Sameer had not expected to be received so warmly in his mother's house, by her family... or rather her children. Rohan had met him like a long lost friend, calling him bhai.

Bhai.

This one word had changed so much in him. Yes, Rohan used to address him in the same manner earlier but that time it only irritated him. Today, however, it sounded like a strengthening of some bond.

And Deepika. She had effortlessly accepted the new relation. Of course, she was too young to figure out the complications of this relationship... but she was aware of his existence... apprised by none other than Rohan. That had indeed surprised him.

Was he really considered as a brother by them... even in his absence... in spite of his behaviour on the occasions he was here?

"Waise Rohan aur Deepika toh bohot khush lage mujhe... nahi?" Naina's voice seemed to echo his thoughts, bringing him out of his interpretation.

Without a word he turned to look at her. With a freshly washed face, sans any artificial layer marring her radiance, she looked every bit what she was for him... the light of his life.

In one swift motion, he pulled her to him, pressing her against his chest as his arms held her close. She snuggled happily into him, feeling relieved that he was his normal self.

"Umm, Sameer, tum gussa toh nahi ho ki hum yahan zyada din ruk rahe hain?" She asked hesitantly moving apart to see his face.

He chewed onto his lower lip before replying, "Jab tumne zid ki yahan aane ki toh mummy se milne ke lalach ne mujhe tumhari baat manne pe majboor kar diya. Maine socha ek din unse milke kal wapas chale jayenge... na kisi aur ko zyada dekhna padega na sunna padega. Lekin ab... tumne dekha na dadi ko... hum jitna zyada yahan rahenge woh hamare liye... tumhare liye... mushkil khadi karengi... agar unhone tumhe kuch... Naina, main sunn nahi paunga aur agar maine unse badtameezi kar di toh ek baar phir... shayad mummy ko kho dun."

Her heart wrenched at the way his thoughts were going. She wanted to bring him here to reshape the twisted relations... not to distort them further.

"Sameer, suno... na yahan aana koi galti hai na yahan rukna... hum toh yeh soch ke aaye the ki sirf mummy ka pyar milega par tumne dekha na kaise Rohan aur Deepika ne khushi se humein apna maan liya... pa... mera matlab, mummy ke husband aur dadi se agar humein thodi sakht baatein sunni bhi pade toh yeh pyar yeh apnapan uss berukhi ko dhak dega... Sameer, iss parivar ke aadhe se zyada logon ne haath badhaya hai tumhari taraf... kya tum teen apno ke pyar se zyada do parayon ke rookhe vyawahar ko dekhoge?" She raised her hands to place under his ears, her fingers threading into his hair.

He looked into her earnest eyes... her calculation was not wrong. Seeing his eyes soften, a slight smile curved her lips.

"Tumhara yeh trimmer bohot achha hai." Her eyes drifted down to his darkened jawline and her thumbs slowly rubbed the prickly growth, the raspy sound making her throat go dry.

Her husky voice flipped his thoughts instantly, bringing the sparkle back in his eyes.

"Tareef sirf trimmer ki hogi ya mujhe bhi kuch milega?" He pulled her with a jerk.

Their faces were close, very close... noses almost touching, their breaths mingled, their eyes locked.

His lips had merely brushed her parted ones when the sound reached them.

"Sameer bhaiya... Naina bhabhi." With every word the squealing voice came nearer.

They parted just in time. Deepika pushed open the door, running in.

"Chalo, aap dono ko mumma bula rahi hai... khane ke liye." She grasped Naina's hands, pulling her towards the door.

"Main ready ho jaun pehle? Bas do minute mein aa jaungi." Naina tried to buy some time, to finish what they had started.

Deepika's eyes brightened, and she kicked off her slippers, climbing the bed. Sameer's mouth fell open as the little girl crossed her legs to sit comfortably, placed her elbows on her legs and cupped her face, watching Naina with great interest.

"Karo na makeup, bhabhi, mujhe dekhna hai." She pouted in a childish drawl.

A small laugh sputtered out of Naina, watching Sameer's exasperated expression.

