Ramdhari was to sleep in the room behind the kitchen. After clearing up everything, he came to the living room, halting for a moment to admire the scene. He could see the heads of three people. Vishakha was sitting in the center. Sameer had his head resting on her shoulder as he sat on one side of her. Naina was on the other side, facing both of them, talking animatedly... with a big smile on her face.

Ramdhari looked at nanu's picture. He was sure nanu must be so contended to see this perfect family scene, as he watched over his children from above. He looked up, folding his hands to thank whichever God had got this miracle to happen.

Wiping his eyes, he called out, "Malkin, aapko kuch chahiye toh hum bana dein?"

Naina turned to look at him. Vishakha couldn't move as Sameer did not lift up his head from her shoulder. Naina looked back at her, then Sameer. Ramdhari could not hear what they said.

"Nahi, Ramdhari bhaiya, aap jaake so jaiye... humein kuch nahi chahiye." She smiled at him.

Dipping his head, he walked back to his room.

"Sameer, sach mein tumne Naina ke papa ke scooter ki light khelte hue hi todi thi na? Kahin gusse mein jaan bujh ke toh nahi shot maara tha?" Vishakha laughed again at the school time incident Naina had just narrated.

"Jaan bujh ke toh main poora ka poora scooter todna chahta tha." Sameer muttered.

"Poora scooter? Kyon?" Vishakha's shocked voice made him realise he had spoken right next to her ear... she had heard it.

"Woh... woh... matlab... main keh raha tha main kaunsa poora scooter todna chahta tha." He straightened, looking at his mother, then at Naina.

Both women could see the guilty look on his face. And he could see that they had not bought his lie.

With a loud exhale, he shrugged, "Achha theek hai, todna chahta tha... par kya karta... woh papaji... matlab Rakesh sir... "

Naina could not suppress her laugh.

He pursed his lips, "Ab papaji bol ke toh burai nahi kar sakta na, Naina... school mein jo bhi woh karte the, woh sab main Rakesh sir bolke bata raha hun warna toh main... "

"Warna kya?" Vishakha arched up her brow when he stopped mid sentence.

He scratched his head, lowering his voice, "Hum unhe school mein safari suit bulate the."

Vishakha widened her eyes, "Sameer?"

He quickly pinched his throat, "I swear mummy, maine nahi rakha tha yeh naam... pehle se hi sab bulate the... maine toh Munna Pandit se suna tha."

She looked at Naina. There was no annoyance or accusation in her eyes. She was rather looking lovingly at Sameer.

Turning towards him, she smiled, "Achha batao, kya burai karni hai apne sasurji ki."

"Mummy, school mein woh itne gusse wale the... bas chillate rehte the... har time... har kisi pe... lagta tha normal baat karma toh unhe aata hi nahi." Sameer folded his one leg under him, facing Vishakha as he excitedly started sharing school incidents.

"Oh, toh tum school ke saare bachhon ke liye bura feel karte the isliye scooter todna chahte the?" Vishakha summed up, giving him a slanting glance.

She saw both of them exchange a look... their eyes held each other's gaze a for a few seconds... lost.

She coughed, lowering her eyes.

Naina quickly averted her gaze while Sameer looked back at his mother.

"Naina... woh Naina ko itna gussa karte the isliye. Mujhe achha nahi lagta tha jab woh sabke saamne usse kuch bhi bol dete the. School ke saare teachers Naina ki hamesha tareef karte the... woh thi hi tareef ke kabil... sabse achhe marks, sabse achha discipline, sabse achha behavior, jo bolta tha ussi ki help kar deti thi, har competition mein school ke liye trophy laati thi, aur sirf padhai mein hi nahi, dance mein bhi first aati thi, sabse itne pyaar se baat karti thi... "

He stopped.

His mother was looking at him with a slight curve of her mouth... Naina was scrunching her nose, slightly shaking her head... her cheeks turned scarlet because of his blatant adulation.

"Umm... woh isliye bata raha tha ki Naina aisi thi ki koi bhi usse gussa nahi ho sakta tha par Rakesh sir hote the." Sameer ended his sentence without looking up.

Vishakha pinched his cheek, "Mera beta toh pagal ho gaya tha Naina ke pyar mein."

Naina coloured even more.

Sameer looked at her with mischief in his eyes, "Pagal sirf main nahi, Naina bhi thi."

She threw a cushion at him, which he deftly caught.

Vishakha pulled both of them against her chest, "Hamesha aise hi pagal rehna."

They looked at each other, their faces close... and linked their hands over Vishakha's knees, speaking together, "Rahenge... hamesha."

When Naina insisted a little later to tell about Sameer as a kid, a wave of sadness passed on Vishakha's face. She had hardly spent any time with him to have any interesting stories to tell... she had not seen him grow up at all.

"Bataiye na, mummy... do saal ke Sameer ne toh aapko bohot tang kiya hoga... Pooja didi ka Golu itna badmaash tha jab do saal ka tha." Naina tugged at her arm, taking her to the time she could associate with Sameer's childhood.

