Sameer placed one hand on Naina's belly, "Ab main aapka Sameer bhi ban gaya hun... aapki mumma ke saath saath."

He kept looking at her stomach with wide eyes, then turned his gaze up at Naina, "Suna hoga na usne?"

She kept her hand on his, "Abhi nahi."

"Kyon?" He frowned.

Naina smiled shyly, "Usmein abhi time hai."

He stared at her for a few seconds. It had always been in his mind that one day they would have their own child... their own flesh and blood... they would be a family... a complete family. The thought had always filled him up with exhilaration. But what he was experiencing now was incomprehensible. The news was something that had left him transfixed... him, being a father... to his own child. The connection was instant... he had an overwhelming feeling to do everything for the part of him whose existence he became aware of only moments back.

Naina noticed the dazed eyes. He still had his hand on her stomach but his face was impassive. That one fear, a small one that had been gnawing at some hidden corner of her mind, knocked again.

Was he not okay with it?

"Sam... Sameer... tumhe abhi... matlab kya tum... matlab... tum khush nahi ho kya?" Her voice quivered as an uneasy feeling gripped her.

Sameer sat looking at her with blank eyes. Then, to her horror, he got up without a word and went out of the room. She was left in an emotional turmoil.

She wanted to run behind him but her legs refused to move... she wanted to call out to him but her voice died somewhere in her throat... she wanted to hold his hand but her own had turned ice cold...

After what seemed like an eternity to her, but was not more than two minutes, the door opened. Through the tears that settled on the rim of her eyes, she could only see his blurred form, moving toward her.

And suddenly, she was being showered with rose petals. Quickly wiping her eyes, she noticed the basket in his hand... and the expression of gleeful exultation on his face was finally visible to her.

"Naina, Naina, Naina... tumne mujhe sach mein ek aur Naina de di anniversary pe." He screamed in delight.

She let out the breath she had been holding for so long, closing her eyes as the soft petals continued to fall on her through a parting in the floral strings that were all around the bed.

He gave a shake to the basket, tossing all the petals in one go. Plucking those petals from the bunch in bouquet itself had made him impatient... he wanted to be with her but he also wanted to show her what he felt as the notion sank in... she had given him something that he couldn't describe in words. So, he decided to shower his queen... and now, his princess too... with what they deserved.

Shoving the basket away, he jumped on the bed, knees folded under him. Her eyes shot open as the bed heaved with his sudden leap.

"Yeh... yeh meri zindagi ka doosra sabse achha gift hai... tumhare baad... thank you, jaan... main bata nahi sakta main kitna khush hun... Naina, main khushi se pagal ho raha hun... mujhe samajh nahi aa raha main kya karun." He blurted haltingly, rubbing his hands while his eyes danced with the elation that filled his heart.

"Sabse pehle toh mujhe hug kar lo." Her voice was soft as she spread her arms, feeling a burden lift off her chest.

He leaned ahead with a grin, but stopped short of touching her, pointing at her belly with concern, "Usse lagega toh nahi na?"

"Buddhu... kuch nahi hoga." She let out a demure chuckle, wrapping her arms around his neck.

His arms went around her, holding her delicately, curbing his desire to crush her in his arms and kiss her senseless.

"Ek kiss bhi nahi doge kya?" She spoke against his ear, reading his thoughts like always.

He moved back, looking at her uncertainly till she held his face within her palms, and placed her lips on his, letting her love do the talking. He could hold back no more, drowning in the euphoria of this sudden revelation... combined with her fragrance and the scent of flowers all around.

He kissed her with all the emotions churning in him, the feelings that overwhelmed him, the anticipation that thrilled him, the bliss that awashed him, the fulfillment that made his life complete.

"Naina, meri jaan, ab hum sach mein mummy papa banenge." He murmured against her cheek, keeping her close to himself when they parted after a long kiss.

"Hum jhooth mein kab bane the?" She scrunched her nose.

"Jab maine woh sapna dekha tha na, Mumbai mein... tab pehli baar kisi ne mujhe papa kaha tha... lekin woh sapna nikla... par yeh sab toh sach hai na." He stroked her back.

That is when it occured to him. He sat up straight in one swift motion, holding her shoulders.

"Tumhe kaise pata chala?" He peered into her eyes.

She took a deep breath. It was time to tell him the events of past few days.

"Pichle kuch hafton se mujhe bohot thakaan ho rahi thi. Din mein neend bhi bohot aati thi. Yahan tak ki office mein bhi sone ka mann karta tha..."

