"Naina, soch kya rahi hai? Agle saal kategi kya cake?" Preeti prompted her, seeing her lost.

Sameer nudged her a little... and Naina came back to senses.

She bent down to blow the candles. Everyone clapped while she cut the cake. Taking a piece out, she was not sure whom to take it to... so she placed it in a plate... and went on to cut more, to put in plates for everyone.

"Beta, yeh kaam Preeti kar legi, tu pehle dam... Sameer ko cake khila." Bela urged, earning a glare from Preeti for assigning work to her.

Naina chewed the side of her lip... then picked up a piece, gingerly bringing it to him.

His eyes shone with mischief... and she knew what he was thinking.

Her cheeks flared up... Sameer held her hand, seeing the tremble that shook her... and took a little bite from the cake, turning her hand back to her mouth.

Naina nibbled a piece... and put the cake back in the plate, running away on the pretext of washing her hands.

Bela started to help Preeti arrange plates for everyone, mumbling under her breath, "Teen saal ki pehchaan ke baad shaadi ki hai fir bhi ek cake khilane mein itna sharmati hai... pata nahi iss ladki ka kya hoga."

Preeti, who heard what her mother said, rolled her eyes... wondering how she would react if she came to know that Sameer was here all night.

"Ab khi khi kya kar rahi hai... jaldi se sab ko de... main sharbat laati hun." Bela looked at Preeti when she giggled at her own thoughts.

Naina never imagined she could feel this shy by mere presence of Sameer in the same room. It wasn't that he was constantly looking in her direction. In fact, he was paying attention to chachiji and Phulla bua's conversation. Still, she felt conscious of every movement of hers... the slight touch of his finger when she handed him the plate of snacks, the stolen glance when she brought tea for everyone, the brush of leg when she moved past him to pick up empty plates... everything was like a new feeling... she didn't know if he felt that way too.

"Tujhe kya hua, Naina... itni ghabra kyon rahi hai?" Swati saw the tensed expression on her face.

"Pata nahi, Swati... bada ajeeb lag raha hai... Sameer ko itne samay se jaanti hun... fir bhi aisa lag raha hai ki sab kuch naya hai... uski taraf dekhne se, uska haath galti se choo jaane se... kuch alag hi ahsaas ho raha hai." Naina shared her feelings with her best friend.

Swati took her out to the balcony of living room, "Main samajh rahi hun... ab tak tum dono jab bhi saath hote the toh koi dekhne wala nahi tha... lekin aaj sabke saamne aise haath pakadna... ek dusre ko nazar bhar ke dekhna... yeh alag lagta hai... jaisi koi galti ho... kyonki humne bachpan se yehi seekha hai ki pyar wagerah sab bekaar ki baatein hain... filmy bimari hai... lekin hum dono ne yeh bimari laga li, Naina... waise tujhe itna nahi mehsoos hona chahiye... tere chachaji toh kitna pyar jatate hain chachiji se... unka khyaal rakhte hain, haath pakadte hain, gale bhi lagate hain sabke saamne... toh tu kyon hitchkicha rahi hai... ab tera pati hai Sameer... agar tu uska pyar apne parivaar ke saamne apna nahi payegi toh sabse ladegi kaise... usse nazaren churayegi toh sabke saamne nazren utha ke apne pyar ka haq kaise mangegi... Naina, tujhe pata hai na kya toofan aayega jab Rakesh sir aur taiji ko pata chalega... abhi ke suhane mausam se darr gayi toh toofan mein doob hi jayegi... Sameer tera sab kuch hai... sabko dikhna chahiye tumhara apnapan, tumhara ek doosre pe haq... pehle khud ko yakeen dilayegi tabhi doosron ko dila payegi na... yeh darr nikal de apne man se... dekh toh tere saath khade logon ka number badhta jaa raha hai... bas ab teen wicket girne baaki hain."

