Taiji was aghast.

Naina being praised was itself difficult to fathom for her... now she was being praised by this extremely rich, good looking boy who had fallen for her so badly that he had married her... a good for nothing, average looking, almost an orphan, jinxed girl. And to top it, he was placing her above himself... saying she was more capable than him.

This was too much for her to accept.

She forced a sweet smile, "Beta, tum bohot bhole ho... yeh saara paisa, factory, business, bangla... sab tumhara hi toh hai... jab kaarobaar tumhara hai toh kamaii bhi tumhari hi hui na... aur aaj nahi toh kal factory jaana shuru kar hi doge... iske kaam ka kya hai... yeh TV, filmon ka kaam bhi koi kamaii ka zariya hai? Aaj likh diya, kal kahani khatam toh sab khatam... yeh kya tumhara muqabla karegi."

Sameer looked at Naina... her eyes had no plea this time... he was filled with more determination, smiling in relief.

"Aap samajh nahi payengi iss tarah ke kaam ko, taiji," He shook his head ruefully, "woh kya hai na, padne likhne waalon ko hi iski ahmiyat pata hoti hai... aur kahani khatam hone se kuch khatam nahi hota... sirf nayi kahani banane ka mauka aa jaata hai."

Anand smiled at both his children, "Aur Naina ko aise maukon ki kabhi kami nahi hogi... uski pratibha ko pehchanne wale hamesha aate rahenge."

"Rehne dijiye, Anand babu... yeh kisse kahani kitaabe sab samay barbaad karne ke tareeke hain... main bata rahi hun... zyada din nahi chalegi iski yeh nautanki ki dukaan... ladkiyon ke liye padhai likhai bas utni hi kaafi hai ki sabzi, raashan ka hisaab kar sakein... uske baad karna toh chulha chauka hi hai... uske bina aurat ki kya jagah hogi ghar mein?" Taiji was still submerged into age old conservative thinking.

"Khud kahan karti hain? Fir bhi itni saari jagah gher rakhi hai." Preeti muttered, her words heard only by Naina and Sameer.

He looked up at her, "Preeti, pata hai... Ooty mein humein ek film director mile the... unhone Naina ko offer diya hai, unke liye likhne ka."

Preeti's eyes rounded in amazement, "Film director? Kaunsi film ke? Shooting ho rahi thi? Actors bhi the kya?"

"Actors toh nahi the, par unhone Mumbai mein apne office mein bulaya hai... wahan location dekhne aaye the... apni agli film ke liye... Salman Khan ke saath bana rahe hain." Sameer gave a slanting look to taiji.

Her expression changed to jealousy. Though she didn't watch movies, but the name Salman Khan was so big that she was aware of him being a nationwide sensation.

"Naina, tumne bataya nahi itni badi khushkhabari ke baare mein." Anand got up to come near her, placing a hand on her head.

Preeti, still swooning at the information, said in a dazed voice, "Main bhi jaungi, papa... Naina ke saath Mumbai... film ke office mein... kya pata Shahrukh ya Aamir dikh jayein."

"Woh keh rahe the doosra hero shayad Shahrukh ko hi lenge." Sameer smirked, happy to know there was a rival for Pandit as well.

Preeti clasped her hands on her mouth, eyes going wider.

"Ab isse zyada badi aankhen karegi toh bahar aa jayengi... fir ladke wale kya kahenge?" Bela chuckled, coming out of the kitchen.

Both Sameer and Naina looked up with a jerk... Preeti was instantly frantic.

"Mummy, maine kaha na mujhe Mumbai mein shaadi nahi karni... jab sab log yahan hain toh main Mumbai mein kyon rahun... mujhe Ahmedabad mein hi rehna hai." She said in an irritated tone.

"Arre beta, Phulla bua ne kaha tha na bohot achhe rishte hain... ek baar mil toh lena... hum koi zabardasti shaadi thodi kara rahe hain teri... ho sakta hai tujhe bhi ladka pasand aa jaye." Bela stroked her head lovingly.

"Nahi aa sakta." Naina blurted, earning a hard stare from taiji, and confused looks from Anand and Bela.

"Matlab, Mumbai se ladka yahan nahi aa sakta kya? Preeti ka jaana kyon zaroori hai?" She tried to cover up the damage.

"Wahan do teen rishte bataye hain Phulla bua ne... soch rahe hain hum hi chale jaayenge toh theek rahega... sab se mil lenge." Anand informed.

"Aur kya... ab isko jaldi nibta do... warna yeh bhi koi gul khila... " Taiji abruptly stopped her grumbling, realizing Sameer's presence.

"Taiji, aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye... Preeti ke liye rishton ki koi kami nahi hai... yahan Ahmedabad mein hi itne saare mil jayenge... Mumbai jaane ki naubat nahi aayegi." He gave a forced smile.

