"Naina, main sach keh raha tha... agar tum office chalogi toh achha hoga... yaad hai, tumne chachaji se kaha tha tum mere saath dogi business mein bhi... ghar pe reh ke tum har baar meri problem door kar deti ho... agar office aane lagogi toh bohot faayda hoga humein." Sameer mentioned again while they were having breakfast.

"Mujhe kuch pata hi nahi hai tumhare business ke baare mein... aise mein office aane lagi toh sabko bura lagega ki bina kisi kabliyat ke unke beech aa gayi hun." Naina was apprehensive.

Sameer stopped eating, giving her a surprised look, "Kisko bura lagega... mujhe? Mere liye isse behtar kuch ho hi nahi sakta. Munshiji ko? Unhone khud kaha tha Naina ko office aana chahiye... tumne jo file banayi thi meeting wali usse dekhkar kaha tha. Aur kaun hai?"

"Sameer, itne saare log saalon se kaam kar rahe hain wahan... itna experience hai... main achanak kaise... " Naina tried to make him understand.

"Unke experience se zyada kaam aaya tumhara topper dimaag jab mujhe mushkil ho rahi thi... har baat ka hal hai tumhare paas... aur ek baar aane lagogi toh experience bhi aa jayega... sabhi log kahin na kahin se shuruaat karte hi hain na." He reasoned.

Naina twisted her lips, "Abhi toh main graduate tak nahi hun."

He laughed, "Main bhi nahi hun... par teen chaar din mein ho jayenge dono."

They both were eager for college results... Sameer's result. Naina had done well and she was sure she would be getting good marks. She was sure Sameer had performed well too. He had secured a rank in second year and she hoped he would maintain that. His preparations had been good... she was aware as they had studied together. Now she wanted was to see his name in the newspaper.

Sameer's day at office was hectic. He got submerged in work.

At home, Naina spent the morning in her writing. A lot was needed to be done as she had missed out during the wedding. But things were still in control as she had submitted a good chunk of episodes beforehand, knowing that she would hardly get time amidst celebrations.

After lunch, she thought about Sameer's proposal of joining office. She had no clue about running any business. Since theirs was not a business family, no discussion pertaining to this ever happened. The only knowledge she had was what she had learnt in college.

"Nanu ko shaouk tha kitabon ka. Unki library mein pakka aisi kitaaben hongi jinse main kuch seekh sakti hun." She remembered the huge library in the other part of the house.

The room that had been used was bigger than the living room, dining hall and kitchen combined. She had seen it in a fleeting glance earlier but now, as she saw the metal racks placed in a neat row, she could feel nanu's interest in written words.

There were shelves after shelves of different sized books. The titles varied from religious to historical to inspirational to various English and Hindi classics and much more. She was amazed to see the collection, having no idea till now that nanu was this fond of reading. For her, it was a gold mine. She had come to find some books on business but here was an entire world of knowledge. She decided to get a cup of tea before settling on the cosy couch with some interesting book.

"Naina bhabhi, ek baat puche?" Ramdhari asked hesitantly while cooking as she made tea for herself.

"Haan puchiye na, Ramdhari bhaiya... ghabra kyon rahe hain?" She urged.

"Aaj kya hum thoda jaldi jaa sakte hain? Khana banane ke baad?" His voice lowered in volume as he put up the demand.

"Bilkul jaiye... aur khana toh main bhi bana lungi agar aapko kuch kaam hai toh abhi chale jaiye." She smiled genially.

"Abhi toh woh aaya nahi hoga na." Ramdhari said as he chopped the vegetables.

"Kaun?" Naina turned towards him.

"Woh bhabhi, mera bhai hai na jo gaon se aaya tha... jis dukaan mein woh naukri karta hai unhone kaha hai ki agar woh typing seekh lega toh usse dukaan ke andar naukri de denge... aadvi paas hai na... padhna likhna jaanta hai... toh aaj main usse typing ke course mein dakhila dilwane le jaunga... yeh naukri mil gayi toh saara din bahar dhoop mein khada nahi rehna hoga aur paise bhi zyada milenge." Ramdhari said proudly.

"Yeh toh bohot achhi baat hai... aap leke jaiye usse." Naina was pleased.

Ramdhari happily started to do his work at a faster speed.

"Aapne kyon nahi ki padhai? Aisi naukri aapko bhi mil jaati toh achha hota." Naina asked.

