Two week passed without any hurdle, everything went smoothly. After that day, Sameer and Naina met every two or three days for the discussion. They met at the library every time. Now they share a good bond. They both talked to openly about studies but there was still hesitation in talking about each other.

Since the red rose incident, Sameer always takes care that Naina should not be hurt by anything from him. He was very caring about her. Her innocence and simplicity was creating a stir in his heart. His heart was leaning towards her. But he could not understand this feeling and always wanted to spend time with her. Naina also started admiring Sameer after seeing his caring nature. Her first sight attraction was now slowly turning into love. But she was unaware of this feeling. She could not understand why she was feeling all this.

The sports activity was being organized by the college next week. So this week one or two classes were only held all day. After class, some students spent time in sports, some in the library and some went back home.

It was the third day since the game practice began. Sameer was present in the classroom even after the end of the class today. Munna did not come to college today. He was sitting alone in his seat. Sunaina was insisting to him that both of them go out of college and spend time with each other. But Sameer did not want to go out with her, so he gave her the excuse of having some work in the home. Sameer was frustrated by Sunaina of drooling over him.

When Sameer was passing by Naina's classroom and cast a glance from the window into the classroom. He saw a beautiful sight in front of him in the classroom, which made his heart swell and the corner of his mouth lifted. His steps stopped there and stared at a beautiful soul and that beautiful soul was Naina. Then he glanced all over the classroom and realised the whole class was empty and only she was present there. She was sitting alone in the class and was busy with her study. Seeing her alone, he was frowned at her. He got a thought in his mind that why she is sitting alone in class like this, why she is so careless and naive. Why she does not understand that it is not right to sit alone in this way, even when there is no one around.

But immediately he shrugged off his thought and seeing her studying, a smile crept on his face. His steps automatically headed towards her. He slowly strode towards her because he did not want to disturb her study. He reached near her table and stood there and adoring her. He was still standing near her desk for more than 5 minutes, but she was unaware of his presence here. Then he gently took her name "Naina" and hearing her name, she raised her face with abruptly and found Sameer in front of her and saw his charming face. He was standing with his hand crossed on his chest. He was dressed up a simple blue shirt paired with black trouser. His sleeve was folded up to the elbow.

Naina - aap yanha...she said with surprisingly and stunned to see him in front of her.

Sameer - wo yanha se guzar raha tha aur tumhe class me akela dekha to aa gaya... Vaise Naina tumhe aise class me akele nahi baithna chahiye... koi bhi kuch kar sakta hai...he said in a serious voice that the concern was reflecting.

Naina - wo Swati aur Preeti sports dekhane ground pe gaye hai... mujhe kam tha to class me hi ruk gai, mai thodi der me jane wali thi...she replied and seeing his concern for her, her heart swelled with joy.

Then, looking at the book, she thought something and daringly said him.

Naina - umm... mujhe ye samajh nahi aa raha hai... aap aa gaye hai to bata dijiye... she requested very politely, pointing a page of her book.

Sameer - sach kahta hai Munna, tum na ek number ki padhaku ho... and she looked at him with confused face, then he said further.. matlab Munna ka kahna hai ki tumne kitna padha hoga tabhi to top kiya hai... he chuckled and he wondered at her studios nature.

Naina - jaiye aap ko nahi batana to, mai khud se kar lungi... and turn her face with annoyance.

Sameer - are tum to naraz ho gayi...he said looking at her with love.

He sat on her front bench with his face towards her.

Naina - ha to , aisi baat karenge to naraz nahi houngi...she said looking back at him.

Sameer - achchha.. sorry...he apologized holding one of his ear and said to her, while dragging book towards him...batao kya samajh nahi aa raha.

After some time, the topic was well understood by Naina. A question was going on in Sameer's mind for a long time and today he thought there is a good chance to ask about that.

Sameer - Naina... he uttered slowly.

Naina - ha... she replied, looking at him.

Sameer - mujhe tum se kuch puchhna tha... par kabhi himmat nahi hui...he said hesitantly, he afraid that her would not misunderstand him.

Naina - puchhiye na... she said while closing the book.

