abhijeet's eyes filled with tears too.

"Tarika... " He called her lovingly.

But she didn't look at him. Her sobs just grew louder.

"Tarika please... Idhar Dekho."

Abhijeet extended his arm, though with pain and managed to touch her thigh. Her nose red, eyes puffed, she looked at him.

He gestured her to come to him.

She moved her face close to him.

Abhijeet took her hand in his and kissed it.

His other hand wiped her tears. Abhijeet moved his face closer to hers and gently kissed her cheeks where tears had just rolled down.

Tarika closed her eyes... Feeling his lips against her skin... His touch gentle... Healing. As Abhijeet moved his face upwards, Tarika felt his breath on her face. She tightened her grip in his hand...

He still held on to her... His fingers were still wrapped around her palm. So he was real...

Abhijeet moved towards her eyes and kissed them slowly... Beautifully... Magically...One after the other.

"Ab inn aankho mein ek Bhi aansu Nahi aayega."

Tarika opened her eyes to find him looking at her... Full of love... Full of adoration.

She smiled slightly and moved her fingers on his face, along his jawline.

She moved forwards close to him more. She kissed his cheeks slowly as if tasting if he was her Abhijeet or not. She touched his face..feeling his every feature from forehead till his chin. Her hands rested on his shoulder. Her eyes fell on his body again and instantly became teary.

Abhijeet shook his head signalling NO to her. She tried to smile. But couldn't. Abhijeet placed his hand on her cheek and caressed very gently.

She closed her eyes feeling his gentle touch. She wanted to lose herself into his touch. Abhijeet gently touched her lips with his thumb. Tarika opened her eyes and looked into his eyes. Both of them were in need of that to sooth each other. He touched her lips softly with his. He kissed her gently yet with passion. Tarika responded with the same passion. It wasn't a wild kiss..it was a soothing kiss..they were conveying hundred of emotions though a kiss. They closed their eyes to feel the kiss, to feel each other more. They broke the kiss and touched their foreheads.

They could feel each other's breath. It was very soothing. They were together after months. It was way too hard for both of them...especially for Tarika after seeing him in that video.

Tarika moved back and looked at his wounds again.

Abhi: mat dekho...

Tarika: mujhe dekhne do...tum per mera haq hai matlab tumhare choto per bhi..

Abhi couldn't say anything after listening to her words. Tarika's fingers brushed against his bruise. He flinched and pain was reflecting on his face.

Tarika: Abhi bo-hot da..dard ho raha hai na?

Abhi nodded in no.

Abhi: pehle hota tha..bohot dard..lekin ab nahi hai..tumne jo chu liya..

"Tumhe.. fresh hona hoga na? Mai helo kar deti hu..."

"Daya nee help kar diya. Or mai khhud kar leta hu. Don't worry."

"Thik se beitga nahi ja raha tumse... or, "

"Tarika ji... ab ap rona band karengi..."

The word *Tarika ji*... oh, it sounded so delicious from his mouth.

"Weisey tumhara training keisa gaya?"

"Thik."

"Tumne kafi weight loss kia hai... How much?"

"Pata nahi." Tarika answered in a low voice, looking down.

"Arey, tum toh har roz apna weight mapti ho."

"bas.."

"Khayal nahi rakha na tumne appna!"

"Aisa nahi hai Abhijeet... 3 mahiney bad dekekh rahe ho na mujhe... sayad isliye..." she choked, thinking the long time she spent without seeing him.

"Tarikaa..."

She cried, burring her head in her hands. Abhijeet tried to sit up straight to reach nearer.

"Aahh.."

"Abhijeet, please aram se."

She again made him comfortable by resting his back against backrest.

"Tum ro nahi please. Mai toh tumhare ansnsu bhi thik se nahii poch sakta."

Tarika moved near him- there body touching. Abhijeet smiled getting her indication.

he lifted his left arm which was better in condition then the right one and cleared the drop of her cheek. Tarika leaned into his touch. She could feel his warm breathing near her lips. Again some drops rolled down. She closes her eyes.