"Lekin beta, wahan bhi toh... " Bela started to say, worried about letting go of the alliance that Phulla bua had suggested.

"Chachiji, Preeti ki shaadi karwana meri zimmedari hai... main waada karta hun aapse ki jaldi hi uske liye bohot achha rishta leke aaunga." Sameer assured Bela.

She looked at her husband... he indicated her to be quiet for now, mentally making a note of talking to Sameer later about it.

Taiji got up to use the washroom while Bela asked Preeti to come to the kitchen for helping her. Naina had also finished shelling the peas. She was about to get up when Sameer held her hand under the table, taking the opportunity as chachaji stepped out in the balcony to speak on phone when he received a call.

"Sameer, chodo... taiji aa jayengi." She tried to pull her hand out of his grasp, turning to peer at the passage leading to washroom.

"Yeh tumhari taiji ko main... yaar, kaise jhelte the tum log inko... shaitan ki amma lag rahi thi mujhe toh." He made a disgusting face.

Naina giggled, "Humein aadat hai... tum bhi daal lo."

He pulled her hand, making her lean towards him, "Madam, aadat ab inhe daalni padegi... Sameer Maheshwari ki... inki bolti main band karwaunga."

"Aapne toh meri zindagi pehle hi aasan kar di hai, jijaji... ab taiji mujhe jaldi se daanti nahi hain... pehle toh har baat pe sunati thi... ab mausam kaafi badal gaya hai... sab aapke uss ek phone ka kamaal hai... ab tak darti hain." Preeti chuckled, bringing the plates to lay the table.

Seeing her, Naina tugged at her hand again, imploring Sameer to let go.

"Tension mat le, behen... mere aage kya sharmana... jijaji, lage raho." Preeti winked at him, going back to the kitchen with the bowl of shelled peas.

His gave an impish grin... tightening his grip, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb, his eyes drifting down to her lips. She wrinkled her nose, flicking her eyes in the direction of balcony. He could hear chachaji's voice, conversing over some official matter.

"Naina, tumhare kamre ki yaad aa rahi hai." His low voice added to the intensity of his demand.

She gasped, "Tum... tum pagal toh nahi ho gaye... maar dalengi taiji agar... "

As if she heard herself being mentioned, taiji hollered from inside, "Bela, o Bela."

"Jee bhabhiji." Bela rushed out to the other end of the passage.

She stood with a broken tap in her hand. Bela looked at it in shock.

"Kya saste, kamzor nal lagwa rakhe hain tumne... haath lagate hi toot gaya... yeh le... sudharwa lena... maine yahan ka paani band kar diya hai." She plonked the tap heavily in Bela's hand, without any sign of regret.

Bela silently dipped her head to the side, mentally calculating the cost of getting the tap replaced.

"Theek hai, main dekhta hun." Anand concluded the call with a frown, entering the living room.

Naina straightened quickly, managing to pull her hand back.

"Bela, suno." Anand called out to his wife, who immediately came out, wiping her hands on the pallu.

"Woh Patel saab ki file mere assistant se kahin kho gayi hai... mujhe abhi jaana hoga... par main jaldi aane ki koshish karunga."

He looked at Sameer and Naina, "Maaf karna bachhon, maine tumhare saath waqt bitane ke liye chutti li thi lekin ab yeh kaam itna zaroori hai ki... "

"Koi baat nahi, chachaji... aap apna kaam karke aaiye... hum toh yahin hain... kabhi bhi mil sakte hain." Sameer put him at ease.

Bela got his bag and Anand left within a few minutes. Naina tried to help in the kitchen but Bela gave her the plate of salad and asked her to cut it on the dining table only as it was too hot inside. Sameer sat on the sofa, stealing glances at her. Taiji made efforts to extract information about his family and business which he tried to tell in as less words as possible.

"Chalo achha hi hai tum akele rehte ho... parivar mein iss ladki ka guzara mushkil tha... na koi dhang hai isse na tameez... Bela ne ghar sambhalna bhi nahi sikhaya... waise khana bana rahi hai wahan ya nahi?" She came back to her favourite topic, criticising Naina.

Sameer pursed his lips, took a deep breath and gave her a big, fake smile, "Haan taiji, bilkul sahi kaha aapne... Naina ko ghar ka kuch kaam nahi aata... kya bataun aapko kitni mushkil hoti hai mujhe... khana bhi kahan bana pati hai... woh toh main akela hun toh kisi tarah chal raha hai... par aise kitne din chal payega?"

Naina smiled without looking up... taiji was being prepared for next attack.

She, however, was elated at finding a partner in her criticism, "Maine toh kaha tha Bela se... aise ladkiyon ko ghar se door bhejne ka kya matlab hai... jo padhai yahan ho sakti hai woh kara do aur baaki ghar ka kaam kaaj sikhao... kaam wohi aayega... par meri sunta kaun hai."

