Today Naina informed Preeti and Pandit that she would go to see some places with her friends when they left for college in the morning. So if they would not be tense if she got late in the evening. They both agreed to see her happiness. But when Naina did not return after half past six in the evening, they both worried for her. Pandit rested in his room, something bothered him as some frown line appeared on his forehead. Preeti was preparing dinner at the kitchen, she had been planning a special dinner for Naina so she had more work in the kitchen.

Pandit lay on the bed with closed eyes and some images flashed in his mind. But soon he got disturbed hearing the horn of a car and went on his own window. He glanced at two people who were standing near a car outside the gate. He was shocked to see Naina with a boy. He did not look at the boy, as Sameer's back was facing his window. His uneasiness increased to see Naina smiled at the boy and he directly stormed kitchen.

When he reached the kitchen, he approached Preeti with slow steps. As some emotions pervaded inside him which was fear, worry and care for Naina. He stood beside Preeti and leaned on the kitchen counter. Preeti looked at him and found that he was worried about something.

"Kya hua?...Koi baat hai kya?." Preeti said to see something bothering him.

"Ha... par tumhe bura laga to..." He asked hesitantly.

"Kyo...?" She shocked to hearing him.

Pandit somehow dare to said about Naina. "Preeti... wo Naina ke baare me hai."

"Kya baat hai please, aap saaf saaf bataiye, mujhe ab tension ho rahi hai." She was panicked.

At first Pandit turn off the gas flame and he held Preeti's hand while looking into her eyes. He said " dekho Preeti mai jo tumhe kahne wala hu wo sun ke tumhe achha na lage, lekin Naina meri choti bahan jaisi hai, agar uske saath kuch galat hua to mujhe bhi bahut dukh hoga."

Preeti could not tolerate these suspense, she asked impatiently "Pandit please kya baat hai jaldi bataiye, kya hua Naina ke saath."

"Maine aaj Naina ko market me kisi ladke ke saath dekha tha aur abhi bhi wahi ladka use ghar chodane aaya hai. Mai uska chehara  nahi dekh paya, Naina aise kisi anjaan ladke ke saath kaise ghum sakti hai...Preeti mai kya tum bhi nahi chahati ho ki Naina uss dard se phir guzare jo usne 5 saal pahle saha tha.... Please Naina se baat kar janne ki koshish karo ki baat kya hai, ho sakta hai mai galat hou, lekin ek baar puri baat janna hamara haq hai... tum samajh rahi ho na mai kya kah raha hu." Pandit explained Preeti the whole matter that he saw Naina with someone at the connaught place where he had gone for some office work. But he had not seen Sameer's face both the times.

Hearing Pandit's revelation she was stunned as who was the boy with Naina. Who came to leave her back home.

"Aap thik kah rahe hai mai Naina ke aate hi usse baat karungi." Preeti replied in a feeble voice as she was scared after hear Pandit.

"Abhi nahi... Dinner ke baad aaram se puchana." He stopped her.

Preeti nodded in yes. Just then bell rang and Pandit opened the door as his usual smiling face. Naina saw Preeti face and sensed something change when she entered the house. Preeti and Pandit noticed Naina facial expressions changed and there was a glow  visible in her eyes and face. They both looked at each other.

"Naina aaj bahut khush lag rahi hai, kya baat hai... Mujhe nahi batayegi kaha kaha gayi apne friend.. ke saath." Preeti asked her with stretching the friend word.

"Preeti tujhe nahi bataungi to phir kise, tujhe to bahut kuch batana hai." She felt guilty as she hid from Preeti that she was with Sameer today.

"Ja pahle fresh ho ja phir dinner ke baad baat karenge, aaj dinner teri pasand ka hai...ja jaldi aa." Preeti stated.

Pandit sat in the sofa while reading newspaper and saw the Naina face when Preeti mentioned the friend to her. He observed some uneasiness on her face.

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

After dinner Naina was sitting in bed and immersed in some deep thoughts. She was very nervous thinking about how Preeti would react when she came to know about Sameer, he proposed to her and he wanted to marry her. She was afraid that Preeti would be angry with her as to why she accepted his proposal. At the same time her mind drifted to her family, if they did not accept their love what would she do. What will she forget Sameer or will she oppose her family's decision. But her trance broke by a sudden knock on the door.