Swati's words slowly lifted a veil from Naina's eyes. She was right... it was needed on her part to show confidence in her choice... of course she had full faith in him, and their relationship... but she had to stop feeling culpable in front of her family.

When she went back in, Sameer instantly looked back at her, itching to get up and join her in the balcony ever since she went out. She flashed a big smile at him, easing his worries that something was not okay.

Anand asked Naina to sit with them. To Sameer's surprise, she sat down next to him, erasing any trace of doubt.

Anand told her about the plan for this party. It was Sameer who had initiated the idea, calling up Phulla bua and telling her to come on Naina's birthday. When he came to know chachaji was also away, he requested Phulla bua to tell him to delay his arrival by one day. The surprise party was planned by him. When Anand came to know of his efforts, he spoke to Bela... and it seemed to be a perfect opportunity to invite him home when she told him about his brother and bhabhiji being away for the day. Sameer was initially reluctant, thinking that Naina might not be comfortable. But agreed when chachiji also called up to invite him.

Naina was stunned... not only had he formulated a special plan for the night, he had gone to such lenghts to give her a party with her family too... a first in her twenty one years.

She looked at him, eyes shining with the warmth she felt at this gesture.

"Thank you, Sameer... tumhe pata nahi hai tumne mujhe kitni badi khushi di hai." She held his hand between her palms, surprising him by this display of affection.

"Isiliye humne Sameer ko bhi shaamil kiya... ab tumhari kisi bhi khushi mein yeh nahi ho toh khushi adhoori reh jayegi na?" Chachaji fondly looked at them.

When the bell rang this time, Naina happily got up to open the door, without a thought.

And stood rooted to the spot...

Arjun and her father were at the door.

Arjun was aware of the party, also of Sameer's presence. Anand had asked Bela to tell him to join them. But Rakesh kept him busy, showing different articles in the magazines about famous cricketers, their life story, their routine... and told him to learn from their hard work.

"Kya yeh har samay Anand ke ghar bhaagne ki ratt lagaye rakhta hai... chup chap yahan baith ke inn kitabon mein se achhi baatein seekh... unke ghar ka mahaul kuch zyada hi khula hai... yeh sab theek nahi hota... tujhe kisi pe dhyan dene ki zaroorat nahi hai... apne lakshya pe aankhen gada ke rakh... Arjun hai tu... machhli ki aankh se nazar hatni nahi chahiye." He had sternly told his son.

Arjun had no option but to read all the magazines till it was time for dinner. And now he felt sad at missing out on what seemed to be a happy family celebration.

"Arre buaji... aap kab aayi? Mujhe toh kisi ne batane ki bhi zaroorat nahi samjhi... meri koi keemat hi nahi hai dono hi gharon mein." He grumbled, going to touch Phulla bua's feet.

"Namaste bhaisahab, buaji aaj hi aayi hain, abhi thodi der pehle." Anand greeted him with a smile.

Rakesh looked around to see the gathering... and his eyes rested on Sameer.

There was no instant recognition... then his gaze narrowed, "Tum wohi ho na... school mein hero banke ghoomte the... baalon ki dukaan leke?"

Sameer got up to touch his feet, "Ji Rakesh sir, main Sameer hun."

"Yahan kya karne aaye ho?" He did not acknowledge the mark of respect.

"Woh main... main..." He fumbled.

"Maine bulaya hai." Phulla bua intervened.

"Aapne? Aap kaise jaanti hain isko?" Rakesh was confused.

"Iske parivaar walon se pehchaan hai meri... yahan aayi toh milne bula liya." She was nonchalant.

"Ab mil liye na... toh baithe kya ho... jao." Rakesh turned to Sameer, the indignation he felt for him in school coming back.

"Preeti, Naina, tum sab andar kamre mein jao... Arjun, tu aur Sameer bhi jao... mujhe kuch baat karni hai Rakesh se." Phulla bua commandedcommanded, ignoring Rakesh's remark.

The silence in the room could be cut with a knife.

"Dekh kya rahe ho... jao sab." She said firmly when no one moved.

