Meme seva: Pranju22

Happy Reading

All sorts of songs were playing in Naina's head while she waited for Sameer outside her colony. She saw her faint reflection in a shop's glass window. The dress was actually looking like it had been brought straight out of 1990 but Naina didn't care.

A BMW stopped in front of her. The flashy car showed her, her reflection. She saw her simplicity and the car's style. For the first time since she had dressed up, she felt small in front of Sameer.

Sameer got out of the car. He took all the time he could to look at the beauty in front of him. He noticed the outfit she had decided to wear that day and he could feel happiness dispersing in every part of his being.

"Chalein?" Sameer held his hand out for her to hold. After taking a long, nervous breath she held his hand. He closed his fingers over her palm providing all the sense of security he could.

They walked inside the car. It's grandeur was pinching a little in Naina's eyes but all of it was getting evened with the comfort of being in Sameer's presence. The day they had first met, when Swati had literally crashed into Sameer's room, Naina hadn't thought for a second that Sameer would hang on to her for six solid months and she would eventually melt.

Ek din aap yun humko mil jaayenge,
Phool hi phool rahon me khil jaayenge,
Maine socha na tha.

Ek din zindagi itni hogi hasi,
Jhumega aasman, gayegi ye zameen,
Maine socha na tha.

"Naina tumhe pata hai mai kitne din se tumhe apna set dikhana chahta tha par ..." Sameer stopped in the middle of his sentence.

"Par?"

"Tumhara pata nahi hota na, kab bhadak jao, kuch pata nahi hota!" Sameer confessed in a timid voice.

Naina burst out in soft giggles.

How light were these moments, sitting in his car, feeling totally free, like a tangle in her chest had been opened. She opened the window next to her seat and felt the fresh air hit her face. He didn't object to opening the window when the A/C was on. He switched it off and let her enjoy herself. Although he had serious issues, keeping his eyes fixed on the road and why not? Naina in the pink suit was looking as adorable as a large, pink teddy bear he had given her during their Mt. Abu trip.

On their way to the set, Naina spotted an ice cream vendor.

"Sameer! Sameer! Ice Cream" Naina shouted.

He stopped the car near the vendor and brought two cornettos for them.

"Chocolate" Naina added while he was giving the order. He smiled knowingly.

A thought struck her as he passed her, her ice cream cone.

"Tum diet karte hoge?" And a wave of guilt swept her.

"Mera weight nahi badhta." He said and licked the ice cream.

Naina remembered Sameer cribbing in school that he was putting on weight and he had no clue how to control it. Naina wasn't a medic but she knew that his metabolism wouldn't change like that in years.

She kept staring at him, smiling to herself over his lie which was said only to please her.

"Khao Na." He had to click his fingers in front of her eyes to bring her out of her staring mode.

She licked the ice cream which had now started to melt. She felt something wet on her nose and Sameer's chuckles confirmed it.

"Ice cream lag gayi mere face pe?" She said.

He fetched a tissue and wiped the ice cream off her nose, his eyes never leaving her eyes for a second.

Dil ki daali pe kaliyan si khilne lagi
Jab nigahein nigaho se milne lagi

Ek din is tarah hosh kho jaayenge
Paas aaye toh madhosh ho jaayenge
Maine socha na tha.

Ek din aap yun humko mil jaayenge,
Phool hi phool rahon me khil jaayenge,
Maine socha na tha.

After another 20 minutes drive they reached Filmcity. Naina saw the makeshift temple and remembered how after all his efforts Sameer had to finally shout at her, confront her to bring her back to him.

Trees, vendors, roads, and cars were left behind them, practically because they were moving but it felt like the rush of love made them forget everything around them.

As Sameer parked the car he sent a small thanks to the heavens because it had been really tough to drive and not focus on Naina at all. He was thankful they didn't meet with an accident. The blank road wasn't a great substitute for his eyes.

Sameer took Naina straight to his make up room. There were curious eyes all around them. Naina, again, grew conscious of her appearance but the hand that was holding her's was assuring her not worry anything when he was there with her. His hold on her hand was delicate as if he was holding a petal yet it was firm because he was fully aware of how precious it was.

Naina had difficulty in keeping a track of everything Sameer was telling her. He spoke with a lot of agility so that he could fill her with the minutest of details about his life on the set. The enthusiasm he had was radiating from his face.

