Sorry for the delay... had a real long, packed day yesterday.

The driver seemed to be going too slow. Sameer contemplated whether he should drive himself, asking the driver to sit back... but decided against it, recalling Munshiji's words that he had to act like the owner at all times.

He eyed the thread, fingering it, "Naina, tumhe kitna bada surprise milega jab mujhe iss waqt dekhogi."

He wondered what she would be doing at this moment. She won't be at the gate for sure... after all, how would she know he was coming early. Probably, she would be taking a nap after lunch.

Suddenly, a frown appeared on his face. Naina could not forget to send lunch for him. Then why did it not arrive? His heart gripped with a new fear... was everything okay at home? Was she fine?

After Sameer left in the morning, Naina had called up munshiji, asking him if it would be okay to let Sameer leave around lunchtime.

"Aaj pehla din hoga toh shayad woh akelaapan mehsoos karein... mera matlab, nanu nahi honge wahan par nanu se judi sab baatein unhe yaad ayengi. Agar aapko theek lage toh khaane pe unhe ghar jaane ko keh dijiye." She had told him.

"Jee Naina beta, aap theek keh rahi hain... yahan aate hi Sameer ko har taraf bade sahab ki hi yaadein milengi... unko kaisa lagega samajh sakta hun... main unhe bhej dunga." Munshiji had accepted her suggestion.

With a sigh of relief, she went back to their room. It seemed empty. But his musky scent lingered everywhere. She stepped ahead to straighten the bedsheet. In its crumpled folds, she could see his passion, could feel her fingers burn, could feel her skin tingle, could hear the pounding blood in her ears... even when he was not here, he could make her melt in a flash.

Keeping a hand on her hammering heart, she stood up, "Paanch minute hue hain tumhe gaye hue aur aisa lag raha hai pata nahi kabse tumhe nahi dekha... I miss you, Sameer."

She touched the thread on her wrist, feeling the warm metal against her throbbing pulse. Bringing it up to her lips, she gave a long, hard kiss.

After her bath, she instructed Ramdhari what to cook for lunch. Back in the room, she opened the cupboard, smiling at the empty shelves. Unpacking her suitcase, she placed all clothes on the lower shelves. While hanging sarees, her eyes fell on the one he had insisted on buying once when they had gone out shopping together before marriage. Pink fascinated him. She kept it aside.

When the suitcase was empty, she asked Ramdhari to put it in the store room. There were still a few hours before Sameer came back for lunch. She sat down at the desk, opening her notepad after the longest break she had ever taken from writing. Going through previous chapters, the link quickly formed in her mind, and she started to scribble furiously, new track developing in her mind with ease. In next couple of hours, she was able to write one complete episode and prepare a sketch of next two. Keeping the pad aside, she went to the washroom to freshen up. Then she started to dress up, preparing to welcome her husband from his first day at office.

Sameer felt his heartbeat quicken as the car turned on the road from where the large, white bunglow was visible. Everything looked calm. As the car neared their gate, his palms became clammy in nervousness and tension about her well being.

He nearly jumped out of the car the moment it stopped.

"Sir, main rukun ya jaun?" The driver asked politely.

"Huh... tum... tum jao." Sameer waved him off, eager to go inside and make sure his Naina was safe.

Heavy wrought iron gates creaked as he pushed them open, revealing the view of broad driveway to his eyes...

Another thing that his eager eyes encountered was his wife.

Naina...

She stood right in front of the gate... as she had promised yesterday. Smiling.

He breathed in relief... she was fine. Once the initial worry ended, her appearance hit him.

He could feel his heartbeat accelerate as he scanned her... dark pink saree with a silver border hugged her perfect curves, deep blue blouse with silver embroidery on the sleeves looked royal, her open hair spread in soft waves around her face... the face that was like a moon in broad daylight. Dark pink shade made her lips look more alluring... the eyes were lined thickly with kohl, taking his breath away.

This was indeed the perfect welcome.

She stood with her fingers linked in front. Seeing his stunned state, her hands dropped to the sides... and he gasped.

