Hello friends...

I'm back with the next part...

I'm really very sorry that I couldn't update sooner as I was so much busy in my quarter end jobs & will still be busy ahead...

Enjoy reading...

FATE TWISTED BY LOVE

CHAPTER 12

"I trust you Sameer...", Naina's reply shocked Sameer as he hadn't expected her to say that easily. Did she really trust him so much that she didn't even hesitate once before hugging him? Throwing all the questions aside, he held her in his arms soaking himself in her warmth. This was the first time that he was embracing her so close.

He remembered the day when he had collided with her for the first time in his room. If that morning was the brightest, then today this night was very much blissful. He felt at peace engulfed in her arms. He had never been so close to any girl till now as he had kept distance from them since school times.

Naina had reached some other world altogether feeling his warmth which was soothing her soul. She had never thought that she would ever surrender in his arms herself, especially after the way he was treating her past their marriage. She wondered if she was dreaming now.

When Sameer tightened her hold on her, she shivered. Her erratic heartbeats matched his, her head resting on his chest, her hands wrapped around his waist whereas his wrapped around her back. They didn't know for how much time they stood in the same position, finding solace in each other's arms.

They broke apart when they heard some dog barking nearby. He released her reluctantly but still stood close to her. His eyes scanning her scarlet face. Something was different & strange. He moved a step ahead & looked at her intently.

"Naina... Tumhara yeh gaal thoda sa sujha hua lag raha hai.", she touched her cheek & realized what he was pointing at. "Wohhh... wohhh... main... maine jab unn mein se ek ladke ko thappad maarne ki koshish ki tab... tab...", she stuttered while Sameer fisted his hands in anger, "Tab... Kya hua tab Naina?"

Naina saw his demeanor changing but she didn't want to lie, so she closed her eyes & replied, "Unn mein se ek ne mere dono haath pakad liye aur dusre ne mujhe thappad maarke gira diya, tabhi mujhe yeh elbow par bhi chot lag gayi." Sameer saw red & he muttered, "Uski itni himmat ki usne tum par haath uthaaya? How dare they?"

Naina opened her eyes & saw his face turning red in rage. He turned to leave when she called out, "Kahaan jaa rahe hai aap?" He didn't turn & replied, "Main police station jaa raha hun. Unn dono ko main chodunga nahi."

Before he could unlock the door, she spoke from behind, "Ruk jaaiye Sameer. Please apne gusse par kaabu rakhiye." Tears made its way in her eyes & she sobbed, "I need you Sameer. Please mat jaaiye. Mujhe aapki zarurat hai."

He stopped in his tracks hearing her choked voice. He turned in an instant & his heart pained seeing her cry. Before he could say anything, Naina had hugged him again, stopping him from moving out of their room. His heart skipped beats feeling her shudder in his hold. How could he leave her alone now?

"Naina... I'm so sorry... Main tumhe akela nahi chodunga, kahin nahi jaaunga, tum bas rona band kardo please. Tum toh ab tak jaan gayi hogi ki main gusse mein jo nahi karna chahiye, wohi kar deta hun, anjaane mein hi sahi main apne hosh kho deta hun. Please rona band karo Naina, main kahin nahi jaa raha. Dekho main yahin hun, tumhare paas..."

His words soothed her pain, her heart, her soul, her entire being. She looked up at him, "Sacchii..." He smiled, wiping her tears, "Sacchii..." She finally smiled & moved away from his arms half-heartedly. This was where she wanted to stay forever but she knew that wasn't possible. Whatever was happening between them at this moment felt temporary. She knew this would end soon enough.

Sameer was looking at her keenly, trying to decipher her feelings. Without thinking much about the consequences, he took a step ahead & held her cheek in his large palm, touching it softly. Naina closed her eyes, relishing his touch. He rubbed her cheek with his thumb & she shivered again.

She had never been in such close proximity with any guy in her whole life. This was the first time & it was different, this closeness was affecting her, her mind, her body, her soul & she wanted that for tonight, even if it lasted for this one night. She gave in...

"Naina...", he whispered. She opened her eyes & met his heated gaze. As the medicine had started to show its effects, her eyes started drooping a little. Sameer saw that & murmured, "Naina... Chalo so jaate hai. Nanu ne tumhe aaraam karne ko kahaa hai na? Chalo..." he dragged her to his bed & she looked confused.