"Toh tumne bataya kyon nahi? Maine kaha tha na tum chutti le lo kuch din... itni thak jaati thi toh kyon saare kaam karti thi... aur mujhe ek baar bhi kyon nahi bataya?" He admonished her, cutting her midway.

"Suno toh... mujhe laga shayad fir se haemoglobin kam ho gaya hai. Socha agar tumhe bataungi toh tum aur Ramdhari milke fir se mere peeche pad jaoge saara din kuch na kuch khane ko leke." She said with a guilty expression.

He pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes to show his displeasure. She held one ear, mouthing a sorry. He pulled down her wrist, smiling lovingly at the way she copied him.

"Maine socha main akele hi jaake Dr Shaila se mil leti hun... agar sach mein fir se Hb kam ho gaya hoga toh khud hi khane ka khyal rakh lungi. Lekin test kiya toh mera Hb bohot achha tha. Maine poocha doctor se ki mujhe itni thakan aur neend kyon aane lagi hai. Tab unhone kuch aur test kiye. Woh itne saare kaam achanak aa gaye the toh main apni dates ka time bhi bhool gayi thi. Jab unhone bataya ki shayad yeh baat ho sakti hai toh main darr gayi, ki pata nahi meri sehat iske liye taiyar bhi hai ya nahi... lekin unhone kaha main bilkul healthy hun... aur jaisa woh kahengi waise dhyan rakhungi toh koi problem nahi hogi." She smiled confidently.

"Lekin tumhe batana chahiye tha na. Kya main tumhara khyal nahi rakh sakta jo tum akele gayi?" He sounded hurt.

She held his hands, "Tum bohot zyada khyal rakhte ho isliye nahi bataya. Meri kisi bhi pareshani se mujhse zyada takleef tumhe hoti hai, mera har dard mujh tak aane se pehle tumhe choo jaata hai... isliye maine socha choti si baat hai, khud hi check kara leti hun... tumse kahungi toh tum darr jaoge."

"Yeh choti si baat hai?" His eyes rounded.

"Offo Sameer, tab thodi pata tha yeh baat hai... samajh bhi nahi aata tumhe... agar mujhe malum hota pehle se toh batati nahi kya? Tumse kyon chupaungi?" She jerked his hands away, turning to the side with an irritated expression.

"Achha baba sorry, dekho tum aise gussa nahi ho sakti... yeh toh itna khushi ka din hai." He cupped her face, making her turn to him.

Her smile was back instantly.

"Naina, hum na kal hi jaa ke achhe achhe kapde le aate hain apni gudiya ke liye... aur bohot saare khilone bhi... aur ek choti wali cycle bhi, bachhon wali... aur hum uske liye..." Sameer was back in his excited mode till she placed a hand on his mouth.

"Tum pagal ho kya? Kal hi inki kya zaroorat hai? Abhi kapdon ke liye bohot time hai, khilono ke liye usse bh zyada aur cycle..." She started to laugh at his planning.

He tugged at her wrist, furrowing his brows, "Ab isme hansne ki kya baat hai? Achha hai na pehle se taiyari karke rakhenge toh. Hamari gudiya ko kisi cheez ki kami nahi honi chahiye."

"Jab tak woh aayegi tab tak mausam badal jayega... sardiyaan hongi. Isliye hum sardiyon mein hi khareedenge kapde." She looked at him fondly.

"Kya? Sardiyaan? Usmein toh abhi bohot mahine hain. Ithe din tak main intezar nahi kar sakta." He was aghast.

Naina pinched his puffed cheeks, "Mr Maheshwari, intezar karne ke alava tumhare paas koi chaara nahi hai... nau mahine lagenge baby ko aane mein."

The shock on his face was evident, "Yeh toh abhi se tumhare jaisi hai... itna lamba intezar kaun karata hai? Naina, main ithe mahine kaise rahunga?"

His innocent grouse melted her heart though she wanted to laugh.

"Sameer, tum bacchon jaisi baatein mat karo. Sab log itna hi intezar karte hain." She tried to pacify him.

He suddenly bent down, bringing his face close to her belly, "Baby, aap jaldi aa jaana... aapke papa aapse milne ke liye itne din nahi ruk sakte."

"Tum na, ek number ke bewakoof ho. Aisa nahi hota. Jo bachhen jaldi paida hote hain unhe bohot health problems ho jaati hain. Nau mahine zaroori hote hain." She poked his head, unable to be annoyed at his silly questions because she knew he was completely unaware.

He slapped his mouth, quickly bending down again to talk to her tummy, "Nahi baby, aap jaldi mat aana... main intezar kar lunga... lekin aap bilkul healthy hoke hi aana aur hamesha healthy rehna."

