Sorry to announce that I won't be able to give any update till Sunday

It was midnight when Naina finally heated up the dinner.

"Khana tak nahi diya tumne time pe... Naina, yeh galat baat hai... tumhara pati poore din ke baad office se aaya aur tumne usse dinner tak nahi khilaya." Sameer brooded as he rested against the kitchen counter, his arms crossed.

She stopped arranging the food on plates, turning to look at him, hands on waist.

"Maine kaha tha khana khane ko." She said defensively.

"Acha? Par khilaya toh nahi... kyon?" Sameer flicked his brows.

Her cheeks turned hot, a tint of colour spreading all over.

"Bolo... abhi tak kyon nahi khilaya?" He took a few steps towards her.

"Naina... bolo na." He was in front of her now, speaking in a low voice.

"Sameer, please ab chup karke kha lo." She managed to utter, shifting to her side, colour on her face getting deeper.

His arm came around her waist, making her turn towards him.

"Kha lunga, pehle batao abhi tak kyon nahi khilaya?" He was stuck on the same question.

Her eyes went wide, "Tumne hi toh..."

She stopped abruptly. What could she say... and why was he making her say anything at all? It wasn't as if she had delayed dinner on purpose. He was the one who had carried her in his arms to the room. He wasn't ready to wait till after dinner. Her eyes lowered as she recalled their moments from sometime back.

"Kal ki Naina aur aaj ki Naina mein kitna farq hai... tum kabhi itna sharmati ho aur kabhi achanak se mere hosh udda deti ho... mujhe samajh hi nahi aata yeh wali chui mui si Naina asli hai ya kal jaise sherni wali." He grazed her cheek with his knuckles.

She lowered her eyes, wishing he had worn a t-shirt, instead of standing here only in his bottoms. The heat from his bare torso was seeping through her thin night top, tingling her skin.

"Mujhe tumhare chehre pe jo yeh laal rang bikhar jaata hai na, yeh bohot achha lagta hai... lekin jab tum mujhe yeh neela rang deti ho tab bhi main pagal ho jaata hun." He placed her palm on the dark blue mark over his heart that she had given him the previous night.

Her eyes darted to the place he was mentioning.

His fingers pushed the neckline of her top aside, revealing the spot where he had marked her, "Aur tumpe jab ye apna diya hua rang dekhta hun toh dil mein toofan hi aa jaata hai."

She looked up at him. His eyes were soft, focussed on her face.

"Yeh tumhare gaalon ka laal rang ho ya tumhari woh laal nighty, yeh neela nishan ho ya kal wali blue nighty, tumhare yeh gulabi honth ho ya jo main laya tha woh pink nighty... har rang ki yaad ke saath tumne itne khoobsurat lamhe jod diye hain ki jab bhi inn rangon ka koi naam leta hai mujhe bas tum nazar aati ho." He simultaneously touched each part that he was mentioning, making her shudder with each comparison.

Her face turned a few shades darker.

"Naya rang aane laga hai ab tumhare chehre pe... lagta hai kuch nayi nighty lene ka time aa gaya hai." His tone turned teasing.

"Tumhe koi aur baat nahi aati kya? Chalo khaana khao nahi toh fir se thanda ho jayega." She wriggled in his hold, desperate to bring some distance between them.

"Aati hain na aur baatein... uss silver nighty ki... jo tumne Ooty mein peheni thi... ussi rang ki bijli chamak gayi thi meri aankhon ke saamne uss din... kyon na ek baar fir se woh juice try karein?" He tightened his hold, plastering her against his chest.

Her heart jumped to her mouth at the memories of that night. Closing her eyes, she tried to block the images that came rushing to her mind.

"Dekha, tum bhi kho gayi na unhi khyaalon mein... achha toh tumhe bhi laga tha woh juice." He teased again.

"Sameer, hum Ahmedabad mein hain... tumhe pata hai na yahan yeh sab nahi milta." She tried to put an end to this conversation as her throat went dry with his teasing.

"Matlab milta hota toh tumhe koi aitraz nahi tha?" He was quick to mould her remark.

She pursed her lips, hoping she was able to give an angry glare without letting her jumbled emotions show.

"Wow Naina, fir tum tension mat lo... nanu ka stock hai unki almari mein... unke paas licence tha isliye rakhte the... kabhi kabhi pi lete the... unhe shouk tha... abhi bhi woh bottles wahin rakhi hain... bolo, leke aaun?" His eyes brightened instantly.

She gave him a shocked look, "Tum aise ghar mein peene ki baat kar rahe ho? Sameer, pagal ho gaye ho kya?"

