It was a big surprise for Sameer and Naina when two cakes were placed on the table that was set up in the centre. As the covers were removed, one cake had Rahul and Sonali written on it while the other had only one name... Samaina... written inside a red, heart shaped jelly icing.

"Rahul, iski kya zaroorat thi. Yeh tumhari party hai. Tu kyon..." Sameer felt a little guilty of sharing the attention at Rahul's party, after unintentionally sharing the day of marriage.

Rahul didn't let him complete, "Ismein kyon ki kya baat hai yaar? Main toh bohot khush hun ki hum dono hamesha apni anniversary share karenge... aaj saath mein manaa rahe hain, kabhi saath nahi bhi honge toh bhi ek doosre ko zaroor yaad karenge. Sameer, anjaane mein hamari love story judd gayi thi aur anjaane mein hi hamari shaadi bhi ek hi din hui... mujhe lagta hai isse achha koi ittefaq ho hi nahi sakta tha. Sach kahun, agar tune ussi din bata diya hota toh hum tumhare bhi phere saath hi lagwa dete. Fir tujhe apni shaadi ka replay baar baar nahi karna padta."

Sameer grinned, "Woh toh main fir bhi karta. Aakhir teen shadiyan likhwa ke laaya hun kundali mein."

They had a hearty laugh.

Both couples cut the cake together.

They had a splendid time with everyone treating them as a part of family.

When they reached home, Rahul and Sameer sat down in the living room, talking about a few things while the girls went to their rooms.

Naina had just stepped out of the washroom after freshening up and changing into comfortable clothes when Rahul's voice reached her.

"Naina, tumhare liye phone hai." He hollered from the living room.

He met her on the way to living room, handing her the cordless, "Andar theek se sunayi nahi de raha. Bahar balcony mein baat kar lo, zyada clear hoga."

She checked the living room while going out... it was vacant. She wondered where was Sameer and why he hadn't taken the phone.

"Hello!" She spoke into the mouth piece, once outside.

"Happy Anniversary, jaan." His voice from the phone startled her.

"Sameer tum... tum kahan ho? Ghar pe kyon nahi ho? Bahar kyon gaye? Kuch kaam hai kya?" She barraged him with frantic questions.

"Tumhe yaad hai hamari pehli shaadi ki pehli raat?" He asked in a soft voice.

And it all fell in place... they had talked to each other on phone all night. Rather, he had talked, not letting her end their conversation. Only when the first rays of sun had hit the balcony where she had been sitting did he say that it being their first night after marriage, they had to be each other, even if it was on phone.

"Aaj bhi poori raat phone pe hi baat karne ka irada hai kya?" She reminisced about their talks one year back.

"Nahi, lekin woh yaad ek baar fir se jeena chahta tha... iss sukoon ke saath ki ab sirf phone pe baat karke khud ko rokna nahi padega." She could hear him smirking at the other end.

"Uss din majboori thi ki hum ek doosre ko dekh nahi sakte the, mil nahi sakte the, kisi ko bata nahi sakte the ki hamari shaadi ki ek rasm ho gayi hai... aaj toh sabne humein khud badhai di hai shaadi ki." A smile spread on her face.

His voice seemed more clear, "Isiliye ek ek karke woh majboori mitani hai. Bata toh diya hi hai sabko, ab dekh bhi sakte hain... peeche mudo."

She turned quickly, not knowing what to expect.

He stood in the center of living room, in the dim light of few lamps, with a lopsided smile on his face.

"Nahi, nahi, phone mat rakhna." His urgent voice stopped her from disconnecting.

"Lekin saamne hain toh phone pe baat kyon kar rahe ho?" She placed the cordless back against her ear, furrowing her brows.

"Kyonki..." He took a step towards her, "Hum ek ek kadam aage badhenge."

She took one step ahead.

"Naina, uss raat tumhare paas aane ko itna bechain tha main ki ruka hi nahi jaa raha tha. Par tumne toh gusse se mana kar diya tha." He lamented, moving a little ahead.

"Main kitna darr gayi thi pata bhi hai... ki agar tumne itni upar ki balcony tak aane ki koshish ki toh gir sakte ho... unka ghar koi mere hostel ke jaise nahi tha... isliye daant ke mana kiya tha." She clarified.

His voice lowered further, "Naina, agar unka ghar neeche hota toh tum aane deti kya?"

She swallowed, looking into his eyes as he took two more steps.

"Shayad." Her voice was not more than a whisper.

His dark eyes reflected her face as she moved, almost closing the distance between them.

They stood in front of each other, holding onto the phone, recalling the same night.

"Uss raat ek sawal poocha tha maine tumse... jiska jawab nahi diya tumne... abhi tak." He was still speaking into the phone.

"Kaunsa sawal?" She had a fair idea what he was about to say.

"Yahi ki tum kya dekhti ho sapnon mein. Tumne aaj tak nahi bataya, jaan." His free hand moved up to her face, tracing her hairline.

She took in a deep breath, feeling a shiver run down her spine at his light touch.

"Naina, bolo na." His lips brushed against her temple as he leaned.

She lowered the phone in her hand, disconnecting it. Taking the one from him, she put both aside and held his hand.

"Ab dooriyan mit gayi hain toh aise baat karne ki kya zaroorat hai... ab main apne sapne achhe se bata dungi tumhe. Chalo." She turned, walking towards their room as he walked beside her, his eyes not leaving her even for a moment.

Their first anniversary ended in a night of dreams.

Next morning, Naina came to know that Rahul had two phone connections at home. Sameer had called her from one number, hiding behind a curtain while she talked to him from the balcony. Post a quick breakfast, it was time to leave for Ahmedabad. After taking a promise from their friends that they would soon be paying a visit, Sameer and Naina took the flight back home.

