"Mujhe Munna ka phone aaya tha... Sameer Naina ke liye kuch khaas karna chahta hai uske birthday ke liye." Swati spoke in hushed tone.

"Par Naina ka birthday toh parson hai." Preeti furrowed her brows.

Swati poked her lightly on the head, "Par planning toh abhi se karni padegi na."

"Dekh Swati, tujhe bhi pata hai Naina apne birthday pe udaas rehti hai... usse apni mummy ko khone ka dukh zyada hota hai... kahin woh naaraaz na ho jaye." Preeti was skeptical.

"Sameer se naraaz nahi hogi... dekh lena... ab plan sun." Swati went closer to Preeti's ear, not wanting Naina to hear a single word if she came in suddenly.

Preeti stared at her in shock, "Tujhe pata bhi hai kya keh rahi hai tu... yeh kaise hoga, Swati... yeh toh nahi ho payega."

"Tu Preeti hi hai na... har pange mein sabse aage rehne wali? Aaj kya ho gaya? Apni behen ke liye itna bhi nahi karegi?" Swati narrowed her eyes at her.

She gave a shudder, "Itna nahi hai yeh... bohot saara hai... pata hai na kya kya gadbad ho sakti hai isme? Naina ke saath saath hum bhi taiji ke thappad aur Rakesh tauji ke joote khayenge."

Swati tried to show indifference, "Dekh Preeti, yeh toh humko karna hi hai... tu saath de ya na de... maine Munna ko keh diya hai ki hum sab sambhaal lenge."

Preeti could not stay out of it for long, "Ab keh diya toh kaise mana karun... mere do do jijaji ki baat na manu aisi saali nahi hun."

Swati shrieked with the thrill of adventure they were about to undertake.

By the time Naina came back with the teacups, the two girls had managed to hide their enthusiasm.

Sameer had decided to do something special for Naina's birthday as it would be last when they were not together. He had discussed with Munna Pandit and they agreed after some hesitation. They needed inside help to execute it. Munna called up Swati to make it easier for them. Her initial reaction to the news of marriage was silence. Munna had to shout her name twice before she could come back to her senses. He had told her about his reaction as well... and that he was now okay with it. She heard the plan and immediately agreed... after all now her friend was married to Sameer...

Swati stayed with Naina and Preeti till evening, leaving a little before it started to get dark.

"O bai, aate hi iski matargashti shuru ho gayi... iss ladki ne toh humein badnaam karne ki kasam hi kha li hai." Taiji saw Naina standing at the door to see off Swati and said loudly from her own house.

Naina did not say anything, coming back and closing the main door.

"Arre Naina, tune darwaza kyon band kar diya... hum toh usse khula hi rakhte hai na saara din." Bela was surprised to see the bolted door... she had heard her sister in-law's rude words.

"Band hi rehne dijiye, chachiji... bahar ki hawa kuch theek nahi hai." She remarked before going to her room.

Bela watched her, feeling amazed and proud at the same time... this was not the meek, submissive Naina who would start to shake with fear at taiji's one call from outside. She was happy that her children stood up against the forceful designs of her elders... she herself did not have the courage... being a daughter in law, lots of things would not be acceptable from her... and she knew how much her husband valued family ties... she  could not jeopardize that... in his absence. But she would silently support her children, she was determined.

Next morning, when Naina met Sameer at the temple, he did not mention anything about her birthday... going by his plan of keeping it a secret from her. She did not mention the episode with taiji either.

Thankfully, tauji and Rakesh did not come even once to the house... taiji though could not give up her daily quota of several cups of tea.

The things that they had booked in Mumbai were delivered late in the afternoon. Arjun placed the cardboard cartons in Naina's room.

No one noticed when he added another small box to the ones that had come from Mumbai.

It was evening when Preeti got a call. She talked for a while, a serious expression on her face.

"Mummy, ek zaroori kaam hai... parlour wali didi ka phone tha... aaj raat ko koi program hai jiske liye poore group ko taiyar karna hai... aaj sabhi ladkiyon ko unhone aath baje bulaya hai." She conveyed to her mother.

Bela's eyes rounded in surprise, "Aath baje? Kab jaayegi kab aayegi? Nahi, nahi beta, unko keh de mere papa yahan nahi hai, main nahi aa sakti."

Preeti stomped her feet, "Haan, jisse sab meri hansi udaye... mummy, main koi school ki bachhi nahi hun jisse papa ke saath har jagah jaana hoga... aur raat ko hum sab didi ke ghar hi rukenge... main subah jaldi aa jaungi... aise mana kiya toh woh gussa ho jayengi aur fir theek se sikhayengi bhi nahi... ab maine kaam nahi seekha toh paise bhi papa ke hi kharab honge na."

