As soon as Aanand opened the door, he saw Sameer and Naina standing at the door. At first he was scared that why did they come in such a late night and noticed a pale face of Naina. He allowed them to enter the house.

"Sameer...Naina tum dono iss wakt... yahan..." Before Aanand asked further, Naina crushed in his arms and sobbed loudly.

Aanand and Bela scared seeing there daughter crying bitterly and Bela asked to Sameer. "Kya hua Sameer beta ye Naina aise ro kyo rahi hai... sab theek to hai na."

Before Sameer told about the reason, they all heard Naina murmering in low voice.

"Chacha ji... mai... aapse... kuch..nahi chupana... chahati.. thi...please ...mujhe... maaf.. kar...dijiye.... Agar aap mujhse naraaz ho jayenge to mai ...nahi....jee... paungi."

And the next moment realisation hit him why Naina was crying. Aanand patted her back and said affectionately. "Mai bhala apni Naina se naraaz rah sakta hun, tu to meri jaan hai... aur maafi tumhe nahi mujhe magani chahiye apni galti ki... jo bina soche, gusse me tumse se rishta todne chala tha."

Naina was astonished as Aanand's reaction was different from what she expected, she thought that Anand would be angry with her, would not want to see her face and might not even talk. But when she heard Aanand's soft voice, she could not believe her ears and thought she was probably in a dream.

Aanand parted her and made her sit on the sofa while addressing Sameer who also shocked. "Sameer beta tum bhi baitho." And looking at Bela. "Pani le aana Bela."

Naina felt a bit relaxed and asked cutely. "Matlab aap mujhse gussa nahi hai... jaise aap mujhe pahle pyaar karte the ab bhi vaise hi karenge na aur mujhse rishta bhi nahi todenge."

"Haa beta tum aaj bhi meri vahi choti si pyari Naina ho, tumhare liye mera pyaar kabhi kam nahi ho sakta...galti meri hai... sirf ek diary padha kar aisa decision le liya, ek baar tumse sachchai janne ki koshish bhi nahi ki... sorry beta maine tumhare saath bahut galat kiya, tumhe khushiyan dene ki jagah dukh de diya... tumne to puri koshish ki thi, mujhe sab batane ki... par maine to bas maan liya tha ki tum mujhse sach chhipa rahi ho... " and looking to Sameer, he apologized. "Sameer beta meri vajah se tumhe bhi bahut taklif hui hai....Please ho sake to tum dono mujhe maaf kar dena." He folded his hands in front of Sameer.

"Nahi chacha ji... maine to pahle hi Naina ko samajhaya tha, ye bas ek choti si misunderstanding hai... dekhana sab theek ho jayega." Sameer said holding his hands.

Aanand recalled how he had found her letter an half hour ago before their arrival and had prayed to God, Naina should not read his letter, but perhaps God did not listen to his prayer and Naina did read his letter. And he felt that the punishment for his mistake was to see his daughter in a miserable state.

Flashback.

Aanand was doing in his office work. Bela approached him to ask about dinner in their room.

Aanand replied while checking a file. "Thodi der baad Bela, abhi kuch bill taiyar karna hai... aandhe ghante baad karenge."

"Theek hai to phir mai apna serial dekh leti hun... jab aap ka kam khatam ho jaye to bata dena ji." She said.

"Jaise tumhari marji meri Rekha... par jane se pahle wo file deti jao jo mai Mumbai se laya tha... aalamari me rakha hai." He chuckled of her love to the tv drama.

"Ji abhi lati hun." And Bela handed out to him the file then asked. "Aur kuch chahiye kya?."

"Nahi tum jao aur maje se apna serial dekho." Aanand said.

As soon as Bela went out of the room, Aanand opened the file to see some papers. When he was flipping the documents, a letter came to his hands. He looked at it suspiciously thinking what would inside it. He pulled out the paper from inside after opening the envelope.

He was surprised to see the page, it was Naina's letter which she had written for him before her marriage, when her every effort went vain to tell their truth to him.

He started reading the letter as what she had wanted to say him.

Dear chacha ji

Mai janti hun aap soch rahe honge maine ye letter kyu likha hai, par mere paas letter likhane ke alawa koi option nahi tha.

