Sorry friends, I've not been able to reply to your comments on last few updates... little tied up at the moment... but will get back to each one very soon. Thank you all for your love and motivating words.

Chachaji entered the room to see Bela busy with folding clothes and placing them in the cupboard. He lovingly smiled, thanking God for giving him such a pure and simple person as a life partner. She was always smiling... taking care of the house, worrying about children, listening to her sister-in-law's harsh words, happily accepting the extra work load bhabhiji dumped on her... she never complained. It was all because of her that his house always had a happy atmosphere, where he felt his tiredness and worries vanish in a moment.

He walked to her and held her shoulders, "Ab bas karo Bela, har samay kaam karti rehti ho... kabhi aaram bhi kiya karo."

She gave a bright smile to her husband, "Arre kuch kaam nahi kar rahi... aaj toh shaam se aaram hi kiya hai... khaana bhi aap itne achhe hotel mein khilake laaye."

"Tumhe pasand aaya?" He made her sit on the bed, himself sitting in front of her.

"Bohot pasand aaya, khana bhi aur hotel bhi", she remembered the opulence.

"Aur woh bachhe? Munna ko toh ab jante hi hain... uske dost kaise lage?"

"Kaun, Sameer aur Pandit? Bade hi pyare bachhe hain... Pandit ne toh hansa hansa ke pet dard kar diya... aur woh Sameer, bada samajhdar sa lagta hai... thoda chup rehta hai... par bada shareef ladka laga", she found both boys to be very good.

"Bela, tumhe sach mein Sameer achha laga?" He asked very seriously.

She was suddenly worried, "Aap aise kyon puch rahe hain? Koi baat hai kya?"

He held her hands, "Dekho, meri poori baat sunna... dhyaan se... agar gussa karna ho toh kar lena... par baat khatam hone ke baad... bas ek cheez ka khyaal rakhna... iss baat mein meri marzi shaamil hai."

She nodded, waiting for him to begin.

"Sameer Naina ko pasand karta hai... aur Naina bhi... mujhe kuch din pehle hi Naina ne bataya... main mila tha Sameer se... mujhe bhi woh bohot suljha hua laga... apne nanaji ki badi izzat karta hai... uska bachpan bina kisi ke pyaar aur apnepan ke beeta hai... isliye usse pyaar ki bohot kadr hai... hamari Naina ko jaisa jeevan saathi milna chahiye woh bilkul waisa hi hai... har kadam pe uske saath chalne wala... har faisle mein uski himmat badhane wala... mujhe woh har tarah se Naina ke liye pasand hai... aur main chahta hun ki college khatam hote hi hum unn dono ki shaadi karwa dein." He did not take his eyes off from his wife's face even for a second throughout the monologue.

Usually very expressive, today she sat with a blank face as he narrated the whole story.

"Ab bolo tumhe kya kehna hai", he looked expectantly at her.

"Aapko aisa nahi laga ki Naina ne hamara bharosa toda... hamein dhoka diya?" Her voice was pained.

He took a deep breath, "Bela, hamari beti ne khud aake hamein apne aur Sameer ke rishte ke baare mein bataya... woh chahti toh humse chupa sakti thi... usne hamein bata ke hamara bharosa kayam rakha hai... aur isme dhoke wali kya baar hai... pyaar karna galat nahi hai... woh toh hamara abhiman hai... mujhe uski ankhon mein kuch aisa nahi dika jisse lage ki woh iss baat se sharminda hai... dekho, maa baap ke samne aisi baat karna badi himmat ka kaam hai... aur Sameer kaisa ladka hai yeh toh tum bhi dekh chuki ho... usne bohot dukh saha hai apni zindagi mein... mujhe khud bataya usne ki kaise Naina ne usko unn andhero se bahar nikala jaha uske gharwalo ne phek diya tha."

Her eyes widened, "Woh toh itne bade ghar ka ladka hai, usse kya dukh tha?"

Chachaji went on to tell her all about Sameer's childhood and abandonment... his hostel days... sudden death of nanu... his insecurities...

Tears filled up Bela's eyes, imagining the pain he must have gone through at such a tender age.