Preeti stood at the door for her permission. Naina looked at her with a confused face as she was behaving some wired since she returned to college. She noticed at the dinning table, Preeti did not much insist her on taking food today as compared to other day. She felt a change in her behavior.

Naina take aside of her thoughts and said to Preeti with full affection. "Preeti tu kab se puch ke aane lagi...Ye tera ghar hai jab chahe tab aa sakti hai."

Preeti sat on the bed and looked at her face then she observed some thin line visible in her forehead.

Preeti asked in a plane tone "Naina mujhe tum se baat karni hai, bahut important hai."

Naina sensed something big happened which Preeti spoke with her in this tone. She said politely "bol na, kya baat karni hai." 

"Naina...Pandit ne aaj tujhe market me kisi ladke ke saath dekh, aur shaam me bhi vahi ladka chodne aaya tha shayad...Naina kon hai wo ladka, tu kaise janti hai use... Bata." Preeti directly questioned her.

Naina was shocked to hear as that Pandit and Preeti come to know about Sameer, her mind became numbed as everything she expected for her plan had gone in wrong turned. She did not say anything.

"Bol Naina kon hai wo ladka...Chup kyo hai." Preeti hollared to see her quiet.

After hearing Preeti screaming she replied "Preeti wo... ladka jinhe aaj jijaji ne dekha wo....Sameer the." And she looked at Preeti face which turned to shock.

"Kya kaha tune...Sameer, but how possible...Naina." Preeti was perplexed to know Sameer name.

"Ha Preeti wo Sameer hi the jinke saath mai market gayi thi aur vahi mujhe ghar bhi chodane aaye the." She confirmed her.

"Naina par tu Sameer se kaha mili aur Sameer yanha Delhi me kya kar rahe hai." Preeti asked as her confusion was not clear.

"Sameer ab Delhi me hi rahte hai, jab se unke nanaji ki death ho gai... Sameer usi college me professor hai jaha meri training thi. Maine unhe tab dekh jab wo training dene aaye the first day." Naina gave her a sad look.

"Naina, tune mujhe first day hi kyo nahi bataya... itni badi baat chupayi mujh se...Aur Sameer ne kya kaha...Jo aaj tu uske saath Delhi bhi ghumne chali gayi." Preeti said bit rude tone as she was angry at Sameer who had hurt her sister.

"Preeti... wo Sameer ne mujhe propose kiya aur maine bhi unka pyaar accept kar liya." She was blushing and lowered her eyes.

Preeti did not understand, she should be happy or she should be angry at Naina because she was furious at Sameer how he dared to propose to Naina after many years.

"Tune uska pyaar accept kar liya, ye jante huye bhi ki wo pahle Sunaina se pyaar karta tha...zarur Sunaina use chhod kar chali gayi hogi aur jab itne saalon bad tujhe dekha to propose kar diya hoga... Agar itna hi pyaar tha to college time hi karta na...Ab kyo kiya."
Preeti was burst off by showing her anger.

"Sameer ne kabhi Sunaina se pyaar kiya hi nahi tha, farewell ke din usne ye sab mere aur Sameer ke beech misunderstanding create karne ke liye kiya tha, jis wajah se hum dono itne saal door rahe.... Ab jab itne saalon baad hum mile to Sameer ne mujhe 3 din pahle apni dil ki baag batayi aur maine bhi ha kah di." Naina said lovingly and gave her a contented smile.

"Jab wo pyaar karta tha to farewell day ke baad kyo nahi kiya... aaj samne dekha to propose kar diya, tu bahut bholi hai Naina." Preeti tried to explain her opinion as she was not trust to Sameer.

"Nahi Preeti... tu Sameer ko galat samajh rahi hai, unhone to kai baar koshish ki, lekin hamari kismat ne hi dhokha de diya." Naina tried to convince her.

Naina narrated Sameer's attempt to propose to her, but for some reason how every attempt failed. She told how Sameer had known that her marriage was fixed, and he thought she would have been married and he was buried his feeling in his heart. She also explained how he had become lonely when his grandfather passed away.