Sameer - Naina tumne to top kiya hai aur tumhe to kisi bhi reputed college me aasani se admission mil jata to phir tumne kisi achchhe college me admission kyo nahi liya... he asked her after a lot of debating with himself.

Naina looked at him attentively and wondered what to answer.

Naina - mai... apni family se dur nahi jana chahati thi... she said with little smile.

Sameer - wow!... ye to bahut achchhi baat hai ki tum apne family ke touch me rahna chahati ho, unhe chod kar nahi jana chahati... tumhare top karne par tumhare mammy aur papa tum se bahut khush honge, unhe tum par proud feel hoga... he asked excitedly.

Hearing his words, her smile faded and she fidgeting her hands and tears were ready to come out of her eyes but she controlled them.

Naina - meri mummy iss duniya me nahi hai... she said in a low voice and her lips trembled. She held the bench tightly to support herself.

Sameer - I am sorry ...mai bhi na kuch bhi bolta rahta hu...he felt guilty and cursed mentally himself for asking this topic to her.

Naina - aap kyo sorry bol rahe hai... wo bas mammy ki yaad aa gayi thi aur emotional ho gai... she said after composing herself.

Sameer - lekin tumhare papa ko jaroor tumpe proud feel hota hoga... he looked at her, and said all this to made her happy and distract her, but he did not know the reality.

Seeing her somewhere lost he felt he was not asked right.

Sameer - koi baat nahi, tum batana nahi chahati to... sab ki apni personal life hoti hai.. mujhe ye sab nahi puchhna chahiye...He said normally.

Naina - aisa nahi hai... meri mammy ki mujhe janam deti hi death ho gai thi... aur isliye mere papa mujh se nafarat karte hai... unhe mere pass ya fail hone se koi matalab nahi, unke liye mere bhaiya hi sab kuch hai, mai unke liye ek bojh hu, jo unhe sirf sharmindagi hi de sakti hai... she said in a chocked voice and bowed her head and looked at her fidgeting hands and she stopped.

He felt, how painful Naina's childhood was.  She has suffered so much at such a young age. It is very difficult to bear humiliation and neglect by the father you see in front of you every day. Nevertheless, she is always smiling and does not show anyone the sadness behind this smiling face. All this requires a great heart which Naina has. That is why she is so naive and lovely to make anyone her own.

Here Naina realized how she revealed such a big truth of her life to Sameer, which she did not tell to anyone except Swati till today.  Swati was the only one who was the companion of her grief after her family, but today she shared that misery with Sameer.  Unknowingly, she gave Sameer a special place in her life. But she was still unaware of this and wondered what Sameer must have been thinking about her. What kinds of girl is this, who not liked by her father.

Sameer - Naina ...mai samajh sakta hu, apno ki nafrat jhelna kitna mushkil hai, ... tum bahut strong ho Naina... koi tumhe dekhkar jan hi nahi sakta ki tum daily kin situation ka samna karati ho... He calmed her down and appreciated her being strong.

Hearing his soothing words she lift her face and looked at him and he gestured her to smile. She smiled and again said.

Naina - par mere chachaji mujhe bahut pyaar karte hai aur mujhe wo sab karne ki aajadi hai jo mai karna chahati hu... wo mere har decision me mera saath dete hai, wo mujhe hamesha guide karte hai...and her eyes showed a twinkle of joy and her genuine smile was back on her face.

Sameer - bilkul mere nanu ki tarah... Naina tumhare ghar me aur kon kon hai... he asked curiously.

Naina - Meri family me chachaji chachaji aur unki do betiyan Pooja didi aur Preeti hai. Chachaji ke baare me bata chuki hu aur Chachiji kabhi mujhe meri mammy ki kami mahsoos hone nahi deti, Preeti se bhi jyada mujhe pyaar deti hai... aur Preeti meri sagi bahan na hote huye bhi sago se jyada pyaar karti hai. Kabhi mujhe udas dekh hi nahi sakti...ha mere ek bhai hai, arjun bhaiya.. wo delhi me engineering ki padhai kar rahe hai... aur hamare ghar ke bagal me tauji aur taiji ka ghar hai, mere papa unke yanha rahte hai. Bas itni si hai meri family... she told him about her family members.

