Naina was shocked seeing them standing on the door, would be an understatement. She didn't expect them to come right now at all. But unknowingly, yet knowingly, a serene smile crept on her melancholic face. Yes, Sameer's, aka Naina's parents had arrived! They never treated her less than their own daughter, within a few days in India, before and after their wedding.

"Pairi pauna Mummy ji, pairi pauna papa ji!!" she bent down to take their blessings by touching their feet. They didn't let her touch their feet, they made her stand again and blessed her with their immense love, saying that a daughter shouldn't be touching her parents' feet.

"Tusi ta bada wadda surprise de dita mainu!! Te saanu inform kyu nhi kita tusi?? Asi lain aa jaande na? Te tusi aye kive, taxi ch??" (Apne toh both bada surprise de diya mujhe!! Aur hume inform kyu nhi kiya apne? Hum lene aa jaate na? Aur aap aye kaise, taxi se?) said Naina, perplexed and extremely happy at the same time.

"Asi taxi pehla hi book karva layi si.. hun asi andar aa jayiye?" (Humne taxi pehle hi book karva li thi.. ab hum andar aa jaaye?) Vivekdeep answered chuckling before making her embarrassed, and Simran passed her a wide smile.

"Hanji hanji.. mai vi na pehla hi sab kuj pucchan lag gyi..tusi andar aao" (Hanji hanji..mai bhi an pehle hi sab kuch poochne lag gyi..aap andar aao) she spoke while facepalming herself.

They settled themselves in the hall sofa after freshening up. "Naina, Sameer kithe hai? mainu lageya apne room ch hovega, asi ta ohnu vi surprise dena si.. kithe hai oh? (Naina, Sameer kaha hai? mujhe laga apne room room me hoga, humne toh usko bhi surprise dena tha.. kaha hai vo?) simran asked Naina getting concerened.

But before Naina could say anything, a shrill sound of doorbell rang in their ears and Naina hurriedly went to open the door, escaping from the situation. 

And there stood Sameer, with Zoe who completely leaning on his shoulder due to her drunken state. Tears again made their way in Naina's eyes, but she wiped them before anyone could ask her. Simran and Vivekdeep went near the door to surprise him, but who knew that a shocking surprise was waiting for them too. For the first time, Sameer had guilt-filled eyes, seeing everyone's condition. 

Simran knew about Zoe from day one but kept quiet as Zoe did nothing to him. Vivek too sensed the same, and didn't delay further to lash out, saying, " Sameer! isko kehde chaliye jaaye yaha se, aur tujhe toh mai baadme dekhta hun." With this, both of them left taking Naina with them as well.

Sameer was familiar with this type of tone of his father and this dejected look of his mother, so he didn't wait further to drop Zoe at one of his friend's house. Not fully, but half of the mess was wrapped up when Zoe was finally out of their lives after another one hour.

The dinner went silently. No one uttered even a single word. No one had a perfect choice of words to start any conversation. But Sameer was being called up to his parents' room after the dinner, alone.

He settled himself on the couch, when his mother spoke sarcastically, "Baith toh aisa rha hai jaise koi boht badi izzat kamake aya ho" she had the same dejected look.

"Mummy, papa, aap ek baar meri baat sunlo, please" he looked at them with pleading eyes.

"Kuch sunne ko bacha hi kya hai sameer, mujhe tujhse ye umeed bilkul nahi thi, tu aisa kar bhi kaise sakta hai?" his father lashed out again.

"Tune ye socha ki hum Naina ko kya muh dikhayenge!? vo bichari kitni umeedon se ayi thi humare ghar me kadam rakhke, aur usne kya tujhse shaadi yeh din dekhne ke liye ki thi? Tu khud soch kaisa laga hoga use yeh sab dekh ke?" she spoke, while tears rolling from her own eyes too. She continued, "Bas, ab mai yeh nhi dekh sakti, aaj se tu mera beta nhi hai, and don't you dare call us your parents again!"

"Ab hume kya dekh rha hai, jaa yaha se, aur wapas ane ki himmat tabhi karna jab tujhme thodi akal aa jaaye" Vivek spoke in a choked, yet angry voice.

Sameer left the room, with guilt surrounding all over his soul, as the realization struck his mind.

Was he the same Sameer? He thought. His chain of thoughts went further as he sat on the sofa with a thud. Now he could clearly see that every now and then when his Naina Ji did ADJUSTMENTS for him. Does he even have the right to call her HIS now? He didn't do anything for her since their marriage. She was the one who built up their relation. He loved her immensely, but what happened to him after their wedding? He recalled every single moment when Naina got hurt by his actions but didn't say anything to him. He miserably failed in becoming a good husband. His body shivered at this thought. And now he could imagine how Naina must have felt about it. He wondered how she kept forgiving him, without his own apologies. But will she forgive him now? After this much pain? After this broken trust? 

The only person to give him his answers was Naina. He rushed hotfoot to their room, where he froze seeing his wife crying bitterly by hugging her knees on the floor. His vision got blurred seeing her crying this bitterly. He cursed himself, that was all he could do, other than apologizing to her. He ran to her and was about to engulf her in his arms, but Naina's firm palm stopped him from doing so. He stared at her palm, and the guilt weighed even more in his heart now.