Preeti pulled Naina, as Swati followed them... with Arjun and Sameer behind them.

"Yeh aapne kya kiya? Uss anjaan ladke ko bacchon ke saath andar kyon bheja? Aap kitna jaanti hain uss ameerzade ko mujhe pata nahi par main uske jaise bigde hue ladke ko apne ghar mein nahi dekhna chahta." Rakesh fumed.

"Chup kar." Phulla bua strongly curbed his rambling.

"Tujhe pata kya hai uske baare mein? Aaj tak kisi ki sahi pehchaan ki hai tune? Pata nahi kaunsa chashma laga ke duniya ko dekhta hai." She spoke angrily.

"Chashma laga ke nahi dekhta isiliye mujhe sab saaf nazar aata hai... bohot dekhe hain iske jaise ladke... bas baap ke paise pe matargashti karte hain aur idhar udhar ladkiyan chedte hain... na padhne mein achhe hote hain na badon ki koi  izzat karte hain." Rakesh said bitterly.

"Aur jiss ladke se tu Naina ka rishta karwa raha tha usmein yeh buraiyaan nahi thi? Kaise hoti... woh toh padha likha hi nahi tha... aur bachche jaisa dimaag tha toh ghar se bahar jaa bhi nahi sakta hoga." Phulla bua was indignant at his characterisation of Sameer.

"Ab ismein Naina kahan se aa gayi? Main Sameer ki baat kar raha hun... aur woh rishta isliye tay kiya tha maine kyonki usse mere dono bachhon ki zindagi sudhar jaati... Naina ko ek ameer ghar mil jaata aur Arjun ko woh mauka jo uski zindagi bana deta." He justified his decision.

Phulla bua was about to retort when Anand intervened.

"Rakesh bhaisaab, Sameer bohot achha ladka hai... uske nanaji Ahmedabad ke kaafi izzatdaar aadmi the... Sameer ekdum shareef hai... aap khud bataiye ki aapne kabhi usse ladkiyon ke saath badtameezi karte dekha tha school mein?" He pitched in Sameer's favour.

"Arre theek hai bhai, Sameer hoga sheher ka sabse shareef ladka... mujhe usse kya lena dena... bas aap log isse mere bachhon se door rakhiye." He was exhasperated.

"Yeh tune kya mere bachhe, mere bachhe laga rakha hai? Kitna khyaal hai tujhe sabko pata hai... Naina ke janmdin ki badhai tak nahi di hogi tune." She was sure about it.

Rakesh looked at her with wide eyes, "Badhai? Aap chahti hain main uske aane ki khushi manau? Kaisi khushi? Meri zindagi mein andhera leke aayi thi woh... mere chote se Arjun ko se uski maa cheen li... agar aaj mera koi apna ghar nahi hai toh woh sab iss ladki ki wajah se."

"Bas kijiye, bhaisahab" Anand got up angrily, "Naina ko kis baat ka dosh de rahe hain? Uski maa bhi toh usse chhin gayi thi... arre usse toh pita ka pyar tak nahi mila... jab ek paida hui bachhi pe ilzaam lagaya tha apne toh hum sab chup rahe ki shayad dukh mein aapko samajh nahi aa raha ki aap kya keh rahe hain... lekin ab toh ikkees saal ki ho gayi hai... kab tak usse saza denge?"

"Agar woh ikkees ki hui hai toh mera dukh bhi ikkees saal purana hua hai... main usse kabhi maaf nahi kar sakta." Rakesh was not ready to relent.

"Kaisa baap hai tu, Rakesh?" Phulla bua was aghast.

"Naina ka baap toh pehle din se aapka yeh laadla bana hua hai." Rakesh looked at his brother with disdain.

Anand took a deep breath, "Agar aisa hai bhaisahab, toh main Naina ka pita hone ke naate uska rishta Sameer se tay karta hun."

Bela came to stand near her husband, holding his hand in support... her eyes welled up.