He made her sit on the bed, "Naina... Tum yahaan so sakti ho. Main couch par so jaaunga. Please tumhe aaram ki zarurat hai. Maine dekha hai kaise tum sikud kar soti ho couch pe, kitna uncomfortable hota hai. Aaj se tum bed par so jaana, main couch par so jaaunga."

Naina stood up with a jerk, "Nahi... Sameer... Aap couch pe nahi soyenge. Yeh aapka bed hai aur aap yahni soyenge. Main couch pe so jaaungi, aap fikar mat kijiye, main ab thik hun." He stood up too & glared at her, "Maine kahaa na ki tum bed pe so jao, toh bas ab koi behes nahi." She didn't hear him & walked towards the couch.

In the last few days, Sameer had seen her stubbornness & he knew that she won't sleep on his bed. But he had seen how uncomfortably she slept on the couch & he didn't want her to lose her sleep because of that, especially tonight.

Sameer had to do something & then he played his last card. He walked up to her & sat beside her, "Thodi der baat karen?" Naina stared at him in surprise but agreed nonetheless with her drowsy eyes. He sat beside her & started, "Toh batao... Café mein kaam karna kaisa lag raha hai?"

She didn't understand what he was upto now with this conversation, yet she answered, "Mujhe accha lag raha hai café mein kaam karna. Pehle kabhi aise baahar kaam kiya nahi tha, toh ab dheere dheere seekh rahi hun. Aur mujhe ek acchi friend bhi mil gayi, Preeti, toh main bohot khush hun."

Sameer smiled hearing her reply & continued, "College parso se shuru ho rahi hai, fir dono kaise sambhaalogi Naina?" She thought for a while, "Sambhaal lungi..." "Naina... Kehna aasaan hai, par karna mushkil. Tum subah se college jaaogi, uske baad café, fir tum padhai kab karogi?", he asked raising his eyebrows.

He saw her yawning & smiled, finally his plan working. "Accha yeh batao, agar tumhare Nanaji zinda hote toh kya karte jab unhe pataa chalta ki tum post-graduation kar rahi ho, nayi college jaanewaali ho?" Her eyes misted remembering her grandfather.

"Nanaji... wohhh toh bohot khush hote. Nanaji hamesha chaahte the ki main aage padhun, zindagi mein bohot tarakki karun." Some tears made its way & she cried. This time Sameer didn't tell her to stop, he let her cry. After few minutes of silence, she continued, "Nanaji mujhe har saal college shuru hote hi naye kapde dilaate, mujhe nayi pens gift karte, unhe pataa jo tha ki mujhe likhna bohot pasand hai."

She yawned again & again & then leaned on his shoulder & drifted to sleep. Sameer knew that the painkiller was strong enough to make her sleep, when its effect would start showing. Without disturbing her sleep, he picked her up in his arms & moved towards his bed slowly.

He placed her softly on his bed & pulled the quilt over her. He was happy to see her there. He himself didn't understand why he did this & why he was so happy seeing her on his bed? He switched off the lights & moved towards the couch to sleep. He too drifted to sleep immediately feeling her warmth in her quilt.

On the other side, the scene was totally different in Kabir's house, Preeti was worried sick about his sudden disappearance. When he reached home, he saw his sister pacing in the living room. She turned when she heard some footsteps.

Seeing his brother on the door, she ran to him, "Aap kahaan chale gaye the bhaiya? Main kab se aapka intezaar kar rahi hun. Time dekha hai aapne, aap do ghante se gayab the aur phone bhi nahi uthaa rahe the. Kahaan the aap itni der Bhaiya?"

Kabir saw his baby sister all worked up & worried for him. He gently caressed her head, "Main yeh dekhne gaya tha ki Naina thik se ghar pohonchi yaa nahi. Aaj Sameer bhi nahi aaya tha na usse lene, isliye main bas check karne gaya tha."

She asked, "Naina pohonch toh gayi na ghar thik se?" She saw her brother's pained expression & asked again, "Kya hua Bhaiya? Kuch hua hai kya? Naina thik toh hai na? Pataa nahi, aaj jab wohh akeli ghar jaa rahi thi, toh mera mann baitha jaa raha tha, jaise kuch bura honewala ho. Bolo na bhaiya, Naina thik toh hai na?"