"Ki hai na... humne toh dusvi paas ki hai... nanaji ne kaha padhna aur seekhna insaan ke liye sabse zaroori hota hai... unhone hi dakhila karwaya tha... woh hota hai na jis mein ghar pe kitaab aa jaati hai aur bas pareeksha ke liye jaana hota hai?" He explained.

"Achha... distance learning." She nodded in understanding.

"Jee, wohi... humne ussi se padhai ki... kuch samajh nahi aata tha toh nanaji padha dete the... second division aayi thi hamari... gaon mein itne number kisi ke nahi aaye jitne hamare aaye the dasvi mein." His shoulders squared up in pride.

"Arre waah, yeh toh bohot achhi baat hai... aapke ghar pe sab kitne khush hue honge." She praised genuinely.

"Khush hue... par kisi ne hamari tareef nahi ki... sabne nanaji ki hi ki... yahan tak ki humne bhi... aakhir unki wajah se hi toh hua yeh sab." He grinned, attributing everything to nanu.

Naina was again overwhelmed by nanu's goodness. If only he had not left so soon...

"Main aaj library mein jaa rahi hun... aapka kaam ho jaye toh aap chale jaana." She picked up her cup of tea, giving him the permission to go.

Sameer entered the gate when Ramdhari was leaving.

"Sameer bhaiya, aap aa gaye... Naina bhabhi library mein hain... hum aaj zara jaldi jaa rahe hain... aap kahein toh aapke liye chai bana de?" He asked.

"Nahi, tum jao... Naina ko bata diya na?" Sameer picked up his bag, refusing the offer of help from Ramdhari.

"Unse pehle hi poocha liya tha... abhi kaha nahi kyonki humein laga kuch padhne mein vyast hongi." He lowered his head.

"Achha kiya disturb nahi kiya... Naina ko kitabon se bohot pyar hai... bekar mein daant pad jaati tujhe." Sameer teased him.

Before Ramdhari could comprehend that he was pulling his leg, Sameer had gone inside.

"Yeh Sameer bhaiya bhi na... kabhi itne gusse mein rehte hain aur kabhi aise mazaak karte hain... inko nanaji ke baad ab Naina bhabhi hi sambhal sakti hain... lekin aajkal gussa nahi aata inko... bholenath, hamare Sameer bhaiya aur Naina bhabhi ko hamesha aise hi khush rakhna." Folding his hands, Ramdhari looked up at the sky before closing the gate behind him.

Sameer left his bag and tiffin on the table, going straight to the library. The door was open a crack. He peeked in. Naina was engrossed in a book. Seated on the couch, he could see her profile... legs folded under her, slightly hunched. Her eyes were glued to the pages as she held the book with one hand, other one resting on her cheek. He watched in fascination for a few minutes... she remained seated like a statue, concentrating on the words in front of her.

Stealthily he entered the room. Without making a sound, he reached her.

As Sameer leaned, with the intention to surprise her, his scent made her turn sharply.

Both were taken by surprise. In the confusion, the book slipped from her hand, and she stumbled back on the couch. Trying to prevent the fall, she clutched his shirt, and he fell over her.

Sameer stared at her tightly shut eyes. He could feel her shaky breath on his face. She was still clutching the front of his shirt.

"Pehle se hi expert ho, aur kya seekh rahi ho?" His amused voice made her open her eyes.

"Tum... tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" She uttered, his comment not registering.

"Dekhne aaya tha meri biwi ko aisa kya janna hai jo usse ab tak nahi aata." He tucked a strand behind her ear, comfortable in his position.

"Kya bol rahe ho, Sameer... utho toh sahi." She wriggled, eying him in daze.

He made her sit up along with him, keeping an arm around her waist.

"Ab bolo, kya seekhna hai tumhe?" His voice was heavier, as he kept her face right in front of him, their noses touching.

"Mu... mujhe kya seekhna hoga?" She shuddered at his deep voice.

"Naina, mujhe yaad hai ek baar tum apne sawalon ke jawaab dhoondne city library gayi thi... waise toh main tumhe tab bhi saare jawab de deta par shayad tum sharma jaati... lekin ab aisa kya hai jo tum mujhse nahi pooch sakti?" He looked deeply into her eyes.

When the meaning of his words finally became clear to her, the clouds of confusion gave way to mortification. He watched as her cheeks flamed up instantly.

