Sorry for the delay... day was busy and update is also long one. Please ignore the mistakes as I didn't get a chance to reread it.

Sameer got inside the car while Naina was locking the main door. He was surprised to see one more of her note, along with a rose on the wheel.

Tumhari nazar ne mujhe ahsaas dilaya ki main khoobsurat hun

"Tumse zyada khoobsurat duniya mein aur kuch nahi hai." He brought the flower to his lips, planting a kiss on it when she settled on the passenger seat.

Her shy smile made his heart flutter again. He leaned slightly, brushing the rose against her cheek. Her eyes lowered as her shoulder hitched. It wasn't even a touch but still she could feel his heat against her skin.

"Naina, please." He pointed a finger to his lower lip, gazing at her plump red lips that were tormenting him.

She shook her head vigorously.

He leaned some more, making her shrink back a little. His hooded eyes set her pulse racing. The hammering heart  against her chest asked her to give in, but the mind forced her to move back further, reminding her that their friends and chachaji, chachiji were waiting.

"Sameer, tum lipstick laga ke pohochana chahte ho kya wahan?" Her mind won when she placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back.

With a sigh, he straightened, tying his seat belt, "Humein aaj party rakhni hi nahi chahiye thi. Aaj ka din sirf hum dono ka hona chahiye tha."

"Ab chalo." She put her palm on his cheek, making him look at the road.

Anand and Bela were already at the hotel when they reached.

"Itne sundar lag rahe ho tum dono ki meri hi nazar lag jayegi." Bela quickly touched her little finger to the corner of her eye, dabbing it behind their ears simultaneously.

In a few minutes, Munna and Swati walked in, along with Preeti.

After wishing the couple and greeting the elders, they settled down.

"Arre beta, Pandit kahan hai?" Anand was surprised to see him missing.

"Pata nahi papa aisa kya kaam tha. Mujhe jijaji ke yahan choda aur kaha bas thodi der mein aata hun." Preeti shrugged, a little shocked herself that Pandit had left this party for something, that too, without telling her what it was.

Bela looked at Munna, "Beta, tumko toh bataya hoga... sab theek hai na?"

Munna was equally puzzled, "Mujhse toh baat hi nahi hui, chachiji. Preeti ko dekha toh pata chala Pandit nahi aaya. Lekin aap chinta mat kijiye. Kuch problem hoti toh woh zaroor bata deta. Shayad uncleji ne kuch kaam de diya ho. Aa jayega thodi der mein. Khaane pine wala koi mauka chod de, aisa nahi hai apna Pandit."

Both girls got busy telling Naina how beautiful she looked and teasing her in a low voice that they were amazed Sameer made it to the party in spite of her looking like this. Naina's cheeks turned more red with their teasings about the reason for an afternoon party. Though Sameer was talking to others, his ears were glued to the hushed chatters of girls, making it difficult for him to control his smile.

Pandit arrived a little later, with a big cake.

"Achha, yeh lene gaye the. Pehle hi bata dete toh hum sab pareshan toh nahi hote." Preeti chided him.

"Pehle kaise bata deta... bhai bhabhi ke liye surprise tha." Pandit grinned at Sameer.

The cake was a round one, with a tiny heart in the center. Two small figurines of a couple were placed behind the heart, holding hands and looking at each other.

Sameer and Naina cut the cake, feeding each other first. As Preeti cut small pieces for everyone, Pandit whispered something in her ear. She raised her brows in appreciation at him before cutting the piece with the small heart.

"Yeh khaas tum dono ke liye... ek hi plate mein." She placed the plate between Sameer and Naina.

The lunch was accompanied with a group of men with different musical instruments, playing close to their table while one of them sang romantic numbers along with the strums of guitar.

It was a wonderful, cosy afternoon, with only those who genuinely mattered to them. Sameer never wanted a party where people are invited just because you are acquainted with them.

"Achha beta, ab hum log chalte hain." Anand announced once they were done with the food.

A little later, Munna Pandit also left, along with their wives.

"Chalein?" Sameer held out his hand to Naina after he had got all gifts placed in the car.

"Yeh kahan jaa rahe hain hum?" She was baffled to see him driving into a different direction, opposite of their house.

Sameer smiled, looking ahead, "Mera gift tumhara intezar kar raha hai."

She was more puzzled, "Kahan? Hum toh sheher se bahar jaane wale raaste pe hain."

He turned to her momentarily, pinching her cheek, "Thoda sa ruk jao, Mrs Maheshwari. Sab pata chal jayega ki hum kis raaste pe hain."

She sank back in the seat, running her mind to think of all possibilities but could not come up with anything that could answer the questions bubbling in her. She didn't realise when she drifted off to sleep. Sameer glanced at her slumped neck and stopped the car. He got a cushion from behind and placed it between her head and window, making her comfortable before starting again. It was always difficult for her to stay awake while travelling.