Preeti had joined a parlour for practice and learning new hairstyles, something that always interested her. In spite of objection from taiji, Anand had allowed her to pursue her ambition of being a big hairstylist and makeup artist one day.

Bela was in a fix... allowing her daughter to go somewhere late in the night was something she was not sure about.

"Achha main Arjun ko bol deti hun... woh chod aayega tujhe." She gave in after some thought.

Naina was disappointed when she came to know that Preeti was leaving for the night. She was the one who always wished her first thing in the morning on her birthday. Naina wanted to be happy on her special day... but right from the time she started understanding the meaning of birthday, taiji and her father had cursed her, for the death of her mother. Since childhood, she had learned to remain passive and never expected anything from anyone.  But Preeti never failed to wish her excitedly every year... sometimes with a small gift. Chachaji also got some sweets but it was never celebrated like other children did.

Last two years were different though. This time, being in final year, their exams were held much earlier. Otherwise she would have been in college. In the first year, Sameer was not aware of her birthday. But next year, he had made special plans and made the day memorable for her. She was truly happy for once. He would have done something this time as well had they been together. But did he remember... she was not sure. He hadn't mentioned anything in the morning when she met him.

She smiled... even if Sameer couldn't do anything this time, she was sure that from her next birthday, he would leave no stone unturned to make her feel on top of the world... he would make all her birthdays happy in true sense.

"Agar usse yaad nahi hoga toh main kal subah khud bata dungi usse mandir mein... nahi toh baad mein usse bura lagega... aur uska utara hua chehra main dekh nahi paungi." She decided.

"Naina, kal subah jab tu mandir jayegi na, main bhi chalungi tere saath... kal Preeti bhi nahi hai... toh hum dono mil ke aarti karenge." Chachiji declared the next moment, sending all her plans of their temple meeting out of the window.

"Ab Sameer ko batana padega ki woh subah mandir mein na aaye." She thought, disappointed.

Preeti had an early dinner and bade goodbye to Naina.

Arjun started his father's scooter... and both left for Swati's house.

"Bhaiya, aapko yaad hai na wapas aate hue kya karna hai?" She confirmed with him.

Arjun had been roped in too.

"Tu chinta mat kar, mujhe yaad hai aur main apna kaam kar dunga." He assured her.

She gave him a piece of paper after getting dropped in front of Swati's house, "Ispe address hai... aur unka bill... paise de rakhe hain pehle se."

He nodded, pocketing the paper.

When he reached home, chachiji was in the living room. He pursed his lips, wondering how to sneak in without letting anyone know what he was up to.

"Chachiji, papa woh samaan maang rahe hain jo chachaji unke liye rakhwa ke gaye hain." He stood at the door.

Bela looked up, narrowing her eyes to recall if her husband had given any such thing.

"Beta, tere chachaji toh aisa kuch nahi de gaye." She shook her head.

Arjun immediately got tensed, "Kyaa? Aapko theek se yaad hai na, chachiji? Ab main papa ko kya kahunga... aapko toh pata hi hai unka... aap please ek baar almari mein dekh lijiye na... ho sakta hai aap bhool rahi ho... agar samaan nhi le gaya toh meri shaamat aa jayegi."

Bela tried to rack her brain... then decided to check in the room. Maybe her husband had kept something and missed out to mention it to her.

Arjun quickly went inside the moment she was gone. Next challenge was to make Naina leave the room.

He knocked on her door.

"Chachiji, aa jaiya na... aap darwaze pe kyon ruk gayi?" Her voice reached him.

He placed the things in his hand on the floor, away from direct view, and entered the room.

Naina was sitting on the table, writing something. He was tempted to bring the things without disturbing her... but it was risky... she could look back any moment.

"Naina, ek kaam tha tujhse." He went near her.

She looked up instantly, surprised to see her brother at this time, "Boliye na bhaiya."

"Mere gale mein bohot dard hai... kya tu kadha bana degi?" He cleared his throat for effect.

"Oh, kya hua... bukhar toh nahi hai? Dawa li aapne? Zaroor dhoop mein kahin gaye honge... aap baithiye, main abhi kadha laati hun... aur kal garam paani se nahana... subah yahin aa jaana, main karke de dungi... taiji toh dus baatein sunayengi aur gas khatam hone ka bahana karke thande se hi nahane ko kahengi." She turned all motherly to her elder brother.

His throat actually started hurting... with choked up emotions... she was so caring and loving... and he had always failed her whenever their father ridiculed her... he could never give a safe embrace to save her from the harshness of the family. But now, she had found someone... and from whatever Preeti had told him, he was sure Sameer was perfect for her... his sister would finally get what she deserved in life.