"Naina, ye Shankar da hai, humare cameraman."

"Naina, ye Rakesh hai mera spot boy"

"Ye monitor hai, Naina, isme humari director har shot ko dekhti hai."

"Ye canteen hai Naina, yaha ki coffee try karna."

"Mere make up artist bas aate honge, Naina."

Naina, Naina, Naina the chant filled her ears like music. She felt elated every time her name left his mouth.

"Shefali, ye hai Naina."

He introduced her to a lot of people she had recognized as actors from her TV screen. The way, he was treating her, introducing her with so much respect to everyone, made her worth increase in her own eyes.

It wasn't like he had brought her to the set and had shown her around but not told anybody who she was, what she meant to him, so that gossip mongers could enjoy at her cost. He had made it a point for everyone to meet her, greet her in the same way they did for Sameer.

The curt nods, the approving smiles, the way he ensured everyone treated her the right way overwhelmed her so much. There she was, feeling low in front of his riches and here he was telling the world that she was the most important person he ever knew.

Naina met the writers and Bijoy and an odd chill captured her. She wished for Sonakshi to have seen this day.

Sameer's shots were ready, she saw him reluctantly take the script and part with her. He tried to peep at her but one stern look from Future-Mrs.-Maheshwari set Mr. Maheshwari to work. She stood in a corner admiring his dedication. He had lost himself in his work and it spoke volumes about his passion for his profession.

Naina prayed for him to get everything he wanted. She wished that he worked hard and success to come dancing behind him. The goofy yet adorable smile he had should never leave his face. He should always remain the same - grounded, focussed and a bada baccha at heart. Once a chain of prayers started for him they didn't seem to end. She hadn't asked for a lot of things for herself but with Sameer it was different. That's how overpowering love is maybe? She thought.

The camera began rolling and Naina could clearly see how everyone's efforts on the sets counted in making a perfect scene. It was like a relay race between the cast and the crew. Their combined efforts made them win a day!

Sameer knew Naina was watching. He knew she was admiring him. The sparkle in her eyes, the smile; it was true, language of the eyes was the most effortless means of communication.

After the scenes Sameer pulled Naina to Elena's vanity where most of the members from the cast had their lunch together.

Naina gelled so well with all of them - Arjun, Shefali, Bijoy, Jatin, Elena and Dev.

"Aur suno Naina toh jab maine sher ko bola hi toh guess karo wo kya bola?" Jatin was telling his wild stories.

Naina shrugged her shoulders.

"Bye. Sher bana bhigi billi." Jatin laughed at his own joke while everyone stared at each other.

Naina looked at Sameer as if waiting for a hint on what to say next. He laughed at her instead.

"Pehli baar hai na Naina. Kisi ko nahi samajh aata ki Jatin ke jokes ke baad kaise react karein." Elena tried to ease Naina a bit.

She was getting such sasural vibes.

"Jatin ko sher bhi lage bhigi billi,
Gulab Jamun me hoti hai chasni
Hai ni? Hai ni? Hai ni?" Arjun tried to eradicate the effect of Jatin's lameness by speaking an even more lame joke.

Yup, seriously Naina could hear Sasural Genda Phool in her head and the louder it banged in her head, the more creepy it got.

She tried to ease her self by chanting Hari Ommmmmmm.

Finally the lunch got over.

"Mera bas ek scene aur hai fir packup." Sameer said when they were out of Ele's vanity. "Wo andar kaafi awkward ho gaya tha. Nahi?"

"Nah! They were adorbs." Naina forced a smile.

"Accha?" Sameer knew she was faking it.

"Accha theek hai, ajeeb tha bahut ajeeb tha! Hai ni? Hai ni? Hai ni?" Naina said and they both burst into a genuine laughs.

As Sameer's last scene was being shot, Naina sat in a chair wondering the pros and cons of her old school idea. It was fun, it got awkward. She got a little bored when Sameer was busy rehearsing the script in a corner and nothing interesting was happening but she knew Sameer wasn't playing around with her and she knew that giving them another chance was a good idea. The date wasn't the most romantic one there could have ever been but it was what she wanted.