It was the loss of motion that made her stir in her seat. Before she could open her eyes properly, his hand moved around her waist, to open the seat belt. Next moment, she was lifted in his arms.

"Hum kahan hain, Sameer?" She blinked her eyes several times to clear the picture.

What she saw made her eyes open wide, all traces of sleep gone.

They were back home.

"Yeh kya? Tum wapas kyon le aaye? Sameer, neeche utaro mujhe... abhi." She squirmed to stand on her feet.

Sameer gently made her stand, still holding her from the waist.

"Tum... tum gussa ho gaye kya? Main so gayi thi isliye? Sameer, sorry. Pata nahi kaise neend aa gayi... woh subah se idhar udhar... bas thodi thakaan ho gayi thi... tum... please tum gussa mat ho... hum wapas chalte hain... promise ab main nahi soungi." Her voice became heavy as her eyes got misty.

"Naina, meri jaan, main gussa kyon hounga? Hamari manzil yehi thi... humein yahin aana tha." He kissed her forehead, pacifying her.

"Par hum toh... tum kisi aur raaste pe jaa rahe the na?" She wondered if that was real or a dream.

He picked her up again, smiling, "Raasta koi bhi ho, manzil hamesha se yeh thi... hamara apna ghar."

She was again left perplexed when he walked ahead of their room, stopping in front of the guest bedroom.

"Andar tumhare liye kuch hai." He put her down.

"Tum nahi chaloge?" She glanced at the closed door.

He shook his head, a mysterious smile on his face, "Andar jo hai, sirf tumhare liye hai."

He opened the door, gently pushed her inside and closed it behind her.

Naina's mind had stopped working. She couldn't fathom what gift awaited her as her eyes darted across the empty room. That's when a bright coloured paper kept on the bed caught her attention. She quickly walked upto it.

Saying that she was amazed was an understatement. She was stunned.

It was a wedding card... made by hand.

She picked it up, gulping back the lump that formed in her throat at the beautiful words in blue.

Sameer sang Naina

He had made a wedding card... with his own hands... with today's date... the date of their first anniversary.

There was a letter too. She picked it up.

Meri Naina

Tum yeh card dekh ke soch rahi hogi ki maine yeh shaadi ka card kyon banaya. Toh main tumhe bata dun ki yeh sirf card nahi yeh woh waada hai jo main tumse zindagi bhar ke liye kar raha hun...

Sameer hamesha Naina ke sang rahega... aaj, kal, parson, hamesha

Jab tumhare yeh kaali ghataon jaise baal sitaron ke jaise safed hoke chamakne lagenge tab bhi main unhe aise hi khule dekhna chahunga.

Jab tumhari aankhon ke aas paas zindagi bhar ki muskurahaton ki lakeeren aa jayengi tab bhi unme apna chehra dekh ke mere dil machal jayega.

Jab tumhare khilte gaalon par unn yaadon ke nishan dikhne lagenge jo humne saath mil ke jee hain tab bhi meri ungaliyaan unhein choone ko bekaraar rahengi.

Jab hamare haathon mein hamare bachhon ki pyar se parvarish karne ke kaaran thodi sakhti aa jayegi tab bhi tumhara haath apne haathon mein lete hi meri dhadkan badh jayegi.

Jab hum ek doosre ki shakl bina chashme ke theek se nahi dekh payenge tab bhi chashma laga ke tumhari aankhon mein kho jaunga.

Aur jab yeh waqt aayega Naina, toh main tumse aur zyada pyar karunga... kyonki yeh saare pal tumne mujhe diye honge... yeh saari muskurahaten aur khoobsurat yaadein tumhari wajah se aayengj meri zindagi mein.

Main tumse aur zyada pyar karunga kyonki tumne mujhe apni zindagi bana ke mujhe ek nayi zindagi di hai... aur bohot saalon baad jab hum dono tumhari di hui yeh khoobsurat zindagi jeene ke baad ek shaam ko saath baithenge toh main tumhe Thank you kahunga, mujhe apne har lamhe ka saathi banane ke liye.

I Love You, Naina... aur jab tak ek bhi saans baaki rahegi mujh mein, usmein sirf ek hi naam hoga

NAINA... MERI NAINA

She had to wipe her eyes several times in between to see the words which constantly got blurred due to the tears brimming in them.

She pressed the letter close to her heart, shutting her eyes to let the tears fall over her cheeks. She was submerged in a deluge of overwhelming emotions. Praying silently, she thanked her bhagwanji for the life she had, asking for every possible happiness for Sameer.

When she could finally look at the paper again, there were a few more lines.

Agar tumhara bhagwanji ko dhanyavaad dena ho gaya ho toh yeh bedcover hata ke dekho.

She looked at the bed, perplexed. The bedcover did seem uneven. Immediately, she flipped it to reveal what was under it.

Another shock for her... the lehenga that she had worn for her wedding was laid out neatly, along with all the jewellery.

Her eyes went back to the letter to solve this mystery.

