When Munna called up in the evening, it was a snatching game between all of them because each one wanted to talk to him.

Pandit got a chance as he ran away with the cordless, "Yaar Munna, itna kaam toh paida hua tabse ab tak nahi kiya tune jitna do mahine se kar raha hai. Yeh kya baat hui... iss waqt pe tujhe apne doston ke saath hona chahiye tha na."

Munna laughed at the other end, "Abe bol toh aise raha hai jaise tu aur Sameer bachhe paida karne wale ho."

Pandit made a solemn face, "Hamare liye bhi kam mushkil wala waqt nahi hai, bhai. Aadhe time baatein samajh nahi aati, aadhe time biwi samajh nahi aati."

Munna chuckled again, "Teri samajh mein toh kabhi bhi kuch nahi aaya. Sameer se jab bhi baat hui hai usne koi shikayat nahi ki. Balki woh hamesha khush hi rehta hai."

Pandit glanced at Sameer, talking to Preeti, and sighed, "Woh toh meri mummy jaisi baatein karne laga hai. Lagta hai papa nahi dadi banne wala hai."

Munna doubled up at the other end, holding his stomach, "Dadi? Pandit, tere dimag mein aisi baat aati kahan se hai? Har baat ko samose ki tarah tal deta hai."

Pandit cried out, "Samose ki yaad mat dila. Mahino ho gaaye hain khaye."

This indeed was shocking for Munna, "Kyon? Samosa nahi khaya tune yeh kaise ho gaya?"

Pandit perched on the window sill sadly, "Duniya jahan ki saari cheezen chod ke Preeti ko samose se hi takleef ho gayi. Mehek bhi bardaasht nahi hoti. Mummy ne kaha jab tak baby aa nahi jaata na samosa ghar mein ayega aur na bahar jaake kahin kha sakta hun."

Before Pandit could get some sympathy from Munna, Preeti snatched the phone from behind, "Achha, meri burai ho rahi hai... abhi tumhare karnaame bhi bata dun jijaji ko?"

Speaking into the phone, she lashed out at Munna, "Kya jijaji, yeh bhi koi time tha naya kaam shuru karne ka. Karna hi tha toh yahan pe karte na jisse hum sab saath rehte. Pata hai Swati ko kitni yaad aati hai aapki."

Munna smiled at this affectionate rebuke, "Agar mere haath mein hota toh main ek din ke liye bhi Swati ko chod ke na jaata. Par kya karun, yeh kaam bhi zaroori hai. Lekin tum sab ho na uske saath toh mujhe tasalli hai."

After Preeti, Sameer and Naina also talked to Munna before giving the phone to Swati. Munna assured her that he would definitely come soon when she showed annoyance at his absence this time.

After the call, Swati conveyed to them that he would be coming next weekend so they all could get together again.

"Swati, tujhe akelapan lagta hoga na? Munna ke saath kyon nahi gayi?" Preeti asked when she saw the forlorn look in Swati's eyes.

Swati smiled, "Munna wahan apni buaji ke ghar reh raha hai. Main nahi chahti thi hum dono jaake itne din wahan rahein. Aur fir yahan mummyji aur papaji akele ho jaate. Munna ki kami toh mehsoos hoti hai Preeti lekin mummyji bohot dhyan rakhti hain mera. Baatein karti hain, hum saath mein ghoomne bhi jaate hain, shopping karte hain, chat khate hain. Unhone mujhe kitni saari nayi nayi cheezen banani sikhayi hain. Papaji bhi roz subah jaate waqt poochte hain ki mujhe kuch chahiye toh woh shaam ko le ayenge. Mummy ke paas chali jaati hun, uspe koi rok tok nahi hai. Ekdum apne ghar jaisa hi lagta hai yahan. Isliye ab apne ghar ko chod ke jaane ka mann nahi karta. Bohot pyar milta hai mujhe."

All her friends were glad that she was so comfortable.

Preeti declared loudly, "Bas fir toh tera haal bhi mere jaisa hone wala hai."

Swati, along with others, gave her a puzzled look.

