"Naina, Preeti, aa jao, sabke liye khana laga dete hain." Bela called out.

All three went to the kitchen, with Swati following them.

"Chachiji, papa khana khaye bina hi kyon chale gaye?" Naina was eager to know, though her father's absence left little doubt in anyone's mind.

"Beta, unhe kuch kaam tha toh chale gaye... unka khana main abhi Arjun ke saath bhijwa dungi." Bela tried to keep a neutral expression.

Her lie did not convince the girls but they didn't prod further, getting busy with helping her.

Meal time was as enjoyable as a party meal would be... chachiji had prepared Naina's favourite dishes... Sameer came to know for the first time that Naina was fond of tomato pulao with raita... and the realisation dawned upon him that in spite of being together for three years, he was yet to discover a lot of things... and being with her family was the best way to find out all that... but absence of Rakesh sir had left a lingering doubt in his mind... nobody was saying anything... but the underlying tension among the elders was enough to tell him that things had not been smooth.

Phulla bua had sent them to the room so that she could initiate talks with Rakesh sir, he had realised as much. The door to their room was closed, and Preeti and Swati were chattering at a high volume... so outside sounds were not reaching him but he was sure he had heard raised voices a couple of times. He was eager to know what transpired between them... and how much further they had moved in their struggle to make the family understand. But there was no way of knowing. He had glanced at Naina a few times... caught her looking at him too... but she seemed to be as lost as him.

"Arjun, beta yeh khana bhaisahab ke liye le jaana... bhooke pet neend bhi nahi aayegi." Bela gave a covered plate to Arjun after he was done with his food.

He pursed his lips, wondering whether his father would eat it or not... but took the plate without a word.

He then turned to Sameer once again, "Main chalta hun, Sameer. Kabhi bhi koi kaam aa sakun toh bina kisi hichak ke bol dena... tumhara liye jitna kar sakta hun zaroor karunga."

Sameer pressed his shoulder, smiling knowingly.

Swati's father called up that he's coming to pick her up. She left shortly after Arjun.

Phulla bua called Naina and Sameer.

"Dekho beta, tumhe pata lag hi gaya hoga ki humne Rakesh se baat karne ki koshish ki thi... par uski akal mein aaj tak dhang ki koi baat ghusi hi nahi hai... khair chodo... Naina, mujhe nahi lagta Rakesh manega... par uski chinta nahi hai... woh thoda shor macha ke chup ho jayega... usmein kuch aur karne ka dum bhi nahi hai... waise bhi usko toh tamasha karna hi hai chahe ghar mein kuch bhi khushi ka mauka ho... ab kal Bina aur Naresh aa jayenge toh unse baat karenge... Bina toh ariyal hai par main Naresh ko samjhane ki koshish karungi... aur agar woh maan gaya toh Bina bhi maan hi jayegi... agle ek do din mein faisla ho jayega." She explained the scenario to them.

"Naina, Sameer, tum chinta mat karo... yeh bas ek koshish hai... maine parson subah panditji ko bulaya hai... tareekh nikalwane ke liye... jo hamara saath dena chahe woh shaadi mein shaamil ho sakta hai... aur Rakesh bhaisahab ki tarah agar kisi ko aitraaz hai toh unke bina bhi sab kaam ho jayenge." Anand assured them.

Naina felt her heart fall to the bottom of her stomach... she had not been expecting anything from her father, but still a hope kindled somewhere in the corner of her heart that maybe he would get a little softer for her at the mention of her leaving the house... but probably she was hoping for impossible. She blinked back the unshed tears, swallowing hard.

Sameer saw the sadness spread on her face... knowing how it felt when your own parents fail you... especially when you have only one of them.

He placed his palm over her hand that was clutching the edge of the sofa. Her face softened... looking at him, she realised he could understand her pain... after all, he too suffered the same.

She pursed her lips and smiled, nodding slightly.

Sameer took leave after the discussion.

Naina waved from the door, closing it as she went back in.

"Naina, beta... yeh le... dam... matlab Sameer ko chai de aa." Bela saw her entering the kitchen and handed a cup of tea.

"Chachiji, Sameer... " she recalled chachiji's instructions about addressing him with respect... and said slowly,

"Woh chale gaye."

Bela looked up in surprise, "Arre, humse mile bina hi chale gaye? Aise kaise? Bata ke toh jaate... pehli baar ghar pe aaye shaadi ke baad aur koi uphaar bhi nahi diya humne... yeh toh achha shagun nahi hai beta... dekh agar neeche hi pohoche hai toh zara bula toh wapas."

Naina rushed out to the balcony. Sameer was about to start his bike.

She called out, "Sameer."

He looked up. She gestured to him to come up. He was perplexed for a moment, then grinned, pointing at the pipe going to the balcony of her room.

She chuckled, pointing at the main entrance.

He rang the bell a few seconds later.

"Kya hua, Naina? Kych bhul gaya kya main?" He asked the moment she opened the door.

"Nahi beta, par hamara kaam adhura reh gaya tha... aapko naam se bula le fir bhi aap hain toh daamaad hi na... pehli baar aayein hain, kuch rasme karni hongi bidai ki." Bela explained, walking out of the kitchen.

"Chachiji, main andar nahi aaunga agar mujhe 'aap' bulayengi toh... maine kaha na main aapke bete jaisa hun." Sameer made a face.

"Achha, mere kehne se aaja... main toh apne hero ko tu hi bulati hun... chalega na?" Phulla bua waved him in.

He went in, smiling, as Bela came over with a small velvet box.

"Beta, yeh 'tumhare' liye... ab theek hai?" She patted his cheek.

"Theek hai," He grinned, "Par yeh kya hai?"

He opened it to find an idol of ganpati in silver.