Chacha ji maine aapse ek baat chupayi hai... mai Sameer ko mere college ke first day se janti hun. Sameer wahi hai jihone meri project me help ki thi. Aur is project ke dauran hamari dosti ho gai aur wo dosti kab pyaar me badal gayi hum dono hi nahi samajh paye... jab iska ehsaas hua aur hum dono ek dusre ko apni feelings bata pate, hamari kismat hame ek dusre se dur le gayi.

Abhi kuch din pahle jab mai training ke liye Delhi gayi thi, waha college me pure panch saal baad mujhe Sameer mile aur unhone apne pyaar ka izhaar kiya, jise mai mana nahi kar payi. Delhi se aane ke baad maine hum dono ke baare me aapko batane ki bahut baar koshish ki par himmat nahi juta payi. Phir Pandit jija ji ne hame ye sujhaw diya ki wo hamare rishtey ke baare me aapse baat karenge, kyonki hum dono phir se alag nahi hona chahate the. Aur jab hamara rishtaa tay ho gaya uske baad bhi maine aapko kai baar batana chaha... par situation nahi ban paai.

Shayad ye sab jankar aap ka mujh par se vishwas utha gaya hoga. Sorry chacha ji maine aapka bharosa toda hai, shayad aap ki aazadi ka galat bhayada uthaya hai aur padhane ki jagah pyaar kar baithi... par mai dil ke hatho mazboor thi aur Sameer se pyaar kar baithi.

Lekin ab mai ye jhuth ka bojh aur nahi utha paungi... aaj aapko bahut baar ye sach batane ki koshish ki par koi na koi aapko bula le raha tha isliye ye sab letter me likha hai. Ab mai shaadi tabhi karungi jab sach janne ke baad aap hum dono ke pyaar ko apna kar pure dil se apna aashirwad denge. Agar aap ki iss rishtey ke liye naa hogi to mai ye shaadi nahi karungi aur Sameer ko bhulane ki koshish karungi, aap ki haa mere liye bahut mayne rakhati hai. Mai meri nayi zindagi ki suruaat aap ko sach batakar karna chahati hun, jisme aapki khushi ho. Aapse jhuth bolkar nahi... chachaji. Aapki Naina aaj bhi aapke decision par hi chalengi kyonki aap kabhi bhi mere liye koi galat decision nahi lenge... aur yakin maniye chachaji mera irada aapse jhuth bolne ka kabhi nahi tha... bas himmat nahi juta paa rahi thi.... please apni Naina ko maaf kar dijiye."

After reading the letter he was stunned and tears made a way from his eyes. He wondered how he had misunderstood his daughter whom he had raised with his own hands and knew her. He was familiar with her sanskars then how he mistook her.

And he recalled that day when she had tried to tell him and how she had asked if he was happy this marriage and was not angry with her.

He body flamed up to think what he had done out of anger. "Hey bhagwan maine kya kar diya...maine Naina ko kitna galat samjha aur use apne se dur karne chala tha... Yahan tak ki use letter me bhi likh diya tha ki mai use rishta nahi rakhana chahta, pata nahi gusse me maine kya kya likh diya hai... Naina ka to dil hi tut gaya hoga ye sab padh ke... pata nahi meri bachchi ki kaisi halat hogi... maine letter likhane se pahle kyo nahi socha." And cursed himself to write the letter without thinking it's consequences.

At sudden a thought striking his mind and he remembered that yesterday Bela was saying, Naina was happy that meant she would not have read the letter, if she had read it, she would have come to meet him by now. And he prayed that she would not read the letter, otherwise her heart would be broken.

He regretted of his behavior towards her while she was innocent, pure and genuine. She had tried to tell her truth to him many time but his fault that he did not read her letter and he misjudged her without knowing the story of her side. He made a decision breaking the relationship with her just a small things on impulse of anger.

When he didn't come to dinner even after half an hour, Bela came into the room and scared to see him sitting stunned.

"Kya hua ji, aapki aankhon me aasun.. aur aise boot ban kar kyo baithe hai?." Bela asked worriedly wiping his tears while sitting beside him.

He came back from his thoughts and said in a sad tone. "Bela mujhse bahut badi galti ho gai..."

