"Par aap log toh shayad kuch celebrate kar rahe hai na", Munna was hesitant.

"Haan, tum bhi baitho... batata hun kis baat ki khushi mana rahe hain." Chachaji shifted his chair to make way for more seating.

The three boys looked at each other, then pulled a chair each and settled on the same table...

Munna sat next to chachaji, followed by Sameer and Pandit, who was sitting next to Preeti. Naina sat between Preeti and chachiji. Sameer was directly opposite Naina, he could see her nervousness.

Chachaji explained the reason of their celebration briefly, he was sure the boys were already aware of it.

"Waah bhabhi ", Pandit blurted...

And six pairs of eyes stared at him... with different expressions.

"Woh main... woh abhi Swati bhabhi se baat karke aayein hai na... toh galti se muh se nikal gaya", he gave a sheepish look, mentally slapping himself.

"Waise Swati ko bhi bula lete toh achha hota, haina", chachaji looked at his wife.

"Haan... khyaal hi nahi aaya... Naina Preeti ke saath har khushi baanti hai usne... bula lete toh kitna achha hota", chachiji suddenly felt bad for not inviting her.

"Auntyji, aap bulate bhi to woh aa nahi pati... abhi abhi woh log shopping ke liye nikle hain... meri baat hui thi usse." Munna gave her some solace.

Chachiji was not the one to remain without smiling for long. Munna's words instantly brought her dazzling smile back.

Chachaji instructed the waiter to set up more plates and urged the boys to order whatever they liked... not relaxing till they had placed their order.

Sameer stole a glance at Naina. She was still not looking up... but seemed relaxed.

The food was served and everyone started eating, amidst small talks and laughs.

Pandit opened his mouth to say something and Preeti pinched his leg.

"Ahhh", he screamed.

"Kya hua beta?" Chachiji gave him a concerned look.

"Ku... kuch nahi... pair pe cheenti ne kaat liya shayad", he smiled.

"Batao... itna bada hotel hai aur yahan bhi chitiyaan aa jati hain", she mumbled, taking her attention back to the food.

Pandit whispered to Preeti, " Kyon kiya?"

"Tum apna muh band rakho... abhi bhabhi kehke sab gadbad kar di thi... fir kuch faltu keh doge." She whispered back.

He nodded, agreeing with her.

This time when Sameer looked up, his eyes met with hers... and he winked...

Naina was all red, finding it difficult to eat.

Chachiji looked at her plate, "Naina, beta theek se kha... kya chidiya jaisa khati hai."

"Haan, auntyji, school se hi aise khati hai bh... Naina." Pandit could not remain quiet for long, earning a glare from Preeti.

He did not even dare to look at Munna and Sameer.

"School se... tum jante the Naina ko school mein?" Chachiji was surprised.

Chachaji came to the rescue, "Bela, ye saare bachhe ek sath padhte the... tabse jante hain ek dusre ko."

"Achha, ye toh bohot achhi baat hai... beta fir tum log kabhi ghar aao na... mere haath ka khana bhi khake dekho... iss hotel jitna toh nahi par theek thak khana bana leti hun." Chachiji looked at her husband and gave a shy smile.

He laughed, "Haan bhai, zaroor aana... Bela bohot achha khana banati hai."

Preeti and Naina almost choked on their food.

"Beta kya naam bataya tumhara?" Chachiji looked at Sameer.

"Jee, Sameer." He was alert.

"Sameer, sagai mein tumhe dekh ke dil khush ho gaya... bade achhe sanskar hain tumhare... kya karte hain tumhare papa?" She looked directly at Sameer.

Naina saw his jaw clench and his fingers tighten around the spoon he held.

"Bela, yeh Jai Prakash Maheshwari ji ka naati hai... Sameer Maheshwari... " Chachaji didn't want any awkwardness.

"Unke baare mein sab jaante hain ki kitne bhale insaan the... unke hi sanskaar hain isme bhi... mujhe yakeen hai aage jaake yeh bhi unke jaisa hi naam kamayega", He continued, fondly looking at Sameer.

Naina saw him breathe, his tensed shoulders relaxed and he smiled.

She too smiled in relief.

They had ice cream after dinner, laughing over school time incidents that Pandit narrated, thankfully not creating any more trouble.

As they all got up to leave, Naina placed her ice cream cup silently in front of Sameer, a few spoonful still left in it. He looked at it, surprised at her courage. He ate one spoonful, and Naina, who had turned on the pretext of forgetting her hanky, picked the cup back and took the spoon in her mouth.

"Yahan ki ice cream zyada meethi hai, hai na Preeti ", she didn't look back.

Preeti gave her a confused look, "Zyaada meethi? Behen, ice cream toh bohot achhi thi... pata nahi tere swad ko kya ho gaya hai."

By the time Sameer recovered, everyone had reached the door.

Munna looked back and frowned, "Bhai, aaja... waha khada khada kya kar raha hai? Ghar nahi jaana kya?"

He joined everyone, taking long strides.

They reached the parking and the boys thanked chachaji.

"Yeh thank you jaisi baatein mujhe pasand nahi... aur na hi ye uncle aunty bolna... tum log hum dono ko chachaji aur chachiji kehke bulaya karo... zyaada apnapan lagta hai." He patted Munna's head.

Overwhelmed, Munna bent to touch his and chachiji's feet. Sameer and Pandit followed suit.

They moved towards their cars...