Sameer made a docile face, "Main sununga... aapki baat mujhe achhe se samajh aa rahi hai... ab jo galti ho gayi hai usse sudharna toh padega hi... aap hi samajh sakti hain ki mujhe kitni pareshani uthani par rahi hai."

She smiled smugly, adjusting the pallu on her head.

"Ab aap sabse zyada samajhdaar hain toh kyon na aap hi sab kuch sikhayen Naina ko." He suggested excitedly.

Taiji looked up with a start, "Main?"

Sameer nodded vehemently, "Haan taiji, aap... itni achhi shiksha toh aap hi de sakti hain... maine faisla kar liya hai... main aur Naina kal hi apna samaan leke aa jayenge... poore ek mahine ke liye."

She narrowed her eyes, "Tum ek mahina yahan rahoge?"

Sameer made a twitching sound with his tongue, "Arre nahi, yahan nahi... aapke ghar... hum dono... poora ek mahina."

Her mouth fell open.

"Iss ek mahine mein roz teen chaar nayi cheezen banani sikhana Naina ko... mujhe pata hai aap khana bohot achha banati hongi... bilkul apni baaton ki tarah... aur aapko ghar ke saare kaam karte hue dekh ke usse samajh aayega ki kya aur kaise karna hai... nanu kehte the ghar mein itne kaam hote hain ki hum andaaza bhi nahi laga sakte... aap roz subah se raat tak unn sab kaamon ko karengi toh Naina kuch toh seekh hi jayegi." He said with a forlorn expression.

"Tum... tum sasuraal mein kaise reh sakte ho... ek mahina?" The fear was evident in her voice and her rounded eyes.

"Main toh aapke bete jaisa hi hun... tabhi toh aap meri itni fikr karti hain... itna sab sikhati rehti hain... toh aapka yeh beta aapke ghar kyon nahi reh sakta... balki mujhe toh lagta hai thode thode dinon mein hum dono ko aapke ghar aake rehna chahiye... itni unchi soch aur mehnat se kaam karne ki aadat humein kitna kuch sikha sakti hai." He pleasantly smiled at her.

The sweat on taiji's face was not due to the weather.

"Main... main zara... woh Pralay babu ke school se aane ka time ho gaya... main jaake dekhti hun." She swallowed, sprinting out as fast as her fat body could take her.

With a contented smirk, Sameer relaxed back on the sofa. His eyes darted towards Naina. She sat with her chin resting on her fisted palm, watching the drama like an audience. The moment his eyes fell on her, she puckered her lips... and blew him a kiss. He raised his hand in the air, catching the kiss, and placed it on his heart. Looking up, he blew a kiss as well. She held it, just like him... but placed her fingers on her lips, making his eyes glimmer with anticipation.

"Chalo bhai, khana ready hai." Preeti walked out, holding a dish in her hands.

Naina quickly got up, placing the salad on the table. She went to the kitchen to help Preeti with getting the food. Once everything was put on the table, Bela asked Sameer to come for lunch.

"Main haath dho leta hun." He walked towards the washroom.

"Uhh... beta, woh... yahan wale ka nal toot gaya bhabhiji se abhi... toh tum andar Preeti ke kamre wale bathroom mein chale jao." Bela was embarrassed.

Sameer went to the room he had sneaked into so many times. He glanced around. Each piece of furniture, each corner brought back hordes of memories... and a smile.

"Yeh bhabhiji kahan chali gayi? Khane ke time pe yahan na ho aisa kaise ho gaya?" Bela peeked at the door, as everyone settled down to start eating.

Before Naina could say anything, Pralay came running through the door.

"Chachi, mummy ne kaha hai unke sar mein dard hai... woh nahi aa sakti... aap unka khana mujhe de do, main le jaunga." He narrated whatever he was told.

"Aajkal bhabhiji ko sar mein bohot dard hone laga hai... abhi thodi der pehle toh bilkul theek thi." Bela wondered aloud, setting a plate for her.

Preeti crossed her arms, looking at Sameer, "Mujhe lagta hai yeh sar dard ab hota hi rahega."

He glanced up at her. She showed him a thumbs up sign... not knowing what happened but had no doubt that he was behind it... and she had no complaints.

Pralay walked out, carefully holding the plate. He came running back within a few minutes, settling down on a chair to have his lunch.

"Aur mummy ne kaha hai... ki woh kal Rajkot wale mamaji ke ghar jaa rahi hain... kuch dino ke liye... abhi pata nahi kab aayengi." He informed everyone, stuffing his mouth with his favourite matar paneer.

Naina stifled a laugh... Sameer continued to eat with a nonchalant face... Preeti looked at them, from one to another... Bela was even more surprised at this sudden plan.

Next update tomorrow morning