Finally, he plonked on the bed, next to Deepika, watching Naina brush her long hair.

"Aapke baal kitne long aur beautiful hain... bilkul meri doll jaise." The girl marvelled.

Naina patted some compact on her face before applying gloss and a sticker bindi.

"Ho gaya. Ab chalein?" She held out her hand to the younger audience.

Deepika frowned, "Itna sa makeup? Aapne eyes pe kuch kiya hi nahi... meri doll toh sab lagati hai... eye shadow, liner, lipstick, blush-on aur bhi saari cheezen."

This time, Sameer chuckled along with Naina, "Doll thodi lagati hai, aap lagati ho na usse?"

Deepika nodded, looking at him, "Aap bhi laga do apni doll ko."

They both were again startled at her choice of words.

"Jab aapki shaadi hui thi toh mumma ne photo dikhayi thi na, usmein bhabhi bilkul doll hi lag rahi thi... maine bola toh mumma ne kaha yeh Sameer bhaiya ki doll hain." She grinned, letting out the secret with a twinkle in her eyes.

Though it brought colour to Naina's cheeks, she didn't fail to notice that Vishakha had shown their wedding pictures to Deepika, telling about the new relation in her life. Same thing had hit Sameer, she could tell by the smug smile on his face.

Vivek Somani was seated at the table with his mother when they went down. Naina moved ahead, bending down to touch his feet.

"Iski zaroorat nahi hai. Yeh old fashioned greetings nahi maante hamare yahan." He showed his palm, stopping her in almost a gentle voice.

Naina's eyes flew to dadi instantly, "Dadi ne hi kaha tha pair choone ko... warna mummy bhi manaa karti hain."

Dadi cringed at the direct attack.

"Aapko yeh kahan se yaad aa gaya, mummy?" Vivek laughed, making his mother simmer.

"Sameer, baitho na." Vishakha quickly pulled a chair next to Rohan, diverting everyone's attention.

Sameer looked at Naina.

"Naina, tum bhi yahan baitho. Sameer ke saath." Vishakha pointed at the next chair, telling Deepika to sit with dadi on the opposite side.

"Sameer, suna tumne business sambhal liya hai. Kaisa chal raha hai?" Vivek asked in a flat voice.

Naina held Sameer's hand under the table.

Without looking up at him, Sameer answered in a low voice, "Theek hai."

"Theek nahi, bohot achha chal raha hai." Vishakha proudly smiled at her husband.

"Pichle hafte maine munshiji ko phone kiya tha toh unhone bataya tumhare naye contracts ke baare mein... foreign clients ke saath bhi deal karli tumne. Good." Vivek munched on a piece of salad.

"Wow Sameer, yeh toh badi achhi news hai... maine toh abhi tak koi contract handle hi nahi kiya akele." Rohan was clearly impressed.

"Tum padhai mein lage the na, Rohan... awaaragardi thodi karte the... tabhi toh college mein top kiya." Dadi flashed an artificial smile, giving a slanting look to Sameer.

"Sameer ne bhi top kiya hai, dadi... woh bhi poore state mein, aur bhabhi toh hain hi topper." Rohan lavished the praise on Sameer and Naina, making dadi squirm again.

"Sach bhai, main bhi aana chahta tha Ahmedabad jab result aaya tha, lekin..." He looked at his mom, recalling how she had said that Sameer might not like to see him.

"Aap ab aa jaana... humein bohot achha lagega." Naina beamed at him, getting an inkling of his reason of not coming.

He dropped the corners of his mouth, "Fir se aap bola... bhabhi, aapka devar hun, chote bhai jaisa, tu nahi toh tum bol lijiye par aap mat boliye, please."

Naina held one ear, earning a laugh from him... and a small smile from Sameer.

"Chalo khana khao, Rohan. Faaltu ki baaton mein khana thanda ho raha hai." Daadi pushed a bowl towards her grandson, eager to end the topic as this easy camaraderie did not sit well with her.

Vishakha picked up the dish of potato curry, "Sameer, yeh tumhari favourite..."

