"Naina, sach batao yeh kaise hua... tum toh kal soyi hi nahi... toh mudega kaise... aur yeh chot ke nishan sone se nahi aa sakte." Sameer was sure she was hiding something.

She lowered her eyes, racking her brain for something to tell him.

He hooked a finger under her chin, turning her face up, "Mujhse chupaogi?"

She gulped, caught between the dilemma of not wanting to hide from him... nor making it difficult for him as she knew he wouldn't do anything against taiji if she asked him not to... and if he tried to do, it would jeopardize their chances of getting together with family's consent.

"Woh Sameer, mere kurte mein zip hai na... toh woh phans gayi thi nikalte waqt... tumhe taqleef hoti sunke isliye nahi bataya." She managed to come up with a more believable lie.

He checked the ear again... it was possible...

"Dhyan rakha karo na... aise kaise lag gayi... aage se kabhi aisa hua toh main zip wale dress banwane hi nahi dunga." He cupped her face.

She nodded, relaxing.

"Achha ab baaki saare gifts khol ke dekhun?" She asked, excited to know what all he had bought for her... also to move away from the burden of her lie.

He picked up one from behind her and kept it on her hand.

She picked up more from around the room and settled on the bed, waving at him to join her.

He was amused at her childish enthusiasm as she squealed with each unpacking. Soon, there was a pile of gift wrappers on one side of her, neatly stacked, and loads of items in front of her.

A purse, two pairs of earrings, one wide belt... the kind she liked to wear with her dresses, a beautiful red dupatta, bangle set, pair of sunglasses, a small heart shaped box with sections to store trinkets, a set of payal... she was submerged in the things he got for her.

One particular gift intrigued her. It was a diary with a leather cover, a traditional motif painted on it. It had a pen attached on the side and there was a tiny lock.

"Yeh bohot achha kiya tumne... ab isme main aaram se tumhari saari chugli likh sakti hun... aur fir taala laga ke rakh dungi... tumhe pata bhi nahi chalega." She said with a serious face.

"Oh, tumko meri chugli karni hai... mujhse hi karlo na... main bhi yahan taala laga ke rakgunga." He kept a hand on his heart.

"Hato... tumse karne mein kya maza hai... ismein likhungi apni saari shikayaten." She twisted her lips in a quick flick.

He sat up straight, "Naina, tumhe sach mein mujhse shikayaten hain?"

"Haan, har biwi ko hoti hain apne pati se... biwi ka haq hai yeh toh... mujhe bhi hain." She replied nonchalantly, flipping the pages of diary.

He took the diary from her, kept it aside and held her hands, "Main woh sab shikayaten door kar dunga... bas ek baar bata do... jaise tum kahogi waise hi karunga."

She wanted to rush into his arms, kiss him hard before telling him that he was the dream every girl had for a man... he was the prayer every woman had for a husband... he was the companion every lonely heart needed... he was the answer to every quest for a life partner...

She could never have a grouse against him... never...

He was too precious.

She shifted closer to him, "Sameer, tumse shikayat hai ki tum mujhse bohot zyada pyar karte ho... itna ki main shayad uske layak bhi nahi hun... ek shikayat hai ki tum mere liye sab kuch bhula dete ho, khud ko bhi... shikayat yeh bhi hai ki tum mujhse kabhi kuch maangte nahi par hamesha mere liye sab kuch karte ho... aur aakhiri shikayat... ki tum aisa sochte ho ki mujhe tumse koi shikayat ho sakti hai."

He knew she was teasing him earlier... but his heart still stopped beating for a moment when she said it.

Looking into her eyes, he saw the brown pools shining with flecks of light, images of the tiny bulbs he had put up all over the room...

"Tum meri zindagi ho, Sameer... meri har khushi ki wajah ho... mera woh sapna ho jo main kal tak dekhne ki himmat bhi nahi kar paati thi aur aaj sach ho gaya... meri woh taqat ho jiske saath aaj main sabka saamna karne se darr nahi rahi... tum toh meri saansein ho Sameer, agar tumse shikayat hogi toh jiyungi kaise." She rested her head on his chest.

He pulled her closer, drawing her against himself, "Naina, main jaanta hun tum kitna pyar karti ho mujhse... ya shayad nahi jaanta... kyonki tumhare pyar ka koi hisaab hi nahi hai... tumne apni har deewar, har bandish ko mere liye toda hai... mere liye tum har lakeer paar karne ko taiyar ho... tum bohot keemti ho mere liye... aisa pyar mujhe kabhi nahi mila... darr lagta hai ki kahin main kuch aisa na kar dun jo tumhe chot pohochaye... kyonki tumne jitna mujhe diya hai main uske layak nahi tha kabhi."

She didn't want him to go back to his dark abyss.

"Fir toh hamari jodi perfect hai... dono hi layak nahi hai... toh chalo do nalayak milke saath reh lenge." She sat up, grinning widely.

It took him a few seconds to absorb what she said... and why... and his smile matched hers as he pulled her cheeks.

"Ab yeh batao, itne saare gifts kahan chupaun? Kal kya bolungi chachiji ko ki kisne yeh sab kiya?" She waved at the room.

"Kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai." He followed her gaze.

Her eyes widened, "Matlab chachiji ko bhi pata tha yeh plan?"

"Nahi, nahi... unko nahi bataya... main toh keh raha tha ki main jaane se pehle yeh sab hata dunga... wapas pehle jaisa kar dunga." He said quickly.

She breathed in relief... chachiji next door being aware of his presence in the room at night was something she couldn't handle at the moment.

"Ek gift ab bhi baaki hai." He picked up a small packet kept next to the cake.

She opened it with care... having a feeling that it was special.

It was.

An exquisite heart shaped pendant with a golden chain was in a blue velvet box.

He picked up the chain, opening the pendant to show their pictures in it... just the faces. But she knew it was taken on the day of Rahul and Sonali's wedding. She was wearing the maang tika... and not visible to anyone was the red kumkum hidden under it.

"Yeh toh uss din... " Her voice choked.

Smiling, he took the chain to her neck, taking her in his arms to put the clasp behind.

The pendent rested over her dress, almost reaching next to her heart. He felt no hesitation in placing his hand over it.

"Ab se tumhare dil ke kareeb rahunga main." He saw her draw in a sharp breath at his touch... but he did not remove his hand.

She kept hers over it, trying to stop the quivering of her lips.

Tum toh dil mein hi rehte ho." She said with lowered eyes.

He wished he didn't have to leave.

"Naina, thodi der mein mujhe jaana hai." He moved his hand, along with hers to see the time in her watch.

Her eyes shot up at him... the thought of him leaving filling her up with pain.

"Sameer, mat jao." She wrapped her arms around him.

"Main bhi jaana nahi chahta... lekin iss kamre mein tumhare saath tabhi reh sakta hun jab uss darwaze se aaunga," he pointed at the locked door, "balcony se nahi."

She let out a soft chuckle, "Mujhe tum balcony se aate hue bohot cute lagte ho... bilkul romeo."

He tightened his arms around her, "Romeo bane rehne ke liye mere paas aur bohot tareeke hain... pipe ya seedhi se aane ki zaroorat nahi hai."

They together removed the decorations he had put up... feeling sad about it.

After securing them in the same carton, he picked up the tray of cake.

"Ek minute." She stopped him.

Making him sit on the bed, she cut another small piece. Holding it in the plastic spoon that had come with the cake, she kept it in front of her mouth, inviting him to taste it.

His eyes lit up at her suggestion. He quickly leaned to take a bite from his side, as she leaned at the same time. Their faces almost touched each other as they nibbled. Coming more close with each bite, their lips met. And the spoon was put aside... as they savoured the taste that was even more sweet now.

Later, he placed the cake back in its box, and slid it under the bed.

"Cake yahan rakhenge toh kharab ho jaayega... aur baahar leke gayi toh chachiji ko kya kahungi?" She was in a fix again.

"Preeti sambhal legi subah aake... yeh uska kaam hai." He assured her.

When he got up to leave she suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart... holding his hand.

He turned, and pulled her up, crushing her in his arms.

"Happy birthday, jaan... ab so jao... kal milenge." He murmured against her hair.

She hugged him tight, feeling his fast heart beat under her ear.

"Kal nahi Sameer, parson... mandir mein nahi aana tum... maine kaha tha na chachiji saath chalengi." She reminded him.

With a deep sigh, he nodded.

They went out to the balcony. There was no one in the street. Not even Munna Pandit. He looked at his watch. It was one minute past four. He started to feel a nervousness build up in the pit of his stomach... what if they did not get up... what if people started to move around in the street by the time they came... what if he was caught... all the sacrifices he and Naina have been making would be futile... and he would never be allowed to step in these lanes again.

"Naina, shayad Munna Pandit car mein hi so rahe hain... main aur intezar nahi kar sakta... mujhe jaana hoga." He whispered, turning towards her.

A wave of panic washed over her, "Aise kaise jaoge... yahan se koode toh haddiyaan toot jayengi, Sameer."

He pointed at the pipe, chuckling, "Yeh hai na... tumne teen saal mein mujhe pipe se aane jaane ki kaafi practice karwa di hai."

She looked at the thick pipe which was not so close to the balcony... it wouldn't be easy.

She helped him cross over the railing and hold onto the pipe, her heart in her mouth as he went down slowly.

Once he was standing in the street, she breathed again. Blowing a kiss at her, he ran to the parked car in the other street.

She watched him till he was visible... and waited for a few moments after he was gone.

And he came back... grinning at her from the end of the street, waved and left again.

She went back in, picked up the gifts and placed them in the lower shelf of her cupboard, putting old clothes in front of them. Securing the wrapping papers in the drawer of her study table, she got into the bed.

His efforts had made her fall in love with him more today... if it was even possible.

She smiled... Sameer had truly made her birthday a Happy Birthday.

With the smile still on her lips, she almost instantly fell asleep... tired, but satiated.

I'll be tied up during the day hence the evening update might not be very long today. I don't want to miss out on it so would definitely give one...
Please accept my apologies in advance.