"Doctor (taking deep breadth): I am sorry to inform you randhir but..you suffering from HIV."

"Naina: yea I think you are right. Thank god I got save. But I feel really bad for his wife dude. Here we all are thinking of ways to stay away from him and she has to share a room with him. God it's so disgusting to even breadth in the same air with these kinds of people."

"Rehan: mom you know nothing about him. And I don't have any personal problem with him. But he should at least know that my baby is so small. If just because of him our rishi also got infected then or he might catch his dirty germs. It is so disgusting."

Randhir closed his eyes when those hurtful words rang in his ears. Since the time they had come back from the party he was not able to forget those harsh comments of people on his disease. It was 3 in the morning and still sleep was far away from his eyes. He was just turning and twisting in bed. He looked to the other side to see sanyukta soundly sleeping. His heart got filled with guilt when he saw her innocent face. She is the same woman whom he had married just for his selfish reason. She is the same woman who has given five years of her life to him. She is the same woman who has loved him without any condition and restrictions. She is the same woman who has always stood by his side no matter what happens. She is the same woman who has always trusted his lies and manipulative answers without even questioning. She is the same woman whom he had insulted and humiliated on every chance he gets. And she is the same woman who is fighting for him with the world. He knew the day sanyukta will come to know about his past will the day when he will lose her forever. The thought of her going away from him send shivers down his spine.

He shifted towards her side and kept his head on her chest by placing his one hand around her waist and one leg on her thighs. Sanyukta shifted a little in sleep and took out her hands that was beneath him and kept it on his head by pulling him closer. His eyes became moist when he remembered her eyes filled with lots of love and care for him. How he used to ignore her attempts to please him. How he used to insult her in front of his friends. How he used to taunt her about her middle class behavior. He remembers how she used to wait for him till late night to have dinner with him and he used to come back home with filled stomach and used to scold her for acting like a typical middle class wife. He remembers how she used to sit hungry on karwachauth waiting for him whereas he used to be busy in enjoying with his sluts.

Randhir rubbed his face on the cloth of her chest and hugged her tightly by putting all his weight on her body. He was sticking to her like a second skin. Sanyukta opened her eyes feeling him clinging to her so much.

Sanyukta (in a sleepy voice and half open eyes): what happen randhir? baby ko thand lag rahi hai mere?

Randhir nodded his head not being able to look into her innocent eyes. Sanyukta tried to sit up to pull the comfortable on them but he was adamant in not leaving her.

Sanyukta: randhir get up please. If you will cage me like this then how am I supposed to cover us?

Randhir : no I want to sleep like this only...I want to hug you tight the whole night.

Sanyukta: okay but please at least let me pull me this comforter. After that you can again hug me. I won't push you.

Randhir shifted a little and covered themselves with the quilt. He again climbed upon her and kept his head back on her chest. Sanyukta smiled seeing her baby antiques. She started caressing his head when she heard him saying.

Randhir: sanyukta I have decided something. I know you won't be happy with my choice but trust me everyone's good lies in this only. I have decided that from now on I will handle the office work from home only. I will go to office from tomorrow. I can't sit idle so I will manage everything from the home only. like this no one has to see my face or bear my presence and office work also won't be hampered. And board members will also stop pressurizing dad.

Sanyukta: randhir think once again...are you sure you want to do this?

Randhir (took a deep breath): yes sanyukta...nothing feels right in front of it. I just need a break from all this. And my happiness and wants are nothing in front of dad's hard work for that company. Aur mai kaunsa permanently ghar par khali baith raha hu its just that mai office ki jagah ghar se kaam karliya karunga. Dad will look after other things in office.

Sanyukta: it's your decision randhir. I don't want you to act according to me. If you want this then it is okay with me also. All I want to say is don't take any harsh decision in the heat of the moment so that later on you don't have to regret on your choice.

Randhir (hugs her more tightly and closed his eyes): I know I won't regret on anything till I am with you in your protective arms. I know you will never leave my side.

Soon they both dozed off peacefully in each other's arms. Sanyukta woke up from her sleep in the morning when she felt someone caressing her face and she opened her eyes and saw randhir looking at her intently.

Sanyukta : good morning randhir! Why are you up so early?

Randhir: habit sanyu..i usually wake up early as I have to go office. (Bending down and pecking her forehead) good morning

Sanyukta nodded in response and then shifted a little and hugged her side pillow by closing her eyes. He knew it that it was her habit she never wakes up immediately. She keeps lying on bed with closed eyes for sometime before getting up. He remembers how she never allowed him to go out the bed in the initial days of their marriage and she used to climb up on his chest and sleep for sometime before waking up. Until one day when he got irritated of her this habit and scolded her harshly.

FLASHBACK

It was one Sunday morning and they both were lying on bed only covered by a duet. Randhir was already up and was busy on his phone. Sanyukta woke up after some time and saw him busy on his phone. She pulled up the bed sheet covering her assets.

Sanyukta: good morning baby

Randhir (still busy in his phone): good morning jaan

Sanyukta as usual shifted a little towards him and hugged him tightly by keeping her head on his bare chest and hands around his frame. Randhir twisted his lips in annoyance and shifted a little in order to push her away from him but sanyukta again hugged him tightly. This time randhir got irritated and pushed her a little harshly. She fell back on the bed and eyes got wide open.