She was unaware of the fact and asked in a tense voice. "Kaisi gadbad ho gai... kahi isse aapki naukari to nahi jaayegi na... mai to aapki madad bhi nahi kar sakti, Naina hoti to wo kar deti."

"Office ki galti nahi hai Bela... mai apni bachchi ko nahi samajh paya, uss bachchi ko jise maine bahut lad pyaar se pala tha, jisme mere diye huye sanskar hai... mai kaise use galat samajh baitha... sirf ek galatfahmi ke karan uss se rishta todne chala tha." He said with deep grief.

Bela was perplexed but her heart beat accelerated in the fear and panicked. "Preeti ke papa ye aap kya bol rahe hai... aur aapne kise galat samjha...saaf saaf bataiye, mera dil baitha ja raha hai."

Aanand told her the whole matter, how he read Naina's diary and had known to about their love. He was angry with her to hide the truth.

Bela was stunned as she had never expected Naina would do this and hide from them and she said angrily. "Preeti ke papa mujhe to vishwas nahi ho raha, hamari Naina ne aisa kiya, usne aisa karne se pahle ek baar bhi hamare baare me nahi socha aur hum dono se itni badi baat chhupayi... use kabhi paraya mahsoos nahi hone diya...Preeti aur Pooja se jyada pyaar diya hai."

Aanand was quiet to think how he face Naina if she came to the home or would to meet him, and again Bela voice broke his thoughts.

"Suniye ji...Naina ne galti ki hai hame nahi batakar, lekin aapko nahi lagta shayad hum kabhi Naina ke liye Sameer jaisa ladka dhundh pate... bas ek baar Naina ko hame bata dena chahiye tha... Iske liye mai unse naraaj hun.... par itna nahi ki hum use se rishtaa tod de... Shayad bhabhi ji ke dar se nahi bata payi hogi. Ek baar use iske liye to zarur dhantungi... Mujhe maa manti hai aur bharosa bhi nahi kiya... hum uske liye koi galat phaisala thode hi karte....hamne kya nahi kiya uske liye badle me usne hame dhokha diya... mujhe na sahi lekin aapko to bata deti."

But Aanand opposed her. "Bela... meri nazar me usne pyaar kiya ye galat nahi hai, bas itne saal chhupa ke rakha iski narazgi hai, par uska irada hame dhokha dene ka kabhi nahi tha... ye padho, jo usne shaadi se pahle likha tha." Then he handed her the letter.

Bela hands trembled reading the letter. "Preeti ke papa... ye..."

"Haan Bela hamari beti ne hame dhokha nahi diya tha... shayad hamare pyaar me koi kami rah gai jo use apni baat khat me likhana pada." He was disheartened as did not win her trust.

And he told her what he wrote in the letter that she had given Naina on the pagphere and Bela asked loudly. "Preeti ke papa ye aapne kya kiya...Naina to tut hi gai hogi, ye aapne theek nahi kiya... meri bachchi nahi sah payegi aapki berukhi, jante hai na aap kya mayne rakhate hai uske liye, pata nahi kaisi hogi meri bachchi." She was infuriated of her husband to take this decision and felt her daughter pain.

Aanand also felt her daughter pain and regretted in a heavy voice. "Bela mujhse galti hui hai... aur mai iski maafi phi mangunga par mujhe lagta hai Naina ne letter nahi pada hoga, hum kal hi usse milenge... mai to abhi chala jau par raat ko jana shayad theek na lage..."

Before she asked something further, door bell rang and they both came out as to see who came in this hours and shocked to see Sameer and Naina at the door.

Flashback end.

Naina was still in shock and could not believe, Aanand easily forgave her as she thought hardly he would like to meet and talk to her. She looked at Aanand with confused face.

Aanand understood her turmoil of her mind and cleared her confusion. "Beta mai sach me tum se gussa nahi hun... galti maine ki thi uss din agar tumhara letter padh liya hota to aise situation aati hi nahi."

Bela came to her and stroked her head lovingly. "Naina beta hame maaf kar dena... Shayad hamare pyaar me hi kami thi jo tu apne dil ki baat hame nahi pata payi."

"Nahi chachi ji aap dono ne to mujhe itna pyaar diya hai ki kabhi mujhe papa ya mummy ki kami mahsoos nahi hui... mai bas dar gayi thi... aur aap dono ka niswarth pyaar mujhe kabhi aapke phaisale ke khilaf jane nahi diya... aise me mai apne pyaar ke baare me batane ki himmat nahi kar paa rahi thi..." Naina said in a cracked voice.