After that, they became silent. Naina was happy that her faith in Sameer was right. Instead of making fun of her, he understood her situation and encouraged her. He is truly a gentleman. Sameer was also thinking about Naina how she shared her most painful memories with him today. He felt that their friendship was now going towards understanding each other apart from the study. But at the same time he felt bad for Naina. He got angry at the person who was ignoring innocent Naina without her fault. He heartily felt that his pain was mine.

Naina - ab aap apne baare me bataiye...aap ke mammy papa to bahut khush honge na.....she asked while interrupted his thoughts, who was still thinking about her.

Listening her chirpy voice, his reverie broken. And he was absorbed her question in his mind.

Sameer - mammy kabhi mujhse khush nahi rahati... he said in a flat tone and he stopped.

Naina - lekin kyo aap to itne achchhe hai...mera matlab har saal top karte hai... and looked at his sullen face and said... koi baat nahi aap batana nahi chahate to mai force nahi karungi... chaliye hum bhi ground pe jate hai... and she got up.

Sameer - ruko...

Hearing his voice, she again sat in her place and looked at him with confusion.

Sameer - jab mai panch saal ka tha mere papa ki death ho gai, phir ek saal baad mere nanu ne mammy ki dusari shaadi kara di aur mujhe god le liya. Mai mammy ke saath unke naye ghar delhi chala gaya. Mujhe delhi ja kar pata chala ki mammy ki shaadi jin se hui hai matlab mere step father unka ek 4 saal ka beta hai. Ab mammy ka pyaar use bhi milne laga, mai mammy ka pyaar divide hote huye nahi dekh paya aur har samay unhe apne hi paas rahne ko kahta, agar wo aisa nahi karti to mai gusse me chhijo ko phekna ya todna shuru kar deta. Meri is aadat se pareshan hokar meri sauteli dadi ne mujhe hostel bhejne ko kaha. Maine mammy se bahut kaha ki mujhe nahi jana, mai good boy ban ke rahunga par unhone meri baat suni hi nahi... aur phir mammy aur mere step father ne mera nainital ke boarding school me admission kara diya aur mujhe vaha chhod ke chale gaye. Mai rote huye kahta raha ki mai ab se unhe pareshan nahi karunga... par un dono ne meri baat ek nahi suni. Mai chikhata raha, chillata raha, ki mujhe akele nahi rahna, unke saath rahna hai... par mammy ne ek baar bhi pichhe mud kar nahi dekha aur mujhe vanha akela chhod ke chali gayi...Naina...bilkul akela... and he stopped.

And a few tears drops escaped from his eyes, he wiped away tears from the back of his palm and recalled those painful moments. Naina's eyes also moist and imagined how much he would have suffered in his childhood. After composing himself, he said again.

Sameer - pata hai Naina... mai vanha ek bench pe baitha ghanto rota raha, phir maine gusse me apne aap se wada kiya ki ab mai ghar kabhi nahi jaunga aur phir apne room me chala gaya. Jab nanu ko pata chali to unhone mammy ko is baat ke liye bahut danta ki mammy ne unhe bina bataye mujhe yanha bhej diya. Uske agle din nanu mujh se milne aaye, wo mujhe apne saath le jana chahate the, par maine gusse me jane se mana kar diya, unhone bahut kaha lekin mai nahi mana. Nanaji ne do din waha ruk kar mujhe manane ki koshish ki, jab mai nahi mana to wo bhi meri jid se haar kar chale gaye. Iske baad nanu ne mammy se ek saal tak baat nahi ki....maine teen mahine tak kisi se baat nahi ki, mammy ka har do din me phone aata tha, par har baar mai mana kar deta, phir unhone bhi phone karna kam kar diya saal me do ya teen baar hi karti jab unhe mere progress janni hoti... dhire dhire Nainital bhi achchha lagne laga...aur mai har vacation me nanu ke paas hi aane laga... aur jab 12th complete ho gaya to hamesha ke liye nanu ke paas aa gaya...aur aage college yahi karne ka socha....