"Dono bachhe samajhdar hain... unka faisla galat nahi hai... humein unka saath dena chahiye", he tried to convince his wife.

"Magar sab log kya kahenge? Bhaisahab, bhabhiji, Rakesh bhaisahab... woh log kabhi nahi manenge", her mind clouded with the possible complications.

Chachaji was happy that she did not mention any objection from her side, " Abhi inn dono ka ek saal baaki hai... hum sab logo se uske baad baat karenge... main nahi chahta Naina ki padhai poori hone mein koi rok lagane ki koshish kare... bas tumhara saath chahiye... mujhe bhi aur hamare bacchon ko bhi."

She looked at his hopeful eyes, and the usual warm smile spread across her face, "Agar aap ko sab theek lagta hai toh theek hai... mujhe kya aitraz hoga... waise bhi, bhabhiji ka bas chale toh uss Sharad jaisa koi dhund layengi hamari gudiya ke liye."

"Iska matlab Sameer tumhe pasand hai?" He wanted her to say so.

She placed her hand on his, "Bilkul ji, bohot pasand hai... itna sundar ladka... aur itna achha... rajkumar hai woh toh... jaisa hamari beti ko milna chahiye tha."

He let out a long breath of satisfaction. His wife, as always, had stood with him in support.

"Main zara Naina ko dekh ke aati hun, jaagi hai toh usse do minute baat kar lu", she got up and went to check on her daughter.

Naina was a nervous wreck... pacing around in the dark room. She was scared of chachiji's reaction. Her
mind constantly kept throwing 'what if's at her.

Hearing a sound of opening door, she quickly got into the bed, closing her eyes.

The door opened a creek and chachiji's soft voice reached her, "Naina?"

She did not dare to even breathe.

After waiting for a few seconds, chachaji closed the door and went away.

Naina sat up against the pillow, trying to read  the feelings behind one word 'Naina'...

It did not sound harsh... no, she had called out very softly... there was no trace of anger either...

Her heart lurched, "Kya chachiji maan gayi?"

Waiting for the morning was difficult... when her alarm rang at five in the morning, she was not sure how many hours she had slept.

Finishing her bath, she got dressed in a white suit. With shaky steps, she entered the kitchen.

Chachiji turned on hearing the sound, "Arre tu uth gayi, Naina... chai bana dun?"

"Na... nahi chachiji... main... main mandir jaa rahi hun... aake piungi", she tried to search for any trace of the verdict.

Chachiji walked up to her, cupping her face, "Sameer pasand hai mujhe... par mujhse sabse baad mein kyon pata chala? Pehle hi bata deti toh kal tum sabko itna darna nahi padta."

Naina looked down to hide the colour on her face.

Chachiji held her chin and pushed up the face, "Woh Preeti ka 'jijaji'... woh Pandit ka 'babhi'... mujhe kal hi samajh jaana chahiye tha."

Naina closed her eyes at the teasing and hugged her.

"Khus reh, beta... teri zindagi mein jo pyaar ki kami thi, bhagwan kare woh poori ho jaye", chachiji stroked her head, wiping her eyes with the other hand.

Sameer was waiting near the stairs at the temple. Seeing Naina arrive in a white suit, dupatta flowing in the breeze, he was mesmerized.

She climbed up the steps and he followed, without a word.

They reached the prayer area... Naina offered her pooja thali to panditji and joined hands. Before closing her eyes, she looked at Sameer, standing like a statue, and indicated at her folded hands. He quickly did the same. They prayed together.

She waved at him, and walked in a new direction... he was confused for a moment but then followed her.

"Naina, ye kya kar rahi ho?" Seeing her hands still joined as they walked behind the temple wall, he was perplexed.

"Parikrama kar rahe hain hum dono... tum bhi aise hi mere peeche aao", she said over her shoulder.

Sameer did as she said. After a complete round of the temple, stopping at some places and bowing their head to the deities placed there, they reached the main area.

Panditji returned her plate and blessed her, placing the same hand on Sameer's head after her.