Abhijeet noticed her eye liner less eyes, the dark circle around her eyes. A little above he could see her eyebrows which weren't in the perfect shape which they used to be, always. Means it's long time she had been in a parlour. He nodded in his head disapprovingly.

He kissed her eyes again. Tarika hugged him, resting her head on his bare chest.

"Dard toh nahi ho raha na?"

"Nahi. It's healing faster now." Abhijeet said.

Abhijeet took her left hand in left one and played with her fingers. Seeing the buttons of her full sleeve's opened he tressed his fingers upwards. Her forearm wasn't feeling smooth like other times. Heck, she really wasn't taking care of herself at all.

"Don't touch Abhi. Maine waxing nahi karwai."

Abhijeet smiled and kept tressing her forearm.

Tarika smiled too. she knew, it didn't matter to him.

"Yaad hai Tarika ekbar tum bohot bimar par gai thi?"

"Kab?"

"Hmm.. do sal pehle."

"Oh haan.. that time. Toh?"

"Toh ye ki... tum bed rest pe thi phir bhi apna parlour schedule miss nahii kia tha tumne." He chuckled.

Tarika smiled thinking how angry Abhijeet was that time and finally he carried her in his arms to the car.

"Tumhe toh pata hi hai mai apne apko lekar ketna conscious hu."

"Haan, dikh raha hai mujhe "

"Ab tum a gai ho na. Ab dekhna mai khayal rakhungi."

"Maine apna wada pura kia Tarika.. mai lout ke a gaya tumhare pass... par tumne apna wada tor diya na." He said, a little bit angry, "Kahayal nahi rakha tumne apna."

Tarika sat up and looked down.

"Sorry Abhi. Mai khayal rakh rahi thi... sach, until.."

"Until?"

"wo information leak hone kii bad suna."

"Bharosa nahi tha tumhe mujhpar?"

"Tha Abhi. Par tumhee us halat mei dekh ke..." Tarika stopped.

"Kis halat mei?" Abhijeet was suspicious.

"Kuch nahi.."

"Baatao Tarika.."

"Abhi.. kuch nahi.. mai fresh ho jatii hu.."

"Kahi tumne wo video toh nahi dekha naa?"

"Nahi." Tarika said instantly, "Matlab... matlab, konsi video ki bat kar rahe ho?"

"Damn it Tarika! Tum bhi gai this satara Daya ke sath?"

"Nahi matlab.."

"Haan ya na?" He was damn angry.

"Daya ne jhut kaha mujhse. Usne kaha tumne wo video nahi dekha.. or wo satara akeela gaya tha. Ane do use."

"Use laga tumhe taklif hogi ye jan ke..."

"Or mujhe taklif hui Tarika... etna taklif toh tab bhi nahi hua jab wolog torture kar rahe the. I didnt want you to see me in that condition."

"Tumhe ekpal dekhne ke liye Taras gai thi mai.. "

"Jaanta Hu mein Tarika... Samajhta Hu... "

"Safehouse mein Bhi tumse mil - " she stopped, choking.

"Tarikaa," he spoke lovingly, "Ab toh hum dono aamne saamne Hain na.. Mein yahi Hu Kahi Nahi jaa Raha... Chalo inn choto Ka kuch toh fayda hua - kuch hafte bus yahi rahunga tumhare "

Tarika immediately covered his mouth.

"Shh... Aisi baat koi karta hai?" She removed her hand.

" Nahi mein toh - "

" Tum mujhse dur bhi raho na... Toh Bhi mein shikayat Nahi karungi - agar duri mein Tumhari salamati hai toh."

Abhijeet just looked at her, the words she had uttered still sinking into his head.

He was a lucky man, he decided... He had the kind of love anyone would kill for.

"Aur agar... Agar Kisi din mein tumse bahot dur Kahi bas Gaya toh?... Meri salamati ki zimmedarri chaand taaro ne le li toh?"

She looked at him for just over a second and then looked away.

