Hi friends, I know you all want the evening updates to be resumed soon. Honestly, it is difficult for me at the moment.
I was able to manage during college track because college life was easier to handle. I could type whenever I got a short window in office, or during lunch or coffee break. It was no effort.

But now, post marriage scenes are not that easy for me. I haven't seen any marriage closely around me. It is tough to imagine situations, more so now that the honeymoon is over and Samaina would start their new life. The daily scenario I present is something that comes after a lot of thinking, typing, deleting, retyping... the update takes more time now. Also, I am giving little longer ones when I give only in the morning.

Please understand my situation. I don't want to compromise on the flow of story by forcing myself for two updates. Though, I'll give whenever I can bring it.

Thank you for your constant support and love.

Naina kneeled against her suitcase, looking for the clothes to wear.

For the first time, Sameer realised his stupidity. Naina was not staying in a hotel... it was her own house. Why had he never thought of this before? He cursed himself for being such a fool. They had been married for ten days now... and he could not see this basic requirement of hers.

When she was gone, he quickly got up. Opening his cupboard, he realised, it was filled with clothes and other things. There was no space. He started to shuffle the things on first shelf. They were his regular clothes. He bent down to the lower ones. What he found was not less than a shock for him. His cupboard still had clothes he had worn in hostel in Nainital... even his uniform... along with more things from his school days here. He was surprised to see the thick jackets he had worn during winters there. And loads of books... of the school time here in Ahmedabad.

He had never bothered to check it and there was no one to do it for him. Ramdhari took care of his laundry, but he could not have disposed off the old clothes without his permission.

Sameer started to pull out the extra stuff, throwing everything on the floor besides the cupboard.

By the time Naina came out, he had successfully emptied more than half of it.

"Sameer, yeh kya kar rahe ho tum?" She yelled, seeing clothes and books scattered on the floor, covering half of their room.

He was still buried in them, emptying the hangers for her.

"Sameer, tumse pooch rahi hun... kar kya rahe ho... yeh toofan kyon leke aaye ho kamre mein?" She started to come towards the cupboard.

He excitedly stepped out to tell her about his feat...

She crashed into him, not expecting him to jump out from behind the open door like this. His arms instinctively went around her waist... bare waist.

He forgot what he was doing, what he wanted to tell her, why he was excited. All he could see was her wet, tousled hair... droplets stuck on them... her face, fresh and glowing like a morning bloom... eyes rounded in surprise showed his awestruck face... lips that had parted when she gasped were still in the same state...

His breath got lost somewhere at the back of his throat.

When his eyes drifted down, the lost breath became more elusive. Ample expanse of skin was visible to make him go weak... the broad neckline of her blouse looked even wider with the open strings dangling behind her... bare, dainty waist fitted in the groove of his palm... she had not worn the saree yet...

She squirmed to move away from him. His fingers clutched her waist tighter.

"Sameer, chodo na... humein mandir ke liye der ho rahi hai." She said in a voice that did not sound convincing even to herself.

"Agar jaane ki jaldi thi toh aise kyon aayi mere saamne?" He managed to utter in a shaky voice.

"Saree pehenni hai... toh aise hi aana padega na." She simpered.

His hand slid up behind her, tracing the broad, round neckline, "Aise?"

She gave a coy smile, "Tumne hi kaha tha... bandhoge bhi tum aur... "

The glint in his eyes became stronger... the lost breath finally heaved out.

"Baad mein bandh dunga, ek hi baar." His nostrils flared up as his eyes slipped to the unhindered view down her neck.

"Jaake naha lo tum... mandir jaana bohot zaruri hai." She turned in his arms, her back towards him now.

Had she been looking into his burning eyes, she would have definitely melted... and she had to hide the streak of colour that crept up her neck when he devoured her with his gaze.

He lifted her wet hair to put over one shoulder. The alluring back was glistening with water drops. He touched it with his fingertips lightly. Her shoulders instantly scrunched back, the touch sending hoardes of butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"Please, Sameer." She almost begged.

With a sigh, he held the strings, bringing them together. His fingers worked slow... extremely slow... brushing against her skin with each twist, making her shudder.

"Saree pehna dun?" He lowered his head to whisper in her ear once the dori was secured.

"Rehne do... woh nahi aata tumhe." She took a step ahead, trying to keep her voice normal.

If he got one hint of the fluttering in her belly, the temple visit would not be possible.

His hands held her elbows, pulling her back swiftly. She was now plastered to his shirtless chest.

