There was no notification given by Wattpad for the chapter I posted yesterday. Even the announcement I posted regarding this wasn't made visible. In case any of you missed it, please check the previous chapter before reading this one.

It is titled 'Matters of heart'.

Sameer looked at the blushing face of his wife... adoring the shy yet proud smile. He was relieved to see the inhibitions that troubled her in the morning not visible anymore.

"Naina, tum subah itni pareshan kyon thi?" He held her hand while another one was around her shoulder as she leaned against him.

She chewed her inner cheek, aware of his answer if she told him the real reason. Her appearance would always be perfect for him... so would be his love for her... there was no place for any insecurities in their relationship. But the sadness that had descended on her in the morning seemed to be enormous at that time. Later, however, it just melted away on its own.

"Agar tum bataogi nahi toh main kaise janunga ki tumhe kis baat ki takleef thi. Mujhe bilkul achha nahi laga tumhe aise akele chod ke jaana. Hum dono toh sab kuch bant te hain na... toh fir tumne mujhe bhej kyon diya? Tumhari aankhon ne jo kaha woh kuch aur tha aur tumne kuch aur hi keh diya... aur fir aankhen khol ke dekha tak nahi meri taraf. Aisa kya hua tha Naina jo tum khud ko rok rahi thi?" He wanted to know the reason why she fought hard with herself in the morning.

She decided to tell him the complete truth, "Kal raat theek se so nahi paayi thi isliye subah kuch ajeeb sa lag raha tha. Aur kuch nahi, bas dil thoda bechain ho raha tha."

"Toh tum mujhe bata deti na... main tumhe bechain nahi rehne deta." He kissed her temple.

She looked down at their hands, "Mere haath dekho, Sameer. Abhi bilkul theek hain, lekin subah inmein soojan thi.... pairon mein bhi. Kaafi alag lagte hain jab aisa hota hai. Main toh sirf haath aur pair hi dekh paati hun lekin tum toh mujhe dekhte ho na... main bhi alag dikhne lagi hun. Chehra tak bhaari mehsoos hota hai. Yehi sab soch rahi thi ki tum aa gaye bathroom se... aur tumhe dekhke..."

He could understand that she was making a comparison. But he didn't want her to get any complex.

"Mere aise bathroom se bahar aane pe tum hamesha mujh mein kho jaati thi, lekin aaj tumne aankhen band kar li. Jab main kareeb aaya tab bhi tumne na kuch kaha, na theek se dekha. Main bohot darr gaya." His voice was sad.

"Tum darr gaye the? Kyon?" She looked up in surprise.

He gave her a sullen look, "Mujhe laga ab tumhe koi farq nahi padta... pehle ki tarah tumhara dil nahi dhadakta kyonki aadat ho gayi hai. Kahan pehle tumhari saansen ruk jaati thi aur ab dekhna tak nahi chahti. Maine socha 'Sameer beta, saari exercise bekaar hai agar biwi ne muh pher liya... kuch toh karna padega'. Office jaake bhi yehi sochta raaha ki aisa kya kar sakta hun jisse tum fir se mujhe pyar se dekho."

She stared at him... amazed at the direction of his thoughts.

"Tum bilkul buddhu ho. Aaj subah tum pehle se bhi zyada achhe lag rahe the... meri saansen hi nahi, meri dhadkan tak ruk gayi thi. Kaise khud ko tumse door rakha main hi jaanti hun." She snuggled into him, cupping his chin.

"Kyon rakha, Naina?" His voice was deep.

She was quiet for a moment, lowering her eyes, then spoke in a low voice, "Aisa nahi hai Sameer ki mujhe tumhare pyar ka ahsaas nahi hai. Iss haalat mein kabhi kabhi rone ko dil kar aata hai... aur uss waqt jo aankhon ke saamne hota hai ussi mein kaaran dhoond lete hain. Mujhe tumse ya apne aap se koi shikayat nahi hai... par subah achanak se ek udaasi si chaa gayi. Tumhe isliye jaane ko kaha kyonki main nahi chahti thi tum mere aansu dekho aur tumhe dukh ho. Mujhe pata tha thodi der mein main khud hi inn sabse bahar aa jaungi."

He sat up straight, facing her as he held both her hands, "Naina, main woh book apne saath leke gaya tha. Jo tum keh rahi ho woh maine bhi padha. Yeh sach hai ki main tumhare aansu nahi dekh sakta. Lekin yeh bhi nahi chahta ki tumhe akele rona pade. Chahe yeh aansu kisi wajah se bhi hon... iss haalat mein behne wale, kisi dard ke, koi dukh milne ke, ya mere diye hue... main chahta hun tumhare saare aansu mere haathon mein gire. Please, dubara kabhi mujhse chup ke mat rona. Agar aansu aane hi hain toh unhe ponchne ka kaam main karunga."