Main chahta hun aaj tum yeh pehen ke fir se ek baar dulhan bano. Shaadi ki raat tumne mera ek purana sapna sach kiya tha. Aaj, poore ek saal baad, main apna ek aur sapna sach karna chahta hun... apni dulhan ko apni baahon mein leke.

Main hamare kamre mein tumhara intezar kar raha hun.

Her eyes roamed over each and every item of her wedding attire lying in front of her. He had taken care to place everything... from bangles to maang tika to nose ring to anklets.

His bride could not make him wait for long. She dressed up as fast as she could, wearing all the jewellery. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was looking like a bride again. The makeup kit had bindis and matching pink lipstick as well. She gave the required touch to her face, and was ready to go to her dulha.

The sound of door made Sameer stop pacing the room. His breathing stopped altogether as Naina stepped into the room. Was he hallucinating or she had become even more beautiful in last one year... she was glowing more than what she did last year on this day. His bride looked dazzlingly gorgeous.

If he was enchanted by her, she was dazed to see him dressed in the cream coloured sherwani.

A familiar fragrance made her look around... to find the room decorated as it was on their first night after marriage. It was like reliving the same moment... same, yet different.

Sameer took slow steps towards her, watching her widened eyes with satisfaction.

"Kaisa laga yeh sab?" He whispered, taking her hands in his.

When she looked up at him, her eyes glistened with happiness.

He took her to the bed, making her sit on it after parting the floral strings all around it.

A sudden shyness burned her cheeks as he adjusted the pallu on her head, making it frame her forehead, just like a real bride.

"Tum aaj bhi bilkul dulhan ke jaise sharmati ho, Naina." He gave her a deep, intense look.

The burning reached her ears. It felt like first time she was sitting like this, dressed as a bride. It was actually the first time, because, on the day of their wedding, she had changed into the green saree immediately after coming to their room. When his fingers went up to touch her cheeks, the butterflies in her stomach started their mad fluttering. Her head lowered as her eyes closed involuntarily. Placing a finger under her chin, he tilted her face up.

"Aankhen kholo, jaan." His rough, throaty voice didn't help.

She felt his lips on her eyes, touching softly over each of the lids. The veil of her lashes lifted slowly, to find him watching her intently.

"Itni sundar dulhan poori duniya mein nahi ho sakti." He said hoarsely, tracing her nose ring.

His thumb changed track when it reached her lips, rubbing over them lightly. Her lips parted on their own. But he didn't reach them. Rather, he slowly removed the nose ring, and kissed the tip of her nose. When he lifted the dupatta, letting it fall behind, her heartbeat increased. A kiss followed every ornament that he removed... earrings, mangtika, necklace, even anklets. But when he came to her wrists, his fingers played with the glass bangles, making the sound that he so loved. He lifted her hands to his mouth, and placed small kisses on both her inner wrists, without taking off the bangles.

Holding her hands next to his heart, his eyes moved up her form in slow deliberation, unabashedly halting at a few places before they reached her face. She was all red now, under his heated gaze that seemed to hold back a storm.

"Yeh mera gift hai, Naina... shaadi ki pehli raat." His last words before he claimed her lips were filled with pride.

The love that he showered on her was like an explosion of stars. When he touched her, it started a fire, a fire so potent that she felt a new sensation, something like never before. It was indeed a first night. Even after one full year of being together, their love had a new rhythm as their heartbeats entangled to become one soul, to feel the ecstasy transform into bliss.

It was hours later, when she laid in his arms while his fingers threaded through her hair that the topic of their competition cropped up again.

"Ab kya kehti ho madam? Mera idea tha na best? Haar maanti ho?" He planted a kiss on her temple.

"Bohot achha tha tumhara gift. Lekin maine abhi tak diya hi nahi hai toh faisla kaise hoga?" She raised her brows.

"Tumhara bhi aisa hi kuch irada hoga." He turned towards her, winking with a mischievous grin.

"Mera gift toh bas ek chota sa kagaz hai." She pursed her lips, rubbing his rough chin.

"Ek aur pyar bhara izhaar? Dikhao." He was curious.

She slipped out of his hold, turning to bring out a folded paper from the drawer of her bedside table. With a gesture of her finger, she asked him to sit up before handing him the paper.

Sameer gave her a quizzical look, slowly opening the folded sheet and started to read it.

She watched as his eyes started to widen till they couldn't get any bigger. His mouth fell open. She had to push up his chin when he sat frozen for a long time in the same position.

When he finally looked up, she was chewing her cheek, her brows joined together on a creased forehead.

"Sorry Naina, ab main sirf Naina ka Sameer nahi raha." He found his voice.

Then his eyes drifted down, and he placed a hand on her belly, "Ab main aapka Sameer bhi ban gaya hun... aapki mumma ke saath saath."

CONGRATULATIONS 🎊🎊🎉🎉
We'll celebrate tomorrow

Next update tomorrow evening