Naina waved at Sameer secretly, curling her lips slightly to give an impression of a kiss.

He couldn't wait to get home and speak to her on phone, if not meet her... which seemed impossible.

At home, the girls changed into their night suits, talking about the evening... and chachaji's invitation to the boys. Naina went to the kitchen little later, to have water. She saw chachaji sitting in the living room, lost in thoughts. Her heart sank, thinking that he might be annoyed... he might think that she had asked Sameer to come to the hotel.

She approached him hesitantly, "Chachaji... aap naraz hain kisi baat se?"

He looked up abruptly, bringing his mind back to present, "Nahi Naina, tumhe aisa kyon laga?"

"Woh aap aise chup baithe hain na... Maine Sameer ko wahan aane ko nahi kaha tha... maine toh bas galti se bata diya tha ki hum shaam ko wahan jayenge... sorry chachaji", she clarified.

He made her sit with him, "Main tum se naraz nahi hun... par thoda pareshan hun... aaj hum sab ne milke Bela se yeh baat chupayi... wahan pe sab tumhare aur Sameer ke baare mein jante the... sivaye Bela ke... isliye humein har kadam par dhyaan rakhna pad raha tha ki kahin jhooth pakda na jaaye... yeh baat mujhe achhi nahi lagi... main soch raha hun ki aaj Bela ko bhi sach bata dun... tumhe kya lagta hai?"

She had felt bad too... about hiding the truth from someone who had been more than a mother to her. But she was scared... would chachiji be as open as her husband... allowing Naina to go back to Mumbai where she would be alone with Sameer. She swallowed.

"Tumhara dar main samajh sakta hun, beta... par apne parivaar ke logon se itni badi baat chupana theek nahi hai... bhaisahab aur bhabhiji ka samajh mein aata hai... woh iss pyaar ko kabhi nahi samajh payenge... isliye unse hum koi baat nahi karenge... par mujhe yakeen hai ki Bela samajh jayegi... shayad shuru mein thodi gussa ho par main poori koshish karunga ki usse ahsaas dila sakun tum dono ke sachhe pyaar ka." He assured her.

Naina could feel a heavy burden lift off her chest. Chachaji was with her and now if chachiji also gave her consent, nothing could be more perfect for her and Sameer.

She smiled, "Mujhe aap pe poora bharosa hai chachaji... mujhe bhi achha nahi laga unse aise chupana... agar aap baat karenge toh chachiji zaroor samjhengi."

He patted her head, "Theek hai... main aaj hi baat karta hun."

He got up and went to his room.

Naina sat for a while, before going back.

Sameer's call came as she entered.

"Utha le, tera hi hoga", Preeti did not move from the bed.

Naina quickly picked up the phone and went out to the balcony.

"Hello"

"Hello jaaneman." He said in a cheerful voice.

She held her breath... his endearment was more than she could handle.

"Kya hua?" He sensed her timidity.

More silence followed.

"Arre, shaam ko toh badi himmat dikha rahi thi... ab kya hua?" He coaxed her.

"Shaam ko tumhe apni khushi ka hissa bana rahi thi", she remembered her actions.

"Mujhe sach mein bohot achha laga... meri Naina ne sabke samne mujhe meetha khilaya... ab bas ek aur meethe ka intezaar hai", he said slowly, in a soft voice.

She bit her lip, "Tum besharam ho gaye ho."

"Main... besharam... kisi se bhi puch lo... sab kahenge mere jaisa shareef ladka dekha nahi hai", he raised his collars.

"Kisi se kyon... mujhse pucho na... main batati hun kitne shareef ho tum", she tried to control her smile, fully aware that he must be raising his collars.

"Tumhare saath kya kiya hai bolo... gale lagana ya haath pakadna... apni hone wali biwi ka... galat thodi hai... Maine toh tumhe kiss tak nahi kiya... do saal ho gaye fir bhi", he pouted.

" Kiss nahi kiya? Har baar toh karte ho... kabhi haathon pe, kabhi mathe pe... kabhi... kabhi... " She found it difficult to continue what she had started.

"Batao na... aur kahan kahan?" His husky voice tormented her even more.

"Tumhe pata hai" she could hardly speak.

"Tumhe bhi toh pata hona chahiye... achha ye bata do agli baar kahan kar sakta hun", he was torturing her.

Her throat was constricted, no sound came out.

"Naina, jo parking mein diya tha fir se do na", he was not ready to stop.

"Sameer... please... chup" she managed to speak.

"Kyon chup... main tab tak phone nahi rakhunga jab tak tum ek kiss nahi dogi... chahe saari raat baithna pade." He threatened.

"Main rakh dungi..." she threatened back.

"So paogi? Jaante hue ki main yahan phone pakde baitha hua hun?" He knew her too well.

"Please Sameer, aise nahi..." She pleaded.

"Oh! Aise nahi... toh tumhe samne se dena hai... main aa raha hun Naina", he got up from the window sill where he was sitting.

" Nahi... yahan mat aana abhi", she got scared.

"Toh jaldi do... aur nahi ruk sakta."

She took a deep breath, looked around, wet her lips... and kissed into the phone.

Sameer kissed back immediately.

She disconnected.

He looked at the phone... bringing it close, he kissed into it again.

Instantly, the phone started ringing, making him jump.

"Hello?"

"Kal subah che baje mandir mein."

She disconnected again.

He groaned.