"Yeh ashirwaad hai... humari taraf se, tumhare liye... abse yeh tumhare saath rahenge... aur tumhari raksha karenge... aur dekhna, inke ashirwaad se sab jaldi hi theek ho jayega." Bela blessed him.

"Matlab aapki Naina aapke ghar aa jayegi." Preeti teased from behind her mother... making not only Naina but Sameer also blush.

"Dekho toh kaise sharmate hain dono." Bua dadi did not let go the chance to tease.

"Suniye ji, kya sach mein yeh dono teen saal se jaante hain ek dusre ko? Dekh ke lagta hai teen mahine bhi nahi hue." Bela joined in the teasing, making the two colour even more.

"Arre mummy, aap inki bholi shakal pe mat jao... dono Salman aur Madhuri se kam nahi hain." Preeti winked at her jijaji.

Naina pulled her arm, narrowing her eyes.

Sameer quickly touched chachiji's feet and rushed out, running his fingers through his hair.

The sound of laughter of all elders reached him as he climbed down the stairs.

Naina too ran back to her room, rushing out to the balcony.

Sameer started the bike... and looked up, winking at her. She bit her lip, making him frown. Slowly he brought his index finger to his lower lip. Naina straightened with a jerk, looking around the street.. and gestured at him to move away his finger. He did... but with a mischievous smile. She mouthed a good night. He pointed at the phone booth, indicating that he would call later. She dipped her head to the side, waving at him.

She was still in the balcony, his bike long gone, when Preeti called out from the door, "Aaja behen, jijaji toh ab tak ghar bhi pohoch gaye honge."

"Preeti ki bachhi, kya bakwaas kar rahi thi tu, jo muh mein aata hai bolti jaati hai... kuch sharam hai ki nahi... kya sochenge chachaji aur chachiji mere baare mein?" She fumed at her sister.

"Sharam kya karni hai behen... papa, mummy  khush hi honge tum dono ka pyar dekh ke." Preeti wrinkled her nose.

"Aisi baatein badon ke aage koi karta hai kya? Haalat dekhi thi Sameer ki? Bechara kitna sharma gaya tha." Naina was still annoyed.

"Sharma gaye the? Jijaji? Kya joke maara hai, Naina... raat ko seedhi lagake tere kamre mein aate hue sharam nahi aayi, meri itni si baat se aa gayi?" Preeti chuckled.

Naina covered her mouth with her palm, peering outside the door, "Pagal hai kya... marwayegi humein... itni zor se kyon bol rahi hai?"

Preeti giggled, enjoying Naina's discomfort.

"Badi hansi aa rahi hai na tujhe... teri baari aane de... fir dekh kaise tang karti hun." Naina gritted her teeth.

"Hayee behen, tu jitna marzi tang kar lena, bas meri baari le aa." Preeti leaned on her shoulder.

"Jaa, main baat nahi kar rahi tujhse." Naina turned her face to the other side.

"Haan bhai, side characters ki zaroorat bas hero heroine ko milwane ke liye hi hoti hai... baad mein unka role khatam." Preeti threw her hands in the air.

The phone started to ring that moment.

Before Naina could pick it up, Preeti was holding the cordless.

"Hello Naina."

"Kabhi humein bhi yaad kar liya kijiye, jijaji... hum toh hamesha aapko yaad karte hain." Preeti grumbled into the phone.

"Oh ho, saaliji... kyon nahi... aapse bhi baat karenge... par abhi kisi aur se karni hai." Sameer smiled.

"Kisse?" She raised her brows.

"Wohi jo aapke baaju mein muh bana ke khadi hai." Sameer could visualise her standing with frustation written all over her face.

Preeti looked at Naina, standing exactly how he had mentioned, and spoke into  the phone, "Maan gaye jijaji, aag lagi hai yahan toh... ab aap hi bujhaiye."

She handed the phone to her.

"Hi Sameer."

"Hi meri jaan." He blew a kiss.

"Ghar pohochte hi rang badal gaya tumhara?" She suppressed a smile.

"Kitni der seedha shareef banne ki acting karta... tum saamne baithi rahi aur main aas paas bhi nahi aa paya... pata hai kitna man kar raha tha tumhe kas ke baahon mein le lun... par kya karta." He sighed.

"Achha... Sameer Maheshwari ko bhi sabke samne sharam aati hai?" She chuckled.

"Sharam toh mujhe bilkul nahi aati... main wahin tumhe kiss kar sakta tha... par tumhari wajah se ruka hua tha... kahin tum bura na maan jao." He said with a voice that left Naina with no doubt about the truth in it, making her turn a deep shade of red.

"Dekha, sun ke hi tumhari yeh haalat hai... socho agar aisa karta toh kya hota tumhara." He teased.

"Please Sameer, bas karo." She sat down on the chair, her knees going weak at his talks.

"Lekin Naina, ek baat bata deta hun... jab tum shaadi ke baad chachaji ke ghar jaogi rehne, toh main bhi saath chalunga... aur tab tum mujhe nahi rok sakti... thodi poore din main tumse door reh paunga." He told his future plans.

"Tumhara dimaag toh theek hai na? Aisa kaise kar sakte ho... main nahi laungi tumhe yahan." She was aghast at what he suggested.

"Toh tum bhi nahi jaogi." He stated plainly.

"Abhi se hukum chalana shuru... aakhir pati banke dikha hi diya." She decided to have a laugh too.

"Pati banke bhi dikha dunga, madam... thoda sabr rakho... aur itni jaldi hai tumhe toh aa jata hun abhi... ab toh tumhari balcony ki pipe ki bhi practice ho gayi hai." His voice had the pitch that made her clutch the phone tight.

"Bye." She disconnected before he could say any more.