She waited for him to straighten up. When he did, she held his face and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Tumhe pata hai, tum bohot achhe papa banoge." Her eyes shone with pride.

He smiled, "Achha? Toh mujhe pehle kyon nahi bataya?"

She leaned to place her head on his chest, "Kal report aayi thi... lekin maine socha aaj hi bataungi... khaas din ke liye khaas news."

"Ab samjha tumne woh special gift wali baat kyon ki thi... tumhe pehle se pataa tha ki tum ismein bhi jeet jaogi... iss gift ke aage aur koi gift tik hi nahi sakta... iss competition mein bhi tum hi jeeti, Naina." He wrapped one arm around her, linking the fingers of other one with her hand.

"Tumhara gift bhi bohot khaas tha, Sameer. Hum dono hi jeete hain ismein. Jo tum uss raat ko ek baar fir se wapas le aaye, utne hi khoobsurat andaaz mein, woh kisi bhi tarah kam nahi tha. Lekin batao toh, tumne yeh sab kaise kiya? Aur tum toh mujhe kahin aur le jaa rahe the? Woh kya tha?" Her curiosity was back as she looked at the white, fragrant flowers decorating the room.

He explained how he had placed her outfit and jewellery in guest room in the morning before she got up. And the decoration job was given to Pandit. But it could be done only after they left the house. So he got delayed in coming to the party. The cake he carried as an excuse was bought beforehand and kept in the hotel itself. Sameer had taken her for a long drive because the decorators needed time to set up the room according to his directions.

"Lekin hum toh ghar lock karke gaye the. Pandit kaise aaya yahan pe? Doosri chaabi Ramdhari ke paas rehti hai." Naina was perplexed.

"Ramdhari ki chaabi le li thi maine subah." He gave a sheepish smile.

When she came to know that he had left the key in a pot outside the house, for Pandit, she was furious.

"Ismein gussa hone wali kya baat hai? Nanu toh hamesha ek chaabi wahan rakhte the. Kabhi kabhi unhe kahin jaana pad jaata aur Ramdhari nahi hota tha ghar pe toh main wahin se leta tha. Balki abhi bhi wahin chodi hai. Subah Ramdhari gamle mein se leke darwaza khol lega." He clarified.

Nanu's mention did calm her, but she gave him stern instructions that it was a risky thing and they shouldn't do it again.

"Sameer, humein sabse pehle nanu ka ashirwad lena chahiye na." She looked up at him.

He jumped off the bed, extending his hand to her. She held it, pushing aside the floral strings to step out.

"Naina, tum theek ho na? Tumhe koi takleef toh nahi hai? Main utha ke le chalu kya?" He turned to her in concern when they had hardly taken two steps.

"Main chal sakti hun, Sameer. Bimar thodi hun." She chuckled.

His eyes jumped to her stomach before coming back to her face, worried, "Baby ko toh kuch nahi hoga na tumhare chalne se?"

She immediately hugged him, making him stumble behind a few steps. His one arm came around her protectively. He kept the other one by his side, scared to put it on her waist.

Before he could say anything, her muffled words against his chest reached his ears, "Baby ko kuch nahi hoga... main pehle ki tarah hi sab kuch kar sakti hun... aur tum bhi mujhe pehle ki tarah pyar kar sakte ho... ek aur Naina ke aane ki baat sunte hi iss Naina ko bhoolne ka sochna bhi mat."

She held his hand, wrapping it around her waist. With a long exhale, he took her in the circle of his arms.

"Yeh Naina mere liye sabse khaas rahegi... hamesha. Main apni beti ko kam pyar nahi karunga lekin tumhare liye usse thoda sa zyada rahega." He planted a kiss on top of her head.

So a lot of my readers are worried that the story will end now. Well, it would, but only after another full 82 chapters...  counting from this one right here. Guys, many stories start and end in much lesser.

I'll be taking up the pregnancy track and coming of a baby, a few years of Samaina growing up with their baby... don't really know what all I'll include because I haven't planned any specific thing, as usual 🤭

Please don't feel depressed about the story ending. It would have lived with us for more than a year when I conclude it in mid September. Yes, I'll complete one whole year of posting daily updates on 30th June, four days later. Let's be happy about the journey and not work up ourselves over the inevitable. I've given innumerable happy moments of Samaina and  many more would be coming for sure.

Also, I have full hopes that by then, we'd hear some good news as well. So, let's keep our fingers crossed and enjoy the upcoming track. Keep smiling... and of course, blushing... Sameer won't stop making us do that 😉

Next update tomorrow evening