Kabir was shocked to hear that Preeti had already sensed some danger. He held her hand & took her to the couch. Once they settled, Kabir told her everything that Naina faced today on that dark scary road. Preeti sobbed when he finished speaking & then hugged her brother.

"Sshhhh... Preeti... Chup ho jaa. Ab Naina bilkul thik hai. Main khud usse ghar chodkar aaya hun. Rona band kar behen. Tu jaanti hai na, mujhe tere aankhon mein aansoon acche nahi lagte. Chalo... rona band karo pehle.", he said wiping her tears.

"Jab wohh akeli gayi, tab hi mujhe kuch thik nahi lag raha tha. Aur wohhh Sameer, aaj kyun nahi aaya usse lene? Wohhh Naina bhi na, hume drop bhi nahi karne diya usse? Pataa nahi, kya beeti hogi uspar?", Kabir heard her anger & worry at the same time & smiled that finally his sister had indeed found a best friend. He had never seen her worry so much about anyone till now.

"Preeti... Naina thik hai ab." Preeti looked up at him & asked, "Ummm... Bhaiya... Main uske ghar phone karke pooch lun ki wohh thik hai ya nahi? Usse baat karne ka bohot mann ho raha hai. Naina se baat kar lungi na tabhi hi mujhe chain aayega, uski aawaaz sunni hai bhaiya."

Kabir understood his sister's feelings, "Preeti... Time dekh kya ho raha hai? Iss waqt kisike ghar call nahi karna chahiye. Shaayad, Naina abhi aaraam kar rahi ho, hume disturb nahi karna chahiye, usse aaraam ki zarurat hai abhi. Waise bhi hum kal dinner ke liye unke ghar jaa hi rahe hai na, tab Naina se acche se mil lena aur uske haal chaal bhi acche se pooch lena. Thik hai?"

Preeti reluctantly agreed, still worried for her soul sister. She knew that she couldn't talk to her best friend right now, she would've to wait till tomorrow evening till they visited their home. They had their dinner quietly & retired to their rooms.

Once in the room, Kabir was anxious with whatever happened in the last few hours. When he had seen those goons holding her, he had lost his cool. But somehow, he had curbed down his rage & acted maturely. This itself had been a task for him. He wanted to kill those guys with his bare hands. How could they even touch Naina?

Keeping his anger in check, he had handled the situation. He was surprised when he saw Naina hitting the other guy with that rod. He had never thought that she would be so strong enough to do this & act bravely. He was happy that finally she had talked to him & maybe this would help him to get closer to her & know her much better.

Something clicked in his mind & he wondered, "Mujhe pataa nahi aisa kyun lag raha hai jaise Sameer aur Naina ke beech kuch hai jo mujhe nazar nahi aa raha. Par kya? Sameer Naina ke saath kitna comfortably behave karta hai, maine kabhi usse aise nahi dekha, wohh bhi kisi ladki ke saath. Main kya karun, kuch samaj nahi aa raha? Kaise pataa lagaun kya hai unn dono ke beech?"

He remembered how Sameer had reacted, "Unki itni himmat ki unhone meri Naina ko haath lagaya." Had he really said, 'Meri Naina'? Kabir felt restless now, he needed to know their equation before he approached her. He liked her & he wanted to know her, get close to her. But after seeing the bonding between Sameer & Naina, he was in a fix. With confusion in his mind & heart, he drifted to sleep.

The next morning Sameer & Naina slept till late. When Naina opened her eyes, she saw the fan above her, then she felt the soft mattress. Realizing where she was sleeping, she got up with a start. She rubbed her eyes & then tried to remember, how she landed on his bed.

She turned left to see her adorable husband sleeping on the couch with a cute pout. She could see that he wasn't comfortable sleeping on it but yet the serene smile on his face brought a smile on her face too. She kept watching him & then got up from his bed.

She saw it was already ten in the morning. She kneeled down near the couch & called out softly, "Sameer... Sameer... Uthiye naa... dekhiye dus baj gaye hai. Nanaji hamara breakfast ke liye intezaar kar rahe honge." When he didn't move, she tried again, "Sameer... please uthiye naa..."

Sameer thought that he was dreaming, so he murmured in sleep, "Ummmm... Sone do na Naina... please..." After hearing him plead for some more sleep, Naina didn't have heart to wake him up again. With a soft smile on her face, she went to her luggage bag & chose the dress for the day.