Finally the day wrapped up. They were back again in Sameer's car. The grandeur didn't hurt Naina's eyes now. The satisfaction seemed to fill her completely.

The darkness felt velvety smooth. The stars twinkled a little extra. The air had a sweet scent. The night was perfect.

Sameer parked his car just outside the film city. Both of them sat on the bonnet of the car, perfectly comfortable with each other while talking and also in the silence.

Naina had had some difficulty in climbing the bonnet. As much as Naina liked the suit, she hated wearing it for long hours because it was tightening around her back.
Even when she was enjoying their private time alone, she wasn't having a good feeling about her suit and it's fitting.

Sameer tapped the car's bonnet twice and Naina looked down at his hands immediately. A gift was lying in between them.

"Iski kya zaroorat thi?" Naina frowned.

"Ab aise toh mat hi behave karo jaise tumhare man me laddu nahi fut rahe!" Sameer said.

"Mai ye toh nahi kahungi ki nahi fut rahe par iski sachhi koi zaroorat nahi thi." Naina's hands were itching to open the gift now.

"Kholo kholo"

She unwrapped the package delicately and inside it was a blue, close necked suit.

"I figured ki tumhe mera favourite suit pehn-ne ka man tha aur ye suit umm thoda purana ho gaya hai toh yeh lo." Sameer smiled. "Ab bolo iski koi zaroorat nahi thi?"

As if the day's experience hadn't been overwhelming enough this gift added a personal touch to the perfect day out. She felt her eyes glistening with tears.

Sameer passed her his handkerchief. This could be the only exceptional moment in his life when Naina's tears didn't hurt him.

"Thank you." Naina was barely able to search for words. "Iss dress ke liye nahi, maine tumhe itna bura bhala kaha, itna kharab behave kiya tumhare saath, fir bhi umeed nahi chodne ke liye thank you."

"You're welcome." Sameer added a pinch of sass in his tone.

"Waise Naina dress ki fitting sahi aa jaayegi, mujhe pata hai kyuki mere paas tumhare measurements hai." Sameer knew what this tongue in cheek remark would give him and he got it exactly - repeated bangings of the dress' cover on his hand.

Jagmagati hui jaagti raat hai.
Raat hai ya sitaron ki baarat hai.

Ek din dil ki raahon me apne liye,
Jal uthenge mohabbat ke itne diye.
Maine socha na tha.

Ek din zindagi itni hogi hasi,
Jhumega aasman, gayegi ye zameen,
Maine socha na tha.

Ek din aap yun humko mil jaayenge,
Phool hi phool rahon me khil jaayenge,
Maine socha na tha.

Maine socha na tha.

______________________________________

On the other side of the spectrum things were not so rosy as Dev awaited the reasons behind his unexpected call into the Malani's office. He stood before Jyotsna and Aneesh, just like Sonakshi had, seven months ago.

He was nervous, was clicking his shoes or was seldom tapping his feet.

He waited for the consuming silence to shed and finally Jyotsna found the right words. 

"Dev, please sit." She cleared her throat and said, "I assume that you are aware about the landslide drop our TRPs have been facing for a month now. I also think that you know why this is happening..."

"Because one of our writers left and the new team couldn't carry the benchmark Sonakshi had set." Dev replied.

The meeting looked more like a 12th Board viva now.

"Yes. Exactly. Why did Sonakshi leave?" Jyotsna asked him. Dev knew the answer, it was on the tip of his tongue but he wasn't sure if it would be right to answer.

"Have a look at this and brush your memory." Jyotsna played the CCTV footage. As Dev watched the video, her hawk eyes were trying to look deeper into him and find an emotional nerve to press. She had to send him to Shimla and she needed valid reasons for that.

Dev on the contrary had blocked all expressions from displaying on his face. His features looked paler and waxed but there was not a pinch of anything in his looks that would give away the reasons behind Sonakshi's miserable breakdown.

"Anything you know of?" Aneesh asked him in a calm voice.

"No sir." Dev denied. "I hardly talked to her on the set. If I were to put it in a more business like way, we were your employees of different departments."

"So you mean to say that Sonakshi was too overwhelmed with the idea of leaving our show and Mumbai that she was sobbing like this?" Jyotsna pointed to the screen.