The went straight to office, getting back to work immediately.

Coming days brought in more responsibilities as the orders from Mumbai increased steadily. On munshiji's suggestion, they decided to order some more machines, to handle the increased work load. Since the factory premises had a vast open area, it was decided that a new edifice would be constructed to accommodate the new machines. The construction started in full swing within a week. More work needed more staff. Naina urged Sameer to consider Ramdhari's cousin who had successfully completed a course in typing but was still working as a guard in the shop where he started. Since his personality and dialect was a little rustic, he couldn't get a job anywhere in offices.

Sameer and munshiji were satisfied with his skills and hired him as a typing assistant.

As they stepped into a new year, Naina was able to add another movie to her name. Now that her show had ended, her writing was mainly for movies and since the first one was well received, she had started to get advance offers. But she hadn't stopped writing the articles on women related issues, getting a respectable response on them too.

At times, Sameer was surprised at her zeal, at her ability to handle so many things at the same time.

"Naina, itna saara kaam rehta hai tumhare paas. Thak jaati hogi na. Agar tum chaho toh kuch din office aana band kar sakti ho." He suggested one night as she came to the bed quite late after finishing her writing.

She held his hand within her palms, "Mujhe thakaan nahi hoti, Sameer. Kyonki iss kaam se khushi milti hai. Likhne se mujhe apne liye sukoon milta hai aur office aane se lagta hai nanu ke dikhaye hue raaste pe chal rahi hun, tumhara haath tham ke."

He pursed his lips, "Lekin tum computer course ke liye bhi toh jaati ho. Jab tak woh khatam nahi hota tab tak office se chutti le lo. Main nahi chahta meri jaan ko itni mehnat karni pade."

She shifted closer to him, snuggling against his chest, "Office mein tumhare paas rehne ka mauka kaise chod sakti hun."

He wrapped his arms around her, relieved that she had refused his suggestion. He had got used to her presence there. Her morning classes were already making him restless. But that was about to get over in another two weeks.

The warmth of his embrace seeped away all the exhaustion from her.

"Sameeer." Naina barged into his cabin in office two weeks later, radiating exuberance.

He stood up to come to her but she was already around the table, thrusting a certificate in his hand.

"Mrs Naina Sameer Maheshwari ne computer training schedule mein top kiya hai, Mr Maheshwari." She beamed.

He looked at the certificate. Her name was written in bold black letters, against a golden image of a winner trophy.

"Congratulations, Mrs Maheshwari. Aapki yeh aadat jaa hi nahi sakti." He pulled her into a tight hug, elated at another feather in her cap.

After staying in the same position for a few seconds, she quickly moved back, tucking her hair behind the ear.

He chuckled. Her shyness was another habit that failed to go away.

"Naina, aaj hi course khatam hua aur aaj hi result bhi mil gaya? Aisa kaise? Result toh hamesha exams ke kuch dino baad aata hai na." He glanced at the certificate.

"Yehi toh faayda hai computer ka. Intezar karne ki zaroorat hi nahi. Jaise hi assignment khatam kiya, result saamne." She proudly exclaimed.

He was again impressed by the efficiency of this sophisticated machine. Naina had taught him how to write normal letters that could be printed and sent out for official purposes. In fact, now he could open emails and reply to them as well. But the way she swiftly typed everything on a seperate keyboard, producing answers to all their problems on the screen, it made him look at her in awe.

"Chalo, abhi tumhe dikhati hun ki parson wale order ke liye hum kaise changes laa sakte hain production mein." She held his hand, taking him to her cabin.

He stood behind her as she settled in front of the computer and switched it on. Shortly, images of different patterns appeared on the screen. She started to explain animatedly about the design and mixture of two fabrics needed to create the smooth yet durable product.

He watched in fascination as images of different patterns appeared on the screen. She started to explain animatedly about the design and mixture of two fabrics needed to create the smooth yet durable product. When she started to change colours on the same designs just by a few clicks, he bent down behind her, placing a folded arm on the back of her chair. She showed him various combinations, giving a glimpse of how the finished product would look. He pointed a finger at the screen, asking her to make a change in one of the patterns. This made him lean a little more. She quickly did what he asked for, and turned to ask if it was ok.

His face was almost touching hers. Their eyes met. And the same craving surfaced in them as their gazes flicked down to each other's lips. Another second was too much of wait for him. She turned halfway to him, lifting her chin to mould her lips against his demanding ones. He ran his one hand behind her head, adjusting it to his need. Her hands found their way to his face, her fingers grazing his neck. They parted when the need for air forced them to. But they didn't move, holding each other's gaze.

Till their was a sound at the door, and the knob moved.

Sameer did not understand why she did it but Naina pulled him down, making him crouch under the table, hiding from the visitor... along with her. Her finger on his lips made him stay quiet... with a perplexed expression.

When they heard the door being closed again, she slowly raised her head to make sure there was no one in the room. A file kept on the table meant a help boy had come. Not finding anyone, he had just placed the file and went back.

She ran to the door and locked it before turning to him.

"Yeh kya tha, Naina?" He walked to her, finally being able to ask the reason for her strange action.

"Bachaya hai tumhe. Warna saare office mein hansi udd jaati." She bit the inside of her cheek.

He raised his brows, frowning.

Her hand cupped his cheek, thumb rubbing over his lips, "Yeh chehre pe lipstick, ye bikhre baal... aise dekh leta koi bhi tumhe toh yeh baat office mein aag ki tarah phail jaati ki Mr Maheshwari office mein bhi apni biwi se door nahi reh sakte."

The realisation made his eyes glitter. He pressed himself against her, pinning her to the door.

"Sach toh hai, door nahi reh sakta tumse... tum meri zaroorat bhi ho, aur aadat bhi." He leaned to capture her lips again.

Next update tomorrow evening