While bathing, she thought back to the events that happened since last night. She recollected how Sameer had reacted, how he behaved nicely with her, how he stayed there for her, how he consoled her. Her cheeks turned crimson red while remembering the way he was gazing at her last night.

Suddenly she remembered what he had said to Kabir, "Unki itni himmat ki unhone meri Naina ko haath lagaya." Her heart stopped fully. Did he really call her his Naina? She hit her forehead, "Sameer ne aise hi gusse gusse mein keh diya hoga. Tu jyada mat soch Naina, wohhh ek pal acche hote hai toh dusre hi pal gussa bhi ho jaate hai. Unhe khud pataa nahi hoga ki wohh kya keh gaye. Ek baat yaad rakh Naina ki tum iss ghar mein sirf ek saal ke liye hai, uske baad tujhe yahaan se hamesha hamesha ke liye jaana hoga, iss ghar ko chodna hoga, sab rishtey peeche chodne honge, har khushi ko alvida kehna hoga."

She let her tears fall & then finished her bath. When she came out, she saw him still sleeping, clutching her quilt tightly. Firming herself, she left the room & headed downstairs. She saw Nanu sitting with his favorite Rahu-Ketu. She smiled & walked towards them.

They saw her approaching & Mundit were beside her in a flash. "Bhabhi... Tum thik toh ho na? Hume Nanu ne bataaya kal raat kya hua tha. Tumhe kahin chot toh nahi lagi na?", Munna asked in concern.

"Main thik hun. Tum dono chinta mat karo." Nanu came forward & hugged her, "Ab thik hai na meri bacchii?" She nodded, "Haannn... Nanaji main ab ekdum thik hun." Munna's & Pandit's eyes misted & they too joined their hug.

"Naina... Sameer kahaan hai? Wohh nahi aaya neeche?", Nanu asked gesturing towards their room. She smiled, "Sameer ab bhi so rahe hai. Mera mann nahi kiya unki gehri neend todne ka, isliye maine uthaaya nahi." Nanu caressed her face, "Chal... naashta kar lete hai, bhook lagi hogi na?" He turned towards the boys, "Rahu-Ketu... Chalo... tumhara dost toh ab tak so raha hai, tum dono bhi hamare saath naashta kar lo."

They enjoyed the breakfast of upma made by Ramdhari. While serving, even he couldn't hold back his worry, "Bhabhi... Ab aap bhale hi thik ho, par aaj aap koi kaam nahi karengi. Main sab sambhaal lunga." "Bhaiya... Aap chinta mat kijiye, main bilkul thik hun. Aur aise kaise aap akele sab kaam karenge?"

He looked at Nanu, "Nanaji... Aap hi kuch kahiye Naina Bhabhi se." Now, Nanu was in a fix. He looked amongst the two & said, "Naina... Ramdhari thik toh keh raha hai, aaj tum aaram kar lo. Sab kaam aaj Ramdhari sambhaal lega."

Naina shook his head, "Nahi Nanaji. Aaj shaam ko Kabir aur Preeti bhi toh aa rahe hai. Aise kaise main unko sab kaam akele karne dun." Nanu looked at the two & spoke with finality in his voice, "Thik hai. Tum dono aisa karo, lunch Ramdhari ko banane do aur fir tum uski dinner banane mein help kar dena Naina." Both of them agreed.

Sameer woke up with a start when he heard some noise from downstairs. He looked at the clock & then turned towards his bed to find it already empty. He rushed towards the washroom to get ready. Once he was done, he left downstairs to find his best friends sitting with his Nanu in the living room.

He scanned around to get a glimpse on his lovely wife which was surely noticed by the others. "Sameer... Idhar udhar kya dekh raha hai? Hum toh yahaan baithe hai. Chal idhar aaja, hum Nanu se California wala project discuss kar rahe hai."

After not finding Naina around, his shoulders dropped & he walked towards the couch where his friends were settled with Nanu. Within five minutes, he was engrossed in explaining the details of the project to Nanu.

Naina had heard Munna's voice & she started preparing his favorite coffee. She had asked Ramdhari to prepare dough for making aloo parathas. He was done with that & then Naina took over.