A spurt of laughter escaped him, "Shakal dekho apni... mazaak kar raha hun... maine toh khud uss almari ko khol ke bhi nahi dekha jabse shaadi hui hai."

"Matlab usse pehle dekha tha?" She narrowed her eyes.

His slip was caught.

"Woh... bas ek do baar... jab Munna Pandit the yahan... bohot kam... main toh pi hi nahi sakta... ekdum se chadh jaati hai... bas unke liye... " He gave a sheepish smile.

She stared at him without speaking.

"Sachhi Naina, maine bohot thodi si pi thi." He pinched his throat, rounding his eyes.

When she did not speak, he quickly held one ear, pressing his lips hard.

A smile spread on her lips, "Ab peena ho gaya ho toh khane ki baat karein?"

"Aaj yahin khate hain." He picked up the plates and placed them on the adjacent counter that was clear.

In a swift motion, he lifted her from the waist and placed her on the side, himself perching up on the other side of the plates.

"Hostel mein kabhi kabhi kitchen se khaana churane jaate the toh woh sabse darawani jagah lagti thi... itne saare bartan, dabbe... ek haath hilao aur kuch girne ka khatra... tab sochta tha hostel se nikalne ke baad main kabhi aisi jagah kadam bhi nahi rakhunga... aur ab... " His eyes were shining again.

"Ab?" She blurted before she could think.

The same crooked smile was back on his face, "Ab tumhare saath itne khoobsurat lamhe guzar liye kitchen mein... chahe woh ye wala ho ya chachaji ke ghar ka... ya fir Swati ke ghar ka... ki mujhe kitchen bhi khoobsurat lagne laga hai."

She nibbled a cucumber, reminiscing about the day when she had met him after a gap of three days at Swati's house during their college vacations.

"Nainital ka tumhe kuch bhi pasand nahi kya?" She asked suddenly, a little later.

His mouth pressed into a grim line, "Nainital woh jagah thi, Naina, jisne mujhse mummy ko cheen liya tha... uss waqt jab mujhe unke siwa aur kuch nahi chahiye tha... ussi jagah pe maine apne saare darr jiye hain... ussi jagah ne mere dil ko ek sakht deewaar mein band kar diya tha... ussi jagah ne mujhe bhi pathar bana diya tha."

She leaned, putting her hand on his clenched fist, "Lekin woh sab toh peeche choot gaya na, Sameer."

Her touch was enough to bring him back to his beautiful present. Her glowing face had brightened all corners of his heart, her warm smile had broken the shell he had built around himself, her touch had melted his cold emotions, her shining eyes had cleared all cobwebs of bad memories.

This small, petite, soft spoken girl had turned his life upside down... making him the luckiest person from the hapless soul that he considered himself.

"Kabhi kabhi soch ke darr jaata hun ki agar main Nainital se wapas nahi aata toh? Agar maine uss din St. Xavier's mein admission le liya hota toh? Agar Munna Pandit tumhare section mein na hoke meri hi class mein hote toh?" His voice trembled as he thought of his life had he not met her.

"Jo hua nahi uske baare mein kyon sochte ho? Hamari kismat mein milna tha isliye hum mile... aur ab hamesha ke liye hamari kismat judd gayi hai ek doosre ke saath." She placed a hand on his cheek.

He nodded, smiling.

"Ek baat bolun... gussa mat hona." She gave him an apprehensive look.

He raised a quizzical brow, wondering what she wanted to say that could annoy him.

"Kya tum mujhe Nainital leke chaloge?" Her quiet voice stunned him.

He gaped at her.

"Main nahi chahti tumhare dil mein koi dard rahe... jaise kitchen ke khoobsurat lamho ne tumhe usse jude bure khyalon se alag kar diya aise hi Nainital se jude dard ko bhi main wahan ke yaadgaar lamhon se mita dena chahti hun... woh saari jagah jahan tum dukhi hote the wahan hum apne pyar ka rang bikher denge." She said softly.

And he could see what she wanted. He nodded again. With her by his side, he could do it.

The night was more peaceful for him as she snuggled into his arms, placing her head on his shoulder.

Morning was abuzz with activity in Aggarwal house. Bela was busy in the kitchen. Anand was in his room, talking on phone about the arrangements for evening sagai function. Preeti was ironing her clothes in her room. Phulla bua sat in the living room with Rakesh, finalising the places of stay for guests who would be arriving soon.

"Teri baat hui kya uss kaam ke baare mein? Kuch baat bani?" Phulla bua asked tauji the moment he entered.