There was a jewelled keychain dangling from her dainty waist, which was clearly visible as her pallu was neatly piled up on one shoulder.

She started to walk towards him... taking slow steps. His pulse quickened in anticipation. As the distance between them reduced, he noticed her necklace. It was the one Vishakha had presented to her after the wedding.

His hands lifted slightly, expecting her to come in his arms... but she crossed him without stopping. Startled, he turned. She walked upto the gate, and closed it, blocking the view of their house from the road.

Sameer watched her long hair spill down till her waist, covering the back completely. He was admiring the saree draped over the curve of her waist on right side when she turned. His eyes shot up to her face. She smiled, flicking her head to the side. He closed the distance between them. His hands went around her waist, pulling her towards himself.

"Hello, Mr Maheshwari." She said in a deep voice, looking into his eyes.

"Hello Mrs Maheshwari." He answered in the same tone.

His eyes darted to the spot on her shoulder where a dark mark was visible in the morning. But now it was all clear, exposed in her wide necked blouse.

"Naina, yahan toh... " He started to ask her, but was silenced by her hush sound.

"Aisi baatein bahar nahi karte." She said coyly.

"Achha, toh bahar kya karte hain?" He flicked a brow, knowing fully well that she was teasing him as no one from the surrounding houses could see them.

"Bahar zara door reh ke baat karte hain." She placed her hands on his chest but did not push him away.

"Woh Sameer Maheshwari ka style nahi hai." He gave a crooked smile.

"Oh, toh kya style hai Sameer Maheshwari ka?" She batted her eyes.

He pulled her with a jerk, making her rise up on her toes. Leaning, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Her eyes closed at the touch of his lips on her skin, a relief spreading within her. With a deep, satiated breath, he took her in his arms.

He was home.

Her hands moved to his back, feeling the muscles ripple under her palms as she pressed herself more into him. They both took in the much needed comfort from each other's touch as their craving bodies melted together.

When he parted, Sameer noticed that she was not wearing sindoor.

"Tum apne shringaar mein ek cheez bhool gayi." He said, keeping her close.

"Agar laga leti toh abhi uska nishaan tumhari iss white shirt pe hota." She smiled, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

He was amazed. She could understand what he wanted to say, without him needing to spell out...

"Tum jadugarni ho kya?" He rounded his eyes.

She was perplexed, "Jadugarni? Kyon? Maine kya jadoo dikhaya?"

"Tumhe pata tha main iss waqt aa raha hun, jabki main toh tumhe surprise dena chahta tha... par tum yahan Mrs Maheshwari banke mere liye pehle se hi khadi thi... aur tumhe yeh bhi pata tha ki main tumhe gale lagane wala hun isliye sindoor nahi lagaya... tumhe pehle se dikh jaata hai kya jo hone wala hai?" He asked innocently.

She flicked her brows, "Haan, aisa hi samajh lo... tumse judi sab baatein mujhe pata chal jaati hain... isliye kabhi koshish bhi mat karna mujhse kuch chupane ki... agar kisi ladki ko aankh uthakar bhi dekhoge toh mere dimaag ka phone baj jayega."

He threw his head back and laughed, "Kisi ladki ko? Mrs Maheshwari, yeh dil naa aapse pehle kisi ki taraf muda tha aur jab se aap aayi ho zindagi mein, iss bechare dil ka haal aisa ho gaya hai ki har dhadkan aapka naam leti hain... sun lo."

He crushed her again in his arms. She laid her head on his chest. He didn't have to prove anything to her. She was aware what his heart said, what his eyes conveyed, what his lips longed for, what his hands needed...

"Ab bahane mat dhundo mujhe gale lagane ke... chalo, khana khate hain. Tumhe bhook lagi hogi na." Pulling back, she took a step towards the house.

"Ek minute." He held her shoulders, bringing her to his left, then slipped his hand around her waist, the palm resting on the bare part.

She gave him a stern look. His hand went further around the waist, thumb digging into the groove of her navel.

"Sameer." She squirmed, goosebumps erupting all over her.

