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Naina got up with a jerk. The room was covered in darkness, except the faint outside light that enabled her to see Sameer sleeping next to her. He was lying on his back, one hand on his chest. She noticed that she had been sleeping on his other arm, which lay straight on her pillow now. A quick glance at the clock showed the time was 1:30 am. She slapped her forehead. Last night, she had sat down on the bed, waiting for him to finish his phone call so she could ask what was troubling him. But sleep took over before he came back to the room.

"Sameer ko zaroorat thi teri aur tu ghode bech ke so gayi... kitna pareshan lag raha tha raat ko... thodi der jaag nahi sakti thi uske liye? Kaisa laga hoga usko, ki tujhe parwah hi nahi hai." She reprimanded herself, tensed that she was unaware of his problem.

"Abhi uthana toh theek nahi hoga... subah sabse pehle baat karungi aur sorry bhi bol dungi... waise office mein toh kal tak sab theek hi tha toh office ki tension toh shayad nahi hogi... fir kya ho sakta hai... haan, shayad chachiji ko leke dukhi hai... koi nahi, subah samjha dungi ki woh jaldi hi theek ho jayengi." She unknowingly alleviated herself more than him.

Sighing, she cuddled into him, going back to sleep.

Sameer found the bed empty when he woke up. The sound of water confirmed her presence in the bathroom. He sat up in bed, rubbing his forehead. Last night's call of Munshiji had confirmed that the buyers were not ready to wait for next lot to arrive and they wanted to complete the procedure of order cancellation on grounds of deviation from their requirements. Khurana did not pick up the phone when Munshiji tried to speak to him. Sameer had also made several attempts, but the call went unanswered each time.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the shrill ring of phone. Jumping off the bed to answer it, he hoped there wasn't any more bad news.

He wasn't so lucky.

Khurana was creating a ruckus in the factory when his material was refused. Munshiji had directed the guards last night to not allow any new delivery. His trucks were lined outside the factory entrance and he threatened to break open the gates to bring the trucks in. Guards had called Munshiji in panic who informed Sameer just before leaving his house.

"Main abhi nikalta hun." He assured Munshiji.

Grabbing his clothes from the cupboard, he ran to nanu's room to use that bathroom.

Naina came out after bath to find him missing. It was unlike him to leave the bed this early. She quickly placed her towel on the stand outside and rushed out to the kitchen.

"Ramdhari bhaiya, Sameer kahan hain?" She asked when she could not see him anywhere.

"Sameer bhaiya toh nanaji wale bathroom mein naha rahe hain... bolke gaye hain ki abhi nikalna hai unhe." Ramdhari informed her.

Naina wondered what was the urgency.

"Sameer suno, main... " She tried to speak to him the moment he came the room.

"Abhi nahi, Naina... ek meeting hai... raat ko hi phone aaya toh tumhe bata nahi paaya... baad mein baat karte hain... tum dhyan rakhna apna aur chachiji ka." He grabbed his bag and darted out, not even noticing that she was about to hug him.

Naina would have insisted to know the whole thing had he told her the problem now... but there was no time for that. So, he had decided to keep the discussion for later, giving her an excuse of a meeting.

"Arre lekin breakfast... " She ran out behind him.

"Woh humne pack karke car mein rakhwa diya hai." Ramdhari told her.

Pursing her lips, she went back to the room with heavy steps. She could feel the strains of tension in him... and between them. Except for the brief hug in the kitchen previous night, they had not been close at all. Sameer, who found ways to steal kisses even in office did not look at her once since morning. In fact, he had even forgotten that he had to drop her while going.

"Pakka kuch hua hai office mein... mujhe jaana chahiye kya?" She pondered.

Next moment, Bela's face contorted with pain swam before her eyes.

"Iss waqt chachiji ko zaroorat hai meri... hamesha se unhone sabke liye kiya hi hai, pehli baar unhe aise haal mein dekha hai... nahi, unke paas hi jaana chahiye... Sameer sambhal sakta hai agar kuch parehsani hai bhi toh, aur fir uske paas Munshiji hain... chachiji ke paas toh koi nahi hai... agar chachaji reh sakte toh shayad woh humein batate bhi nahi ki woh log takleef mein hai par abhi unki bhi majboori hai." She convinced herself, swinging between the two options.

Instructing Ramdhari to prepare Sameer's favourite masala gobhi with few other things and telling him to send lunch on time, she quickly got dressed and left for Anand's house in a rickshaw.

"Naina, main koshish karunga aaj jaldi aane ki. Kal bohot der ho gayi thi na." Anand said with a guilty look in his eyes.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai, chachaji. Aap aaram se apna kaam kijiye... Sameer toh khud aana chahte the lekin office mein kaam thoda zyada hai." She assured him.