He paused and looked at her who was listening intently to him, absorbing each of his words. He again continued still looking at her.

Lekin iss par bhi mammy aur unke husband chahate the ki mai abroad jakar MBA karu... aur mera interest hamesha se science me tha, to maine jane se mana kar diya...Is baar mere nanu ne mera saath diya aur kaha ki mai jo chahe wo karu, wo hamesha mere saath hai. Nanu ne strictly mammy ko kaha diya ab unki manmani nahi chalegi. Mera Sameer jo chahega vahi hoga...mammy mujhse gussa hoke chali gayi, aur mujhse baat karna band kar diya. Jab maine college me top kiya tab unka gussa kam hua aur baat ki...

Mammy ko hamesha se mujhse shikayat hi rahi hai, bachpan se lekar aaj tak.... Naina tumhari to mammy nahi hai, lekin meri to mammy hote huye bhi mujhe unka pyaar nahi mila...unki first priority hamesha se rohan hi raha hai, mera step brother.... Tumhi batao Naina kon si maa apne sage bachche ke saath aisa karti hai...and he shut his eyes to control his emotions. There was sadness on his face and the smile disappeared.

Naina - i am sorry, maine aapka mood spoil kar diya... she apologised.

Sameer - nahi Naina isme tumhari kya galti, jab mera bachpan hi aisa hai...ek baat aur Naina... mammy ke mujhe nainital bhejne ke baad se aaj tak mai bhir kabhi delhi nahi gaya... aur na hi kabhi jana chahunga, us dard ko mujhe phir nahi jina....and looked at her with a dull face.

They both became silent and not uttered a single words.

Naina - inn sab baaton se ye to pata chala ki aap bahut gusse wale aur jiddi hai... mujhe to aap se bach kar rahna padega... she said breaking the slience and spoke the last line in playfully while laughing to lighten his mood.

Sameer - Naina tum bhi... tumhe mujh se darne ki jaroorat nahi hai... and he smiled too.

They both spoke openly about each other for the first time. Sameer was remembering his painful childhood and Naina was remembering the love she had received from her loved ones with bitter memories of her childhood. The pain they both got was the same which connecting them to each other.
They felt each other's pain easily.

Naina - to aap ahmedabad me apne Nanaji ke saath rahte hai... she asked him to diverting his mind.

Sameer - ha... mere Nanaji Mr. Jaiprakash Maheshwari ek bussiness man hai, unka textiles ka bussiness hai aur mai college ke baad office me unka saath bussiness seekh raha hu... after all padhai ke baad unka bussiness aage le jana hai, unko mujhse bahut expection hai... jo mai har hal me pura karunga... he said very proudly and his excitement was reflecting from his words.

Naina - unhe kon nahi janta... unka bahut naam hai Ahmedabad me... mai unse mili to nahi hu, par suna hai wo dil ke bahut achhe hai... she said in a soft voice with respect.

Sameer - Naina meri life me Nanaji aur Munna ke alawa aisa koi nahi hai, jise mai apna kahu. Un dono ke siva maine kabhi kisi se apni life ke ye moments share nahi kiye the, par aaj tumse kiya... janti ho kyo... he said in a serious tone.

Naina - kyo... she asked looking at him in confusion.

Sameer - kyuki tum bahut khas ho, mai bahut kam longo par vishwas kar pata hu, bahut kam log hi mere dil me jagah bana pate hai, unme se ek tum ho...Naina... he said with affectionately.

Sameer had opened his heart in front of Naina. He was feeling a connection with her. He described his past to someone  other than Nanaji and Munna for the first time today. He expressed his feelings about her for the first time. He revealed her place in his life for the first time.

Naina - Sameer mai nahi ye to  aap ki  achchhai hai, tabhi aap ko sab achchhe lagte hai... blki mujhe aapko thank you bolna chahiye ki aap ne mujhe apna friend banne ke layak samjha... she appreciated his humble nature.

Sameer - Naina tum hamesha rahogi na meri friend... he asked looking at her with hope.