The remorse on Vishakha's face was replaced by tenderness as she reminisced about that time, "Do saal ka Sameer itna pyara tha... masoom bhi aur sharaarti bhi... itna tang karta tha ki gussa aata tha, fir aise bholepan se muskura deta tha ki bas usse kas ke god mein le lene ka mann karta tha... har cheez utha ke phenk deta tha, aur jab woh toot jaati thi toh jhat se ek kaan pakad ke meri taraf dekhta tha... uski iss harkat ke baad usse naaraz rehna impossible hota tha."

"Haan, woh toh ab bhi hota hai." Naina dreamily looked at him as he gloated in the adoration both women were showering on him.

"Ah... umm... matlab... " Naina stuttered as Sameer winked at her when Vishakha quirked up a brow.

Patting her cheek, she continued to tell them some funny incidents about his childhood. Some made Sameer laugh hard with her, some made him pout while some deeply embarrassed him.

"Aapne jaane kyon diya?" He flushed when Vishakha was narrating how he was so mesmerised by one friend of hers.

"Tum uski god se neeche utar hi nahi rahe the... main kya karti... usne kaha chalo main ice cream khila ke le aati hun." She shrugged.

"Bataiye na mummy fir kya hua?" Naina shifted closer to Vishakha, giving a teasing look to Sameer.

To his embarrassment, she went on to tell the incident in detail... how he always liked to play with one particular friend of hers whenever she came to their house, how he was extremely upset when he came to know she would be moving to another city post wedding.

"Woh apne fiancee ke saath aayi thi card dene... aur yeh maharaj toh usse chodne ko taiyar hi nahi... kitna kaha maine ki beta aunty ko jaane do... lekin isse laga abhi chod diya toh woh abhi hi Bangalore chali jayegi... bas, uski god mein chadhke baith gaya." Vishakha rolled her eyes.

Sameer lowered his head, flustered.

"Fir?" Naina's inquisitive excitement was at its peak.

"Fir kya... uske fiancee ne jab isse apni god mein lena chaha toh usse maarne laga... ki aap Lisa aunty ko nahi le jaa sakte... usne hans ke kaha ki ab toh main inse shaadi kar raha hun toh inhe mere saath hi rehna padega toh meri taraf dekh ke yeh teen saal ka Sameer bola 'Mummy, meri shaadi kar do Lisa aunty se, jisse woh mere saath rahein'." Vishakha stifled her smile as she looked at Sameer, who gasped audibly.

There was a silence in the room for a few seconds... then Naina burst into peals of laughter, with Vishakha joining her as they held hands, looking at a red faced Sameer till he slipped to the floor, hiding his face in Vishakha's lap.

She started to slowly knead her fingers in his hair as she narrated how Lisa's fiancee teased her by saying that he didn't know he would have to compete with a three year old.

"Fir Lisa aunty ne kya kaha?" Naina wanted to know everything.

"Usne Sameer ke gaal pe kiss karke kaha 'Agar tum pachhees saal pehle paida hue hote toh tumse hi shaadi karti... ithe handsome ladke ko kaun mana kar sakta hai'... uske baad tumhare patidev mujhse naraaz ho gaye ki maine unhe pachhees saal pehle kyon paida nahi kiya." Vishakha shook her head as she let out a long exhale.

Sameer, who had lifted his head to listen further, again hid his face... while Naina laughed whole heartedly.

"Uske baad unke saath ice cream khane gaya toh wapas ghar aana hi nahi chahta tha... kehne laga main inke saath inke ghar pe hi rahunga... itni mushkil se Lisa aur uska fiancee isse chup ke ghar se gaye." Vishakha grinned, the incident bringing back happy memories.

Sameer palmed his face.

"Bohot zyada hi pasand thi tumhe Lisa aunty." Naina ruffled his hair.

Recognising her touch, Sameer looked up at her, "Jalan ho rahi hai tumhe?"

Her smile froze, as Vishakha raised her brows, dipping her head slightly to look at Naina.

Her face flamed up instantly.

"Main coffee bana ke laati hun." She got up instantly, rushing to the kitchen, hearing the sound of mother son chuckle.

"Shaitan hai tu... kyon chedta hai aise?" Vishakha reprimanded him.

"Usse nahi toh kisse chedunga? Lisa aunty ko?" He grinned.

Throwing her head back, she laughed again.

"Oh Sameer, main Naina ko bol ke aati hun meri coffee zara strong banaye... mujhe light bilkul achhi nahi lagti." She shuffled, attempting to get up.

"Aap baithiye, main bol deta hun." Sameer stood up, stalling her with a hand on her shoulder.

She relaxed, calling out after him, "Ab jaa hi rahe ho toh madad kar dena uski... mujhe pata hai tumhe coffee banani aati hai."

Sameer quickened his step, eager to reach the kitchen.

"Bilkul apne papa aur apne nanu pe gaya hai... itni jaldi wapas nahi aane wala." Vishakha closed her eyes, resting her head back as she recalled how her father was so fond of her mother... and how her first husband was always trying to steal moments with her.

Naina sensed him even before he reached her, tilting her head to glance over her shoulder.