"If I may take a different position?" Dev had his voice controlled like they were discussing the weather outside "Sonakshi Bose's mother met with an accident the night before. Why she decided to leave the city appears to be their family matter but I feel while waiting in this room she would have naturally wanted to cry and might have wanted to hold something, the next closest thing which would be able to control her violently shaking body was our poster." Dev spoke with the air of a student who had just presented his class reports. He wasn't going to sell his and Sonakshi's feelings to them.

"Fair enough." Aneesh finally said. "The fact remains that the only person who can bring the show back to it's previous glory is Sonakshi and we'll need you to help us. Are you ready for it?"

"I need to hear your idea first."

"Devrat, try and understand, a lot of people's efforts go into making a show, a lot of people less fortunate than you and me will be left jobless for the coming months again. We'll have to start making a new show, we'll cast new actors but a lot of the crew members will be again living in despair for the months to come. Our economical loss will still be managed." Aneesh adopted a pleading tone.

"I saw a play written by Sonakshi." Jyotsna finally began speaking. "It wasn't the best of plays I had seen but there was honesty in it and it touched me."

"The one with Cinderella?" Aneesh whispered.

"NO" Jyotsna said like she was scandalised and continued. "Dev I felt that among all the writers we have in our industry, Sonakshi will be a fresh breath of change. I helped her cope up with all the emotional problems she had on our sets. I was there by her side. I paid her higher than we usually do and this is what we get? She should have waited there for us before resigning on email without even meeting us."

She sighed and continued, "Pushing it away, we really need her. Even if she is totally on the hook for hanging us like this. Please help us."

Dev looked expressionless but he replied, "Must have felt like text dumping but what do I have to do?"

"Ask her father where she is. How? I leave it up to you. Go fetch her and bring her back." Jyotsna said 

"What about my shoot? We don't have many bank episodes." Dev said.

"We'll shoot an accident sequence, put Sahil in comma while you can go and bring her back." Jyotsna said it like shooting wasn't a major problem now.

"Meanwhile" Aneesh interrupted "We have told the media houses that we are negotiating with our writer, we'll mend our differences and bring her back. The audience emotion is with her, this news will cheer them up and we'll have our show back."

Dev nodded. A waiter brought tea for the three of them. Dev took his cup and began sipping. He looked at the room. It was white and shrewd just like it had been when Jyotsna had thrown the money card on Sonakshi to rope her in for the show. She had told him all about that meeting. An unassuming Sonakshi could never decipher that Malanis were caring and loving people only till it didn't hurt their motives. They didn't forget easily. They were ready to go to great lengths to get what they wanted.

He had more important tasks to deal with at the moment. So, he headed for his next destination- Bijoy's house

_____________________________________

"Shimla." Bijoy replied after a long pause. "She is in Shimla."

Dev went to pay Bijoy a visit the same night he had received orders from the Malanis. He didn't want to waste time and as soon as Bijoy offered him a comfortable chair to sit in he poured out every single detail of the meeting.

"Shimla? Where exactly in Shimla?" Dev questioned Bijoy who wasn't meeting his eyes.

"Why didn't you bring her back? Where is she? How is she?" Dev checked the desperacy in his voice and kept quiet after this.

"A friend of her informed her mother. This was a month back. I hope she's still there."

"Hasn't she called any one of you after that?"

"No." Bijoy said in a small voice. "She tried. She called but ..."

"Where does this friend live? Exact location? What's her name?"

"Dr. Nisha Kaduskar, I suppose. She works in IGIMS, Shimla. We don't have her address."

"That will do."

Dev smiled and left Bijoy's house. The old man left behind could feel his heart thumping. Wondering, what will he say when he would face his daughter?

Long-ish update this one was!

Baba Sameer is giving me serious confusion these days - mai hasu ya rou?

And Boss ka chamcha Sharad and *beep beep* Taiji were irritating the hell out of me when I was writing the last bit of SamAina's date. Sooo if there are any glitches yeh tuch prani aap logon se kshama prarthi hai.

Humare dhyan ka samay ho gaya hai.

Bolo Ommmm 😂

(Non YUDKBHians ignore)

Agle ank me - Dev Babu chale Shimla, bandar unki rah me.

Tab tak bhakt jano casette wale baba ki jai aur Baba Maheshwari ki bhi Jai Jai Jai🙈