Preeti looked at the questioning eyes, "Mera matlab tha abhi se itna pyar milta hai toh jab iska number aayega tab sab log bas iski hi fiqr karenge raat din... jaise mere ghar pe meri hoti hai."

Pandit nodded at Swati, "Yeh baat toh hai, bhabhi. Mere ghar wale pehle se hi meri qadar nahi karte the ab toh lagta hai main ghar mein hun hi nahi."

Preeti made a face at him, "Haan toh tum hote bhi nahi ho zyadatar."

Pandit scrunched his nose at her, "Kaam pe sabhi jaate hain, Preeti... papa, Sameer, Munna... tum bhi toh parlour jaati ho. Lekin wapas aane pe mummy papa sirf tumhare aage peeche ghoomne lagte hain, mujhe koi bhaav hi nahi deta. Aisa lagta hai jaise main kaam se nahi jail se bhaag ke aaya hun."

Preeti smacked his arm, smirking, "Itni jalan bhi theek nahi hai. Mummyji tumhara bhi toh khyal rakhti hain."

He sighed, looking at Naina, "Bhabhi, iski baat mat suno. Mera itna sa khyal hota hai ki mujhe khana mil jaata hai. Lekin Preeti ke liye saara din kuch na kuch karti rehti hain... uski pasand ke pakode, uski marzi ka khana, kabhi juice, kabhi mithai, ek se ek badhiya cheezen, kabhi uske baalon mein tel lagati hain, kabhi uske saath garden mein sair karti hain... aur haan, jo saara time batati rehti hain ki iss haalat mein kya karna chahiye kya nahi, woh alag hai. Itni training toh papa ne mujhe kaam shuru karne se pehle bhi nahi di."

Preeti pinched his cheek before turning to others with a proud smile, "Pandit ka yeh rona kabhi khatam nahi hoga ki mummyji papaji mujhe zyada pyar karte hain. Ab main hun hi aisi toh kya karein."

Pandit looped an arm around her shoulder, his sullen expression changing to a tender one instantly, "Tum ho hi aisi ismein koi shaq nahi hai... sirf woh hi nahi, main bhi tumse sabse zyada pyar karta hun."

Preeti blushed, biting her lip at his open declaration in front of everyone.

Naina smiled fondly at her sister, "Meri behen hamesha se sabse special hai."

They carried on their talks over lunch where Swati told about her in laws and their affection for her, how they tried to make her feel at ease in the house and readily agreed to make certain changes in their lifestyle at her suggestion. They even urged her to go with Munna but she, along with Munna, decided to stay back, not wanting to leave them alone. Preeti also mentioned her family, talking about how she was pampered during the initial days of pregnancy, since she had a lot of nausea... how her mother in law forbade all those things in the house that made her throw up... how she finished cooking while Preeti was in the parlour so that the smell didn't bother her. Pandit kept cribbing about the lack of samosa in his life.

They all left after an early dinner. Sameer asked Ramdhari to clear up everything before leaving, not allowing Naina to do any work as she had already been sitting for too long. He accompanied her to the room. She decided to take a shower before changing into her night suit.

When she came out after bath, she was surprised to see Sameer sitting quietly on the bed. Clutching the pillow, he seemed to be lost somewhere. After spending the whole day with friends, he would have immediately come to her at the first chance but he was in some deep thought, it appeared.

"Kya hua, Sameer? Sab theek hai na? Achanak itne chup kyon ho gaye?" She lowered herself carefully on the bed.

He turned to look at her, shifting quickly to help her sit after putting a pillow against headboard. She settled comfortably before looking at him again. His eyes seemed to be clouded with melancholy.

She cupped his face with one hand, "Kuch hua hai kya?"

He pursed his lips, lowering his head. When he looked up again, there was wetness in his eyes.

"Naina, tumhara bhi dil karta hoga na ki Preeti aur Swati ki tarah ghar ke bade tumhara khyal rakhe, tumhari dekhbhal karein, tumhe samjhayein, kuch kuch banake khilaye... lekin iss ghar mein aisa kuch nahi hai. Yahan koi nahi hai jo tumhe aisa pyar de, aisa apnapan dikhaye. Main yeh kami poori nahi kar paaya... tumhe yeh khushi nahi de paaya." His voice was remorseful.