"Hi jaan." He wrapped his arms around her from behind.

She leaned back on his chest, placing her hands over his wrists.

"Tum gussa toh nahi ho na ki maine raat bhar baatein karne ka plan banaya?" He whispered.

"Bohot gussa hun." She whispered back.

He was taken aback, not expecting this answer.

Turning her towards him, he frowned, "Lekin Naina... "

She didn't let him complete, "Gussa hun ki main tumhara pehla pyar nahi hun... gussa hun ki main woh pehli ladki nahi hun jisse tum shaadi karna chahte the... gussa hun ki mujhse pehle bhi kisine tumhe kiss kiya hai."

His face flushed again, "Naina, woh toh... yaar, main chota tha tab, bhola aur masoom... mujhe kuch pata thodi tha."

Her eyes shone with mischief, "Bhole aur masoom toh tum kabhi nahi rahe hoge, Mr Maheshwari... warna kaunsa teen saal ka bachha apni shaadi ki planning karta hai."

"Agar tum mil jaati na uss waqt, toh sirf planning hi nahi, main toh shaadi bhi kar leta." He twirled one of her curls around his finger.

"Sameer, mummy aa jayengi." She tried to get away from his hold.

"Unhone hi bheja hai." He pulled her with a force, crashing her against his chest.

"Woh... woh kya sochengi." She murmured as his warm breath on her face started to melt her.

"Sochengi ki achha hua unhone mujhe pachhees saal pehle paida nahi kiya... warna itni sundar bahu kaise milti." He leaned, planting a kiss on her cheek.

She lifted her heels, rubbing her lips on his cheek, "Pehle ka pata nahi, par ab sirf mera haq hai."

He gave her an astonished look... she was actually jealous.

"Naina... woh saalon pehle ki baat hai." He said softly, tightening his arms around her.

The hissing sound of milk boiling made her squirm. He turned off the stove before she could move away.

"Fir bhi." She closed her arms possesively around him again.

He kissed the top of her head, overjoyed at her jealousy.

"Tum kisi aur ke baare mein socho yeh bardasht nahi hota mujhse." She mumbled against his chest.

Cupping her face, he made her look up, "Main sirf tumhare baare mein sochta hun... shaam se soch raha hun... iss suit mein kaisi lag rahi ho yeh batane ke liye intezar kar raha hun... tumhari yeh khubsurti mera kya haal kar rahi hai uska badla lene ke liye bechain ho raha hun... tunhare kaano ke yeh jhumke jab jab tumhare gaalo ko choote hain, inhe hata ke main tumhare kareeb aana chahta hun... tumhari choodiyan jab bhi khanakti hain, inki awaaz apne haathon ke neeche mehsoos karne ko tadap uthta hun... tumhare paas hoke bhi jo yeh doori hai isme jal raha hun... Naina, main toh tumhare alava kuch bhi soch nahi paata... na aaj, na kal, na parson, na poori zindagi, na aane wale saat janmon mein."

Her heart thudded madly at his intense gaze and his hoarse voice. The distance suddenly seemed too much... and she lifted herself again, meeting his lips. Her kiss was hard, as if to mark her possession. He let her dominate the kiss, giving in to her probing tongue, relishing the heated onslaught of his jealous wife.

She pulled away as abruptly as she had started the kiss. He saw her blazing cheeks, and smiled. She was feeling shy about her brazen display of possessiveness.

"Jab tum aise haq jatati ho na, aur bhi pyaar aa jaata hai tumpe." He held her face within his plans, rubbing his nose with hers.

"Hato." She tugged at his hands, colouring at the thought that she was getting envious of someone as old as her mother in law.

The variations of her moods took his breath away.

"Naina, jaan logi kya... aise karogi toh aaj coffee nahi banne wali." His voice grew rough.

She shuddered at his threat. Vishakha was seated outside... kitchen had no door... even Ramdhari was sleeping a few meters away...

"Sam... Sameer tum bahar jaake baitho mummy ke paas... main coffee laa rahi hun." She pushed at his chest.

Running a hand through his hair, he exhaled aloud, "Saath mein bana lete hain."

He fished out the cups, adding extra coffee powder for his mother. Naina poured heated milk and water mixture, stirring them well, and they walked out together.

"Mummy, aapko neend aa rahi hai toh aap so jaiye... apne room mein... sorry, aap safar se thak gayi hongi aur maine... " Sameer said with a guilty look when Naina shook Vishakha slightly.

"Nahi beta, main so nahi rahi thi... aur neend aayegi bhi toh usse jaane ko bol dungi... tum dono ke saath yeh mauka fir pata nahi kab milega." She flashed a bright smile, accepting the cup that Naina held out to her.

Amidst coffee, Sameer started to tell her more about their school and college days. Vishakha also mentioned a few more incidents of his early childhood. Naina adored the happiness on Sameer's face everytime Vishakha praised his looks or his cute antics as a toddler.

At the crack of dawn, when Ramdhari came up to prepare tea, he found three of them filling up the house with warmth and laughter.

Next update tomorrow evening