Naina's eyes flew open suddenly. She looked at the clock. There was still time for the alarm to go off. But she had to hurry. Slowly putting away Sameer's arm that rested on her waist, she slipped out of the bed.

Taking all required things from the cupboard, she went for a bath.

Sameer stirred in sleep, his hand searching for the familiar warmth. Instead of the delectable rise and dips of his wife's form, when his hand experienced flatness of the bed, he sat up with a jerk.

"Naina?" He looked around, still a little befuddled with sleep.

Finding the room empty, he called out loudly, "Nainaaa."

There was no reply.

He sprang up from the bed, trying to clear up his mind of grogginess.

When he was about to go out of the room, sound of running water from washroom made him halt.

"Naina?" He knocked at the washroom door.

The sound of water stopped.

"Kya hua, Sameer?" Her voice filled him with relief.

"Tumhe kya hua? Itni subah naha kyon rahi ho?" He asked once the tension of not finding her melted.

"Woh... kuch nahi... bas garmi lag rahi thi." She didn't sound very convincing.

He walked back to the bed, sitting with his back on the headboard, waiting for her to finish her bath.

She came out a little later.

"Yeh subah subah nahane ka kya soojha tumhe? Abhi toh alarm tak nahi baja hai." He came to stand behind her as she stood in front of the mirror.

"Umm... aankh khul gayi thi... toh socha jaldi naha lun... tum so rahe the." She picked up the brush.

He moved her hair over one shoulder, bending down to kiss the back of her neck before whispering in her ear, "Mujhe utha deti... subah exercise karna achha hota hai na."

Her shoulder hitched.

"Ab koi exercise nahi... na subah na baad mein." She flicked back her hair.

His eyes widened as he gaped at her in the mirror, "Kyon? Aisa toh ho hi nahi sakta... Naina, tum kisi baat se gussa ho kya?"

A small spurt of laughter made him frown.

"Paanch din aapko wait karna hoga, Mr Maheshwari...main gussa nahi hun par ismein main aapki koi madad nahi kar sakti." She gave a sly smile to his reflection.

He wrinked his nose for a few moments... then the realisation dawned upon him.

"Oh... toh tum khadi kyon ho... chalo, aaram karo... tumhe dard ho raha hai? Main garam paani laake dun? Dawai... dawai hai tumhare paas? Nahi toh main le aata hun... mumshiji ko keh deta hun aaj nahi aa sakta... tumhe chai chahiye? Arre, abhi tak yahan kya kar rahi ho?" He barraged her with concern, fussing around her.

She kept looking at him, a gratified smile on her lips.

"Offo Naina, samajh nahi aata kya tumhe? Chalo, aaram karo." He picked her up when she didn't move, taking her to the bed.

"Sameer... main theek hun... koi dard nahi ho raha... matlab, koi khaas nahi... na garam paani chahiye na dawai... aur tum chutti lene ke bahane mat dhundo... mujhe koi takleef nahi hai... tum aaram se office jao." She cupped his face as he leaned while gently putting her on the bed.

His brows furrowed, "Aise kaise takleef nahi hai? Jab Rahul ke ghar par the tab tumhe kitni pareshani hui thi... mujhe bhejne ke liye apna dard chupa rahi ho na?"

Her heart melted at his care. He remembered her discomfort of that time, and wanted to be with her now... to do whatever he could, to ease her pain and suffering.

She pulled him to sit with her, "Woh takleef har baar nahi hoti... bas kabhi paanch che mahine mein ek baar utna dard hota hai... yaad hai, maine tumhe hostel mein bhi bataya tha? Iss baar main theek hun... halka sa dard hai pet mein, uski aadat hai... main sach mein bilkul theek hun."

He held her carefully, as if she was a porcelain doll, looking into her eyes, "Tumhara koi dard mere liye kam nahi hai, meri jaan... batao, main kya kar sakta hun tumhare liye?"

Her eyes turned glossy... this care, this solicitude was something no one had ever shown towards her... before him. Her family did take care of her, when she was in pain... but presently, she was not having much discomfort. Still, he was distressed for her... more than her, the anguish troubled him.

"Tumhe kuch karne ki zaroorat nahi hai... main sach mein theek hun... tum taiyar ho jao factory ke liye... main tumhara breakfast bana deti hun." She patted his cheek, shifting her legs to get off the bed.

"Nahi." He held her legs, pushing them back on the bed.

She frowned.

He kept his finger on her lips, "Ab kuch nahi bologi tum... aur na uthogi... mera breakfast Ramdhari bana dega, aur tiffin bhi... tumhe kuch nahi karna... aur agar tumne mera kehna nahi maana toh main factory nahi jaunga... saara din tumhare saamne baitha rahunga."

"Oh... toh ab Mr Sameer Maheshwari mere bodyguard banenge?" She smirked.

He leaned closer, giving her an intense look, "Jo cheez sabse zyada keemti ho uska dhyan toh rakhna padta hai na."

She gulped as his hand traveled over the side of her leg slowly, coming up her waist. When his palm glided up her belly and his fingertips touched her curves, she held his wrist.

"Tumhe der ho jayegi... jao, naha lo." She dragged his hand away.

He saw the veil of reticence in her eyes.

"Ujale mein dekh nahi sakta, ab kya choo bhi nahi sakta?" His voice was soft.

"Tum na... bas... jao yaha se ab." She lowered her eyes, cheeks flaring up at his blatant question.

He held her face within his palms and kissed her forehead gently before getting up.

Opening his cupboard, he pulled out a light blue shirt, holding it against his chest, "Naina, yeh theek hai? Yeh pehen lu?"

She was surprised, "Pehen lo... mujhse kyon pooch rahe ho?"