A lone tear slid down her cheek at his earnest and truthful imploration.

"Arre waah, kehte hi de diye." He looked down at the teardrop that fell on his hand.

A small laugh escaped her lips, as she blinked quickly to stop more dampness from pervading her eyes.

He looked into her misty eyes, his voice getting hoarse, "Kuch aur maangne pe bhi itni jaldi de diya karo."

She flicked up her brows.

He put one finger on his lower lip.

Next moment, she came ahead, holding his face to press her lips against his, fulfilling his demand.

He scooped her in his lap, drowning in the heavenly feeling of his wife's fervent kiss.

Another week passed with some new and some familiar situations taking them ahead on the journey of becoming parents.

It was around seven one evening when Naina felt a sharp wave of pain shoot through her.

"Sameer." She screamed, clutching her stomach.

He was sitting in front of her, having a cup of tea. Her voice made him look up with a jerk. Within a fraction of a second, he was holding her.

"Naina, kya hua? Dard ho raha hai?" He asked in a troubled voice.

She was unable to answer as another sharp pain jabbed her.

"Ramdhari, chaabi leke car ka darwaza khol. Naina ko hospital leke jaana hai." Sameer hollered, looking at the kitchen.

In five minutes, they were on the way to hospital. The pain was dull now but in between, few spasms rocked her.

Thankfully, Dr Shaila met them at the main gate. She was about to leave when she saw Naina being helped out of the car by Sameer.

"Naina, kya hua? Sab theek hai na?" She rushed to them, surprised as the due date was still a month away.

"Naina ko bohot dard ho raha hai. Aap please dekh lijiye." Sameer implored in a heavy voice.

Dr Shaila looked back at the gate, gesturing to the guard. Two helpers were out with a wheel chair in no time. Sameer went along nervously as Naina was wheeled inside doctor's cabin.

The wait of half an hour left him a nervous wreck. He didn't know what was going on inside. There was no sound, nor did the doctor or nurse come out even once.

He paced the waiting room impatiently, banging into the chair a couple of times, wiping his forehead that seemed to sweat like it was peak summer rather than the pleasant weather of November.

"Sameer." Doctor's voice made his heart jump to his mouth as he turned.

"Na... Naina?" He stuttered.

"Naina theek hai." Doctor smiled, patting his shoulder to comfort him.

He closed his eyes, letting out a shuddering breath. The absence of any sound for so long had been terrifying for him.

"Aur baby?" He gulped.

"Uske aane mein abhi time hai." Doctor wiped her hands with the towel on her table.

"Matlab? Yeh dard kya..." He was confounded.

According to what he had read, and what the doctor had told them in their earlier visits, such pains meant that the time of baby's arrival had come.

"Kabhi kabhi iss tarah ka dard pehle bhi ho jaata hai. Lekin yeh jaldi hi khatam bhi ho jaata hai. Abhi sab theek hai. Tum Naina ko le jaa sakte ho." She smiled genially.

Sameer glanced at the closed door of checkup cabin, then gave a perplexed look to doctor, "Aisa fir se hua toh?"

"Fir se aana padega. Kisi bhi tarah ka dard hone pe yahan leke aana ya mujhe phone karna. Din, raat... koi bhi waqt ho, mujhe phone kar dena. Aur ghabrane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Dono bilkul theek hain. Tum apne baby se jaldi hi miloge." She assured him, waving at the door to allow him to see Naina.

He rushed inside.

Naina was lying on the bed, eyes closed. The nurse was noting down something on a writing pad. She looked up at Sameer, hearing the shuffle of feet.

"Ye lijiye, aa gaye aapke husband. Itni der se inka naam le rahi thi na." She placed a hand on Naina's forehead.

"Sameer." His name slipped out of her mouth even before she saw him.

"Naina. Tum theek ho?" He cupped her cheek.

She nodded.

The nurse gave him a teasing smile, "Sab log dard mein bhagwan ko yaad karte hain, ya fir apni maa ko... aapki wife bas aapka hi naam leti rahi."

"Mere liye dono Sameer hi hai." Naina looked at him lovingly.

He brought her hand to his lips, and placed a soft kiss.

Nurse was a little surprised at their affection for each other.

Handing him a large envelope, she remarked, "Yeh saari reports hain. Sab kuch normal hai. Ab aap inhe le jaa sakte hain. Lekin thoda sahara dena padega, abhi weak feel kar rahi hain. Ya main wheel chair mangwa dun?"

Naina quickly shook her head, "Nahi main theek hun. Chal sakti hun. Sameer hai na mere saath."

He helped her walk out to the car. She wasn't in pain, just a little drained out because of the jittery experience.

"Main bohot darr gaya tha, Naina." He finally told her when they were driving back.