"Vishakha, zara alu dena." Dadi's voice cut her sentence.

Quietly, she passed the bowl to dadi.

Naina saw the expression on Sameer's face.

"Mummy, Sameer ko yeh kofte..." She turned towards Vishakha.

"Rohan, mujhe kofte paas karo... aaj subah se dil tha khane ka." Dadi extended her hand across the table.

"Jee dadi, yeh lijiye, aur apne paas hi rakh lijiye. Main mummy ko yehi keh rahi thi ki Sameer ko yeh kofte bilkul pasand nahi hain, inke saamne se hata dijiye... laiye main hi serve kar deti hun aapko." Naina pushed back her chair, going around the table with the bowl.

Dadi fumed, but sat back as Naina served her, adding a helping of all other dishes kept on the table.

"Lijiye dadi, ab aaram se khaiye... baar baar aapko mangna nahi padega." Naina passed a wide smile to her before going back to sit.

Vishakha passed the potato gravy to Sameer again. Naina served him masala gobhi and bhindi, urging him to start eating.

Amidst Deepika's excited blabber and Rohan's attempts to include Sameer in the conversation, the meal was over without another hiccup. Naina noticed that Vivek wasn't overtly averse to Sameer or her... but did not show much softening probably due to his mother's open dislike.

After dinner, dadi and Vivek immediately went back to their rooms. Vishakha refused Naina's help, asking the servant to carry back everything to the kitchen while she followed him.

Deepika held Naina's hand, "Bhabhi, aap hamare saath yahan baith ke baatein karogi? Kal toh chutti hai toh Rohan bhaiya ko bhi late tak jaagna allowed hai."

Rohan gave her a frustrated look, "Main bada hun, Deepika. Mujhe permission nahi chahiye."

"Lekin aapke timetable mein roz sone ka time likha hota hai na." With hands on hips, she raised her brows.

Sameer stifled a smile, turning to go to the room. Rohan could see the humour in his eyes.

"Tum bhi ruko na, bhai. Aaj thodi der hamare paas baith jao." He pleaded.

Naina held Sameer's hand, blinking at him to accept.

"Waise main ab pehle jaisa timetable nahi hun." Rohan gave a sheepish glance to Sameer, making him smile.

Before Naina could ask the meaning, Deepika hollered to her mom who was in the kitchen, "Mumma, humko ice cream khani hai."

Vishakha was surprised to see Sameer, along with Naina, seated with other two. She turned from the door, adding two more bowls of ice cream to the tray before coming again.

"Bhabhi, aapne humein kyon nahi bulaya apni shaadi mein? Pata hai, mujhe shaadi mein jaane mein kitna mazaa aata hai... pretty wale dresses pehen ke... aur wahan party wala khana, aur ice cream." Deepika's eyes turned dreamy.

"Humein toh malum hi nahi tha. Jab mummy ne photos dikhaye tab pataa chala ki aapki shaadi ho gayi... warna tab main zaroor aa jata chahe Sameer jitna bhi gussa karta." Rohan said ruefully.

"Aapki shaadi mein mumma ne dance kiya tha?" Deepika queried.

Sameer nodded, reminiscing about the pure happiness he had seen on his mother's face that day, after years of frowning at him.

"Haww, mumma, aap toh kehti ho aapko dance aata hi nahi... fir kaise kiya?" Deepika pulled her mom's hand, bringing her out of the same thoughts as Sameer.

Vishakha gave a fond look to her son before turning her gaze to Deepika, "Mere bete ki shaadi thi... sabse zyada khushi mujhe hi toh thi... isliye kiya."

"Iska matlab aap Rohan bhaiya ki shaadi mein bhi karogi? Aur meri shaadi mein bhi?" Deepika squealed.

Vishakha nodded.

"Achha bhabi, yeh batao, aapne bhai se baat kaise ki... matlab main toh kar hi nahi paaya itni koshish ke baad bhi." Rohan put up a genuine doubt.

"Mushkil toh bohot tha... time bhi kaafi laga." Naina rolled her eyes.