Hearing the word my friend, her heart started beating fast, she was rooted to her spot and blurred in front of her eye. She only remembered the word my friend and stared at him. Seeing this, Sameer broke her trance, taking her name.

Sameer - kaha kho gayi...Naina... tumne jabab nahi diya... rahogi na friend... he asked in a soft voice.

Naina - kahi bhi nahi... mai hamesha aap ki friend rahungi... aap na bahut achchhe aur sachche hai, aur aise insaan ki request koi mana kar hi nahi sakta... she reply in her lovely voice with enthusiasm.

Sameer - achchha ab bahut tarif ho gai... iss se pahle ki tarif ki barish ho hame yanha se nikal kar ground pe jana chahiye... he said to lighten the situation and looked at her deep brown eye.

And they shared an intense eyelock that they lost around them. They were still looking each other's eyes which carried an unknown desire and they were floating in those untold feeling. Hearing the loud sounds of the boys passing through the classroom, their eyelock broken.

They both felt embarrassed and started looking around. After some time both of them left the classroom.

************

Naina was lost all day in Sameer. His words were echoing in her mind.  Even after coming from college, she still looked lost. She was listening only when Preeti shouted two to three times to her. She felt his pain which pierced her heart.

Naina and Preeti were studying in their room before dinner, but Naina's attention was elsewhere. She was still thinking about Sameer. Preeti took her name after seeing this. Preeti was surprised to see her lost since she came from college. She wondered why she is doing this today, what would be the reason for her strange behavior.

Preeti - Naina...

she did not look at her, so she again call her name, but she did not react. Seeing this Preeti call her name loud voice and shook her arm. She came back her senses.

Naina - kya hai... chilla kyo rahi hai... she scolded.

Preeti - ye sahi hai... galti teri aur dant mujhe rahi hai... and she puffed her face.
Naina - achha bata kyo chilla rahi... she asked looking at her.

Preeti - ye mai nahi tu batayegi... tu aaj kaha khoi hui, pahle college me, ab ghar me hi yahi hal hai... baat kya hai... koi problem hai... bata na... meri jaan nikal jayegi... she asked her with concerning tone.

Naina - wo aaj college me... and she narrated the whole conversation between them in the classroom then said again... mai Sameer ke baare me soch rahi thi, usne kaise akele itna dard saha hoga...she said sympathetically.

Preeti - ha yaar ...sachhi me usne bahut dukh saha hai... par ek baat hai... pakka na Sameer ka dil aa gaya hai.. tujh pe, tabhi to tujhe apni friend banaya aur ab life ki itni badi baat share ki... she said in a serious voice.

Naina - aisa na kuch bhi nahi hai...Sameer ko laga hoga to bata diya... tu na jyada hi sochati hai... and slapped her head.

Preeti - Naina... tujhe kabhi Sameer pasand nahi aaya kya ya kabhi tujhe usse pyaar nahi hua... matlab ab itne dino se tu uske saath time spend karti hai... aur itna handsome hai... college ki saari ladkiyon ko chodakar tujhe hi apna friend banaya... bata na... mai to teri jagah hoti to mujhe to frist day hi usse pyaar ho jata... She said in a dreaming way.

Naina did not understand what to say.  She was not sure of her own feelings. Preeti looked at her for the answer. Just then Bela called them for dinner and they both went out for dinner.

*************

The dinner at Maheshwari Mansion was being prepared by Ramdhari. Nanaji was sitting on a chair in his room and reading a book. After preparing dinner, Ramdhari came to call him for dinner. Nanaji asked him about Samir and he tells that he was going to call him. But Nanaji stopped him.

Nanaji - Sameer kaha hai...He asked.
Ramdhari - aap ke baad hum unhe hi bulane ja rahe the... he reply.
Nanaji - tu ja dinner ready kar...mai Sameer ko bulata hu...he said.