Fondly patting her head, Anand left for office.

Bela was still incapable of moving on her own, needing help everytime she had to get up from the bed. Soon, Naina was busy in the routine of her medicine, food and other requirements.

Sameer reached the factory to find a group of about ten people gathered at the gate. There was no way he could drive in through them. Parking at the side of the road, he walked towards them.

Munshiji came running to him, "Sir, aap andar jaiye, hum log dekh lenge yahan."

"Yeh bhi toh partner hain... inka farz banta hai mera saath dena... aakhir iss deal ke munaafe mein bhagidaar hain." Khurana's loud voice fell in their ears.

"Partner hun, Mr Khurana, lekin iss company ka maalik bhi hun... apni company ko nuksaan nahi pohocha sakta." Sameer said calmly.

"Oh, toh aapko lagta hai main nuksaan pohocha raha hun? Itne saalon se yahan kaam karta hun fir bhi aapko meri imaandaari pe bharosa nahi hai?" Khurana gave him a menacing look.

"Dekhiye, yeh baatein office mein baith ke ki jaayen toh behtar hoga." Munshiji tried to placate Khurana.

"Main bhi toh yehi keh raha hun... gate kholiye aur andar chaliye... aapne hi taala lagwa rakha hai." He sneered.

Sameer smiled at him, "Aapko apne office mein aane se kisi ne nahi roka, Mr Khurana... chaliye hum andar baith ke sab discuss kar lete hain... tab tak aap apne truck drivers ko kahiye thoda aaram kar lein."

Sensing some softening, Khurana accepted his suggestion.

The gates were opened and the cars drove inside the premises.

It was around 10:30 when Naina called. Sameer had disabled his direct number so she had to call the reception.

"Ma'am, abhi toh meeting chal rahi hai aur sir ne mana kiya hai koi bhi call dene ko... lekin aap kahein toh main unhe bata dun ki aapka phone hai?" The receptionist asked politely.

"Nahi, aap rehne dijiye... main baad mein call kar lungi." Naina didn't want to disturb him.

She received the same answer when she called around 12:30.

The discussion with Khurana was like talking to a stubborn child who was bent upon having his way. Munshiji and Sameer showed him the difference between the sample that was accepted by the buyer and the delivered product.

"Unnees bees ka shade ka farq ho gaya toh kya hua? Aapne poocha hai unse ki unhe yeh chalega ya nahi?" Khurana was adamant.

"Khurana ji, unees bees nahi hai yeh." Munshiji patiently placed both materials together to highlight their difference.

The arguments did not seem to bring any result till munshiji announced that the meeting had to be halted for lunch.

Naina panicked when Bela almost fainted. She called up the doctor who was at home in twenty minutes.

"Ab injection ke bina nahi chalega. Baar baar uthne baithne ki koshish ki wajah se inki haddi pe pressure aa raha hai... abhi dard ka injection de deti hun aur inko drip laga deti hun... aaj ek din khana pina ussi se hoga toh uthna nahi padega... kal tak inhe aaram aa jayega." Doctor advised.

Naina called up Anand. He told her to do as doctor suggested.

The phone started to ring when Naina was helping the doctor. She thought of ignoring the call but then, quickly went to answer it thinking that maybe Anand wanted to tell something.

"Hello Naina." Sameer's voice fell in her ears.

"Sameer, tum theek ho na? Koi problem toh nahi hai na?" She asked in a breathless voice.

"Haan Naina, theek hun." His assurance made her breathe out in relief.

"Achha suno Naina, yahan pe... " He started, planning to apprise her of the issue.

"Main tumse baad mein baat karti hun." She slammed the phone down as doctor called out to her.

Sameer looked at the instrument in hand, stunned at her reaction. He could understand that she was busy with chachiji but at least five minutes could be spared for him.

"Ek baar phone karke pooch toh sakti thi ki maine breakfast kiya ya nahi, khana khaya ya nahi... yahan main yeh soch ke usse subah kuch nahi bata raha tha ki woh pareshan na ho aur uske paas mere liye itna time bhi nahi hai." He banged a fist on the table, his face flushed with suppressed anger.

The turmoil in his mind did not bring to his notice that the food he was eating was his favourite.

By the time doctor left after giving the injection and making required arrangements for the drip, it was four in the afternoon. Bela had drifted off to sleep. Naina made another attempt to speak to Sameer, but was greeted with the same answer... that he was in a meeting and could not be interrupted.

"Ek baar baat ho jaati toh tasalli jo jaati mujhe, Sameer... pata nahi dil kyon itha ghabra raha hai." She wrenched her fingers in frustration, looking at the phone.

Her abrupt end to his call was gnawing at the back of her mind, making her uncomfortable... but there was no option at that time because doctor needed her help to place the set up for drip.