She was aghast. When Preeti and Swati were telling about the pampering from their in laws, not even for a single moment did it occur to her that she was missing out on anything. Sameer had showered so much of love and had taken such care of her that there was no place left for any more wants. She was happy for her friends, but their talks did not make her feel deprived in any manner.

Holding his hand, she gave him an anxious look, "Yeh kya keh rahe ho, Sameer? Tumhe lagta hai mujhe kisi cheez ki kami hai? Mujhe tumse itna pyar mila hai ki kami shabd ki jagah hi nahi bachi zindagi mein. Tumhare pyar ke alava mujhe kuch nahi chahiye. Preeti aur Swati ki baatein sunkar main khush hui thi unke liye lekin kabhi aisa nahi mehsoos hua ki mere paas yeh sab kyon nahi hai. Kyonki mere paas tum ho... mere sab kuch. Kabhi tum ek saas ki tarah mujhe samjhate ho, kabhi ek sasur ki tarah meri farmaish poori karte ho, kabhi ek dewar ki tarah mujhse baatein karte ho, kabhi nanad ki tarah mujhe chedte ho. Sameer, tumhare saath mujhe har rishte ka ahsaas hota hai. Mujhe kisi aur ki zaroorat nahi hai. Iss ghar mein mujhe dher saara apnapan mila hai. Nanu khud nahi hain lekin unki tasveer, unki chitthi, unki di hui chain, saree... yeh sab iss baat ka ahsaas dilate hain ki unhone mujhe tab se apna liya tha jab main aur tum mile bhi nahi the. Ramdhari chahe sirf yahan kaam karta hai lekin ek parivar ke sadasya se kisi tarah kam nahi hai. Jaise woh mere khane pine ka khyal rakhta hai, yahan tak ki theek se na khane par bhooke rehne ki dhamki deta hai, mujhe kabhi laga hi nahi ki woh hamara apna nahi hai. Aur tum... tumne mere har sapne ko poora kiya hai, jo maine dekhe tak nahi the unhe bhi. Yeh ghar mere liye itna apna hai jitna pehle kabhi kuch nahi tha... kyonki yeh mera aur tumhara ghar hai... hamara ghar hai. Iske har kone mein, har deewar mein nanu ka aashirvad hai. Jaise nanu tumhare liye mummy the, waise hi mere liye tum ho... mera har rishta tumse hai, mera parivar bhi tum ho, pyar bhi. Mujhe koi kami nahi hai. Bhagwan ji ne tumhe deke meri har kami poori kar di."

He exhaled sadly, "Lekin fir bhi, Naina. Unke paas bhi toh Munna Pandit hain. Dono hi mere jaise khyal rakhne wale pati hain. Preeti aur Swati ko jo pyar mil raha hai waisa toh tumhe nahi mil paaya na kyonki..."

She placed a finger on his lips, "Mujhe jo mila hai uska naap tol mat karo, Sameer. Kyonki jitna mujhe mila hai utna toh shayad kisi ko na mila ho. Tum paas ho toh mujhse zyada ameer koi nahi hai... aisa kaha tha na tumne ek baar... mere liye bhi tumhara saath sabse badi daulat hai. Agar tum hisaab lagane jaoge toh pata chalega ki mujhe kisi aur ke dekhke kabhi kami ka ahsaas nahi hoga, lekin mujhe dekhke mujh jaisi kismat bohot si ladkiyan paana chahengi."

He swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling relieved. Ever since he had heard those talks, it was burdening his mind but her sincere words gave him a feeling of peace.  Sitting next to her, he drew her against himself, dropping a kiss on her head.

"Naina, kya duniya mein koi tumse achha hai?" His voice was calm.

She brought their linked hand to her lips, placing a soft kiss before speaking, "Hai na... tum."

Next update tomorrow evening