"Aisi baatein kyu Kar rahein Hain aap?"

Her tone was low, devoid of tangible emotions. She was hurt... Deeply hurt.

"Jab maut Kisi ko Chu Kar Nikal jaati hai... Toh maut ke baare mein sochna hi padta hai."

"Hmm"

"Bolo na... Agar Kisi din aisa hua toh kya karogi? Meri yaadein tumhara sahara banengi... Ya phir," his voice became slightly wet, "ya phir nafrat Karne lagogi meri yaado se Bhi? "

"Adhuri baato ko pura kiye bagair tum Kahi Nahi jaoge."

"Kuch kahaniyaan adhuri hi reh jaati hain"

"Haan reh jaati honge... Par humari kahani Nahi - "

"Itna bharosa?"

Tarika nodded.

"Darr Nahi laga Kabhi tumhe aisi baato Ka?"

Tarika took his hand and placed it between her hands. She then looked directly into his eyes.

"Agar Mera darr mere bharose se Bada hota... Toh aaj mein Yaha tumhare saamne Nahi baithi Hoti."

"Tarika...itna bharosa mat karo mujhper.." Abhijeet looked away not wanting to meet her eyes.

"Toh phir jiyungi kaise? Mera bharosa hi toh meri jeene ki wajah hai.."

"Kabhi tod diya toh..?" Still looking away.

"Toh shayed main bhi na rahu.."

Abhijeet immediately looked at her.

"Tarika..!"

"Na chahte huye bhi tumhe maine kitna dard diya..

Tumhari ankho me ansu nahi dekh sakta main..lekin dekho na.." He smiled painfully, "tumhari har ansu ki wajah main hi hoon..." his voice choked, "Aur shayed kal ko tumhare khatam hone ka wajah bhi ban jayunga.."

"Abhijeet kya bole ja rahe ho tum...

tumhe kuch nahi hoga..aur jab tak tum ho main hoon"

"Usi ka toh darr hai na.." He sighed.

"Per mujhe toh nahi hai...mujhe toh baas bharosa hai..tumpe.. ( in low tone) aur usse bhi jaida humare pyar pe..."

Abhijeet listened to her and smiled. He didn't want to drag the topic more as it would only hurt her...hurt them.

"abhi tumne kya kaha.." he thought to tease her to make the environment light. He didn't want her to cry more.

"Kya..k-kuch nahi.."

"Per maine toh kuch suna.. pyar jaisa kuch" She blushed slightly looking downwards.

Abhijeet placed his hand on her cheek.

"Kitne dino k baad mujhe ye nazara dekhne ko mila.." She looked up at him to find him smiling at her.

Mai fresh hoke ati hu. Tumne breakfast kia? Medicines liye?"

Abhijeet nodded as she stood up.

"Kaha ja rahi ho?"

"Arey mera bag hai niche. Mai airport se direct ai hu na."

"Oh acha."

Tarika smiled and left.

She took 10 minutes to come back.

"Etna time lagta hai?" Abhijeet was scared.

"Arey, mai guest room mei fresh hone gai thi."

"Oh acha.. tum yaha.."

"Mai kuch din yaha rukungi na..."

"Sach?"

"Haan baba. Ab leave mili hai mujhe sir se."

"That's good. Ketne din ki? 1 month?"

"1 month le leave ku denge mujhe wo?"

"Nahi.. matlab.. bas puch liya. Mera at least one month bed rest hai na. Toh mujhe laga agar tum hogi toh..."

"Mai toh hu.. hameshha..."

"Breakfast kia tumne?"

"Nahi.. abhi mai bohot tired hu. So lu thora please?" She pouted.

"Thik hai... "

Tarika got into the bed beside him and lied down.

"Oh sorry," She sat up again and helped him to lie down.

"It's okay Tarika. I can manage."

"I know. But let me naa.."

Abhijeet lied down. Tarika scooted close to him, enough to smell him as she drifted into a deep slumber, after months.

Abhijeet just kept looking at her until he too slept due to the effects of the medicines.

-The End-