Thank you all for your concern... I'm overwhelmed with the love you give me.

Please don't feel that writing is giving me any stress. Not at all. These updates and your comments make my day... honestly.

It is just that some ups and downs in life sometimes leave you a little rattled. But that doesn't mean I can stay away from Samaina 😁
So, we'll keep meeting daily... I hope to do something that the show didn't give us... 500 episodes.
Fingers crossed.

Sameer opened the gate in the evening, expecting Naina to be there again. To his disappointment, she wasn't. The driver took his things inside while Sameer stood at the gate, wondering why she was not here. The moment driver was out of sight, soft hands hugged him from behind, taking him by surprise.

"Naina." His head jerked back as his hands came over hers, on his chest.

"Welcome, patidev." She placed her head between his shoulders.

"Aaj chup ke welcome kyon?" He smiled, delighted to know that she was waiting for him right here.

"Gale lagane ke liye tumhare andar aane tak ka intezar nahi kar sakti thi, isliye chup ke khadi thi." She tightened her arms around him.

He breathed out in relief. The warmth of her embrace after one full day was the bliss he himself was craving for.

"Lekin mujhe tumhe dekhna hai, aage toh aao... main bhi gale lagana chahta hun tumhe." He tugged at her arms.

She quickly stepped away from him, taking a few steps to walk ahead as she moved towards the house. Before Sameer could grab her, he saw the driver emerging from the main door, coming towards them. He politely wished Naina, asked him if he could leave, and went out when Sameer nodded.

She turned to look at him once the gate was closed.

"Ab dekh lo." She said with a bright smile, walking backwards.

He let his gaze travel leisurely over her, from top to bottom, then back to her face. The red cotton dress that she was wearing was again from the college days. He loved the way it hugged her at certain places. The dress fell a little below her knees, leaving the legs bare. She still kept a black thread around her ankle, ever since chachiji had asked her to wear one. Whatever the purpose, he loved the black thread on her delicate ankle. The broad belt around her slender waist made her look even more dainty. The neck of the dress was not deep but it clearly showed the mangalsutra, its pendent resting where the neckline dipped in the center. The silky mane covered her back, a few locks flowing across her face as she continued to walk backwards, smiling at him. There was no makeup on her face... her eyes were still alluring, her lips pink, cheeks were flushed, and skin glowed.

He held out his hand. She placed her palm in it, turning to walk with him. Together, they went in.

Ramdhari had kept tea and some snacks ready. Though Sameer wanted to go to the room, Naina insisted that he must have tea first.

"Kabse kuch khaya nahi hai tumne. Lunch hi kiya tha bas. Bhook lagi hogi na... pehle thoda kha lo fir fresh ho jaana." She forced him to sit, leaving him no choice.

After tea, Sameer held her hand and dragged her to their room the minute Ramdhari went back to the kitchen with empty cups.

"Arre, arre... aaram se Mr Maheshwari... itna utavalapn bhi theek nahi hai." She rounded her eyes dramatically.

He crushed her in his arms the moment they were inside, "Khud tum andar aane ka intezar bhi nahi kar saki aur utavala main hun?"

She hugged him tight, "Maine toh bas tumhara welcome karne ke liye kiya tha... apne liye thodi."

He stood holding her close for a few minutes, then hooked a finger under her chin, making her look up.

"Achha ?" He narrowed his eyes.

She nodded innocently.

"Agar itna khyal hai mera toh abhi bhi mere liye kuch kar do." He tilted his head slightly, raising one brow.

"Kya?" She said in a childish voice.

He started to move ahead, taking her along, wrapped in his arms. She kept smiling up at him, expecting a kiss any moment.

The hard surface that her back hit moved with the impact. She wriggled in his arms to see what he was doing. Before she could react, Sameer had shut the door of washroom... with them inside.

"Sameer... " She shuddered as he pressed her against the closed door.

He gave an impish grin, "Ab bataun kya karna hai mere liya?"

She stiffened, "Sam... Sameer... please... nahi."

He pinned her to the door, "Subah se bahar hun... ab nahana chahiye na... yeh toh tum pehle bhi kara chuki ho... toh fir ab kyon ghabra rahi ho... ab toh... ab toh hum aur bhi kareeb hain."

His raspy voice sent shivers down her spine.

She tried to locate the knob behind her with one hand. He held the hand as it reached the knob. She looked in horror as he started to open the buttons of his shirt with the other.

"Sameer, please... main... mujhe... bahar... " She gulped, her throat gone totally dry.

He shrugged off the shirt, keeping her captive with one hand first, then the other.

When his hand moved to his belt, she squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her lips, her heart beating so hard, she felt it would break her chest to jump out.

A soft touch of his lips on the forehead made her open her eyes slowly.

"Tumhe lagta hai main tumhari marzi ke bagair kuch bhi karunga?" He looked at her with loving eyes.

She let out the breath she was holding.

He opened the door. She quickly stepped out.

"Naina." His voice made her freeze... she turned her head sideways, not looking at him directly.

"Main intezar karunga."

Her gaze shot up to him. He winked. She ran out of the room. Smiling, he shut the door, shaking his head at her inhibitions.

The room was still vacant when he came out after a shower. Once he was dressed, he went out to find her. She was in the garden, with Ramdhari. They seemed to be discussing something animatedly. He leaned against the door, watching her.

In just a few days, she had taken control of the house as if she had been living here all her life. He had seen nanu often stroll around in the garden, along the flower beds, talking to Ramdhari just like Naina was doing now. He had never asked them what they discussed. But now, he was suddenly very keen.