"Tum neeche intezar karo main abhi aati hun", Naina whispered, going closer to his bent head.

Sameer walked behind the temple and went down to the pond.

When Naina reached there, she found him standing with one hand in pocket, and the other busy throwing pebbles in the pond, causing ripples in the calm water.

Hearing the sound, he turned to the side... and before he could see or think anything, Naina went on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck...

Sameer stumbled a bit but balanced himself... surprised at her urgency.

His hands went around her waist... pulling her closer, as he buried his face on her shoulder.

Naina tightened her hold... and Sameer's breathing became uneven.  He moved his lips to the exposed skin on her neck, taking in the satiny feel and inhaled deeply, his senses completely intoxicated by her fragrance.

Before, he could move to her face, Naina shifted back, taking away the warmth he was revelling in.

She smiled brightly.

"Aaj jaan logi kya?" His system was creating havoc inside his body.

Giving a feather light slap on his cheek, she pouted, "Fir tumne aisa bola!"

Her pink lips were an invitation, looking more luscious in her pout. He brought up his hand and pressed the lower one with his index finger, "Ek toh tum chandni banke aayi ho... fir ekdum se itne kareeb", his voice went heavy, " aur ab aisa muh banake tadpa rahi ho... jaan hi toh le rahi ho."

She immediately pressed her lips, pulling his hand down.

Trying to bring her racing heartbeat in control, she stepped a little away... Sameer didn't stop her, he wanted to look at her properly... there was something different today he couldn't quite put his finger on.

She was wearing a white suit... but with a churidar... not her usual salwar... the neck was a little low as compared to her previous outfits...though she had placed her dupatta to not expose any skin, he could see the round neckline shadowed under the flimsy dupatta... and the fit... he gulped, this was different... it was fitted much better... hugging her at all curves, making her figure more alluring.

How was he supposed to keep himself in check when she stood in front of him like this.

Naina was looking down, twisting her fingers, unable to see the intense passion in his eyes.

He turned towards the pond, kicking a pebble lying near his foot.

Naina looked up, "Puchoge nahi main itni khush kyon hun?"

"Batao."

His voice was soft but gaze was fixed on the still surface.

"Sameer, chachiji ne bhi hamare rishte ko apna liya hai... unhe koi aitraz nahi hai." She squealed.

His eyes brightened and he forgot everything... stepping ahead to hold Naina by the shoulders.

"Sach Naina? Yeh kaise hua? Tumne bola unko? Kaise manaya? Pata hai, mujhe kal bura lag raha tha ki hum unse chupa rahe hain... par tumne itni himmat ki kaise? " He barraged her with questions.

She laughed, "Ruko, ruko... batati hun."

She told him all about her conversation with chachaji... late night visit of chachiji to her room... and their morning conversion in the kitchen.

"Kal ka din sach mein khaas tha... itna kuch ho gaya... subah woh chitthi... shaam ko chachiji ka maan jaana... khushi se mere pair zameen par nahi pad rahe." Naina conveyed her happiness.

Sameer picked up Naina and twirled around, grinning widely. She held his shoulders tight, shocked.

"Sameer, neeche utaro... gir jayenge hum dono." She clutched his collar.

He stopped, bringing her down, but keeping her close.

"Tumne kaha na tumhare pair zameen pe nahi pad rahe... isliye... " He gave a naughty smile.

She punched him playfully on the chest.

"Waise kal ka din mere liye aur bhi zyada khas tha... inn baton ke saath saath mujhe kuch aisa mila jo tum asani se deti nahi ho", he gave a lopsided smile to her.

She narrowed her eyes.

"Kal jab sabke hote hue bhi tumne chupa ke apni ice cream khilayi mujhe toh main hairan reh gaya... aur phir woh hotel ke bahar... woh pyara sa kiss... hayee... laga main wahi behosh ho jaunga... dekh raha hun... aajkal himmat karne lagi ho", he teased her.

"Abhi apne meri himmat dekhi hi kahan hai, Mr Maheshwari... " She raised her brows.

He pulled with a jerk, plastering her to himself, "Wohi toh dekhna chahta hun..."