Nanaji went to Sameer's room and knocked on the door.  Then when the door did not open for a few minutes, he pushed the door and entered the room. He noticed that Sameer was not present in the room. He thought, where would he have gone at this time. Then he heard the sound of running water in the bathroom and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He went to his study table and saw a book open. He was shocked after observing the book. He heard the sound of the bathroom door opening and he sat on the bed. Sameer came out of the bathroom and saw Nanaji in his room

Sameer - nanu kuch kam tha... mujhe bula liya hota... aap kyo aaye itni seediya chad ke... he said with concern. He was very conscious of his health.

Nanu - are abhi bhi in haddiyon me bahut dam hai...  aur tere bachhon ko bhi utha sakta hu...samajha mere sher...thujhe dinner ke liye bulane aaya tha... chal jaldi...he said in a zealous manner.

Sameer - kya nanu...aap chaliye mai aa raha hu.

Nanu - jaldi aana... and he left the room.

In dinning table nanaji said while eating the meal.

Nanaji - Sameer mai soch raha tha... tera college complete hote hi, tu office ki sari jimmedari le le... ab mai aaram karna chahata hu...He said in a serious tone.

Sameer - nahi nanu, abhi tu mujhe bahut kuch sikhana hai aapse, jab  tak mai sab sikh nahi jata, ye jimmedari aap ki hi hogi...mai aap ke under hi kam karunga...he explained his side.

Nanaji - lekin Sameer tu ab jimmedari lene ke kabil ho gaya hai... aur mai tumhe guide karne ke liye to rahunga hi... he clarified.

Sameer - abhi to college complete hone me bahut time hai... ye baat hum baad me karenge... he said that as if he wanted to  escaped this subject.

Nanaji - thik hai... tujhe abhi baat karni to koi baat nahi... par iske baare me sochana ... vaise ek baat puchna tha... ye Naina kon hai... and he asked while looking at him, who was surprised to hear Nanu's question. His eye widened with surprise.

Sameer - kon Nai..Naina... nanaji mai to kisi Naina ko nahi janta...He said with stuttered. He did not looked at nanaji even once and looked nervous.

Nanaji was watching every expression of him. He laughed at his condition inside.

Nanaji - to tu nahi janta Naina ko... he teased and chuckling at his condition.

Sameer - are ha... yaad aaya mere college me ek ladki ka naam Naina hai... par aap kyo puchh rahe hai... he said innocently as if he had heard her name for the first time.

Nanaji - nahi... bas aise hi puchh liya... aaj kahi ye naam suna tha ya shayad likha dekha tha... vaise bahut pyara naam hai na...and he remembered that he saw this name on Sameer's book when he went to his room.

Sameer - ha bahut pyara naam hai aur bahut pyari bhi hai... he murmured under his breath and a smile played on his lips.

Nanaji - vaise tu muskura kyo raha hai... kahi ye Naina special to nahi... He said in a slightly teasing tone.

Sameer - nahi... bas naam suna hai... kabhi baat nahi ki... and regretted himself for lying to nanaji.

Nanaji - achha ab mai sone ja raha hu, tu bhi ja jaldi so ja... jyada der tak mat jagna... and he caressed his head and went into his room.

Sameer - haaye... bach gaya, nanu jaldi chale gaye nahi to pata nahi kitna jhuth bolna padta... he sighed and he was mumbling to himself... par mai jhuth kyo bol raha hu, mai kyo nahi bata paya Naina ke baare me... he tried to find a reason, but could not find a reason to lie.

On the other hand, Naina was remembering the words of Preeti lying on her bed.

Naina (to herself) - Sameer ko jab pahle baar dekh tha tab se hi unke liye man me ek alag feeling thi, par laga sirf ek attraction hoga... phir hamari dosti hui aur aaj hum dono ne ek dusre se apni life ka important phase share kiya... aur kahi na kahi ab lagta hai, mai Sameer ko bahut pahle se like karne lagi thi... par aaj unke liye jo feel kiya hai, kya wo sab hi pyaar hai... ye sab itna confusion bhara kyo hai.. ab kisse puchu, Preeti ko puchhne par vah chidhaye gi, Swati se puchna thik rahega... par use pata lagne nahi dena hai, pata chala to wo Preeti se bhi jyada chidhaye gi, par confusion to dur karna hi hoga.

************

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