Before he could walk out to them, the phone in the living room started to ring. Naina glanced up. Seeing him standing there, she went back to talking, knowing that he would take the call.

"Bhai, papa maan gaye." Pandit screamed in his ear the moment he said hello.

Sameer craned his neck, holding the phone at some distance, rubbing his ear.

"Suna tune? Sameer? Hello... helloooo... hello testing... 1...2...3... kahan gaya?" Pandit hollered.

"Agar itna zor se chillana hai toh phone kyon kar raha hai... aise hi chat pe khada hoke chilla de... teri awaaz yahan tak aa jayegi." Sameer scoffed into the phone.

"Oh, tujhe sun gaya? Mujhe laga awaaz nahi aa rahi." Pandit lowered his voice, speaking sheepishly.

"Chaand tak awaaz chali gayi hogi teri... itni zor se bol raha tha." Sameer chided him.

"Chaand pe kaun sunne baitha hai yaar, sunana toh yahan walon ko hi hai... filhaal bas apne chaand ko bataya hai aur ab tujhe bata raha hun." Pandit blushed.

"Achha, matlab Munna ko bata diya tune." Sameer teased.

Pandit was miffed, "Abe uss amavasya ke chaand ki kaun baat kar raha hai."

"Oh, toh tune taiji ko bata diya." Sameer riled him even more.

"Dekh Sameer, tujhe apna bhai maana hai hamesha... lekin ab hum ek hi parivaar ke ho jayenge... hamari biwiyaan behne hain toh hum sachmuch bhai hue na... aise mein agar tu iss tarah ke mazaak karega toh... " Pandit turned serious.

"Toh?" Sameer knew him too well to get effected by his somber tone.

"Toh kya, yaar... kar le... main kahan kuch keh sakta hun... abhi teri bohot zaroorat hai mujhe... aur zaroorat ke liye toh gadhe ko bhi baap banana padta hai." Pandit whined, blurting out before he realised what he was saying.

"Kya?" Sameer huffed.

Pandit stood up at the other end, "Oh sorry, sorry, mera woh matlab nahi tha... woh bas ek kahawat nikal gayi muh se... maaf karde bhai... gadha toh main hun... jab exam mein likhne ko aati thi tab kabhi time pe yaad nahi aayi yeh kambakht kahawatein... aaj galat jagah pe pata nahi kaise muh se nikal gayi."

Sameer smirked silently, "Dekh Pandit, jab parson chachaji ko pata chalega toh sabse pehle woh tujhse baat karna chahenge."

Pandit nodded foolishly.

"Sun raha hai na?" Sameer asked again.

"Hn... haan... sun raha hun... bol." He gulped, wondering what was coming.

"Haan, toh main keh raha tha, agar unke saamne aise hi kuch tere muh se nikal gaya toh tera patta wahin kat jayega." Sameer said in a sad voice.

Pandit started to sweat.

"Isliye tu ek kaam kar... chup rehne ki practice shuru kar de... din mein dus ghante ka maun vrat rakha kar." Sameer laughed silently at his plight, turning towards the door.

His laughter froze midway.

Naina stood right behind, hands on waist, glaring at him.

He looked at phone, then at her "Woh main... "

She took the phone from him.

"Hello Pandit, tum chinta mat karo... parson hum chachaji se baat karenge. Mujhe yakeen hai woh zaroor maan jayenge. Aur haan, Sameer se nahi ab mujhse baat karna iss baare mein." She kept her eyes on him as she spoke into the phone.

After putting it down, she turned to go without another look at him.

He rushed in front of her, "Arre woh bas mazaak kar raha tha Pandit se... hum hamesha se aise hi karte hain... hum teeno... ek doosre ki taang kheenchte hain... koi galat baat thodi kahi maine... itni masti chalti hai."

She stopped, lips pressed into a grim line.

"Yaar Naina, itni si baat ke liye gussa hogi kya? Munna Pandit bhi toh mujhe itna tang karte hain." He pouted.

"Yeh itni si baat hai? Tum mere hone wale jijaji ko sataa rahe the... pata hai, saali hun unki... unke khilaaf kuch nahi sun sakti." She said sternly.

Sameer frowned, "Iss Pandit ka standard itna kaise badh gaya?"

"Kya kaha?" She scowled.

He forced a smile, "Nahi, kuch nahi... aapke jijaji ke baare mein kuch kahan keh sakta hun."

She walked away, leaving him baffled. Would he have to speak to Munna Pandit differently now? But Naina had said earlier that their equation and place in the house and his life would remain the same. He sat on the arm of sofa, all confused.

The sound of her clinking laughter made him look up with a jerk.

"Arre main bhi mazaak kar rahi thi... jaise tum Pandit ke saath kar rahe the... buddhu ho, itna bhi nahi pata chalta." She poked his forehead with two fingers.

This time, he grinned in relief, "Kya Naina, dara diya tumne."

"Mujhe nahi pata tha mera itna handsome pati dimaag se itna kamzor hai." She teased, crossing her arms.

The glint was back in his eyes, "Woh dimaag zaraa doosre kaam pe laga hai na."

"Doosre kaam pe?" She was perplexed.

"Tumhari thodi der pehle wali naa ko haan mein kaise badalwana hai yeh soch raha hai... aur woh mazaak bilkul nahi hai." He said in a low voice.

Her eyes widened as the meaning of his words registered in her mind.

He crossed his arms, watching her face turn a deep shade of red.