"Ab sab theek ho gaya hai to muskura de... tere chehare pe ye udasi achchi nahi lagti." Bela said affectionately.

Naina hugged her and again sobbed silently. Bela caressed her back. "Bas beta ab aur kitna roagi... agar tune ab rona band nahi kiya to mai bhi ro padungi."

"To phir aaj to hame bhukha hi sona padega Naina, tum to janti hi ho tumhari chachi ko..dukhi hone par kaisa beswad khana banati hai." Aanand tried to lighten the situation.

Then Aanand ordered Bela while teasing her. "Bela iss se pahle ki badh aa jaye khana lagao... bachcho ko aise hi bhukha rakhogi kya?.."

Bela parted away her and said with affection. "Nahi ji... mai bhala kabhi apne bachcho ko bhukha rakhungi... aap bhi naa." And looking at Naina. "Chal beta jaldi se khana lagate hai."

But Sameer stopped them. "Chachi ji iski koi zarurat nahi hai... hum bas chacha ji se milne aaye the. Ramdhari ne already dinner bana liya hai... wo Naina ki halat dekh kar raha nahi gaya isliye aap logon ko itni raat ko disturb kiya, uske liye sorry... par ab hame chalana chahiye." He denied to take dinner in a polite manner.

And he looking at Naina asked. "Naina ab chale... bekar me chachi ji hamare liye pareshan ho rahi hai." Naina nodded her head in acceptance his decision.

Aanand once glanced his wife then glanced up Naina sad face and he uttered. "Sameer aur Naina lagta hai tum dono ne mujhe maaf nahi kiya tabhi to dinner kiye bina jaana chahate ho."

Sameer felt guilty to refuse their invitation and he apologized. "Chacha ji hum kon hote hai maaf karne wale... balki maafi to hum dono ko magni chahiye ke aap se itna bada sach chhupaye rakha... hame rishta tay hone se pahle hi hamare baare me bata dena chahiye tha... par hum dono dar gaye the ki kahi hum phir se door na ho jaye..."

And took a glimpse of Naina then he continued. "Chacha ji ye mauka hame badi mushkil se mila tha jise hum gawana nahi chahate the... aur hum se ye baat chhupane ki galti ho gai par hamara irada aap ko andhere me rakhane ka ya dhokha dene ka nahi tha.... humne iss pal ka pure panch saal intezaar kiya tha."

Naina reached to Aanand and felt guilty. "Aur chacha ji hum dono ko laga aapne wo letter padha liya hai aur hamare rishtey ko accept kar liya hai, ye soch kar hum khush the... sach chacha ji mujhe pata hota ki aapko sachchai nahi pata hai to mai aapko sach bataye bina shaadi nahi karti... aap ko naraaz kar mai kabhi khush nahi rah paungi chacha ji."

Aanand hugged both of them and his eyes moisted to see their respect for him. He felt proud on them as he noticed the sincerity in their eyes.

"Tum dono ne to mujhe bhi rula diya." Aanand said wiping his unsed tears while parting them.

Bela also wiped her tears from the corners of her saree pallu and ordered them. "Ab tum dono khana khaye bina nahi jaa sakte... varna iss baar mai naraaz ho jaungi."

Everyone smiled at her threaten and Aanand looped his arm around her shoulder. "Are meri Rekha itne pyaar se dhamki dogi to koun mana karega."

Bela blushed profusely and whispered shyly. "Kya kar rahe hai bachcho ke samne... wo kya sochenge, kahi bhi shuru ho jate hai... aap ko bas mauka chahiye hota hai." She glared him removing his hand from her shoulder.

Meanwhile Sameer gave a mischievous smile to Naina eyeing to Aanand and Bela, and Naina cheeks turned into scarlet to decipher his meaning. She also rushed to the kitchen to escape teasing him further.

After a delicious dinner Sameer and Naina chatted a while with Aanand and Bela. Sameer told them about their trip to Shimla and Delhi. Aanand and Bela got happy to see Naina happiness about it.

When half an hour later they both were about to leave for house, Aanand requested to them stay here because it's too late in the night.