It was around seven in the evening that Anand reached home, followed by Preeti and Pandit.

"Kaisi hain mummy?" Preeti was frantic, running inside to check on her mom.

Anand and Pandit followed her. Bela was still sleeping.

"Doctor ne kaha hai aaj hilna dulna nahi hoga toh kal tak kaafi theek ho jayengi... khana bhi mana kiya hai... bas liquid de sakte hain jiske liye uthna na pade... maine soup bana diya hai chachiji ke liye aur aapke liye khana bhi taiyar hai." Naina explained to Anand.

"Maine kabhi mummy ko bimar nahi dekha." Preeti mumbled, fighting her tears.

"Kyonki tumhari mummy fighter hain... sirf mujhse hi nahi, har mushkil se lad sakti hai... dekhna, do teen din mein fir se chitrahar ke liye daudte hue ayegi kitchen se." Anand stroked her hair to comfort her.

Everyone laughed at the assumption, aware of Bela's love for filmy songs.

"Preeti, tum ghar jao... abhi abhi wapas aayi ho shaadi se... aaj aaram karo, main hun yahan Bela ke paas." Anand told Preeti after they had tea.

"Nahi papa, main mummy ke paas hi rahungi." Preeti insisted.

"Dekho, do din se Naina apna ghar, office sab chod ke yahan rehti hai din bhar... kal usko apna kaam dekhne dete hain aur tum aa jaana din mein... hum sab ko ek hi time pe yahan hona zaroori nahi hai... Bela ka dhyan rakhne ke liye humein apna khyal bhi rakha chahiye... isliye aaj tum jaake aaram karo aur kal subah aa jaana." Anand tried to convince her.

Pandit patted Preeti's hand, "Papaji theek keh rahe hain, Preeti... tum kal subah aa jaana."

She agreed reluctantly. Pandit offered to drop Naina home and they all left together.

Sameer had not yet reached.

"Nahi Naina bhabhi, koi phone nahi aaya... hum toh soch hi rahe the ki kya karein." Ramdhari  replied when she asked if there was any message from Sameer.

"Aap jaiye, Ramdhari bhaiya, bohot der ho gayi hai." She gave him a tired smile.

Though she was exhausted and hungry, she waited for Sameer. It was around nine when the sound of his car entering the gate reached her. Naina quickly went near the door as he walked in.

"Sameer, sab theek hai na? Itni der kaise ho gayi? Konsi meeting aa gayi achanak jo subah se itne busy ho ki phone bhi hata ke rakha tha apna?" She took his bag, letting out her barrage of questions.

The effort of keeping his temper in check with Khurana and the irritation of not being able to talk to her was already weighing on his mind. Her words felt like accusation... as if he was the reason for their lack of interaction.

"Achha, tumhare paas bohot time tha baat karne ka?" He said drily, looking over his shoulder.

She did not realise the edge in his voice, pouring a glass of water for him, "Haan, aaj din mein baat hi nahi ho paayi... woh chachiji ke liye doctor ko bulana pada, isliye mujhe... "

"Ab kaisi hain woh?" Sameer cut her sentence.

She held out the glass to him, smiling, "Doctor ne kaha hai kal tak kaafi theek ho jayengi."

He gulped down the water, placing the glass back, and walked to their room. She presumed his vexation was due to tiredness and hunger.

"Tum fresh hoke aa jao, main khana lagati hun." Calling out from behind, she turned towards the kitchen when his voice made her halt in tracks.

"Main kha kar aaya hun."

Munshiji had asked the peon to get some pao bhaji from outside around eight. They had an extremely gruelling and exhausting day and the altercation with Khurana had infuriated Sameer greatly. Munshiji had to force him to eat, saying that nanu would not have approved of this fasting on his part. And Sameer had given in.

As she put back the uneaten food in fridge, feeling a constriction in her throat, the extent of his indignation hit Naina.

She had to talk to him clearly.

Sameer had already changed and was half lying in bed when she reached the room.

"Sameer, kal main... " She started to tell him that she would come to office with him the next day.

"Main bohot thak gaya hun, Naina... tum bhi thaki hui hogi, saara din itni busy jo thi... so jao." He turned to the other side.

She was taken aback by his cold attitude.

Shifting close to him, she placed an arm on his shoulder, "Thak gaye ho toh sar mein tel laga dun? Tumhe achha lagega."

"Mujhe neend aa rahi hai, Naina... light off kardo." He was impassive.

For the first time since their marriage, Sameer slept in his t-shirt.

For the first time since their marriage, he had his back towards Naina when she laid down on bed.

For the first time since their marriage, she laid without the warmth of his arms around her.

The pillow was soaking wet with her tears by the time sleep overpowered her tired body and highly distressed mind.

Next update tomorrow evening