She looked at him, "Darr kyon gaye the? Tumhe toh khush hona chahiye tha yeh soch ke ki baby ke aane ka time aa gaya hai."

He gulped, voicing his fears, "Itne dard mein dekh kar... tumhe bohot takleef ho rahi thi na?"

She let out a long exhale, stroking her belly, "Sameer, dard toh bachpan se bardaasht kiye the... kabhi dil pe, kabhi shareer pe... lekin iss baar dard ke badle mein itna pyara tohfa milega... iske liye main kuch bhi bardaasht kar sakti hun."

He pursed his lips, "Lekin tohfa toh hum dono ka hai. Fir uski saari takleef tumhe hi kyon uthani pad rahi hai?"

"Woh isliye, Mr Maheshwari, ki ek baar hamari beti paida ho jayegi na toh uska dhyan rakhne se lekar uske bade hone par uski farmaaishein poori karne tak ke saare kaam tumhare honge. Tab main koi madad nahi karungi. Samjhe?" She turned to look at him with a smug smile.

The creases on his brow eased away as he grinned at her, "Main toh kab se taiyar hun sab karne ke liye."

Ramdhari came out running at the sound of car entering the gate.

"Naina bhabhi aap theek hain na? Aur bachha bhi theek hai? Humne aapke jaate hi hanumanji se keh diya tha ki sab sahi hona chahiye." He gave her a concerned look.

"Hanumanji aapki baat kaise nahi maante? Aapke anshan ki dhamki se toh unko bhi darr lagta hoga." Naina stepped out of the car.

He was relieved to see her well and smiling.

"Ab yahan khada hoke baatein hi banata rahega ya apni bhabhi ke liye kuch khaane ko bhi banayega?" Sameer gave him an austere look, coming out of the car from the other side.

"Hanumanji bhale hi darr jaayein lekin yeh Sameer bhaiya aise hi tanashahi karte rahenge." Ramdhari murmurred, making Naina chuckle.

"Kya bola tune?" Sameer narrowed his eyes, holding her around the shoulders with one hand to assist her walk inside.

Ramdhari shrugged, "Humne kahan kuch bola... aap hi bole jaa rahe hain. Lekin yaad rakhna, Sameer bhaiya, humne bhi aane wale mehmaan ko apni team mein nahi milaya na toh hamara naam badal dena."

"Naya naam tu khud batayega ya main sochun?" Sameer smirked.

"Hans lijiye abhi. Jab hamari team teen ki jagah chaar ki ho jayegi uss din dekhenge aapki hansi." Ramdhari said confidently as he locked the gate and walked towards the house.

"Teen ki team?" Sameer looked at Naina.

She stifled her smile.

"Hum, Naina bhabhi aur nanaji." Ramdhari uttered without looking back, just before entering the kitchen.

"Naina, yeh kya..." Sameer was baffled, but stopped as Naina pulled his arm.

"Andar chalein? Ya main yahin darwaze pe khadi rahun, jab tak aap dono ka jhagda khatam ho?" She gave a wide, sarcastic smile.

Taking her inside to their room, Sameer muttered under his breath as they crossed the kitchen.

"Tum kabhi toh itne samajhdar ban jaate ho aur kabhi aise bachhon ki tarah lad padte ho... kyon har waqt Ramdhari ke saath aise ulajhte ho?" She chided him after he had made her sit comfortably in bed.

"Main jhagada kar raha tha? Uski baat nahi suni? Matlab tum aur nanu uski team mein aur main doosri team mein? Naina, woh humein alag alag team mein rakhega?" He was agitated.

"Offo Sameer. Tum usse itna daant dete ho isliye woh aise tang karta hai tumhe. Itna sa bhi nahi samajh aata kya? Aur tumhe pareshani hai in sab se toh achhi tarah baat kiya karo... kyon itne gusse se bolte ho?" She was exasperated.

Sameer sat down near her, all his frustration melting into a relaxed smile, "Yeh gussa, yeh jhagda bachpan se karte aa rahe hain hum dono. Koi ladai nahi hai, bas hamara apnapan aisa hi hai. Do bhaiyon jaisa... jo hamesha ek doosre ko tang karte rehte hain. Woh bhi mere gusse se kabhi pareshan nahi hota lekin dikhata aisa hai. Na main uske kuch bhi bolne se bura maanta hun lekin aur gussa dikhata hun. Aisa hi rishta hai hamara... lekin rishta hai. Woh sirf ek kaam karne wala nahi hai... woh bhai, woh saathi hai jo bina jataye hamesha mere liye yahan raha hai. Iss ghar ka utna hi hissa hai jitne main aur tum."

Ramdhari, who had come with a bowl of soup for Naina, stood just outside the door, smiling in satisfaction. He had promised nanaji that he would always support Sameer as a brother... and today, he knew he had succeeded.

Next update tomorrow evening