After listening to Naina.. Preeti felt very bad about how both of them suffered a lot of pain in their lives. Now she was happy because her sister had found her love for which she cried a lot when she lost him.

Preeti engulfed her in a tight embrace. "Naina mai tere liye bahut khush hu, dekhana ab tujhe bhi wo sari khushiyan milegi jin par tera haq tha..."  After a few moments broke the hug, she asked with serious face "par ye bata Sameer ne sirf pyaar ka ijhaar hi kiya, ya shaadi ke baare me bhi koi baat ki...Sameer tujhse shaadi karna to chahata hai na?."

"Ha...Preeti use to badi jaldi hai." Naina was shy as realized what she blurted out.

"Ha... tujhe nahi hai jaldi." Preeti teased to see her blushing.

A pink hue covered her whole face and a shy smile blossomed on her pretty face. Preeti saw it on her face after a long time. Preeti again hugged her tightly and she felt some wetness on her shoulder. She immediately pulled away from the hug, wiped her tears and cupped her face.

Preeti said in a affectionately "Naina ro kyo rahi hai ab to sab thik ho gaya...Sameer tujh se pyaar karta hai aur shaadi karna chahata hai...Ab to tera sapna bhi pura ho raha hai, to phir ye aansu kyo, Naina?... are pagli tujhe khush hona chahiye."

"Mai khush hu Preeti, par kabhi kabhi apni kismat se dar lagta hai, ye khushiyan aise hi rahengi na..." Naina asked looking at her with some hope.

"Ha...Naina, tere khushiyan is baar koi nahi chhinega... mai kisi ko tere khushiyan chhinne bhi nahi dungi, mujh par bharosha hai na, agar gharwale nahi mane to mai manaungi unhe, par tere khushiyon ke aage kisi ko nahi aane dungi." Preeti tried her cheer up and gave her strength.

Naina's smile came back on her face and asked Preeti while holding her hand "tu gussa to nahi hai na mujhse...Sorry mai tujhe usi din batane wali thi par teri tabiyat thik nahi thi."

"Naina mai sachhi me bahut khush hu... aur sorry mai aaj sham se tere saath kaise rude behave kar rahi thi... Please uske liye maf kar de, mai Pandit ki baat sun ke pareshan ho gayi thi, isliye aisa behave kiya..." Preeti apologized.

"Tu sorry mat bol, mujhe hi pahle bata dena chahiye tha... to ye misunderstanding hoti hi nahi." Naina tried she not feel guilty.

"Achha ye to bata... Sameer ab bhi vaise hi handsome hai jaise college me tha." Preeti asked her as erase her feared.

"Bahut ab to aur handsome ho gaye hai... tujhe pata hai, training me bhi kai ladkiyo ka dil Sameer pe aa gaya tha." Naina said happily.

Preeti questioned her for lifting her mood "aur tujhe jalan nahi hui un ladkiyo se, wo sab Sameer ki tere samne tarif kar rahi thi to."

"Mai bhala kyu jalu vaise bhi Sameer hai hi tarif ke layak."  Naina said and averted her eyes for looking her.

"Achha." Preeti smirked.

"Mujhe nahi laga bura bas." She replied back to see her surprised face.

"Thik hai ab so ja mai ja ke Pandit ko bata deti hu ki wo Sameer tha...Jab se tujhe market me dekha tha pareshan ho gaye the... Sun kal hum sab Delhi ghumne jayenge, tujhe yanha ki famous place leke jaungi... Jahan tujhe Sameer nahi le gaya hoga." Preeti said mischievously while got up from the bed.

Naina nodded her head and wished her "Good night."

"Good night meri jaan." Preeti greeted.

As Preeti stepped inside her room, she found, Pandit stood near the window and lost some thoughts. His deep thoughts broke when Preeti hugged him from behind. He jerked off his reveries and asked her immediately as looked at her "Naina se baat hui... kya kaha usne, kon tha wo ladka."

Preeti first made him sat on the bed, hold his hand and said "Pandit wo ladka Sameer tha...Jisse Naina college ke dino se pyaar karti hai."

