As Sameer went for his bath, Naina opened the cupboard to find appropriate clothes for his first day in office. She checked the blazers. But it was too hot to wear one. A shirt would be fine, with a tie.

She brought out a white shirt, along with a blue tie and black trousers. She loved white on him. Actually, she loved every colour on him... the thought making her smile.

After placing the clothes on bed, she tapped her forehead... it somehow felt incomplete. She looked around. Her eyes fell on his wallet kept on the dresser. She recalled how chachiji always kept everything together when chachaji got ready for office. Quickly picking up the wallet, she placed it near his clothes, handkerchief and watch along with it.

Satisfied, she went out to the kitchen, tying up her hair in a bun.

Sameer was pleasantly surprised to see everything laid out on the bed. He smiled at the white shirt... she was always fascinated by his white shirts, keeping one for herself when they were in Mumbai. Suddenly, his thoughts were filled up with her images in that shirt of his. Would she do it again... when he came back today...

It was worth a try, he grinned, buttoning up the shirt, wondering how long these poor buttons would stay where they are. For her small and petite frame, she had amazing energy to go on making his buttons fly away each time.

He found her in the kitchen, busy cooking for him. Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned against the door frame, observing her.

She was still in night suit, buttoned upto her neck. Her hair were tied in a loose bun... few tendrils falling on her face and neck kept troubling her as she rolled out paranthas for him. At one point, she tried to push them with the back of her hand, resulting in a white streak on her forehead.

Sameer had full intention of going and cleaning it, when she suddenly turned.

"Arre, aa gaye tum?" She beamed, looking at him from top to bottom.

"Hmm... lag rahe ho... handsome business man." Her wink made his eyes open wide.

He took a step in, but she showed her hand to stall him.

"Nahi, andar mat aao, tum naha ke aaye ho, paseene aa jayenge... table pe baitho main tumhare liye breakfast laa rahi hun." She picked up the tray.

He went out to the dining area, pulling a chair for her as well as he settled down.

"Sirf tumhare liye hai... mujhe pehle nahana hai." She started to push back the chair after placing the tray in front of him.

He held her hand, making her sit with a jerk, "Subah ki dhoop jaisi khili hui lag rahi ho... please, yahin raho na."

With a smile, she remained seated, "Theek hai, ab khao... aur haan, tumhara lunch Ramdhari bhaiya le aayenge baad mein."

He raised his brows hopefully, "Tum nahi leke aa sakti?"

She stifled a smile, "Achha? Aur kya kahenge wahan sab... ki Mrs Maheshwari ek din bhi nahi reh paa rahi hain apne pati ke bina jo tiffin dene ke bahane aa gayi."

He tugged at her hand that he was still holding, bringing her face near him, "Toh reh sakti hain kya... Mrs Maheshwari... apne pati ke bina?"

Her heart fluttered... the sight of him in this formal outfit was already not going well with her system, and now his teasing was sending caution signals to her brain... it was indeed difficult to keep her hands off him when he was so close, so delectable.

"Tum... tum chup chaap breakfast karo, main chai leke aati hun." She got up to escape the torment.

His one strong pull made her land in his lap.

A loud gasp escaped her lips.

"Sameer, yeh... " She started to speak.

His finger on her lips halted her sentence midway. Keeping her secured in his lap with one arm, he cupped her cheek, tracing the plump lips with his thumb. They quivered at his touch. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, seeing the goosebumps erupt on her neck. His finger went up to her forehead, flicking off the white dough. When it still stuck to her hair, he blew on to it, making her shudder and close her eyes.

"Sam... Sameer, de... der ho jaayegi tumhe." Her control was tremulous.

As if in consonance with her, the horn of car sounded from outside. They both straightened with a jerk.

"Lagta hai, munshiji ne office ki car bheji hai." He ran a shaky hand through his hair.

Naina got up quickly, rushing to the kitchen to get his tea.

Once he was done with breakfast and tea, Sameer got up to go.

"Ek cheez bhool rahe ho tum." She stood with her hands locked behind her.

He kept the file back on the table, moving to take her in his arms. She ducked, going towards the living room.

"Naina, please ek baar pyar se bye toh bol do... yeh Catch Me If You Can ka game shaam ko khel lenge." He pleaded.

"Game nahi khel rahi hun, buddhu, yahaan bula rahi hun tumhe... nanu ka aashirvad leke jao... unhe bhi khushi hogi ki tum apni zimmedari nibhane ki taraf pehla kadam utha rahe ho." She said in a soft voice.

Giving a sheepish smile, he quickly went to nanu's photograph.

"Waise toh aapne hamesha mera saath diya hai, chahe main sahi hun ya galat aapne kabhi mujhpe bharosa karna nahi choda... aaj main aapki mehnat se banayi hui duniya mein kadam rakhne jaa raha hun... apna haath hamesha mere sar par rakhiyega... agar main koi galti karun toh mujhe rok lijiyega." He folded his hands in front of the large frame.

Nanu seemed to be smiling and blessing him.

"Huh?" He suddenly cupped one hand around his ear, leaning towards the frame.

Naina gave him a perplexed look.

He stood in the same position for a few seconds, then straightened, smiling fondly at her.

"Yeh kya kar rahe the?" She asked.

"Nanu keh rahe the 'abe gadhe, itna bada aashirvaad toh bhej diya tere liye... teri Naina... mujhe pata tha tujhe yehi ladki sambhal sakti hai... isliye tujhse bhi pehle maine isse pasand kar liya tha tere liye... aur iska grah pravesh bhi kara diya tha... agar tu thode din aur apni nalayak aankhen band rakhta toh main bhoot banke aa jaata teri akal thikane lagane... lekin ab Naina tere saath hai har kadam pe, mera ashirvaad banke... woh tujhe kabhi galat raah pe jaane hi nahi degi... tu bas man lagaa ke mehnat kar.'"

Naina giggled at his mimicry, but her heart melted at his words, making her eyes moist amidst laughter.

She stepped near him, cupping his face, "I Love You, Sameer... mujhe aur nanu ko tumpe hamesha garv hoga... Sameer Jai Prakash Maheshwari ka naam tumhara intzaar kar raha hai... jao... Good Luck."

He gathered her in his arms. She hugged him tight, adding to the strength and confidence that she had already given him.

She stood at the main door a few minutes later, hearing the car move out of the driveway. Since she was in her night suit and factory driver was outside, she didn't go out.

Looking at the thread around her wrist, she whispered, "Umeed hai tumhare mann se darr ko nikalne mein kamyaab ho paayi hun... main hamesha rahungi tumhare saath, Sameer... hamesha."

She kissed the letter S.

Shutting the door, she went to make the phone call she had been planning to make. Being his first day, it was very important.

Sameer sat back in the car, watching the landscape zip past. Surprisingly, he didn't feel as restless as he thought he would. He pulled his sleeve a bit to glance at the thread, a smile spread on his face. He could feel her warm, soft fingers around his wrist.

He was taking Naina with him.

What he told her as nanu's message was not entirely imagination. He knew nanu would have said something similar had he been with them today. The realisation that nanu had chosen Naina for him when he was in Nainital... was not even aware of her existence... never failed to astound him. But it never failed to exhilarate him either... Naina had nanu's blessings... she was accepted unconditionally by the only person who mattered to him most, all his life.

The jerk as the car halted brought him out of his reverie. He looked out at the office building. In the background, he could see the huge premise of nanu's factory. This would be his workplace from now on. After Naina, this would be the most important thing in his life from today.

He stepped out of the car... to step into a new world.