"Maine seekha tha na uss din... koi kaam jo tumse juda ho, woh main kar sakta hun... seekh sakta hun." He buried his face in her wet hair.

"Lekin abhi tum jao nahane... der ho gayi toh hum sabke yahan aane se pehle wapas nahi aa payenge." She reasoned again... ready to give in if he said one more time.

Kissing the base of her neck, he left her, "Theek hai, abhi tumhari baat maan raha hun... par iska hisaab leke rahunga."

She wasn't sure she was relieved or disappointed... but it was better for the plan she had made, that was essential for him.

Quickly, she walked to the suitcase, taking out the saree she had to wear.

He watched her, and was filled with guilt again, "Naina, sorry... mujhe khyal hi nahi aaya ki tumhe bhi apne kapde cupboard mein rakhne chahiye... tum itne din se aise zameen pe suitcase rakh ke usme se sab samaan le rahi ho... I'm really sorry... aaj maine iss almari mein jagah bana di hai... tum apni cheezen yahan rakh lo."

She got up, saree in hand, to see him holding one ear.

"Buddhu ho tum... itni si baat ke liye itna mat socho... woh toh mujhe abhi yahan zyada time nahi hua isliye mujhe bhi khyal nahi raha... dheere dheere dekhna, kaise main sab cheezon pe apna haq jama lungi... fir mat kehna... Naina, thodi si jagah mere liye bhi chod do almari mein." She flicked up her brows.

He smirked, "Tumhara itna sa samaan ek shelf mein aa jayega, madam... maine purane kapde hataye hain isliye jagah nazar aa rahi hai, warna meri cheezon se hi bhari rehti hai yeh almari."

"Bola tha na, buddhu ho... arre, main kal parson ki baat nahi kar rahi... kuch saal beet jaane do... fir pata chalega kiska samaan zyada hai." She said in a challenging tone.

He glanced at her things... just two suitcases... one a little bigger than the other one.

"Tum rakh lena... apne ghar mein koi suitcase mein kapde thodi chodta hai." He smiled, picking up his towel.

"Sameer, ek minute." She called out the moment he reached the bathroom door.

He turned, raising a quizzical brow, "Saath aana hai?"

"Chup raho... main bas iske liye bula rahi thi." She turned red again, holding out her hand, showing the small sindoor box.

He came back to her, touched his thumb to the open box, and placed it in the centre of her hairline, since there was no parting yet.

"Hamesha tumhi lagana... yeh sindoor aur mangalsutra woh pehchaan hai jisse duniya jaan jaati hai ki tumhara haq hai mujh pe... poora haq." She held his hand, and kissed the palm.

He opened his mouth to say something, but before the words found a way, his wife placed a hand on his chest and pushed him away.

"Bas ab ek minute bhi waste nahi karna... ya toh tum jaldi se taiyar ho jao nahi toh main akele hi chali jaungi mandir." She warned.

This did the trick. He could not think of staying back at home without her. Scurrying to the bathroom, he looked back to blow a kiss before closing the door.

Her eyes filled up with both love and pain for his suffering... the wounds were such that only love could not cure them... she needed more to bring him out of the dark abyss that his past had created... the depth of those miseries had put a fear of foreboding in him that needed to be tackled with caution... his times of tribulations had a much longer life than the life of love they had shared.

Though he had been able to tackle his fears to a great extent, the roots penetrated deep... she had to burn those roots, to never let that darkness enter his thoughts again. And she had to start now.

Sameer came out after bath to find the room vacant. He looked around. His things were still scattered on the floor, her suitcase still sat against the wall, the open cupboard now looked grimly empty... but amidst all this, something caught his eye.

A set of clothes, neatly folded, was kept on the bed for him.

He rushed to pick up the shirt. It brought back the memories of the day they had gone for pooja at Sonali's parents' house. He had worn the same shirt... the day he had tied mangalsutra first time around her neck...

Excited, he dressed up quickly, running out a few minutes later to find Naina in the kitchen. She was issuing instructions to Ramdhari about lunch since all their friends would be spending the day here today. He stood spellbound at the door of kitchen.

She was also wearing the same saree as that day.

He was a little surprised at this comparison between two times... it seemed that their college days had a way of seeping through to their married life...

But he was not complaining.

"Sameer, aa gaye tum... hum log breakfast wapas aake karenge... abhi chai peeni hai kya tumhe?" Her words brought him out of the thoughts.

He shook his head, "Abhi nahi, der ho jayegi... pehle mandir ho aate hain."

She nodded, turning back to the boy who was more than eager to carry out everything that she had told him.