As Preeti had already told Pandit that Naina loved a boy named Sameer during her college days. But he loved someone else, due to which Naina's heart was broken.

"Lekin tumne hi to bataya tha ki Sameer kisi aur se pyaar karta hai to phir Naina kyo uske saath thi." He sounded bit furious after knowing about Naina spent time with Sameer.

And Preeti informed him of the whole condition, how there was a misunderstanding between them and now he had proposed her. As listening everything Pandit said with deep thought "Naina khush to hai na...Uski khushi bahut mayne rakhati hai."

"Kyo nahi hogi khush... uske chehare se to smile ja hi nahi rahi, aaj laga jaise meri pahle wali Naina vapas aa gayi." Preeti delighted as her sister was happy.

" Ye to achhi baat hai, ab so jao raat bahut ho gayi hai... Vaise kal kahan kahan ghumne ka plan banaya hai tum dono bahno ne." Pandit asked while put a fake smile on his face as he was still worried for Naina. He did not convince of Preeti information.

Preeti listed him at various place and he was hearing her absent mind as he was thinking something about Sameer. After made some planning for tomorrow, they both drifted into sleep.

***********

Sameer tossed and turned on his bed  thinking about Naina. His sleep disturbed by Naina shy face as recalled when he blew a kiss in the evening. That moment took his sleep away. He staring at the roof and turned his side every two minutes. Rohan was disturb by Sameer nonstop move. Rohan got up and sat on the bed while staring at him. As Sameer again turned towards him, he found Rohan staring him with crossed hand.

Sameer asked him innocently "kya hua Rohan? aise baith kyo gaye neend nahi aa rahi kya?"

Rohan glaring at him and huffed "ye to mujhe tumse puchhna hai, ki kya tension hai jo tumne pure bed par bhukamp la diya hai... kab se bas idar se udhar karwat le raho ho, baat kya hai Sameer?"

"Kuch nahi bas neend nahi aa rahi, tum so jao mai thodi der terrace pe ho ke aata hu." Sameer replied while got up from bed.

Rohan asked him concernly "Sameer koi baat hai jo tumhe disturb kar rahi hai? please mujhe batao ho sakta hai mai kuch help kar saku."

"Zarur Rohan, samay aane par tumhe zarur bataunga, par abhi kuch mat puchna please." Sameer patted his shoulder with forced smile and walked out of the room.

Rohan looked at his retreating figure and prayed to God for back happiness in his life.

Sameer talked to his Nanu as sat on the terrace "Nanu kal Naina wapas chali jayengi, ye soch ke aisa lag raha hai jaise life me kuch bhi nahi hai, please nanu meri Naina ko jald se mere berang zindagi me la dijiye."

Sameer felt how his life changed when Naina came into his life a few days ago. His lonely and sad life was filled with happiness and the longing to find someone's love had increased. But today he felt that the happiness which had come back in his life was being snatched away from him again.

Naina tried to sleeping but sleep was away from her eyes as flashed whole day moment in her mind when she was closing her eyes. Sameer's smiling face and his intense gaze  flashed in her mind. She got up and turn on radio for diverting her mind.

A song echoed in the room, breaking the silence there.

Tu meri zindagi hai
Tu meri har khushi hai
Tu hi pyar tu hi chaahat
Tu hi aashiqui hai
Tu meri zindagi hai
Tu meri har khushi hai...

Pehli mohabbat ka ehsaas hai tu
Bujh ke jo bujh na paai, vo pyaas hai tu
Tu hi meri pehli khwahish
Tu hi aakhri hai
Tu meri zindagi hai
Tu meri har khushi hai...

Har zakhm dil ka mere, dil se dua de
Khushiyaan tujhe gham saare, mujhko khuda de
Tujhko bhula na paaya
Meri bebasi hai
Tu meri zindagi hai
Tu meri har khushi hai...

After listening song Naina mumbled "Sameer aap sach me meri zindagi hai, aapke bina mai nahi jee sakti. Sameer aap meri takat hai aap ko pakar phir zindagi khushiyon aur rango se bhar gai hai...Lekin kal hum phir se alag ho jayenge, mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai... ye judai hamesha ke liye na ho.... Please bhagwan ji.

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

Please ignore any mistakes.