Wiping his eyes, he moved out, bringing the packet in and pushing it under the bed. He pulled down the sheet a little more so that it was not visible.

With a sigh of relief, he left the room. He had done his bit for making her day special in every way... with the most special person on her life...

He took the glass of kadha from Naina, assuring her that he would have it in his room and waited for chachiji to appear.

"Beta maine poori almari chaan li, table bhi dekh li... aisa koi dabba toh hai nahi... tere chachaji parson aa jayenge... tab de denge." She was clearly flustered.

"Koi baat nahi, chachiji... shayad papa hi bhool gaye ho ki woh dabba chachaji ko diya bhi tha ki nahi... aap unse kuch mat kehna. Main pehle papa se hi baar karta hun." He almost ran out, with the glass in hand.

Bela stood staring at the empty doorway, wondering how such an urgent requirement became so casual in a matter of few minutes.

The phone rang when Naina had just completed the episode.

"Hi Sameer."

"Koi aur hota toh?" He asked with a smile.

"Phone ki ghanti se pata chal jaata hai ki iske taar tumse jude hain." She laid down in bed, his voice bringing back her happiness.

"Achaa, iska matlab tum jaan jaati ho ki main aas paas hu ya nahi?" He raised his brows.

"Aur kya... hawa mein tumhari khusbu hoti hai... jo tumhare aane ki khabar de deti hai." She rolled in bed with the cordless against her ear.

"Toh yeh batao abhi wahan aas paas hun ya nahi." He asked mischievously.

"Nahi, tum yahan nahi aaye ho... aone ghar pe hi ho." She was confident.

"Arre waah, tumhe kaise pata chala?" He was impressed.

"Sameer, yeh dil ki baatein hoti hain... jab dil mein koi aise samaa jaata hai na toh uski har baat ka ahsaas ho jaata hai... shabdon ki zaroorat nahi hoti."

"Lekin mujhe ahsaas kaafi nahi hai, Naina... mujhe tumhare paas rehna hai... tumse baatein karni hai... tumhe choona hai." He was desperate.

She gulped, feeling miserable about what she was going to tell him, "Sameer, kal chachiji mere saath mandir aayengi... main kal tumse mil nahi paungi."

There was a silence on the other side. She could see his disappointed face.

"Kuch bolo na." His silence was shattering her.

"Kya bolun... itni si der ke liye milti ho... woh bhi nahi hoga kal... kuch bahana nahi laga sakti kya?" He was  agitated.

Her eyes filled up, "Sameer, main toh khud bechain hun tumse milne ke liye... par chachiji ko mana nahi kar sakti... unhe kahin shaq na ho jaaye... please, tum udaas mat ho... hum parson milenge na."

He let out a long sigh, "Theek hai, Naina... tum sabko khush karo... bas meri feelings ki ho koi parwah nahi hai tumhe."

"Aisa mat kaho na... achha theek hai... kal shaam ko main Swati ke ghar jaane ka bolke Law garden aa jaungi... wahan mil lenge... theek hai?" She could not bear his sad voice.

"Lekin kal shaam ko toh..." He stopped himself before letting out the secret.

"Kal shaam ko kya?" A flicker of hope kindled in her heart... maybe he did remember her birthday.

"Kal shaam ko maine Munna Pandit ke saath picture jaane ka plan banaya hai." He lied, closing his eyes.

"Oh." The sadness in her voice reached out to him.

He squeezed his eyes hard... controlling the urge to spill out the plan to her... how could he leave her so disappointed...

"Salman ki film dekhoge kya?" Her forced cheerfulness did not fool him.

"Nahi... Akshay Kumar ki... Salman ko nahi dekh sakta main." He carried on the facade of normalcy for her sake.

She chuckled, "Kal raat ko batana kaisi lagi."

"Theek hai... so jao ab... mujhe pata hai tum din mein nahi soyi hogi... kal raat bhi nahi so paayi thi... mere bina... bas kuch din kaam chala lo... fir ek bhi raat tumhe akele nahi sone dunga." He whispered into the phone.

"Lekin jab main yahan Preeti se milne aaungi tab?" She teased.

"Saath aunga tumhare... madam, yeh sochna bhi mat ki tum kahin bhi akele jaogi... jitni doori kismat mein likhi hai na woh bas ab khatm hone wali hai... iske baad na toh ek din tumhe door jaane dunga, na ek raat... samajh gayi na?" His voice was rough.

She clutched the phone tighter, "Good night, Sameer."

"Good night, jaan... ab aaram se so jao." He blew a kiss into the phone.

Once she put the phone down, her eyes felt heavy... he was right... she needed to sleep.

Clutching the pillow close to herself, she rolled in the center of the bed... and fell asleep.

He had a contended smile on his face... the wheels had been set in motion.