Naina stood up, with a stern and firm expression this time. 

"Umm..Naina ji.. I'm so..." his sentence was cut by Naina's choked voice.

"Mera na sochan layi tusi hun sorry bol rhe ho? Mere utte dhyaan na den layi tusi hun sorry bol rhe ho? Mainu Munna te Swati di party wich na support karan layi tusi hun sorry bol rhe ho? Bina meri opinion mange, Zoe nu ghar bulan layi tusi hun sorry bol rhe ho?  Office wich mainu na introduce karan layi tusi hun sorry bol rhe ho? Zoe di tarfo tusi hun sorry bol rhe ho? Ajj di party wich mainu totally ignore karan layi tusi mainu hun sorry bol rhe ho? Main hun je chiza ginaun laggi na te sver ho jaani hai, par chiza khatam nhi hon giyan. (Mera na sochne ke liye aap ab mujhe sorry bol rhe ho? Mere upar dhyan na dene ke aap mujhe ab sorry bol rhe ho? Mujhe Munna aur Swati ki party me na support karne ke aap mujhe ab sorry bol rhe ho? Bina meri opinion maange, Zoe ko ghar bulane ke liye Aap ab mujhe sorry bol rhe ho? Office me mujhe na introduce karane ke liye aap ab sorry bol rhe ho? Zoe ki taraf se aap ab sorry bol rhe ho? Aaj ki party mein mujhe totally ignore karne ke liye aap mujheab sorry bol rhe ho? Main ab agar chizein ginane lagi na toh subah ho jaayegi, par chizein khatam nhi hongi)

She swallowed a lump in her throat before continuing, while Sameer stood transfixed at his spot.

"Mai kade sochya vi nai si ke mainu enna pyaar, enni respect den wale, mere Sameer ji vyah to baad aida ho jaange.. mai tuhade naal har tareeke nall ADJUST kitta, par tusi ta oh vekh hi nhi paaye Sameer ji. Tusi ta ajj vi ehi expect kitta hoga ki Naina da ki hai, har vaari meri galtiyan nu undekha kar dindi hai, aaj vi kar devegi, ajj fer ADJUST kar levegi, fer ki hoya je mai apni wife de saamne kisi hor de naal dance kar leya, drink kar layi, ya fer ek kudi nu nashe di haalat ch ghar le aya, Naina da ki hai, Naina Zoe naal vi adjust kar lavegi" (Maine kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki mujhe itna pyaar, itni izzat dene wale, mere Sameer ji shaadi ke baad aise ho jaayenge.. maine apke saath har tareeke se ADJUST kiya, par aap toh vo dekh hi nhi paaye Sameer ji. Aapne toh aaj bhi yehi expect kiya hoga ki Naina ka kya hai, har baar meri galatiyon ko undekha kar deti hai, aaj bhi kar legi, aaj fir ADJUST kar legi, fir kya hua agar maine apni wife ke saamne kisi aur ke saath dance kar liya, drink karli, ya fir ek ladki ko nashe ki haalat me ghar le aya, Naina ka kya hai, Naina Zoe ke saath bhi ADJUST kar legi). She let out in a chocked voice, before mocking in her last lines.

"Tusi mainu kho chukke ho Sameer ji" (aap mujhe kho chuke ho Sameer ji). With this she left the room, leaving a broken Sameer.

He again recalled her heart wrenching words, she spoke in Punjabi today. He realized that her ADJUSTMENTS had started from the day they met itself, when she decided to talk with him in Hindi, ADJUSTING for himself. She knew that he loved him, this was revealed by her line, "Mainu enna pyaar karan wale" (mujhe itna pyaar karne wale), again a realization struck him, that she accepted him wholeheartedly when he wasn't able to express himself enough. But he didn't accept the way she was. He even avoided her sometimes, as the of getting embarrassed hit him. His regret and guilt grew deeper when each realization hit him as her words still echoed in his ears.

Two days later, the morning created a new wave of panic when Sameer didn't find Naina anywhere. Although they didn't talk to each other, Sameer somewhere knew that Naina was still with him, but now, not finding her anywhere, he pleaded for the tenth time to his mother if she knew the whereabouts of Naina. She finally had to inform him now.

"Naina India pohoch chuki hai, vaise bhi tujhe konsa kuch farak padega" she spoke in a rough tone.

Sorry, sorry, sorry!! A huge, no, a colossal amount of apology from my side. Since I again shifted to online classes, I barely could give any time to this story, but now I would try to update regularly, as my winter vacation will start tomorrow. Owing to the amount of update request from my dear readers, I thought of updating today itself. But seriously I felt overwhelmed by the love I'm getting. You guys are the best. Love you all!!

Unedited chapter!

Any suggestions regarding anything???

Again, sorry, If anyone didn't like the Punjabi dialogues. Please let me know if you wanna reduce or increase them.

Stay safe and healthy❣.