But Sameer refused saying. "Chacha ji mujhe aadat hai raat me drive karne ki... Infact Delhi me to kabhi kabhi mai raat ke 1 baje tak office se vapas ghar aata tha." He told this like he did good work but the next moment he received a stern look from his wife and he immediately shut his mouth.

"Theek hai...par sambhal ke jana aur ghar pahuchate hi phone karna." Aanand gave them permission after adviced them.

After receiving the blessing Samaina left for home. When they both disappeared from their sight, Aanand heaved a sigh of relief as a huge burden of hurting his daughter had lifted from his heart. He lost in some thoughts standing at the gate of Nirmal Jyoti Society gate.

"Kaha kho gaye Preeti ke papa... upar nahi jana." Bela jerked out him from his trance by her bit loud voice.

"Kahi nahi Bela, bas kuch soch raha tha..." And Bela gave him a confused look.

"Yahi ki...Sameer sach me heera hai aur hamari Naina se bahut pyaar karta hai, tumne aaj gaur kiya, kaise Sameer uski choti se choti baat ka khayal rakh raha tha.... Tum sahi kah rahi thi mai bhi Naina ke liye itna pyaar karne wala ladka nahi dhundh pata... ab mujhe Naina ki koi tension nahi hai, Sameer use kabhi kamzor padne nahi dega, aaj tumne bhi dekha, kaise usne Naina ko sambhala hai...Sameer sahi mayno me Naina ke liye ek perfect jeevan sathi hai... hum kitne lucky hai na... hamari teeno betiyon ko itna pyaar karne wale aur samajhdar jeevan sathi mile hai." Aanand appreciated Sameer effort to handle Naina delicately and prouded to the companions for his daughters.

Bela too agreed with him. "Preeti ke papa aapne sahi kaha... Hamari teeno betiyan khushkismat hai aur hum bhi ki hamare teeno damad bahut achche hai aur hamari betiyon ka kitna khayal rakhate hai... bhagwan ji aapse yahi vinti hai ki unki khushiyon ko kisi ki nazar na lage."

On the way returning back to home, Sameer felt blessed as Naina was delighted and her smile came back now and it was reaching her eyes.They were both quiet and no one initiated talking. This silence created a awkward situation between them. He wanted to talk to her but felt content to see her elated face.

He tuned on the radio and received a surprise gaze from his beautiful wife on him as her attention was out of the window.

A song played which forced her not to take her eyes off him and in return he gave her a warm smile.

Chhookar mere mann ko
kiya tune kya ishara..
Badla yeh mausam
lage pyaara jag saara...
Chhookar mere mann ko
kiya tune kya ishaara...

Tu jo kahe jeevan bhar
tere liye main gaaun..
tere liye main gaaun..
Geet tere bolon pe
likhta chala jaaoon..likhta chala jaaoon..
Mere geeton mein tujhe dhoonde jag saara

Chhookar mere mann ko
kiya tune kya ishara..
Badla yeh mausam
lage pyaara jag saara...
Chhookar mere mann ko
kiya tune kya ishaara...

Sameer glanced Naina and delighted as a serene smile on her beautiful face while enjoying the song. His heart swelled up as his wife adoring him with immense love and he did not want to ruined this precious moment so he again focused his eyes on the road.

Aaja tera aanchal yeh
pyaar se main bhar doon...
pyaar se main bhar doon...
Khushiyaan jahaan bhar ki
tujhko nazar kar doon..tujhko nazar kar doon
Tu hi mera jeevan
Tu hi jeene ka sahaara

Chhookar mere mann ko
kiya tune kya ishara..
Badla yeh mausam
lage pyaara jag saara..
Chhookar mere mann ko kiya tune kya ishaara...

As the song stopped, he asked in a soft voice. "Are you happy."

"Bahuttt." She screamed like a child.

And that moment the car stopped with a screeching sound, she looked him with confused face and he replied. "Ghar aa gaya." Pointing to the front.

He blowed the horn as the main gate was closed. After some time Ramdhari came and opened the gate.

When she got down of the car and waited him but Sameer ordered her softly. "Naina tum jao, mai car park karke aata hun." She nodded.

After ten minutes when he entered the room and surprised to see his wife. "Naina tumne to change bhi kar liya, badi jaldi hai tumhe sone ki." He said making serious face.