Sameer inhaled the aroma of his favorite coffee & was elated that it was definitely made by his wife. Within ten minutes, Ramdhari carried the coffees & aloo parathas to the living room & served Sameer first, "Sameer Bhaiya... lijiye aapka mannpasand naashta."

Sameer attacked the parathas as if he was starving since so many days. Nanu & his friends looked at his changing behavior & were happy with that. He relished the coffee as always groaning all the while.

Naina kept peeking from the kitchen, she didn't want to face him right now, especially after sharing those special moments last night. On the other side, Sameer waited desperately for her to come out of the kitchen.

He couldn't wait more & called out, "Naina... Naina... Mujhe ek aur cup coffee chahiye." She heard his voice & trembled with its intensity. Without replying, she started making coffee for him. This time she had to face him as Ramdhari was already in the garden, watering the plants. She couldn't call him out just to serve the coffee to Sameer.

With trembling hands, she held the cup & walked out of the kitchen. Sameer did continue discussing about the project, but his eyes stayed glued towards the kitchen, waiting for her to appear.

When she came out of the kitchen, he left the discussion midway & stood up. The others went quiet & looked up in amusement. He walked up to her & took the cup away. "Naina... Tum thik ho?" She met his worried gaze, "Main ab bilkul thik hun."

His eyes moved towards her elbow to see the new bandage. She stuttered, "Wohh... wohhh... thodi der pehle Nanaji ne bandage badal diya." He didn't answer & looked at her face intently, especially her swollen cheek. Without a word, he palmed her cheek & asked, "Ab bhi dukh raha hai kya?"

Naina shivered with his touch yet again. He too noticed that but remained focused on her pain for now. She held his intense gaze & replied, "Ab nahi dukh raha." The loud cough of Nanu broke their eye lock & they turned to him looking away.

"Aaj Sameer ko coffee itni acchi lagi ki usne Naina ko dobara banaane lagaaya. Waahhh... Kya baat hai? Aisa toh aaj tak kabhi nahi hua? Kyun Chenu?", Pandit nudged Munna & Nanu coughed again.

Sameer walked towards Nanu & handed him a glass of water. "Nanu... Doctor ko bulaa le kya? Aapko khaasi bhi ho gayi hai aur ek baar wohh Naina ko bhi check kar lenge toh accha hoga, agar Naina ko kahin jyada dard ho raha ho toh?" He tried diverting his best friends' teasing.

"Nahi barkhurdaar. Main thik hi hun, bas galaa sukh gaya tha isliye khaansi aa rahi thi." Nanu turned to Naina, "Tum chaaho toh Naina ke liye doctor ko bulaa sakte ho." She immediately replied, "Nanaji... Main thik hun. Doctor ko bulaane ki koi zarurat nahi hai."

Sameer didn't turn & replied, "Thik hai. Nanu... Main zara baahar jaa raha hun, thoda zaruri kaam hai, shaam tak aa jaunga." Before anyone could ask him anything, he was out of the house with his car keys.

Nanu asked, "Naina... Tumhe pataa hai, Sameer kahaan gaya abhi?" She shook her head,
"Nahi Nanaji... Mujhe kuch nahi pataa." She was about to turn towards the kitchen again, when she heard the honk of a car outside their mansion. Was be back?

Even Nanu & Munna Pandit turned hearing the sound. "Naina..." Preeti hollered from the door & ran to her, crushing Naina in her arms. "Tu thik hai Naina?" Her choked voice was quite evident & Naina replied rubbing her back, "Main thik hun Preeti."

She left her & shouted, holding her shoulders, "Kisne kahaa tha itni raat akele jaane ko? Ek toh wohh Sameer bhi tujhe lene nahi aaya aur tune hume bhi tujhe drop karne se manaa kar diya? Iske aage tu kabhi kahin akeli nahi jaayegi samjhi? Pataa hai jab bhaiya ne sab bataaya toh mera dil hi baith gaya, yeh sochkar ki kaise tune unn dono ka saamna kiya hoga, kya beeti hogi tujhpar? Main khud ek ladki hun aur bohot acche se samaj sakti hun sab."