"Pakka Sameer ke doston ne madad ki hogi." Rohan made a guess.

"Mere koi dost nahi the Mumbai mein." Sameer spoke for the first time.

"Aap log Mumbai se pehle toh Ahmedabad mein mile the na... mummy ne bataya tha aap same school mein the." Rohan furrowed his brows.

"Lambi kahani hai, Rohan. Jab Ahmedabad aaoge tab sunayenge." Naina shifted closer to Sameer till her arm touched the side of his arm.

"Kyon, ghost wali hai kya?" Deepika widened her eyes.

Sameer and Naina looked at each other, reminded of their glimpses in college when they thought each other to be a ghost... and Sameer could not help laughing with her at the situation.

"Haan, kuch aisa hi samajh lo." Naina pinched Deepika's cheek.

The little girl jumped close to Naina, murmuring something in her ears, making her eyes go wide.

"Secret hai, aap kisi ko kehna nahi." Deepika scrunched her shoulders, giggling.

"Bad manners, Deepika. Sabke saamne secrets nahi share karte." Vishakha admonished her playfully.

"Par bhabhi toh meri best friend ban gayi na, unko hi bata sakti hun." Deepika wrapped her arms around Naina's neck.

"Aur Sameer bhaiya?" Naina raised one brow.

"Aap mere friend banoge?" She asked, leaning to look at him.

Sameer dipped his head to the side.

"Rohan bhaiya ke jaise meri pony toh nahi kheechoge?" She pointed a warning finger.

He shook his head with a smile.

Next moment, Deepika climbed into his lap, circling her arms around his neck and whispered in his ears. Sameer could not understand a word. But he was overwhelmed by the way his little sister held him affectionately.

"Bohot tang kar liya bhaiya bhabhi ko, chalo ab sone ka time ho gaya." Vishakha stood up.

"Nahi, main bhaiya bhabhi ke paas hi rahungi." Her small arms tightened around his neck.

"Deepika." Vishakha gave her a stern look.

"Sameer bhaiya, aap bolo na mummy ko ki main bhi aapki favourite hun, jaise aap mere favourite ho." Deepika placed her small hand on his cheek, making him look at her.

"Main aapka favourite hun?" He was amazed at her ease.

"Aur kya... Rohan bhaiya toh hamesha mere baal kheenchte hain... aur chidate hain... aapne ek baar bhi meri pony nahi kheenchi... aur aap doll jaisi bhabhi bhi leke aaye... isliye aap hi mere favourite ho." Her reasons were simple but clear.

Sameer felt a strong affinity to this small girl who was the daughter of his mom... she was his sister. There was no trace of a step relationship or forced connect. She had accepted him as her brother, without any pretense... giving him the affection that seeped into his soul.

His engulfed his sister in a hug, smiling as he whispered to her, "Aap bhi favourite ho meri."

Naina gave a contented look to the scene in front of her eyes, knowing how much Sameer needed this.

Vishakha blinked her moist eyes.

"Mumma, iss baar aap akele nahi jaogi... main aur Deepika bhi chalenge aapke saath Sameer ke ghar." Rohan said in a lighter voice, feeling the emotion laden atmosphere around.

"Haan mummy, iss baar aap sab aana." Naina urged, taking his cue.

"Hum sab chalenge." Vishakha promised.

After coaxing Deepika to come back to her, Vishakha said good night to everyone before telling them that there was no need to rush in the morning.

"Bhai." Sameer stopped at the foot of the stairs, hearing Rohan's voice.

Naina stopped at the second stair, turning to look back.

Rohan took a few faltering steps towards them, weighing his words in his mind.

"Kuch kaam tha, Rohan?" Sameer asked when he didn't speak even after a few seconds.

"I'm sorry, bhai." His voice was heavy.

Without another word, Sameer stepped ahead and engulfed him in a tight hug. As Rohan wound his arms around Sameer, he could feel the tears on his shoulders, his own falling freely as a little of his guilt dissipated with the first hug from his bhai.

Here's something very special shared by mansi0809
This defines Ashdeep so perfectly ❤

Next update tomorrow evening