"Hato." Pushing him, she ran towards the racks, hiding herself behind the shelves of books.

Not prepared for this sudden jolt, Sameer lunged after her but could not catch her.

"Naina, ab chupo mat please... subah se intezar kar raha tha kab ghar aaunga aur apni khoobsurat biwi ko dekhunga... ek tum ho ki na yaad karti ho, na miss karti ho, na paas aati ho." He brooded loudly.

"Dheere bolo, Ramdhari ko sun jayega." Her soft voice reached him from other side of the room.

He recalled that Ramdhari had not informed her about his leaving. Smirking, he decided to make use of her ignorance.

"Kitna tang kar rahi ho, Naina... aisa koi karta hai kya apne pati ke saath?" His voice was a few decibels higher.

"Sameer, kya bol rahe ho? Sunega toh pata nahi kya sochega." Her voice was urgent, but she didn't come out.

"Achha, toh ab tum saamne bhi nahi aaogi?" He was loud again.

"Dekhna hai toh pehle dhoond ke dikhao." He could hear her chuckle.

"Nainaaaa." He was exasperated.

"Kya hua? Mr Maheshwari thak gaye?" It was her turn to tease.

"Yeh toh tumhe tabhi pata chalega jab tum saamne aaogi... Naina, main bata raha hun... anjaam achha nahi hoga... fir mat kehna." He threatened.

"Oho, main toh darr gayi." Her laughter filled up the room, "Pehle dhoond ke toh dikhao."

Sameer stood with hands on waist, then turned and walked to the door. She watched from her hiding place, suddenly worried that he might have got annoyed.

She was about to come out to pacify him when he shut the door, secured the latch and turned.

"Aa raha hun, Naina... ab iss kamre se kuch ghanto tak toh bahar nahi jaane wali tum." His voice conveyed his intentions clearly.

She knew he meant every word of it.

Sameer started moving around the racks, taking slow steps. Naina kept dodging him. Unknown to him, she was checking his movement by peeking through the books on lower shelves. After a few rounds, he started to get frustrated.

"Yeh nanu ko itne saare shelf rakhne ki kya zaroorat thi... zyada kitaaben thi toh diwar ke saath cabinet banwa dete... college ki library jaise bana diya yahan bhi." He muttered.

Naina stifled a smile from the rack next to him.

After another failed attempt, Sameer looked up, scrunching his nose, "Kya bhagwan ji, har library ka kaam meri Naina ko mujhse door karna hai kya?"

He could hear her faint chuckle. Taking two steps back very slowly, he pulled out few books from the shelf.

And there she was... looking up at something.

"Hi jaan." He said softly.

She gasped, shooting him an alarmed look.

"Dekha, dhoond liya na." He winked.

"Lekin pakda toh nahi." She winked back.

He quickly went around the rack but she was gone.

He pursed his lips.

"Achoo."

"Sameer, kya hua? Zukaam hua kya tumhe? Cheenk kyon aayi?" She was next to him in an instant.

He grabbed her in a firm grip, "Pakad bhi liya."

"Haww, cheating ki tumne." She huffed, realizing that he had faked a sneeze.

"Haan, ki cheating... ab uski sazaa dogi ya jeetne ka inaam?" He tightened his arms around her.

"Dono."

Her lips were on him before he could blink.

There was nothing soft or slow about the kiss. Though she had started it, he held her head, tilting it to take the control in no time. His mouth plundered hers, as if he had been starving for days. She clutched his hair hard, kissing back ardently, as if she was parched too. Filling herself with his taste, she arched back, moulding against him completely. His hand went down her spine, presssing into the small of her back, sending a tingling sensation all over her. His lips skimmed down her throat, planting feverish kisses. When his hand slipped from behind her head to the zipper, she gasped.

"Sam... Sameer, yahan nahi." Her breathless voice made him look up.

"Kyon?" He asked with a frown.

"Lib... library hai." She stated the obvious.

"Toh?" He quirked up a brow.

She gave a confounded look.

"Hamara ghar, hamare rules." He said in a gruff voice before taking her for another kiss.

The not so narrow couch creaked under their fervent, intense expression of love for each other as they etched another beautiful memory in a new place.

With this, we complete 450 chapters today 😊

Looong journey, must say... and I'm exhausted 😋

So, as a celebration, I need a leave... can I take one on Sunday?