Naina hugged her again calming herself down & her best friend's heart, "Preeti... Shant ho jaa... Dekh main bilkul thik hun." Preeti looked at her from top to bottom & asked, "Tujhe kahin jyada dard toh nahi ho raha na?" Naina shook her head & Preeti stepped ahead & whispered, "Main uss chot ki baat nahi kar rahi jo sabko dikhti hai Naina, main uss ghaav ki baat kar rahi hun jo hamare sharir se jyada hamare mann par lagta hai. Main acche se jaanti hun ki kaisa lagta hai jab koi tumhari permission ke bina tumhe choone ki koshish karta hai. Ab batao, tum thik ho?"

Naina's eyes misted automatically after understanding what Preeti was referring to. They hugged again & Preeti rubbed her back, "Ssshhhh... Main ab se hamesha tumhare saath hi rahungi, tumhari hanuman bannkar. Agar kisine tumhe choone ki koshish bhi ki na toh main unki ek ek haddi tod dungi."

Everyone's eyes teared up seeing the strong bond of the two girls. After hearing the last line of Preeti, Pandit chuckled & she turned to him, "Itni kya hasi aa rahi hai tumhe? Main sach mein kisiki bhi sab haddiyaan tod sakti hun. Dekhna hai tumhe?", she said squinting her eyes at him.

Kabir came ahead & patted Pandit's back, "Yeh sach keh rahi hai. Meri behen ne karate sikha hai, toh jab yeh aisa kuch kehti hai toh usse karke bhi dikhaati hai. Dekhna hai tumhe?" Pandit paled hearing his words & he started stuttering, "Main... main... toh... aise hi... tum par nahi hass raha tha... wohh... wohh... mujhe achanak se koi joke yaad aa gaya... isliye main hasa... sacchiii..."

When he glanced at Munna & Nanu for help, they just shrugged & then he pleaded at Kabir who just smiled in response. When he met Preeti's gaze, he knew that she was definitely serious about breaking anyone's bones. Now he wondered if she would break his bones first. What a start, wasn't it???

After a minute, everyone broke into peals of laughter seeing Pandit's serious expressions. He rubbed his neck nervously & looked away while Preeti smiled. Kabir came forward & touched Nanu's feet, "Nanaji... Sorry hum jaldi hi aa gaye. Preeti kal raat se hi Naina ko milne ke liye bechain ho gayi thi. Maine raat ko usse jaise taise rok liya par aaj usne meri ek nahi suni aur uski haalat dekhkar main usse yahaan Naina se milaana le aaya."

Nanu hugged him & called out Preeti, he hugged them together, "Tum dono yahaan kabhi bhi aa sakte ho, agar kabhi aadhi raat ko bhi yahaan aane ka mann kare toh aa jaana, iss ghar ke darwaaze tum dono ke liye hamesha khule rahenge." The siblings' eyes misted & they hugged him again.

Naina & Preeti helped Ramdhari to cook lunch for them while the others sat chatting in the living room. Once the lunch was prepared, the girls joined the others. Kabir asked hesitantly, "Sameer kahaan hai? Dikh nahi raha?" "Arey usko koi zaruri kaam tha isliye wohh baahar gaya hai, shaam tak aa jaayega.", Munna replied.

Kabir hadn't got hold of Naina alone so that he could talk to her & ask about her health. He was busy talking to Munna, Pandit & Nanu. They had their lunch amongst lots of laughter & fun. Naina though missed the presence of her caring husband, she kept trying to smile throughout the lunch.

Once they were done, Kabir announced, "Nanaji... Ab hume jaana chahiye." Preeti didn't want to go but yet she joined his brother. "Bacchon... Tum ab dinner karke hi jaana. Jab se tum dono aaye ho, iss ghar mein aur bhi ronak aa gayi hai. Aaj dinner tak ruk jao tum dono, Naina ko bhi accha lagega. Waise Sameer bhi ab tak nahi aaya, usse bhi mil lo aur fir dinner karke chale jaana ghar."

Preeti looked at her brother with puppy eyes & he relented, "Thik hai Nanaji... Hum ab dinner karke hi jaayenge." He turned to look at his sister & pinched her cheek, "Ab khush???" She jumped, "Haaannnn... Bohot khush..." She held Naina's hands & spoke, "Chal tere kamre mein jaate hai, dher saari gossip karni hai tujhse."

Naina froze on her spot, she couldn't decide in which room she should take her. Mundit saw through her confusion, "Arey Preeti... Kuch samay hamare saath toh baitho, humse bhi baat karlo.", Pandit tried to help which turned futile hearing Preeti's reply, "Main tumhare saath kyun gossip karun? Aur abhi toh hum sab ne saath mein lunch kiya na? Aur kya baatein karni hai tumhe, huh???"