He sat down on the sofa, "Baat ki hai maine... paise theek hi de rahe hain... bas yeh hai ki Mumbai jaake rehna padega."

"Toh usmein kya hai? Mumbai mein log nahi rehte kya? Main bhi toh rehti hun." Phulla bua shrugged.

"Haan par yahan ka basa basaya ghar chod ke... kaise achanak se uthke chalen jaaye?" Tauji seemed to be in a dilemma.

"Dekh Naresh, yeh ek achha mauka hai... Sharma ji bohot badi company ke maalik hain... ek baar unke office mein jaane lagega toh Mumbai ke jaane maane logon se pehchan ho jayegi... aur ghar wahan bhi bas jayega... aakhir teri biwi aur bachha saath honge na." Phulla bua explained.

The idea of getting into the elite circle of Mumbai business world sounded lucrative to him. Though his wife had adviced him that staying in Ahmedabad was far better as they could save a lot of money by eating at Anand's house most of the times and borrow almost anything from them... but these things appeared trivial in front of what he could gain if he started mixing with well known people in Mumbai.

"Theek keh rahi hain aap, buaji... mujhe bhi lagta hai mujhe unka prastaav maan lena chahiye... lekin woh agle mahine ki ek tareekh se aane ke liye keh rahe hain." Tauji wasn't sure it was possible.

Phulla bua relaxed back on the sofa, "Achhi baat hai... tujhe yahan ka sab kaam khatam karne ke liye kuch din bhi mil jayenge aur shaadi se wapas jaake main ghar ki baat bhi kar lungi... agar woh ghar ho jaata hai toh hum dono ke liye hi faayda hoga... tum log bhi akele nahi padoge aur mujhe bhi kisi ka saath mil jayega... iss umar mein kya pata kab tabiyat kharab ho jaye... aise mein koi parivaar wala aas paas ho toh tasalli rehti hai."

"Aisa kyon keh rahi hain, buaji? Aap theek toh hain na?" Bela heard her as she came out of the kitchen with cups of tea.

Phulla bua waved her hand, "Arre, bilkul theek hun... mujhe kya hoga... bas ek baat keh rahi thi."

Bela looked relieved as she handed the tea to her.

"Lekin tere liye ek dukh ki baat hai." Phulla bua took a sip, giving her a deep look.

Bela was instantly anxious, "Kyon? Aisa kya hua? Koi mushkil aa gayi hai kya? Tent wale toh aa rahe hain na... aur mithai... he bhagwan, Pandit ke ghar pe toh sab theek hai na?"

"Oho Bela, kahan pohoch jaati hai... shaadi ki koi baat nahi hai... bas teri jethani ka saath shayad na mile tujhe ab."

Bela looked at tauji, "Aap log kahin jaa rahe hain kya, bhaisahab?"

"Abhi pakka nahi kiya hai... dekhte hain." He replied without divulging in any details, all his attention on the newspaper he was holding.

Bela looked at buaji for some answers. She blinked in assurance, showing her palm to indicate that she would tell later.

When Sameer and Naina reached chachaji's house, everyone had just finished breakfast.

"Sameer, Naina, tum log bhi pehle naashta kar lo." Anand patted Sameer's back as he touched his feet.

"Hum abhi kar ke aaye hain, chachaji." Naina replied.

"Shabaash beta, achhe se dhyan rakha kar apne dono ke khaane, peene ka." Bela came out, wiping her hands on the pallu.

"Bohot achhe se rakhti hai, chachiji... hamesha time pe hi khana khilati hai... chahe kuch bhi ho jaaye." Sameer said with a drawl, giving a side glance to his wife.

Naina, who had almost reached Preeti's door, turned sharply, drawing in a breath at his teasing in front of the entire family.

Bela flashed a bright smile, "Haan, woh toh hai... Naina sabka dhyan rakhti hai."

"Behen, mujhe aisa kyon lag raha hai ki jijaji koi aur hi dhun baja rahe hain... baaki sabke chitrahar se alag." Preeti whispered in Naina's ear from behind.

She had just stepped out, hearing the conversation outside.

Naina swatted her arm, gritting her teeth as Sameer gave a sly grin.

Frowning, she held Preeti's hand and went inside.

"Kuch khaas ishare de rahe the kya hamare Romeo jijaji?" Preeti nudged her once they were inside.

"Tu apne jijaji ki nahi mere jijaji ki fiqr kar... aaj teri sagai hai." Naina tried to hide her flushed cheeks.

Still upset over no upcoming updates?

Hehe... April Fool 😛

Next update tomorrow morning