"Nahi... mai to bas... aise hi.." She was being nervous, watching for his reaction and relieved when he offered a bright smile.

He laughed and said. "Just relax yaar, I'm just kidding you... chalo mai bhi change kar leta hun, tum jara mera night suit nikal do."

She gave his night dress and he went to the bathroom. After five minutes when he sat beside her on the bed, heard her soft voice.

"Thank you Sameer... aaj aap nahi hote to shayad mai kabhi chacha ji ke samne jane ki himmat kar pati." She thanked him for supporting her in a worst situation.

His chuckled softly as he pulled her gently against him and said in heavy voice. "Naina tumhe yun rote huye dekh kar meri jaan nikal jati hai, tumhare mathe ki halki si shikan bhi mujhe baichain kar deti hai...phir aaj jo tumhari halat thi wo dekh kar to ek pal ke liye meri dhadkan hi ruk gayi thi..." And he tightened his arms around her.

After a while he broke the embrace and asked looking straight her face. "Tumne phone kyo nahi kiya... mai usi wakt aa jata aur chacha ji se milkar sab clear kar lete... kya zarurat thi aise apne aap ko pareshan karne ki... khabardar...aaj ke baad kabhi bhi apni halat aise kari to..." He warned her then squeezed her hands. "Naina koi bhi pareshani itni badi nahi hoti ki uska solution na mile, bas hame thoda patience rakhana padta hai."

"Sameer mujhe kuch samajh hi nahi aaya jaise hi padha ki chacha ji mujhse naraaz hai aur rishtaa nahi rakhana chahate hai... mujhe bas unke saath bitaye pal yaad aa rahe the aur unki narazgi ne mujhe andar se tod diya tha... mai puri tarah se apne sochne ki shakti kho chuki thi... charo aur andhera hi nazar aa raha tha... koi ummeed nazar hi nahi aa rahi thi." She expressed what she was feeling at that moment, and what was her state of mind.

His heart ached to see his Naina in such pain as he had experienced this pain in his childhood days and there was nothing more he could do, expect console her.

He exhaled a long breath and said. "Shaadi ke wakt pavitra agni ke samne maine vachan liya tha ki koi bhi dukh taklif tum tak pahuchane nahi dunga... par mai aaj fail ho gaya Naina... tumhe iss dukh se nahi bacha paya... jab tumhe mere saath ki sabse jyada zarurat thi, mai ek baar phir tumhare saath nahi tha... Please mujhe maaf kar do." He apologized her for not with her and cursed himself could not save her from heartbroken.

Naina looked straight into his dark eyes. "Aap sorry mat boliye Sameer, aapne hi to mujhe himmat di hai... in fact mai lucky hun ki aap jaisa life partner mujhe mila, jo mere har dukh ko apna samjhate hai aur mujhe itna pyaar karte hai, jiski maine kabhi kalpana bhi nahi ki thi...I love you Sameer." And she kissed on his cheek.

He was dumfounded, and his eyes widened in shock, with a hand touching his cheek.

He bored into her eyes with a glint of mischief and whispered in a husky voice. "Lagta hai Mrs. Maheshwari ke irade aaj nek nahi hai..."

"Bilkul bhi nahi...lekin mujhe kisi aur ke irade bhi nek nahi lag rahe hai..." She chuckled to enjoy his teasing.

"Achcha... aise baat hai to... phir...." And he started to lean over her while fixing his intense gaze on her alluring face but she stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"Sameer... mujhe na neend aa rahi hai." She said blinking her eyes and made a cute face that he could not deny and straightened himself.

He mentally cursed his fate and smiled with a big grin. He gestured her to placed her head on his lap. She hesitantly kept her head and felt relaxed as he was lightly stroking her hair. After few minutes she drifted into a deep slumber. He placed her head on the pillow and covered up her with blanket.

He packed her forehead before lying next to her. He was still patting her head sleeping close to her and thanked God that everything settled well. He wondered as she had no grief and no burden anymore now that meant their honeymoon will surely get them closer and his lips curved up dreaming their honeymoon.

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

Hi Friends.

Next chapter updated.... Hope you all liked.

Please do vote and comment.

Next chapter on next Sunday.