He gave a wide smile, "Roz tumhi nikal ke deti ho na kapde... aaj bhi tumhari pasand ke hi pehenne hai mujhe."

Her heart filled up with love again. He held two trousers, black and blue. She pointed at the black one. Keeping his clothes on the bed, the way she always did, he went for his bath.

Naina could hear some sound from outside, meaning Ramdhari was already working in the kitchen. She
thought of getting up to go and see but decided against it. Sameer had been vehement about her staying in bed. Though she wasn't in much pain, just a slight discomfort in her belly and legs which was normal, she wanted to do what he had asked. Ramdhari could handle the things for now. Once Sameer would leave for office, she would see what all needed to be done.

The sound of door opening broke her chain of thoughts.

He stepped out in a towel, his wet body and dripping, messy hair, taking her breath away instantly. Her eyes roamed freely over the gleaming expanse of skin exposed in front of her.

He could see the effect he was having on her.

The depth of her eyes was enough to set him on fire... but now, he had to control himself... for five days. He cursed silently, instructing himself to dress up inside the washroom itself from tomorrow.

She looked away as he picked up the shirt, instructing herself to be away from the room when he came out of the shower... for five days.

He dressed up quickly, brushed his hair, sprayed some deo and was ready to leave. He looked at her. Her eyes were still averted.

"Tum dekh sakti ho." He said, walking towards her.

Her eyes shot up at him... and filled with embarrassment as she realised he understood her condition.

"Main ab chalti hun bahar... theek hun." She flung her legs down, getting up before he could stop her.

"Naina." He held her shoulders, stopping her.

She halted.

He engulfed her in his arms, softly.

She wrapped her arms around him, placing her palms flat on his back.

"Jab tum meri baahon mein hoti ho toh lagta hai main duniya ka sabse khushkismat insaan hun." He kissed the top of her head.

They stood close to each other for a few minutes. Then she stepped back, holding his hand to walk out together.

Ramdhari was ready with breakfast and tiffin.

"Namaste Naina bhabhi, humein laga aaj aapki neend nahi khuli toh humne naashta bhi bana diya... aap dono baithiye, hum laga dete hain." He beamed at her.

She agreed, sitting down with Sameer. They had breakfast together, first time since he had started going to factory. Though she could not eat much due to a feeling of fullness in her tummy, the hot tea felt good.

Sameer left shortly, telling her to take rest, also instructing Ramdhari to not disturb her.

Naina went back to her room. She cleaned up everything, made the bed, put away the clothes for laundry, and sat down at the table to write. But her mind was not in it today. In spite of trying several times, she couldn't come up with new ideas for more episodes. Finally, she gave up, thinking of sitting down again after lunch. Maybe her mind would get back its rhythm by then. She looked at the bedside clock. Preeti would have left for her parlour by now, or must be about to leave. But Swati was free.

She dialled Swati's number.

An hour later, both were happily chatting in the living room.

"Aaj mujhse kuch likha hi nahi jaa raha tha... achha hua tujhe kuch kaam nahi tha nahi toh main poora din bore hoti." Naina smiled thankfully at her.

"Arre yaar, mujhe toh kabhi bhi koi kaam nahi hota... bas mummy jo shopping ya tailor ke paas leke jaati hain uske alava poora din free hoti hun." Swati grinned.

"Naina bhabhi, humne aapka kamra saaf kar diya hai." Ramdhari said, coming out of the bedroom.

"Chal, hum andar aaram se baatein karenge." Naina got up, waving at Swati to come with her.

Inside, Swati looked at the huge photo frame behind the bed, with both of them smiling at each other. Though they were standing a little away from each other, the current that passed through their gazes was clearly visible even in the still picture.

"Bohot sundar hai yeh photo." She looked back at Naina.

"Yeh waise toh Rahul aur Sonali ki shaadi ki hai lekin ussi din hamari bhi shaadi hui thi... yeh jo mera maang tika hai na, isiliye lagaya tha jisse kisi ko sindoor na nazar aaye... jo Sameer ke tilak se meri maang mein lag gaya tha." Naina relived the moments while telling her friend about that day.

"Achha, tilak to maathe pe hota hai... aisa kya kar rahe the tum jo teri maang tak uska tilak pohoch gaya?" Swati's voice was filled with mischief.

Naina went crimson, the images of them together inside the washroom becoming vivid in her mind.

"Oho, matlab kuch toh pakka chal raha tha... tabhi madam ka chehra aisa laal ho raha hai... bata na... kya kar rahe the." Swati pestered, settling down on the bed, ready for an interesting, romantic anecdote.

Naina hesitated for a while, then gave up, telling Swati about the sequence of events... right from the time she and Sonali shifted to the ground floor room, to her decision of wearing that particular lehenga, to Sonali's leaving her alone unknowingly, and Sameer's entry into the room after noticing her dupatta through open door. However she skipped the part about him coming to the bathroom, rather modifying it to tell her that when she stepped out she found him in the room, and tripped over her lehenga in nervousness... and he held her. That is when his tilak touched her forehead.

Even this version was dreamy for Swati.

"Haye Naina, kaash main wahan hoti... sunne mein hi itna romantic lag raha hai... tere toh haath pair phool gaye honge na?" She excitedly grasped Naina's hand.

"Meri toh saansen ruk gayi thi... aisa lag raha tha abhi dil uchal ke bahar aa jayega." Naina kept one hand on her heart.

Swati took a deep breath, "Kitni lucky hai tu... Sameer jaisa pyar karne wala boyfriend jo ab pati ban gaya hai fir bhi tujhse utna hi pyar karta hai."

Her wistful voice made Naina look up sharply at her.