Randhir (irritatingly): subah hui nahi ki mere upar chad jati ho tum..once in a while it's okay but ye kya drama hai roz ka tumhara...ankhien khul nahi rahi aur mere se chipakne lag jaati ho

Sanyukta : I was not sticking to you. mujhe aese utha nahi jata..ghar par to mumma thodi der mere pass hi baithi rehti thi aur mai unki lap me sir rkhe thodi der aur sojati thi and I like to hug you like this (she said dreamingly). I love keeping my head on your bare chest and hearing your heart be(she got interrupted)

Randhir: for god sake sanyukta I am not your mother. Grow up! These childish acts don't suit you. You are a married and matured woman so acts like one. I will not going to baby sit you. And never ever come and cling to me like this. I don't like when someone cling to me unnecessarily.

Sanyukta (with moist eyes in a weak voice): okay

FLASHBACK OVER

That was the last day she ever hugged him in the sleeping posture. Out of habit she used to hug her side pillow but never bothered him about it again. He apologized to her later on and everything got sorted but from next morning he never found her clinging to him in the sleep.

Randhir: sanyu

Sanyukta (still hugging the pillow): hmm

Randhir (poking her): arrey listen naa

Sanyukta (in same position): I am listening randhir..say

Randhir (stubbornly): not like this come here first

Sanyukta: randhir I need ears to hear you and my ears are open so say what you want to say or wait for some time. I will talk to you once I get up.

Randhir shook his head in annoyance and snatched that pillow from her. sanyukta irritatingly looked at him with half open eyes. Before she could utter something she was being pulled into his arm. Randhir shifted a little and took out his tee and lay back on the bed. He shifted her comfortably on his now bare chest and started caressing her hair. Sanyukta was too numb to react back. She felt a lump forming in her throat.

Randhir (loving caressing her hair): sanyu sleep as much as you want I am here only. Dare you hug that pillow again from next time. God has gifted you with such a hot and well built husband but no you like to hug that stuffy pillow only. If next time I found you hugging some pillow in my presence, I will ensure that from the next day you won't find any pillow in our room.

Randhir kept on caressing her hair whereas her eyes became moist feeling his love. After some time they both got up. Sanyukta went to washroom for her morning chores whereas randhir went for a jog. After some time randhir back from the jog. Sweat was dripping from his handsome face. His track suit was sticking to him. He took out his clothes from the wardrobe and opened the bathroom door which was not locked. He went inside and hanged his towel on the hanger. He turned around and his breath got stuck in his throat seeing the sight in front of him. Unaware of his presence sanyukta was busy in wiping her wet body. She was humming some bollywood song line. Water droplets were shinning on her naked body. Randhir slowly took some steps towards and kept his hand on her bare waist. Sanyukta stopped in her track and her eyes widened. She didn't need to turn around to know his presence. She knew it's him. randhir kept him lips on her bare shoulder and sucked the water droplets whereas sanyukta leaned on his body for support. Soon his hands found their way to her breast. His hands were busy in playing with her softness when they heard renuka voice who was looking for them. They both came out from the trance and look bewildered. Reality hit them hard. They knew HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. Randhir distant himself instantly and turned out. They both were breathing heavily. His eyes became moist when he remembered how till date he used to ignore her needs. She always used to crave for his love and when today he wanted to shower her with all his affection and pamper her. He is caged today. his fist his hand that was longing to take her in his arms and make love to her till she begs him. He was about to go when he felt her soft body hugging his back. Randhir sigh frustratingly feeling her so close yet so far.

Sanyukta (murmer): please don't go randhir

Randhir closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He untangles her hands from his waist and move towards the mini shelf in the bathroom. He took a bathroom and came back to her. randhir hold her shoulder and turned her around. He made her wear the bathrope and then tied its knot. Sanyukta was looking at him with moist eyes. He cubed her face and then placed a wet kiss on her forehead.

Randhir: I am sorry sanyu..i know you need me. Trust me my condition is also not better than you but we can't do it na baby. You know about my illness. I don't want to harm you in any way.

Sanyukta (hugged him tightly): I love you so much randhir

Randhir : I ....

Randhir gulped down the lump forming in his throat. Like every time, he wanted to cage her tightly in his arms and chirped those three magical words to her but he couldn't. Those words were just some meaningless combination of few alphabets for him. earlier he never gave a thought before chirping those words to her but today he felt like those words have gain some beautiful meaning in his life. He knew what it meant for his innocent wife. He always used to mock at her secretly whenever her face used to glow after hearing these words from his mouth. But he can't fake it now. He knew he don't love her. And saying this to her, means playing with her emotions. He was lost in his thoughts when he felt his tee getting wet. He surprising looked out only to found his wife crying like a baby.

Randhir (cubbing her face): sanyu what happen? Why are you crying?

Sanyukta (wipes her tears with the back of her hand and said cutely): kyunki aap badal gaye ho

Randhir: mai koi exchange offer me thodi gaya thaa jo wahan jake exchange hoke aagya hu ( he chuckles but then soon shut his mouth receiving one hard glare from her) okay sorry naa...now say..why are you crying?

Sanyukta (pouting her lips): because you don't love me anymore. I am noticing this from past few days that now you don't say I love you too me and now you have started calling me sanyukta...earlier you never say anything else than jaan...I used to jaan but now you only call me sanyu aur sanyukta

Randhir heart melted after hearing her sweet and innocent complain. He mentally cursed himself for hurting such innocent soul. He cubed her face and plant a peck on her lips.

Randhir: you are the most important and special woman in my life. No one can ever take your place in my life. I may not chirp those magical words to you but trust me till I am alive I will only be yours.

This time neither his hand shake nor his heart clenched because he knew that this is the truth of his life. sanyukta will always rule in his life and heart.