He continued to walk, taking her along, without removing his thumb. Her senses were on fire... each step weakening her as his fingers rubbed against her belly.

They entered the house. Table was laid for lunch.

"Khana." She managed to utter, amidst the assault on her system.

"Khana." He looked down, his eyes roaming unabashedly all over her.

She wriggled out of his hold, "Tum kahin bhi shuru ho jaate ho... pehle yahan baitho chup chaap aur lunch karo."

He shrugged, pulling a chair, "Theek hai, agar tum lunch ke baad ka promise de rahi ho toh pehle kha leta hun."

She narrowed her eyes, "Maine kya promise diya?"

"Tumne hi kaha na, pehle lunch karo... matlab baaki sab uske baad." He winked.

She swatted on his shoulder, "Zyada matlab mat nikalo, aaj jaldi aa gaye toh badmaashi soojh raha hai... agar shaam ko aate toh kya karte?"

"Arre haan, Naina, batao naa, tumhe kaise pata main abhi aunga? Munshiji ne bataya kya? Lekin tumne toh lunch bheja hi nahi... yeh chakkar kya hai?" He was puzzled.

Sitting down next to him, she pinched his cheek, "Jab chote bachche pehle din school jaate hain, kindergarten mein, toh unka mann nahi lagta, ghar ki yaad aati hai... isliye munshiji ne bhej diya hoga tumhe wapas."

His eyes shone with a glint, "Oh, toh bachhon ke baare mein kaafi research ki hai... kya iraada hai?"

The colour on her face gave tough competition to her saree as she lowered her eyes, "Khana khao."

Lunch comprised of some of his favourite dishes... masala gobhi, navratan korma, jeera alu and boondi raita.

"Ramdhari kahan hai?" He looked behind at the kitchen as she served him.

"Woh market gaya hain... kuch samaan lane." She stated.

Seeing the gleam in his eyes, she pulled her chair a little away, "Bas aane hi wala hai, khaana shuru karo."

He frowned, "Baad mein dekhunga tumhe."

With a smile, she broke a piece of chapati, added some vegetable to it, and raised it to his mouth. He took it eagerly, holding her wrist in place as his tongue lingered on her fingertips.

The sound of gate made him straighten, letting her hand go.

"Aap aa gaye Sameer bhaiya... bhabhi ne subah bataya toh humein bohot achha laga ki aap aaj se nanaji ki tarah factory sambhalenge... woh hamesha kehte the ki dekhna mera sher iss factory ko ek din kahan se kahan pohoncha dega... iss shuruaat ke liye aapko bohot saari shubhkamnayein." Ramdhari said brightly the moment he entered the house and saw Sameer.

"Thank you, Ramdhari... aur kya kehte the nanu?" He wanted to know.

Ramdhari was more than happy to narrate, "Unko lagta tha bas ek baar bhabhi aapki zindagi mein aa jayengi toh aapki zindagi swarg ban jayegi... tab koi dukh aapke aas paas bhi nahi aa sakega... aap apni har zimmedaari ko aaram se nibha loge."

Naina was as surprised as Sameer.

"Yeh sab unhone Naina ke liye kaha?" He asked in wonder.

Ramdhari narrowed his eyes, trying to remember, then shook his head, "Naam nahi liya Naina bhabhi ka, bas aisa kehte the ki ek baar teri bhabhi aa jaye Sameer ke paas, fir mujhe koi chinta nahi rahegi uski."

"Lekin ek baat hai," he said as an afterthought, "bhabhi ki baatein unhone tab hi shuru ki jab ek baar Naina bhabhi hamare ghar aayi thi nanaji ke saath... uss din toh woh behosh ho gaye the isliye leke aayi thi lekin jab agle din fir se aayi unka haal chaal poochne, toh unhe bohot achha laga... bhabhi ke jaane ke baad unhone kaha ki yeh ladki iss ghar mein jaise roshni leke aayi hai woh roshni mere Sameer ki zindagi mein bhi aa jaaye toh uske saare andhere mit jayenge."

Sameer looked at her... how right nanu was... she was indeed the beacon of light in his life.

Next update tomorrow morning