Naina understood that he was just trying to help her so she replied, "Preeti... Chod na... Chal upar chalte hai mere room mein." Naina dragged her upstairs & entered her old room. She couldn't take Preeti to her new room where there were pictures of Sameer all around the room. She still wasn't prepared to let her know about their marriage.

They sat on the bed & continued gossiping forgetting about the time. It was evening, when she heard the sound of the car. She walked up to the window & looked down to see her dashing husband giving a shake to his head to settle his hair. She saw few bags in his hands & then she met his gaze which was now fixed on her.

He winked & walked inside the house. Her cheeks colored instantly which was caught by her friend, "Tera chehra achaanak se itna laal kaise ho gaya?" Naina had almost forgotten about her presence. She turned, "Laal... Mera chehra kaise laal ho sakta hai Preeti? Kuch bhi bolti hai tu?"

Preeti didn't pester her more & then said, "Chal ab neeche jaate hai, kabse yahin hai hum." Naina too wanted to go downstairs & see her handsome husband. She said, "Preeti tum chalo, main zara fresh hokar aati hun." Peeti left her room & Naina entered the washroom.

When she came out, she heard a knock on the door. "Ab yahaan kaun aa sakta hai?", she wondered & walked towards the door to open it. She looked at the person standing in front of her & asked, "Aap... aap yahaan kya kar rahe hai? Kuch chahiye tha kya Kabir?"

He replied rubbing his neck nervously, "Nahi... Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye, bas tumse baat karni thi." She hesitantly opened the door wide & he entered. "Wohh mujhe sirf yahi poochna tha ki tum thik ho?" Finally, he had asked her. She smiled, "Main thik hun Kabir aur yeh sab aapki wajah se hai. Pataa nahi agar aap kal time pe nahi aate toh kya hota?"

"Acche logon ke saath hamesha accha hi hota hai Naina. Mujhe toh wahaan aana hi tha. Khair chodo. Kal jo bhi hua usse bhoolne ki koshish karna aur kal se college shuru ho rahi hai toh apni padhai par dhyaan do." She nodded, "Haaannn... Ab sirf aage hi badhna hai, peeche mud kar nahi dekhna mujhe."

Kabir reluctantly moved out of her room & she sat there for a while. Within a minute, the door opened again & Sameer walked in with a frown on his face. "Tum yahaan kya kar rahi ho? Hamare room mein kyun nahi ho? Main kabse tumhe dhoond raha tha."

Her heart & mind fully aware of his proximity as he walked to her. "Bolo..." She came out of her trance & stuttered, "Main... wohhh... Preeti ke saath thi yahaan. Hamare room mein nahi le jaati sakti thi na?" "Kyun???", he asked closing the distance between them.

He hadn't even touched her & still goosebumps erupted all over her skin. "Wohhh... wohhh... main usse nahi bataa sakti na ki hum married hai, isliye main Preeti ko iss room mein le aayi. Uss kamre mein le jaati toh aapke photos dekhkar bohot sawaal karti. Aur aapne hi toh condition rakhi hai ki hum kisiko nahi bataa sakte ki hum shaadishuda hai. Toh main Preeti ko wahan kaise le jaati?"

Sameer's eyes became stoic in a second & without replying, he left the room & banged the door shut with a loud thud.

How was the update?

I'm very sorry that I couldn't include the dinner in this chapter. The next chapter will definitely include the awaiting dinner.

I'm again sorry to say that I won't be able to update any of my stories till two weeks.

First reason is that I'm vaccinated today & my left hand is paining like hell & my head is aching too much.

Second reason is that I'm very much busy with my work due to quarter end jobs & also I've to attend office regularly. By the time I come home, I don't have much energy left to write.

Third reason is that I would be travelling to Pune for some days starting the next weekend. So, again I won't be able to write much.

I only know how I've completed today's update with the hurting arm. I will be home for two more days but as I need rest, I won't even try to write.

I'm really sorry again. But I will still try to write if I feel better & I will surely carry my laptop with me to Pune as well...

Do vote, comment & share if you like the story...

Ignore the mistakes...

With Lots of Love,

Daksha...❤