"Aur haan, aap hamara kamra abhi saaf mat karna... kuch samaan hai jo mujhe sametna hai... aane ke baad dekhungi... tab tak aap yeh sab kar lijiye." She said before leaving.

"Bohot sundar lag rahi ho." Sameer smiled, admiring the dark pink saree with gold border making her creamy complexion turn rosy.

"Lagna padega, Mrs Maheshwari ko dekh ke sabko pata chalna chahiye ki Mr Maheshwari ki pasand koi aisi waisi nahi hai." She raised imaginary collars.

"Achha?" He quirked up a brow.

The temple complex was deserted at this hour. People usually came in the early hours of morning. Now it was past ten. The carts and kiosks selling flowers and pooja material seemed to be sleepy too, having given up the hope for any more business this morning.

"Tum car park karke upar chalo, main phool aur pooja ka samaan leke aati hun." She directed him, getting out of the car.

He had been waiting for a while when he saw her climbing up the few stairs carefully, balancing a basket in one hand and holding her saree with the other. He ran to her, taking the basket.

"Kaho toh tumhe bhi utha lun?" His wink made her turn the same colour as her saree.

"Mandir mein hain hum." She admonished.

"Toh kya hua... mandir mein jab neeche milte the tab... " He could not miss the chance to tease.

Thankfully, they reached the prayer area before he could make her blush more.

Sameer stood behind as Naina went ahead to hand over the basket to panditji, talking to him in low voice. She came back a moment later and they stood with folded hands, together. Panditji chanted some mantras, showering flowers on the idols, then placed the box of laddus at the feet of deity, murmuring something... he put a tika on the box of laddus, then turned to put tika on both their foreheads.

Handing over the basket and box of laddus back to Naina as prashad, he smiled affectionately, "Yeh lo bitiya, tumhare pati ki aane wali zindagi ki mangal kaamna ke saath saath uske kal se shuru hone wale kaam ke liye bhi bhagwan ka ashirwad mil gaya hai... tum dono pe hamesha upar wale ki kripa bani rahegi."

Sameer gave a surprised look to his wife. She didn't look up at him, taking both the things. Placing the box in the basket, she held Sameer's hand and went to the backside of temple. He followed her without a word. There was a tree with small red dupattas tied to its branches, its wide trunk was covered with the red, sacred thread. There was a narrow raised platform around it. She placed the things in hand on the cemented platform, fished out something from the basket, and turned to face him.

"Haath aage karo." She demanded.

He spread his palm, expecting the prashad.

She held the palm and turned his hand around. When she started to tie a thread around his wrist, he peered carefully. It was the same sacred, red thread... with a small, metallic N in the center.

"Naina, yeh kya hai?" He gave her an astonished look.

She continued with concentration, speaking without moving her eyes, "Yeh main hun... tumhari Naina... jo hamesha tumhare paas hogi... har pal... tum ab se kabhi akele nahi hoge... jab office mein meri yaad ayegi toh ismein mujhe dekh lena... jo baat karna chaho, isse kar lena, woh mujh tak pohoch jayegi... jab kabhi lage ki main nazron ke saamne nahi hun, tab iss N mein jhankna, tumhe mera chehra dikhega... aaj se yeh Naina tumhe ek second bhi akela nahi chodegi."

He was stunned. Looking at the thread, the metal alphabet, he could already feel her warmth encircling his wrist, her face smiling at him, her eyes showering love on him. Once the thread was tied securely, she leaned and placed a kiss over it.

"Lekin... lekin yeh hai toh dhaaga hi... pandrah din, ek mahine mein dheela padke toot jayega." He let out the apprehension.

She gave him a comforting look, "Hum fir yahan aayenge, fir se aisa dhaaga lenge, aur fir se ek doosre se judd jayenge."

He was overwhelmed.

She picked up another one from the basket, "Yeh lo, yeh wala mujhe baandh do."

He took the similar thread from her, with alphabet S on it.

"Lekin tumhare paas toh pehle se his S hai... yeh raha." He held the pendant of mangalsutra.

She held out her wrist towards him, "Woh dil ke kareeb hai, par main dekh nahi paati jab tak aaine ke saamne na jaun... iss dhaage ko main har pal dekh sakungi... mujhe bhi toh tumhara saath chahiye na... jab tum office mein apna dhaaga dekhoge aur main ghar mein apna, tab lagega hum aamne saamne hi khade hain."

With a deep feeling of satisfaction, he tied the thread around her wrist, flicking her glass bangles after he was done. The clinking sound appeared to be the melody of his forthcoming life.

Next update tomorrow morning